ASSOCIATION OF COLOMBIAN AND CARIBBEAN AMERICAN SCHOOLS (ACCAS)

EVENT: Semi-annual Meeting at the SACS CASI Chief Administrators Conference

PLACE: Salon 5, Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida

DATE:  Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007

TIME:   4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

 
MEMBER SCHOOLS IN ATTENDANCE:   
           
Colombia

Colegio Albania, Ruth Allen, Director

Colegio Bolívar, Joseph Nagy, Director

Colegio Granadino, Robert Sims, Director

Colegio Jorge Washington, Peter Nonnenkamp, Director

Colegio Karl C. Parrish, Laura Horbal, Director

Colegio Nueva Granada,  Barry McCombs, Director, Michael Adams, Assist. Director

Colegio Panamericano, Jeffrey Jurkovac, Director

Gimnasio Ingles, Jaime Urazan, Director

The Columbus School, David Cardenas, Director, Susan Jaramillo, Assist. Superintendent

Liceo Ingles, Diane Zauscher, Director

Dominican Republic

American School of Santo Domingo, Lourdes Tomas de Gonzalez, Director

The Carol Morgan School, Jack Delman, Director

Colegio Dominico-Americano, Alba Salterio, Director

International School of Sosua, Craig Selig, Director

MC School, Yazmin Estrella, Director

St. Joseph School, Priscilla Hernandez, Director

St. Michael's School, Michelle Morel, Director

Ecuador

American School of Quito, Susan Barba, Director

Haiti

Union School, Marie F. Jean-Baptiste, Director

GUESTS:

Helen Faber and Xiomara Mayo of the The Ashton School, Dominican Republic

Mary Virginia Sanchez, Tri-Association President

AGENDA:

1.     Call to Order

2.     Minutes

3.     Applications for ACCAS Membership

4.     Financial Report

5.     Paul G. Orr Award

6.     Summary of Tri-Association Board Meeting Business

7.     Staff Development

8.     AASSA Meeting Information       

9.     Adjournment

 1.  Call to Order

The Meeting was called to order at 3:35 p.m. by President Jack Delman who welcomed the group and asked everyone present to introduce themselves.

2.  Minutes

The Minutes from the previous meeting were approved. The President encouraged members to read the meeting minutes and other information posted on the ACCAS website (www.accas.org.). 

3. Applications for ACCAS membership

Two schools are applying for membership to ACCAS:

·          Colegio Menor, Quito, Ecuador.  This school has 1400 students, is currently a candidate for SACS accreditation, and will have a visit in 2009.  Fred Pasquale is serving as consultant. Andrew Sherman has been named director.  Dr. McCombs asked if it would be possible for the group to have more information about the school before making a decision.  Mr. Delman will ask Mary Virginia Sanchez if she can visit the school and provide more information.

·          Ashton School, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.   This school is also a candidate for accreditation.  Founded in 1998, it began with 35 students and now has 420.  A visit will take place in 2009. Mr. Delman is their consultant and recommends them for membership.

It was clarified that our by-laws allow us to accept non-accredited schools if they are candidates for accreditation, and the group was reminded that we have done so in the past.  Mr. Delman indicated that he thought the by-laws also state that one of the officers of ACCAS must have visited the school, and that if the school is turned down for accreditation, membership in ACCAS will cease.  Mr. Delman moved that Ashton School be accepted.  The motion was seconded and approved. A motion was made to postpone accepting Colegio Menor until a visit could be arranged by someone selected by the ACCAS Executive Board.  As a result of the visit, a recommendation will be made and ¾ of the ACCAS members in attendance must vote in favor.    

4. Financial Report

Mr. Nagy presented the report and noted that the main expenditure was for the Tri-Association.  The current bank balance is $43,776.  Santiago Christian School has outstanding dues but hasn’t responded to inquiries.  It was clarified that newly admitted schools will pay full dues for the year.

5.  Paul G. Orr Award

Mr. Delman explained that the Paul G. Orr Award is given by the Tri-Association to an individual or organization that has done something significant in favor of the region.  Past winners have included Jeff Keller, and Colegio Nueva Granada for its community outreach program, and Dr. Burton Fox, President of the IRC.   Mr. Delman asked if there were any nominees.  Dr. William Scotti was suggested.  Mary Virginia clarified that it isn’t necessary to give the award every year.  She also asked for applications for the Tri Association’s Community Service award.

6. Summary of Tri-Association Board Meeting Business

·          NWEA MAP Testing

Mr. Delman reported that the Tri-Association, noting the wide interest in these tests, has negotiated lower rates for member schools.  The following costs will be held for three years.:

1.     For schools testing 65% of the eligible student population (grades 1 through 10), the cost will drop from $18.25 to $14.00 per student, with a minimum cost of $1,500.  The amount covers the Language Arts/English and Math tests.  Schools wishing to include Science will be charged an additional $2.50 per student

2.     For schools testing between 51% and 64 % the cost is $15.00 per student.

3.     For schools testing less than 50% the cost is $15.50 per student.

There will be additional costs for training, some of which will take place using video conferencing.  The first session will take place in the second semester of this year and will be free of charge.  Any school with video conferencing capabilities may participate.   Dr. McCombs said that from Jan. 8 – 11, CNG will host an on-site training session and invited schools to send participants.  Training will also continue at the next two Tri-Association conferences. Diane asked how many people should be trained.   Dr. McCombs suggested 4 or 5. 

·          ASOMEX proposal for rotation of the Tr-Association presidency

This proposal was accepted, with the caveat that a new person on the board should not assume the presidency.  If a new member’s turn should come up, the sitting president will remain in office for one additional year.  Also, in order to provide continuity, the ex-oficio President will remain for one year.  The ACCAS term will end this year, and the presidency handed over to AASCA.

·          United Streaming

The Tri-Association Board wants to determine how many member schools are interested in acquiring United Streaming at a fee lower than the commercial rate.   A minimum of 35 schools is needed.    Susan clarified that this is a service that provides videos to schools.  Dr. McCombs mentioned that there may be other options available.   Mr. Delman mentioned an article that includes United Streaming as one of the top two services with Safari Montage and CCC Video on Demand. A show of hands showed 17 interested.

·          Recruitment Fair

The Tri-Association is also looking at a model for a recruitment fair that would favor our region, perhaps using technology such as video conferencing and webcams.   Conversations are still taking place and no information is available yet regarding possible fees or dates. It is believed that this might be an interesting alternative for our schools, especially since AASSA just raised their costs substantially and may no longer be an option.   Dr. McCombs mentioned that we will be competing with AASSA and suggested combining with that organization. Mr. Delman clarified that the Tri-Association Board already approached the AASSA leadership about this but the proposal does not seem likely to be pursued.   Mary Virginia asked if January would be a good time.  The original proposal was to have a post-Tri conference, but it was felt this was too early.  Much will depend on whether or not the interviews will be conducted electronically.  If so, time will not be a problem.  If not, the event would have to take place before or after one of the existing fairs, to facilitate attendance by both schools and candidates. 

·          Tri-Association Business Meeting dates

There has been discussion about the General Business Meeting that is now held annually during the SACS Conference.  The Board is considering whether it might be preferable to meet during the Tri-Association Conference.  Dr. McCombs asked if there were a problem holding it at the SACS conference.   Mary Virginia stated that ASOMEX doesn’t have a problem, but there was a perception that more directors attended the Tri Conference.  A show of hands indicated a preference to continue holding the meeting during the SACS conference.

7. Staff Development

Mr. Delman mentioned several initiatives in his region.  Susan recommended that the group create a plan over several years which would allow us to pool resources and sustain improvement.  It was clarified that the Colombian ACCAS schools plan together separately from the larger group.  It was agreed to create a sub-committee to set up a 5-year plan for ACCAS.   Members will be:  Susan Jaramillo  (Chair), Rob Sims, Michelle Morel, and Craig Selig. Virtual meetings will take place, and Mr. Delman requested that the group’s recommendations be submitted to him before May.   Dr. McCombs recommended NWEA training as an on-going need.  Susan asked for additional suggestions to be directed towards the sub-committee members.

Susan spoke about the 2^nd Summer Math Institute “Best Practices for Math” to be held at The Columbus School in Medellin, Colombia from July 27 – August 1, 2008.   The main theme is how to teach a standards-based math curriculum.  Last year, 14 consultants from the U.S. participated.  Classes were observed at all levels and were followed by professional discussion and analysis.  The experience was judged to be very enriching for teachers at all levels.  It also allowed the Math teachers to integrate.  Dr. McCombs mentioned that his old and new math teachers bonded in a way that was very helpful and made a difference in their team work throughout the year.   CNG sent all its math teachers.  She asked for the total numbers of participants before April 30.  Mr. Nagy asked for further discussion about whether or not ACCAS funds should be used.

8. AASSA Meeting Information           

Michael Adams reported the following issue as a point of information:   Until this
year there was a “gentlemen’s agreement” between the Tri-Association and
AASSA leadership such that each group’s annual conference would not be held
in the same region in the same year, thus avoiding the need for member
schools to have to choose which event to attend due to the high cost of attending
both.  Alternatively, the two leaderships had occasionally worked together and planned a joint conference.  Recently, perhaps as a result of the leadership change at AASSA, there has been some disharmony due to the fact that the Tri-Association Conference in 2008 will be held in Costa Rica, and shortly thereafter the AASSA conference will be held in Bogota.  Some confusion has ensued, and in the hopes of restoring good communication, the two leaderships will meet for a discussion.  Mr. Delman stated that the State Dept. through Dr. Scotti had suggested merging the two organizations.  There is resistance to this due to the fact that distances in South America are huge, and conferences would rotate from the Caribbean to a 10-hour plane ride to Argentina or Brazil.  It is strongly felt that the issues of time and expense resulting from a merger would be insurmountable and would disperse us as an organization. 

9. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:05 pm.