Hillsdale High School

Hillsdale High School Site Council
August 21, 2006 MInutes

Meeting Roles
Agenda: Jeff Gilbert
Time: Tim Williams
Taskmaster: Chris Crockett
Notes: Marty Kongsle

It is important for council notes to be posted on the server as soon as possible after the meeting.

House Reports:

Marrakech:

Four-year advisory is taking some adjustment because it has created the need for many different teams to meet/get to know each other.
Teachers/students concerned about pass-porting frequency
9th grade CP/AS out of balance and taking time to fix

Florence:

10th grade advisories out of balance
Some issues with Algebra 3-4 balancing/pass-porting
10th grade classroom size still an issue—especially with larger class sizes

Kyoto

Concerns about pass-porting and numbers of students who are taking classes out of the core.

Seville

A new house created in order to give special education students the same small-school experience as rest of HHS. Teachers in house: Hicks, Henderson, Rianda (and Byron p-t)

New Items:

1. How are SLC council members decided? How long is the term?

Members should be confirmed/elected the last house meeting of the year
2-year term
self nomination followed by secret ballot
house leadership could be decided in the same manner

2. Pass-porting Concerns and erosion of the SLC Model

Discussion of the frequency of pass-porting out of house. Many concerns about the inability to accurately track students who are enrolled with too many teachers out of the house. This is against the model we created to be able to watch over students.

Many students are pass-porting out of house in order to gain favored electives. For example Jazz Band students wanted passports in order to be able to take Jazz band 5th period. It was decided, however, to move Jazz band to 0 period (7:00-7:40 m-f) in order to avoid pass-porting all those students. This caused some friction with those students because they felt they had to suffer needlessly.
Erosion of the SLC model also caused in part because of the reduction of F.T.E.s and the compacting of classes/death of 12th grade advisory.
Students still complaining about the rigid “no passport” system restraining them from their perfect schedule. Some houses more rigid about no passports than others. Students all have “my friend was able to move out of house” stories which makes it difficult to say no.
Advisor must be the first person approached about schedule changes.
Advisor/counselors need to hold the line as much as possible in keeping 9th/10th core groups in tact.
House meetings will discuss the importance of the “pure SLC” model and reasons for avoiding passports.

3. Planning the discussion of a Modified School Calendar (formerly called year-round calendar which is misleading)

Many feeder schools in the SM-Foster City district are on modified calendars or will be soon. This year their school year is 7/31-6/22 with 3 week breaks in Oct., Dec., and March/April.
Parents in feeder schools, particularly Abbott, are anxious to hear if HHS is lining up to modify calendar
District has given support to piloting a modified school calendar (but is not pressuring)
Hillsdale needs to finish its analysis of the modified school calendar by November in order to adequately inform staff, parents and to make plans should a modified calendar be chosen.
If HHS to modify calendar, a major reason would be to provide intersession

--Funding issues?
--Rotating teachers to cover remediation?
--Instead of summer school?
--To capture/assist failing students
--Possibly to enrich students

A major stumbling block is how to resolve issues with students who typically use summers to enrich their experiences
Parents and staff must be surveyed (staff was surveyed last year but turnover requires more queries)
New bond measure (if passed) would provide air conditioning which is helpful if more classes will be taught in hot months
Negatives: Testing schedule (modified calendar is non-AP friendly); Athletics calendars would stay the same, so coaches/athletes wouldn’t have a real “break”
Some discussion about the necessity to use same schedule as Abbott—perhaps looking at two-week intersession and a longer schedule. Would that be too disruptive/confusing?
Form a Modified Calendar Planning Committee—not just discussion at SLC council
Recruit Committee members at the next house meeting
First committee meeting will be Monday 8/28 @ 3:30 in Room 110
Inform people about where the school is at present (nothing confirmed, still investigating support/necessity)

SLC COUNCIL MEETING DATES

2ND AND 4TH MONDAY OF THE MONTH
2ND MONDAY: SLC council only
4th MONDAY: SITE COUNCIL (incl. parents/students)
House meetings should discuss/suggest parents who might be interested in joining council

NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS:

Budget
Sustainability

Meeting Roles for Sept. 11:
            Facilitator: Jeff G.
            Taskmaster: Suzanne R.
            Recorder: Sheryl L.
            Time Keeper: Pam R.
            Snacks: Chris Crockett




	Hillsdale High School Site Council August 21, 2006 MInutes Meeting Roles Agenda: Jeff Gilbert Time: Tim Williams Taskmaster: Chris Crockett Notes: Marty Kongsle It is important for council notes to be posted on the server as soon as possible after the meeting. House Reports: Marrakech: Four-year advisory is taking some adjustment because it has created the need for many different teams to meet/get to know each other. Teachers/students concerned about pass-porting frequency 9th grade CP/AS out of balance and taking time to fix Florence: 10th grade advisories out of balance Some issues with Algebra 3-4 balancing/pass-porting 10th grade classroom size still an issue—especially with larger class sizes Kyoto Concerns about pass-porting and numbers of students who are taking classes out of the core. Seville A new house created in order to give special education students the same small-school experience as rest of HHS. Teachers in house: Hicks, Henderson, Rianda (and Byron p-t) New Items: 1. How are SLC council members decided? How long is the term? Members should be confirmed/elected the last house meeting of the year 2-year term self nomination followed by secret ballot house leadership could be decided in the same manner 2. Pass-porting Concerns and erosion of the SLC Model Discussion of the frequency of pass-porting out of house. Many concerns about the inability to accurately track students who are enrolled with too many teachers out of the house. This is against the model we created to be able to watch over students. Many students are pass-porting out of house in order to gain favored electives. For example Jazz Band students wanted passports in order to be able to take Jazz band 5th period. It was decided, however, to move Jazz band to 0 period (7:00-7:40 m-f) in order to avoid pass-porting all those students. This caused some friction with those students because they felt they had to suffer needlessly. Erosion of the SLC model also caused in part because of the reduction of F.T.E.s and the compacting of classes/death of 12th grade advisory. Students still complaining about the rigid “no passport” system restraining them from their perfect schedule. Some houses more rigid about no passports than others. Students all have “my friend was able to move out of house” stories which makes it difficult to say no. Advisor must be the first person approached about schedule changes. Advisor/counselors need to hold the line as much as possible in keeping 9th/10th core groups in tact. House meetings will discuss the importance of the “pure SLC” model and reasons for avoiding passports. 3. Planning the discussion of a Modified School Calendar (formerly called year-round calendar which is misleading) Many feeder schools in the SM-Foster City district are on modified calendars or will be soon. This year their school year is 7/31-6/22 with 3 week breaks in Oct., Dec., and March/April. Parents in feeder schools, particularly Abbott, are anxious to hear if HHS is lining up to modify calendar District has given support to piloting a modified school calendar (but is not pressuring) Hillsdale needs to finish its analysis of the modified school calendar by November in order to adequately inform staff, parents and to make plans should a modified calendar be chosen. If HHS to modify calendar, a major reason would be to provide intersession --Funding issues? --Rotating teachers to cover remediation? --Instead of summer school? --To capture/assist failing students --Possibly to enrich students A major stumbling block is how to resolve issues with students who typically use summers to enrich their experiences Parents and staff must be surveyed (staff was surveyed last year but turnover requires more queries) New bond measure (if passed) would provide air conditioning which is helpful if more classes will be taught in hot months Negatives: Testing schedule (modified calendar is non-AP friendly); Athletics calendars would stay the same, so coaches/athletes wouldn’t have a real “break” Some discussion about the necessity to use same schedule as Abbott—perhaps looking at two-week intersession and a longer schedule. Would that be too disruptive/confusing? Form a Modified Calendar Planning Committee—not just discussion at SLC council Recruit Committee members at the next house meeting First committee meeting will be Monday 8/28 @ 3:30 in Room 110 Inform people about where the school is at present (nothing confirmed, still investigating support/necessity) SLC COUNCIL MEETING DATES 2ND AND 4TH MONDAY OF THE MONTH 2ND MONDAY: SLC council only 4th MONDAY: SITE COUNCIL (incl. parents/students) House meetings should discuss/suggest parents who might be interested in joining council NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS: Budget Sustainability Meeting Roles for Sept. 11: Facilitator: Jeff G. Taskmaster: Suzanne R. Recorder: Sheryl L. Time Keeper: Pam R. Snacks: Chris Crockett