Palo Alto High School

Site Council Minutes, January 28, 2008

Palo Alto High School Site Council
Monday, January 28, 2008

ITEM 1 - CALL TO ORDER

Katy Hall called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M. in he ERC.  Members present were Katy Hall, Lorraine Brown, Ning Xu,  Carla Guerard, Hilary McDaniel, Kenyon Scott, David Cohen, Malati Murthy, Mary Ellen Bena, Olivia Diamond, Jenna Lose, Scott Zhuge, Mary Dimit- PTSA, Principal Jacquie McEvoy and Coordinator Edie Miller. Not present:  Elspeth Farmer, Jaclyn Edwards, Abbie Havern.   Also present were, Assistant Principal Chuck Merritt and VOICE reporters Seung-yeon Choi and Patricia Ho.

ITEM 2 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes of December 3, 2007 and January 7, 2008 were approved as written.

ITEM 3 - OPEN FORUM

Katy Hall distributed and explained an article from Scientific American called The Secret to Raising Smart Kids by Carol Dweck.  There was considerable comment.

 ITEM 4 - LIBRARY UPDATE.

Librarian Rachel Kellermann gave an update on the new research options available in the Paly Library. She explained that school library funding has been cut from $28 per student per year in 2002 to $.71 in 2008.  Other resources bring this up to $7 per student now.   Rachel explained that she used the $1200 from Site Council towards a new academic database (total $1500 per year).  She explained the curriculum links that she has prepared.  She listed several of the other sources available to students and on the Paly Library website.  Everyone is encouraged to explore the site.  Lorraine suggested sending this information out on the Link.   

 ITEM 5 - PROJECT REVIEW

Edie explained that it is the job of Site Council to review currently funded projects mid-year.  She explained all the projects and handed out forms to use to conduct the interviews with the recipients. Members are asked to report back either on Feb. 11 or March 3. 

1. Yoga guest speaker- Malati
2. Site Council expenses- Katy
3. Site Council Coordinator- Katy
4. Biotech program- Kenyon
5. Publish student work-Hilary
6. Repair English books-Lorraine
7. Classroom clicker set-
8. Game room equipment- Carla, MaryEllen
9. - Library-Lorraine
10. Camp Everytown- Carla, Mary Ellen
11. Science aide-Ning
12. Printers for Guidance- David

ITEM 6 - PRINCIPAL’S REPORT

BOND ISSUE-Jacquie reported on the status of the Bond election.  $5 million has been added so the new Paly Theater can be moved to the first round of construction.  The current theater will be maintained but there will be no major remodel listed on this bond list. Jacquie explained that she attended the Property Review Committee meeting.  This committee has been meeting for years and will be disbanded.  It will be replaced by a Citizen Committee to provide oversight for the Bond.  The entire wording on the bond will say “renovate/replace” to give flexibility. If the bond passes, the new theater and a new classroom building will probably be scheduled early in the work.   Jacquie said there may be possibilities to supplement the money with grants and/or fundraising. She also said once the Board adopts the Bond plan, no employee could discuss the bond during the school day.

WASC- Kindel Lauder will serve as Chair at Paly.  The kickoff meeting will be Jan. 31 after school.  Further plans will be discussed at Feb .15 staff Development Day. All the parent volunteers will be assigned to committees.  Jacquie plans to get help from a WASC Coach who is also a parent in PAUSD. 

FUNDING REQUEST- Chuck Merritt asked Site Council to consider using i$21,000 in funds remaining from grants received in 2001 to fund approximately 20+ laptops for teachers.  This funding, when matched by PTS and elsewhere, will mean that all teachers have a laptop and all can participate in InCLass and work during prep periods if they share classrooms.  This request will be put to a vote oat the Feb. 11 meeting.
           
ITEM 7 - REPORTS

• PTSA- There was A PTSA Parent meeting on Sleep Issues on Jan. 9 that was well received. The deadline for Viking grants is March 1. There was a report on the activities of the Green team. There are 1700 PTSA members.
• Student Council- Students report that they hope to change Sadie Hawkins dance to March 1 (after SATs).  There will be a planning trip to San Francisco City Hall to see the site for the Prom (April 5).

ITEM 8 - GUIDANCE

TEACHER ADVISORS-Susan Shultz and Anne Deggelman reported on the Teacher Advisor program.  There was a handout and an explanation of how the program works.  Ninth graders are assigned, 35/1, to a ninth grade teacher.  Most students have the Advisor as a teacher.  Students select a Teacher Advisor for grades 10-12.  The ratio is 75/1. Again, every effort is made to have each student assigned to his/her Teacher Advisor’s class.  9th grade Advisors receive a stipend each semester and 10-12 advisors have a prep period daily to handle student matters. Training is ongoing. There are student evaluations at the end of each year.  There are now three Guidance counselors who support the Teacher Advisors and the students.

STRESSED OUT STUDENTS COMMITTEE- Susan and three student members of the committee (Olivia, Jenna and Alex Ackroyd) reported on the newest bell schedule proposals. The basic request is for a later start- perhaps 8:15.  Another idea is to have block classes on four days.  There were questions about the process.  Jacquie said that any suggestions must first go to Ed Council, then to students and parents, and finally to a vote of the staff.  Susan said they have a target date of April 1 for a decision.

ITEM 9 - NEXT MEETING

Beginning at the February 11 meeting, Site Council will hear reports from Instructional Supervisors.  There will also be a vote on the funding request. 
           

ITEM  10 - ADJOURNMENT

The next meeting will be February 11 and the following meeting will be March 3. Scott moved for adjournment and it was seconded. All agreed. Meeting was adjourned at 5:30pm.