Call to Order/Pledge of Allegiance:  The meeting of the General Membership was called to order at 7:38 PM.   Cary Sweeney, President, led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Introductions:   Beginning with Cary, attendees introduced themselves to the assembly and identified their children who attend Hillsdale.

Program:   Gari Patton introduced Tom Mohr, Superintendent of SMUHSD, who gave us a status report, beginning with the passing of Measure D and the building (re-)construction efforts now in progress throughout the schools.   Within two-and-a-half years, SMUHSD will have spent $260 million to build state-of-the-art learning facilities that will last fifty - sixty years.

Mr. Mohr cited the concept of Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) as "brilliant" and commented that Hillsdale's implementation is the forerunner for the district; whatever is learned here will be incorporated into the other high schools.   Hillsdale is also the district leader in the raising of standards for all courses and systematic measuring.   HHS has almost doubled the number of students in algebra and geometry for 9th & 10th graders in the last few years, and already has the core academic program in place for UC admissions.   Another district goal is to double the number of students who take A.P. courses.

SMUHSD has a new, online computer system that allows teachers access to their students' complete academic records.   By the end of the year, parents will also have access to their children's records.   There is a district-wide reading program to bring students up to grade level.

Throughout the district; 95% of teachers have been on the job just two years.   However, they're very well trained and committed to their work.   Mr. Mohr is asking the Board to set aside $1 million for housing aid loans for district teachers (up to $50k mortgage @ 2% interest).

District teachers who'd received layoff notices last spring were all spared from actual layoffs, despite a budgetary shortfall of $2.6 million.   The costs of Health and Welfare (H&W) benefits went up over $1 million last year, and there was also $1 million increase in retirement benefits.   To make ends meet, 54 classified support staff positions were eliminated, transportation funds were reduced by $100,000, and other cuts were taken.   The district dipped into reserve funds for $1.6 million, and went into deficit spending.   The $1.6 million deficit needs to be reversed in the coming year; Mr. Mohr thinks that can be done w/out impacting SLC.   Fortunately, property taxes have increased in each of the last three - four years.

Mr. Mohr, who's retiring at the end of this academic year, said that he loves his work, but realizes that it's taken him away from his family more than he'd have wanted.   Gari presented him with a rose and a gift for his wife, as tokens of thanks for his many years of dedicated service to the school district.

Mr. Mohr introduced Sam Johnson, the Superintendent-elect of SMUHSD, and praised the Board for Sam's election.   Mr. Johnson endorsed the brilliance of SLC and commented that Hillsdale got a "great fit" with teachers who are committed to the success of this program.

Approval of Minutes:   This was deferred to next month, as the May minutes had not been submitted.

Treasurer's Report:   Toni Johnson presented statements for May and June, also for July - September-to-date.   The last expenditure of the 2002-2003 school year was $3800, for fulfillment of the staff wish list.   The Treasurer's report was approved by a majority vote.

Principal's Report:   Don Leydig said the theme for this school year ought to be "Under Construction".   Two years from now Hillsdale will open its new building.   SLC is also "under construction" in a sense.   There are sixteen teachers fully involved plus two for special needs, and there are four "houses" of twenty students each.   Many of the SLC teachers report feeling both exhilaration and exhaustion, he said, as they have taken on a lot more than new approaches to classroom teaching.   The SLC academic advisors are the principal contacts between the school and the parents of these freshmen.

Mr. Leydig reported that HHS got about one hundred more students than expected last year, so added ten new teachers on staff this year.   We now have fourteen teacher candidates from Stanford University, several of whom are involved in SLC.   HHS intends to have several of the academies up and running next year, so today's sophomores and juniors will be involved in the SLC program, also.

Senior exhibition can be a wonderful experience, said Mr. Leydig, if students choose topics they really want to know more about.   He strongly advised parents and students in the younger grades are to come, check out senior exhibitions in the spring.

President's Report:   Cary has received several thank you notes from students (i.e., graduates of 2003) who received PTSO scholarships last spring.

Gari will again this year be attending Parent Presidents Council meetings this year.

Drama Boosters:   No report.

Music Boosters:   This group meets on the first Monday of each month.   This year the Boosters are committed to outfit the chorus.   Last year they provided outfits for the band and orchestra.   The first performance by the chorus and musicians will be on October 1st.

Athletic Boosters:   Janine Wrightson said the Car Show was very successful.   The group's first meeting of the year will be September 9th.   In late January, just before the NFL Super Bowl, the Athletic Boosters will host their annual tailgate party (no kids), which is a major fundraiser.

Dance Boosters:   Tina Marie Romo said the dance program at HHS is wonderful.   The Dance Ensemble's big event of the year, Knight Moves, this will be held in May; this is its 6th year.   The first meeting of the Boosters is scheduled for September 22nd; they meet every fourth Monday of the month.

AKOTT:   Liz Wiegand announced that this is the big fundraiser for the PTSO each year; every booster organization and the HHS library benefits from A Knight on the Town.   Individuals and organizations are asked to please donate auction items.   Each HHS athletic team is asked to donate, also (gift baskets).   The AKOTT planning committee meets every fourth Tues of the month.   Every bit of money taken in goes back to the school.

Membership:   Kaye Sharma reported that the PTSO has 500 members, as of this meeting.   Last year's membership was 400 members at the Initial meeting, and totaled 500 at year end; more kids are members this year.

Hospitality:   Cary reported that Chairperson Margaret Reeves is currently unable to carry this load, due to family responsibilities, probably for a month.   Dawn McDaniel volunteered to cover two activities.   Gari has a spreadsheet of volunteer contacts.

New Business: Toni Johnson presented last year's PTSO Financial Audit; it was approved by a majority vote.

Toni also presented the proposed budget for the current year, which the Board reviewed and approved last week.   This year's budget is very similar to last year's budget; the main sources of income are memberships and AKOTT proceeds.   The budget was approved by a majority vote.

Toni presented a request for a Release of Funds, for a number of start-of-year expenses, including: Courier expenses from 2002/03, $75; Courier postage for September, $250; Back to School Lunch, $400; Hospitality, $50; and New Staff Support (eleven teachers @ $40 each), $440.    A total of $1215 was released as requested, by majority vote.

Membership dues are $6/person this year.   Previously, dues were $6 for the first person and $4 for each additional family member.   We need to update the by-laws, accordingly.   Please see Peggy Williams to join the By-Law Committee.

Parents of Seniors are needed, to be sure kids graduate and have a good time throughout the year.   We are in need a parent chairperson.

We need to establish a Staff Wish List Committee, also a Scholarship Committee.

We'll be encouraging teachers to get involved in the PTSO.   We have already hosted the Welcome Back lunch - and pitched to them to join.   We will send notes out to families, to get students involved.   Gari said we need to plan programs to bring in students to participate, both as presenters and as audience.   Suggestions are welcome!

Old Business:   Barbara Whiteside will present Raising an Adolescent on Oct 29, at 7 PM.   Admission is free to all HHS families, also families of feeder schools (Abbott, etc).

Closing:   The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:25 PM.

Respectfully submitted by,
Christina Reynolds
Recording Secretary