SHINING LIGHT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

MEETING MINUTES – FEBRUARY 5, 2001

 

 

MEETING DATE:             February 5, 2001

 

LOCATION/TIME:            Channel 10 at 6:00PM

 

ATTENDEES:

Carolyn French            Katharine Schendel

Ed Bowie                     Robert Hodge

Ruth Duhon                  Mellisa P. Wattigny

Mildred Baker              Mike Huber (SCRIBE)

Dee Stanley                  Maria Placer

 

ACTION ITEMS:  No responsibility for the action items was assigned, as they will be discussed further at the next meeting.

a) Review and redefine the Mission Statement.  The meeting attendees felt the words “Every Child’s Light Could Shine” seemed appropriate to be somewhere in the mission statement.

b) Review the Bylaws.

c) Samples of applications for teachers to fill out.

d) Consider year 1 goals Vs 5-year goals.

e) Identify top 5 funding sources.

 

MEETINGS:  First Monday of each month.  Next meeting March 5th, 2001.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

1) Dee Stanley has made arrangements for a PO Box.  He will periodically check it. 

2) Dee will call Jim Bradshaw at the Advertiser to be a Board Member

3) Motion to structure Shining Light with a Board of Directors and an Advisory Board was “moved, seconded, and passed”.  The Advisory Board is an excellent way to have knowledgeable and concerned members involved who cannot serve on the full Board.

4)Carolyn and Robert presented the “Minute Book of Shining Light Scholarship Program” that was assembled by Robert.  The Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws, the Tax Exempt Certificate are several of the documents in the “Minute Book”  Carolyn thanked Robert for pulling it together.

5) Katharine Schendel, Lafayette Education Foundation (LEF) Executive Director, provided information and background on the LEF, including:

·        Since 1989 LEF has put $685,000 into Teachers hands;

·        In 2000, teachers received $82,000;  

·        In 11 years that LEF has existed, every school has participated.

·        What starts the process for LEF was is a Grant Application Packet that the Teachers complete and forward. A copy is included with these Meeting Minutes in the “Minute Book” 

There was discussion with regard to Shining Light becoming an organizational unit within LEF.  Shining Light will continue to have as its mission to help school children with specific educational needs.  Katharine advised that she needs to discuss the possibility with the LEF Board.

 

Ed made some good points with regard to Shining Light having to prove itself, the need for an efficient and consistent way for the mission of Shining Light, and the procedures for applying for funds to reach the teachers.  Ed also stressed the need for a very clear mission statement. 

 

Several other discussion items were:

·        Agreement that the Principle has to be involved with the request. 

·        A method to reimburse teachers who cover an expense before Shining Light has been able to approve and send the scholarship dollars, was discussed. 

·        Paying the expense for and entire class is not part of the mission.