Ipswich Middle School
Council Minutes
January 9, 2012

5:30-7:30

• Attendance – Kerrie Bates, Jen Bauman, Steve Filosa, Cheryl Forster, Tom Heidgerd, Sarah Jacklin, Ellen Kenyon, Deb Lindahl, Kathy McMahon, Erin Smith, Diana Somers, Joanne Wilson
• Minutes – Motion made by Joanne and seconded by Erin to accept minutes with amendments to 2. After School Rec Program.
• STAND UP DAY – Cheryl shared a school picture of IMS students in pink stand-up shirts with council. She reported on a very successful day with speaker, Ed Gerrity, who delivered a strong message about the power of the individual. It was a great day for students.
• Student Development Day is scheduled for March 8, 2012 with a focus on career choices – college or trade tracks.

Student Speaker is still needed for that day. The council discussed possibilities and agreed to seek speaker appropriate for that day. Ideas = Joanne Deke? - talks about adolescent brain and differences for adult brain. City Corp – Alan Khazei?

One hour presentation is budgeted approximately $2,200. Deb will ask Brookwood for list of past speakers.

Presenters for mini-workshops should arrive at 8:30. Council members will contact selected presenters from last year’s list, ask about this year, and get info back to Kathy.

• Tiger Den After School Program – Plans for Ipswich Rec Tiger Den at IMS was approved. Cheryl and Kerrie shared the proposal submitted to the Rec Dept. The Ipswich Y also submitted a proposal for an after school program. We are going to pilot the Tiger Den with $9,000 to start. Kerrie is setting up a projection system outside of IMS to advertise along with magnets to put on lockers, etc. Tiger Den is set to run beginning January 17, 2012 at Ipswich Middle School. Rec van will run on Thurs. First excursion to Metro Rock – this has a fee but most activities are free and drop-in. Yoga, babysitting certification class, fencing, cooking, Miss Jennie dancing are planned activities with a hope of offering something every day. Possible other activities are mountain biking and skating on Daniel Boone pond. Monthly calendar will be created soon to show offerings. The program will be piloted for 2 months and then re-evaluated. Cheryl and Kerrie will tweak the first few weeks - activity balanced with hang time. Pomos is helping with food options. The Rec. Dept. is also offering Ski Bradford every Sat. night, $30 for bus and lift ticket.
• Feoffee Status – Joanne explained that there is a motion before probate court judge this Friday. She believes that a decision will be made quickly whether to accept group’s request.
• Budget Challenges and Update – Cheryl shared the administration’s budget revisions presented at last Thursday’s school committee meeting. A table was shown explaining the admin’s last pass at budget. Ellen shared that most fees have been secondary level while very little at elementary level. School committee did not agree with these budgetary decisions so admin team will meet tomorrow to discuss where cuts must be made. This is a change in original budget timeline. Current shortfall is about $650,000 for district. Steve suggested that budget conversations should include not just level-funding shortfall but total shortfall amount of what is really needed for school system. Special education for IMS is up $300,000 because of out-of-district placements, mostly inherited from elementary school students moving to middle school.

*If appeal is denied, the Feoffee settlement is supposed to bring $25,000 a month to schools until settlement, $75,000/month after July 1 until settlement, and eventually $2.5 million to school system. $800,000 a year for 3 years until money is invested.

*IMS has declining enrollment. Cheryl will be presenting to school committee next week different scheduling options. Class size will go up.

*More private school applications than other years – about 37 this year. May be small group going to IHS next year.

• Members of the school district will be visiting the Burlington School District on Jan. 19, 2012 to learn about their technology initiative.
• Others – Penny Wars to start 1/24/12-1/27/12, donated to Afghani students who visited IMS last week.
• The next School Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6, 2012 at 5:30.