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COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Minutes
December 12, 2011
PRESENT

Shannon Acor, Ann Bartholomew, Mike Brown, Deanne Conover, Lisa Daybell, Tammy Daybell, Tonya Gage, Kirsten Hullinger, Cary Hylton, Angie Meacham, Lisa Simmons, Sterling Wadley, Ellie Young. Excused: Lanell Rabner

REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 12 MEETING

Ms. Simmons requested that the following changes be made:
 Delete: Ms. Simmons pointed out that poor performance in language arts tests seems to be directly attributable to student attendance. A discussion of school attendance policy got started and it was agreed that this is a topic that deserves more attention in a later meeting.
Insert: Ms. Simmons pointed out that the English 11 collaboration team reviewed the data for each of those 10th grade students whose CRT performance did not meet the proficiency pass rate last year and whose scores contributed to SHS not making AYP (and noted that last year's 11th grade student performance actually rose from 89% to 91%). While 84% for sophomore proficiency remains a commendably high level of performance, it does reflect a 5% drop from the previous year's sophomore performance. In reviewing the data, a marked and significant relationship between the students' high rate of absenteeism and their lower performance was readily apparent. The team further sought to offer an action plan for improvement related to the current detention program and proposed implementation of an English tutoring lab. A discussion of the school attendance policy began and it was agreed that this topic deserved more attention in a later meeting.

Delete: It was again noted that low language arts CRT scores are linked to poor student attendance.

Insert: It was again noted that while last year’s sophomore language arts students (who now comprise this year’s current eleventh grade class) have scored consistently lower than the classes directly ahead of and behind them up until this point, their language arts CRT scores may also be directly linked to poor student attendance.

With these changes the minutes were approved.

REPORT FROM LATINOS IN ACTION

Students José Martinez, Myra Martin, and Adrian Ruiz and advisor Mike Johnson described some of the activities and projects that Latinos in Action are involved in. This is a group of model students who provide a positive role model to younger Hispanic students as well as to their peers at Springville High School. They go out to Springville schools (Springville Jr. High, Westside Elementary, Sage Creek Elementary, Brookside Elementary, and Cherry Creek Elementary) every other day and provide one-on-one and group tutoring and instruction for English language learners. In addition the twenty-two students involved in the group act as translators at parent-teacher conferences and assist in other efforts to include and help our Hispanic students. Latinos in Action is a regular academic class and their teacher/advisor, Mr. Johnson, is paid for that period with trust lands money.

REVIEW OF 2010-2011 ATTENDANCE AND GRADUATION DATA

Mr. Brown gave each member a packet of data collected by the school including information about daily attendance rate, mobility rate, dropout rate, and graduation rate over the last three years. In addition, the packet included the information given us last month by Mr. Johnson on CRT and AP scores.

Mr. Brown indicated that the school administration was already using this information to direct efforts to improve teaching and learning. He indicated that actions taken by the school in this regard include more training for teachers, more regular and meaningful teacher evaluations, PLCs that use a team concept to focus on student achievement, and making sure that teachers are assigned to teach the classes for which they are best qualified. He indicated that this year we have moved more students to Landmark High School and other alternative programs than in the past. We want students to be in the best environment for their success.

Mr. Brown invited any parent member of the council to tour the school with him during instructional time to see the good things that are happening in our classrooms.

OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

Ms. Conover expressed concern about safety in the crosswalk in front of the school. Mr. Brown indicated that we will begin placing a cone in the street at the crosswalk to make it a little more visible and safe.

NEXT MEETING

January 9, 3:00 p.m.

MINUTES
November 14, 2011

PRESENT

Shannon Acor, Ann Bartholomew, Deanne Conover, Kristie Crandall, Lisa Daybell, Tammy Daybell, Tonya Gage, Kirsten Hullinger, Cary Hylton, Angie Meacham, Lisa Simmons, Sterling Wadley, Ellie Young. Excused: Mike, Brown, Lanell Rabner. Scott Johnson substituted for Mike Brown.

Due to changes in state law governing school community councils it was decided to name Tonya Gage and Sterling Wadley as co-chairs of the council rather than as chair and vice-chair. To have a chair and vice-chair now requires that both individual come from the parent group.

REVIEW OF MINUTES FROM OCTOBER 10 MEETING

A clarification was made to the minutes regarding the discussion on charitable fund-raising activities. It was pointed out that the minutes should state that such fund-raising can be directed to charities outside of our community if the project is instigated by the school or organizations in the school. Mr. Hylton will change the October minutes to reflect that exception.

With that change the minutes were approved.

TRUST LAND FUNDING REPORT TO PARENTS

Mr. Hylton addressed a question from last month’s meeting about reporting trust land funding use to parents at the beginning of the school year and at mid-year. This is a new state requirement. John Allen at the district office indicated that we could meet the reporting requirement by giving information in the school newsletter at the start of the year and again at mid-year. Mr. Hylton will work with Mr. Brown to see that this is done. It was suggested that an e-mail could be sent to parents letting them know when the report has been posted on the school website. The new ParentLink system could be used for this.

INTEREST IN MORNING TUTORING LABS AND ENGLISH LABS

Most teachers conducting the tutoring labs would rather not work an extra half-hour earlier in the morning and feel that most students would not come in at seven in the morning. Those teachers should be at school by 7:25 am and can usually help students then. There was some concern that some teachers are not at school by that time or are not in their rooms and available to help students.

Ms. Simmons explained that Ryan Stewart, who teaches English, is interested in offering both morning and afternoon tutoring help to students doing research or working on other English projects or assignments. There may not be sufficient trust land money for funding this year so the matter will be referred to Mr. Brown for possible implementation using other funding.

Ms. Simmons pointed out that poor performance in language arts tests seems to be directly attributable to student attendance. A discussion of school attendance policy got started and it was agreed that this is a topic that deserves more attention in a later meeting.

REPORT ON PTA’S “DON’T DRIVE STUPID” WEEK

Ms. Acor felt that the activities sponsored during the week of Oct 31-Nov 4 were well attended and that the message was effectively delivered. There were lots of donations from the city and local businesses as well as help from “Zero Fatalities.” Faculty and parents who were aware of the activities agreed that it was a good thing to do and something we should consider repeating next year. We appreciate all the work Ms. Acor and the PTA did to make this such a success.

COMMUNITY THOUGHT ON CHANGING DANCE TIMES

Ms. Conover indicated that her husband often provides music for the dances and she and he frequently see students leaving the dances at ten o’clock. She thought that it might be better for the dances to start and end earlier to accommodate students who want to do something after the dance. Most parents and teachers did not have strong feelings about changing dance times.

REVIEW OF 2010-2011 TESTING DATA

Scott Johnson used a PowerPoint presentation to show us data from last year’s CRT and AP exam performance. He cautioned us to look at this data carefully and to not arrive at unwarranted conclusions. Data such as this should always make us ask questions and it should always be used as a way to improve instruction and student learning and not as a way to assign blame. It was suggested that next month we be provided with a handout giving the most salient points of the presentation and the data that will be most helpful to us in developing a school improvement plan and deciding how to best spend the trust land money.

It was again noted that low language arts CRT scores are linked to poor student attendance.

OTHER ITEMS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS

No other items were discussed.

NEXT MEETING

December 12, 3:00 p.m.