Apollo High School
School Based Council Meeting
November 16, 2004 – 4:00p.m. - Conference Room
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, Scott Kuegel, Curt Newcom, James Morgan, Melissa Morris, Tim Taylor, Sue Krampe and Jim Gilles. Presenters were Kelly Cecil and Catherine Shelton. Visiting KWC students were Chelsea Hamilton, Jason Tanner, Eric Rutledge, Mark Embry, Hannah Ripley and David Huff.
Approval to Open the Meeting – Mr. Taylor made a motion to open the November SBDM Meeting. Mr. Newcom seconded the motion and there was consensus.
Approval of November Agenda – A motion was made by Mr. Newcom to approve the November agenda with the following additions:
Other – Attendance Audit, Youth Service Center, Lunchroom, KDE Visit and Fundraising Opportunity
Mr. Taylor seconded the motion and there was consensus.
Approval of October Minutes –Mr. Newcom made a motion to approve the reading of the October minutes. Mr. Taylor seconded the motion and there was consensus.
Personnel Update - Mr. Purcell notified the council that the following positions were open:
- Science Teacher
- Assistant Baseball Coach
- Girls Soccer Head Coach
- Girls Cross Country Coach
Mr. Purcell made a motion to go into closed session, Mr. Newcom seconded the motion and there was consensus.
Mr. Morgan made a motion to come out of closed session, Mr. Taylor seconded the motion and there was consensus. No action was taken.
Budget Update - Mr. Purcell reported that we have used 54.6% of S.E.E.K. funds and that we have a balance of $11,200 in the professional development budget.
Instructional Committee Report – Catherine Shelton – Mrs. Shelton updated the council on Instructional Committee discussions. The committee is currently gathering data and reviewing various credit recovery programs such as PLATO, Novel Star, Pass Key and others that could possibly be used in place of summer school. Some programs are held after school, on weekends or during school. The committee plans to finish gathering data and finalize their research on these programs and report their findings to the council in January. (Committee members – C. Shelton, J. Morgan, J. Higdon, T. Ekbundit, V. Thorpe, M. Gray, R. Phelps, T. Miller, K. Austin, S. Jones, C. Purdy)
Professional Development Committee – Catherine Shelton – Mrs. Shelton also reported that the PD Committee has been discussing various PD sessions for the faculty. Suggestions were additional technology classes that are topic specific and are leveled, Ruby Payne “A Framework for Understanding Poverty” and Mark Thompson team building.
Final Exam Schedule – Mr. Purcell reported to the council that Apollo will be following a different exam schedule for this years first semester final exams. He along with an ad hoc committee of Chairman Jennifer Smith, Rachel Rosales, Gary Edmonson, Tim Taylor, Leah McDivitt (parent representative) and Jim Gilles (student representative) surveyed the faculty (45 responded to the survey) regarding suggestions for final exams. The committee presented the following schedule:
Final exams will be given over a four day period, December 14, 15, 16 and 17. Two exams per day will be given. The beginning of the exam time will be a review time followed by the exam. The schedule is as follows:
Final Exam Day Schedule
First Exam – 8:15 – 8:30 AM ENL
- 8:30 – 10:00 AM Review
- 10:00 – 10:06 AM Six Minute Break
- 10:06 – 11:37 AM Exam Time
11:37 to 11:43 passing between classes
Second Exam - 11:43 – 1:39 PM Review (30 minute lunch break during this time)
- 1:39 – 1:45 PM Six Minute Break
- 1:45 – 3:15 PM Exam Time
Tuesday – December 14th
- First Exam – 1st Period White Day
- Second Exam – 2nd Period White Day
Wednesday – December 15th
- First Exam – 1 st Period Blue Day
- Second Exam – 2 nd Period Blue Day
Thursday – December 16th
- First Exam – 3 rd Period White Day
- Second Exam – 4 th Period White Day
Friday – December 17th
- First Exam – 3 rd Period Blue Day
- Second Exam – 4 th Period Blue Day
The weight of the exam counts as 20% of the grade.
Mr. Purcell said that the committee would review the success of this new schedule before spring exams.
Mr. Newcom and Mr Kuegel stated that they thought this was a good plan.
SLC Report – Ms. Cecil discussed the overwhelming success of the freshman academy. Specific classroom standards set, consistency in enforcing standards, more frequent parent contact, improved attendance, fewer failures, increase in school spirit, and more help for at risk students has prompted the decision to continue the freshman academy and launch a sophomore academy for the 2005 – 2006 school year. The hope is to continue the progress that the academy has made and to ensure a firm foundation for continuing success in high school.
Other –
Attendance Audit - Mr. Purcell reported that Apollo was audited for attendance records. State auditors looked at (scrutinized) student check in and check out records, T5- Special Education students with IEP’s, attendance posting and various other attendance records. Apollo was one of two schools in the district with no discrepancies. Mr. Purcell commented on how conscientious Mrs. Anderson is about the details of the school’s attendance. Good Job Attendance and Discipline Office!
Youth Service Center - Mrs. Krampe reported that the Apollo Youth Service Center has been in full swing helping Apollo students. Clothing has been provided for many students through the Goodfellows organization; over $2,000 for Apollo students. The youth services center has helped our students purchase over $1,200 in school supplies and has already given over $1,000 in assistance to our families who need help paying utilities and rent or who need help purchasing food. Mrs. Krampe also makes many visits to our students homes to help overcome any barriers that would keep a student from attending school and getting his/her education.
Current Youth Service Center Projects to Help Apollo H.S. Families
Student Can Good Drive to help stock Thanksgiving Baskets
Christmas Giving Tree – items requested for Christmas for needy students
Apollo Faculty Soup Day (December 3 rd) for Goodfellows (last year we donated about $500)
Mr. Newcom stated that perhaps Apollo’s other service clubs who raise funds for national charity organizations could raise money for Apollo’s YSC. Perhaps 50/50’s at basketball games or during the winter spirit week money could be raised with quarter wars etc.
The council commended Mrs. Krampe for all of her hard work and dedication.
Lunchroom – Mr. Purcell spoke with the lunchroom manager, Barbara Ray, regarding offering the salad bar more than twice a week. Mrs. Ray stated that she would check with the central office director about doing that. Mrs. Ray said that she would be glad to meet the students request.
KDE Special Education Monitoring – Mr. Purcell informed the council that the KDE would be visiting DCPS before Christmas looking for higher performing schools. The schools that will be visited have not yet been selected.
Fundraiser Opportunity – Mr. Newcom informed the council about a fundraising opportunity through selling sweatshirts monogrammed with the Apollo High School name on them. Print Source Plus has made up sweatshirts in each of the area schools colors and name on them and would offer them to the schools to sell for profit for the school or any club. Mr. Newcom suggested Apollo consider this project as a way to raise money for the youth services center. Mrs. Burton stated that this fundraiser would need board approval unless the shirts were sold through the school bookstore. Mr. Purcell said that the school would look into this further.
The date for the next SBDC meeting is Tuesday, December 14, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. in the conference room.
There being no further business a motion was made by Mr. Morgan to adjourn at 5:28 p.m. Mr. Taylor seconded the motion and there was consensus.
Respectfully submitted,
Becki Burton
