La Jolla High School Governance Committee
Report on Meeting of October 20, 2004

In Attendance:
Administration: Dana Shelburne
Classified:
PTA Reps: Linda Dowley, Jamie Ginsberg, Joan Hiser, Liz Lindenfeld, Patti Nussbaum
Foundation Rep: Tom Cummings
Students:
Certificated: Elizabeth Berg, Kerry Dill, Zane Friberg, Carole LeCren, Elisa Savoia, Rachel Tenenbaum, Joanne Wainscott, Emma Zink
SDEA Rep: Tim Rush (for Steve Grant)
Guests:

1. Call to Order: Carole LeCren called the meeting to order at 2:32 p.m.
2. Minutes: The minutes from September 14, 2004, were approved.

3. Agenda Items – OLD Business
* Update on Counseling Staff: Counselor position was posted and the District only sent one person to be interviewed. It was mutually agreed that the person was not a “good fit” for La Jolla. The District did not have another people to send. Ty Eveleth was appointed because no one else was available to send for the .8 position. (See Dana’s email attachment.) Patti Nussbaum voiced concern that there was a coaching duty attached onto the position although not posted. Carole LeCren believed the position was posted with coaching. P. Nussbaum voiced her opposition to posting the counselor position with any extended day duties. Dana Shelburne said the position was posted with the possibility of an extended duty, as SDEA prefers. If Amy Lee does return, the position will be given back to her as a full-time position, which poses problems for our current budget. The deadline for Amy Lee to say that she will come back to La Jolla is around May. If she does not decide to return, the position will be posted. The alphabet has been reallocated to make up for the changes in the number of counselors. P. Nussbaum would like this to be announced to parents as well. D. Shelburne will also check on the duties of Pat Shaler.
* Genie Bell as DAC Representative: It was moved and seconded that Genie Bell be our District Advisory Counselor representative. The vote was unanimous. It was reported that we sit on the committee but we are not allowed to vote because we do not receive SIP funds.

4. Agenda Items – NEW Business
* Review of Site Governance: Carole LeCren reminded the group that the Governance website contains the documents that state our responsibilities and duties. Two of the duties include the evaluation of the principal and reports of the operation of the school.
* Review of the Autonomy Agreement: Tom wants a subcommittee to look at the Autonomy Agreement to make sure that we are always in compliance with the agreement to ensure that the District does not pull our Autonomy agreement. Tom specifically mentions the VEEP student population variance. Carole suggested it would be a good idea to create a subcommittee to ensure that we are keeping a watchful eye on the details of the agreement. Friberg suggested having one of the people that were there for the formation of the document in the subcommittee. Subcommittee members include: Tom Cummings, Emma Zink, and Linda Dowley. Carole will also ask Rich DelRio and Ken Davis who were there when the agreement was created.
* Concerns about the Registrar’s Office and Senior Transcripts: Joan Hiser voiced concerns that there may not be a system in place to deal with rolling admissions. She brought her request in first on September 10, and as of today they she and her son have come in 6 times to get transcripts. She voiced concerns that there are several other parents have also experienced this concern. Carole interviewed Monteen Solberg (see attachment). Monteen says she works on requests in order of received. D. Shelburne will talk with Monteen regarding rolling admissions and the best procedure or if there is anything she needs.
* Bell Schedule and the Bulletin: Rachel Tenenbaum voiced concerns that the bulletin is too long. She has a few ideas: putting all lunch meetings/club meetings together at the top, scholarships on a separate notice, and the repetitive announcements. Carole also suggests a word limit, an appearance limit, etc. Can we categorize it? Make 2nd period longer? Also send policy announcement to PTA as well.
* Hiring a Long Term Sub for Vacant English Position: Carole LeCren wants to know the process to find a long-term sub for the English position. D. Shelburne has contacted the district regarding finding a possible full-time substitute to fill this position.
* Funding request for Nurse: Nurse Lisa has been cut to a 3/5 position. D. Shelburne has found the money to make it a 4/5 position, and Foundation was requested to fund the final 1/5. D. Shelburne also reported that it was not brought to Governance because he felt that having a nurse is a mandatory issue and that because it deals with student safety. Jamie Ginsberg says PTA’s position is that they do not want to fund mandatory services, such as the nurse, because some schools cannot afford to do the same. They would prefer to take the issue to the appropriate legislature. D. Shelburne suggests that would be a good idea too. P. Nussbaum said she supports the Foundation supporting the nurse.

5. Roundtable
* Weighted grades: UC System has decided that they will weigh all APs and IBs. They will give one more weighted for the A, B and Cs. And will give the D, E, and Fs one per discipline, and none for the Gs . District policy is not in alignment with this policy. The UC system will take one report from each district, NOT for each school. (Leaving an honors course at other districts to be weighted, but NOT for SDCS). D. Shelburne suggests mobilizing forces to voice our opinion. He will get back to the group regarding when the topic would be brought to the Board. Emma Zink would like to explore the idea of using the Autonomy Agreement to allow us to do this.
* Candidate’s Forum: Jamie Ginsberg reported that there would be a candidate forum here on Monday (October 25, 2004). For the school board races.

Meeting Adjourned: 4:00 p.m.
Next Meeting: November 17, 2004