GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841

BOARD REINSTATEMENT MEETING SUMMARY

SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

The Board took action on the following:

• Approved the reinstatement of Student “A” to Gwinn Middle School.

GWINN AREA COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

GWINN, MICHIGAN 49841

 BOARD MEETING SUMMARY  SEPTEMBER 17, 2012

The following Gwinn Middle School students were named “Students of the Month” for September: Adriana Mancini & Alexander Vandermate (6^th grade); Trinity Sebaly & Daniel Nash (7^th grade); and Jordan Girard & Jonathan Harris (8^th grade).

Congratulations to Ms. Lydia Asplund, Gwinn High School’s Student of the Month for September.

Claims in the amount of $503,313 were approved for payment.

Gilbert Elementary School

• Gilbert welcomes several new staff members this year. Heather Anderson and Dave Langin are a good kindergarten team and have worked very hard to put their own personal touches into their classrooms. In second grade, Greg Sandell had double the work as he first prepared to be an extra kindergarten teacher, and then moved over to second grade. Annie Boote likewise has transformed the library with her great organizational skills, and Rob Brady has been a positive addition to our playground staff. Christina King is our part-time resource room teacher and we will hopefully have our full-time position filled soon. Christina has been very helpful to the current resource room sub. We were also very fortunate to bring on board Jeanne Verbrigghe as our speech therapist with her great background and experience. We also welcome AmeriCorps members Kevin Harrington and Diane Jarvi.

• The staff has completed a review of our behavior expectations throughout the building. More formal lessons were done in the areas of playground, bathroom, cafeteria, and bus. Staff in charge of these areas led the lessons. We want the kids to respect them as the authority in their area. The lessons went very well.

• We will be implementing the ICU philosophy from 2^nd through 5^th grade. ICU will be a great parent/school communication tool, and by improving homework completion, we hope to see it affect achievement in a positive way.

• The first Weekly Golden Award Winners for the 12-13 school year include: Golden Whistle for Best Playground Behavior: Mrs. Jancsi (4^th); Golden Spatula for Best Lunchroom Behavior: Mr. Langin (K); and Golden Plunger for Neatest Classroom: Mr. Sandell (2^nd).

• The Forsyth Township Fire Department will visit on October 5^th for Fire Prevention Week.

KI Sawyer Elementary School

• We had a great turn-out at our Annual Open House on September 13^th. We tried something a little different this year, with Open House held from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. This schedule permitted parents to visit during school hours and see teaching in action, and have a tour provided by their child! We had 75+ parents attend this event.

• Fire Prevention Week starts October 8^th. Members of the Skandia West Branch Fire Department will join us for our fire drill on the 8^th, followed with a fire safety assembly.

• MEAP testing begins October 9^th and ends October 26^th.

• The YMCA Child Development Center at KI Sawyer is up and running! Thus far, 12 students have enrolled, with plenty of room for more.

Gwinn High School

• Homecoming will be held the week of October 8^th.

• Congratulations to our JV and Varsity football teams who both recorded a win this past Friday evening against Baraga.

Superintendent Tufnell updated the Board on the following: current enrollment figures, the need for a possible bond or sinking fund millage in the future, the renewal of the 18 mills and Headlee millage in 2014, the ICU program which is being incorporated throughout the District, recent Challenge Day activities, the October 12^th professional development day on Common Core Standards, and progress with the development of the District Community Advisory Committee. Ms. Tufnell also presented the Board with a list of District athletic coaches and current student enrollment figures.

Superintendent Tufnell reported that the 2012 Summer Food Program served a total of 2,464 meals to local children from June-August.

The Board took action on the following:

• Passed a Best Practices resolution stating that the District has complied with at least 7 of 8 of the best practice incentives to be eligible for an additional one-time payment of $52 per pupil.

• Passed a resolution thanking and congratulating MARESA on 50 years of service to local education agencies.

• Accepted, with regret, the following employee resignations:

  1. Amy Bone – 3^rd grade teacher, KI Sawyer Elementary School, effective date of resignation – August 21, 2012

• Approved the employment of the following personnel:

1. Robert Brady – bus driver/noon hour supervisor, Bus Garage/Gilbert Elementary School, effective date of hire – August 20, 2012

2. Jeanne Verbrigghe – speech teacher, Gilbert Elementary School/Gwinn Middle/High School, effective date of hire – 1^st day of the 2012-13 contract year

3. Jamie Gollakner – 8^th grade girls basketball coach, Gwinn Middle School, effective date of hire – beginning of the 2012-13 basketball season

• Accepted, with great appreciation, the following gifts and donations:

1. Brad & Janet Stried – 4 cases of sports drink and water donated to the GHS football team

2. Donor’s Choose – grammar books and cookbooks (valued at $509) for the “J’ai faim”: Connecting to French Culture Through Cuisine” project for Shannon Ruiz’s French class at GHS

3. Donor’s Choose – 3 Coby Kyros tablets and 5 memory cards (valued at $1,010) for the ” Digital Literacy Unplugged” project for Shannon Ruiz’s Honors English class at GHS

4. VFW Post 5670 – American flag donated to GMS/GHS in memory of the victims of September 11, 2001

5. Gilbert PTO – GBC Heatseal Ultima laminator (valued at $1,425) donated to Gilbert Elementary School

6. Citizens Bank­ – logo items (Frisbees, chip clips, key chains, notepads, hats, coffee cups, briefcase, office supplies, etc.) donated for our opening day staff in-service

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