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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-11-20-LHS-min Lexington High School 251 Waltham Street ❖ Lexington, Massachusetts 02421 Andrew Stephens 781-861-2320,x69103 Principal astephens@lexingtonma.org Twitter: @LexingtonHSMa FAX: 781-861-2440 November, 2017 To: The Lexington High School Council From: Andrew Stephens Re: November Meeting Minutes LHS School Site Council Meeting met on November 20, 2017 from 6:15-7:50 PM in the Library Media Center. Present: Andrew Stephens, Suzanne Lau,Nancy Shepard,Elise Rowley,Ed Li,Kate Vogelzang, Bryce Spalding,Erin Barrett, Shiv Chandra,Dave Wininger, Sharon Kendall,Katie Cutler,Liz Curtin, Sheera Knecht and Leslie Zales. Absent: Alex McLaughlin I. Minutes of the October 16, 2017 meeting were approved with no changes. II. Announcements/updates from Council members 1. Stephens Announcements/Updates: a. Budget Process • System-wide review process to be conducted on 11/21/2017. • Requests are focused on anticipated increased enrollment at LHS next year (64 additional students expected) —additional teaching and counselling staff. Propose adding more college and career planning for students in the counseling department with additional staff person. • Capital request includes additional technology for LHS to increase the internet WiFi bandwidth and to add a 1:1 initiative for Chrome books for 9,° and IW graders next year (2-year phase in with 11,^ and 12« graders the following year). • Professional development for staff will also need to be conducted in parallel. • Concern expressed that previous curriculum work developed with iPads for conceptual level students will be preserved or transferred to new devices. • Having uniform technology for all students would be helpful using technology in the classroom. b. NEASC Process • Committee has been formed. • Surveys are still open for parents and community members to complete (need 25%participation). c. Scheduling Committee • Scheduling committee has a subgroup looking at schedules of other schools in MA. Generating a list of evidence seeking questions. • Using minutes per class per year as a standard measure. • Conducting research in the literature around scheduling. • Seeking to understand the motivation of other schools that have changed their schedule. • Conducting activities with staff to understand how the current schedule meets or does not meet student needs. • Looking at different existing school schedules (block,AB,flexible blocks, length of time etc.). d. Visioning Process The educator group (about 50 educators) and the community and parent group (about 32 members) have been formed. Katie Cutler and Suzanne Lau from the LHS School Council will participate. e. Other • Samantha St. Lawrence will be examining the curriculum for bias. • The Sophomore English team will be conducting a unit on the book"Homecoming" by Yaa Giyas from Ghana.The author will make a presentation at LHS in March. • Vaporizers update—Cigarette smoking is down but the use of E-cigarettes is increasing in middle and high schools,including LHS.The perceived acceptance of vaping is concerning— cartridges may contain nicotine or TMC (chemical found in marijuana). Students have been disciplined. The Principal and school are providing educational materials for students and families. 2. School Spirit Rally First spirit rally is scheduled for Wednesday 11/22/2017 before Thanksgiving break. Each class will attend an in-class rally in the Field house for one block—9,° and 10,° grade wear royal blue and 11�, and 12� grade wear yellow. Fun activities are planned—games,cheers, pie eating etc. III. Presentations & Discussion: 2017 YRBS Executive Summary Reviewed and discussed the 2017 YRBS Executive Summary— substance use,depression and suicide, sexual behavior, sources of stress,positive school climate. IV. Discussion: HW Policy Feedback Forums & Key points raised 1. Two forums were held for teachers and for the community. 2. Feedback from the teachers included: • The new homework policy is important for reducing stress. • Policy limits a teacher's ability to schedule work in class. • AP classes have difficulty covering the required material— students taking these classes should expect to have more homework. • Policy forces teachers to group homework into permitted nights. • Teachers may be making choices to leave out certain material—less content material being covered. V. School Improvement Plan review/questions DCAP - postponed to December meeting VI. Adjournment 7:50 pm