Site Council Minutes

January 9, 2006

Attending: Valerie Atkinson (Staff Co-chair), Becki Hamilton (Parent Co-chair), John Hines (Parent), Kari Denissen (Community), Jennifer Purtell (Parent), Robert Purtell (Parent, visiting), Dave Mergens (Staff), Diane Schroepfer (Staff), John Bianchi (Principal), Natalie Hamilton (Student), Marilyn Mauritz (Staff), Nicole Becker (Student), Bonnie Bellows (Staff), Kandy Hedlund (Parent), Tom Kranz (Staff), Allison Gappisberg (Gear Up, Guest), Mai Tong Vang (Student), Mike Sodomka (AP, Guest), Tim Williams (AP Humboldt Junior High, Guest), Carlos Garcia Velasco (Community, guest), Michael Barnes (Community, guest), Chris Vasquez (Student), Gilbert De La O (Community), Anne Gangl (Parent), Karen Woodward (Support Our Schools, guest), Jackie Borgen (Parent), Christian Borgen (Student), Kayla Fearing (Student), Sheila Wood (Community), Maria McNamara (Community), Andy Moska (Parent) Deb Shipp (AP, Guest), Riki Martin (Student), Isreal Moses (AP Guest)

I.                    Approval of Agenda

Approval of agenda so moved by Valerie A., seconded by Becky M.  Unanimous.

II.                 Approval of minutes

Dave M. motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Anne G. 

III.               Open Forum

Diane:  Parent Fair is on Jan 21^st and would like 2 parent volunteers, one for each shift (a morning and an afternoon).  Anne will do the morning shift and 11-2 shift will be Kandy.

Gilbert:  Was responsible for bringing the treats for today but forgot so will bring them for next month.  Was at the community meeting in December and would like to say to Dave and other staff who spoke, thanks.  Thanks for fighting for Humboldt and speaking with emotion and really sharing what you believe.

Carlos:  Came to speak about uniforms not being the best solution to working on Humboldt’s perception.  Concerns about cost of uniforms to my family, it is an added expense.  Also don’t think it will stop kids who really want others to know they are in a gang from getting that across.  Want to engage the students in coming up with the solutions to the issues on the table.  I would not be drawn to a school with uniforms and I have an 8^th grade daughter at Humboldt Junior High.

Michael:  Read a statement from Derek Johnson and Rebecca Ryan, two West Side residents.  We strongly support the goals that Humboldt has laid out.  But have comments on two.  We feel uniforms create a perception that there are behavior problems at the school; it doesn’t create a positive perception.  Many families that we know feel similarly, we want you to think through the proposal before making the decision.  Also, we would like the environment changes to engage students and the community, be welcoming and friendly learning environment- not overly institutional.

Maria M:  Parent of 3 kids on the West Side, my kids started out here on the West Side and we moved away from the elementary schools when they went to standard dress.  I think that it prohibits expression and is a band-aid for deeper issues.

Sheila W:  I have two children and am a West Side resident.  As parents we have worked very had to bring families to Humboldt in after school time.  I have one primary determinant to looking at a school for my kids, it is uniforms.  I think it goes against everything we want for our kids on the West Side.

Andy Moska:  We had three pretty good resources in the audience at our December meeting and we did not ask them to speak.  We had the three principals of the elementary schools here and we should have heard from them.  My kids have gone to school on the West Side and I was on the Site Council when we went to uniforms and brought a new curriculum there.  I am not for or against but mulling it over and realize that uniforms did not attract parents to any of the elementary schools.

Mike S.:  Conferences are January 19^th from 3:30 to 6:30.  We only have one night because of a teacher contract.  Based on suggestion from parents the conference time will be moved to a later hour- one suggestion is 4:30 to 7:30

IV.              Principal’s Proposal on Uniforms, Grounds, and Scheduling. 

History:  Kanavati came and had three concerns:  Low public perception of the school, declining enrollment, low test scores.  He did not have ideas for solving it but wanted the school to come up with bold ideas to say to the public that the school is changing and coming up with solutions to these concerns.  Staff met and came up with three goals:  1)  Look at our program from 7^th-12^th grade.  We don’t utilize resources with them seamlessly back and forth.  Maybe we could make a strong program 7^th-12^th.  There was interest from the junior high to share programs and resources back and forth.  2) Look at our environment:  how enhance it and make it more user friendly.  It is hard to tell at the front if it is a front or a loading dock.  Make a more attractive entryway.  We want more welcoming, attractive and appealing.  The carpeting looks like the 70’s.  3)  Change perceptions of the schools:  this is the standard attire idea.  I hear from the outside that this is a bad school loaded with gangsters that there are fights and it is not safe.  We don’t feel this is true but we can’t change the perception.  We have some students who are behind in their credits and come and hang out but not study hard, we have asked these student to move to ALC’s and we moved 66.  The students here now will say that we have removed distracting folks here.  On standard dress we have asked students to vote and had a fashion show.  We also had parents vote by postcard in multiple languages.  We also had the vote go to staff.  Tonight is the final group to vote.  We are also going to the school board tomorrow to share what our results are. 

Brochure:  All have some merit, but none are a panacea. We are encouraging people to look at the entire picture.  Five principals on the West Side have put together a marketing brochure for the schools on the West Side for the parent fair and for community sites like WSCO and Neighborhood House.  It is a rough draft but it will be done soon.  We want to make it so it has graphs, pictures and some words but not to wordy.  This is the first time when people have come together to work on the West Side educational program from pre-K all the way through high school.  The location of Humboldt is pretty central and almost everyone on the West Side could walk here.

Israel, Mike and Tim (Scheduling/School Program Changes):  Creating a seamless opportunity with college in the schools and AP and pre-AP.  Also with band and to start choir and a theatre arts program.  Would also like the pool and the culinary arts area to be more shared.  Here we could rejuvenate the choir and theatre arts program between the two schools.  From Junior High perspective, being connected to the High School gives us some great opportunities.  Want to align curriculum with the high schools so that we can make a seamless transition for the kids.  We have a Montessori program and we may be able to align this with the AP program at the High School.  Also have a lab in both Junior and Senior high for a “cognitive coaching” program to work with teachers.  We have students who need to come into the high school to take algebra and more advanced classes.  At the senior high, we look forward to having junior high students taking classes at the high school level and hoping these students will chose Humboldt Senior for their high school.  We will still have an advisory hour and same amount of time for lunch.  The core courses (Math, Science, English, Social Studies) to the MCA’s. 

John H. moves that the Junior and Senior high work to coordinate scheduling and their program.  Motion seconded by Gilbert D. 

Discussion:  This will open the door for students so they are not held back when they are ready for advanced courses.  An alumnus of Humboldt is supportive of this if it can bring choir and theatre back to the school.  This is very important for kids.  How has the teacher buy-in been for this?  A vote of the senior high teachers resulted in overwhelming support with a few questions on how many days a week we should have advisory.  Teachers at the Junior High are also supportive because some of our students have been held back because differences in schedules make it difficult for students to take senior high courses.  A student shares that we have unused facilities like the choir and theatre spaces that are not being used because we don’t have enough students or the right staff to support this.  Therefore, this would be good to have more opportunities for students.  There are students who would like choir and theatre.

Jennifer P. calls the vote.  Motion approved, unanimous (16 votes).

Dave M (Grounds/Environment Proposal):  Just because we are a small school does not mean that we deserve less.  All schools in St. Paul should be equal and have equal physical facilities.  We are looking to make a big upgrade with our front entrance.  We would like the cement in the front to be a loop (turn-a-round) with a shared entrance with the Junior High.  Allow visitor parking right in front.  Would like to open it up to office space off the left and right of the foyer for the Junior and Senior high.  Also considering a two story addition with a library type space on the top.  We think our students, the community and everyone will benefit from this.  We also want some flooring in the Senior high, new lockers and flooring in the junior high.  Athletic area, would like a track, press box, bleachers, and turf.  This would be useful for both the school and community because the fields get so much use- it needs turf.  This would allow the community, junior and senior high access.  We would also like to have lights in this area.  This would allow us to seem like an actual high school.  We need to update the physical environment because it does relate to the perception of the school.

Tom K. makes a motion to accept and push for the environment and physical improvement proposals set forth.  These include but are not limited to upgraded carpeting and Junior High improvements, new front entryway, signage, and all athletic field improvements. Seconded by John H. 

Discussion:  Does this include signs on Robert letting people know where the school is?  Yes, it does.  Parent who lives near the school speaks in strong support of this proposal.  Principal shares that at a community member at the December meeting was frustrated that years of working on getting these things have not happened.  Maybe this is our chance to do so.  Parent shares about bringing in treats to the meeting and was very difficult to get them from the parking lot to the front of the building.  Community member in support of this proposal.  We worked for a new score board of this school and we got Harding’s old one and they got a new one.  This is the history of how Humboldt has been treated.  The community has not asked strongly for this in recent history, but we are now and we want this.  We have a lot of community kids playing sports in the community and they want this.  Student athlete shares that the indoor facilities are adequate, but the outdoor ones are not at all.  Spectators for soccer have to watch at the fence and it is not fair.  Staff member shares that the district probably agrees with these things and will try to give us one or two to make us happy, but we have to push for all of them.  It is like getting half a face lift, you are grateful but you are still ugly.  We are happy to have one or two things, but we are not asking for to much.  We should not back down.  Parent asks if only changing front of school, but what about back?  Most of facelift will be front.

Jennifer calls the vote.  Motion approved, unanimous (16 votes).

Tom Kranz (Standard Dress proposal):  There are a lot of strong feelings on both sides.  Months ago Kent Pekel and Luz Maria Serrano came to Humboldt with a major concern for our school.  They would not say specifically but they alluded to the fact that if our school does not change then something major will happen in the next two years.  The other high schools have been protected with enrollment cushion.  But with the population trends, a major change may happen at Humboldt in the future.  They asked the faculty to be creative over the summer but told us we could not consider standard dress or a later start time.  It was a long summer fearing this would be turned into another district facility or to a charter school.  When talking with Gilbert De La O at the Boys and Girls Club, it came up that uniforms may be a good idea.  We were told we needed a big, bold, flash in the pan proposal to get folks to see we are changing at Humboldt- this is it.  Lou Kanavati put no limitations on what we could come up with.  Faculty came out 80% in favor and 20% opposed to uniforms.  Created a parent ballot and we sent out 537 ballots in 4 different languages to students in this school.  Only 2 ballots were returned undelivered.  116 ballots have been returned- 70 for and 47 against 60.34% are in favor and 39.65% are against.  There was then a fashion show for the students and students modeled the uniforms.  Pictures were passed around from the fashion show for all to see the uniforms.  Student vote of 540, 375 were against 165 were in favor of it.  30.55% were in favor.  69.45% were against it.  Talking with students, some said it was not so bad because they have some of that type of clothing at home in their closet.  They said they didn’t vote for it because their friends were around them.  Of the 3 votes that have been taken, parents by a 60/40 margin voted for it and faculty by a 80/30 margin voted for it.  Students voted against it.  Having been here 21 years, if it means the difference of keeping this school open and changing the perception that we have gangs and fights up here then we should try it.  I don’t know if it will work but if it will help to save this school then we should do it. 

T. Williams from Junior High:  The Junior High did the same process as the Senior High to poll seventh graders, staff and parents.  Estimate of the numbers 26 people for, 4 are against.  Parents (194) we got 24 back, 11 for and 13 against.  Students: 13 in favor, 126 against.  From the Junior High it may be easier to sell because there are a lot of Junior High’s who are doing this in St. Paul.  Our site council voted for this proposal. 

Diane S. moves that the site council move to approve standard dress for the Senior High.  Bonnie B. seconds. 

Discussion:  I sent 147 letters to many prospective West Side residents and only 1/3 decided to come here.  Perception is created by many things.  Gilbert as a community member, he is carrying the message from community members who are for this.  Need to change the dress of young man who have their pants sagging way to low and young girls who have to much flesh showing.  Kari spoke about speaking to community members about this proposal and for our goals- to increase attendance and perception of people who do not chose Humboldt- this is not what will bring them to Humboldt.  Also have to be realistic that it is students, not parents, who select where students go to high school.  This also shows that students will not choose Humboldt if it goes to uniforms- given our 3 goals, this is not what will lead to them.  A parent speaks against the uniforms because it is window dressing and he would not have liked it as a high school student and can not in good conscious vote for it.  A student commented that some staff said they did not want to wear the uniform so it is for students but the staff wouldn’t do it.  Also, how will you enforce it if current dress code is not enforced?  Principal:  We do try to enforce this but it takes 45minutes to process a kid being sent home for not having appropriate dress.  It gets old and frustrating.  Teachers would like to teach and not worry about what the kids are wearing.  A student shares that went to a school that transitioned to uniforms after her and it was hard at first but gradually as that was the tradition of the school it was okay.  Parent talks against the uniforms because when looking at thinking about a school, uniform never comes into my mind.  My daughter made the decision about where to come and if there were uniforms than there would have been no choice- she would have gone somewhere else.  When I think about a school, I think about the classes, climate, and programs offered.  If we change to uniforms, I fear we will have more students choosing West Side Paul.  I overheard student at a sporting event saying that they would not wear the uniforms until they wore the teachers out.  Another parent speaks for it because it would be a norm for the students who come from other schools.  I hear both sides but I think it would make a big statement.  I think there are a lot of students who decide where to go; there are also parents who decide.

John H. calls the vote. Motion carries (9 for 7 against).

V.                 New Business

Brochure: John B. passes out the draft of a joint brochure with other public schools on the West Side.

Need a way to market all the public schools on the West Side.  Want them to open it up and say- “look at these great schools, five of them; I want my kids to go there.”  We should applaud principals to give up territorial thoughts to try a consortium approach.  What about Monroe?  From the school board, the geographic area is the West Side schools of excellence. 

Can add contact information to the back of the flyer.

New Site Council Member:  Nominate Andy Moska as a parent member of the site council.  Nominated by John H and seconded by Anne G.  Lived on West Side and have two children who have gone through West Side schools.  I have site council experience by chairing the Riverview Elementary Site Council.  Unanimous approval vote by parent site council members.

VI.              Next Meeting

1.       Monday, February 13, 2006 in the Humboldt Senior High Library

2.      Treats are Gilbert De La O, Mai Tong Vang, Valerie Atkinson.

VII.            Adjourn

Motion to adjourn so moved by John H., seconded by Gilbert D.  Unanimous.