PRESENT: Cara Beames, Deb Beck, Carol Heller, Dave Eagle, Linda Kissane, Sue Mellon, Cathy Stanilka

Absent: MaryAnn Gipson, Nick Round, Patricia Dow, Margaret Jones, Casey Chwiecko, Susanne Sanderspree, Nicole Tearno

Dave reported parent representative Patricia Dow’s term would be up in September and the PTSA would be holding an election to fill the position at our Open House on September 18^th. Interested parents should apply through the PTSA. The new community member will be announced at the September meeting of the Board of Education. The newest student member is Nicole Tearno who will be the "at-large" student rep. Other student council reps will be announced after school starts.

Some constituents have asked about limited terms of office. Our policy does not limit terms of office and any interested person may run for office anytime there is an opening. A regular term runs for two years and open elections are held at the end of each term. Interested people are always urged to run for office.

Dave distributed a list of meetings and other important dates for this year. Constituent meetings are urged for all staff and attendance should be taken and submitted to Dave. Members should arrange schedules so that meetings can be held regularly. A discussion followed about possibly switching dates of constituent meetings with department meetings so that more time would be allowed for turnaround of minutes. However, it was decided not to switch the calendar this year.

Due to our low attendance at this meeting, it was decided that last year’s Forum Goals and Action Plan will be discussed at the next meeting. Issues and topics may be suggested at that time along with ongoing committee items.

Questions have arisen about health information being made public. With the new state regulations, communications between the nurse’s office and staff need to be explained. New laws prohibit discussions on medical conditions or medicines being discussed publicly. The nurse has sent a letter home to all parents and she will be speaking to staff on the first day. Parents need to be sure to read and fill out information requested if their student(s) have any special medical conditions or requests.

There are new driving regulations for junior drivers and a discussion followed about students driving to the practice fields with students passengers in the car. There are busses to the elementary and recreation fields each day and students are urged to take the school transportation offered. Dave reported that he has changed chaperone duties at volleyball games this year – and that a chaperone would be hired for modified games rather than varsity/junior varsity games. He has also arranged for a monitor for the gym lobby after school in addition to outside at the bus entrance.

The following people were named to fill Forum duties this year:

· Chairperson Cara Beams

· Timekeeper Nick Round

· Scribe Sue Mellon

· Department Minutes Carol Heller

· Effective Schools MaryAnn Gipson

· Student Council

· Communications/PR Cathy Stanilka

· Middle Level Comm Deb Beck

Our next meeting is Tuesday, September 9 at 2:45 in the Counseling Center Conference Room.