MHS SBMT & Parents Council Notes

September 24, 2007

Welcome & Introductions:

• New teachers , Special Education director, Vice Principal, parents

Senior Class Report:

• Trevor Burd – Representatives are determining senior class council, planning for senior year—upcoming events include, powder puff football game and progressive dinner, yearbook orders. Reported that $15,000 was raised at spring auction

Junior Class Report:

• Wes-- Vice president of sophomore class reported—class raised almost $3000 last year. Sophomore cruise broke even. Planning to hold an auction, clothing drive, a school dance and raising money with class dues

Student Government report:

• Jess Sokol, President of student government reported – Planning a club fair this fall –goal is to inform and involve sophomores and freshmen to take leadership in the clubs and activities at MHS. Club fair will be held during H block in the Cafeteria. Also organizing a spirit rally for fall activities, sports and band. Clarified for attendees how to participate in clubs when students play sports. Some clubs meet in the AM, teachers will write a note to a coach— teachers are involved with most of the clubs

SBMT/PC overview: Laura Kurzrock and Susan Cohen co chairs

• Informed the attendees of the purpose and process for MHS Site Based Management team.
• Open forum format, issues can be brought to the meeting each month by families or school administrators/teachers bring issues to the group, open discussion of issues, everyone votes that attends the meeting.
• General MHS information shared and some meetings have guest presenters.

Parent council overview/update/old business

• PC is the funding mechanism for MHS. There is one fundraiser per year-- the collection of PC dues --$40.00. Everyone who pays dues receives a MHS phone directory.
• District Wide Messaging System update: Susan Syverson and Pamela Milligan –co chairs gave an update– senior class gift ($3000) was given to purchase the MHS portion of the messaging system. A plaque will be designed and hung to recognize the gift from the class of 2007
• Web page update: Volunteer group led by Susan Cohen and Matt Alling (MVMS teacher) revamping the MHS web site.
• MHSPC purchased software for Matt to begin working on MHS site
• Preliminary changes may be made by October.
• The process will evolve this year-- currently working on the structure of the page and to make it easier to update and keep departments current; such as guidance, athletics etc.
• Susan is keeping a list of ideas and suggestions that folks have offered. For example, one suggestion is to create a week at a glance calendar with moving parts, that would includes meetings, clubs, athletics, class web pages, teacher web pages with homework and information.
• Teacher email addresses/web pages were requested
• MHS is currently installing a new email system
• Financial report: Expenditures and Income—see attached
• MHS PC purchased a Fax machine for guidance department
• Dr. Dulac’s Professional development request –Teachers as scholars program, a series of seminars for educators. 6 MHS teachers will participate this year. MHS teachers thanked the PC for funding
• Robin Fein, MHS English teacher, shared how she applied her learning last year from the Teachers as scholars program.
• Funding Request: Guidance department requests self-sealing envelopes for Senior college applications. $270.00 for 1500. Approved
• Action item—MHS PC will check with US postal service regarding postage rate for mailing self sealing envelopes
• Magic Hat Thrift Store information and request for volunteers

Principal report:

• Kathleen Duff, Vice principal was introduced and John described a couple of key system issues she is working on that have been problematic in the past
• Phone system: The current system is not serviced by the company we purchased it from, system was bought by another company, this company can no longer service our system and it is outdated. MHS does not have a service contract because there were two different companies. Issues exist with classroom extension numbers that do not match room number.
• Current provider will clear old numbers and reset the phones numbers
• Dave Keniston knows about the phone system inadequacies and that MHS system is outdated
• Two phone system proposals have been submitted to the district
• Phone system is critical for safety and communication
• Suggestion made to establish a volunteer MHS communications and systems evaluation group to review options and cost.
• Action item - Doug Fodeman will email Kathleen and John with a phone system recommendations
• Locker Assignments Kathleen inherited “an adventure” in straightening out the locker assignment, missing locks, incorrect combination. However there are enough lockers for each student.
• Other MHS information/updates
• Kristin Norman recently hired as student activities director
• John is monitoring the post office path, fire was set there, intimidating place for freshman and traffic congestion has increased in the circle
• Utilizing Mike Joyce to monitor P.O. path in the afternoon—Mike Joyce is is the building/permanent substitute
• METCO host families needed Call Ann Thomas at ext. 3148 if interested
• 8 period schedule is intact, average of 1 study hall per student
• Class sizes look acceptable (large Spanish class, large Biology class and large Chemistry class)
• Adjusted student schedules over the summer
• Missing Math texts for algebra 2
• Computer program for scheduling of students did not work well for special needs students
• Need to work on religious holidays and athletic events MHS would like to to get together with community members to be create a consistent policy

John posed a question for parents

How can we make you feel like we know your kid and they are not just a number?

Response from the audience: Better communication, involve parents, encourage students to communicate with teachers, teachers need to make students welcomed after school to ask questions and not be penalized for being late for athletics, teacher availability and reasonable start time for athletics, have an email system/list serve that informed parents about what is going on at MHS Suggestion was made to consider “constant contact “–great system for communication.

Morning MHS SBMT/PC meeting next month – October 15, 2007 8:00 AM