Education Commission Meeting Minutes - March 17th, 2005

Members Present:

Mary Wiley, Mark Merz, Dick Klus, Tony Mastriani, Jim Siegel, Martha Siegel, Kim Neltner

Ex Officio Members present:

Father Paul Gebhardt, Jean Margello, Mary Ann Ellerbrock 

1. Prayer

Father Paul opened the meeting with a prayer. 

2. Opening comments

Martha Siegel officiated the meeting since Darrin Roll could not be there.

3. Approval of minutes with one correction. 

Mark Merz name was spelled wrong in last minutes.

4. Faculty Concerns

a) Parish Survey

Father Paul said that the survey comments were forwarded to him.  He has concerns about the OCSSA Survey coming out soon, and wonders if this is overkill.  The parents and students will be surveyed in the fall.  What kind of scope do we want it to take?

b) Policy Change

Father Paul talked about the policy changes we discussed last meeting.  He referred to the right of the faculty to hear about concerns of their work raised in a public forum.  What should the policy look like?  Should the policy be in the Faculty Handbook or in the Personelle Policy?

c) Mold Issue

Father Paul said there is no news on the Building Issue regarding the question of mold.  There is nothing wrong with the building and no reason to put money into this.

d) Student Council

Jean Margello reported that Student Council has already met three plus times.  They are planning a T-shirt design contest for Walk-A-Thon.  The PTA wants to paint the playground and will ask the Student Council for ideas.

e) School Calendar

Jean said that there is a school calendar change.  There will be 4 half days off school (teachers still working).  These dates were picked because of the Ohio Catholic School Accreditation Association requires them.  These dates are: 5th & 6th of December, and 20th and 21st of March.  Dick Klus approved this calendar, Kim Neltner seconded.

f) Temporal Affairs

Martha Siegel reported that Temporal Affairs meets next Monday and as liaison, she will report back to Education Commission.  Jean Margello will also be there.

5. Old Business

a) Voting Amendment

Shirley Crooker put the amendment for the new members of Education Commission voting into the by-laws.

b) Student Survey

It did not get a lot of response but Jean said that comments were constructive.  She would like to get it mailed out earlier next time.  Jean wants to show the teachers the questions and will take suggestions on how to word it better or what to ask.  She would like to do this again.

c) Crisis Planning

Kim Neltner reported that there has not been another Crisis Planning meeting since the last.  Michelle Frey has given information to Darrin Roll and the Crisis Planning Committee will review it.  Once a plan is selected, Kim will look into getting it printed and costs.  It was suggested to go through Linda Ortman tosee if Hamilton County might print it for us.

d)    Matthew Kelly

Tony Mastriani reported on the Matthew Kelly talk.  Matthew Kelly was well received and inspirational.  Some ideas that were brought up for Matthew Kelly to talk about at the parish retreat: building community, about the mass, about Catholicism and unity, and to address the problem of lay people taking on jobs because of fewer priests.

6. New Business 

a) Principal Survey results

Jean will have them for us at the next meeting.  Father Paul says that overall the evaluation was very good.

b) Parish Council Liaison

Kathy Humbert is our liaison.  Mary Wiley agreed to contact her and touch base before each Education Commission Meeting.  Parish Council Meetings are held the 4th Monday of each month.

c) Web Site Information

Tom Bove wants to know if Education Commission Members want to put phone number, names, and email addresses on parish web site.  Each person can decide what info. they want to have on it.

d) Athletics

The idea of using coaching clinics was brought up.  Martha Siegel thinks this is an issue for Boosters to decide.  Agreement was made to forward on to Boosters.

e) Student Buddies

The idea of having a “buddy” from 6th grade until 8th grade was presented.  The first grade student would start with a sixth grade buddy and continue through until the big buddy is in the eighth.  Mary Ann Ellerbrock said that it is hard to work around the class schedule so that 8th graders can have time with their buddies.  She feels it is squeezing out the minutes used for school.  Jean Margello said that it is a special privilege and should be saved for 8th grade.  In addition, the school can’t sponsor more activities outside of school because of liability.

f) Potholes

The potholes in the back parking lot were discussed.  Father Paul made a good joke that small children were getting lost in them.  Paul is aware and the plan is to patch and resurface the back lot this summer.

g)    High Adventure

Father Paul reported that he had a discussion with Scott Irvin regarding the idea of getting together a “High Adventure” group at St. Vivian.  It would be a co-ed group of teens ranging from about 14 to 20 years old.  It would include: rafting, canoeing, hiking, etc…  It would be youth run and organized.  It would be flexible in terms of meetings and it would be run through the Boy Scouts of America.  We would have the Boy Scouts leadership training and insurance.  This would be in addition to regular troop activities.  The teens would not have to participate in other scouting to be part of this.  A faith component may be something that will get added to make it part of the Youth Ministry.  This is in the beginning stages.  It would be open to parishioners and others. 

Martha Siegel motioned to adjourn.  Mark Merz seconded.