Minutes from May 25, 2010 Board Meeting

Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School Trustee Meeting

Minutes of Meeting Conducted on May 25, 2010

(Trustee Meeting #10 of 2009-2010 School Year)

Trustees Attending Meeting: Maury Alcheck, Joelle Kaufman, Josh Smith, Jodi Chall, Sharon Blau Hartley, Aliya Gordon, Paul Lipman, Fran Lent, Madeline Benson, Kathryn Karp, Alisa Spivak, Mark Abelson, Gina Rosenfeld, Kathy Williams, Marty Izenson, Andy Fradkin, and Ilan Jud.

RCWJDS Staff Attending Meeting: Barbara Gereboff and Fred Weiner.

Guests Attending Meeting: Lily Avida, Abbe Braitman and Eyal Ofek

Meeting Minutes:

Jodi Chall delivered the D’var Torah.

Madeline introduced Fred Weiner, who will be Wornick’s finance Director (the School will be sharing Fred with the PJCC).  Fred said that he was happy to be involved in the School and that he was already starting to get familiar with the School’s finances. 

A motion to approve the consent agenda was seconded and unanimously approved.

Barbara informed the Board about her “vision for Wornick”.  The vision consists of four (4) building blocks:

1)   Impassioned Heart: hardwire kindness through the school;

2)   Cultivated Mind: stress intellectual rigor and differentiated instruction;

3)   Nourished Soul: create an opportunity to make meaning; and

4)   Empowered Body: incorporate wellness and Tikun Olum.

Barbara said that, net-net, she is expecting the school to have an enrollment of approximately 217 students next year, but that figure is subject to change.  Barbara also said that she expects there to be approximately 36 kindergarteners.

Sharon reminded everyone that the Board retreat is 8:30 to 1:30PM on June 13 at the School.

Paul and Joelle gave a development update.  They reported that the number of gifts is up, although the total amount raised is flat.

Joelle introduced the concept of Wornick launching a local version of Boston’s Food for Thought Program.  Several trustees thought the idea was terrific and looked forward to participating.

Joelle informed the Board that the Campus was inquiring about timing of the School’s need for additional classrooms in the new CAC as the Campus is trying to reach an agreement with Foster City regarding a revised timetable for construction of the CAC.  Several Trustees stated that while the School does not need additional classrooms in the short term (i.e. ~3 years), the School should plan for having additional classrooms in intermediate term (i.e. ~5+ years).   Several Trustees also suggested that Larry Schlenoff make a presentation to the Wornick Board in the near future regarding the status of the negotiations between the Campus and the City regarding the construction of the new CAC.

Joelle led a discussion about the items that will be covered in the Strategic Plan.  Some of the topics that will be covered will be: how to increase enrollment, how to increase the donor base, and how to improve the perception of the quality of the school.

The Board then met in Executive Session and all non-trustees left the meeting.   Joelle led the discussion.  Questions were asked and discussion ensued.

The meeting adjourned at 9:14PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Josh Smith

RCWJDS Board Secretary 2009-2010

June 7, 2010