Site Council Minutes

3-22-2007

Present:  Valerie Atkinson (member, co-chair, non-teaching staff), John Hines, (member, co-chair, parent) Lauren Rekonen (member, secretary), Marilyn Mauritz (alternate, teaching staff), Tim Hausker (member, non-teaching staff), Dave Mergens (member, teaching staff), Bonnie Bellows (member, teaching staff), Jackie Lundgren (alternate, non-teaching staff), Tom Kranz (member, teaching staff, union representative), Andy Mosca (member, parent)

Not Present:  Jennifer Purtell (parent), Kandy Hedlund (parent), Sam Buffington (Community)

District Guests: Superintendent Dr. Carstarphen, Bill Larson, Hitesh Haria, Lois Rockney, Micheal Thompson, Traci Gauer, Peter Christensen, Valeria Silva, Jeremiah Ellis, Phil Moye, Patrick Romey, Deb Henton

Other Guests: Steve Aeilts, Isreal Moses, Steve Egyhazi, Diane Schroepfer, Tim Larson, John Ekblad, Mike Schulze, Lisa Boehlke, Bev Babcock, Jodie Brennan.

I.                    Approval of Agenda: J. Hines

a.       Motion made by M. Sodomka, unanimously approved

II.                 Approval of February 12, 2007 Site Council Minutes: V. Atkinson

a.       Motion made by D. Mergens, seconded by J. Hines, unanimously approved.

III.               Presentation and Discussion: Office of the Superintendent and other District representatives

a.       M. Sodomka:  Issues Impacting Humboldt Senior High School

                                                               i.      Low student performance as measured by MCAs

                                                             ii.      History of declining enrollment (currently stable and projected for growth)

                                                            iii.      Demographics

1.      Many special education students, mobile students, and other students experiences extra challenges

2.      Humboldt has several academic support programs in place to help students achieve

a.       The school and the community are working in cooperation to benefit all

                                                           iv.      College admission and college success are major goals for the students here at Humboldt. (AVID, MEP, ETS, Admission Possible, Destination 2010 and others)

                                                             v.      The Junior and Senior High have made several steps to increase the percentage of students who attend junior high at Humboldt Junior High School and then go on to attend Humboldt Senior High School

1.      schedule

2.      shared classes and teachers

3.      aligned curriculum

4.      AVID will be added to the Junior High School for the ’07-’08 school year

                                                           vi.      Staff Development

1.      MCA strategies

2.      AVID strategies

3.      Reading and discussing the book Results Now

4.      Vertical and horizontal team training in English, math, and science

                                                          vii.      Behavioral Interventions

1.      new student orientation

2.      reducing PPCs (problem conferences)

3.      highest number TIP/SART referrals for all high schools

4.      improved security through guards and cameras

                                                        viii.      Community/Business Partnerships

1.      Leadership United has fostered business partnerships

a.       EcoLab and St. Paul Travelers are supporting AVID, Admission Possible and e-mentoring

b.      EcoLab partnering with classrooms

2.      Friendship Club, Boys and Girls Club, El Rio, WSCO, Girl Scouts, Alumni, Neighborhood Block Club, Wilder Nursing Home, 21^st Century Grant with all West Side secondary schools and multiple community agencies

                                                           ix.      Proposals

1.      Phase I: 

a.       curriculum alignment with Humboldt Junior (currently implementing)

b.      Athletic Fields (breaking ground in mid-April)

c.       Academic interventions (AVID, etc.)

2.      Phase II:

a.       Secondary Curriculum Team housed at Humboldt Senior High School

1.      model school for best curricular practices

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Action needed:  need to remodel our building to accommodate Secondary Curriculum Team

b.      Improve environment by replacing carpeting and tile

                                                                                                                                       i.      Provide a clean and welcoming learning environment

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Raises student expectations

                                                                                                                                    iii.      Demonstrates to the students and community that Humboldt and District cares about our school

1.      Action needed:  need to replace carpet and tile throughout the building

c.       Update our auditorium (carpet, chairs, sound system)

                                                                                                                                       i.      Multi-use facility

                                                                                                                                     ii.      Raises student expectations and creates the aura of a professional performance throughout the multiple uses of the facility

1.      Action needed:  update our auditorium

3.      Question from guest:  How have the Junior and Senior High worked to align their curriculum?

a.       I. Moses:  We have focused on the math departments this year.  Several meetings and staff development sessions have been held throughout the year aligning the curriculum towards the MCA’s and to become aligned throughout and within grades 7-12.

4.      How do we get money for Capital Improvement Plans?

a.       Larson (guest):  We raise money through bonds and through the state.  There have been 290 requests for capital improvement projects (Humboldt has 6 of those).  Consultants help decide which projects are done and how much they will cost.  CEAC (Capital Expenditure Advisory Committee) makes decisions about what projects will be completed.  It takes about a year after the CEAC selects projects.

b.      These are the projected amounts for the capital improvement projects that Humboldt is requesting

                                                                                                                                       i.      $322,000: carpeting

                                                                                                                                     ii.      $306,000: tile

                                                                                                                                    iii.      $350,000: auditorium

                                                                                                                                   iv.      $7,000,000:  entry, library etc. 

                                                                                                                                     v.      $430,000: air conditioning

                                                                                                                                   vi.      $863,000:  land

                                                                                                                                  vii.      TOTAL:  $11,000,000

5.      M. Carstarphen:  Explain to me what was happening prior to ’05-’06 towards academic improvement and curriculum alignment?

a.       D. Schroepfer:  Gates Foundation Grant: $1,000,000.  Gates Grant is no longer at Humboldt.  Humboldt was divided up into 4 Small Learning Communities (9^th Grade Academy, SETA, CAPS, and BLCA).  We tried to do core-specific courses (ex: SETA Seminar). 

b.      M. Sodomka:  Prior to John Bianchi’s administration Humboldt was a struggling school and many improvements have been made.

                                                                                                                                       i.      We are looking for help from the secondary curriculum team

c.       Does the community want a High School on the West Side?  Do you know this?

                                                                                                                                       i.      Yes.  They would like to see more career and technology classes.  These are hard to fit into our students’ schedules who have to take two math and two English courses, but many students would benefit from these courses. 

                                                                                                                                     ii.      J. Laconic: Project Lead the Way is underway here at Humboldt and is growing and has room for more growth. 

                                                                                                                                    iii.      J. Hines:  As a parent, I would like to see the school bring students who are in school to learn and grow.  I think that this can be done with more vocational courses and programs and fields that give them more of a purpose to come to school.  I would like to see more community involvement that is fostered through athletics, band, theatre, etc. 

                                                                                                                                   iv.      T. Hausker:  I feel as though the school has gotten too complex for the kids as far as acronyms, meetings, etc.  We need to teach the kids more character skills and to be realistic about their needs and wants. 

1.      M. Carstarphen:  I have seen that schools can close the achievement gap.  SPPS has an extraordinary curriculum and great teachers.  This district has been through many transitions and has held it together.  “Apples to Apples” comparisons have shown that SPPS has done a better job at educating traditionally low-achieving students than other districts have.  I think that it is important that the community is engaged in Humboldt High School to a greater extent.  What does Humboldt and its community want for Humboldt?  What is the academic program design?  How do we bring in the types of students that want to be here into this school? 

                                                                                                                                     v.      A. Mosca:  Thank you to the teachers and to the impossible work that they do.  My children have been in the SPPS their entire lives.  My son struggles at this school and my daughter gets straight A’s at the Junior High: this is an anomaly.  I have watched for decades as Capital Bond money goes not to those in need, but to those who know the right people and how to ask for it. 

                                                                                                                                   vi.      T. Kranz:  What is the greater community that is represented at Humboldt?  22 years ago, about 50% of Humboldt students were from the West Side.  Today, only 22% of our students come from the West Side.  Efforts need to be made to get more West Side students back. 

                                                                                                                                  vii.      J. Hines:  re: How do we attract the type of students we would like to see at this school?  Why is Humboldt ranked last in attendance, last in funds, and first is Special Ed. Population?  There is not parody with the Special Ed. Funding?  Special Ed. brings a stigma with it and discourages students from attending here. 

                                                                                                                                viii.      V. Atkinson:  re:  1,000 abandoned houses here on the West Side.  How do you take into account the impact of abandoned properties in a community and on Humboldt which sits in the middle of this community?  Our entire community, not just our school, is showing signs of deterioration.  Parents will take their students out of situations like this if they can.  How does the District address the placement of students in our schools?

                                                                                                                                   ix.      D. Mergens:  Why don’t people send their students here?  People believe that Humboldt “is a Special Ed. school”. 

                                                                                                                                     x.      I. Moses:  Last October we decided that we would no longer “be the victim” and we would address the issues and meet them head-on.  Our SCIP is focused on curriculum improvements. 

                                                                                                                                   xi.      J. Laconic:  I would create a future at Humboldt where the students can head towards a future that they can relate to and is a realistic goal for them, meaning that we need to increase our vocational and technology courses and to have cooperative teaching and more rigorous elective courses that are infused with math and reading. 

                                                                                                                                  xii.      A. Mosca:  One of  the reasons that we are pushing so hard for capital improvements is to increase enrollment in the school. 

                                                                                                                                xiii.      S. Aeilts:  The people from the West Side do not believe that there is a vested interested by the district in Humboldt High School.

ix.                 M. Carstarphen:  In addition to the face-lift, there has to be a heavy lift on academic design.  A rigorous academic program that delivers is a winner every time.  I will keep in mind interventions regarding special education caseloads and attendance zones. 

IV.              Adjourn

a.       Motion made by J. Hines, seconded by A. Mosca, unanimously approved.