La Jolla High School

La Jolla High School Site Council Meeting Minutes

October 16, 2006

Members present:

Classroom teachers: Kerry Dill, Ben Rosenberg, Ken Martin, Emma Zink

Classified staff member: Kathleen Doll

Students: Rachel Pedowitz, Nicole Sparks, Delaney Maher

Parents/community members: Linda Dowley, Jamie Ginsberg, Michael Briggs

Ex officio member: Dana Shelburne (Principal)

Guests present: Irene Vice, Bev Greco (Vice Principal), Walter Fairley (Vice Principal), Sandi Erickson (LJHS Foundation) and Faculty Department Chairpersons (Carole LeCren, Ken LaMar, David Mika, Georgina Lyon, Steve Grant, Patricia Thomas, Michael Palm)

The meeting was called to order at 2:35 p.m.

1. Election of Officers – After introductions by everyone in attendance, nominations were accepted for officers of the La Jolla High School Site Council. The election resulted in officers for the 2006-2007 school year as follows: Chairperson, Jamie Ginsberg; Vice-chairperson, Kerry Dill; Secretary, Michael Briggs.

2. Terms of Service – The next item on the agenda was to designate terms of service for each of the members. It was agreed that the following individuals would serve a one-year term: Ms. Dill, Ms. Zink, Ms. Pedowitz, Ms. Sparks, Ms. Ginsberg and Mr. Briggs; and that the following individuals would each serve a two-year term: Mr. Rosenberg, Mr. Martin, Ms. Doll, Ms. Maher and Ms. Dowley.

3. Bylaws – Mr. Shelburne circulated the draft Bylaws for the La Jolla High School Site Council. After review of the articles and discussion, it was moved seconded and passed that the Bylaws of the La Jolla High School Site Council be approved.

4. Meeting Schedule for 2006 – 2007. The provision of the Bylaws calling for Council meetings on the first Monday of each month assuming school is in session was discussed. It was moved, seconded and passed that the agenda for the La Jolla High School Site Council be imbedded into the agenda for the Site Governance Committee meetings to be held concurrently, with the understanding that only La Jolla High School Site Council members could vote on Council resolutions.

5. Data Review. The next order of business was to review the school summary sheets with results from California Standards Tests, SAT I scores and the California English Language Development Test. Ms. Greco led the discussion concerning the results, with focus on English Learner and Economically Disadvantaged students and their English Language Arts and Mathematics scores relative to English –Speaking and Non-Economically Disadvantaged students, respectively. She discussed the LJHS Site Plan for Student Achievement and the identified needs for improving student achievement, including the support of students in English language arts and in mathematics, support in guidance and counseling, support in instructive materials and student access to the Library Media Center (LMC) and its materials.

6. Discretionary Block Grant. Mr. Shelburne explained that State of California funds were being allocated to schools according to enrollment on a one-time basis, and the amount available to LJHS was $84,470. He explained that he asked for spending suggestions from the faculty, and received several suggestions, including the purchase of equipment that would replace the current Scantron® answer sheet scanning equipment (which would mean lower recurring costs in the future), personnel help in the LMC, some new computers, library books, educational videos, database subscriptions and a suggestion to save the money for a rainy day. He noted that when he discussed the topic with the LJHS Site Governance Committee, he also received a recommendation that resurfacing of the running track be contemplated. He further explained that there might be funds available from the LJHS Foundation to go toward some of the identified needs. Mr. Shelburne summarized the various categories of funds on the block grant application, which must be submitted to and approved by the SDUSD Board of Education.

A motion was made and seconded to make funding for a part-time staff person in the LMC for the remainder of the school year a priority, with up to $10,000 of the Block Grant. After extensive discussion, including an estimate that the staff person might cost $17 per hour including benefits for approximately three hours per day, the motion passed.

A motion was made and seconded to allocate $50,000 in capital outlays for computers (approximately 40) in the mathematics laboratory significantly used for the Aleks® algebra computer software program by LJHS Algebra I students and for computers (approximately 8) in the LMC. After extensive discussion, including an indication that Macs were available for less than $1,000 each (plus taxes), the motion passed.

A motion was made and seconded to allocate $5,000 for answer sheet scanning equipment and to allocate $19,470 to hire hourly certificated person(s) to provide reading assistance for English Learner and at-risk students for the remainder of the school year. The motion passed.

Mr. Shelburne explained that request for Block Grant funds would be forwarded to the SDUSD Board of Education for consideration at its November meeting, and that the amounts or any surpluses could be reallocated by a vote of the La Jolla High School Site Council at a future meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:45 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Michael Briggs