MINUTES N. 4

2008/2009 School Year

The IST Board of Directors meets at the International School of Trieste June 9th, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss the following agenda:

1. Approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting
2. Communication from the President
3. Didactic situation
4. Presentation of a three-year didactic program
5. Change of Admission Rules
6. Parent-Student Handbook
7. IST Staff Handbook
8. Results of the 2009 IST Family and Teaching Staff Surveys
9. School building repair works during the Summer
10. School lunch service for the 2009-2010 school year.
11. Bus service for the 2009-2010 school year.
12. AOB.

Members Roberto Morelli, Massimo Paparo, Giuliano Chersi, Marino Predonzani, Patricia Bonaert, Kumar Narain, Maristella Petris, Elisabetta Bortolotto Sarcinelli, Andrea Illy and Roberto Tassi. Manlio Romanelli, Pier Luigi Maneschi  and Maria Cristina Pedicchio justified their absence.

Michele D’Agnolo, Sole Auditor, justified his absence.

Prof. James Pastore (Director), Prof. Jason Anklowitz (Vice Director), Dr. Andrea Vucetti, Ms. Paola Zonta (secretary to the Minutes) and Ms. Susanna Gerolami (translator) participate without the right to vote.

The presence of an official number of voters is certified and the President opens the meeting at 7:20 p.m.

1. Approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting.

The members approve the Minutes.

2. President’s Report.

The President thanks Mr. Pastore for all his work. Since this is the last Board of Administration meeting for Mr. Pastore it is the right occasion to thank him for all the achievements of the last five years. It has been a period rich in enterprises and projects. In these years important projects were started and carried out such as the foundation of the High School and the Summer School. Thanks to Mr. Pastore’s contribution, the school experienced a period of growth and maturity as well as a period of constant increase in the number of enrolments.
The Board joins the President in gratitude and greetings.
The President informs the Board that the school has received a temporary (two years) authorization for the Pre-Nursery class.
The Board acknowledges and is pleased.
The President informs the Board that the guest speaker at the Gr. 8 Graduation ceremony will be Mr. Roberto Dipiazza, Mayor of Trieste. The President also asks the Board members, particularly the PTA representatives, to suggest guest speakers for next year.
The Board acknowledges and the PTA representatives confirm their availability to suggest and evaluate proposals.

3. Didactic situation.

The Director presents his short report. The Board acknowledges.

4. Presentation of a three-year didactic program.

The Vice Director prof. Jason Anklowitz presents a three year didactic program introducing the new evaluation criteria and three new didactic coordinators who will assist the Director as from the next school year. Great attention has been set on programs, study plans and teachers’ work organization in each grade.
The President congratulates the excellent work.

5. Change of Admission Rules.

Given the impossibility to accept the latest requests of enrollment made by foreign families due to the fact that the classes were already complete, the President proposes that the number of Italian students admitted in each class be further reduced by one. The following is proposed.
Resolution:
Given the possibility, the school will keep n. 2 places available in each class for the possible enrollment of foreign students during the period January 31st – May 31st ,increasing by one the enrolment reserve presently enforced.
The Board Member Mrs. Bonaert expresses her opinion that it should always be possible to accept foreign students throughout the school year and consequently that the number of Italian students accepted in each class should be further reduced to allow for this. To compensate for the economic loss, the school fees could be increased slightly more than at present and reach a 4% yearly increase.
After a short discussion the resolution is approved by all the councilors. One vote against (Mrs. Bonaert).

6. Parent-Student Handbook & 7. IST Staff Handbook.

The President informs the Board that the Parent-Student and Staff Handbooks are being updated and will be presented to the Board as soon as they are ready.
The Board acknowledges.

8. Results of the 2009 IST Family and Teaching Staff Surveys.

The President invites the Board to examine the results of the IST Surveys. As far as families are concerned, the level of satisfaction has increased by one point since the previous year survey. In particular, the President illustrates the best five and the worst five items to compare the things that improved with those that lost value. Examining the Teaching Staff Survey the President points out the fact that teachers showed some difficulties in relating to the Didactic Director. The President underlines the importance of complete and thorough communication both internally and with the school community and invites prof. Anklowitz to work primarily in this direction.
The Board acknowledges.

9. School building repair works during the Summer.

In addition to the ordinary summer maintenance work this year the school will have a new artificial grass soccer field to complete the renovation of the courtyard playground started last year. Furthermore, the President informs that the Villaggio del Fanciullo has not given permission to asphalt the small soccer field we use as a parking lot. Nonetheless it shall be arranged it in the best of ways in order for it to be suitable even in rainy weather.

10. School lunch service for the 2009-2010 school year.

The President informs the Board that the Administration is collecting estimates for the catering service for the 2009-2010 school year.
After a short discussion the Board approves the following:
Resolution: The Board commissions the administration to choose the best estimate according to the ratio quality-price paying special attention to quality.

11. Bus service for the 2009-2010 school year.

The President informs the Board that the Administration is collecting estimates for different bus services for the 2009-2010 school year.
After a short discussion the Board approves the following:
Resolution: The Board commissions the administration to choose the best estimate according to the ratio quality-price paying special attention to quality.

12. AOB

Nothing further to discuss, the President closes the meeting at 10:50 p.m.

The secretary to the Minutes                                                         The President
          Paola Zonta                                                                  dott. Roberto Morelli