CHHS SGC

Members Present: Sara Grey, Jack Haggerty, Ray Thomas, Karla Eanes, Alice Joyce, Phyllis Daniels, Mary Passannante, Kathleen Weeks, Allison Worthy, Mike Kelley

Members Absent: Kathryn Eriksen, Susan Oliver, Susan Lindholm

Jack Haggerty called the meeting to order at 6:05pm .

• Public Presentations – none

• Approval of Minutes from February meeting – question from JH about why we tabled the annual report issue. Sara Grey needs to contact Stephanie Knott about this. Minutes approved.

• EOC Honors Grading Policy – Sara read email from Holly Loranger about DPI not condoning this because of NCLB legislation. Could this be an NCLB issue because of equity issue/common assessment. We are trying to fix something wrong with the state, that is not appropriate. This should not be an issue, the kids should be acing the test, let them have their grade. Do not use the test for what it was not meant to do. New versions of the test continually come out so it is very back and forth with the standards for each. Very confusing result from the board meeting in the discussion that took place. Allison talked to LC staff member who stated that this meeting was well attended by EOC lead teachers, included teachers from CHHS and East. Karla - Misleading information about teachers unanimously agreeing about this policy. Others who attended the meeting said that the vote was not unanimous. Deterrent about this keeping minority students out of honors courses. Karla wants to get more voices from faculty – there was not overwhelming support for the policy from the Feb. faculty meeting. Science dept – AP kids take these tests too and get the weighting. Ray shared experience in Scotland where kids on different levels take different levels of testing. That is the more appropriate way to do this. Jack shared that he feels that the students should be held to a higher standard. Major rationale – we are trying to fix a problem that the state has created. We are articificially taking that exam and making it do something that it was not intended to do. If it will change from year to year what is the point? Major problem is that nobody was fully aware of the policy – esp students and parents. Parents also need to know that the standards count for this year but will not count next year because of the revision of the tests. Clear communication needs to happen. School board meeting April 12, 2007 .

• Vickie Mendes – respond about charts prepared by LC. Shows that kids were not affected by the change. If you consider looking at them to see kids who went in with a B, could have gotten a better grade had they not been given a different scale, could have improved their grade to an A. It is a wrong assumption to assume that if a student goes into the exam with a B and comes out with a B, that is ok, versus having the chance to improve their grade to an A. Big issue is that Parents at both high schools STILL have not been made aware of this.

• Dr.Eanes response to SGC letter:

• 7777 – did research about this situation. Explained the procedure. Sometimes the call gets dropped, if this happens, the entire admin, security guards, and SRO all cover the building and check all sections, classrooms. Sometimes students have figured out 7777 and call it for a prank. Also able to dial this from bandroom and ISS room. There was an instance before exams when 7777 was dialed, at 7:30 am , there were less people here, it was about a dog in the building. The last call came from a classroom but came from the ISS room. Admin calls off the search when they located it in the ISS room – another teacher called at the same time and his call failed to be answered because they were dealing with situation in ISS room. There are new walkie talkies now that are more efficient at dealing with the 7777 calls. Karla has been in contact with IT staff to fix a situation when two calls come in at once, this is what happened with the earlier incident. Karla, in her research, was not able to figure out why the multiple calls did not come through. Ray reported hearing about other incidents where only the receptionist has responded to calls, concerns about a secretary handling the call versus administrators. There is some confusion among some staff members about when it is appropriate to dial 7777. There should be more teacher education about when to use this service. Sounds like this could have been a freak incident where two people called at once, we are trying to figure out with IT why this happened and the system failed. IT is at the district level.

• Is there a policy where there is always an administrator here? Yes, but it is ok for receptionist to answer a call because they are able to dial an admin with a walkie. There is always at least one AP or admin on campus. Karla makes a point to be here when there are AP meetings. Ms. Young does not have to go to these meetings and is always here. Security, SRO is always here.

• Security cameras – they are up and operating. We have 10 cameras – a positive report – a student reported that a student walked up to him and pushed him, we were able to locate this on film and handle the situation. They are not monitored at all times, we use them more to go back and investigate. Incidents of broken glass doors, we have video of police coming to the scene, but not of the perpetrators doing what they did. This is an angle issue with the camera – question that perpetrators figured out where the cameras are. Sonitrol has been out to check rotation of the cameras. One of the cameras is designed to pick up people on campus and follow them. We honestly need 28 more cameras to equip our campus in the way that we need it. Comparison to East, Karla is pretty sure that they have 15 cameras. East has requested to go to 50 cameras next year – asking for panic buttons to be installed in the classrooms. Another security issue that will come to fruition is the use of scan cards on our ID cards. Kids will need to scan their cards to get in buildings. Cameras are located in A Building, B Building is covered, one of top of A Building that rotates. The SRO can get online at home and check on the cameras, the cameras are on for 24 hours.

• Handbook issue – the committee has made recommendations and suggestions, admin will look at this and tweak it. Then it will be sent back to the faculty for a vote. There are some items that cannot change because they are board or district party. There are some things that we can look at – for example –defining what a tardy is, establishing consistent consequences. Issue of consistent enforcement among the administrative team. Karla added that whenever there are 4 new administrators you will have some inconsistencies – they discuss this at their admin meetings. There are kinks to work out with the new staff, we have to get to that point, and quickly. Ray shared that there were even inconsistencies a few years ago when we had Pat, Jeff, and Mervin. Pleased to hear that this is being discussed here. Karla has asked the committee to get all their info together by end of April so that we can decide on this before the end of the school year. We are going to organize the handbook so that it is easier to find different policies.

• Clarification of absentee policy – daily attendance report. Karla has talked to our data manager about getting homeroom attendance report easily accessible to faculty so that they can check student attendance. Our data manager has posted daily attendance in a folder on the email system that is posted at 5 pm daily. Kathleen addressed her concern that she is getting phone calls about her child being absent for 4 out of 7 periods, when she was not absent. Teachers have to have attendance in by 4:10 or else the Connect Ed call goes out. If a parent cannot trust the attendance info that goes out, then it is not helpful. Karla has asked LC if we should move from period attendance to daily attendance (homeroom – 2 nd period). Also emphasis for faculty to complete their attendance in a timely manner, but it is also difficult for teachers to do this in only a 50 minute period. Teachers have a problem of getting timed out of their sessions, trying to change this so that it will operate for a period and a half versus just one class period. Allison appreciates the period by period attendance – we like knowing if they skipped a period.

• SGC Elections – we have a replacement for Susan Lindholm with last year's alternate. We have two other parent reps spots, and we have two applications – Jim Williams and Randi Smith. We have to look at the new SIT requirements/state law for our faculty representation next year. PTSA rep needs to be elected – cannot exist as we have it now. Randi Smith and Jim Williams are the two applications that we have received. Allison has another possible rep for us. Idea for next year – send applications with semester report cards. Sara will contact Jim and Randi, we will look at by-laws about appointing another member, Allison will contact third possible parent rep.

• Cheating Concerns – Kathleen Weeks: kids take cheat sheet and notecards into tests, some teachers inadvertently encourage this with review sheets that get passed on from year, tests/answers available to students – teachers getting tests from Sparknotes, teacher taking tests from teacher's editions and kids are ordering them from Amazon.com, kids cheating on AP exams, SATs (continuing after time is called, reading ahead to next section). East has a campaign – signs are posted on campus, may even hold an assembly about this. Karla would like to plan a program like this for next year. Karla can remember some instances as an AP where students were written up for cheating. Kathleen – why should kids have school spirit/get excited when they see people cheating rampantly. Mary – honor codes at colleges, problem at colleges too. We are looking at 2 problems – student culture – widespread problem, and also problem where teachers have tests available and that people do a good job proctoring during major exams (APs, SATs). Karla plans to put this on the agenda at the next faculty meeting and department chairs meeting. This summer we can pull together a campaign and assembly – Kathleen is willing to help in putting this together. Alice mentioned that this would be good for senior project campaigns. Some of this we can begin this year. Teachers be aware of cell phone use and availability to cheat. Encourage use of open book exams with problems a student will have to solve versus being able to find an easy answer, having different versions of the test. Jack asked about the procedure for a student cheating – teacher writes it up, AP handles referral, consequence is zero on that assignments, parents are called, kids get a step.

• Parent Concern - Allison: Rumors about attendance numbers for CHHS – CHHS will be the “forgotten school. Karla just received 3 rd revision – 1492 students. Revision 2 said 1556 students. All of the numbers have been near the 1500s, concern that we will still have a problem with crowding. We have also heard that we would be receiving low performing kids, concern that some kids who have applied to CHS - parents can drive them there, so there will be more affluent kids there who can be driven, versus kids who have to be bused there. Concerns about all teachers leaving. From Karla – we are not going to be overcrowded, we will be around 1500, rumors about low-achieving students comes from redistricting issues and the way the lines were drawn. There are some mobile home parks that are coming to CHHS that has drawn the assumption that they will be low income/low performing. Counter issue that we are also getting the Parkside neighborhood. When you look at numbers, free reduced lunch, etc it looks like we are getting a larger proportion of these kids, but when looking at this list, you have to keep in mind that you are looking at the district as a whole, not just at the high school. Teachers – there are wonderful, strong, committed staff that is staying at CHHS. Community perception that CHHS is the ‘ugly stepchild' in the district. We need to actively promote the positives about our school. The shift is changing this year, there is more in the papers about us, but no one is feeling it, people are feeling down about CHHS. Enthusiasm about CHS has increased a lot. Mike Kelley – attendance was balanced among the high schools among EOG proficiency, free-reduced lunch, and SES of neighborhoods. If anything, Carrboro was a bit more poor than the other two high schools. Policy was passed at last board meeting that further transfers would HAVE to be balanced, one in, one out.

• PTSA/Parent Update – met on March 7 th . Parents noted that a calendar was not sent out with the last report card, this is a responsibility of the school, can't rely on the listserve alone. Meeting also dedicated to providing input to SACS accreditation. Concern that there was no admin in attendance, Karla noted that she was at the Winter Awards Banquet. Allison passed around the suggestions that were developed at that meeting. Karla wanted to address this – Ms. Whitehead is organizing folks from the PTSA to come in and talk to Karla about these issues. Karla explained the SACS report process. SACS will be here April 18-20, they will be here the evening of the 18 th for a dinner, Karla is inviting select people from the school organizations. SACS will be here all day long on the 19 th , meeting with teacher, parent, student groups and observing in classrooms. On the 20 th they will meet in the conference room and develop accommodations, recommendations, in a report and will meet on that afternoon. Final report will come to us in May. We will also be able to make touch ups around the school – to make the campus look cleaner and nicer (paints, blinds, etc). Allison emphasized addressing improving communications between parents and schools – suggestions in the letter from the PTSA to the SACS committee. Bring back monthly postcard calendar. Suggested weekly phone call from Dave Thaden. Possible principal's corner in the Proconian. Call to hear more from Dr. Eanes to parents – increased visibility and face time, philosophy and what she is doing for CHHS. Parents have complained about Connect Ed calls from Lincoln Center , we should address LC about this.

Alice addressed the issue about cleanliness of bathrooms in the PTSA letter – our bathrooms are relatively clean, whenever there is a call to the custodians about needs in the bathroom, it is always replaced.

Technology is an issue – equity concerns among the schools, we have a ton of computers that are aging out across the district, even at ECHHS – 10 year old computers. We are encouraged by the school board to speak out about how poor technology is at CHHS.

• Faculty Update – 2 issues, came up at PLC meetings. Emphasis that this model completely revamps the culture of school and teaching. We are being asked to develop pieces of this model without the full clear vision being advertised clearly – creates resistance. Example is development and use of common assessments. If you have attended the PLC training, it makes sense - if you have not attended the training, it feels like just more work being placed on teachers. We need to do a better job of presenting a coherent vision about this. Karla has been working to send cadres of teachers to these events, including department chairs, counselors, etc. each time the DuFours come and there are High Five meetings.

• Principal Update – SACS, security cameras. Family specialist is joining us on April 16 – Gloria Sanchez-Lane. We are hosting the middle school band festival this week – has been difficult because we have not been able to sound bells or make announcements. Good opportunity for our school to host such a large event! Faculty meeting today – we had folks from Speakers Bureau at Chamber who can come to school to speak to students and conduct workshops. Registration is going, we should have some numbers by the end of April. Tigerfest is being planned and the school is very excited about it. Yearbook Day is May 21, Tigerfest May 22, Awards Day May 24 th . Homework policy - mentioned at faculty meeting. Still getting feedback from departments on these issues. See homework policy passed out at meeting. There may be a revision to the exam schedule because the EOCs will be untimed this year and some of the tests have been very long – reports of up to three hours for the Algebra I exam.

• School Board Update: EOC policy has been discussed. There will be more coming about meetings with county commissioners. There is a need for the board to hear about needs for updated technology needs across the schools from all schools. We are encouraged to speak to the board members to communicate our needs – not all board members are aware that technology is needed so desperately.

Meeting ended at 8:00 pm , next meeting April 25, 2007 .

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2006-2007 Meeting Dates-

September 27, 2006
October 25, 2006
November 29, 2006
January 24, 2007
February 28, 2007
March 28, 2007
April 25, 2007
May 23, 2007

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Page last updated Wednesday, May 23, 2007