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Site Council Minutes

Monday, September 15, 2008

Members Present:  Valerie Atkinson (co-chair, staff), Jen Purtell (co-chair, parent), Beverly Babcock (alternate, staff), Andy Mosca (parent), Preston McMillan (staff, union representative), Bonnie Bellows (staff), Suzanne Fields (parent), Michael Sodomka (principal), Lauren Rekonen (secretary, staff), Kenny Zimmerman

Guests:  Isreal Moses (Assistant Principal), Arleen Shilling, Xia Thao (Upward Bound) 

Members Absent:  Joe Laconic (staff), Tim Hausker (non-teaching staff), Catherine Farrell (parent), Jodi Brennan (community), Kari Larson (community), student representation 

I.                    Approval of agenda: V. Atkinson

a.        Motion to approve agenda made by S. Fields, seconded by J. Purtell.  Unanimously approved.

II.                 Approval of August 25, 2008 minutes: J. Purtell 

a.       Motion to approve August 25 minutes made by J. Purtell, seconded by S. Fields.  Unanimously approved.

III.               Open Forum

a.       I. Moses:  An assessment of all 9^th and 10^th graders has been completed in English and Math.  Students have been placed into support classes based on these assessments. 

b.      V. Atkinson:  October 15, PSAT and PLAN test will be administered.  The school district funds the PSAT, which is given to 11^th graders to help prepare them for the ACT test.  The PLAN test is given to the 10^th graders, which tests academic progress and their career aptitudes.  11^th graders will get a practice PSAT at school tomorrow.

                                                               i.      Question: A. Mosca:  Are there any statistics about what the students do after they graduate from Humboldt?  Answer:  Yes, the college access programs are keeping track of the numbers of students who go on to college.  Also, there is a district database that keeps track of all graduates from the district.  However, it does not track military service or how long the students stay in college once they enroll. 

IV.              New Site Council membership: V. Atkinson & J. Purtell

a.       Some members have left and we will need new members.  Not enough staff members have been nominated for teaching positions to warrant a formal election.  We will be making an effort to recruit more parent members and staff members. 

V.                 Principal’s Report: M. Sodomka 

a.       We have had an excellent start this year.  On the whole the students are behaving well and are motivated. 

b.      Enrollment is a concern.  Funded at 817, 724 student are enrolled.  $274,000 will need to be removed from our budget.  $174,000 has been set aside for this problem.  About 1.2 FTE’s will need to be reduced. 

c.       Jr. High moving forward with college and career prep school planning. 

d.      Sr. High will be following in the footsteps of the Jr. high with the planning of the college and career prep school. 

e.       Food waste recycling will start in October.  Food waste will go to a pig farm. 

f.        Homecoming is October 10^th.

g.       Conferences are October 7^th from 4:00 – 7:00 in the cafeteria. 

h.       There is an early release day on September 24^th. 

VI.              New Business

a.       People will be coming to the Oct. 13^th meeting to discuss the possible bus stop on Humboldt property for the WestSide Circulator. 

b.      We will be inviting Peter Christen to the Oct. 13^th Site Council meeting.

c.       The PTO is looking into getting 2 hour parking across the street and a Humboldt sign on Robert Street to advertise where the school is located. 

d.      Wal-Mart on Robert has been selling Humboldt apparel. 

VII.            Adjourn: J. Purtell 

a.       Motion to adjourn made by J. Purtell, seconded by M. Sodomka.  Unanimously approved. 

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