MINUTES

The meeting was held at Humboldt Senior High School at 6:00pm.

Attendance:  Becki Hamilton (Parent, Co-Chair), Valerie Atkinson (Staff, Co-Chair), Bonnie Bellows (Staff- Treasurer), Kari Denissen (Community Member, Secretary), John Bianchi (Principal), Preston McMillan (Staff, Union Steward), Marilyn Mauritz (Staff), Carol Hugley (Parent), Ann Gangl (Parent), John Hines (Parent), Gilbert De La O (Community Member), Natalie Hamilton (Student), Mai Tong Vang (Student, voting rep.), Marshall Omar (Student), Chai Lee (Student), Chris Vasquez (Student, voting rep.), Gary Partney (Staff Alternate), LaVar McGhee (Student, Guest), Allison Dern (Gear Up, Guest), Mike Sodomka (Staff, Guest).

Handouts provided at this meeting:  Updated roster of Site Council members with term dates, updated version of Site Council by-laws.

Item #1:  Approval of Agenda
Announcement:  1)  Lisa Gonzalaz attended to formally resign her community member position  
    on the site council.  Lisa thanks all the members for a wonderful experience on the council but
    has decided she is no longer able to commit the necessary time to the council because of family
    obligations.  2)  Thank you to Diane Hopen in the French Department for generously providing
    treats.
   Motion to approve agenda as amended so moved  by Gilbert D., seconded by Bonnie B.       
  Unanimous.

Item #2:  Approval of May 10, 2004 minutes
   Changes:  Change “Hintz” to “Hines”.
Motion to approve minutes so moved by John H., seconded by Gilbert D.    Unanimous.

Item #3:  Open Forum
Allison D. (Gear Up): Gear Up has worked with the same cohort of students on preparation for  
college since they were in 7th and 8th grade, these students are now 
11th and 12th graders at Humboldt.  They have had 113 students in their office for college
applications, mostly to 2-year post-secondary institutions, since the beginning of the school
year.  Gear Up hopes to hire someone to put on an after school Basic Standards prep course. 
Allison also serves as the staff advisor to the senior class student council.
Discussion:  Bonnie thanks Gear Up for their work, many of her students say they would not
get their college applications in without their help.  Gear Up is working on a grant to continue
their work with a new group of 7th and 8th graders.  Some students would like to attend private
4-year colleges but Gear Up must advise some of these students to apply to 2-year options as
well because their GPA, test scores and essay writing skills abilities are not strong enough to
ensure being accepted by these 4-year colleges.  Student not currently 11th and 12th graders have
opportunities to be a part of Educational Talent Search and Upward Bound.  60, 10th graders are
a part of a mentoring program.  Gear Up host 2 to 3 parent events.  On December 7th, a dinner
will be hosted with a panel of past Humboldt students who are now in college.  Parents and
students will then attend a Timberwolves game.
LaVar M. (Vice-President of Senior Council):  The seniors are working to fundraise for the
senior class prom, all-night party and senior picnic.  There is a great need right now for support
for the prom and all-night party.  Parents of junior students usually plan these events but it has
been difficult to find those parents this year.  The Senior council is also working on the Senior
display case.  In addition, juniors and seniors need volunteers for the “coffee house”
fundraiser.  The coffee house will be open twice this year from 7-9pm, the first date is
December 16th.  In addition to serving coffee drinks, there will be various games and activities
for youth who attend.  Lastly, honors night is in the works and will happen in the middle of
May from 5:30-7:30pm.
Discussion:  Kari D. suggests that students write an article in the FYI (a neighborhood
newsletter) asking for volunteers and financial support for prom and the all-night party.  Kari
will contact Allison D. to coordinate seniors writing this article.  Parents commented that   finding parents to help with this effort soon is crucial as the planning is already behind compared to what is usually accomplished by this date.  It is a huge commitment and
while parents will help, there is no one to “take charge” and be the lead which is needed.  We
need to connect with Claudia Perez who is the Junior Class Council advisor and see if a 
phone tree could be done to ask more junior parents to participate.
Chai (Student member):  Students participated in a successful mock election thanks to Ms.
Schultz, Mr. Krantz, and Mr. Hanson.
   

Item #4:  Update on scheduling for next year (Mike)
1. The final recommendation is for Humboldt to keep the current trimester schedule.  This decision was made by reviewing input from teachers, staff, students and parents.  It has been
determined that a four period day is to costly.  Also, changing the schedule so soon after starting trimesters is to “jarring” for staff and students.  A school usually needs at least five years of data to understand the effects of a schedule.  Finding a schedule that works for band and world language is still a priority and creative solutions within the trimester schedule are being explored.  The school is currently looking into hiring a part time choir teacher.  Also looking at methods for Advanced Placement (AP) students to have classes mandatory for 1st and 2nd tri and then the 3rd tri would allow for other options/electives.
2.   Discussion: 1)  Gary P. would like to know if a student could chose to “re-take” a class, such    as math, on the 3rd tri to allow them to bring up a grade from a D.  If they improved their grade, the better grade could count and the other would count only as an audit.  Many students really need this additional Math time to learn and perform at their best.  Chai agreed that this is a good idea and would greatly help students.  One concern with implementing this option is that these students would fill the class slots over students who have not taken the class for the mandatory 2 trimesters yet- or that it would result in overwhelmingly large classes.  It can be looked into though.  2)  Teachers will be told of this decision at the Nov 9th staff meeting, students will be told over announcements and parents through the newsletter.  It was mentioned by a parent that the announcement to parents clearly state that solutions to the band and world languages issue is still being looked into.  The fear is that parents will be frustrated that this scheduling problem will persist under trimesters if they are not aware that a solution under trimesters in being sought. 

Item #5:  Principal’s Report
1. Importance of student voice:  Thanks to the six students who came to the site council meeting tonight.  Getting students involved has been an issue since the beginning of the school year.  Students voices in decisions made about the school is very important and highly valued by the principal.  It is important that students know their voice is wanted and important.  The school needs the students voice in defining and giving clearer purposes to the academies.  Over the last two months, work as been done to attach clear careers with academies so students can better understand the focus of academies and be matched with the academy that is right for them.
Discussion:  LaVar mentions interest/personality/career tests used at Washburn that may be helpful for students at Humboldt.  These assessments may help student figure out which academy is right for them.  Teachers commented on various types of tests like this (ASBAB, Myers Briggs for teens) that should be explored and the importance of finding one that can be used with Freshman.  Val will look into what assessments are currently used or what could be used.
2. Students acting as leaders:  Six students from Boys and Girls Club are attending a leadership training in Missouri and two students are going to Panama to deliver school supplies to a school there.  Important to continue and encourage opportunities for students to take leadership roles in this fashion.
3. Behavior concerns at Humboldt:  Recently it was reported in the newspaper that a student was arrested for writing inappropriate things in a school notebook.  This notebook was brought to the attention of staff by other students, process of elimination helped staff to identify the student.  The principal supports the student being charged legally on the grounds that the student directly violated rules laid out in the student handbook.  At the end of the letter to the court, the principal stressed the importance of the student receiving the counseling and therapy needed.  Saddened by the number of fights and assaults that occur at the school because it shows a number of students lack the skills to solve problems differently.  At the same time, the majority of students at Humboldt are wonderful! 
Discussion:  Gilbert commented that elementary schools are experiencing students who are fighting there and they are even worse by the time they get to high school.  It is often not the high schools fault but just a result of a cycle that starts much earlier.  Valerie shared a positive story of an Airforce Academy representative who had not been to Humboldt for two years and commented on the drastic improvement in feel and student behavior at the school.  LaVar commented that he does not agree with the current suspension policy it exacerbates problems for kids who are just looking for attention.  Instead, students should be paired with mentors, not kicked out.  It is these kids who need the most “positive” experiences.

Item #6:  Treasurer’s Report and Compensatory Education Application and Rubric Update
 1.      We have $0.00 in our account.  Mr. Bianchi is footing the bill for copying and postage.   
2. Other avenues are open to find financial support for the buttons and signs we would like to produce to help with recruitment.

Item #7:   New Business
1. Parent Engagement:  Kari comments that a lot has come up during site council meeting
concerning both the need for more parent engagement at the school and the barriers and challenges which seem to make this impossible.  It seems that the school continues to use strategies to engage parents that have proven to not work as effectively as hoped (i.e. automated phone messages and written letters or newsletters).  From others experiences, it is known that individual relationship building is the best method- time and resources for this are limited.  Suggestion that the site council undertake a Parent Engagement Initiative that does not dwell on all the reasons we can’t engage parents and instead works to find creative solutions to this problem.  The Neighborhood Learning Community offer $1500 grants that parents can apply for to do a project with a West Side school.  Parents could apply for these funds to work on a parent engagement project and it would also raise money for the site council.  Kari D, John H. and Ann G. will work on a Parent Engagement Initiative Proposal for next meeting.
2. Site Council Membership:  1)  Motion to have Marilyn M to carry out Deb G.’s term so moved by Val, seconded by Becki.  Unanimous.
2)  Motion to elect Gary P. to a teacher alternate position so moved by Val, seconded by Becki.  Unanimous.
3)  Note that Gilbert has been moved up from Community Alternate to Community Member.  There is now a Community Alternate position open.
4) Open Positions:  Goal for us to fill all our positions, including alternate positions.  We need another non-teaching staff and alternate as well.  We also need to do some work on parent representation as we have 2 open positions and 4 alternate positions.  It would be nice to have parents who represent the diversity of the families at Humboldt as well.

Item #8:  Next Meeting Site
1) Next Meeting:  December 13th at 6:00 in the Food Factory. 
2) January 20th Parent Conferences from 4:30-7:30pm:  Carol H., Kari D., LaVar M., John H., Marilyn M., Chai L., and Chris V. all agreed to be on hand to man the site council table.

Item #10:  Adjourn
      Motion to adjourn made by John H., seconded by Preston M.  Unanimous.