Administration

The regular meeting of the school based council was called to order by Tom Purcell, Principal, at 4:00 p.m. Members present: Tom Purcell, James Morgan, Keith Johnson, Curt Newcom , Melissa Jarboe, Sue Krampe, and Jim Gilles. A motion was made by Mrs. Jarboe to begin the meeting. Mr. Newcom seconded the motion and there was consensus.

Approve December Agenda - Mr. Purcell stated that he would like to add to the agenda the final exam schedule. A motion was made by Mrs. Jarboe to approve the agenda with the addition, Mr. Johnson seconded the motion and there was consensus.

Approve October Minutes - A motion was made by Mrs. Jarboe to approve the October minutes. Mr. Morgan seconded the motion and there was consensus.

Personnel Update - The following position has been filled:

Spanish Teacher - Angela Hilgenhold

The following positions are open:

Assistant Boys Track Coach

Mr. Johnson moved to go into closed session. Mrs. Jarboe seconded the motion and there was consensus. After discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Morgan to come out of closed session, Mrs. Jarboe seconded the motion and there was consensus. No action was taken.

Budget Update - Mr. Purcell reported that there is $4,825 remaining in the Professional Development budget and that he is placing a freeze on these expenditures.

He also reported that we have spent 65.8% of the S.E.E.K. budget.

Mrs. Jarboe moved to approve the freezing of PD monies. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion and there was consensus.

IB Report -

Mrs. Rosales reported that after meeting recently with Mr. Purcell, Mr. Tom Shelton, Superintendent, and Mrs. Julie Clark, Director of Middle and Secondary schools, that the district has agreed to help with the funding of the IB program. Mrs. Rosales stated that the money will cover the annual IB fee which is currently $8,500, postage for assessments which are sent around the world and PD training in the IB program. Mrs. Rosales stated that the goal of IB PD training is that eventually every teacher will go through the training at least once. This commitment is a strong affirmation of the hard work that has given by the teachers and staff over the past several years who have worked so hard to launch the program and bring it into full swing and of course, it is an affirmation of the hard work of those students who are our recent IB graduates and the students who are currently working in the program. The IB program also received a generous grant of $2,000 from the Yager foundation.

Student Council Update - Jim Gilles presented the following information and concerns of the Student Council to the SBDM Council .

First, Mr. Gilles reported that the recent Las Vegas dance was a success and a money maker for the student council. He also reported that many seniors have asked if they could start eating lunch out in the gazebo when the weather turns fair again. The student council donated the gazebo originally to the school and the students would like to see it used again. Jim said that he has already approached several teachers who would be willing to supervise the area during their lunch breaks. Mr. Purcell asked Jim to type up a proposal. One concern would be a safety issue. The doors to the gazebo area are always locked and there is not a way to unlock them so re-entry back into the school.

The student council would like to also like to ask the lunchroom to purchase a cappuccino machine. Lots of students are interested in purchasing this beverage in the mornings. Another high school lunchroom has one and the student council checked with them on how selling cappuccino works. The were informed that the cappuccino machine was easy to maintain and use and that the cappuccinos were sold for 75 cents each and that so far the sales were paying for the machine. Mr. Purcell recommended that Jim check with Mrs. Ray our lunchroom manager and make a request on behalf of the student council.

Jim also asked if there could be more that one approved college day for seniors. Mr. Purcell stated that he would have to check with district policy before he could entertain the idea of adding an additional day.

Assessment Committee Report - The assessment committee will meet after the first of the year. Testing teams, good faith effort and rewards will be discussed during that time.

Curriculum Committee Report - Mr. Purcell presented the following curriculum committee notes to the council.

Curriculum Committee Notes

December 12, 2005

Item 1: Study Halls

The committee reviewed the 12/01 proposal for study halls. Concerns were raised by committee members regarding several components of the original proposal. Those concerns include:

Classified staff members cannot legally supervise study halls.
The proposed student qualifications for entering study hall posed two specific problems:

It would be difficult to verify student employment. Scheduling takes place in February, but the verification of employment would have to be relevant in August of the following school year.

Students who do not meet any of the proposed qualifications, but who use study hall time effectively, would not be admitted to study hall under the original provisions of the proposal.

Recommendation: After further review, the curriculum committee wishes to modify its original proposal regarding study halls. The committee recommends that study hall monitors follow a universal, stricter set of guidelines that ensures students use study hall time appropriately. These guidelines include, but may not be limited to:

no games
no sleeping
laptop use is supervised and students may only use laptops for a pre-specified and pre-approved reason

Item 2: Academic Intern/Community Involvement

The committee reviewed the 12/01 proposal for the AI/CI courses.

Recommendation: The committee stands by its original recommendation to dissolve the Community Involvement course and to continue the Academic Intern course with the previously recommended modifications.

Item 3: History of the Americas , IB

Mr. Purcell brought the following proposal before the committee:

In order to allow students more choices in their IB studies and in the hopes of increasing the number of diploma candidates, the IB committee proposes the addition of a History of the Americas course to the schedule. The course would last one year and would replace the IB/AP European History course. No additional teaching spots would be needed to add the course. The IB committee recommends that the history course sequence for IB students be modified as follows:

9th grade - students currently take freshman social studies; this would stay the same.
10th grade - IB students currently take Honors US History. Students would now take either Honors US History OR Honors World Civilization, depending on whether they plan to study European History y or History of the Americas in their senior year.
11th grade - IB students currently take IB/AP European History. Students will now take either US History or Honors World Civilization, whichever course they did not take their sophomore year.
12th grade - IB students currently take 2 nd Year European History. Students will now choose between European History and History of the Americas . If class numbers remain small, all students will take the same class, based on what the majority of students want to take.

Recommendation: The curriculum committee accepts the recommendation of the IB committee and recommends that the History of the Americas course be added to the schedule and that the course sequence for IB candidates be changed accordingly.

Other Business:

Tracking

Committee members shared feedback from their departments regarding the issue of eliminating the accelerated and comprehensive levels at AHS.

English department - There was some hesitancy about eliminating leveling, especially at the junior and senior levels. English teachers requested training in differentiated instruction. Mr. Purcell said that training would take place prior to the elimination of tracking.

Science department - An honors level biology course would need to be added in order to accommodate students in the honors program so that they would be ready for advanced science courses in their junior and senior years.

Social Studies department - The reaction was mixed. One argument was that accelerated classes prepare students for college better than comprehensive classes. Others contend that behavior of students is greatly improved in non-leveled classes.

Mr. Johnson moved to accept the curriculum committee notes, Mr. Morgan seconded the motion and there was consensus.

Needs Assessment - After review and discussion, Mr. Morgan moved to approve the below requests for the needs assessment, Mr. Johnson seconded the motion and there was consensus.

Needs Assessment Requests 05/06

Additional Technology Technician and Technology Resource Teacher
Additional Assistant Principal
Smart boards for the classrooms
Additional Security Cameras
Additional staff women's restroom facilities

Other -

Mr. Purcell distributed the first semester final exam schedule: December 15 th , 1 st Period and 2 nd Period Blue, December 16 th , 3 rd Period and 4 th Period Blue, December 19 th , 1 st Period and 2 nd Period White, December 20 th , 3 rd Period and 4 th Period White. Make-up exams will be December 21 st and 22 nd from 8 to 12 and 1 to 3 in the library.

Mr. Morgan told the council about some very good ideas he and Mr. Story came across while they were in Kansas City last week for the FFA Career Show. One booth at the show was a software company that created software for student IGP folders to be kept on-line. With the roll out of more students having laptops next year..this would be an excellent use of technology, plus reduce the mounds of paperwork that the teachers and the guidance office has to keep up with in the form of these folders. Mr. Story then thought what a great idea it would be for the student handbook to be online. Students could access that information through moodle and they could keep their homework assignments in their outlook calendars. The school would still have to come up with student hall passes and work through the actual changes. The council thought this would be a great idea to follow up on.

The date for the next SBDM meeting is Tuesday, January 17 th at 4:00 p.m. in the conference room. There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Morgan to adjourn the meeting at 5:20 p.m. Mrs. Jarboe seconded the motion and there was a consensus.

Respectfully submitted,

Becki Burton

These are meeting dates:

March 21, 2006
April 18, 2006
January 17, 2006 May 9, 2006 (2 nd Tuesday)
February 21, 2006 June 20, 2006 ( noon )