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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-06-11-LHS-min I'log�V � Lexington High School t' 251 Waltham Street ❖ Lexington,, Massachusetts 02421 Andrew Stephens 781-861-2320,x69103 Principal astephens@lexingtonma.org Twitter: @LexinotonHSMa FAX: 781-861-2440 June,2017 To: The Lexington High School Council From: Andrew Stephens Re: June 11 Meeting LHS School Site Council Meeting met on June 11,2018 from 6:20-7:50 PM in the Library Media Center. Present: Andrew Stephens, Suzanne Lau,Elise Rowley, Shiv Chandra,Leslie Zales,Dave Wininger, Sharon Kendall,Ed Li, Katie Cutler,Liz Curtin,Nancy Shepard and Sheera Knecht. Guests: Angela Chang and Cathy Swan (new LHS parent representatives,Fall 2018) and Andrew Baker (new Associate Principal of LHS,July 2018). Absent: Katie Cutler,Bryce Spalding and Alex McLaughlin 1. Introduction • Minutes for the May 7, 2018 meeting were approved. • Welcomed in-coming parent representatives Angela Chang and Cathy Swan. • Thanked departing School Council members Sharon Kendall,Elise Rowley (parents) and Dave Wininger (staff). • Introduced new Associate Principal Andrew Baker. 11. Discussion • School Start time for LHS o School Start time task force has held public meetings,presented to School Committee and developed several scenarios for late start at LHS showing the impact on elementary and middle school start times and bussing. o Elementary school community has expressed concerns about earlier school start time if the elementary and high school start times are flipped. o Scenarios that require more buses would not be immediately feasible (considerations for additional parking and purchasing of new buses). o Parameters would need to be set for before-school activities if LHS started later. • Addressing Disparities in Student Discipline o Ongoing discussions in School Committee and with other community members regarding the disparities in student discipline dating back to 2012. o Need to develop a systemic approach to developing cultural competence that can be applied to cases of equity and discipline. o There were 60 suspensions at LHS last year. o Due to small sample size, each suspension needs to be examined closely in context. o Deans make decisions regarding suspensions and work together to be consistent for a given context. o Disciplinary actions are not shown on a student's transcript. • Graffiti in the bathrooms o Investigation is on-going. • Space, especially for science labs o Anticipate that increased student enrollment will lead to space issues for the 2019-2020 school year and on. o Space mining study this year found that space at LHS with regard to time and area is being utilized at 85-100% levels, closer to 100% for science building. o Will need 2 additional science classrooms starting in Fall 2019, and 3 additional classrooms the year after. o If no additional space is built then would have to implement alternative scheduling to accommodate students (e.g.not all science periods in a lab space requiring more planning for lab preps, demonstrations, and adding travel time for teachers). o Changing the science class sequencing and curriculum would be a longer-term process and would not necessarily solve the space problems. o Principal Stephens is recommending building 2 additional science labs within the science building by re-purposing and renovating current office and planning spaces. This would be the most cost-effective solution. • Proposed 2018-2019 meeting dates were approved. • Brainstorm topics for next year. o Diversity in hiring teachers ■ Identify and hire more diverse candidates through marketing and job fairs. ■ Speed up process for hiring desirable candidates. ■ Partner with teaching programs at colleges and universities. ■ Encourage LHS students to be student aides. III. Announcements/updates from Council members 7:10 Stephens Announcements/Updates: • Events o Proms, graduation, award ceremonies,All Night Graduation Party, Sophomore Cruise and all end-of-year events have been wonderful. Many thanks to all the staff and community volunteers who make these events so successful and enjoyable for our students. o Concern expressed about the lower attendance at Junior prom and the initial low number of tickets purchased for the Sophomore Cruise (about half the tickets purchased on the last day). Several dances were cancelled during the year because of low ticket sales. Need to investigate other ways to publicize and create excitement around these school events— social media, communications to home, Principal's newsletter etc.. • Parking next year—25 spots for students, LABBB parking,IT parking and adding visitor parking to the Worthen Street parking lot. No reserved parking spot for the Principal. • NEASC, 1:1 update - summarized in memo from Principal Stephens. IV. Adjournment 7:50 All meetings will be held on a Monday, 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. September 17, 2018 ............................Library Media Center Room 147 October 15, 2018 ................................Library Media Center Room 147 November 19, 2018.............................Library Media Center Room 147 December 17, 2018..............................Library Media Center Room 147 January 14, 2019.................................Library Media Center Room 147 February 11, 2019...............................Library Media Center Room 147 March 11, 2019....................................Library Media Center Room 147 April 8 9 2019 ........................................Library Media Center Room 147 May 6, 2019..........................................Library Media Center Room 147 June 10, 2019.......................................Library Media Center Room 147