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

Welcome & Pledge of Allegiance - Meeting called to order by Lois Darbonne, President, at 6:37 pm

Approval of Minutes – Carol Spillman Rogge, Secretary
Minutes from the last PTSO Business and Program meeting (January 14, 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
School News: Some Hillsdale administrators participated in mock interviews at Stanford University’s Education School for new teachers. Hillsdale and its program were clearly popular with the graduates. There have also been several visitations from other schools to Hillsdale recently, as well as a tour with the new SMUHSD Board Member. Last week’s, 8th grade/parent night went well. The presentation focused on work we are doing here. Many more parents/students seemed interested in the program. In planning for next year, the Foundation paid for the development of a DVD about HHS. It is posted on the website and may be sent to incoming 9th graders as a welcome to school. In terms of outreach, HHS has had some good press recently. Possible staffing issues for next year to include new positions depending on enrollment numbers. A brief discussion ensued regarding how many students HHS must achieve before new faculty would be provided. The Girls soccer teams are league champions. The Mock Trial team has once again done very well this year. They will likely be going up against Menlo for the county championships. A brief discussion ensued about what happened at the basketball game with Aragon HS. Apparently, there was some disruption of HHS entertainers by Aragon students and HHS kids got very upset with what happened. The schools have a heated rivalry. This has been a problem in the past and HHS’s administration will discuss with Aragon’s.

Foundation News: The ceremony for the Homer P. Zugelder Gymnasium naming a well received last Saturday. Lots of the Hillsdale community from way back and teachers were present and Dick Vermeil spoke about Homer. Over 300 people attended with some 75 having paid $500 for a pre-party event. The goal was to recognize Homer for his numerous contributions to HHS and to raise money for the Foundation. The financial result included achieving one large donation of $30,000, which will be repeated in 2 subsequent years for a total of $100,000; plus approximately $50,000 received from the event itself. It was a great night for school in many ways.

Norm Sperling brought forward an opportunity regarding students working as runners/volunteers for the Maker Faire at the SM County Fair Grounds May 3rd and 4th. Jeff will facilitate getting the word out to students.

Guest – Teacher Dave Emanuel, Kyoto, 11th Grade US History

Mr. Emanuel runs the Environmental Club at HHS and presented information on the new Solar Panel project. The Solar energy panels are part of grant money received from BP Solar to purchase panel curriculum for 9th and 11th grades through their advisory classes. Owens Electric & Solar is our solar panel partner. HHS started a Solar Boot Camp for interested students in 9th – 12th grades. It met after school on Wednesdays afternoons for 4 -5 sessions with Owens personnel teaching the history, science, and politics of solar. There are 15 – 20 kids in the after school component, but all HHS 9th and 11th grade students are getting the curriculum.

At HHS, $4,000 panels will be installed on the administration building in two weeks and students will be somewhat involvement – following process. The 8 panels on front of school will go into the grid. With more money and more grants, HHS might get to the point where there might be power for 3 – 4 classrooms. This would entail a 5-10 year project, unless the school district undertakes a power purchase agreement like other school districts are going forward with. HHS hopes to develop funding to add more panels and involve students more actively in the installation process. The goal is to have solar provide 50% of energy at school in future.

HHS is participating in a program called Solar Our Schools – which is promoting solar installations at all schools. This joint community/school offering will kick in $1,000 to HHS’s solar fund on behalf of any homeowners that purchase a solar system from Owens (The Home Depot is part of this too). Dave is trying to get the word out about this program. There was an article in the San Mateo Daily News to promote the program. There will be an event planned to correspond with the upcoming Earth Day events (Tues., April 22nd) – most likely on the weekend at Beresford Rec. center. Possible fundraising events include a pasta feed on that Saturday. They are currently planning a big fair at HHS promoting solar energy with booths and miniature golf fundraising. Possibly a movie night too. The group got an Honorary Mention as part of San Mateo’s environmental awards. Dave presented PTSO President, Lois, with a HHS Go Solar – HHS Environmental Club 2007 – 2008 T-shirt.

There were suggestions to have an event at the car show in September of next year to raise awareness and funds, and to reach out to the Beresford/Hillsdale Neighborhood Association and their newsletter/speaker series. Please contact Dave directly at HHS (email on website) if you are interested in learning about the program.

Fundraising Report – Teresa Gebler and Micki Reimers , Vice President – Ways & Means
AKOTT’s “Leap Into the Knight” is March 1, 2008, 6 pm – 11pm. All HHS teachers/staff are invited at cost. The committee is working feverishly on this exciting event. Currently there are tickets sales to about 40 people. Donations for auction items are coming in: Hillsdale Mall donated $500 and about $500 has been donated by restaurants. There have also been direct cash donations. Discussion ensued of the need for more volunteers for the evening, Set up volunteers needed. Also regarding help with the AKOTT Software. Suggestion to contact Susan Pasarelli. Still may need to coordinate rides for HHS kids that perform.

Treasurer’s Report – Toni Johnson, Treasurer
Received 2 new membership checks. Discussion ensued of releasing funds for outstanding service awards and to the Career Center. Also, the librarian hasn’t asked for her $1,000. There was a motion to release funds for the service awards $500 and career center $100 and it was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried.
Further discussion as to whether AKOTT Treasurer should proceed to write checks totalling $8000 to each of the 5 booster groups. It was agreed to disburse this amount. It was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried. Teresa as VP Ways and Means to communicate with Joy Mason. Discussion of writing a documentation letter to all 5 groups by the Ways and Means VP’s. There was also a Motion to approve the Treasurer’s report as presented. It was MSP (Moved, Seconded, Passed) to approve. Votes: All Ayes. Motion carried.

President’s Report – Lois Darbonne, President
Lois distributed the District’s school schedule for next year. School start date will be Monday, Aug. 18th, 2008. End date being Thurs. May 28th, 2009. and Spring Break from April 6 – 10, 2009. News from the President’s Council meeting – talk about budget cuts from state Governor – not good. Basic aide districts like ours will not be as impacted. If we receive $10M from state, then with a projected 10% reduction will translate to a $1M cut to our district. Discussion about the fact that the HHS’s Sr. class is big, but the Jr. class is small, which will impact us. We are hoping for 330 in the incoming freshman class. HHS is in good shape as it is not losing kids who cannot continue for whatever reason. Started with 1.194 and are only down to 1,175 for this year. Other schools have seen greater loses. There was some uncertainty about whether the new Football field work would progress, though bathrooms will be included. HHS is on the list to be upgraded. Athletic Boosters is trying to raise $500,000 to change the planned sod to astro turf. The previous drainage pipes that were installed under the sod have now collapsed and turf is seen as a superior alternative and one that would provide year-round use. One soccer organization has stepped in to provide a commitment of partial funds for the turf. If this goes through, then there will be a push to cover the remaining financial part, but not all. HHS is optimistically cautious about these prospects. The current project specs include sod, a new track, bathrooms, and new drainage.

Lois passed out flyers for a Math and Science conference for girls/young women called “Expanding your Horizons”. It will be March 15th this year at Skyline College, San Bruno. The all-day event includes workshops for female students to interest them in careers in science.

Programs Report – Nancy Venecia, VP Programs - Not in attendance
Lois spoke for Nancy about next month’s meeting and the need for ideas for a program in April. Next month is the Outstanding Service Awards Ceremony with a short business meeting beforehand.

Membership Report – Denise Kubick, VP Membership - Not in attendance

Booster Club Reports – (as needed)
Drama: Not in Attendance.
Music: Leslie Parent, President – Jazz ensemble appeared at Folsom Jazz festival. Schedule was perform, critique and then clinic. HHS came in 3rd and that was as a 1st time attendant. The Jazz group has reached a new music level for HHS. There will be a Pops concert – March 19th – an all music dept. event. There will be a short reception before the concert with a silent auction. Flyers are available at school. Ticket pre-sales $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students and seniors. It is a benefit concert. Also, the music group has applied for a Grant for the music classes to go digital with the audio/visual components through the CA Technical Education Foundation. They will come and set up the classrooms for a total grant to multiple schools of $1.5 million. Matching funds for construction will come from the district. HHS is competing with other high schools in our district. Aragon has applied, SM for their bio tech. labs, Capuchino for media art. Burlingame – technical application also. Multiple schools could receive. There has been pressure on the CA Foundation to spread money further north.
Athletic: Not in Attendance.
Dance: Not in attendance.

Student Report – Not in attendance

Teacher Rep. Report – Debra Stucke, Marrakech / Mathematics - Had to leave early.

Old Business –
Toni to call Annette Schendel regarding additional nominations received for Outstanding Service Awards.

Discussion regarding a review of all PTSO committees for next year and their structure. Lois suggested a need for an official liaison from PTSO to sit on the Foundation committee. Also a need for more clarity regarding each organization’s functions at the beginning of the year. Discussion of changing the fundraiser to fall? More or different committees? Sectary function split to two positions? – one a communications function to include an on-line newsletter to parents. Discussion of gathering Email addresses for all parents. Expecting parents to go to the site and look up info themselves might be too much. Suggestions instead to do push emails to all. Use of the Phone call system not enough? Need more reminders. Fundraiser – keep later in year? Tabled discussion until next meeting.

Discussed a PR and foundation liaison position. Discussion of foundation vs. AKOTT in their fundraising capacities. Boosters raise money for their individual groups, but PTSO raises only for education. We are all hitting up the same parents. Discussion of the history of these events, etc. Having a community event for all still deemed important, but maybe an earlier event in fall? Conclusion – Propose Board consist of 1 Pres., 1 VP – Programs?, 1 VP – Ways and Means, 1 Membership, 1 Treasurer, 1 Historian – take on PR function?, etc. Proposed: all Board Members write down their responsibilities. Present these at next month’s meeting to make recommendations for job descriptions for next year’s Board. Particularly Secretary’s position duties as being performed this year.

New Business –

Form Board Nomination committee: Call for any new members for this year. Lois volunteered to serve on committee. We need a faculty volunteer. Pam determined that she has all the volunteers for the committee she needs. Set up meeting this month.

Discussion of the PTSO meeting start time too early. Next year’s board to consider changing times due to comment from a general PTSO member. Need to establish agenda time for PTSO meeting for 2008 – 2009 year.

Business Meeting Adjourned at 8:18 pm

Next PTSO Business Meeting: Monday, March 10, 2008 6:15 pm, Room TBA
HHS Outstanding Service Awards Ceremony at 7:15 pm

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