I. Approval of Agenda

II. Approval of June 13th Minutes

III. Review of 2004-2005 Site Council and Results of Evaluation Survey

Survey Results: Site council members filled out surveys to evaluate the site council. On a 1 to 5 scale where 1 is poor and 5 is strong, atmosphere received a 4, listening skills received a 4, respect received a 5, and effectiveness received a 3 (some felt the council is too much of a rubber stamp). When asked what members find valuable about the council, people responded: 1) council membership allows members to be more connected to the school, 2) council members are hardworking, 3) council members are able to build relationships, and 4) the administration feels validated and supported.

People would improve the council by getting more people involved, having less turnover and ensuring that there is a project that begins and ends. Members felt success include: 1) having almost a full council, 2) starting the parent engagement initiative, 3) bringing in guests to better inform the council on key issues, 4) having a good spirit, and 5) having great leadership.

Discussion: Focused on comments made about the council being a rubber stamp. Some felt this comment is to strong because Site Council’s are meant as advisory groups. Some felt that the district has literature on site council’s that blur the line between being an advisory body and a decision-making body which makes roles and responsibilities ambiguous. Also mentioned that the district set timelines and deadlines in a fashion that makes it difficult for site councils to advise (or affect change) in an informed and thoughtful manner.

Next Steps: 1) Look into having a Site Council member on the SCIP team so the site council is more informed, 2) finish the parent engagement initiative, 3) set clear goals with clear outcomes for 2005-2006 school year at September meeting.

IV. Open Forum

Dave M.: 1) A new Alumni Committee began in July that is run in conjunction with the athletics department. 2) Don Luna is working with Clear Channel on a promotion of Humboldt Sr. Athletics and West Side Boosters during Clear Channel’s Spanish broadcast of a Vikings Game. 3) October 14th is Homecoming. 4) The 2005-2006 athletic calendar was passed out.

Kari D: 1) The West Side Citizens Organization’s Education Committee is working to educate parents in the neighborhood about the transportation/school choice conversation happening at the district level. It is possible that the district will hold additional community meetings during the fall semester. 2) Kari will be leaving her position as Community Connector at WSCO on September 1st to attend graduate school at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. Kari will be a Research Assistant at the Center for Democracy and Citizenship which sponsors the Jane Addams School for Democracy and the Neighborhood Learning Community. This will allow Kari to continue to work on projects related to the NLC and to remain as a community member on the Humboldt Site Council.

Mike S: 1) An English teacher certified to teach AP courses resigned in the past week. This may cause some schedule changes but AP English will still be offered.

Tom K: 1) Tom’s personal feeling is that the district may be setting the school up to be closed over the next few years. These feelings are based on what seems like a lack of support for suggestions to strengthen the school and room to spread Humboldt’s students to other schools once the decrease in school-aged children population reaches the high school level. 2) Tom is very invested in the success of Humboldt Senior High and will be strongly advocating for two changes to the school come fall: school uniforms and a later start time.

V. Principal’s Report and Budget Review

Budget Review: The legislature has approved a ½% increase in education funding. An individual in the district budget office projects that this money will be used at to restore Special Education, ELL and on textbooks but it is unclear which buildings will benefit from this (or if the restoration will stay at the district level). Budget cuts have resulted in loss of translators in our ELL program, an EA in the library, and our attendance clerk. Our truancy coordinator and Mario on ISS duty will be shifting tasks to cover some of the roles played by our attendance clerk. There is hope that a library intern can help out in the library, but they will not be able to play the heavy technology roll that Jim S. played.

Technology Update: Many labs have been upgraded including the first floor lab, the science lab, and a lab used for the six-year plan.

Additional Staffing Updates: We lost an English teacher last week. Patti Murphy (Assistant Principal) left to become a principal at another school and is being replaced by Israel Moses from Cretin Durham. We hired a FACS teacher but that individual still needs to get out of a ½ time contract in Minneapolis. We hired a student teacher for a 9th grade Math position. Mai Xie is moving from teaching English to heading the Read 180 program. Kita Her left for Como Senior High. We are still working on hiring a Computer Education, ½ time Social Studies and ½ time English positions.

Conference Report: John attended a conference on school reform over the summer and learned about a school reform effort in Kansas City at Weindot School. This workshop reinforced that the small learning communities at Humboldt are on the right track. Still, we can strengthen our advisory program and we will be implementing a Cognitive Coaching strategy to help out teachers (especially new teachers). Through this program, other teachers will be based in the building and will act as mentors.

Strengthening Humboldt and School Attendance: 1) We need to increase our attendance and retain the kids we currently have. Our enrollment is a bit over 700 and 100 down from last year. We also need to improve the community perception of Humboldt. The school may also benefit from a well-rounded student body, we are very proud of our top-notch Special Education program and students but everyone would benefit by AP programs being full with students as well. 2) The principal has some reservations about uniforms, they could work but need to do more research to understand if this is the change that will bring more students to Humboldt. If it is supported by the community, parents and students, business partners should be recruited to help fund the cost of uniforms for students.

Odds and Ends: Our Academy Chairs are veterans and top notch teachers who will do a great job this year. The PLAN test came back and will help students make more informed decisions about which academy to choose.

VI. Parent Engagement and Recruitment

Freshman Parent Night Plan: Freshman Parent Night is on September 1st. Kari D, John H, Dave M, and Becki H will attend.

1) The site council should make sure we are on the agenda to speak.

4) A list of all opportunities parents can get involved in should be handed out so parents can denote their interest and turn them in.

VII. Treasurer’s Report

Current Budget: The Site Council has a $0 balance. The principal is covering postage out of the principal’s budget.

State Leadership Retreat: There is a state site council member retreat in October at Madden’s but the site council does not have funds to send any members.

Snacks: The Food Factory will not be able to provide snacks for site council meetings during the 2005-2006 school year.

Next Steps: 1) Site Council members will rotate providing snacks and sign-up by month will be available at the September meeting. 2) The administrative team will provide snacks for the September meeting.

VIII. New Business

None

IX. Next Meeting

Monday, September 12th in the Humboldt Senior High Library.

X. Adjourn