MHS Parents Council & SBMT Meeting

October 15, 2007

Welcome and Introductions: 17 attendees

PRESENTATIONS;

Friends of Marblehead Public Schools

• Jerry Orlen presented. He is a 37 year MPS retired teacher and liaison to the Friends of Marblehead Public Schools
• FOMPS began in 1991. Offer grants to groups associated with Public Schools in Marblehead (including MCCPS).
• In 2006-07 $86,000 was given for new initiatives.
• MHS grants funded –library materials, new courses—forensics, Marine Biology, robotics, business, model yacht course, and photography course materials.
• Encouraging MHS SBMT/PC to apply for funds.
• Proposals are due February 20 2008
• 2006-07 Grant recipient presentation October 23 –7:00 pm. in MHS library

Special Education Department

• Nancy Bryson new MHS Special Education Director NBryson@marblehead.com
• Professional experience includes; special ed teacher, special ed in vocational areas, and innercity middle school, interim elementary principal, recently completed a doctorate in management of family and youth with disabilities
• Identifying focus areas to improve at MHS—Program planning, collaboration with general education teachers and student achievement
• Inclusion supports student achievement. MCAS scores have been strong with special education 240 is passing…students have posted 243 Mathematics and 245 ELA.
• Working on strategies for increasing student achievement in all subject areas
• Program planning—ie foreign language; students may not have taken FL at the middle school, and are not enrolled in FL at high school. When applying to colleges the students find that many colleges and universities have a language requirement. Currently working with the guidance department to consider options for the language requirement such as a certificate program
• Department challenges include scheduling team meetings that include all teachers and parents. Currently gives an 8 week notice to families and teachers to participate in this process
• Offered approximate statistics for special education at MHS. 15% (220) are special education students.
• Explained the differences in an IEP and 504 plan.
• IEP--Indiviual education program, to be eligible the student must have a disability that has an impact on education at school (diagnostic procedure that indicates disability) Team looks at data on student’s past report cards overtime, teachers progress reports and parents input is also included. Team works toward effective progress and specialized instruction.
• 504 Plan – can be for long term or short term disabilities. Accommodations are made to the general education program.
• Kathleen Burke heads up the 504 department and supports the accommodations in the classroom for approximately 40 MHS students.
• Discussed colleges and special education student applications.

PARENT COUNCIL REPORT

• Garden update: garden is , Park and Rec will deliver mulch soon. Scheduling a student work day soon
• Notecard coordinator needed – responsible for packaging cards, selling and distributing cards, basic merchandising task. Approximately $8000 in inventory Claire Federman and team (Liz Lipkind) volunteered to coordinate the notecards!!
• Request was made to send minutes to Christine Nuccio to forward to email list and Doug Fodeman will post minutes on MHS site.
• Funding Request – Guidance department requests $490 for publication of school profile. Approved from Magic Hat funds. John passed last year’s MHS profile
• Request that monthly financial report include Magic Hat funds.

PRINCIPAL UPDATES

• Telephone messaging system – 2007 senior class gift is paying for the high school share of the messaging system—ALERT NOW is the system and should be ready to go soon. School system will do a test and staff training
• Web Page – new opening page under www.marbleheadlatin/highschool not operational yet, and pictures are not there, web page restructure and redesign is evolving
• New district wide email system FIRST CLASS.
• Request was made to keep old email addresses on web page as the new ones are implemented --John will follow up
• Request made to invite a district technology representative to a future parents council meeting
• Communication is a key priority at MHS –seems to be a lack of consistency with teachers and departments—John will follow up with teachers and administrators. Email is the most reasonable way to contact/communicate with teachers at MHS
• Call guidance/counseling office to inform high school staff of any emergencies with a student. Judy Luise will work with guidance to communicate to all teachers pertinent student information. There is a confidential student assistant team that works together to inform teachers of medical leave/emergency
• Communicating with students --John will confirm that first period teachers read bulletin to all students
• Refrain from making announcements during passing class time—consider hand delivering requests for students (to go to the office) in classrooms when necessary

UPCOMING EVENT

• Halloween dance –Friday, October 26 8:30 – 11:30 at the Community Center
• Seeking 15 volunteer chaperones /2 police are hired
• Donations of gift certificates for raffle (12-15) Drop off with Judy Luise

CRITICAL ISSUE/NEW BUSINESS

ATHLETIC CONCERNS

• Students traveling to sports practices at fields around town, consistent times that practices start, and policies regarding athletic events and religious holidays
• Practices start at 3:15. Students have time to meet teachers afterschool and get academic help. No note should be required. Academics are first priority—John has communicated this policy to all coaches.
• Athletic director has been approached about these issues and John will follow up with coaches and AD.
• Request to consider a bus or van that would loop from MHS to Seaside Park, Village and Veterans Schools from 2:40 – 3:30 to drop off students at fields
• Athletic director reports to the superintendent –not to MHS Principal
• Next Monday at the central PTO meeting Laura Kurzrock will bring up the athletic practice schedule and transportation issue with group and Dr. Dulac
• Laura Kurzrock will also facilitate a meeting with Rabbi, Helene Hazlett, Andrew Stoessel, chair of the ministerial council, Michael Palansky, John Ziergebel and Dr. Dulac to create a policy regarding sporting events on religious holidays.

Future Topic discussion- after prom party. Agenda item for next month