September 18, 2007
3:00 pm, Library
Next Site Council Meeting: October 23, 3:00 pm, CHS Library
Members present: Mariel Plager-Brockway, Susan Kirkpatrick, Bill Liechty, Paddy O’Brien, Michelle Anderson, Norah Jensen, Lori Stern, Nancy Faaren, Kris Bonds, Annie McManus, Kathleen Lawrence, Stefan Wheat.
Guests: Ed Thorpe
The first Site Council meeting for the 2007-08 school year began with self-introductions and a warm welcome to Nancy Faaren, CHS’s new principal. Several prospective members (Annie McManus & Kathleen Lawrence) were present, as was Ed Thorpe a former member of the Site Council.
Business Discussion: Nancy and Paddy served as co-facilitators and followed a flipchart agenda. Bill Liechty agreed to take meeting minutes.
Nancy proposed the Site Council consider joining the School Improvement Planning (SIP) team and become active participants in the annual process of developing the CHS School Improvement Plan. Discussion followed and the general reaction was positive. Nancy proposed the first hour of future meetings be conducted jointly with the SIP team and during the second hour the Site Council could focus on issues that didn’t involve the SIP team. Questions and potential concerns were expressed regarding the size of the joint group: the SIP team consists of 11 faculty and staff and Site Council has at least 12 members. Questions were also raised regarding facilitation of a joint group. After discussion there was informal consensus that Nancy Faaren, Paddy O’Brien, and Lori Stern would jointly plan and facilitate future meetings. No formal action was taken regarding the proposal to link the School Improvement Planning Team and the Site Council, but the Site Council membership was enthusiastic about working more closely with the SIP team.
Nancy handed out an edited version of the current School Improvement Plan and an OSPI document, “The WASL and the High School Diploma”. She then led a discussion that focused on State requirements for graduation and answered questions regarding alternatives to traditional classes. Discussion prompted an offer from Nancy to provide additional background information to the Site Council regarding the School Improvement Plan planning process.
Nancy then discussed four areas of focus that she would like to pursue during the 2007-08 school years.
The four areas of focus are:
1. Creative solutions to accommodate larger than normal class sizes;
2. Support for students who have failed the reading and writing WASL;
3. Creating expedient “Credit Recovery Opportunities” for students who have failed a class;
4. Keeping parents informed regarding graduation requirements, WASL, and other issues;
5. Improving environmental health at CHS (added as a result of group discussion)
There was considerable discussion regarding the 4 areas of focus. The following items emerged from the group discussion:
1. Nancy emphasized the importance students graduating on time.
2. Mariel noted there appears to be conflict between CHS and OSPI and parents regarding options to meet the Visual/Performing arts and the Occupational Education graduation requirements. CHS has required a full year of study in the same subject area rather than allowing multiple subject areas to be taken. For example a student would be required to take 2 semesters of ceramics rather 1 semester of ceramics and 1 semester of choir in order to meet the Visual/Performing Arts graduation requirement. The current application of the graduation requirements has created scheduling and other conflicts for students. Nancy agreed to investigate and report back at the next Site Council meeting.
3. Susan Kirkpatrick reported that the Daily Olympian is seeking an Editorial Board member with an interest in education. If anyone is interested they should contact the Daily Olympian.
4. Lori Stern asked to what extent the SIP team has incorporated Site Council Listening Post Key Messages. Nancy responding by reviewing the section of the SIP titled, “Work to be done in areas important to the school”. Follow-up discussion focused how the CHS Administration recognizes, acknowledges, and deals with reoccurring complaints. As a result of the discussion, Nora, Paddy, Susan, and Mariel agreed to update existing Q/A and FAQ materials. Their work will clarify procedures for students, parents, faculty, and the Administration to follow when a parent or student desires to make a complaint.
5. Nancy asked the group if we had other issues of concern that we would like to bring to her attention. In response, Annie McManus said that she was interested in improving the school’s environmental health through the proper use of environmental friendly cleaners, pesticides, etc. Stefan Wheat talked about reoccurring gas odors that plague certain classrooms. In response to this discussion, Nancy added a 5th area of concern to her list.
Homework Assignments for next meeting
1. Nancy will investigate options to meet to meet the Visual/Performing arts and the Occupational Education graduation requirements and report back the Site Council at the next meeting.
2. Nancy will determine who the Site Council should work with to post Site Council meeting minutes on the School website.
3. Nancy will provide background information to the Site Council on the SIP planning process at the next meeting.
4. Nora, Paddy, Susan, and Mariel will update existing Q/A and FAQ’s on how to file a complaint with the CHS Administration. No completion date established.
5. Nancy, Paddy, and Lori will plan and co-facilitate the next Site Council meeting.
6. Bill will prepare minutes for the September meeting.
Next Site Council Meeting: October 23, 3:00 pm, CHS Library