Webster School
GOVERNANCE COUNCIL MINUTES

April 10, 2008
The following people were present:
Parents - Bonny Bolander, NiColle Holland, Susie Johnson,
Teachers - Merryl Cronrod, Sheryl Murdock, Lori Rose,
Other Staff - Phil Cott

I. Our second community school beautification day is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 from 9 am to 12 noon. All students and families are invited to help us replant several garden aeas. The plants have been purchased with the proceeds of our GROW Fund.

II. The Council received a report on anticipated staffing and enrollment for 2008-09. We anticipate continuing to have 18 regular classroom teachers with a kindergarten class of about 60. Mrs. McClure, who was out this year on child care leave, has resigned and Ms. Rash will be on leave next year working on a Master’s Degree in art. We are optimistic that we will be able to rehire Ms. Smith and hire a new teacher, but the District must first place all of its permanent teachers. Because of staffing reductions in response to State budget cuts, there may be teachers who need to be placed wherever there is a vacancy. We should know more about this situation by the middle of May.

III. Proposition BB continues to be somewhat speculative in terms of work that may be completed at Webster. Plans call for new classrooms to replace the three relocatables in the back parking lot (Rooms 21, 22, 23) and the paving of the large dirt lot below the bus ramp. However, the Board of Education has not allocated the funds for any of the elementary school projects, except for the complete rebuilding of Edison School in Santa Monica. However, $10 million has been set aside for technology throughout the District. The Board is receiving a recommendation to spend most, if not all of this money at the elementary schools. This would bring some very important improvements to Webster, including the upgrading of our “technology infrastructure” and possibly new equipment in all of our classrooms. We are also scheduled for “Deferred Maintenance” projects including painting, fencing, window system replacement, and, and remodeling on the bathrooms. We are hoping that this work will take place this summer.

IV. State testing for all 2nd through 5th grade students will begin on Thursday, May 1. Students will take one test per day for about an hour in the morning. Each grade level has differing numbers of required tests, so they will test for anywhere from 4 to 8 days. Schedules will be published in the near future.

V. The Council suggested that we focus our efforts in the following areas from now through the end of next year:
1. Safety - playground, parking, traffic
2. Science instruction
3. Working toward making our campus more green - recycling, saving energy, reducing waste, educational programs, special events, etc.

VI. Our amazing parent muralist, Kristin Kohn, has painted a beautiful American flag on the wall across from the office and dedicated it to local firefighters. All of our students will have an opportunity to put their handprint on the adjacent walls.

VII. The next meeting is scheduled for: Thursday, May 22 at 3:15.