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Council Notes September 19 2024

9/19/2024  Council Meeting Minutes
Horizons K-8 School
Meeting Agenda: 9/19/24

5:00 - 5:45  Chili Cook-Off!!  

Call to Order: 5:47 PM

  • Quorum established

Facilitators: Jasmine GBC, Kristin Hauger

Notetaker: Michelle Bargo

5:50   Intention-setting, Mindfulness, & Communication Activity - Kristin Hauger

  • We all read the Horizons Communication Agreement and the discussed parts that felt most important to us individually and as a community.  Faculty already participated in this exercise and Kristin added our perspectives from the Council to the document that the faculty started.  

6:18  Chili Cook-Off Winners - Theresa Greene

  • 3rd Place:  Allyson Desart (chicken chili)
  • 2nd Place:  Linnea O’Shea-Stone (cheesy chicken corn chili)
  • 1st Place:  Kate Hughes  (white bean chicken chili)
  • Best dessert:  Allyson Desart (peach cobbler)

6:20  Hawks Happenings:

  • Julie Cohen - 3/4 - Presented the “Economy Project” that all classes participated in.  Third and fourth graders signed employment contracts, earned weekly paychecks, and paid taxes.  They also rented their desk space, purchased their school supplies, and saved up for privileges.   The kids are having their retirement parties tomorrow!  
  • Cristina Cozzoli - 3/4 STEAM - Created a Build-a-Bridge-on-a-Budget activity to correspond with the Economy Project.  
  • Natalie Bauer - K - Presented on the kinder outdoor ed experience at the pond next door.  It was a joyful, nature-filled field trip and Jeff & Paige also came to perform silly songs.  Kinders followed up by writing a book sharing their opinions on their favorite songs from the day.  

6:34   Overview of the Horizons Financial Structure - Jasmine GBC

  • Fund 11 - This fund comes directly from PPR (Per Pupil Revenue) and is based on our student enrollment.  BVSD takes 30% for services they provide us, which are mostly consultative.  This fund is what is used as a checking account to cover our operating costs.
    • Discussed the fact that we had hoped to enroll 375 students but are actually well below this number.  This affects our budget so faculty has been tasked with problem-solving the fact that we have long wait lists at grades 3-6 and low enrollment at K, 7, and 8.
  • Council Budget - This is fundraised money and we have a bit more flexibility with this fund.  This money can help us cover operating expenses in an emergency but is also used for the extra things that make Horizons special.   At monthly Council meetings, Horizons community members vote on whether to pay for various resources for the school.  
  • For more involvement in the Horizons Budget, please consider coming to monthly FRC meetings scheduled on Thursdays during the school day.

6:58  Committee Updates:  

  • Middle School Playground Focus Group - Kristin Hauger
    • #BIGKIDSPLAYTOO
    • The committee shifted to a “back-to-nature” concept in a collaboration with Boulder Parks & Rec.  They can offer $500K to improve one Boulder park per year.  We would like our grounds to be one of their projects!  
  • Development Committee - Kristin Hauger & Lauren Yedell - Meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 2:30.
    • Artastic - If you’re interested in selling at the market, the deadline is approaching!
    • Colorado Gives Fundraising Campaign (11/1/24 - 12/10/24)
    • Grant Writing Committee is getting started this year.  No experience required!
    • There’s a new Opportunity to fundraise at CU games is an option if someone is interested in taking this on.  Talk to Lauren Yedell.
  • EDB (Equity, Diversity, Belonging) - Allyson Desart
    • EDB is changing the format this year from holding monthly meetings to hosting events at the school.  The Banned Book Club is happening again this year, with monthly asynchronous book “discussions.”
  • Small Recruitment Committee - Recruiting kindergarteners for this year and upcoming years by reaching out to preschools!
  • HCG (Horizons Community Group) -  Rachel Mentz
    • HCG has set up a new HCG website this  year:   horizonsk8.org
      • Go to the bottom of the webpage, find the calendar tab, and there is a way to add the Horizons calendars to your device.
    • HCG also runs Coffee Connections, All-School Fall Dance, Clothing & Gear Swaps, Plant Sale, Feed the Teachers sign-ups, Community Movie, and so much more!

7:27  On the Horizon

  • SAC (School Accountability Committee) - Becky Goddard is our Horizons SAC rep this year!  GBC plans to add a SAC conversation to 4 Council meetings this year.  This would save time for all who attend Horizons meetings.  
  • Classroom Cleaning - Historically, families signed up to clean their student’s classroom for a couple weeks per year.  This taught students to take responsibility for their school space, brought parents into the classroom, and allowed Horizons to allocate funds differently from district schools.   There has been some question about whether to continue this tradition and also about clarifying the goals of classroom cleaning.  Once upon a time families could make a payment in lieu of volunteering to clean their students’ classrooms.  Regardless of the decision that’s made regarding requesting that families volunteer, pay, or a combination of the two, the front office cannot be responsible for managing classroom cleaning.
    • Do we want to allow parents to volunteer OR pay for classroom cleaning, whatever makes sense for them?
    • Some community members feel that the amount of time required to clean classrooms in lieu of a payment is difficult for their families to contribute.  Other community members feel that the amount of money requested in lieu of volunteering to clean is difficult for their families to contribute.
    • GBC proposes that we move this discussion to the next Council meeting. 
      • Seconded: John Bogosian
      • Agreed upon

Adjourned:   8:29 PM