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