February 28, 2006
5:30-7:00
CHS Library

Members Present:
Mariel Plaeger-Brockway, Ed Thorpe, Valerie Lynn, Terra Hegge, Cindy Berger, Paddy O'Brien, Chris House, Kristi Bonds, Barb Day, Laura Cannon-Robinson, and Teri Poff

The meeting was called to order at 5:35 pm by Co-Chairperson Paddy O'Brien.

January minutes were approved as written.

Principals Report:

Trimester/Semester Teri reported the staff decided to hold off on moving to the semester system for the 2006-2007 school year, to afford more time for study and conversation. This extra time will be used to figure out curriculum adjustments, and to ensure a smooth transition.

Curriculum Changes In an effort to ensure all students receive a rigorous English curriculum and to address the disparity between pre-IB and regular classes, all 9th grade English classes will begin using the existing pre-IB curriculum for the 2006-2007 school year. There will be one track of English that will include a rigorous writing curriculum.

Beginning in the 2006-2007 school year, Capital will drop the pre-IB label from all ninth and tenth grade honors classes. This is an attempt to eliminate the perception that students must decide in the eighth grade whether to participate in IB (a junior/senior program), and to address the division the IB program creates in the school.

The Science department is considering changing the current higher level IB Science from Biology to Chemistry. The reasoning behind this consideration is it allows for more flexibility in creating a variety of rigorous science tracks:

Option A
Physical Science
Biology
IB Chemistry
IB Chemistry

Option B
Biology
Physics
IB Chemistry
IB Chemistry

Option C
Physical Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

Changing the IB Science from Biology to Chemistry, creates timing that allows more access to Biology before taking the tenth grade WASL. Additionally, this set up has students studying Chemistry later in their high school careers, when their cognitive development is better suited for the more abstract science.

There were a variety of responses from the council regarding this proposed change. Some were excited by the change, while others wondered if the change from Biology to Chemistry would decrease the number of students participating in the IB program. Teri indicated they were also considering offering a standard level IB Biology class.

Expanding Link Crew

To aid the transition into high school expanding the link crew program is being considered. The first day of school only 9th graders would attend. This would allow them a day to negotiate attending all of their classes without the bulk of the students present.

Listening Posts Forum

Valerie presented a brief rundown of the details of the "Listening Posts Forum". This included a discussion of easels, and that the bulk of the evening would take place in Pod A.

Meeting adjourned at 7:14.