All Souls School Advisory Board

Meeting Minutes

March 6, 2008

Present: Mrs. Anne Regan-Smith (Principal)

Parents: Leticia Lopez, Lisa Moran, Pat Coppel, Colleen McKenzie, Diane Zambrano, Edie Oka

Safety Committee represented by: Luis Pena

Next meeting: April 3^rd, 7:00pm, School Admin. Office

I. Opening

The Principal’s Advisory Board is comprised of the Principal and School Parents appointed by the principal. This Board is established as a consultative body providing suggestions and advice to assist School Principal in promoting and maintaining the All Souls School Mission. They will also serve as a Strategic Planning team to guide the committees in defining goals

This Board will meet on the first Thursday, each month at 7:00PM.

II. Roundtable Discussion

Address updates to the following Areas of Focus

1. Finances

A. Outstanding Debt

· Progress has been made in this area and is on-going to address balance of outstanding debt.

B. Fund Raising - Brainstorming in progress – need to develop plan fior fundraisers that will generate large sums of money

· Events considered: Alumni Event, Walk-a-Thon (Jog-A-Thon), Auction Dinner Dance

· Recruit other parents to lead and chair major fundraising events. Need for 100% participation

2. Enrollment

A. Current awareness efforts have begun, with ad in March issue of Around Alhambra as well as article on the new children’s garden.

B. New school brochures have been created as support materials for recruiting new families to All Souls.

C. New materials and school information is updated on All Souls Website school section (allsoulsromancatholic.org)

D. Continuing research on neighboring Catholic school requirements.

E. Comparison of cost among the neighboring Catholic schools has been done. We are the most affordable. In order to stay affordable we need more students.

3. Classrooms

A. Spring Cleaning – Establish an annual event that includes a thorough cleaning of the classrooms that would include students, parents and teachers as part of a school community project.

4. Security & Safety – Discussed at length during this session with focus on current security while prioritizing most immediate requirements and long term needs. Colleen McKenzie and Luis Pena will take work together in this area. Current guidelines will be reviewed and amended to bring up standards and address the following areas;

A. Physical Safety – Archdiocese Standards of on-going education of any adult that has contact with the children.

· All Adults and staff are fingerprinted

· Safe Guard the Children education is on calendar for May.

· Speakers will be invited to speak and educate teachers and adult volunteers.

B. Gates – Determine how best to monitor visitors to the school by keeping gates locked but accessible for regular school business.

C. Emergency Preparedness – Update status of Emergency supplies and First Aid at the school. Additionally establish needs for classroom Emergency Kits and individual kits for each child.

D. Review Safety on Campus

· Valet – Prepare a thorough review of current process and have Alhambra Police Department monitor during peak hours and provide suggestions.

· Campus Signage – Determine needs to promote awareness of safety and rules for children and visitors while on campus.

E. Drills and Training – Establish plans and schedules for drills so that all are thoroughly trained.

F. Education – Teachers and parents will receive updates on Emergency preparedness.

5. Communication – Establishing a means beyond the weekly envelope among parents, students and teachers is needed.

A. E-mail – Many parents received principal’s letter on March 7^th, via e-mail for the first time ever at All Souls. Teachers have also begun to communicate weekly syllabus and additional information for their student’s parents.

B. Website – Updated “School” section with staff and phone numbers for each grade. Posted Principals letter to website for week of March 7^th.

6. Committee’s currently forming

A. Finance - Reviews and initiates fundraising efforts.

B. Marketing - Promotes the school to the community.

C. Environment - Initiates minor and capital improvements and maintenance for all school facilities and vehicles.

D. Technology - Provides technology resources to staff and teachers.

E. Grant Writing - Pursues funds and materials through grants.

F. Intergenerational - Works as a liaison between our senior parish community by bringing them into St. Mary's where their wisdom and experience can be passed on to the current generation of students.