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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-09-22-LHS-minAndrew Baker Principal LEXINGTON (781) 861-2320, ext. 69102 abakeralexingtonma.org LHS Site Council Monday, September 22nd • 6:00 — 7:30 pm Location: Room 505 D, Lexington High School Called to order at 6:02pm. Present: Andrew Baker, Rohan Bhunapalli, Sophia Du, Aaminah Shams, Yiashti Khetan (nonmember), Allison Bryant Mantha, Liz Curtin, Zoe Lee, Jun Yin, Suzanne Lau, Rebecca Fagan Gorospe, Alison Stevens, Janet West, Ye Tong (arrived at 6:28pm). Not present: Mr. Spaulding (congratulations on the new baby) & Monique Harris-Schramme. 1. Approve minutes of 6-16-25 No minutes, June was a celebration Will have elections for a new 9th grade member soon. 2. Selecting a new Co -Chair & Setting Meeting Dates for 2025-26 Alison Stevens was selected to be the Parent Co -Chair. Dates (all 6-7:30pm) October 6, virtual November 10, in person LHS 505D December 15, virtual January 12, in-person LHS 505D February 9, virtual March 9, in-person LHS 505D April 6, virtual May 18, in-person LHS 505D - last meeting of the year & celebration 3. Check in on new attendance and cell phone policies Andrew opened the floor for discussion of the new attendance and cell phone policies. Lexington High School 1 251 Waltham Street I Lexington, MA 102421 Key changes to the attendance policy and implementation, as a result of the summer planning meeting from Andrew: • Tardies now count towards Ns (8 tardies in a class in a quarter will get you an N) • 4 absences in a quarter will get you an N. (It used to be 5, but that was a hold -over from when classes met 5 times per cycle; classes now meet 4 times per cycle for longer blocks.) • Verification of reason for absence can be uploaded to the attendance form. An example of this is a note from a doctor, not the parent saying the child is sick (that doesn't count as verification) • Students' attendance in study halls and i -block (i.e. missing study halls and i -blocks) may impact whether an N is waived • For the purpose of attendance, the quarter will close one week before the academic quarter ends to allow time for waivers of Ns. • When second bell rings, students appear to be really trying to get to class rather than taking their time and arriving late. (Start of class is important time for teachers to set objectives and agenda for the class.) • As of last week, only 4 or 5 students met the threshold of 4 unverified absences. Will wait to see how the attendance policy plays out over the course of the quarter. Key changes to the cell phone policy and notes on implementation from Andrew: • Cell phone holders are more consistently implemented across the school • Cell phone holders used in all classes, including study halls and i -blocks (note: study halls and i -blocks are considered "learning time" by MA DESE so allowing phones during those times but not academic blocks sends a mixed message) • The state has not yet passed a law banning cell phones, but may do so. We hope to be in alignment with the final law. • Watertown is doing an interesting pilot where students scan their phones as they enter the classroom which takes attendance and de -activates the phone, but is still available for emergencies. Andrew hopes to learn more at an upcoming Middlesex Principals meeting. • Appears to be fewer students in the halls with phones in hand during class time; in the past students would text their friends during study hall or i -block to meet up and be hanging out in the hallways. Not happening now. Questions and comments on the attendance policy: Several questions about students missing school for illnesses that do not require a doctor's visit (i.e. if the child has the flu and needs to stay home, but a doctor's visit isn't necessary). Challenges and unintended consequences of the policy: • Seeing the doctor can cost up to hundreds of dollars. • Students are coming to school sick because they are afraid of Ns. • There's a lot of anxiety around this policy, mostly because it still isn't clear to families or students. • Even if there is a scheduled medical appointment, parents/families are supposed to fill out the attendance form but, after age 13, they cannot see their child's medical records to show the child has an upcoming appointment. Andrew: trying to create a policy that finds a balance between requiring documentation for every absence and taking the parents'word for it with no documentation. Students and families should get in the habit of requesting documentation every time they go to the doctor. Greater clarity needed around the attendance policy among students and families: • Any 4 or more absences will result in an N on your report card. • Even if they are excused absences, the student will need to have a conversation with the teacher about why they missed class, whether they are on top of all the content covered or are struggling. This is about forcing a conversation about being present. • Students then have the opportunity to fill out a waiver noting which are excused and for what reasons • It is not clear to students that there is an appeal/waiver form for excused absences. Many students are afraid they'll get an N because they are missing class due to early dismissal for extracurriculars. • If you're with your counselor (CS), field trips, including dismissal for school -affiliated extracurriculars (FT), or No Count (NC) - none of these count as absences at all. If the school is the reason for it, it doesn't count towards absences. • One N - in a year-long course - is nothing to worry about. It doesn't show up on your transcript or in your GPA (your GPS is calculated based on the underlying grades). Note, more than one N won't affect your GPA, but could affect the number of credits for the course • An N is a signal that you are missing time on learning and you should be discussing that with your teacher. Regardless of whether you are missing class due to illness or school -related travel and field trips, you are missing time on learning and should be talking to your teacher to ensure you have full access to the curriculum. Recommendation: • A more clear and comprehensive explanation of Ns, waivers, the process, etc. at least one week before the Ns are posted, perhaps in homeroom. [There was already a presentation but it may have led to the current confusion.] • Communicate when and how students and families can access up-to-date information or reports on N -status in Aspen so they know where they stand. Questions and comments on the cell phone policy/implementation: • Students seem to be trying to get to class on time, and there's less hanging out in the hallways with friends during class time. • "It's a whole new world" without cell phones in class. Students are engaged and not distracted. • Students can tell the teacher if they need to call a parent or request an exception • Students and families are requesting accommodations for cell phones on IEP and 504 plans for soothing, white noise, or other purposes. This may become a bigger issue we want to keep and eye on. • Notice more kids with their heads down on phones in the halls between classes, trying to catch up after their phones were in holders. • Concern about difficulty communicating for non -school commitments, such as a job or leadership within outside organizations, when only have access to school email/Chromebook • Not sure why the phones need to go in phone homes during i -block because that is time for students to do what they need and maybe that involves their phone. (Andrew noted the time on learning requirements.) • Enforcement of phone homes in i -block is more inconsistent; could be that teachers do not have a relationship with all the students in their i -block or they aren't as bought into the need to keep them in the phone home. Andrew noted that IEPs and 504 plans should identify the need, but not specify the device. Noted that the district policy recognizes there are medical needs, such as glucose monitor, that require to have cell phone nearby (but presumably in a pocket or backpack is fine, not in -hand). 4. Update on design development for new LHS Log onto the new building website to see the walkthrough. 5. Themes and Topics for the 25-26 School year • November 10th: Check in on attendance data & again in February (after cold & flu season). • Graduation requirements • Questions about grading/workload/etc.: o Adding to the Program of Studies whether a course has a final exam or cumulative research project o Can we develop a program/event that allows students to learn about their next year's class options? One person's opinion on a class isn't helpful. o Questions about standardizing grading practices across teachers o Would like to understand teachers' expectations around extracurriculars: what teachers expect. How much time can you spend outside class, how to make it up, how does it affect mental health. How much time is expected for each class. Standardized and communicated. o Physical Education: Can't get A+. So many types of PE. Dress code for PE. Is it true that there is a no tanktop policy for PE? o Philosophy on A+s/4.33 GPA vs maximum grade of A • What is the timeline for change on First pass and second pass APs? Next year is the phase in of 2nd pass chem; AP Physics splits into one year plus a semester elective of E&M. When will first pass AP Bio and AP Chem go away? • Where can students learn about SATs and PSATs? What is really the role of counselors at LHS? Students get very little information from their counselors before junior year. Meeting ended at 7:33pm.