12/09/2013
Brooklyn Excelsior Charter School
Parent Association
856 Quincy Street, Brooklyn, NY 11221
347-857-7502 [email protected]
Meeting Minutes Date: November 14, 2013
Location of Meeting: BECS Multipurpose Room
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Attendance: 11 parents
Staff: No BECS Administration in attendance
The meeting was call to order by the President at 6:30 p.m. I welcome all parents
The October 2013 minutes was approved
Mrs. Gilmore our Treasurer stated that our total PA dues are $1,577.81. Team BECS had 65 walkers attended the Breast Cancer Walk total donations raised was $550.00 which was sent to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Again we would like to thank everyone that participated or made a donation. The Auntie Anne’s Pretzel fundraiser was successful we sold over $5,500.00 and the Parent Association will receive 25% of the profit. Parents that sold pretzels can pick up their order on November 22, 2013 12-6 pm in the Parent Room (132).
Update BECS Security – The Parent Association Executive Team had several meetings with our principal in regards to the lack of security at BECS. We attended the October 28, 2013 Board meeting and the Parent Association stressed the importance of lack of security at BECS. We expect a response at the December 18, 2013 meeting.
The Parent Association reviewed the NYC Dept of Education Progress Report, BECS was given a grade of F for 2012-2013 Student Progress dropped to F, Student Performance C, and School Environment C.
The Parent Association would like the following questions answered:
Did BECS identify the students and grades that are struggling
Did BECS inform the struggling students parents/guardians
What does BECS have in place to assist the struggling students
How would parents be kept informed about struggling students going forward
The Parent Association recommend that BECS hire a certified Social Worker or School Psychologist, students feel more comfortable discussing issues/concerns with someone other than their parents/guardians or BECS Administration.
The Parent Association has outlined the following Prohibited Student Conduct and would like the BECS Administration to review and implement:
Prohibited Student Code
Students may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including suspension and/or expulsion from school for:
1. Engaging in Insubordinate and/or Disorderly Conduct. Example of insubordinate and/or disorderly conduct include, but are limited to:
1.1 Violating the Dress Code: Parent(s) guardian may be required to pick up
children who are not properly dressed for school, bring the missing Dress Code items
to the school, or authorize the student to return home to retrieve the necessary items
as students may not be permitted to attend class. Violations of the dress code also may
result in additional disciplinary consequences.
1.2 Arriving to Class Unprepared: When class begins, students must be prepared
And have all necessary materials (books, organized binder, paper, pencil, etc.).
1.3 Failing to Complete Homework: Completing homework is essential to the
success of individual students and the classroom community. Students are expected
to complete all assignments on time.
1.4 Arriving late to School or Class: Student tardiness disrupts class,
inconvenience others, and often results in academic difficulties. Students may
not be late to school, class or required instruction.
1.5 Disrupting Class and Preventing Teaching: The School can fulfill its
mission only if classrooms are safe and teaching is uninterrupted. Students may
not interfere with or disrupt class or the education process.
1.6 Being Disrespectful toward a Staff Member or His/Her
Designee(s): The School cannot function properly if students are permitted to
be disrespectful toward adults. For that reason, students may not be disrespectful
toward a staff member or any other adult associated with the School.
1.7 Lying to a Staff Member or His/Her Designee(s): Honesty is an
essential element of personal character and is needed to build a community based
on trust and respect. Students are not permitted to lie or attempt to conceal the truth.
1.8 Failing to Comply with the Lawful Directive(s) of a Staff Member
Or His/Her Designee(s): Failing to comply with the lawful directives of teachers,
school administration, other school employees, or their designee(s) is unacceptable.
1.9 Being Disrespectful toward a Student: If students do not feel physically
and emotionally safe in a school, teaching and learning are made more difficult.
Therefore, students may not be disrespectful toward other students.
1.10 Using Abusive or Profane Language or Treatment: Students may not
abusive, threating, lewd, vulgar, coarse, or degrading language or gestures (including
racial epithets or sexist or homophobic remarks).
1.11 Bullying: The school is committed to providing its students and staff with an
educational and working environment that is safe, secure, promotes respect, dignity,
equality and is free from bullying. The school prohibits bullying on school grounds,
school buses, and at school sponsored activities, programs and events including those
taking place off school property. Bullying for this purpose of this policy is defined
as harassment, aggressive behavior or other overt action, whether verbal or physical,
which is intended, or could reasonably be expected, to cause distress, harm, ridicule,
humiliate and/or intimidation. Bullying can be face-to-face, or carried out by phone,
over the internet and other ways directed at another person through the “posting”
of sensitive and/or private information.
1.12 Fighting or Unwanted Physical Contact: The School’s students may not
fight with other students from the School or any other school. Harassing, pushing,
touching or any form of unwanted physical contact is not tolerated.
Recommendations from the Parent Association to all BECS parents/guardians:
Please develop a relationship with Teachers/Deans K-8 grade
Parents/guardians please provide contact information to your child/children teacher(s)
Have daily discussions with your child/children
Check school bags for correspondence from BECS Administration/Teachers/PA
Please assist child/children with daily homework and projects
Please read to child/children on a daily basis for 30 minutes
Teachers need more parental involvement
Attend all Board/Parent Association Meetings extremely important decisions are being made that affect our children
Parents/guardians need to unite so that we can help the BECS Administration/Teachers to achieve this critical goal which is the education of our scholars at BECS
Parents suggest that we do an in house survey to explore why parents are not involved at BECS
Parent have to prioritize their child/children Education is first
Parents/guardians who need assistance please reach out the Parent Association/BECS Administration/Teachers
The meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
The next PA meeting will be held December 12, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.
The next Board meeting will be held December 16, 2013 at 5 p.m.
