Oak Park School SAC Minutes

4-1-03

Budget Update

At last night's SAC/Management Team meeting, the budget was reviewed and everyone was delighted that the referendum had created a situation where we are ADDING staff rather than cutting back. A decision reached by consensus that OP's middle school team will consist of grades 6, 7, and 8 and that these students will attend school on the later schedule. It was suggested that our middle school team may wish to consider self-containing some of the students whose IQs and behaviors indicate that they are functioning on a more basic functional level and some of the more immature sixth graders.

The proposed bell schedule with 15 minutes of additional student time during the day was also adopted through consensus.

Jan announced that we will be housing a second chance school program for the District and that 2 leased portables are supporting that program. Unfortunately, the portables cannot be put in at the south end of the school, so a lively discussion ensued about space. The teachers' lounge may possibly be moved to a locker room area of the gym, OT/PT and the Engine Room were discussed as possible classrooms; however, the time to move students to and from therapy and the sensory needs of students, along with moving these students in and out of inclement weather make that an unpopular option. The possibility of putting two pro classrooms or two transition classrooms in the portables was discussed (these will be leased and, as such, will have few adaption options). Currently the portables will be placed behind the media center area, but Jan will see if there is a possibility of putting them in any other location before Thursday night's meeting. Final space determinations (by team) and approval of a final budget will be the task of Thursday evening's meeting. Please continue to feel free to provide any feedback that you have to Sharon Woerner, Joe P, Kathleen Powers, Sandy or Jan.