MSSMPG Core Group Meeting, August 7, Rockland

Core Present: Terrie Frisbie, Alice Chartrand, Jon Eaton, David Haines, Jane Karker (Paul Meyer resigned) Other parents: Nigel Calder, Mariellen Eaton

-Mission Statement presented in its final draft by Jon and Mariellen, discussed and approved . To be voted on Aug 21st at General Meeting.

The mission of the MSSM-PG is to:

• Enhance and enrich the MSSM academic, residential, and recreational experience for all students , and in doing so help ensure a vibrant and expansive future for the MSSM.
• Promote public awareness of and support for MSSM.
• Offer a forum in which MSSM parents can share and discuss information, concerns, ideas, and proposals.
• Serve as a bridge between parents and the school.

-Bylaws draft presented by Nigel and discussed. Several changes discussed including creating more power in broader based Steering Committee, not limiting consecutive terms, redesignating Standing Committees and keeping at two for now (Student Life/Enrichment and Communications/Publicity). Ad Hoc Committee of Nigel, David, Jon and Alice formed to polish final version for Alice to send to all parents before Aug 21st meeting when it will be voted on.

-Move In Day: Table: Sign up sheets for: Public relations, Mystery Penguin Weekend, Grant writing, May Term, Guest House, Parent Career Themed Weekend (no date picked), Nomination committee for MSSMPG Exec Committee members, Parent
Sponsored Student Activities (Mariellen),
Registration form needs to be revamped and include permission to give info/addresses to other parents. Voluntary dues set at $25??
Past Gladflies
Updated list of MSSMPG Activities (Alice)
Poster of Mystery Weekend (Terrie)
Poster of Prom Banquet (Alice)
Poster of Projects (Jane)
Map needed: pin registering parents to see where geographic distribution is Discussion re formalized social contact at certain bus stops (create a tradition)
Jane/Terrie/Alice to complete plans next week

-Communications Chair Paul Meyer has resigned due to his son deciding to not return. He is still willing to help keep the web site updated for now (and has been!). New bylaws drop one chair slot so will not try to officially refill at this time.

-Elections will be held Oct Parent Teacher weekend. Decision not to have absentee ballots as then could not take nominations from the floor.

-Follow up Board Meeting (see also separate report when done)
Zero Tolerance (1st strike you're expelled) passed despite legal opinion against it, however passed with provision that the final version be okd by lawyer. Noted that it has already been incorporated into the handbook. One problem is that any Dean covers when Dean of Res Life is away- which again creates problem when that Dean is in college or academic counseling role with same student..
Budget discussed. $1.6 million based on 100 students (90 expected). One teacher resigned, one (R. Dowling) cut, and one moved to administration to recruit/admissions.
Dean of Residential Life has board approved job description. New Dean of Academic and College Counseling does not. Unclear if admissions position will be labeled Dean or not.
Harris report presented. Available by asking Joe Siddiqui, though Paula Haddow had agreed it should be sent out to all last year parents (we agreed to not put on web site to deter prospectives ). Decided to not push this issue but make the report available to interested parents ourselves as well.

Nate Gardner - already working well with students- allowing some soccer athletes to stay in dorm ahead of Move In as few Hosts available.

Handbook changes discussed; no Sun interwing, consequences of not cooperating in an investigation. Decision to let this and f/u to Harris report lie for awhile to let Nate take charge.

Executive Director Search (Haines): applications not closed. No meeting yet since first one. David has written to Peg expressing concerns about the ethics of having staff on the committee who would directly report to the candidate. Unclear yet if questions we developed will be included. Terrie/Nigel's neighbor Harvard Educator Barth recruited Jerry Pieh from an educational headhunt org to contact Peg to help put out feelers (free!) Jane to call Dale re name local candidate from few years ago to see if informed position open. Encourage all parents to put the word out (brief job description, and contact infor are on MSSM web site under Jobs)

Board of Trustees Candidates: due to appointment sec leaving suddenly the process will be slowed beyond Mid Aug. House Minority Ed Committee Chair will write letters in support of Paul Chartrand, and Tom Giblin.

Need to remind Mike Edgecomb to include on next agenda the routine guest of nonvoting parent form MSSMPG

College counseling concerns include help meeting early decision deadlines, need for more challenging recommendations of colleges to students. Will ask again that she be at next PAC and ask her to bring list/timeline of supports for students. (Alice)

Academic concerns re much smaller faculty and popular physics teacher cut. Mariellen to call Joe Siddiqui as parent/English teacher re concerns that AP English be more rigorous/monitored (note: per website Wacket still on faculty).

Need to create more formal connection w/ alumni and student senate.

PAC 9/21 Video teleconf PBMC Rockport 7 pm. Alice to check w/ Siddiqui again.