Lexington (MA) High School Senate

LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-FACULTY SENATE

2005-2006

Moderator Peter Lubershane, Assistant Moderator Sam Kafrissen, Secretary Peter Kim

DATE: 5/03/06

I: Meeting called to order by Moderator Lubershane at 7:51

II: Amendments to minutes: Senator Colarusso inserts, then retracts a correction from last week's minutes

III: Amendments to agenda: Senator Krensky wants 1989 bill pertaining to Community Service inserted before Community Service Resolution. Motion passes 28-0.

IV: Open Comments:

A) Senator Slane reports the integral of 3x^2 over the interval 0 to 3 is pi.

B) Senator Lubershane reports there is discussion that the SAT's will become a government oversight.

C) Senator Zagaeski expresses disbelief over the idea of saying the national anthem in Spanish.

D) Senator Jeon reports the Climate Committee-sponsored Talent Show has been moved to June 1.

V: Committee reports:

A) Oversight met and formulated the bill which has been inserted onto the agenda.

B) Policy met and wanted to follow up on the community service bill.

C) Communications met and is waiting for decision on bill so it can publicize it as needed.

D) Elections will meet on Tuesday after school, due to the large number of nominations. The elections will be May 18th.

E) Executive met to see what we as a senate should do about the community service bill , and whether we should attach something expressing concerns and reservations about it.

VI: Community Service bill:

A) Kafrissen: Teachers have been concerned about record-keeping system, and it might require a union grievance. Unless homeroom is changed, it can't be "wonderful opportunity to engage in community service."

B) Colarusso: the community service committee had predicted this response, and that we all know homeroom needs changing. We need to put a lot of work in to do this, and trust the administration not to bungle this, which currently we don't. He also adds that he is white, straight, middle-class, Christian and feels like he has nothing to do. Finishes with inspirational call of "we can do it!"

C) Burnett: proposes amendment on 2nd line after public, putting in "with an attached report on senate reservations written by the executive committee."

D) Girondel: Opposes the amendment, since the minutes are public, people can read them. We shouldn't kill this bill right off the bat.

E) Bonnet: we haven't looked at the actual report thoroughly enough.

F) Lubershane: the people are concerned, and we need unity to prove ourselves.

G) Burnett: the idea anyone reads the minutes online is ridiculous. He suggests we need to attach something so we can say there are reservations, even though we support it in theory.

H) Kafrissen: Even senators don't read the minutes.

I) Zagaeski: Sending this addition weakens the bill. If we have reservations, change the bill. People need to actually read the report.

J) Colarusso: Opposes amendment, as it totally undercuts validity of not just this bill, but the committee who researched it. Senate needs to have an open discussion with ourselves and with the committee. The administration makes him sad by discouraging his ideas, and not treating him like a professional.

K) Normile: We are killing the bill before it can live. If we want a bill with unanimous support, we have to discuss these problems that exist, and see if they can be straightened out.

L) Burnett: Sorry to hear Colarusso's feelings are hurt. Unanimous support is a difficult goal, we need to think realistic.

M) Stein: Since this community service thing is merely a recommendation, once it is released it doesn't officially become policy. Do we really need a caveat to something that is merely a recommendation?

N) Fiveash: Call a question on the amendment.

O) The motion fails, 20-13

P) Lubershane: Students need to talk!

Q) Miake-Lye: Teachers have big opinions, but the student body is disinterested. They only ask "how does this affect me?"

R) Earle: Homeroom is a bad, another rain cloud for Colarusso. The timing of this recommendation makes it impossible to pass, with elections soon coming and seniors leaving. A committee should deal with community service, not homeroom.

S) Kafrissen: Both resolutions presented contain language saying the Senate supports it, and since I don't, as long as reservations are left out, I'll vote against it.

T) David: Former Principal Seasholes created Homeroom as a break, not a place to do busy work. Students already rebel against hearing announcements being read. If this can work, it's not just teachers who need to step up, but students too.

Senators Absent: Collins, Gillmor, Kim, Weiser, Eid-Reiner, Chaulet, Kalsow-Ramos, Lane, Saveriano, Shen, Cullen, Buttaro, Kresser.