Attended by: Dr. E. Eiler, Superintendent Mrs. Linda Thompson, Director of Elementary Education Dr. Vicki Vaughn, Challenge Program Coordinator Kathy Beach Dave & Penny Coy Dave & Karen Ferry Michelle Goodman Doug & Laurie Cupp Marla Glover Mary Inman Ruth Page Deborah Hagen Connie & Jeff Washburn Melissa Kohne Julie Jones Jean Wadley Melissa George Amanda Lindberg Sharon Milligan Cheryl Shake Dawn Patterson Dave & Nancy Krenk Karen Harding Terri DeWees Julie Hopkins Tim & Pam McCormick Kathi Vandervate Ayman Atari Katie & Wendell Wiley Nancy Cash Tammy Hobbs Jackie Wilson Shartrina Robinson Callie Marksbary Kristin Rush Konie & Andy Hughes Thea & David Strand Cathy Petgen Dave & Alison Camillo Judy Sly Carol Wilson Martha Riley Nancy Whicker Connie Smith Dave Dennis Sue Williams Joyce Seidle Judy & Stu Mathis Patti Cauble Diane West Anna Rauh Kevin & Virginia Myers Liz Barker Tanya Richardson Jennie Higginbottom Sandra Shugars Dan Gresham Lisa Mayer Amy Paget Paul D. Cook Dawn & Jeff Reed Dinah Snyder Karen Smith Sheryl Weist Susan Scanlon Barb Knott Others attended but did not sign in.Dr. Vaughn welcomed all the parents, teachers and administrators attending. Dr. Vaughn introduced Dr. Eiler, Superintendent, Mrs. Linda Thompson, Director of Elementary Education, and Mr. Mike Nolan, Steer person for the Challenge Program Parents Group (CPPG). Mr. Nolan announced the date for the next meeting of the Challenge Program Parents Group as March 24, at Edgelea Elementary School. The meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. Dr. Vaughn then turned the meeting over to Dr. Eiler.
Dr. Eiler gave the background of events that led to the present meeting. Dr. Eiler had met with the CPPG in November and gave an overview of the status of the Challenge Program in LSC. A concern expressed by Dr. Eiler were fluctuating numbers of identified students from year to year and the difficulty of maintaining the present two site program. Dr. Eiler told the parents that he would meet with the teachers in the Challenge Program and charge them with the task to review program options and to then make a recommendation for the program. The teachers had completed the task as requested. He asked the parents to engage in similar discussion as to possible options, the positives and negatives, and to express questions and concerns they may have. Dr. Eiler stated that before any recommendations from him to the School Board was possible that conversations and discussions with parents, teachers, administrators, and the Lafayette Education Association (LEA) must take place. He asked that as the discusssions evolved tonight, keep in mind that LSC will have a self-containe program for those students that need it and that Superintendent he has to be concerned for finacnial accountability for the Challenge Program as compared to other programs.
Dr. Eiler explained that the large group of parents would break-up into three smaller groups with Dr. Vaughn, Mrs. Thompson and himself as facilitators for open discussion to examine the options. He also espress the hope that some general conclusions could be brought back to the reassembled group. The large group broke into three smaller groups. Dr. Eiler and one section of parents went to the Superintendent' s Conference Room. Dr. Vaughn, Mrs. Thompson and their respectivesections stayed in the Board Room.
Group Responses:
Dr. Vaughn' s Group- Single site, the most positives and long term solution.
Concerns:
Dr. Eiler concluded the meeting by thanking those in attendance for the open discussion and strongly encouraging communication by letter, e-mail, telephone to continue this conversation.