Minutes of the October Meeting of the Dean’s Parent Advisory Council

St. Louis Bread Company at National and Elm

October 16, 2001, 8:30-9:30

Participants: David Hough, Emily Carlile, Debbie Yocum, Mary Byrne, David Meinert, Sarah Muegge, Kathi Beasley, Mark Hopkins, Jane Doelling, Rob Aiken, Stephanie Guevillius, Art Spivak

Strategic Planning for COE and Greenwood. Dr. Hough reported that within 3-4 weeks, Dr. William Agnew, Dept. Head of the Dept. of Educational Administration, will begin the process of developing a five year plan for the College of Education (COE) that includes Greenwood. The process will be initiated with the formation of a strategic plan developed from input by the “grass roots.” The plan must be consistent with the six-year plan of the University and Greenwood’s mission to promote innovation and experimentation. Two to three parents will be asked to be intricately involved with a team of people and go to a series of meetings. Criteria for selection may include extent of longevity with Greenwood, understanding of the interrelationship between Greenwood, the COE, and the University, etc. Several participants volunteered. Additional names of persons not present were suggested.

Dean/Parent Communication. Dr. Hough asked for suggestions for devising an effective means of disseminating information directly from him to parents. He indicated that few entries are made on his “Ask the Dean” website. Several participants indicated that parents have approached them to submit questions at the advisory council meetings since the publication of their names on the PTA insert in the Greenwood Review newsletter. This indicates that parents are reading the newsletter. It was agreed that the page should include a section dedicated to information directly from Dr. Hough. A participant suggested that the newsletter not only inform parents what is happening, but also, what is being discussed.

Parent Questions. Parents had submitted questions to participants about mold in the Greenwood building and air quality issues. Bob Eckels, Missouri State’s Director of the Dept. of Physical Plant, told Dr. Hough that mold was present, mostly above the 3^rd and 4^th grade classrooms and that the problem was related to the building’s Heat Ventilation, and Air Conditioning System (HVAC). The contractor who built the school is no longer in business. A representative from the MO Health Dept. visited Greenwood, and indicated that the mold was inactive and not a health threat. However, the potential for a health hazard must be dealt with as an accessibility issue for children and adults with allergies who are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Dr. Hough will obtain a letter from the Health Dept. verifying the results of the visit, as well a written report from Eckels indicting the tests that were completed, the status of the mold, options for eliminating any related hazard, and costs involved in their implementation.

Parents had also submitted a request for the accounting of fees charged to Greenwood students and a description of how expenditures are managed. Greenwood faculty members have some discretion over how fees are spent. A print out of the school budget will be made available, and will be distributed at the next PTA meeting.

Potential Tuition Increase. Participants discussed problems associated with a potential tuition increase at Greenwood. Current economic indicators suggest that an increase is likely. Concerns were raised that a major increase could jeopardize enrollment in the school. A loss of families could nullify any increase in revenue accrued from tuition raises. Missouri State faculty who may experience no salary increases may not be able to continue sending children to Greenwood, resulting in a potential loss of faculty investment in a University program as well as revenue. (A suggestion was made that, rather than out price Missouri State faculty, Greenwood should become a benefit option for them. With regard to that suggestion, a participant indicated that an Missouri State Staff Senate survey has been disseminated to faculty asking whether Greenwood availability is a priority.) A concern was raised that Greenwood students were asked to bear a disproportionate share of costs associated with services received as compared to other departments that offer human services (e.g., physical therapy or speech therapy). Over the past years, as tuition has increased, the characteristics of the student population has changed, resulting in less diversity among students.

The Missouri State Board of Governors must approve any tuition increase. They support one fee rather than differentiated fees (e.g., sliding scale or reductions for multiple children from one family). Associated complications are related to accounting and disparity among the effects on families. Parent participants did not support fee increases to support scholarships to Greenwood. Although Missouri State at the University level can offer minority scholarships, it does so because higher education is not an entitlement. Scholarships are not offered at public elementary and secondary schools public schools because education is mandated by the state.

A recommendation was made to begin a process to identify the amount of increase that could support the school but not jeopardize enrollment. A general recommendation was made for a modest increase that is well publicized to Greenwood parents. A subcommittee was formed to make recommendations to Dr. Hough, who will present the recommendations to President Keiser and the Board of Governors. Although a tuition increase due to state budget cuts appears imminent, it is not likely to affect tuition rates in the spring of 2002 because the budget cuts probably will not be announced until after it is too late for universities across the state to apply a surcharge to spring rates.

Grant Activity. The question was posed asking whether any organized efforts were made to obtain grants for Greenwood. Currently, the e-MINTS classrooms are partially funded through a State sponsored grant program. In addition, the Greenwood Technology Committee is in the process of organizing information for grant applications. Although discussions about pursuing grants has been ongoing for almost two years, preliminary preparation of writing a technology plan that demonstrates the integration of technology into a comprehensive K-12 curriculum has just begun. Potential funding sources have been identified, however, a fund must be initiated for life cycle funding of equipment (replacement and upgrade of funded equipment) as a requirement of the Missouri State administration and grant sources for the approval of grant applications.

Meeting Adjourned.

Respectfully submitted by Mary Byrne

October 17, 2001