Minutes
Olde Towne Daphne West Association
General Meeting
Minutes November 6, 2007
Present: Karen Nady, President, Lon Johnston, Treasurer, Cathy Barnette, Governmental Affairs, Louie Nady, Finance, Don Terry SEEDS
Absent: Frieda Romanchuk, Vice President, Ernest Berger, Historic Preservation, Tomasina Werner, Press Liaison.
Karen Nady opened the meeting at 7:05 PM and greeted those attending.
Guest Speakers: SEEDS Principal For a Day: Dana Horst, Principal of W. J. Caroll Intermediate School, Cathy Barnette, Councilwoman City of Daphne and Ruth Sewel, SEEDS.
Program:
Cathy Barnette made a power point presentation regarding her experience as one of 6 community leaders who served a Principal For a Day on October 22nd.
She was joined by Dana Horst, Principal of the W. J. Carroll Intermediate school. They discussed the challenges of education, how the faculty keeps up with changes in education, the importance of education in shaping children to be contributing adults. The W. J. Carroll School was on the threat list . Ms. Horst spoke about the importance of reading and that the morning block of time dedicated to reading is “protected” and no other activities can be planned during that time. Methods of teaching reading change constantly and she and the faculty implement a number of methods to reach children. She review lesson plans by teachers, the W. J. Carrol school is unusual in that 2 classes are girls only and 1 is boys only. Teachers and parents have been enjoying this format.
Ms. Horst stressed the importance of testing and that a community awareness program be in place in the spring during the test week. She, and SEEDS, would like to stress eating and sleeping well that week, asking employers of students to not have them work too late that week and for sports teams to understand the importance of the tests.
In response to questions from the group Principal Horst commented on the following:
Ms Horst discussed the national problem with bullying in schools and that there is a zero tolerance for bullying at her school.
When Daphne East school was built the library went to the new school, however W.J. Carroll has been rebuilding the library and has received some county funds. The school is fortunate to have enthusiastic parents interesting in improving the library.
The Daphne Library is able to provide tests on line for students in reading programs and the school has many enthusiastic readers.
There is a white building on campus that has historic importance to the school. It was build as a vocational project and will be saved and used as a historical museum on campus.
After the presentation, Ruth Sewell shared an update on the International Baccalaureate program proposed for Daphne, the Mamma Mia contest and an update on SEEDS and how the $28,500 in grants were distributed that year. (The annual report is on the SEEDS web-site: www.Seedsindaphne.org. She thanked OTDA for helping to influence the school board to build architecturally compatible buildings on the school site.. She also discussed plans for a summer Lyceum for courses for students to take in the summer.
Her duties also include site manager for the construction project. When compete the school will be 4th, 5th and 6th grades with approximately 450 students.
Meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.