CLC Parent Meeting Agenda
2/23/2000 7:00 p.m.
Minutes


-Malena Moore’s research project - consent form in mail now; phone calls to follow (Josephine)

-Frank Flarkey introduction (Frank) - music lessons afterschool at CLC on Monday & Wed. Plans to group students by instruments/level for small ensambles, etc. Piano, guitar, drums as well as band instruments will be taught. Number of students in the lessons will depend on mix of instruments, experience level. Call Frank with any questions. Bring music lesson registration form into MJ at CLC.

-Student Security Committee - student council (Mark)
To address the theft issue, have students develop and implement plan, such as posters. student meetings, etc.

-Lost & Found (MJ) - clothing not claimed will be donated to Good Will. Alot of nice clothing being unclaimed...

-CLC Mission Statement - update (Josephine)
Existing CLC mission statement:
The mission of the Centre Learning Community Charter School is to create a powerful, safe, secure, active, project-based learning environment in which students develop the necessary skills, knowledge, and attributes to lead a fulfilled and successful life.
Proposed CLC mission statement:
Minds that think, hearts that care, and the confidence to make things happen.
Mission statement will be discussed again at the March Parent Meeting as part of planningfor next year.

- Testing question: is ongoing, and test taking skills are being addressed by the teachers.


-Learning II -- Why We do What We Do
(CLC=Interdisciplinary, project-based learning)
We believe that learning should be:
• individualized
 (Glenn and Theresa - Geography: map skills in U.S. and world. Relationship between U.S. and other contries.) - individuallized by giving stduents choice, what each students’ strengths are. Not all students learn at the same speed, at the same moment, and in the same way! Students more passionate in learning if they had a say in topic selection and how they learning. Example: Students make decisions on map detail. Travel agencies made up of a small group of students, determining states visited.
• active
Examples: create maps. plan trips. Government Unit (Mark) - what are CLC’s Bill of Rights? What’s tthe difference between a right, a rule and a law? Writing Preable for CLC and Bill of Rights...and perhaps a CLC Constitution coming in the future.
When Kids are active, you may not always get what you want, but valuable connects and is learned.
• connected and contextualized
 Start with what you know, and get around “tieing more threads”
• based on problem-solving
Faced with a hurdle, students are asked how to get around the challenge..and gain confidence.
We believe that students learn best when they have:
• access to powerful tools and information
 Make good use of all resources: books, internet, human resources
Make good use of computer tools
Still know how to do presentations without computers!
• opportunities to work both in groups and individually
 Learning to understand people’s strengths and weaknesses, and how to get work done in a diverse group...these are skills!!
(Josephine)
Open invitation to all parents to come and visit during the school day...lots of action, talking, (seeming) noise, and energy.

Registration for next year: general questions
-If student is enrolled now, they are in the CLC Community until end of 8th grade or until the student is shifted to another school by the parents.
- New students coming in: students going into 5th and 6th grades.
- Lottery process.

CLC classroom sapce for next year?
- is being looked at and

Visits to CLC:
Leadership Centre County - April 5th
PA Dept. of Education (PDE) - April 7th
(Having parents attending to answer questions...?)

Also : PA Charter School Conference at Mt. Nittany Middle School- April 7th and 8th
Children’s Literacy Conference at Penn State Conference Center - April 8th

Presentation / Discussion topic: CLC and the Future: Where are we headed?

CLC Board Meeting Minutes
2/24/2000 8:30 p.m.


MJ Hogan, Kyle Peck, Josephine Pirrone, Brian Rowan, Sean Powers, Robert Zook, Giles Driscoll, Vivian Baumer, Cynthia Potter, Tom Ryan, Mark Toci, Jesse Fetterman, Diane Lehman,Paul Fetterman , Eleanor Fetterman, Glenn Johnson, Theresa Shay


I. Minutes were read and approved with the note that one of the VII. Other Business sections should be deleted.

II. Personnel
After school personnel search is coming together. We are still in need of extra substitute staff. Board members were asked to spread the word to family and friends.
Jesse F. was formally introduced as our newest Board Member.

III. Financial
Kyle presented the new and improved financial report. Salaries have been moved from 200 section to the Payroll Expenses section. Kyle and MJ have been in the process of changing over the Quick Books records to Atrix records, since Quick Books wasn’t Y2K compatible and the company moved all users over to Atrix. Lease costs have gone up so much because we doubled the size of our facilities while only increasing revenues by 50%. Comments were made that we are about where we expected to be at this time of the school year and we do not forsee any problems with this year’s budget.

IV. Policy Manual
We have received manuals from other schools which are being considered as we build our policy manual. Our philosophy is to have as few policies as possible, but we recognize the need to have an attendance policy and a travel policy. There is a pressing need to move on the attendance policy to comply with the school code laws. The future audit was discussed; records from previous years will be examined at the audit which should take place sometime after next year. This issue of policy violations in audits was discussed. No one knows of a school which has been audited with no violations, but for PR reasons, we want to keep those to a minimum, indluding handshake agreements for which we are “out of compliance”. Kyle plans to bring proposals on attendance and travel to next month’s meeting.

V. Other Business
The question was raised about counseling. Things are moving slowly. A meeting is scheduled with Base Services next week. The question was raised about whether auditors will question how we are spending money we receive for students with Special Needs. A discussion ensued concerning what kind of money we receive, what requirements bind our actions, and what kind of Special Needs students we have at CLC.

Mr. Zook offered the observation that both his students commented on Kyle’s accident and the man who came in to confess about the robbery. It was suggested that this be taken as an opportunity to discuss the confession with the students and encourage discussion and processing. Teachers commented that such discussions are ongoing and present throughout the day, and the size of our community contributes to openness and constant sharing among students and teachers. Compassion, justice and forgiveness were discussed.


• Next Regular Board Meeting: 3/23/2000