ASSOCIATION OF COLOMBIAN AND CARIBBEAN AMERICAN SCHOOLS (ACCAS)

 

EVENT: Semi-annual Meeting at Tri Association Conference

PLACE: Colegio Nueva Granada Board Room (2nd Floor, Administrative Building)
Bogota, Colombia

DATE: Friday, Oct. 13, 2006

TIME: 1:30 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.

MEMBER SCHOOLS IN ATTENDANCE:
 
Colombia
Colegio Albania, Ruth Allen, Director
Colegio Bolívar, Joseph Nagy, Director
Colegio Granadino, Guy Worthington, Director
Colegio Jorge Washington, Pete Nonnenkamp, Director
Colegio Karl C. Parrish, Laura Horbal, Director
Colegio Nueva Granada, Barry McCombs, Director and Michael Adams, Assist. Director
Colegio Panamericano, Jeffrey Jurkovac, Director
The Columbus School, Susan Jaramillo, Assist. Superintendent

Dominican Republic
The Carol Morgan School, Jack Delman, Director
St. Michael's School, Michelle Morel, Director

Ecuador
American School of Quito, Susan Barba, Director General

VISITORS

Dr. William Scotti, Regional Education Officer, U.S. State Department
Diane Zauscher, Director, Liceo Ingles, Colombia

AGENDA:

1. Call to Order
2. Minutes
3. New member introductions
4. Professional Development
5. Student Activities
6. ACCAS Leadership Issues
7. U.S. State Department Support
8. Other business
9. Adjournment

1. Call to Order
The Meeting was called to order at 1:30 p.m. by President Jack Delman.

2. Minutes
The President reminded members that the minutes from the previous meeting are on the ACCAS website (www.accas.org.). The minutes were approved.

3. New Member Introductions
After general introductions, the President welcomed new directors Ruth Allen and Diane Zauscher. The President remarked on the importance of this meeting as a complement to the one held annually in conjunction with the SACS Chief Administrators’ Conference in Atlanta.

4. Professional Development
The President asked about current and projected activities. Michael Adams remarked that since the Tri Association Conference was in Bogota this year, the Colombian schools had agreed to use most of their Professional Development resources to send large numbers of staff members. Mr. Adams added that next year an Advanced Placement event would take place in Barranquilla at Colegio Karl C. Parrish. Susan Jaramillo mentioned that The Columbus School will hold a Math workshop this year. Invitations were sent to other schools and will be resent to make sure everyone gets one. Guy Worthington offered information about a planned visit from Janie Pollock.

The President stated that schools should share professional development activities more often and that the information should be posted on the ACCAS website. Barry McCombs agreed, saying that if we know what's going on we can send staff members to participate in one another’s activities or coordinate consultants’ engagements so that several schools can be visited. Information should be sent to the President (jdelman@cms.edu.do), who will forward it to the CMS staff member responsible for the website. The President also reminded the group that the Vice President sends out a request each year for updated information for the website directory in Colombia and he does the same to update Dominican school information.

The President informed the members that The Carol Morgan School has switched from offering a Framingham Masters Program to a program with Buffalo State University, adding that the quality of the visiting professors is noticeably better. Other schools in the Dominican Republic have tied in with this program and are taking advantage of the professors’ visits.

5. Student Activities
The President reminded members that the ACCAS schools in the Dominican Republic will hold an ACCAS Drama Festival probably in March, and invited schools to send participants.

Dr. Adams said that Colegio Nueva Granada will host a regional Art Festival in March.

The President informed the group that the Dominican Republic was considering joining Odyssey of the Mind and forming a region for competitions. Dr. McCombs stated that Destination Imagination is used in Colombia and that CNG holds the competition for the country. Barry Gilman, CNG’s Primary Principle, is the trainer for this region and can be reached for more information at bgilman@cng.edu. The President said that the Dominican Republic would look into joining Destination Imagination instead of Odyssey of the Mind so that joint activities could take place in the future.

6. ACCAS Leadership Issues
The President said that at the Tri Association Board Meeting held earlier in the day, several issues regarding the leadership of that organization were raised. Consequently, the ACCAS group would need to decide whether or not the current ACCAS leadership should remain in office. The issues surrounding the pending decisions are summarized as follows:

1. Jack Delman has been the President of ACCAS and of the Tri Association for 4 years, and based partly on his longevity in these offices, was appointed to the Executive Board of the AAIE. ASOMEX has asked if the Tri President should continue to be selected based on longevity. Mary Virginia will review the Tri Association bylaws. The ACCAS bylaws state that the term of the presidency is 2 years. Therefore, the questions to be decided are:
• Do the ACCAS bylaws permit consecutive terms of office for board members?
• Assuming they do, does the ACCAS membership want Mr. Delman to continue in the Presidency for a third term?

2. Michael Adams was elected to the position of Vice President of ACCAS four years ago when he was the Director of Colegio Granadino. He is currently the Assistant Director for Curriculum at CNG. Therefore, the questions to be decided are:
• Do the ACCAS bylaws permit non-directors to hold office?
• Assuming they do, and that consecutive terms of office are permitted, does the ACCAS membership want Mr. Adams to continue in the Vice Presidency for a third term?

Peter Nonnenkamp suggested that consensus could be reached before the December meeting and expressed his support for Mr. Delman’s continuance. This opinion was echoed by several of those present. Mr. Nonnenkamp asked if Mr. Delman would be willing to remain in office as ACCAS President if the group so chose, and Mr. Delman responded that he would. Dr. McCombs suggested that the group review the ACCAS bylaws to settle the questions that had been raised. The bylaws were projected onto the boardroom screen, and after due consideration, the members found that they contained no impediment either to the terms of office being renewed or to an office being held by a non-Director as a permanent delegate.

Diane Zauscher requested additional information about the various organizations under discussion. Dr. Scotti clarified that AAIE is the Association for the Advancement of International Education, a premier networking organization that deals with education and whose members get together worldwide to understand and discuss problems. Headnet is one of the services provided and allows heads of school all over the world to consult the group about issues of mutual interest. Similar networks are in place for principals and counselors. Other services include a newsletter, summer training programs, and support for new directors. The majority of the work is focused on leadership. Mr. Delman explained that the Tri Association holds 3 seats on the AAIE Executive Board. Every other region in the world is represented by one member each. Mr. Delman mentioned that the AAIE board is considering expanding its membership to include more school directors; these members would be appointed by the leadership.

The discussion continued and three facts were highlighted:
• Mr. Delman’s membership on the AAIE Executive Board has allowed him to carry considerable weight on behalf of ACCAS and Tri Association to that Board.
• Dr. Scotti confirmed that previous to Mr. Delman’s Presidency, ACCAS was rarely represented in AAIE.
• It is evident that Mr. Delman has taken a personal interest in working for the good of the organization.

After further discussion, Dr. McCombs said it was clear that the Colombian directors all agreed that Mr. Delman should remain as President, and that the remaining schools would need to make a decision. It was mentioned that the Dominican directors had already expressed their support for his continuance. Laura Horbal reminded the group that this type of amicable consensus was in keeping with the way ACCAS schools had elected board members in the past. Mr. Nonnenkamp made a motion to suggest ratifying Mr. Delman as President of ACCAS for a third term, and Dr. Adams as Vice President, at the December meeting in Atlanta. The motion was seconded by Dr. McCombs and carried without dissent.

7. U.S. State Department Support
Dr. Scotti congratulated CNG Director Dr. Barry McCombs and his staff for the outstanding organization of the Tri Association Conference and gave special praise to the presentation by the Colegio Panamericano Orchestra.

Dr. Scotti stated that the Director of the Union School in Haiti has asked if anyone can send an experienced librarian to assist in organizing their library. Mr. Delman remarked that his school had sent a teacher to Haiti to work on data collection. Additional help is needed.

Dr. Scotti said that when the new Jorge Washington campus in Cartagena was completed it would be one of the best facilities in region.

Dr. Scotti mentioned that the State Department strongly supports the Tri Association conference with a sizable grant, and does likewise with the annual SACS CASI Conference. Without that grant, SACS CASI could not carry out their activities. State provides additional support through a grant that enables SACS CASI consultants and team members to travel, conduct school visits, etc., so that even if a school is not getting direct support from the State Dept. they do receive indirect support. Barry asked if SACS CASI has expanded, and Dr. Scotti confirmed that they have joined the North Central Association (NCA) and now accredit schools in 33 states. Frank Anderson has received total authority to direct the accreditation process in Latin American schools and is considered “the premier person” regarding our accreditation issues.

It was clarified that so-called soft target grants (for security enhancements such as Mylar window film and P.A. systems) are available for schools not receiving direct support.


8. Other business
ACCAS Dues: Joseph Nagy reminded members who haven’t yet paid to remit payment as soon as possible, and recommended wire transfer as the most efficient method of payment.

EBSCO: The President said that EBSCO has added 2 more elements to the research database package that is currently in use at all ACCAS schools. Since a decision needed to be made on whether or not the schools would agree to accept the corresponding increase in cost, the President and Vice President decided that ACCAS would assume these costs for one year. The group will need to decide if in the future each school should pay this additional amount.

VIF: Mr. Adams said that VIF is getting more involved in working with our schools and communities, and is now working on helping overseas schools recruit teachers who have completed their stay in the U.S. and are ready to come back, as well as teachers from the U.S. who have been abroad and want to return. Jane Larrson of VIF will begin to work with AASSA. She has requested to speak to the membership in December. Susan Barba suggested that schools may need to create a 3rd category of salary and benefits for local teachers who are VIF returnees, or alternatively, a bonus.

Mr. Nonnenkamp said he is seeking a Curriculum Coordinator for Colegio Jorge Washington and asked anyone knowing of a likely candidate to please let him know.

9. Adjournment
At 2:35, Jeffrey Jurkovac made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Mr. Nagy.