Board and Faculty Attendees:  Denise Kubick, Lisa Souther, Lois Darbonne, Teresa Gebler, Mickie Reimers, Carol Ruch, Toni Johnson, Pam Hansson, Jeff Gilbert, Carol Spillman Rogge

Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance – Meeting called to order by Lois Darbonne, President, at 6:38 pm 

Approval of Minutes – Carol Spillman Rogge, Secretary 
Minutes from the last PTSO Business and Program meeting (Sept. 10, 2007) were presented and it was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve the minutes as presented. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Principals’ Report – Jeff Gilbert, Lead Principal
Federal Grant Award: Two newspaper articles have appeared in local papers this week with the announcement of the $1.1 million Federal Grant received by HHS.  The grant will be allocated over 5 years with the last 2 years contingent upon Congress continuing the funding.  $749, 000 will be received the initially and $390,000 in the next funding.  It comes out to $220,000 to 250,000 per year, roughly.  The grant specifies that we need to spend money on very specific items.  For example, $15,000 goes for an external evaluator, 5% or a smaller negotiated amount goes to the district.  We cannot spend much on salaries.  Generally, it will cover overseeing new programs and professional development.  We might also use it to help pay teachers to set curriculum before school starts – set up and training.  The focus will be on the 11th and 12th grade SLC programs to provide a consistent smaller learning community for those grades.  Only 38 federal grants were given to schools this year.  We have a number of staff to thank for their efforts on behalf of HHS.  The grant will provide many new opportunities, yet it does not solve all our problems.  

To help promote the grant and what is happening at the school, HHS will provide a fall shadowing for private schools on Oct. 23rd and 30th.  Also on Nov. 8th at HHS and on Nov. 29th in Foster City we will have a type of “infomercial” presentation for HHS.  There will be a 1 ½ hr. Stanford-led conversation about school reform, and a HHS-alumni Stanford college student will also speak.  The purpose of these presentations is to let the communities know what is happening at HHS.   Ads will appear in the local papers about the presentations and the administration plans to meet with the principals at feeder schools.  There was a question about targeting private feeder schools too.
            Things are going fine at school.  Mid-October is often a difficult time for teachers since we start so early in August and have been working hard for two months now.  Mention of the district College Fair on campus on Tues. 10/16.
            There was a question about the decision to have all Juniors take the PSAT in class this Weds.  There is research on helping to alleviate test anxiety by taking the test on campus in a familiar environment and schools that do this have seen higher scores.  The test fee donation was optional.  It will last about 3 hours. Prep time has been built into the Advisory classes.
            There was a question about reaching out to parents about the goal of “everyone” going to college.
            There was a question about conference for 11th graders.  There are optional after-school conferences for Jrs.   HHS can’t mandate the teaching team to all do this. 

Fundraising Report – Teresa Gebler, Carol Ruch, Micki Reimers, VPs Ways and Means
AKOTT dinner auction is tentatively set for January 12th at the Elks Lodge.  The plan is for students/groups to entertain the parents. The AKOTT committee is meeting tonight to plan the event following this Business Meeting. If no other groups choose to participate, then money will go to PTSO and the HHS Administration, with any excess to the Foundation.
            There was an issue raised from the Athletic Boosters asking about whether there had been a vote to change the nature of event.  Discussion ensued.  There was some concern that the groups are competing for the same dollars.

Treasurer’s Report – Toni Johnson, Treasurer
 Toni disbursed some of the encumbered monies from last year which were approved last month.  Another $825 in AKOTT funds came in from PTSO.   The issue was raised and noted that we need to improve on the communication and forms for collecting funds for next year.  There seemed to be much confusion concerning all of the forms and what group received what amounts.  PTSO needs to give some thought to this for next year.
            Handbook printing costs:  PTSO pays for printing and school prints up mailing.  Release funds for handbook suggestion.  It was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve the release funds to pay for the handbook. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried.  There was discussion about the Jr. Library Guild subscription that was paid for by funds from last year.

President’s Report – Lois Darbonne, President
Report from the district’s PTA/PTSOs meeting: Dr. David Miller will be Superintendent of the SMUHS District until 2009. Dr. Miller is moving along quickly in dealing with all of the construction-related issues of the past bond and the newly passed one. The lawsuits have been resolved from the 1st construction bond.  Extra money available will be used to update the athletic fields. Aragon & Capuchino this winter, then Hillsdale & Mills next winter.  Dr. Miller’s priorities for the district are safety, academic excellence, and having some fun along the way.  Currently the district is seeking bids on putting locks on the inside of all classroom doors.

Programs Report – Nancy Venecia, VP Programs 
Nancy was not in attendance to report. President Lois noted that the next Program meeting is in the planning stages.  There will most likely be a Community Police Officer program in the future, which will address all of the issues parents need to know about their teenagers.  It was also suggested there be a Program concerning the Senior Exhibitions for both students and parents.

Membership Report – Denise Kubick, VP Membership
Compared to last year, we are right on track with $4,990 in membership receipts from 206 families and 23 faculty.  We have also received $510 in extra donations.   The idea was raised of providing a HHS “give away” to all members.  Provide an inexpensive item instead of the membership cards. Discussion ensured.  There are approximately 850 to 900 families at HHS in total, so we are only signing up about 25% of all families. 

Booster Club Reports –
Athletic boosters:  Steve Bouchette, President
Homecoming against Aragon is Sat., Nov. 10th – also known as GRID.  The game is at 11 am and is the last game of this year.   They are working on getting a cow for the GRID square game to raise funds for both schools.  Suggestion offered by Steve of having a PTSO Membership table at homecoming to sign up more members.  The Athletic boosters Tailgate Party will be Feb. 2nd at Beresford Rec. Ctr. priced at $100 or $125 per couple.  Denise Day is the chairperson. Athletic boosters made $6,000 on the Car Show. They grew their sponsorships from $2000 to $4000 this year. Currently they charge $30 a car for the 140 odd cars in attendance.  If they can grow there sponsorship, they may be able not charge the 1st 500 cars or so.   Also suggested having a Rummage Sale with PTSO for next year.  This was done in the past. Athletic boosters meet the 2nd Tues. of the month at 7 pm.
Music boosters:  Leslie Parent, President 
The group is working on community outreach to middle schools to let them know that HHS is a great place to take music classes. They are trying a new fundraiser – An adult garden party social, with wine tasting, appetizers and student entertainment.  The fundraiser is only advertised to music parents and is only $30 tickets.   Most all of the music students are in the orchestra for the upcoming musical – there are no professional musicians this year.
Drama boosters:  No report.
Dance booster: No report.

Student Report – No report

Teacher Rep. Report – No report

Old Business –
Joy Mason, a parent with a student on the HHS newspaper, mentioned that on behalf of the advisor, the HHS Scroll was offering to advertise the AKOTT fundraiser in their November issue.

New Business – 
Question regarding the Homecoming dance, also known as GRID on Nov. 10th.  It is being planned by the cheerleaders and it will be at the CSM cafeteria.  It’s semi-formal.  Tickets on sale possibly the last week of October.  They are looking for parent volunteers to do check-in and coat check at the dance.
            There was a question about the parent/teacher newsletter on the website. How often?  Every week.  It was suggested that the school send out an email blast about it, or use the phone calling system to let parents know that it is another source for information about the school.
            Question about the HHS Webmaster.  The Webmaster is a paid position and is paid this year out of the administrative account. It runs $600/month. Last year it was a paid by the Peninsula Community Foundation, but we didn’t get that this year.  HHS is also thinking of redesigning the HHS website to be more interactive.  There are many excellent schools models for websites out there now.  The cost would be around $3,000.  We received an initial Foundation donation for that purpose. 

Next PTSO Meeting:  Monday, Nov. 5, 2007, Room 119/110 at 6:30 pm. (Meeting one week earlier due to Veterans Day Holiday on Nov. 12.)

Closing: Meeting adjourned 7:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:
Carol Spillman Rogge, Recording Secretary
c.spillman@comcast.net