Muirlands Middle School

Muirlands Middle School Site Governance Team/School Site Council

January 31, 2005

Approved Minutes

 

Attendees:  Julie Latta (chair), Chris Hargrave (chair), Victor Totoris, Lynn Reineman, Anita Graham, Amy Hunt, Peter Scott, Terry Schwartz, Joanna Hurley, Eleanor Ainslie, Linda Dowley, Lindsey Steinert, Leslie Pedersen, Melanie Gold, Jessica Tonnesen, Jeanne Tejada, Daniele Rode, Amy Cheshire, Katya Newmark, Demian Hartman

 

The meeting was called to order by Ms. Latta at 2:30 PM.

 

Approval of Minutes:

The November 29, 2004 SGT/SSC meeting minutes were reviewed and approved unanimously.

 

Old Business: None

 

Committee Reports:

PTA:

Lynn Reineman mentioned there was a concern about the music volume on the lunch court.  Audiologists have been out to the school site and have tested the decibel level to determine whether or not we comply with OSHA specifications.  They also measured the band level noise as well.  A question was raised as to the noise standards at dances.  Teachers mentioned that students are welcome to leave the auditorium area to talk outside.  It was agreed that a decibel reading will be taken at the next dance.  Mr. Totoris and ASB could use help supervising at dances. 

 

Traffic safety (Lynn Reineman and Linda Dowley):  There is widespread concern about the traffic situation on Nautilus before and after school.  Double and triple parking and other violations are commonplace.  City police have been contacted by several individuals.  There will be a task force meeting to address it on Feb 24, 2005 at 4 PM in the LJHS recreation center. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss traffic on W. Muirlands Drive, but we can mention that rerouting on Nautilus will only exacerbate the existing issue. One administrator should be there.  Parents will listen to parents.  Teenage drivers were mentioned as an additional concern. Crosswalk use by students and parents is inconsistent.  It was suggested that we invite Councilman Scott Peters to advise.

 

Tabled issue:  how to best get in contact with teachers and staff at Muirlands.  Brenda Montgomery is investigating Pathfinder by Vodavi. 

 

GATE: (Leslie Pedersen)

Last task force meeting tomorrow afternoon (2/1).  Documentation reports will be edited and turned in hopefully in a month. 

 

Foundation:

Communication between students, parents, and teachers remains a concern.  Chris Hargrave mentioned that teacher hours are dictated by their bargaining agreement:  7:15-2:25 are their contracted hours.  Katya Newmark mentioned student advocacy often is not successful.  She has heard students are feeling deterred from consulting with some teachers because they are busy planning.  She reports this is not a widespread epidemic, and may only describe a few teachers.

 

Julie Latta reported that the 6^th grade team is discussing ways to better reach students interested in meeting for extra help.  E-mail works for some, not others.  Anita Graham mentioned that it might help that Advisory teachers have students that are theirs during the day.  Julie Latta said that giving students a pass to come back or making appointments could help alleviate some frustration.

 

Katya Newmark mentioned that the Foundation is in the process of selling (fundraising) opportunities to decorate familiesÕ own tile.  Chris Hargrave and Jami Wright will survey campus for appropriate location for tiles. 

 

Katya Newmark announced that there will be no dinner/auction dance this year.  There will be another fundraiser in spring. 

 

Chris Hargrave is in communication with muralist (Steve). 

 

ASB: 

Victor Totoris mentioned that the ASB was facilitating their new fundraiser (candygrams) campaign.  He and ASB president Lindsey Steinert announced the dance on Feb. 10.  The PTA volunteered to help with supervision. Meet at 1:45 PM.  Victor mentioned he was planning on communicating ASB expenditures in newsletter. 

 

Technology: 

The computer lab is currently being used by Rich GrayÕs class.  However, the committee hasnÕt met in a while.  Derrick Mitchell was working on inventory on new technology.  He has developed a method to elicit teacher troubleshooting items.  Brenda Montgomery spoke about the new e-mail system (OWA)- districtÕs conversion to Peoplesoft and Microsoft Outlook to make information uniform.  Report cards will look different.  Converted to username@sandi.net.  Information in the newsletter.  New e-mails will go out on website.  Some mail might sit on server for up to 48 hours, so be patient.  Voicemail may be backed-up. 

 

School Site Council pre-discussion:

Content Administrators:  Chris Hargrave mentioned these positions were originally created to help close the achievement gap in providing coaching with teachers, curriculum development, and building capacity at the school site in professional development.  The TIIG monies pay for support in working with disadvantaged students.  We didnÕt vote on funding these positions in SSC last year because money was given to us outside our discretion (i.e. we had to spend it on this issue).  Part of our goal today will be to identify specific leverage points (instructionally) and strategies so we know where to best use our resources:  to be used for students not performing at grade-level standards. 

 

The Board agenda will vote on funding content administrators on Feb. 8 (Exhibit G6), so itÕs premature to discuss their future today.  Funding may decrease to one content administrator; we donÕt know at this point. 

 

Chris Hargrave mentioned sites are allocated money in given formulas for CPUÕs & FTEÕs.  Chris has to come up with creative ways to hire full time people in various capacities.  District covers cost of subs, puts it in 00000.  We now have options to outsource gardeners and custodians.  TIIG central and TIIG instructional IMP grant. 

 

Katya Newmark mentioned she had media report from Superintendent Bersin.  She asked whether content administrators could be dissolved to now pay for basic services. 

 

Chris Hargrave mentioned TIIG has to affect underperforming students; working directly with students.  The question is: how are we going to best provide supports for content teachers and other teachers using this money?  This year, content administrators were funded outside of TIIG.  Math administrators were grant-funded.  Much of the professional development this year centered on working with struggling students.  The purpose of our professional development and resource spending is finding the instructional leverage points to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. 

 

New Business:

 

Comprehensive School Safety Plan (to School Police): 

Peter Scott gave a brief presentation on the CSSP and received signatures indicating that the group was advised on the document.

 

#1 Assessing school crime.  Incidences in vandalism went up 41%, but were not significant given the low numbers of overall incidences. 

b.     5 PÕs.  Etc. – proactive campaigns.

c.     After school program

d.     Grade level assemblies

#2  Child abuse reporting procedures

a.     Nurse is working on procedures

#3  Disaster Procedures

a.     Emergency Preparedness

b.     Crisis Response Box

#4  Expulsions and Suspension decreased 75% from Õ03-Õ04.

a.     Teachers taking on hands-on approach.

#5  Notification to teachers of dangerous students.

a.     ALBA

#6  Sexual Harassment Procedures

#7  Dress Code Provisions

a.     Procedures in place

b.     Totoris brought up that maybe PTA could discuss the issue.

c.     Discussion was brought up that some teachers do not address the issue or send students to office to have them call home and change clothes or wear PE uniform.

#8  Travel to and from school.  Student Safety

#9  School Culture/Discipline

            a.  Teachers are involved and engaging students and moral is up.

#10  Muirlands Governance Endorsement of Safety Plan

a.     Scott to have members sign the draft.

 

MM monies: 

$66,000 (approx.) to physical plant.  Discussed commitments to reflooring in BixlerÕs class, fans for upper east facing rooms, nurse counters, FinfrockÕs cabinets. Katya Newmark asked if governance has a say in how the remaining monies are spent.

 

 

Registration for 2005-06:

Lynn discussed that we did not have a pre-registration last year or the year before.  Sarah Schriver, parent would like to facilitate this.  Work together with the high school.  Student registration options before the official opening of school were discussed, both proÕs and conÕs.  Many preferred that students receive their schedules, lockers, and possibly books before the first day of school.  Others mentioned that it is fine to distribute schedule cards the first day of school to eliminate premature requests for schedule changes. 

 

Eleanor Ainslie said it was a problem with not enough help in library.  Another problem was with the master schedule not ready when pre-registration takes place.  Terry Schwartz said there were different ways for pre-registration.  Julie Latta said lockers were assigned through science and it was a smooth transition.  The administration agreed to investigate the feasibility of a before school registration process.

 

SSC discussion continued: 

Peter Scott presented CST data by strand (rational numbers, algebraic functions, etc.), by grade level, and by class cohort (longitudinal) and discussed proficiency gap(s) in order to set the stage for Single Plan for Student Achievement.  Resource allocations are to be linked to specific instructional goals and materials.  All funding decisions should meet this litmus test:  how student achievement will be supported by the expenditures. 

 

Spring Open House

Tentative date(s) discussed,  Torrey Pines -  April 20, Bird Rock – May 26,

La Jolla Elem.  – ?, La Jolla High - ?  Peter Scott proposed a tentative date of Thursday, May 12^th @ 6:30 – 8:30

 

Julie Latta adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.