Lexington (MA) High School Senate

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-FACULTY SENATE

2004-2005

Moderator Ben Skier, Assistant Moderator Jim Williams, Secretary Lexy Smith

<http://lhs.lexingtonma.org/senate>

Today's Agenda1-19-05

Announcements, Committee Reports, Open Comments, Sophomore

Open Campus Bill, New Business

Minutes from Meeting: 1-12-05

I. Call to Order

Meeting is called to order at 7:50 by Moderator Skier

II. Approval of Minutes

Motion Approved Motion by Chair to approve Minutes of last meeting

III. Approval of Agenda

Motion Approved Motion by Chair to approve Agenda

IV. Announcements

a. Next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, five

senators are needed to meet the superintendent candidates in

guidance conference room from 11:55-12:15

b. "The Battle of Algiers" screened by SLUJ in here today

c. There is an informational meeting today in the drama room to

discuss the dramatic aspect of "Price of Hate, Cost of Caring"

V. Committee Reports

Social Action 1. Creating a bill

Policy 1. Recruitment Bill is coming next week

Climate 1. Talked about the informational meeting to be held tomorrow

Executive 1. Discussed extension of GPA Bill veto, Military

Recruitment Bill, and Tsunami Relief Efforts

2. Tsunami Relief meeting today in Commons II with Dr. Jones

VI. Open Comments

a. Moderator Skier asks senators to help straighten up the room

after senate because there is a class in here right afterwards

b. Senator Paulsen announces that today after school Climate

will be posting rules and regulations beside the Free Board

c. Senator Kim predicts that juniors and seniors will veto the

Sophomore Open Campus Bill

VII. Expiration of the GPA Bill veto extension

Motion Motion by Senator Krensky to grant another veto extension

Vote: Motion Passes

a. Dr. Jones has two purposes; to ensure that college admission

would not be affected and to prevent divisiveness

b. Through the work done by guidance, it appears as though

college admission will not be affected by an unweighted GPA

c. The school committee is still split on the issue, although the

PTSA, Principal Advisory Committee, and the Graduation

Requirements Committee are all in support of it

d. Dr. Jones personally supports the bill but suggests that the bill

not immediately be implemented so that transcripts can be

consistent with either weighted or unweighted GPAs

e. Some colleges find our transcripts confusing and it would

helpful to receive their input on how to improve them

f. LHS should take this opportunity to provide every student

here with an excellent education and to bridge some of the

academic gaps between different groups

g. Dr. Jones would like the school committee to come as close to

a consensus as possible

h. At the faculty meeting on January 29th, Dr. Jones hopes to

poll the faculty

i. The school committee currently has a lot on its agenda so it is

not clear when exactly they will discuss the bill

j. It is very important that everyone be informed of the bill

k. Are the divisions in the school committee having to do with

the parents?; Yes, especially concerning college admission

l. How many of these divisions have to do with parents'

"bragging rights"?; Dr. Jones doesn't know

m. Support is expressed for the extension so that every care can

be taken to ensure that the bill be as beneficial as possible

Motion Motion by Senator Buttaro to Call to Question

Vote: Motion Passes (Extension granted until March 15)

VIII. Substitute Bill Redux

Motion Motion by Senator Kafrissen for the Oversight Committee to

poll the school community about the current policies

a. The discussion ended quickly, before any action was taken

b. It is important to find out whether people are actually

following the present policy and what kinds of

problems exist

c. The students' complaints and anecdotes should be addressed

d. Dr. Jones has asked all departments to follow the guidelines

set forth by the senate bills

e. Support expressed for motion and it is pointed out that some

information should be disseminated to faculty to make sure

that all teachers are aware of the senate bills

f. We must determine whether students would be better served

with class cancellations or substitutes

g. Is important to take into account reviews teachers and

students on certain substitutes

h. Teachers abusing the policy should be dealt with individually

Motion Motion by Senator Collins to Call to Question

Vote: Motion Passes

Motion Motion by Senator Bogart to Adjourn to rearrange room

Vote: Motion Passes

List of Senators Absent from Senate meeting

*Denotes excused/notified absence.

Bonnet Jenson Igoe Savage Shen Sullivan Atchinson