Crescent Valley Parent Organization Meeting and Principal Coffee
February 14, 2008

CVPO Business

Minutes:  The minutes of the 1/10/08 meeting were approved.

Treasurer’s Report:  Available funds of $2,894.31 were reported after income of $12.79 for E-Scrip.

E-Scrip:  Coordinator Katherine Cleland provided a report showing that as of Nov. ’07, CV has 50 participants and has received $188.83.  She will have E-Scrip sign-up available at the Open House on Feb. 20.

Teacher Grants:  After assessing actual income to date versus projected income from the budget, Treasurer Debbie Cassidy recommended increasing the second semester teacher grant disbursement to $1800 from a projected $1500.   The additional income came from E-Scrip and Dream Dinners fundraising and there is less expenditure than projected.  A motion to spend $1800 on teacher grants was approved.  Cherie Stroud will solicit grant proposals; the grants committee will review them and make recommendations for approval at the March CVPO meeting.

Volunteer News:  Teacher Pravina McClure requests parents who are knowledgeable in knitting, crocheting, or fly tying to demonstrate these skills to her fiber arts students.  Her classes meet during 7th period on “odd” days and she can be reached at 766-4886 or pravina.mcclure@corvallis.k12.or.us

Volunteer Coordinator Amy Adamski thanked parents who helped with the textbook check-in/check-out.

Anyone interested in volunteering to work at the Senior All-Night Party the evening of Monday, June 5th can contact Amy at adamski@proaxis.com

By-Laws:  It has been several years since the CVPO By-Laws were reviewed. The officers will review the By-Laws and a draft of proposed changes will be distributed via the listserv.  Any changes will be voted on at the March meeting.

School Parking:  Sparked by a parent concern, the group discussed student drop-off/pick-up from cars in front of the school, touching on the issues of traffic congestion, safety, emissions control, and carpooling.

Cherie shared recent work by AP Environmental Sciences students who have implemented a student carpool program and recommended that drivers not idle their cars while waiting at the school, but rather turn them off.

Parents should not park at the curb in front of the school especially during drop-off and pick-up times.  Cherie will request from the district that a “No Parking.  Drop-off Only” sign be installed.

Next Year’s School Calendar Input:  Kathy Higdon, CV parent and member of the district Calendar Committee asked parents to respond with their input on the proposed calendar, which will be distributed via the listserv soon.  Kathy asked for response to the idea of half-day teacher development days, which would be either late start or early release.  She also asked whether parents preferred conferences scheduled earlier or later in the semester.  Currently, conferences are held at the 9th week of an 18-week semester.  Most parents at the meeting preferred conferences earlier.  Contact Kathy (kshigdon@gmail.com) if you have input on the calendar.

Next CVPO Meeting:  The next meeting and Principal Coffee will be Thursday, March 13, 2008.


Principal Topics

Finals Week Issues:  Cherie received positive feedback on her use of the listserv to communicate weather-related cancellations and late starts.  Thedistrict’s decision to hold school on Thursday of finals week did not seem to be a problem for most families and attendance was good.

Budget:  Cherie reviewed the “Basic School Budget for 2008-09” which has been adopted by superintendent Dawn Tarzian.  The highlights include a new half-time technology support position, three counseling positions (up from 2.8 this year), and the weighting (by 28%) of only free and reduced lunch students.  This year, other student populations, (such as English language learners, special education, and talented and gifted), are also weighted by varying amounts.  Contact Cherie (cherie.stroud@corvallis.k12.or.us) for a copy.

Cherie also asked parents to rank 2008-09 budget priorities, (quality staff, class size in core subjects, aligned curricula, differentiated instruction, and stabilizing fiscal planning) that were approved at last week’s board meeting.  Again, contact Cherie for a copy.

There will be more budget information at the March Principal Coffee.  Also in March, Cherie will hold an evening Coffee for parents who have difficulty attending the daytime ones.

Nichidai Students at CV:  A few families are still needed to host pairs of students from our sister high school in Japan during their 5-day visit, March 29-April 2.  The students will arrive on the Saturday at the end of Spring break week, spend Sunday with their host families, attend school for three days, and depart after school on Wednesday.  Please call the office at 757-5801 if you would like to be a host.

Webgrade Change:  A new system, Pinnacle, to help parents track student grades is being implemented.  Cherie will send information via the listserv when it is set to go.

Staff Changes:  Stuart Tennant has taken Brooke Hallinan’s position in the Language Arts department.  Karen Crowder is the new library media specialist.  Rayna Myestis is the new transition specialist for IEP students.  Will Boshuizen has taken a leave-of-absence.  A long-term substitute is being hired.

Open House:  Second semester open house will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 20 beginning at 6:45 p.m. in your student’s first period class.  This open house is unique in that you can meet your student’s advisor as well as his/her teachers.  Ask your student for a completed green schedule which he/she received in advisor last week.  Please bring this schedule with you to the open house.


Upcoming Events:

Open House:  Wednesday, Feb 20, 6:45 p.m.
Winter Sports Awards:  Tuesday, March 4, 6 p.m. cafeteria/auditorium
CVPO mtg. and Principal Coffee:  Thursday, March 13, 11 a.m., staff dining room
Spring Break:  March 24-March 28


CVHS Website:  http://www.csd509j.net/cvhs/

Current Raider News:
http://www.csd509j.net/cvhs/raidernews/Raider%20News%20Feb%202008.pdf


Respectfully submitted,

Alex Vincent
February 18, 2008