Acorn Minutes for August 9, 2006

Board in Attendance: Wendy D., Lordelyn, Jennifer, and Michelle

Members of the public/members/staff: Wendy McCully

Call to order – Meeting opened at 9:15 am

I. Treasury Report

a. Michelle reported the current balance to be $3281.82. We’ve also received an extra $150.00 from fundraising efforts. Wendy D. made a motion to approve the treasury report. Seconded by Lordelyn. Unanimous vote in favor of the motion

II. First 5 Update

a. Wendy D. will find out Monday, August 14th if we receive the grant, if the commissioners make a decision at the First 5 meeting.

III. Water Testing

a. The church will be doing microbial and lead testing. We will tape off drinking fountains and will have bottled water available at Acorn.

IV. Fundraising Items

a. Jennifer started a letter for scholarships and will circulate it to the board for edits and comments.

b. Jennifer spoke to her contact at Kids First to see if it is an option to apply for more money for Acorn. Kids First only funds schools in the Mariposa School District.

c. Other fundraising ideas came up: breakfasts, Usborne book party, read-a-thon for kids, wine tasting or casino night for adults, all which would benefit Acorn. We will need parents to be on a fundraising committee to help organize fundraisers.

V. Parent Guideline Handbook

a. We will be using the binder format suggested by Wendy D. Handbooks will be available for August 31, 2006 mandatory parent meeting.

b. Regarding content in handbook:

i. Calendar – first day September 7, 2006 and last day June 11, 2006,

ii. Setup/Breakdown rotation - There will be a document included in the binder for Monday morning set up and Thursday afternoon breakdown. If members will not be available for their date, they need to make sure that someone will be able to cover for them.

iii. Wendy D will circulate the handbook to Board members and Wendy D will need edits ASAP

VI. Parent Meeting, Thursday, August 31, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

a. Parents are required to attend this meeting. If you absolutely cannot make it, please contact Wendy Davis 742-4309 to make other arrangements.

b. Parents who have not turned in required forms (immunization, TB clearance, emergency form, guidelines, photo release, and parents rights forms) MUST return the forms during the meeting.

VII. ACP Waiting List

a. Required forms must be turned in at the August 31 parent meeting to be officially on the waiting list

b. The Board will re-evaluate enrollment list and waiting list each board meeting to determine if there is space to add more kids.

VIII. Book Order from Tobacco Grant Money

a. Wendy M discussed the books that she will be ordering with the tobacco grant money

IX. DRDP assessments, conferences, portfolios, home visits, etc

a. Further discussion on evaluating Acorn students. Wendy M. suggested starting portfolios for kids in the program from the time they start to the time they graduate from the program. Wendy M will need two days in Fall and two days in Spring to carry out DRDP assessments on kids ages 3-5. School will be facilitated by Kirsten Bassett and parents on those days while Wendy conducts the required assessments.

X. Items for discussion

a. Protocol for using e-mail list: The Acorn Board needs to use discretion in using Acorn e-mail list for non-Acorn related activities.

b. Wendy D – gate locks and tricycle shed, castors on cubbies are in progress and will be done by the first day of school.

c. Health notices – Wendy M passed out health notices for Board members to review and edit. We will discuss further at the next Board meeting.

d. Fieldtrips – Wendy M. would like a list of all the field trips that Acorn has taken and has suggestions for future field trips: pumpkin patch, country herb garden, and the Mariposa landfill.

Next meeting will be Friday, September 1, 9 am. Meeting adjourned 11:15 am