Members Absent: Rebecca Hite

Board Liaison Absent: Lisa Stuckey

Others Present: Quinn Silcox (recorder), Alison Worthy (PTSA liaison)

A meeting of the School Governance Committee of Chapel Hill High School was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 at the Media Center of Chapel Hill High School, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Mary Zimmerman acted as Chair, and called the meeting to order at 6:00.

I. Approval of Minutes of the Previous Meeting (Action)
There was a motion to approve September meeting minutes. It was seconded and consensus was achieved.
II. Public Presentations
There were no public presentations.

III. Election of SGC Parent Co-Chair
Gloria Faley and Steve Darden were nominated to serve as the parent co-chair for the SGC. Gloria declined the nomination. There was a motion for Steve to serve as the parent co-chair of the SGC. That motion was seconded and consensus was achieved.

IV. Procedure for selection of new CHHS Principal (Hazel Gibbs)

The SGC is responsible for collecting data that helps establish the school goals and needs. Surveys have been used to get feedback from the school community. The survey may also be done via email. The school district is collecting what everyone has to say. That information is used by the committee that interviews the candidates. The SGC along with Dr. Pedersen decides who will represent the school on the committee. The position has been advertised on Ed Week and NCSSA and in the News and Observer.

There will be an orientation for the selection committee. The committee screens applications. Some of the criteria the district is looking for is they must have documentation to serve as principal, administrative experience as well as teaching experience. They will then decide on a group of applicants to interview. The committee will come up with a series of questions that all applicants will respond to. After the first round of interviews they would narrow the list or decide if more applicants should be found. There will be public forums where the candidates can interact with students and parents. Feedback will be collected and used. Then Human Resources will send someone to check the candidate’s references and go to their work site to learn more about the applicant and the community and experience they come from. After all this information is collected a final recommendation will be made. An offer will be made and if accepted the applicant will be recommended to the Board.

How involved students will be is up to the SGC. The school feels that it is more important to staff the right person than to have the position staffed by January. January is the goal that the district has. There is not a restriction that a committee member must be over 18. There will be a separate committee to staff the position for the third high school. The final say as to who is hired will be decided by the school board. The superintendent does not vote on which candidate to hire, but he has a very active part of the interview process. Then, he gives a recommendation to the school board on who he believes would be the best candidate. Because the SGC needs time to consider who should serve on the selection committee and how the committee should be formed, it was suggested to have another meeting to focus on this issue. Hazel Gibb’s role in the selection process would be to help facilitate the process so that the SGC can benefit from her experience

The 3 questions that should be asked to the community through surveys or some other medium are:

1. What are issues that school and new principal will face in the next 3-5 years?
2. What are strengths of the school?
3. What are the characteristics of the ideal candidate?

V. Discussion on Hazel Gibb’s presentation
Paul: The first thing that needs to occur would be to formulate a committee. Gloria felt that diversity from parents and students is a necessity. The position could be advertised to the parent population through the PTSA list serve and school phone message. Student representation can be found through student government, AVID, and through the group that Sherlock Graham-Haynes is a sponsor of. The committee should be made up of 6-11 members.

Each member of the SGC was asked to think about the best way to contact students, parents and faculty. It is important to also define what the responsibilities and timelines will be of the committee members. Having 11 members would get a better cross-section of the community.

Gloria: It would be a good idea to brainstorm, compile all of the ideas, and then formulate our plan at our next meeting.

VI. Oversite procedure for SIP—Beth Sweeney-Newman
Beth makes sure that what is written in the document is being implemented. Beth will come to the next meeting and focus on what is due in the 2005-6 school year. A lot of what is in the SIP is already in place. The document enables the school to follow the vision of the school. Beth will also report to the faculty and the School Board about the school’s progress.

Gloria: Is there an executive director of curriculum and instruction? No that position has not been filled. Has the district coordinator for math and science has been filled? Yes. What is the delayed opening used for? Collaboration. It is important for the SGC to identify what district resources are not available so that if certain progress is not being achieved some of that responsibility will fall back on the district.

VII. Updates
1. Student Update:
Homecoming was a real success. The pep rally was fantastic. Student government got a group together to report back to the different district committees about the 7 period day. Student Government is also trying to get a group of students to attend the school board meetings.

2. Parent Update:
The PTSA met in October. There is a parent forum with East at CHHS. The title is “Helping Parents Help Teens.” 6 panelists speak for 10 minutes each and then there is a question and answer period after. This is going to be held January 24th.

The PTSA is the only PTSA in the district that has allocated money for no child left behind and has given $2000 for computers for students who do not have computers.

PTSA membership has dropped dramatically. The web master has suggested that the PTSA keep parents posted about closing the gap through their website.

3. Faculty Update:
Paul: The school board paid Pierson-Benchmark a good deal of money to give teachers assessments. Paul felt that this was a program was not needed and was not a very effective way to spend the district’s money.

Counselors are busy with transcripts and helping seniors apply for college. They are also meeting with 9th graders and working on their 4-year plan.

The new Career Development Coordinator is Wilda Rhodes. She came to all the CTE classes and asked students if they had access to the internet and some students did not. This information will also help the PTSA in their efforts to get students access to computers.

4. School Board Update
There was no school board update.

5. Principal’s update:
Principals had asked the district for a tool that would help teachers make more sense of their data and receive assessments of their students’ learning. For high school the Pierson-Benchmark system was used. The plan was for teachers from CHHS and East to send in curriculum maps and Pierson would make a test to assess progress. Curriculums are aligned between both high schools, but the timing of what is taught is not aligned. For this reason, the tests that the company came up with were not valid or useful. At this point Pierson tests will not be given. The school is hopeful that Pierson-Benchmark can give teachers a way to assess their data and check progress based on their own tests.

When Sherri agreed to be the interim principal she agreed to fill the position, but only as an interim position. Sherri expressed her appreciation for Dr. Hardebeck.

VIII. Implementing a 7 period schedule for 2006-7
Mary suggested that everyone familiarize themselves with the 7 period day proposal and email comments. Students would like to know if having 7 period days would increase graduation requirements. Currently Chapel Hill requires students to have 20 credits to graduate. The board will decide whether graduation requirements would increase. There was also a question about whether seniors could have a free period because that is currently against school policy. Policies could change with the new schedule. There was also a recommendation that if students take a certain number of AP classes they would be required to take a study period.

XI. End of course tests and course credit
Next year’s freshmen will be under new graduation requirements. CHCCS would like for a passing grade to be equivalent to the state’s requirement of “proficient.” In the past you could receive a non-passing grade on the EOC but receive a passing grade on the test. The proficient scores are based on statistics. It is proposed that starting this year students would have to pass the class with proficiency in order to get credit for the class. The purpose of this is to support students and to close the gap. In other counties that enforce this policy, they have seen tremendous gains in African American proficiency. If a student does not pass the exit test there are different interventions to help students pass. In Johnston County there are few students who have to take the course again. Communication with parents will be critical. Paul brought up the point that Proficient is a 77%. Students can pass all year with a 75% and then they fail with the same score. This policy could also add stress to students. The state requires that students pass 5 EOC’s and the district proposal would require students to pass all 10. There was discussion as to whether going above the state requirement is wise. Opinions were mixed. There are students who just don’t test well. The benefit is that there are more options if they do fail. The first time a student takes the EOC if they pass they have successfully completed the course. If they fail the EOC and they also are failing the class they have to retake the course next year. If they fail the EOC and pass the class they can take the test again in a few days. If they fail the second time they can turn in a portfolio. If the portfolio does not show proficiency there would be a small summer school session. They would be able to take the test again after summer school and if they fail they can also turn in a portfolio. A portfolio can consist of class tests and other student work. Firoza asked if this is going to be more work for teachers. For teachers that hand back all work it would be the student’s responsibility to put together the portfolio. Gloria felt that if a student passed the class with an A year round and failed the EOC 3 times that there is another issue that needs to be addressed whether it is a learning disability or test anxiety. Teachers expressed that they would like to have training on how to do portfolios and testing. Some members expressed support for all 10 EOC’s and others supported just implementing 5 EOC’s.

X. David Miller’s request for SGC Support (new baseball scoreboard)
There was a motion to support David Miller’s proposal to get a new score board. The motion was seconded and consensus was achieved. The baseball field really looks beautiful!

XI. Give SGC support to Booster Club proposal for Weight Room Equipment
Mary Beth-Carter spoke on behalf of the booster club to ask the support of the SGC to improve the weight room. A motion was made to support this issue. It was seconded and consensus was achieved. Around January schools submit capital improvement plans to the superintendent. At this time the school can request the district’s help with some of the weight room facility issues.

XII. Locate Parent for Curriculum Advisory Council Meetings
Alison Worthy is going to ask within the PTSA if anyone is interested.