Call to order – 7:30 pm.
Attendees - Sue Lin, Sabrina Casey, Teermatie Taylor, Polly Suppiger, Ryan Gilbert, Amal Smith, Mark Aikawa, Deidre Coen, Laura Kater, Joe Loduca, Julie Valdez, Angela Hom, Kim Rhody, John Creighton, Eddie Ngo, Nagisa Yamamoto, Teresa Stricker, Margaret Ovenden
Candidate for City Council – Ryan Gilbert
Mr. Ryan Gilbert is running for City Council in a contested election on March 4. He moved to Piedmont for the schools and spirit of volunteerism in town. He is a lawyer by training and has experience balancing budgets. He is a catalyst for swift and good decisions. Mr. Gilbert strives to maintain high standard of education and recreation. He desires to ensure a strong city and school partnership (i.e. Havens Public safety and safety policing in the community). The City has not helped in the Green process so he would like to fast track a program to enable green progress (i.e. solar panels, shuttle to Bart).
Secretary’s Report – December 3 meeting minutes were approved
Treasurer’s Report – Amal Smith
BPO Current assets are $368,313.30. By year end, we expect to end with approximately $10,000 net income. The District will be billing BPO for PUSD support which has not occurred yet.
Principal Report – Julie Valdez
All the kids came back from the break refreshed. The first day back was good.
Playground and Structure
• Several kids have broken their arms (two kindergarteners this year). We will make changes to establish directionality because kids run into each other. New arrows will be painted on the rubber surface to establish direction. A white stripe will be painted on the metal lower bar to make it more visible. The playground rules are printed on green paper.
• The tire swing has been replaced, it was broken last year.
• We have added new balls on the playground.
• Beach School is participating in the Jump rope for Heart benefit for American Heart Association.
Mrs. Valdez has been in classrooms, teachers are so capable and qualified here at Beach School. The specialists are outstanding. She gives Kudos to the entire Beach staff.
Math program – There is a district wide curriculum discussion. The emphasis is in the classroom because this is the topic for curriculum review this year. Currently, Beach has one and a half days of a math specialist time and the request is to increase this time to three days a week. The intent is also to reach the “middle” group of children with this extra time.
A motion was passed to approve the $15,000 for math specialist increase in time for this school year. This amount will be funded by BPO Retained Earnings.
Note: BPO Board representatives met, before this meeting, to determine whether the BPO could fund this request. The future years’ expenditure is not yet approved by the Executive Board or the BPO membership. Ms. Valdez will report back to us later this year and we will put that item in for approval by our membership.
• Third, fourth, and fifth graders are pulled from class in small groups at either end of the skills spectrum. Recent research shows that professional development integrated into the classroom setting is best. Adding capacity to classrooms is challenging at the current level. The specialist meets with 5th graders twice a week. The specialist spends 3rd grade time developing curriculum for that grade. She has consulted with lower grades on individual students. She will go in for observations on CSGs. Ms. Valdez wants to build on push for curriculum into classroom and rotate through grade levels depending on the units being taught. The expectation is that the math specialist will meet with each grade level each week to keep resources equitable.
• The Math curriculum process, personnel and materials are being analyzed. Teachers would like to plan with math specialist for differentiation (to reach every kid where they are). The big challenge to differentiate and to allow team teaching in a classroom, planning support for pacing – how to deliver curriculum during the year (when to introduce topics, etc.) Collaboration days don’t provide enough time to allow for this level of planning together.
• BPO is being asked to increase time beginning this second semester and to increase time for the kids that fall in the middle group and then to follow-up on the results at the end of the year. Do we want to continue funding increase? Havens and Wildwood parents clubs have approved the increase funding for math specialist.
• We will get a sense for results after one month. Math enrichment has historically been funded by the parent clubs. This would be a return to prior levels before recent cuts. Currently, we are serving a limited population and would like to train teachers to expand classroom repertoire. We need to push the specialist’s skills into the classroom.
• PUSD Math Resource Instruction for Beach is currently allocated at approx. $30,000. The 2007-2008 budget year would be increased by $15,000 if approved beginning this Jan. 2008. Curriculum council has focused on High School courses because of specific curricular deadlines. Further discussion is required for elementary school enrichment and support such as what does the collective K-5 math curriculum look like? The curriculum council will make a decision to adopt a text book or curriculum that kids will work through by the end of this year; however, it might be postponed until next year. K-5 might be grade level dependant for selecting course materials. This means they may not simply adopt from one publisher – certain publishers may have an expertise for certain grade levels. There are thirty publishers and need to narrow down before presenting to teachers.
• Question from parent – how will additional time be allocated. Based on the availability of the math specialist, one day and a half of in class support or in class school work. The small group time will not be increased. Scheduling limits apply so 3 full days make scheduling easier. The Math Specialist, Mrs. Kingston, will be developing a plan. Mrs. Kingston has been working to push curriculum into the classroom already on her own time. A plan for time utilization could be presented to the BPO.
• One parent asked for a written plan. Another parent suggested approving the $15,000 for the next semester and then have the math specialist provide a written plan for future approval.
• Future budgets perhaps should have an annual review of each BPO budget line item and use a standardized form to help assess the budget. Mrs. Valdez is the teachers’ representative and we can evaluate the planned benefits it in six months. You want the money spent on your children.
• Mrs. Valdez would like to get input from parents on what their priorities are to work on budget going forward. We need to work on an annual budget priority list. So, if we do need to cut, that is where we are going to begin.
• Eddie Ngo will create an annual review form for curriculum support. Sue Lin will develop an application form for budget expenditures.
• There was a discussion about what budget trade offs are we making to enable this increase. Please publicize budget expenditures for parents who cannot attend BPO meetings.
Committee Reports
• Angela Hom – Piedmont Appreciating Diversity. Cultures week is April 7-11 and it will be on the Cultures of Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. The program seeks volunteers for food and artifacts, workshops, and assemblies. She will be coming to next month’s February meeting with more details and a line item budget request for it. The three elementary school principals are supporting this program.
• Kim Rhody on behalf of Carrie Gross resource specialist – Jump Rope for Heart community service activity school wide. 5th graders made posters regarding heart health. There will be a jump rope a thon. Kids can get pledges for how much they can jump rope. Raising money is NOT a requirement to participate in the main event. On Jan. 25, during PE classes, they will be paired up to jump rope. There will be a Double dutch station, music, and station where each one can make a heart and donate them. Kids learn about importance of exercise.
A motion was passed for up to $290 requested for jump ropes which will be sent home for each kid. Several demonstrations, ropes won’t be used that day.
• Kim Rhody – Beach Revue – Rehearsal’s begin this weekend. The performance is on March 14 and 15. Musicians are scheduled. Marc Bryan is co-producing this year. Ticket sales will be when we return from February winter break. Ticket sales will still be paper forms. The theme is SCHOOL. The opening number is set in 1913 the year Beach School opened.
• Laura Katter – After School Enrichment (ASE). Registration is going home on Wed. and the program begins Jan. 29. There is a scholarship program available for ASE. Registration form offers scholarships. This is the first year that scholarships have been requested and $1,250 scholarships were paid out. 8-10 kids funded for 2 classes at 50%. There was a discussion about how important it is to continue to offer the scholarships. The Mrs. Valdez anticipates that the needs will continue and Mrs. Valdez and Ms. Katter will meet to determine how the spring scholarships will be structured. The projected profits for ASE are on schedule for this fiscal year.
Meeting adjourned 9:32 pm
