Butterfield
Canyon Elementary School Community Council Meeting Minutes
Thursday,
October 11, 2012
In attendance: Nick Hansen, Heather Shay, Mike
Day, Joanne Frost, Brandon Maulis, Melanie Thurnau, Tanya Eagar, Laura da
Silva, Hollie Pelch, Rachael Shober, Alisa Didenhover, Jodi Stewart-Browning
Welcome- Heather Shay welcomed those in attendance
to the first meeting of the year. She introduced our first piece of business,
the new middle school boundary process
Boundary Change Presentation-
Teri
Timpson & Anthony Godrey- Administrators of Schools
·
Direction was given by School Board for
District Administrators to meet with School Community Councils to introduce
Middle School Boundary Process
·
Map of all middle school boundaries was
shared; The new middle school, located just east of Herriman High, will impact Butterfield
Canyon patron’s middle school boundaries
·
Chart was shown which included all middle
school buildings’ capacity, number of portables & current enrollment
·
The message from the Board & District
administration is that community involvement is crucial in making decision
about school boundaries
History of old
Boundary Process was shared
·
School Community Council chose school representatives
to serve on a boundary committee
·
Evening meetings were held to establish
options for boundaries
·
An Open House was held where community
members could vote on the option of their choice
·
A recommendation to Board was made
·
Board made decision
Issues with old process
·
Burden on parents because of number and
length of meetings
·
Unequal representation of neighborhoods
& hard feelings between neighborhoods & neighbors
·
Unequal access to the process
New Process (established ~4 years ago)
·
Boundary options researched and developed
by District staff & posted on JSD website
·
Patron input gathered electronically
·
Open houses held to answer questions
·
Possible adjustments made to options
·
Patron input and boundary recommendation
presented to Board in open session
·
Boundary approved by Board two weeks later
New Process
·
Reduces burden on parents
·
Equalizes access to the process
·
Increases patron input
·
Provides fair, consistent, and efficient
means of gathering input
·
Develops options that better meet the needs
of students, families, and the District
Factors considered in creating boundary options
·
School capacity
·
Feeder system alignment
·
Input from parents, students, community
·
Long-term implications
·
Natural boundaries
·
Feasibility and functionality
·
Cost
·
Community partnerships
Timeline
·
Board approved new middle school boundary
process (Fall 2012)
·
Meetings held with SCC Community Councils
regarding process (Sept.- Oct. 2012)
·
Initial options presented to Board of
Education (mid Oct. 2012)
·
Public informed of boundary process (end of
Oct. 2012)
o Letter
from the District
o District
and school Web sites
o School
Community Councils
o Newsletters
o Announcements
o Communication
in every way possible! Facebook, Twitter…
·
Boundary information and opportunities for
input provided (Oct.- Nov. 2012)
o Boundary
options and survey posted online on District website beginning in mid-October
§
Flyer will be sent home with students
·
Board Review
o Board
is provided information regarding patron input (Nov. 2012)
o Board
holds public hearing (Nov. 2012)
o Board
approves new boundary (Dec. 2012)
·
New Principal will be announced in January
and released from current duties before second semester
·
Role of the School Community Council
o Foster
awareness of the process in the community
o Act
as a contact & share information
A question was raised about the ‘heat’ of the
process~ High School vs. Middle School.
The Middle School issue with parents is usually
related to loss of busing; students may get a permit to remain in the current
middle school, but their busing was lost.
Questions discussed-
·
How much ‘heat’ is expected from the
community in this middle school boundary change process? How does the ‘heat’
compare between a high school & middle school boundary change? Dr. Godfrey
answered that the ‘heat’ was less than expected with the opening of the High
School. Students in every high school in the district were allowed permits
where requested last year.
·
What about the new elementary school? Are we still on a two year schedule? How can
we survive the growth? What would it take to open the school sooner than two
years? Bond? Teri Timpson explained that the District is working with the architects
now to fit an updated version of Silvercrest’s building design on the site near
the Splash Park. The District is paying for the new elementary school out of
any extra funds they can find on a ‘pay as you go’ basis just like the new
middle school.
·
How do we decide year-round or traditional
calendar? It’s based on enrollment and space available. It’s a Board decision.
Board will allow traditional whenever possible until enrollment extends beyond
building capacity. While the Board would like to move schools to traditional
schedules as possible, growth in certain areas require the best use out of
current buildings.
·
Will this boundary change process be the
same for the new elementary school? Absolutely. Teri Timpson committed to keep
us aware of progress being made with the new elementary school.
·
How does permit process work? Utah State
law provides options for parents. There are established guidelines for permits.
A ‘window’ opens in December for parents to fill out permit requests. Boundary
students are counted first, then a percentage of permits are approved as space
allows. It’s more complicated in
secondary schools because of available space in different course offerings.
·
How much more growth can BCE handle? With
14 portables & limited bathrooms we are stretched. BCE was able to hire
additional teachers & new portables were quickly built to accommodate the
classes because of the growing school population. There are still classrooms,
including portables that could be added to the rotation schedule in future
years to educate the new students who enroll at BCE. Teri Timpson praised the
teachers, staff & administration for maintaining quality education in a
calm, positive environment despite the large number of children.
·
How are Utah schools funded? Funding comes
from State Legislature through the weighted pupil unit. A percentage of
property taxes fund schools. Bonds are raised as new buildings are needed.
·
Are the class sizes staying the same? Yes,
there have been no increases in class sizes since the district split. We have
maintained the class size ratios, though it is still higher than the School
Board & Administration would like.
·
Watched Land Trust DVD – School Community Councils Touch The Future
·
Meeting Protocol/Norms were established
o The
SCC will loosely follow Robert’s Rules using motions, followed by a second
motion & vote.
o Votes
must have a majority to carry and at least seven SCC members must be present
for a vote to take place.
o Issues
may be discussed without appearing on the posted agenda but no vote will take
place without the topic being posted on the agenda at least a week in advance
of the meeting.
o Mike
Day raised a motion to cap the School Community Council to 13 members; Joanne
Frost seconded the motion. All members agreed 13 was a good number of members.
o Heather
Shay nominated Jodi Stewart-Browning to be the secretary & Hollie Pelch
seconded the nomination. That vote was unanimous.
o Heather
Shay nominated Mike Day as chair, Hollie Pelch seconded. That vote was also unanimous
o Three
additional members were nominated & voted onto the SCC, Jodi
Stewart-Browning, Laura da Silva & Rachael Shober.
·
2012-13 BCE SCC Meetings were scheduled for
Thursdays at 2:00 pm
o October
25
o January
17
o March
21
o May
23
·
The meeting was adjourned at 3:40 pm.
