Education Commission Meeting Minutes - March 16, 2007
Members Present:
Kevin McCabe, Jim Siegel, Tony Mastriani, Kim Neltner, Anita Bidleman, Ken Belleman, Joan Eckart
Pastor:
Father Paul Gebhardt
Ex Officio Members Present:
Jean Margello, Jeanne Schaefer
Parish Pastoral Council Representative:
Fran Schwartz (for Mary Ellen Smith)
Faculty Advisor:
Michele Heyob
1. Opening
Father Paul said the opening prayer.
2. Introduction of Members
Everyone reintroduced themselves to each other and shared why Catholic education was important to them.
3. Announcements - None.
4. Approval of Last Meeting's Minutes
Motion to approve without amendments. All in favor.
5. Communication from Parishioners - None.
Reports
6. School Futures
Xavier University is creating a department to support Catholic Education. Mike Flick is heading it up with a Jesuit priest from Kentucky. Jean Margello, Kevin McCabe and Father Paul are meeting with them next Thurs. They will be investigating different governances to see about consolidations. Father Paul said before Christmas there was a discussion about a limited board of jurisdiction, but after Christmas, it was decided that the control will remain with the parishes.
7. Father Paul (Pastor)
Father Paul talked about the new Archdiocese program called, "Grateful Believers". It will provide a new way of doing stewardship. It will put an equal emphasis on time, talent and treasure. The program has a strong Adult Education component to it and it will have representatives at each meeting. Jeanne asked Father about Adult Education and Worship Commission. Father stated that we have programs in place such as Evelyn Maag’s Scripture Classes, the Parish Mission is going on next week, and RCIA. We need to correlate efforts to bring it all together - so things don’t seem to be so disjointed. This must be done with coordinating the calendar, so we don’t have too many programs and thus create overkill.
8. Jodie Bender (DRE) - on vacation.
9. Jeanne Schaefer (Youth Minister)
a) Jeanne said that there are several trips and events coming up for the Youth Group. There is an important Mission Trip to St. Louis coming up in June. All of these events have a cost, with some being $200 - $400 apiece. Therefore, Jeanne would like to set up a Youth Ministry Summer Scholarship. Jeanne passed out the Scholarship Guidelines. These guidelines were pre-approved by Father Paul and Kathy Rothschild.
b) Jeanne said that there was a notice that came in the mail from Catholic Social Services on a program they are offering called, "Birds, Bees and Beyond" about how to talk to teens. There are also many more programs provided by CSS and she wanted to know if there was any interest in presenting these. It was suggested that the PTA might want to see the information as well.
c) "The Spirituality of Twinning Series" is going well. There has been lots of support for twinning. Social justice has been another aspect of twinning - making relationships with people you wouldn’t normally have access to reach out to. Jeanne said that it is becoming clear that we need to know more about social justice and that there is a strong desire at St. Vivian.
10. Jean Margello (Principal)
a) Jean spoke about enrollment for next year. She said that we had a good response from our open house and the tours. We are graduating 57 students this May and have 25 Kindergartners registered so far. We are down, but hope to be down only by 30 for 07/08. Enrollment is steady but slow. We are about the same as last year at this time, but we are being more selective.
b) Jean presented next year's calendar for Ed. Comm.'s approval. This calendar is almost identical to St. Bart's. Tony moved to approve, motion seconded and passed.
c) The level of respect and tone of our school has been declining since the beginning of the year. The Faculty met to discuss this problem. Their goal is to maintain academics, enforce the dress code, and re-establish respect. There was a discussion about the demerit system. Joan suggested a system based on St. John School's and Jean said she would like Joan to get her more information on that. Other suggestions were to also look at St. Bart's system. Jeanne stated that 15 demerits is cause for being asked to leave St. Vivian. Saturday (detention) School costs money to the parents of the child who has misbehaved. Jean asked for volunteers to head up a committee on Dress Code. Father Paul, Joan, and Tony offered to volunteer to look at p. 20 and 21 of the Student Handbook and come up with recommendations by the May meeting.
11. Temporal Affairs Report (Tony Mastriani)
Tony said that the budgetary process has started.
12. Parish Pastoral Council Report (Fran Schwartz)
Fran reported that thank you notes were written to people who put names on their Parish Survey. In the beginning the 06/07 PPC officers were: Dave Lennert (President), and Jane Browe (Vice President). Dave Lennert was elected in 05/06 to serve a 3-year term. Because of the unfortunate and untimely death of Dave Lennert, Jane Browe will now move up from Vice President to President through next year. Dave Nichols will finish out this year as V.P. Greg Hogg will then complete the term of Dave Lennert. (Greg was the next highest vote getter in the year that Dave was elected).
13. Adult Faith Formation Report (Anita Bidlemann)
Anita said that the St. Vivian Mission information is in the bulletin and also in Friday Notes. St. Vivian teachers in grades 1-6 are giving no homework, so that families may attend. There will be a breakout time for the children and they will have their own program. Their program will be based on the adult’s, at their level. The older kids can stay with the adults.
14. Tuition Assistance Program Report (Kevin McCabe)
Kevin hasn’t heard of changes but may send out an email. People seem willing to donate for tuition assistance
15. Old Business
a) Kevin said thank you to Lisa for coordinating the Catholic Schools Week teacher's breakfast. It was enjoyed by all and the Ed. Comm. is planning to do it again next year.
b) Kevin said thanks to Joan (for getting supplies and setting up) for Doughnut Sunday. Also, thanks to Jim for setting up. From now on March will be the Ed. Comm.’s official month and we will do Doughnut Sunday so that it coordinates with Discernment Sunday. We need to keep a ballot box in the room. Also very important that next year we need more sprinkle doughnuts.
c) The Mission speakers will be in the classrooms on Tuesday, March 20th talking to the children. They will also spend lunchtime with them.
16. New Business
Elections for the Education Commission are coming up. We will be making phone calls to encourage nominees to run. Letters went out today for potential candidates so calls need to be made before March 26th. There will be a meeting for all interested candidates on March 26th at 7 p.m. in the church. Questions will be answered. On May 6th names will be turned into the bulletin. The elections will be held on May 13th (Mother’s Day). Ballot counters will be Jim, Tony and Kim.
Motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed at 8:35 p.m.
*Next meeting will be May 17th. The new members will attend.
3/19/07 - KN