Senate Meeting

Attending—Padilla, Overlie, Renouard, Balint, Jones, Goetz, Miyata, Hudson, Tarleton, Ames, Sylver, Ruehle, Greenway, Tristan Lee, Sims, Scott, Torvik, Balint, Edelstein proxy to Torvik

November 17 2009

Business

- Approve minutes

- Discussion of Common Principle

- Committee Reports

o Mentorship committee

o Administration

Old Business

- Technology committee recommendation for required tech classes. Possible vote on the proposal

- Proposals for additional spending from the carry-forward from last year and additional funding acquired

- Discussion and policy review—SSR

I. Minutes

a. Adjusted carry-forward amount by -$6000—needed to take care of an unpaid bill to Islandwood Learning Center from last year.

b. Minutes approved by voice vote

II. Common Principle Discussion—Students demonstrate learning through exhibition

a. School projects

b. Presentation skills—Sen Sylver wonders how well we teach presentation skills as a building. Are we prepareing kids enough for high-stakes exhibitions?

c. Sen Hudson—student leadership, music students are doing high-stakes exhibitions in front of whole student body

d. Sen Feigal-Stickles—trying to teach 10^th graders about Professional behavior expectations through Authors of Change project. Also CES Fall Forum notes—how do our exhibitions and servvice projects show rigor

e. Sen Tarleton—How do we help kids know that their private and public conduct indicate that they are learning and growing in responsibility. Do we help kids make this connection?

f. Sen Hudson—Scholarly responsibility, Habits of Mind and Heart—these are also exhibitions of learning. Are we informing students that Resp Schol is an exhibition.

g. Students—resp schol is “being good—not doing bad things—doing work.”

h. Sen Renouard—good that seniors present to panel from outside school staff

i. Sen Greenway—exhibitions (even of turning in work) elevates classroom to public exhibition

III. Technology Subcommittee Proposal—DRAFT

a. Tech Committee Proposes that all students take Intro to Tech, Intro to Radio, Intro to Graphic Arts, or Intro to TV Production

b. Counselors may make exceptions on case by case basis

c. Sen Balint—What happenned to the “test out” option. why are we establising this and other HS aren’t?

d. Sen Scott—why limit to just these four classes?

e. Sen Miyata—these are the intro (pre-req) classes for taking more advanced classes

f. Sen Jones—intent is to ensure that all NHHS grads have basic tech skills. Tech is important.

g. Sen Greenway—seems very limited

h. Sen Balint—may make scheduling even more difficult for kids

i. Sen Feigal-Stickles—Is there currently a “tech requirement”? Is the purpose to establish one?

j. Sen Hudson—this is more than “technology”—also digital citizenship

k. Sen Jones—the new proposal makes “testing out” no longer an option. The old test is a typing proficiency test. A good test does not exist.

l. Sen Jones—closest “fit” for basic tech skills is “Intro to Tech”

m. Sen Renouard—

n. Sen Hudson—Core 24 coming on line. Core 22 will be first. State requirements may increase number of “waivers” (PE, tech, tec.) A tech requirement makes it more difficult to obtain a waiver.

o. Sen Torvik—committee states that a test to demonstrate proficiency does not currently exist—would they be charged with developing a test?

p. Sen Hudon—since these are state requirements, a test or method for demonstrating proficiency probably does exist. Needs to be a test beyond a typing test.

q. Sen Renouard—should we request a formal amendment that the group develop/find a test to demonstrate proficiency?

r. Sen Miyata—built eSIS to require pre-reqs before kids registered for Advanced tech classes (CISCO, game design, etc require Intro to Tech first)

s. Sen Sylver recommends that we check in with committee to determine if a proficiency test exists and answer other questions

t. Sen Ames suggests a proviso to find out what it would take to develop a meaningful proficiency test. Guesses that a community college somewhere has a test.

u. Sen Scott—would committee add game design or web design to the list? Many kids take these classes in middle school.

v. Motion to table proposal (and have Sen Renouard take back to Tech Committee for further discussion)—passed by voice vote

IV. Proposals for additional spending from the carry forward from last year and additional funding

a. Sen Renouard—proposes to set aside funds for a back-to-school staff retreat for 2010-2011 SY. Request for $13,000 from sub funds

b. Sen Hudson—suggests leaving a cushion—consider $17 K of sub money

c. Sen Hudson—increase music staffing by .1 FTE. Will allow for smaller guitar classes and add an orchestra for next year. Cost is $8K for .1 FTE.

d. Sen Hudson—FTE for math intervention to help boost skills in algebra and pre-algebra. Select 20 kids for probram called “I Can Learn”—copmputer based program that works well in middle school. Computer based. $2K for complete kit.

e. Sen Hudson--$5K for discressionary fund (some going to start-up funds for new staff)

f. Sen Hudson—old career center is now student services “mini-lab”—enable kids to set up WOIS profile, career searches, college searches. Can fit ½ lab in this area. Buying furniture through BEX, but need 16 computers—probably can get for $10K (some questions about cost of district spec computers)

g. Sen Hudson—some money should go to departments—some have $$$ out of self-help, but no one has money from baseline budget

h. Sen Jones—school supplies (logbooks, USB drives) = $400. Nurse needs emergency supplies (water, water barrel, heating pads) = $500. Librarian—ink, tape, other supplies = $4500 (hasn’t had $$$ past 3 years)

i. Sen Hudson—departments should have funds

j. Sen Feigal-Stickles—computers will probably be short in new school. Computer cart for check-out with 32 laptops/wireless connection = $16K

k. Sen Hudson—BTA levy should bring new technology to the building. When happens, all computers in library and lab will be replaced. Will building be wired? Could put a wireless router on the cart.

l. Sen Renouard—what becomes of computers being replaced? Sometimes redistrubuted throughout building.

m. Sen Ames—what about putting $$$ into music program? New assignment plan means new emphasis on music.

n. Sen Goetz—instruments are older, can make up a list of needs/priorities

o. Sen Hudson—Foundation still has funds to give to Hale (mobile laptop cart, music program)

V. Mentorship Committee Meeting—Monday 11/23 in Greenway’s room

Respectfully submitted,

Jessica Torvik