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 DATE: 11-17-04

Today's Agenda: Announcements, Committee Reports, Open Comments,

Discussion of Dr. Jones' extended veto time for GPA Bill, Discussion

of Senate

Day, Discussion of Straw Votes, New Business

Minutes from Meeting: 11-10-04

I. Call to Order

Meeting is called to order at 7:49 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. Email sheet being passed around again

V. Committee Reports

Oversight 1. Discussed the need for more bathroom upkeep

2. Discussed having a forum to broach odd/even policy

Policy 1. Discussed Weighted GPA Bill

2. Thinking about a bill giving P.E. Credit to athletes

Communications1. Working on getting student body onto First Class

2. Planning for Senate Day: December 8th

Climate 1. Meets every Wednesday in Drama Room

2. Working on Limited Open Campus Bill for 9th&10th

Ad-Hoc 1. Will meet on Friday morning to hang posters @ 7:15

VI. Open Comments

a. Sen. Sullivan raises idea of giving athletes P.E. credit

b. Sen. Ghazarian reminds everyone that the musical

"Pippin'" is next Thurs., Fri., and Sat. @ 8 in AUD

c. Sen. Kafrissen points out that email list has to circulate

d. Sen. Lubershane laments that he and other juniors

had to go to a study when gym was canceled

Motion Motion by Senator Zimmerman to discuss GPA Bill

Vote: Motion Passes

VII. Discussion of Weight GPA Bill

a. Some students feel ego boosts in seeing weighted GPA

b. Students will have to be made aware of bill in HR

c. What exactly is weighted GPA?; it is when students

receive more weight on their GPAs for taking a Level

1 or Honors course versus a Level 2 course

d. Most colleges calculate their own GPAs and the

Graduation Requirements Committee recommended

that we do away with the weighted GPA anyway

e. Weighted GPA is irrelevant b/c no class rank exists

f. The bill has a lot of merit because it lessens the

pressure teachers feel to not give lower grades in

honors classes

g. This bill is the easiest way to get rid of weighted GPA

h. Grades should not be given in the first place but since

the world is not an ideal place, this bill is

a step in the

right direction in exposing Lv. I classes' lack of rigor

i. It would helpful to hear from the Grad. Req. Comm.

j. Getting rid of the weighted GPA would most likely not

affect students' futures because it is already irrelevant

k. Most students do not even understand weighted GPAs

l. What effect would this bill, if passed, have on NHS

admission and on Course Selection?

m. Do other schools have weighted GPAs?

n. The effort kids put in classes at LHS should never be

demeaned but the weighted GPA blatantly does this;

honoring honors students undermines other kids' work

o. The drive to be in honors classes dismantles the

integrity of classes and we need to take responsibility

p. Weighted GPAs encourage kids to take classes b/c

they are honors and not b/c they are right for them

q. Students will still gravitate toward A.P. and honors

b/c they look good on a transcript but this is a step

in the right direction in lessening some competition

r. Praise for Policy committee for doing its research

and therefore preventing blanket generalizations

s. Its important that we discuss the feelings of those not

taking honors classes

t. A weighted GPA encourages dishonesty within oneself;

one's grade should simply reflect a course's difficulty

Motion Motion by Senator Buttaro to amend Bill

Vote: Motion Passes

u. Is it legal to conduct a trial vote to see if the bill would

pass?; a straw vote could be conducted

Motion Motion by Senator Buttaro to conduct a straw poll

Vote: Motion Passes

Straw Poll: In Favor of Bill (42-7)

Motion Motion to call to question on the bill

Vote: Motion Passes

Vote: Bill Passes

Motion Motion by Senator Sullivan to adjourn

Vote: Motion Passes

List of Senators Absent from Senate meeting

*Denotes excused/notified absence.

Sherbourne Jenson