Tom DeJardin, Executive Director, called the meeting to order at 8 p.m. He said the goals of the Directors Meeting are to discuss and make decisions regarding the following agenda items:
2001 INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT
Rana Qaimary, the Director from Palestine, explained that she had introduced - at the 2000 Educators Conference - the idea of hosting the 2003 summit in Palestine. She said things are currently not safe to hold the summit in Palestine. Prior to this Directors Meeting, Rana met with Executive Council members Andrew Goldstein, Molly Kellar and David Lloyd, to discuss the situation. Rana said she has contacts with a school in Jordan, which she indicated would be a safe location to hold the summit.
Edith Valerio: Edith asked Rana to explain the difference between Jordan and Palestine. Why is it safer in Jordan?
Rana Qaimary: Said it is safe there and she has contacts with a school there that is interested in joining the Schoolhouse. Rana is working as a coordinator for that school and the school in Palestine.
Rob Nairn: Rob said he does not know enough about Jordan.
Mike Erith: Mike expressed concern about the amount of work involved in training a new school and having them host the summit right away.
Molly Kellar: Molly emphasized the success and experience of Rana and the school in Palestine (noting the previous year's Educators Conference and preparations for this year's summit in Japan). She also noted that it is up to the host school when they would hold the summit. It doesn't have to be in 2003.
Andrew Goldstein: Andrew asked to hear the thoughts of every director on this issue.
Peregrine Kibuuka: He questioned how Rana could coordinate a summit from a different site.
Rob Nairn: Asked that if we say no to Jordan, what are the alternatives? Also, he questioned about having more than one school for one area.
Andrew Goldstein: Said that the Board has already passed a motion (at the Directors meeting in 1999 in Australia) that countries can expand within their own country (i.e., adding more schools).
Joe James: Said he supported "regional" summits and regional representation. He expressed his support of the Palestine-Jordan school connection.
Rana Qaimary: The future is uncertain, but she said now is unsafe to hold the summit in Palestine.
Yoshiaki Oishi: It would be very difficult for his school (from Japan) to attend a summit in Jordan. The Japanese government would probably not allow students to be sent there.
Edith Valerio: Security is important. Have to analyze the situation. We need more time to decide.
Peregrine Kibuuka: Emphasized that Jordan is a safe location and that there is, unfortunately, a generalization that all of the Middle East is unsafe.
Edith Valerio: Do we need to decide now?
Andrew Goldstein: Said that all countries need to agree and, if they don't, there needs to be another option explored. Could the Japan director find out if Japan would accept Jordan?
Mike Erith: This is all information that needs to be shared and brought into the open. We need, though, to move on this now.
David Lloyd: Explained the status of Jordan versus perception of the Middle East as a powder keg. Also said as an organization, we need to decide whether we only hold summits in Westernized countries. David said he understands people's concerns. What Edith said about "waiting to see what happens" will not really work because things could change anytime.
Andrew Goldstein: Do we make a tentative "passing of the flag" to Jordan, and make a final decision after a two-month educational process?
Rana Qaimary: Suggested holding an Educators Conference in Jordan next summer (2002) to help ease teacher concerns about holding a summit in Jordan.
Yoshiaki Oishi: Talked about his country's last attempt to attend the Schoolhouse Directors Conference in Israel in 1998. Said he doubts that the government would send teachers to Jordan.
Joe James: Made a motion that a decision on this be postponed until tomorrow's (Aug. 3) meeting
Peregrine Kibuuka: Seconded the motion.
Andrew Goldstein: Asked Japanese staff and other Directos whether there really is any chance that Japan and others would attend a summit in Japan.
Kuniaki Kawahata: Japan would probably would say no.
Rob Nairn: Probably would not be a problem for Australia.
Joe James: Probably would not be a problem for USA.
Edith Valerio: In Argentina, this may not be a problem. Explained that Argentinian government does not have the power to decide this. Edith requested an alternative site/option.
Peregrine Kibuuka: Probably not a problem.
David Lloyd: Probably not a problem.
Molly Kellar: Said the group needs to credit Rana for her offer.
Joe James: Made an amended motion that Directors come back to tomorrow's meeting with alternatives for this situation.
Peregrine Kibuuka: Seconded the amended motion.
Andrew Goldstein introduced concept of Teacher Exchanges, where teachers from participating countries essentially exchange teaching jobs for a 6 month-1 year period.
Kuniaki Kawahata: Who pays for these exchanges?
Andrew Goldstein: Noted that these are cultural exchanges and would, most likely, be funded by the participating schools.
Edith Valerio: Questioned whether teachers do not participate enough and what their level of participation would be.
The item was tabled for later discussion.
Molly Kellar said that the period of activity between summits is often looked on as dry or inactive. Remedies to this must be developed. Suggestions:
Andrew Goldstein: Asked all countries to provide a list of 3-5 goals for the next two years that can be followed on the Internet.
Tom DeJardin closed the meeting at 10 p.m. and said the meeting would resume the next evening at 8:30 p.m.
August 3, 2001 (Intec Training Center)
Tom DeJardin, Executive Director, called the continuation of the Directors meeting to order at 8:30 p.m. He reviewed the discussion of the previous night's session and asked the Directors to share their thoughts about the proposed 2003 summit.
Rob Nairn: Said Australia is okay with Jordan as a site for the 2003 summit and as a site for an Educators Conference.
Molly Kellar: Said there has been discussion about USA hosting the summit again, but that the participating USA school is in an unstable funding situation because it is a charter school.
Andrew Goldstein: Said if there was a motion to send teachers to Jordan for a fact-finding mission (Educators Conference), that might be good. If this trips then determines that Jordan is not acceptable, we would look for an alternate site for the summit.
Mike Erith: Can there be a step between that? Maybe by November, each school could have a reasonable commitment to whether they would go to Jordan.
David Lloyd: There is an educational process on the Internet that can be done about Jordan.
Rana Qaimary: It is hard to predict what would happen. Can't guarantee anything (regarding the unrest in the Middle East).
Tom DeJardin clarified the points discussed up to this point.
David Lloyd: Said that the Board should proceed with passing the summit flag to Rana (Palestine) and allow groups to check with their own groups and make final decisions. The final check/control has to be the Educators Conference.
Andrew Goldstein: We need to recruit other schools that can host a summit.
Joe James: Agreed that we can't just have summits in the USA, Australia and Japan every year. There needs to be some means of support provided to the host country from the overall organization.
Joe motioned that next year's Educators Conference be held in Jordan and that, at that time, the Board will evaluate Jordan as a potential site….. Joe then stopped the motion to reevaluate.
Andrew Goldstein: Said the Board needs to carefully craft a motion that can gain consensus.
Edith Valerio: Said she arrived late and believes she understands the motion. Two parts to the motion. Do we pass the flag to Rana or decide now while in Japan.
Tom DeJardin: Reviewed earlier consensus of Board that the Board said they do not want to do this (decide on Jordan as a summit site) until after the Educators Conference.
Kuniaki Kawahata: Explained/clarified that "passing of the flag" will take place at the summit's closing dinner (with dignitaries present) and not at the closing ceremony.
Mike Erith: Suggested a motion that Jordan is the recommended site of the next summit and that schools would make a general commitment by Nov. 30, 2001, that the next Educators Conference would be in Jordan and that two weeks following the conference, participating countries would make a final decision on whether they would attend a summit in Jordan. If, at that time, there was not a consensus for Jordan, the International Schoolhouse Executive Council would seek alternative sites for the next summit.
Rob Nairn: Said the Educators Conference deadline is irrelevant if we decide by Nov. 30 that none of the schools will participate.
Mike Erith: Suggested that new schools be explored…maybe Rana can take the lead on that.
David Lloyd: Clarified that we are passing the flag to Palestine, not Jordan.
Molly Kellar: Putting the entire burden on Rana to find another site is a big burden and she should be able to tap into the expertise of others.
Edith Valerio: Still does not understand why we have to announce a site at this year's summit (in Japan).
David Lloyd: Said that not passing the flag in Japan would be a mistake. It's a tradition and not doing it would make the Schoolhouse appear weak.
Joe James: Made a motion that at the end of the Japan summit, the summit flag be passed on to Palestine. Rana will coordinate the next summit. By April 30, 2002, the Board will have its first vote to see if all schools will participate in next summit. If, at that time, we have all the schools' okay, we have an Educators Conference to evaluate the decision. Two weeks after that, the Board makes a final vote on the location of the next summit. Joe also said that after this summit (in Japan), the USA group and the Executive Council would seek alternate summit sites.
Rob Nairn: Seconded the motion.
Edith Valerio: What's better to do? Wait and be sure or announce now and possibly change things later and look bad.
Tom DeJardin reviewed and clarified the motion before the Board.
Yoshiaki Oishi: Indicated one concern: teachers in Japan transfer during the summer. Concern that his school's next principal (Oishi retires in March) will not be as receptive. Oishi said he would lobby for the new principal's support.
Tom DeJardin clarified the motion before the Board and asked for a vote.
All directors presented voted in favor of the motion with the exception of Edith Valerio, the director from Argentina. Edith said she did not understand the motion.
Andrew Goldstein, speaking in Spanish, further clarified the motion for Edith Valerio.
Tom DeJardin then asked the Board to again vote on the motion.
The motion was unanimously carried by all directors.
Tom DeJardin closed the meeting and said it would be continued the next day (Aug. 4) at Daimon High School at 9:45 a.m.
Tom DeJardin opened the final session of the three-day Directors Meeting at 9:45 a.m. He expressed thanks, on behalf of the entire Schoolhouse organization, to Daimon High School for hosting the third International Youth Environmental Summit.
Andrew Goldstein: Expressed the goal to put ideas on the table that would make the Schoolhouse more interactive and make the project less summit-based.
The following country goals were presented:
Australia (presented by Mike Erith):
Palestine (presented by Rana Qaimary):
Argentina (presented by Edith Valerio):
Japan (presented by Yoshiaki Oishi):
USA (presented by Joe James):
Uganda (presented by Peregrine Kibuuka):
Israel (presented by David Lloyd):
Following the country goals presentations, Tom DeJardin requested discussion on next steps.
Andrew Goldstein: The lack of interaction (currently) is the most frustrating thing and needs to be improved.
David Lloyd: Internet chats should not be the focus because they're not effective. Email should be the focus. Maybe have a regular Schoolhouse Days to encourage email communication between participating schools…and others.
Rob Nairn: Need each school to have formal reporting requirements - each year - to detail what is happening within each school.
Andrew Goldstein:/ Recommended, based on the discussion, that following this summit, each participating school be responsible for the following:
Those in attendance agreed with the recommendation on next steps. Tom DeJardin formally closed the 2001 Directors Meeting for the International Schoolhouse at 11:15 a.m.
Attendees: Tom DeJardin, Executive Director; Andrew Goldstein, Program Development Coordinator (Executive Council); Kuniaki Kawahata, Summit Coordinator (Executive Council); Molly Kellar, Special Projects Coordinator (Executive Council); David Lloyd, Information Technology Coordinator/acting Israel director (proxy vote for Hannah Sivan); Peregrine Kibuuka, Uganda Director; Edith Valerio, Argentina Director; Yoshiaki Oishi, Japan Director; Rana Qaimary, Palestine Director; Joe James, USA Director; Rob Nairn, acting Australia Director (proxy vote for Terry Sanbrook); Mike Erith, Australia teacher; Marcia Pagnuca, Argentina teacher; and Susana Buglio, Argentina teacher.
TEACHER EXCHANGES
COUNTRY GOALS FOR 2001-03
August 4, 2001 (Daimon High School)