Minutes of Meeting

February 28, 2006

Members Present: Jack Haggerty, Sara Grey, Allison Worthy, Kathleen Weeks, Ray Thomas, Susan Oliver, Sean Barrett, Matt Sellers, Armeen Mistry, Kathryn Eriksen, Mike Kelley, Phyllis Daniels, Alice Joyce, Susan Lindholm

Members Absent: Mary Passannante, Tara Lassiter, Karla Eanes

I. Public Presentations – none

II. Welcome Mike Kelley , new School Board Liaison

III. Approval of Minutes from January Meeting - approved

Allison Worthy would like closure on some of the items that seem to be open ended. Jack - minutes approved as read. Motion made and seconded - passed.

IV. SGC Chairs Meeting Review

SGC Review Committee Updates (Transition to SITs)

District Budget

Parent Representative Recruitment

SIT transition is moving ahead. We should now collect representatives, we have one, we need two more, and we need to actively recruit. One of the issues was the support of waivers independent of the SIP, i.e., the minority advocate position, etc. Instead of being bound by the SIP, the school has more freedom. The Board will give more attention to waivers on a school by school basis. There is a sub-committee working on the standard operating procedures instead of bylaws. There won't be any problem with our transition; our membership is going to stay the same. We will need to add an AP, and a TA. The responsibilities sound like they will be more advisory rather than governing……being the eyes and ears of the constituents. ….. change in name more than anything else.

The planning conference was mostly about budget which was grim. The biggest concern was lack of facilities. We need three elementary schools in three years. The Governor's bond had nothing for this. Go to the county commissioners to advocate for increased operating budget for CHCCS…write a letter to them in support of additional funding for the schools…..please write a letter to the county commissioners, not the school board. There are 11,440 students this year, and there is a crisis for more funding. Dr. Pedersen doesn't know what will happen.

Mike Kelley – priorities are considered with increasing the district tax. County commissioners are splitting with the CHCHS and Orange County needs. 78%/32% was before, now it is 60%/40%. We have to build a new elementary school for 2008, or we have to tell the developers that they must stop building. We have land, but no bid for the new school; we're short 1.6M it is not clear where that money is going to come from.

Allison Worthy – does this lack of funds lead to merger?

Mike Kelley – no, not in my opinion. This would be hugely unpopular, politically. Another place to send a letter is to the Governor and state legislators.

V. Handbook/Policy Concerns – Tardies, Absences, Discipline

Susan Oliver – concerning homework policies - sometimes students want assignments to be given over the holidays, and sometimes the teachers want the students to make the choice. Sometimes it is extra credit. Teachers are interested in being sensitive, however, not interested in forming a policy.

Ray Thomas – several incidents during past few months where teachers have called in for security during 5 th or 6 th period and there has been no one available….except the receptionist. No response to teacher after dialing 7777 ten times. Jack – is there a formal policy directing administration in this matter?

Ray - is there a policy for replacing department chairs that are moving to CHS. Jack - seems that this would be up to the department.

Sara - There are a lot of concerns among the faculty. There is a committee that is meeting once a week and trying to rework the tardy, discipline.

Jack – what is the policy about tardiness?

Ray – students get three tardies each semester, on the 3 rd tardy, a call home, the 4th tardy a discipline referral.

Jack – Mr. Hintz is troubled that nothing is done.

Ray – sometimes several tardies are bundled together, and student is put on step one.

Susan – we're going through the handbook, one page at a time. The nature of the problem is the 12 step system. This is all subject to the approval of everyone. We're looking at some models of other schools, also.

Ray – we could rewrite the rules, but the rules are already on the books.

Jack – will this be done next year?

Susan – oh no, within 4/5 weeks.

Jack – should we be involved in requesting consistent enforcement? Yes.

VI. Campus Safety & Security – Video Cameras

Sara - we are in the process of installing 10 cameras.

Kathryn – why are we not informed about the particulars of a suspension? I read in the paper the reasons for a student suspension. Why do teachers not know? We can be alerted.

We are also asking for attendance reports.

Kathleen Weeks – as a parent, we are concerned about attendance calls. It is a joke in our family to see which classes my child was actually reported missing.

Sara – we need the documentation (a daily attendance report) for truancy.

Susan – I think things worked better when the 2 nd period teacher wrote the admit slips.

Allison – are we still making sure that kids aren't sneaking off at lunch? I don't think IDs are being checked this year.

Jack – so the handbook issue is being addressed at many levels. The SGC could ask for a policy from the administration in order to alleviate the teacher concerns and frustrations. The state law is very clear that 3 unexcused tardies is an unexcused absence.

Sara – are we comfortable with directing a letter to the administration. Jack – yes.

VII. Board Retreat Review

Mike Kelley – we worked for two full days to highlight some of the HS issues. There were several topics that relate to HS. Dropouts, today the state released the drop out rate. The state uses a very different definition of drop outs. At the planning retreat, we came up with our own calculation of the drop outs. The characteristics of the students were something that we really didn't know. The thing that was most impressive was that students that didn't have any credits would drop out, especially if they were over 16. There were other characteristics too.

PLC (Professional Learning Communities – Rick Dufour) is something else that the board is committed to. This will be here for a long time.

The new HS graduation requirements were also discussed. Currently there are 4 courses of study, the state is thinking of reducing that to 3.

Sara – if you go to the NC Public Schools website, you can download a power point on this new change. www.ncpublicschools.org

Armeen – it is kind of hard to know in your freshman year which track you will need.

Sam – what if you make a mistake and want to change your track?

Mike – under the new requirements, is CTE one of the requirements?

Sara – there were several intents, like a major.

Mike – one other area is the strategic plan that was finalized until 2008. It will be revised in the coming year.

The state HS graduation rate is about 2/3rds.

Susan – during the SACs discussion, in every single group, the recommendation is for more career focused classes.

Kathleen, what percent of our kids go to a 4 year college?'

Mike – over 90% we have increased the offerings of CTE.

Susan – yes, but they are focused on academics, not practicality.

Mike – this type of discussion came up at the school board meeting in relation to the science classes. Some of our students need more, some less. You're saying the core curriculum should be accessible to everyone. To offer a class to students that do not need Shakespeare and the Canterbury Tales is to raise more issues.

VIII. SGC Annual Report – tabled.

IX. Student Update

Matt - Black History assembly was successful with poets, singers, dancers, and speakers. Spring fest is coming up; it is now TIGER-FEST. We made some changes so there is less pressure on the teachers. Mr. Wartski was a huge help with this. This is May 22, all day. We've had school spirit issues lately, and we're trying to use TIGER-FEST to alleviate this problem.

X. Parent Update

Kathleen – I've had children here, but never called the conference line. I was disconcerted to know that a parent is the one calling out the conference times. I know everyone is stretched here, but I was appalled that a parent was the one privy to this information.

Allison – Amanda Edwards took that function away from the parent volunteer. Now, we have a new administrative assistant to Dr. Eanes and this duty has reverted back to a parent.

Mike – this is probably a violation of FERGO.

Kathleen – I have an issue from a friend of a friend with grave concerns because her child had access to crystal meth at this school. There seems to be widespread drug availability at this school because of lunch time access with student money available.

Sara – please have your friend call Jim Wise.

Mike – the info that I have is that the K-9 dogs have never found drugs.

Kathryn – the kids keep the drugs on them and sell during lunch.

Allison – we've covered the SGC election, but we all need to do a little outreach.

XI. PTSA – no meeting in February

XII. Faculty Update

Susan - Karla did bring up the honors EOG grading policy at the faculty meeting today, and that it is not fair for our honors kids getting a B and Orange County getting an A for the same numerical grade. No teacher is in favor of this policy.

Mike – Karla is coming to the school board in two weeks.

XIII. School Board Update

Mike – I have nothing else.

Ray – I have a question about the PLC model. What is the time table for the changes and steps necessary?

Mike – I don't know. There was enthusiasm on the board to send teachers for training because our turn over rate is about 60%. What is the particular component that you are interested in?

Ray – the systemic reform………how the teachers could change……..students failing through out the system…..what interventions could be used to help the students?

Mike – so each school presented the pyramid of interventions. We talked about the achievement series, the common assessments.

Ray – the other component is “no new initiatives”

Mike – I am a supporter of this, but I'm not in the majority on this ……..a restrained budget helps with this, though. I doubt that we will have any new initiatives. I think that message is heard. This is just another flavor of the month. It's hard to get anyone to agree on anything, especially this. My personal feedback from the teachers that attended the DuFour seminar is very positive.

Ray – the entire package is critical to the success of this program.

Jack – We're going to wait on Karla to give us answers on the EOC question, and drafting of new student handbook with consistent enforcement. Sara and I will work on letters.

Meeting adjourned 7:35 PM