Steph Kreysar Faith Curran Terry Brown Lori Diminick

Livvy King Bill Rudolph B.J. Meagher Rick Long

Therese Hills Anne Gilbertson

Margaret Barrett Eileen McMullin Msgr. W. Richardson

AnnMarie Vittor Rhonda Houseman Stew Ives

Doug Musselman Sheri Patton

Excused Absences – Mike Butala, Gina McNally, Lyn Hempt

Dan Bates called the meeting to order and Msgr. Richardson offered an opening prayer

Minutes from the September 2003 meeting were approved by consensus.

Academic Update was deferred.

Principal’s Report was presented by Mrs. Barrett

Principal Barrett reported a concern with the fact that there is presently no permanent phone located in the Preschool. She noted that a solution is being investigated by the administration. For the time being, cell phones and walkie-talkies are being utilized by the Preschool Staff.

Principal Barrett reported that the school has received two grants, as noted in more detail on the attached report. She also reported that she is actively following up on the tuition default situation, personally telephoning or meeting with parents whose family tuition is in default. Good progress has been made and accounts are being brought current.

Student enrollment is presently at 523, with a few students having withdrawn and about an equal number having enrolled since the start of the academic year. A school nurse has been hired – Karen Bechtold, and she will be working at the school from 10 to 2 each day.

Assistant Principal’s Report was presented by Mrs. McMullin and her complete report is attached to these minutes. Mrs. McMullin noted that the 1^st PAL meeting for the school year has been held and was well attended.

Finance Chair Report was presented by Dan Brown; his statistical reports were handed out at the meeting and a copy is attached to these minutes. Dan noted that the September financials have not yet been received from Diocese, so that the information is not up to date.

Dan noted that he and Dan Bates have been requested to make a presentation at the November 2003 meeting of the Parish Finance Council to provide an update concerning the school budget, enrollment, etc.

Teacher’s Representative Report was offered by Mrs. Houseman, who reported on a variety of activities and programs in which students from several different grade levels were involved. Her complete report was distributed at the meeting and is attached to these minutes.

Home School Association Report was presented by AnnMarie Vittor, who noted that the candy & paper orders are still being tabulated. Preliminary indications look positive. As for the Halloween sub sales, those orders are down from last year.

Home School will sponsor an ice cream party for the students at the conclusion of the ITBS testing week. An assembly is scheduled for PS-4 on Nov. 18 with Author Alice Bowman (“Twinkle Dust”); she will meet w/individual classes as well, and will make her books available for purchase by pre-order prior to the assembly. Upper grade assemblies are still being planned.

The Student Directories are now in and will be distributed this week, along with business directories; special thanks to Stew Ives for his help again this year with this project.

Another appeal was made for someone to step up and serve as President of the Home School Association, as one is desperately needed

Committee Reports

Octoberfest – Chair Mike Butala sends thanks to all who helped. He described the event as “a success even though we made no money.”

Development – Chair Steph Kreysar reported on the various subcommittees that are hard at work already this year.

Smart Money continues its efforts to increase overall participation, both by school families and by the parish community at large. Mrs. Barrett made a suggestion that efforts be made to encourage all parish groups to use Smart Money when they buy food for receptions (e.g., Coffee & Donuts, Scouts, Little Flower Club).

There were 15 volunteers from Back to School Night who signed up to help with the Smart Money Program. The goal to increase school family participation from the current 30% level to at least 50%.

The annual GALA has been postponed at this time due to lack of a chair, and sponsorship problems. It will be replaced with a variety of other, smaller fundraisers.

Information was distributed from the United Way regarding how to designate STS as a specified recipient of your donation.

Grant updates were reported; these include securing monies to purchase an automated lift for stairs in the school to make the entire plant more accessible to all; and to obtain “Smart Boards” for the classrooms.

The Annual Appeal will be scheduled for January to coincide with Catholic Schools Week

Teacher Liaison Committee Chair Faith Curran reported that a meeting is set for tomorrow; participating faculty members will be Mrs. Bosso and Mrs. Emerick.

DayCare Committee report was offered by Dan Bates, who reported that there were 2 new enrollments this week and that all was running smoothly with the program. As for the Afterschool Program, a new billing and payment policy is being reviewed. It was instituted in an effort to address nonpayment issues from last year. Staffing issues for the Afterschool Program continue to exist due to uncertainty of attendees on any given day. Current year collections are up overall from last year.

A question was raised about whether the West Shore School District will be implementing a full day kindergarten program next year, even if only on a trial or elective basis. It was noted that, if this is done, it could impact the level of enrollment in STS kindergarten and daycare. Inquiries will be made to WSSD to follow up on this.

Marketing Committee Chair Therese Hills reported on the preparation of an Information Folder to be distributed to prospective parents, particularly those who contact the school prior to or after Information Night. The Committee is also focusing on increasing positive publicity for STS. It was noted that another TV spot will be taped by Channel 21 covering the students-rebuilding-computers program.

A questionnaire asking for input regarding STS strengths and weaknesses, particularly in the area of preparedness for high school, will be sent to recent graduates, and their parents, in an effort to help the committee in its marketing and public relations efforts.

It was noted that the STS Band will participate in New Cumberland Halloween Parade, and that the 8^th graders will run a concession stand in front of the school that evening as a class fundraiser.

Technology Committee Report was given by Rick Long. He noted that the committee had not formally met, but held the Computer-Building Project in its place. The Committee acknowledged the exhaustive efforts of Stew Ives and Doug Musselman.

The project was well-publicized in the local media.

There are now 26 computers in Grades 7-8 classrooms. The firewall is up and working, as is the anti-virus software.

Old Business

Accreditation for preschool is now underway. An anonymous donor provided the required application fee, and the application has been submitted. The school is waiting for a response.

Mrs. Barrett reported that the swimming program offered to students in Grades 2, 4 and 6 in the past will not be offered this year, due to scheduling problems with the West Shore School District.

New Business

There was no new business discussed.

Closing Prayer was offered and the meeting was adjourned.