HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-18-LHS-min
Lexington High School
251 Waltham Street Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
Laura J. Lasa
781- 861-2320, ext. 1002
Principal
email: lasa@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
fax: 781-861-2440
To: The Lexington High School Council
From: Laura J Lasa
Re: November 18, 2013 Minutes
LHS School Site Council Meeting met on November 18, 2013, from 6:15-7:45 PM in the
LHS Guidance Conference Room, 154.
Attendance: Laura Lasa, Nancy Shepard, Kristin Tissera, Paul Breitenfield, Susanne Lau,
David Wininger, Jill Smilow, Nanying Bian, Katherine Murphy, Walter Richardson,
Jessica Zhu, Ann Redmon, Bob Ruxin, Eileen Jay, Kim Effron
I. October 21 minutes approved 6:15
II. Announcements 6:20
A.Update on modular classrooms
Approved by Town Meeting. They will be built off site and assembled on
campus. Landscape committee has moved (will move) different items
accordingly. Ground prep work will begin in March of 2014.
B.Other (from council members)
The newly erected Lexington High School sign has been well received.
Several requests from non-school groups to post announcements will not be
honored.
Lexington Youth Services Council is forming a 1-year ad hoc committee to
address youth stress. It consists of school personnel, student representatives,
parent representatives, and LYSC members. Goal is to examine what has
been done and to make recommendations by June 2014.
The district/schools will continue to explore ways to support children from
homeless families.
AP Registration Process Update:
1.Registration is coordinated through the Counseling department and a
counselor who receives a stipend (Stacy Prosowski).
2.There was a change in procedure this year. Decision to start registration
early. After feedback from students/parents, the ÅNo refundÆ policy has
been rescinded (until March 25, 2014)
Question: Why does LHS charges $94 while college board charges $89.
College Board gives one score. LHS department heads get detailed
score report which breaks down scores by teachers/subject/topics.
Question: Why canÈt a student take an AP exam at LHS if the class is not
offered? No coherent policy among schools. Decision was made last
year. Classroom restriction + extra cost for proctors. For example,
AP Chinese needs special computers.
Comments: People report scrambling to find test sites at other schools. LHS
coordinates this with neighboring schools, if possible.
Suggestions: Continue to communicate early on in the year.
New Business
III. 6:30
A.Credit Recovery
B.Flexibility and Choice within the graduation/cluster requirements
How LHS can help students who need to recoup credits. Need a systemic
process instead of having the teachers responding individually. (See
Addressing a Failing Grade and Attendance Policy/Loss of Credit in school
Handbook). Principal Lasa would like to gather ideas from the school
council.
Background Information:
It is the obligation of the school to help students graduate in four years,
when possible.
Number of students in need: approximately100, due to a variety of
scenarios (family, illness, concussion, etc.)
What to do with online courses?
Attendance Policy for LHS can cause a reduction in credits. We do not
have a lot of semester courses to make up partial credits.
Medical waiver is a different topic.
Cluster requirements make credit recovery trickier than simply acquiring
the total number of credits needed to graduate.
Thoughts from the council:
Summer school options are limited; can be cost-prohibitive. The
registration deadline typically occurs prior to final grades.
LHS has attempted to run summer school options but they have not been
fiscally sound.
Another model by other school. Mid-year exams. Break into semesters.
Might have to deal with the short second semester for the senior year.
What are the on-line options? What do other school systems do for credit
recovery?
Part 2 of the discussion will continue next month.
IV. Adjournment 7:45