CAC Minutes – September 20, 2004             

Monday, October 18th:      Next CAC Meeting @ the BOE (former city hall) Building, 7:30.  

Refer to this official publication of the CAC minutes for any changes on the venue of the meetings.

TO ALL CAC members, we are sending both e-mails and mailing hard copies. IF you have not been receiving the minutes by mail every month, please let us know so the BOE's list could be updated.

Attendees (9): Tom Smanik (presiding); Dr. Jim Costanza (Superintendent); Tom LeChaix (BOE); Sherman Bishop; Bridget Ebenger-Balla;

Nancy Breckenridge; John Doucette; Eddie Williams; Linda Wade; Lee Field-Starks; Kevin Kanareff; Anne Pevnev; Carrie Tate;

Dan Welsh; Andy Call; Garn Anderson; Marcia Columbro; Polly Schmanch; Jean Seasholtz 

Absent with notice: Corinne Lange; Leslie Brusk

Absent without notice:  N/A  

The following are the minutes from the September 20, 2004 meeting at the Board of Education building: 

Call To Order

The September 20, 2004 meeting was called to order by Tom Smanik at 7:31 p.m. 

Approval of Agenda

The agenda were approved with no additions or corrections by Tom Smanik.

 The motion was granted by Kevin Kanareff and seconded by Carrie Tate. 

Approval of Minutes

The August minutes were approved with Sherman attendance changed to absent with notice correction by Tom Smanik.

The motion was granted by Sherman Bishop and seconded by Kevin Kanareff. 

Superintendent's Report by Dr. Jim Costanza:

Performing Arts Center Update -

  • Anticipated opening is February 1
  • If the additional $25,000 is raised for the 9 ft. Steinway piano, Steinway will credit the original $54,000 spent.

Other Westlake District News -

  • As a whole, the district’s student count is up 45
  • There is a large 9th grade class, more students were added then lost
  • For 2003-04 the district received the Ohio ranking of Excellent.  This is the 5th consecutive year that Westlake has received this award.  There are only 22 other districts in Ohio that have received this award 5 years straight.
  • Enrollment is stable, class sizes look good.
  • Starting this year, the report cards for grades 1-6 will be standards-based.  They will be computer generated instead of NCR.

Other Westlake District News continued -

  • Teacher contracts will expire in December and they are still negotiating.  They will open negotiations with OPSE (support staff) in October
  • Smoking in the high school bathrooms – will have to step up the efforts to stop this.

Board of Education Report by Tom LeChaix:  

District Finances –

  • Westlake is not have the same financial difficulties as a lot of districts are
  • The Board asked Dr. Costanza to cut $500,000 from last year’s and this year’s budget.
  • The last levy was passed in 2000 and was expected to last 3-4 years and the levy is in its 5th year.
  • Performing Arts Center operating funds will become a part of the general operating budget.

October Board Meeting -

  • The Board will recognize the past and current CAC members at the October 21st meeting at 7:00p.m.

 Committee Reports:
 

Communication

  • There is now a website with CAC information available. 
  • The committee is working to set up a database of contacts.

PAC IV - Gala

  • Tickets will be sold and there will be VIP seats.
  • They are looking for corporate sponsorships.
  • They want to make this an annual event.
  • This event will be a weekend event with a student-orientated event on Saturday, March 5th and Sunday, March 6th a concert by the Cleveland Pops

PAC IV – Ribbon Cutting

  • The event will be free.
  • The date will be February 5th in the early afternoon.
  • The event structure will be a modified Music A La Mode
  • There will be performances on the main stage and in the rehearsal room.
  • The tours will be student led.
  • The ribbon cutting will start to the day with a student representative from each organization.
  • Remembrance books with ads will be sold.

Levy Committee

  • Two things from PAC campaign that were learned – the need to leave money and that there need to be a grassroots effort to educate the citizens of Westlake on the levy’s need
  • The fundraising feature needs to be an ongoing effort even during non-levy years and there needs to be guidelines to be followed by every levy committee.

Old Business 

            None.


New Business 

Potential 2004-2005 Projects –

  • Carryforwards from 2003-2004 - PAC, levy, communication committees
  • BOE financial communication
  • District safety
  • Healthy food options
  • District start times

Change of CAC Schedule -

  • The calendar year for CAC will change.  The CAC will now commence from August through June instead of September through June. 
  • This change will go into effect in the upcoming year.
  • The motion to change the CAC schedule was granted by Kevin Kanareff and seconded by Carrie Tate.
  • The vote to change the CAC schedule to August through June was approved with a unanimous vote.

Adjourn

The September 20th meeting was adjourned by Tom Smanik at 9:20 p.m.


Corrections/missing items/amendments will be made in the next meeting as needed.


Minutes taken by Bridget Ebenger-Balla 
Secretary - CAC
Issued 10-1704