Minutes of the LHS School Council Meeting
November 26, 2007, 7:00 PM
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
School Council Meeting Notes
High School Guidance Conference room

Attending: Mike Jones (principal, co-chair), Dick Brown (parent), Jean Cole (community member), David Colarusso (teacher), (student), Marshall Dury (teacher), Ellen Hilsinger (parent), (student), Adam Seitchik (parent), (student) and Jeri Zeder (parent).

Absent: Pat Bonnet (teacher), co-chair Diane Garmon (parent), and Sharon Walczewski (teacher).

Minutes:
The minutes from the October 22, 2007 meeting were approved without amendment.

Principal’s reports
LEF School Community Grants
These were approved, with some reallocation of monies from the Mission photo panels to other areas. Four panels will be created instead of six. These grants are very helpful particularly in the areas of professional and curriculum development.

NEASC Self Study Update
The self-study reports have been completed in preparation for the May 4-7th assessment. Council members are encouraged to participate in the NEASC review on Sunday May 4th. Tomorrow a regional NEASC workshop will be hosted at LHS with broad representation from the LPS community. Rob Collins has done an excellent job leading the self-study project.

Professional Development Day on Nov. 28th
Rick DuFore will present to the faculty on the topic of professional learning communities – small groups of teachers focused on student achievement. Dr. Jones admires his work and its emphasis on collaborative, highly functioning work teams.

Other
The Communications Committee continues to meet. Exploring a number of issues, including use of the internet for posting homework assignments, and developing protocols for parent/teacher communication. The Committee will meet with the Technology Committee. The Technology Committee has submitted a preliminary report to Dr. Ash in time for the budget process, and will be finalizing a report.

Thefts, including bike thefts, have been sporadic at the school and there is no indication of increasing incidence. The campus monitor works 10-6 PM, and the part-time police resource officer is on campus at certain times, such as the beginning of the school day, at dances, etc.

FY 2009 Budget
Dr. Jones distributed a list of requested capital projects, including Therapy department construction, LHS Field House Basketball Goals, the development of a Master Plan and plans for main building heating replacement (presumed to be HVAC). There is also a capital allocation request for the school technology plan and upgraded phone systems.

Dr. Ash is not anticipating an override request this year, and the LPS projects level enrollment for the high school at around 2000 students. Theoretically there will be no change in staffing levels, but minor adjustments may be needed and requested based on specific student class enrollments. It should be a simpler budget process than last year, when override pass and fail budgets were developed.

Common College Application Form
Dr. Jones explained that the Common App. asks both the school counselor and the student to report on whether the applicant has been found responsible for a disciplinary violation "that resulted in the applicant’s probation, suspension, removal, dismissal or expulsion..." LHS current policy is to leave the item blank unless the student has a major infraction, while instructing the student to report fully and accurately.

The School Council had a wide-ranging discussion of this issue. There were concerns that under the status quo serious infractions might not be reported (such as a persistent record of cheating), and also an understanding that some incidents (such as suspensions for parking violations) would not merit reporting on the Common App. There was also a desire for students to benefit from a "No" answer where merited, as opposed to leaving the information blank.

The Council recommends that the school develop a clear policy that leads to more certainty, consistency and transparency in the reporting of this information. Ideas included: 1) having the counselors meet each year to determine which infractions were significant enough to merit disclosure, working under a clear set of guidelines, and 2) releasing a policy to both students and colleges with regard to what circumstances typically will lead to a yes or no answer to the question.

Open Discussion
Dick Brown commended Dr. Jones on the new policy for GPA calculation, as outlined in the recent letter that came with student first quarter report cards.

The meeting was adjourned. Next meeting: December 10, 7-8:30 PM

Respectfully submitted,
Adam Seitchik