Minutes
Bethlehem School Board
August 21, 2007

A meeting of the Board of Directors of Bethlehem High School was held on the above date in the Sr. Mary Rachael Rooks Media Center at Bethlehem High School.  Chairperson Bridgett Wilson called the meeting to order and Fr. Dick Sullivan said the prayer.

Present: Chairperson Wilson, Vice Chairman Bill Newcomb, Rev. Bill Hammer, Dr. Paul Schum, Bill Huston, Mary Stuart Haydon, Chad McCoy, Rev. Dick Sullivan, Gwen Simpson, Michelle Ball, Ann Conway Blevins, Phyllis Wilkins, Chris Walsh and Secretary Jerri Riney.

Absent: Kathleen Schmidt and Michelle Berger

Visitors: Faculty Representatives Bill Thomas and Joe Heitzman

The minutes from the July 17, 2007 meeting were reviewed.  They were approved by consensus with the noted changes. 

Dr. Schum introduced the faculty representatives to the Board.  Bill Thomas from the Math Department and Joe Heitzman from the English Department were both pleased with the start of the school year. 

Chairperson Wilson discussed committee assignments. 

Finance Committee      

Chair                Phyliss Wilkins

Members:         Dr. Schum, Fr. Bill Hammer, Barbara Greenwell, Jerri Riney, Stephen Hamilton, Bill Conway.

Development/Marketing Committee

Chair                Bill Newcomb

Members          Cathy Clements, Dr. Schum, Christy Medley, Bill Huston, Nancy Ballard, Michelle Ball.

Academic/Student Affairs Committee

            Chair                Ann Blevins

Members          Susan Vaughn, Mary Ann Downs, Pam Zarrantanello, Fr. Dick

Sullivan, Chris Walsh, Michelle Berger, Norma Jean Haydon

Building/Grounds Committee

            Chair                Vacant

Members          Dr. Schum, Kathleen Schmidt, Mary Stuart Haydon, Logan

                        Spaulding, Don Parrish, Henry Greenwell, Cathy Clements

Strategic Planning Committee

            Chair                Bridgett Wilson

Members          Dr. Schum, Chris Walsh, Chad McCoy, Gwen Simpson, Michelle

Ball, Mary Stuart Haydon, Michelle Berger, Bill Huston

Chairperson Wilson stated the importance of the Strategic Planning Committee and the need to share our vision with the entire Bethlehem community.  All committees will be required to formulate a five year plan to feed back to the main Strategic Planning Committee.   There was discussion regarding the use of FOCUS groups to assist us in long-range planning.  Chairperson Wilson stated the Strategic Planning Committee will determine what information will be requested through the use of these groups.

Principal’s Report – Dr. Schum reported the following:

·        The school year is off to a fantastic start.  A change was made this year with regard to the first day of school.  Procedural issues such as uniform checks, required parent forms and the issuance of text books were taken care of on the first day. 

·        He has met with most all of the teachers to discuss their personal growth plans.  Formal evaluations have begun. Faculty and staff morale is very high.

·        New personnel are adjusting well.

·        Christy Medley will begin work as Director of Institutional Advancement on Monday September 10^th.  She will be meeting with Dr. Schum, Vice Chairman Newcomb and Chris Walsh on August 31^st to discuss advancement and fund raising strategies. 

·        The Annual Report will be sent to approximately 4000 recipients by mid-October.

·        He is expecting a final bid on the exterior electronic lock system this week. 

·        He has met with Ann Blevins to begin surveys for accreditation.  Our self study will begin this week and will culminate in a site visit this spring.

Father Bill asked if the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Proposal 2 had affected Bethlehem.  There was discussion regarding this proposal and it was suggested that a letter be sent to all feeder schools explaining recent developments. 

Vice Chair Newcomb questioned if exit interviews were being performed on students who were leaving Bethlehem for another high school.  As chair of the Academic/Student Affairs Committee, Ann Blevins agreed to conduct the interviews.         

St. Joseph Parish Property

Father Bill reported on the property recently purchased by St. Joe Parish.   The purchase was finalized on July 23, 2007.  Plans are uncertain at this time with regard to the use of the property. 

Finance Report

Phyliss Wilkins distributed the FYE June 2007 Financial Statements.  Net income was $147,431 which was $18,456 better than budget.  Higher enrollment, insurance proceeds from the loss of income on bingo, an increase in annual fund donations, lower than anticipated new hires, and lower than budgeted utility costs were the major factors contributing to the favorable income numbers.  Phyliss also noted the grant received from the Archdiocese will be reported as deferred revenue for the next fiscal year.  The increase in net income for 2007 offsets a loss of $146,517 in 2006.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 PM with a closing prayer by Mary Stuart Haydon.

Minutes submitted by Secretary Jerri Riney