Site Council Minutes, March 17, 2008
Palo Alto High School Site Council
Monday, March 17, 2008
ITEM 1 - CALL TO ORDER
Kenyon Scott called the meeting to order at 3:30 P.M. in the ERC. Members present were Katy Hall, Ning Xu, Elspeth Farmer, Carla Guerard, Jaclyn Edwards, David Cohen, Kenyon Scott, Hilary McDaniel, Malati Murthy, Mary Ellen Bena, Olivia Diamond, Jenna Lose, Scott Zhug and Abbie Havern , Mary Dimit- PTSA, Principal Jacquie McEvoy and Coordinator Edie Miller. Not present: Lorraine Brown. Also present were VOICE reporters Seung-yeon Choi and Patricia Ho and guest Anne Avis.
ITEM 2 - APPROVAL OF MINUTES
The minutes March 3, 2008 were approved as written.
ITEM 3 - OPEN FORUM
Edie asked everyone to promote the upcoming Site Council elections ELECTION SCHEDULE; please encourage good candidates!!
Staff -nomination deadline April 7, election April 23
Parents- nomination deadline May 1, election Aug. 26
Students- spring class elections (9th graders in fall)
ITEM 4 - PROJECT REVIEWS
- David reported that Guidance bought the printers and they are up and running.
- Carla and Mary Ellen reported that Camp Everytown used the $5000 for scholarships and transportation. Students do pay a fee of $250 if possible. 90-100 students attend and 10 staff are needed as chaperones at a cost of $500 each. Kiwanis contributes $4000. There has not been very good follow up on campus. Olivia went and said it is a very valuable program.
- Carla and Mary Ellen reported that the $1000 was used for equipment for the student center.
- Hilary shared a copy of the book, written by the students of David Rappaport.
- Katy reported on the position of Site Council Coordinator.
- Jaclyn will report next time on the classroom set of clickers used in AP Psychology.
ITEM 5 - REPORTS
- PTSA- There was $33,000 of requests for $20,000 Viking grants available. Next funding will be in the fall. PTSA will be encouraging Community Service and working with the Green Team( environmental). In addition PTSA plans to educate parents about all the different fundraisers at Paly.
- STUDENT COUNCIL- Prom will be held on April 5 at San Francisco City Hall. The students are working on the 08-09 Student Planner. Jaclyn asked that they be sure to include hints for 9th graders because 9th grade TAs rely on this.
ITEM 6 - INSTRUCTIONAL SUPERVISOR REPORTS.
- ENGLISH- Trinity Klein said her department is getting ready for WASC. There are 20 teachers and they plan to teach all the same courses next year. One sub group is developing a set of course descriptions. Another group is considering which form of grammar to promote. The third subgroup is working on the best way to each research skills. They are hoping to establish a Writing Center in the ERC some day.
Another concern of the entire department is the increasing disparity between lanes which makes it difficult for students to change lanes as an 11th or 12th grader. In addition, the department may off a Early Assessment Program make up class in 12th grade so students who did not do well on the test as a junior will not have to take remedial English in college.
- SCIENCE- Kathy Lawrence gave out two handouts which explained the course changes and the recommended sequence. She reported that soon all the Science AP courses will have passed the AP audit.
- WORLD LANGUAGES- Norm Masuda handed out a full report and expanded on it using the overhead projector. In summary, the department works very closely with the middle schools and with Gunn to be sure that grading; assignments and expectations are the same. The AP courses in this department have also passed the audit.
ITEM 6 - PRINCIPAL’S REPORT
- DISTRICT STRATEGIC PLAN- Volunteers needed to attend district meeting this week. Jacquie will be in touch if plans change.
- WASC- Parents will join the work early in May. Teachers are doing curriculum mapping now. Parents will review this work.
- BELL SCHEDULE-There are three ideas under consideration: early starting time, block seventh period and block four days instead of 2. The other issue is whether to implement any changes in 08 or 09. Staff will vote in April. Students are also being surveyed. There were questions about whether a late start would increase early morning practices. Several parents mentioned that in some sports there is already too much time required. Jacquie said SCVAL league has no time limit.
- BUDGET CUTS -The district expects a deficit of $3.2 million next year because district income is flat and enrollment is increasing. Paly will need to reduce staffing by one full time full time equivalent (FTE). Classes of less than 20 will not be offered. Paly is talking to DeAnza and Foothill about online classes and considering twilight classes fro Paly and Gunn.
ITEM 7 - NEXT MEETING
At the April 14 meeting, there will be one additional Project review:. (Classroom clicker set-Jaclyn). In addition, there will be a student panel from Gay Straight Alliance Club.
ITEM 8 - ADJOURNMENT
Abbie moved for adjournment and it was seconded. All agreed. Meeting was adjourned at 5:10pm.