September 11, 2013 Minutes

Lehi Elementary School Community Council

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

3:30 pm—school conference room

Meeting called to vote to add an amendment to the 2013 – 2014 plan; due to extra money being given to the school and Principal Miller was made aware of some carry over from last year.

In attendance:  Principal Miller, Gayle Christensen, Liz Ash, Susan Archibald, Missy Zeller, Lance Madigan, Alicia Cutler, Rae Garn, Amy Grace, Coryn Oaks, Cathleen Tronson, Teresa Gonzalez.

Our school was given an increase of $7,848 and we had a carryover of $1,455 from last year.  In total we have $9,303 to be used.

The amendment to the plan proposed that we use $4,548 to add an additional teacher for math double dosing for 1^st and 2^nd grades.  It was also proposed that an aide be hired to work 15 hours a week in 2^nd, 5^th and 6^th grades.  The cost of the aide would be $4,182 for hourly work, the rest of the money would go for benefits for the aide.  There would also need to be some school funds used to pay these as well.

The council was informed that the following teachers are teaching double dosing for our school: 

Reading:                                                         Math:
1^st - 2^nd      Mrs. Ferre                      1^st – 2^nd    Mrs. Farnsworth
3^rd – 4^th      Ms. Burton                     3^rd – 4^th    Mrs. Thomason
5^th – 6^th     Mrs. Christensen            5^th – 6^th    Mrs. Sloan

A motion was made by Missy Zeller to amend the current plan with the above plan and was seconded by Alicia Cutler. 

A question was made about how the kids feel about the double dosing and if they feel bad about themselves for needing extra help.  The teachers said they enjoy it and they have seen improvements.  One parent said her daughter thought of it as a reading club and enjoyed going each morning.  It was clarified that once a student reaches benchmark for their grade level, they are moved out and another student fills that spot. 

Another parent wanted to know if using aides and teachers is the best way to spend the money or if the teachers need more materials.  The teachers at our meeting said they are fine on materials and would rather have the extra help.

A vote was taken and all in attendance voted “yea”. There were no “nays” and no abstains.

Next meeting to be held Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 3:30 pm in the school conference room.