Amended/Approved 2/11/08

Concord-Carlisle Regional School District

Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee

Meeting Minutes of January 23, 2008

Present: Berni Jenkins, Diana Rigby, Becky Shannon, Joan Turner, Gaylord Brynolfson, Jim Saltonstall, Court Booth, Susan Frey and Deborah Stoessel

The meeting was called to order by Jim Saltonstall.

1. The minutes of the December meeting were approved. The November minutes are pending.

2. Jim announced that Ellie Garvey has submitted her resignation due to work schedule conflicts. Dr. Brenda Finn is retiring as superintendent in August.

Mary Zellner thanked the committee for her Christmas gift, and Court announced the holiday lunch was thanks to the generosity of the Advisory Committee.

3. Programs in Carlisle:

Court reported the Carlisle-based courses are going well. Jim S. is in the Chinese course and enjoying it! Publicity in the Mosquito has been disappointing; steps are being taken to resolve this issue, including a suggestion to contact the School Committee’s publicity reporter.

4. Director’s Report:

- Court distributed the CCACE Annual Town Report and the Budget update for 07-08

- Discussion continued on use of the CCACE revolving fund for increase of staff. There was the general sense that the proposed Concord Selectman's Adult & Community Education funding (FY 09) should not be used to fund people’s wages, but rather for one-time programs. For instance, needs and skills are changing and there is need to shore up professional development within the staff; to look for which skills are missing and to develop a plan for a future support system. Computer hardware and software also need upgrading. There is an IT upgrade; File Maker version 9 is now ready. Court also needs to upgrade the computer operating system; waiting for Apple to fix the system! Court will pursue the above in the months ahead.

- We need to continue to track and review the enrollment numbers to understand enrollment trends.

- Court announced that he has contacted the State to help him convince the two providers of Drivers Education that they need to cooperate and “get along”!

- The Community Chest request is for level funding at $10,000. $5,000 went unspent last year; request is that this be applied against the 2008 request for a total of $15,000. There are several possible reasons for reduction in demand for financial assistance and the level of the awards.

- Winter catalogues are being distributed around the towns.

- Court thanked Joan for the Concord Bookshop window and thanked Deborah for serving as facilitator for the upcoming Faith series.

- A Community Education course flyer will be placed in the Concord Municipal Light Plant bills for new residents.

- In response to the School Committee request, the Advisory Committee will present a report to the RSC in June of each year. This year’s report is scheduled for June 24, 2008. Jim will prepare a draft, with assistance from the Committee members and staff, for Advisory Committee review.

5. New Business - Suggestions:

-Idea to prepare a list of high school teachers/classes; some may be available to give an adult ed. course

-Possibility of opening the language labs for adults at certain times and of making foreign films available to adults for viewing.

-Develop a symposium (similar to the global warming symposium) on the dangers of internet identity fraud, internet friendship groups, Facebook.com, etc.

- Armchair Travel: January 14 was postponed due to snow; future date is undecided.

- ConcordCAN breakfast meeting: about 50 attended at the Hunt Gym. And although not sponsored by Adult Ed, was a good community outreach, an outgrowth of Global Warming symposium.

Spring catalogues will arrive about April 1 and deadline for content is March 1.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

NEXT MEETING: February 11, 4:30-6:30 at CCHS, L-Building.

Minutes written up by Deborah Stoessel

3/3/08