Morongo Band of Mission Indians

EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING

Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:00 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Barbara Calderon

Carolyn Horsman

Roselee Palacios

Anita Soza

Suzanne Lugo

Roberta Calderon

TRIBAL COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT:

Dennis Miller

STAFF PRESENT:

Curt Walch, Education Administrator

Trisha Smith, Admin. Asst.

Sandra Schubert, MLCP Director

Jordan Livingston, Alternative Education Director

Mason Patterson, Tutoring Program Manager

 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

I. Meeting called to order by Barbara Calderon at 10:20 a.m. Meeting will be a

discussion until more Committee Members arrive.

Q: Did anyone go down and measure to see if the buildings will fit around the
Senior Center?
A: Curt stated that he did informally.

Q: Will the placement of the buildings cause a fire/safety hazard?

A: Curt stated that the emergency vehicles would have to enter from the
south side where the Learning Center is.

Q: Have you (Curt) went inside the Senior Center to take a look around?
A: Curt said that he had. He stated that the building is narrow but could
be used for office space, kitchen, cafeteria, etc.

-Curt stated that Tribal Council is working on finding a temporary site for the
school. They are currently working on setting aside funds (from MEPA funds)
for the permanent buildings.

-Committee informed Curt that the turnkey school designs may have been found
and advised that he check with Tom in Planning and Karen in Realty.

*Regular Meeting was called to order at 10:31 a.m.

II. Review and Approval of 9/9/09 meeting minutes:

MOTION #1: To approve the 9/9/09 meeting minutes by Anita Soza, 2nd by
Roselee Palacios.
Vote: 4 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstained.
*Please note that at time of vote only 4 Education Committee Members were
present.

-Committee asked about the generator for MLCP and Curt stated that Michael
Milhiser said that any requests for more funds need to be included in budget talks.

Q: When did the tutoring of the college students?

A: Curt stated that it is his understanding that this has been done since the
beginning. Committee would like the funds for this to come out of the scholarship
fund for the students so that services are not taken away from the children.
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

Q: Is there any money left in the budget to purchase the generators for
A: MCLP? Curt will find out how much the generator will be and what
size is needed for MLCP.

-We need to add the new handbooks to Committee binders.

III. Questions from Non-Committee Members

No Non-Committee Members were present.

IV. Executive Committee Business

No Executive Committee Business to discuss.

V. Tutoring Report, Mason Patterson:

-Breakdown of tutors and students was provided.

Elementary:
Morongo 1st and 2nd Grade, 7 Tribal, 8 descendants-Linda P. tutor
Cabazon, 9 Tribal-Marsha R. and Cheryl L. tutors
Central, 3 Tribal, 3 descendants-Audrey G. tutor
Hoffer/Hemmerling, 5 Tribal, 3 descendants-Lizette P. tutor

Pre Jr. High, Jr. High:

Coombs, 7 Tribal, 10 descendants-Erika B, Linda B., Candida B. tutors (Linda B
works primarily at Coombs while also working on other sites with students who
may become at risk).
Nicolet, 2 Tribal, 7 descendants-Sonia B., Erika G. tutors

High School:
Banning High/New Horizons, 11 Tribal, 11 descendants-Monica K., Sue W.,
Marika S. tutors (Sue W. assists one college student regularly and others by
appointment after lunch).

Beaumont and Private Schools, 8 Tribal, 14 descendants (receive help in after

school program only.

Tutoring Program Manager, Mason P. assists director in running the department,

filling in at school sites as necessary, preparing reports, compiling data, creating
curriculum, supervising the afterschool program and so forth.

-There is a total of 52 Tribal students and 56 descendants being services and an

afterschool average attendance of 45 students.
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

V. Tutoring Report, Mason Patterson continued:

-Cheryl’s name needs to be taken off the roster from Cabazon because she is only
providing afterschool tutoring.

-Crispin is filling in for the tutor at Coombs who is out on FMLA.

-Lizette is on two school sites instead of being in the office in the morning.
Committee asked if we need to sit down with Hemmerling to see why tutors are
not permitted there until 11:00 a.m. Mason stated he would look into this.

-Linda P. was at Hoffer but has now been moved to work with the 1st and 2nd
grade. She also works with these students after school.

Q: How many students are at New Horizons?

A: Mason said he believes there are 7.

-Committee suggested that once tutoring gets quarterly reports they are looked at
tutors be adjusted as needed.

-Beaumont School students get bused to the Learning Center after school for
tutoring; tutors do not go to these schools.

-Committee would like to know about positions, staff being out, in regular reports
now. Committee suggested that the money from the tutor out on leave be
allocated to a much needed receptionist for the Learning Center who would be
located in building B where all the students would check in when they arrived
then the tutors would go get them and take them to the building they are being
serviced at. It was also suggested that the office that Curt is in be used for
tutoring again. Committee also asked about getting a nutritionist and Curt stated
he would look into this.

-Sue comes in from the high school after lunch and that is when the college
student comes in (after 2:00 p.m.).

Q: When did tutoring start providing services to college students?

A: Mason and Jordan stated a couple of years ago.

-Committee suggested that Curt create a new department for adult education in
order to keep the adults and children separated.
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

VI. Alternative Education Report, Jordan Livingston:

-Hygiene information will be provided to the students in the Alternative Education

program next week which will include an overview of personal hygiene.

-There are 18 students in the program and 2 potential new students:

2nd – 6th = 8 students
7th – 12th= 10 students
Tribal Members=8
1st Generation Descendants=10

-The following is a list of school districts that Alt. Ed. Works with:
Banning Unified, Beaumont Unified, Hemet Unified, Family Tree Learning
Center, Helen Hunt Jackson Independent Study, Continental Academy,
Capistrano Academy, K-12 Online School, Noli Indian School, Brethren
Independent Study Program.

-Students are happy with the structure of the day and are all getting their work
done well and timely.

-So far department has avoided flu outbreak due to utilizing hand sanitizer etc.

-When students are out staff offers to get books to them so they can get some
work completed while at home.

-Learning Moment is right after lunch and brings all students together to refocus
them on learning. Environmental has presented about recycling, Fire Department
presented on what it takes to be a fireman and has done emergency training,
Cultural Heritage talked to students about Native Culture. Learning games are
presented by staff when there is no one to do a presentation. The Learning
Moment has greatly helped the students get back to work after lunch easier than
last year.

-An emergency drill was conducted with the students which went well. All
students knew what to do and for how long as well as where to meet. Students
were assigned different tasks so that if teachers were killed or injured during an
emergency they would be able to take over that person’s responsibility. The
students really enjoy this and have asked to do it more often so that they can get
really good at it.
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

VI. Alternative Education Report, Jordan Livingston continued:

-Jordan will look into bringing Music to the departments, will bring ideas to
Committee. This needs to be incorporated into budgets.

-Mr. Lee Oliver is the Special Education teacher (works with all Education
departments) and has been coming to the classroom to work with various
students. Curt will bring Committee Mr. Lee’s schedule so they can see where
he is during the day.

-PE is still going well. Jordan stated that she has decided that her group will stay
downstairs and not go upstairs to use the equipment. Students are getting PE
credit at all levels for this activity.

-Recycling is still being down but not for money. Jordan thanked Committee for
their input on this matter.

-Field trips have been included in the 2010 budget following Committee’s
recommendation. Jordan asked Committee if they had any recommendations on
how to ask for donations so that a field trip can be taken by the students before
Christmas. Committee stated that directors need to write a letter stating what
donated money will be used for and info to be in a mass mail out; however,
Council needs to be asked prior though. Also, this can be advertised on the
Access Chanel (this also needs to be approved by Tribal Council).

-Hearing and vision tests to be done for Alternative Education students as well as
the students at MLCP and in the 1st/2nd grade class. Curt will check with Nurse
Ann regarding the tests.

-Locks for the Learning Center can be done with a card key or keypad.
Committee stated that they actually wanted the gates to be locked down not the
buildings. Committee would like Curt to look into a panic bar for the gates.
Inside doors will be locked at all times to insure the safety of all children at the
Learning Center.

-Committee suggested that Curt speak with David Monroe about a system to
notify all departments of emergencies, etc.

-Committee asked Jordan when her students arrive. Jordan stated most of them
are there between 9 and 2:30. Jordan stated that when a student needs to go from
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

VI. Alternative Education Report, Jordan Livingston continued:

the tutoring program to the reading or math specialist the tutor walks the student
over to Jordan’s program and signs the student in with the perspective specialist.

Q: Do any of the Alternative Education students check out books while at the
library?
A: Yes and Jordan has the students do their research in books not on the
computers.

VII. Little Creators Report, Sandra Schubert:

-Sandi passed out newsletters from October.

*Council Member came in to discuss the hiring of two cooks assistants instead of
just one. Council Member stated that if only one is needed then only the best
qualified should be hired. Committee agreed.

*Council Member stated that John Easton should be called to request his
department gets bids on lock systems for the doors/gates.

-Committee asked Sandi if it would be easier for them to have the 1 st and 2nd grade
bring their lunches and Sandi stated that it would be until the Cook’s Assistant
starts. Committee recommends that no food is delivered to the 1st and 2nd grade
after this week and students will have to bring their own lunch. Committee made
a recommendation to put position on hold for assistant cook and that a letter be
sent out to parents to inform that breakfast and lunch will no longer be delivered
to the 1st/2nd grade students. The letter to parents to include section on no peanuts
(quote handbook) and should state as of October 19th students will need to eat
breakfast at home and lunch is to be brought in daily. Fresh fruit to be kept at 1 st
2nd grade site for afternoon snack.

-Enrollment for the Kinder class is up by 1 as a student who is a Tribal Member

transferred from another school this week. Current enrollment is as follows:
Red Tailed Hawks=16
The Coyotes=15
The Black Bears=8

Total number of students at MCLP is 39, 19 are Tribal Members and 20 are 1st
generation descendants.
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

VII. Little Creators Report, Sandra Schubert continued:

-Facility, portables will be on the north side of MCLP. At this time construction
and/or land grading has not yet begun.

-Book Fair was held but this year they only sold $1200 which is down from the
previous two years. Sandi is unsure if Mrs. Nelson’s Books will be willing to
come out again next year as their labor costs are high for this type of program. If
there is a book fair again next year, MLCP will develop a better advertising
strategy.

-Upcoming Events: October 16, Morongo Fire Dept to visit, October 21, ICWA
Conference performance at 9:00 a.m., October 23, Pumpkin Patch field trip,
October 30, Halloween Party at Tribal Hall after the Halloween Hunt on the
playground. No trick-or-treating this year.

-Employee Contact was prepared by Sandi after the request from Committee.
Committee requested that the mission statement from BIE be taken out and the
MLCP mission statement be put in. Human Resources to change the language to
fit Morongo departments and then it needs to go to legal for changes/approval.

-Committee informed Sandi that she can make a list for things the school needs
and give to Curt so he can give it to Committee.

-Committee stated that some of the parents/grandparents were concerned with the
amount of time the students were able to participate in the field trips as travel time
seemed a little extensive. Sandi stated that this happened about 2 summers ago
and they do not go to the tide pools anymore due to this issue.

-Grandparents reminded that there were not enough presents for children to give
to both sets of grandparents. Also, make sure there are enough for the Christmas
ornaments also.

VIII. Education Services Report, Curt Walch:

Q: 1st and 2nd grade-has Mike Contreras started going into the classroom weekly?
A: Yes, he only has missed once due to Council requesting he go to
Sacramento.

-GOLF TOURNAMENT: Angelica Lyons stated that she is available to assist

with the golf tournament.
 Morongo Band of Mission Indians
EDUCATION COMMITTEE MEETING
Administration Conference Room
October 14, 2009 @ 10:20 a.m.

VIII. Education Services Report, Curt Walch continued:

-Sovereignty Workshop-money is being used from TANF to pay for the Financial
portion which is 12 weeks long and is being provided by Waddell and Reed.
Committee asked if the students are going to be taking part in this if they will
have to fill out TANF paperwork. Committee stated that these monies may have
to come out of the Education or Tribal budget due to TANF regulations. Curt will
speak with Sandra Gonzalez regarding this today.

-Curt reported that each room of Learning Center has air sanitizer and humidifier,
disinfectant spray.

-Curt received a call from staff stated that a student in the 1 st/2nd grade class has
been reported to have the Swine Flue but the report was unconfirmed at this time.
Committee suggested that Curt speak to Council regarding the school with a child
that has been diagnosed with Swine Flu. Curt went down the hall to speak with
Council as they were in session. Council suggested that school remain open but
parents may keep their children home and they will not be penalized for missed
days or assignments.

IX. Meeting adjourned at 1:35 p.m. by Barbara Calderon.