Home > About Us > Site Council	Print View

Site Council January 14, 2008 Minutes

Members Present: Valerie Atkinson (Staff, Co-chair), Bev Babcock-(Alt. Staff), Jennifer Purtell-(Parent Co-chair), Mike Sodomka Principal, Bonnie Bellows-(Staff Member), Aaron Perrine-(Staff Member), Isreal Moses Assistant Principal, Kenny Zimmerman (non-teaching staff, substitute),  Catherine Farrell (parent), Tim Hauskers (staff member), Preston McMillan (staff, union representation), Jodi Brennan (community member), Kari Larson (community member),

Guests:  Karen Woodward, college access

                                     1.     Approval of minutes of Agenda—V. Atkinson, moved by B. Bellows, 2^nd by J. Brennan

                                     2.     Approval of December 10, 2007 minutes—J. Purtell, motioned by M. Sodomka, 2^ndB. Bellows

                                     3.     Open Forum—V. Atkinson

                                                     a.     B. Babcock: computerized babies have been purchased for child development program to teach parenting skills to students, purchased with Perkins funds (grant) @ $500/baby

                                                     b.     V. Atkinson:  WOW cards have been distributed to students and staff when they are seen doing outstanding things.  The cards are then put into a box and drawn for a $15 Target gift card.  A poster has been put out notifying the winners. 

                                                     c.     P. McMillan:  an email came from a former student to the entire staff and they could not have been successful without our support

                                     4.     College Access—Karen Woodward  (see handout), working with Humboldt since 2001, focusing on a college access initiative, funded by Ecolab through a non-profit organization.  Worked to coordinate all college access programs, in 2005 Admission Possible and AVID came to Humboldt; a need to coordinate the program to ensure one student is served by one program.  Humboldt wanted to work to coordinate the programming.  Staff has been remarkable to stepping up to the plate to work for students of Humboldt to prepare students for life beyond Humboldt.  Ecolab wanted to ensure the most students are being served and are best prepared for life.  Karen has worked with students and staff to market and inform students about the programs.  Counseling staff work monthly to coordinate their meetings and ensure the most students are served.  A brochure was shared with the Site Council and programs were described.  If students feel comfortable with college, they are more likely to go.  District is working Naviance, a computer program that tracks the college access process, including applications, testing, and financial aide.  Parents have been informed and will be informed through parent conference of these programs.  ETS will be having a financial aide information session soon.  2^nd Sunday in February (2-10-08) is “College Goal Sunday” at Humboldt.  February 23^rd is “Thinking about College Early” @ Arlington for 6^th – 10^th graders from 11AM-3PM, put on by SPPS to prepare students to feel connected to college programs.    Kevin Hogan, from the district, may have a consolidated set of college access informative meetings for parents.  It is unknown if the district can/will track the information entered into Naviance, particularly in regards to whether students sustained success in college more than one year.  Involving parents into the career center/college access programming is desired.  Develop a direct number to the Career Resource Center is desired.  Counselor will be requested to come to a future meeting to show off the Naviance program. 

                                     5.     Principal’s Report—M. Sodomka (see handouts)

                                     ·      The notes from the community forum which discussed the proposals for the Humboldt plans can be found at the http://humboldtsr.spps.org/

                                     ·      The winter concert of rock was entertaining for all who attended.  Many staff were involved in the production and the students were amazing!

                                     ·      We are beginning our work with district to develop a concrete plan as to our new direction.  There will be a meeting on Thursday January 17, 2008 involving representatives from Neighborhood House, Ecolab, Office of Fund Development, U of M/Jane Addams, Urban Teacher Education Program, Humboldt Junior and Senior High science teachers, staff site council co-chairs from both buildings, representatives from the district secondary professional development team, District Career and Technical Education coordinator, a parent, a rep from community relations, both executive directors and both principals.  We anticipate we will be forming the sub committees below to assist in developing our plan.

                    o  Curriculum and Instruction (C & I)

                    o  Recruitment and enrollment

                    o  Community outreach

                    o  Professional Development site committee

                    o  We are also meeting with Hamline University and a representative from Eco Education Program in the coming weeks to get C & I ideas

                    o  As we move forward with the plan we will be writing as grant, then seek out partners to fund the plan, instead of seeking out a grant and shaping our school around the monies. 

                    o  We have not heard a formal approval of our proposal, but we anticipate it will be accepted by the Superintendent.  Anticipate we will not be doing wholesale changes, rather fine tuning the programs and adding additional support to existing programs. 

I would like us to have a discussion around “How would you see us as an environmental studies/college and career technical school in 3 years?” (new business)

                                     ·      The new teachers’ contract was ratified.  Within the contract schools are required to pay chaperones for dances.  It may not be cost effective to have dance as the rate of pay is ($18.10/hr)

                    o  Sodomka is concern we are spending $700 minimum on non-academic (dances) activities

                                     ·      We received our final budgets based on winter enrollment adjustments.  Humboldt Senior High is down $77,938 or 62 students (822 from 884) students, current enrollment, as of today, 821.

                                     ·      Staffing changes---One teacher going on sabbatical and one hired as curriculum coach for district.

                    o  Both replaced

                                     ·      There was an incident in which small caliber bullets were found in a classroom on 1-10-08.  The individuals who were in close proximity to where the bullets were found had their lockers, personal property and pockets searched.  Nothing else of concern was found.  We involved the District and SPPD throughout this process.  A “parent link” telephone message home to inform parents.

                                     ·      Parent teacher conferences are1-24-08 4-7 PM in the cafeteria.  Jodie Brennan and Jennifer Purtell will man a table at the event.

                                     ·      The Parent Information Fair is 2-2-08 from 9-2 @ Roy Wilkins volunteers needed

                                     ·      Humboldt’s Showcase Night is 2-12-08 from 5-7PM, volunteers needed

                                     6.     New Business—how will Humboldt evolve in 3-5 years with the environmental studies and college and career technical institute program?

                                                     a.     Valerie offered working an issue through a process and priority setting tip sheets for to assist with the process of establishing goals for the site council.

                                                     b.     If our job is to educate, but we keep evolving, how can we establish continuity?  If one comes into the building and sees the great things we have going on, one will see how the great things were doing.   This would create stability of our students and staff.  We have experienced a number of changes over the years and we are moving forward.  There is concern among staff about the security involved in their careers with these changes.  NCLB seems to be alienating our populations further as the changes which are proposed are nebulous.  We have always been a “unitarian” school, accepting all students, not excluding student groups.  We need to continue this focus.

                                                     c.     We will be heightening our awareness of environmental/green issues to prepare our students.  This is a beginning of an effort to prepare our students for the 21^st Century, encompassing a world-wide view of the future. 

                                                     d.     Increasing awareness of careers that relate to environmental issues will be an asset for families and students. 

                                                     e.     Examine a new logo.

                                                     f.      We have a good people working with kids and we need to continue this.

                                                     g.     It’s nice to say we are going to work on the world, but we need to have a focus on our neighborhood and city before we try to take on the world.

                                                     h.     Please have a goal as to where you like to direct us in the future for our February meeting.

We will be canceling our June 2, 2008 Site Council meeting as it conflicts with graduation.  May 12, 2008 will be our final meeting.

                                     7.     Adjorn—J. Purtell, 2^nd Bellows

 

[Back]