Meeting Agenda/Notes - March 24, 2016

 

Agenda 

 

NOTES 

 

March 24, 2016 Communications Committee Meeting Notes
12:00 p.m. Central Office - Meeting Room 2nd Floor
131 W. Nittany Avenue
State College, PA 16801

I.    Call to Order
Mr. Leous, as former chairperson, began the Board Communications Committee meeting at 12:07 p.m.

Present: Amber Concepcion, Mary Jenn Dorman, Penni Fishbaine, David Hutchinson, Jim Leous, Mary Kay Montovino, Robert O’Donnell, Chris Rosenblum, Wilda Stanfield, Laurel Zydney

II.   Appoint a Chairperson for the Committee
Mr. Leous noted the first item would be to pick a chairperson for the committee. Ms. Fishbaine suggested that Mr. Leous continue in the position. He agreed to continue to be the chairperson and all committee members were in agreement.

III.  Review the District Annual Report for 2014-2015 (attachment)
Mr. Rosenblum provided some background about the Annual Report and noted that they are bringing it back. The last Annual Report was for 2011-2012. This is meant to give the public a picture/overview of what is going on in the District. Discussion occurred: regarding someone at the CDT reading this, most likely the educational reporter, the Horizon that used to be
distributed, not mailed, but put around town in various places and in all the schools. To send by mail, we would need 60,000 copies and it would be approximately $60,000 just to mail to all in the District. Really want to get this into the hands for people shopping for schools, could be part of the realtor packet, at the University for incoming grad students, not in tax bills, and could have a link so people can call a given number. Have an ad in the CDT, State College.com., the Town and Gown and State College Magazine. There are PSU students helping to design a place on our website for new families and they are planning to do a virtual tour for each school. We should have the flyers at preschools, add a link to the flyer for going to the website, photos and diversity, photos serving dual purposes, listed places such as township offices, library, borough building, managing the restocking when they run out, and building a relationship with someone there.

Mr. Rosenblum reviewed each page and the purpose. Suggestions were offered for the following:
      ● The PSSA data bering being SCASD not PDE and final number outcomes are a year late. Need a sentence on what PSSAs are and given to grades three to eight and note they are mandated by the state.
      ● Another pie chart for finances to show where money goes and break it down by function. Both should be on the same page.
      ● Advance Placement should show the percentage of students that scored three or higher. Also note the ACT American College Test and the opportunities here.
      ● Should also note for Keystone Exams that they are also mandated by the state.
      ● Highlight more on the CTC Program and list the major programs in the CTC and possible considerations for a half page placement. People moving here could really like the idea of a CTC in our school. All students can take CTC courses and CTC students can also choose academics.
      ● Should list somewhere “The School of Choice” and all the possibilities we offer to educate everyone..
      ● Doing an Annual Report and confusing with Marketing, need to be careful.
      ● Page 10 Houserville and Lemont are separated out and need to note grades at each and that they are sister schools.
      ● Include Delta with a blurb so people are aware and that it is now 5th through 12th grade.
Spoke on listing of students on Page 6 and all need to be bold face, needing to make sure no one is missed, this being a “snapshot” of a list that was much larger, and could do a link to the larger list. Discussed doing Star Slate again, making sure all is updated on the website, the Foundation Magazine being quarterly online and printed, and Mr. Brown will get back to the
committee on how and to whom the Foundation Magazine would be distributed.

In the Our District area, could possibly add class sizes at the end on Page 2, and Highlight the PDS Program that is Nationally recognized with having another adult in the classroom for instruction. Page 12 My Mental Health Matters is OK, remove the High Achievers section, and we have Highly Qualified Teachers,which is very important. In looking at the LE section and
purpose statement, some suggestions were made to adjust, CTC could go on high school page, and listing of board members and administrators need to all have titles or none.

IV.  Other Business
Dr. O'Donnell referred to Policy 006 that needed to be reviewed and initially, it would have come to the Communications Committee, but now the Policy Committee should do the review.

Mr. Rosenblum thanked all for the suggestions and input. He also acknowledged the work that Ms. Stanfield has done on this and the March Newsletter that would be going out later today.

Ms. Concepcion and Mr. Leous will draft a letter to Isaac Messner and Baseball Boosters for the fence at Community Field.

Ms. Zydney spoke on recognizing CAC members with a lunch and/or certificate and possibly doing a volunteer of the year or something for someone in the community. Ms. Concepcion might want to recognize the passing of Art Anderson, a CAC for Facilities member for many
years and our appreciation for his service.

Dr. O’Donnell spoke on the Kindergarten sign up schedule at the elementary schools, there is an ad in the CDT today, and an ad in the April issue of State College Magazine. Ms. Concepcion asked for a picture of the ad to post on Facebook and Twitter and could do the same with the flyer. Mr. Rosenblum would send to her.

V.   Future Meeting Agenda Items
Mr. Rosenblum will send the Annual Report to committee members to review prior to sending out. No need to meet to review. Spoke on a meeting in April or possibly meeting quarterly. Ms. Dorman would send out an email for scheduling the next meeting, possibly end of April. The Meeting time of 12:00 noon was good for all.

VI.  Public Comment
There was no public comment.

VII.  Adjournment
Mr. Leous ended the meeting of the Communications Committee at 1:38 p.m.

Submitted by,

Mary Jenn Dorman
Board Secretary