La Jolla High School

Site Governance Committee Meeting Minutes

February 5, 2007

Members present:

Teachers: Claire Summer, Kerry Dill, Zane Friberg, Emma Zink, Ken Martin and Matt Rosenberg.

Principal: Dana Shelburne.

Students: Rachel Pedowitz and Delaney Maher.

Parents: Linda Dowley, Pamela Zuckerman, Jamie Ginsberg and Michael Briggs.

Foundation: Jackie Helm for Tony Farwell.

Guests present: Parents: Caroline Kelner and Bee Mittermiller (PTA President).

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

1. Minutes – Copies of the Minutes from the last meeting of the Site Governance Committee on January 8, 2007, were made available. On motion made, seconded and passed, the minutes were approved as submitted. Approved minutes will be posted to the school website.

2. Introductions – Participants present for the meeting introduced themselves.

3. New Business – San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) Promotion Policy and Information - The next order of business was an explanation of the SDUSD promotion policy and its possible implications to LJHS. Mr. Shelburne explained that multiple F’s in core subjects in the 8 th grade will mean that the student must repeat the 8 th grade unless a parent signs a waiver form. Students whose parent signs a waiver form will participate in an intervention program at the high school and must attend summer school. Penalties for failure to attend summer school are currently unknown. Mr. Shelburne also reviewed the recent interpretation of state law that denies summer school funding for any student making up a class after she or he passes the high school exit exam (and only approximately 5% of LJHS sophomores did not pass the last administration of the test. That interpretation jeopardizes some funding for summer school at LJHS and other district schools.

4. Old Business – Algebra 1 ALEKS Computer Program – Mr. Shelburne explained some of the findings from discussions with Steele Canyon High School and Scripps Ranch High School regarding Algebra proficiency results. He explained that Steele Canyon High School uses a different computer software program called “Accelerated Algebra,” and that the students are divided into three groups: pre-Algebra; Algebra and Advanced Algebra. Students at Scripps Ranch High School use the ALEKS computer program for ½ the class period and have additional aides in the classrooms. Ms. Dowley described concerns that she heard from teachers at Muirlands Middle School about incoming students with deficient mathematics skills, and endorsed a discussion of this subject among members of the mathematics departments of LJHS and Muirlands at the joint meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 7, 2007.

5. Old Business – Block Grant Update – Mr. Shelburne summarized progress on the items approved by the LJHS School Site Council as follows:

• Ms. Keach was hired as a reading teacher for two periods each day, and she was currently screening students who would be enrolled in a reading class in place of their electives;
• new computers were installed in the library media center (LMC) and the mathematics lab, while the old computers that were operational were allocated to locations around campus, such as six computers being placed in the counseling center to enable student research into colleges and other post-high school options;
• new scanning equipment was being ordered pending review of the contract from the vendor; and
• an aide for the LMC would be hired imminently for a 3 hours per day shift.

6. Old Business – “Culture of Civic Values” Subgroup -- Ms. Dowley distributed copies of the notes and minutes from two meetings of the "Culture of Civic Values" subcommittee. She explained that the subcommittee’s goal was to establish and support a more positive environment at LJHS. One suggestion was to engage in more “bragging” about the school’s positive accomplishments. Another theme was to emphasize personal responsibility rather than entitlement among the students. Some of the tools being discussed included the following:

• Student Information Packet containing rules and requiring signatures of students and parents;
• Discipline imposed to show that poor behavior should be unacceptable; and
• Adding a homeroom period that would meet maybe twice each week for 10-20 minutes each time where the students would have a “supportive adult on campus” and the teacher would be able to shepherd as much as possible the same students from freshman year through senior year with guidelines for topics to be covered each of the four years.

During an extensive discussion there were many very positive comments made about the groups recommendations and some reservations noted about the implementation of a homeroom period. Mr. Shelburne was asked whether a homeroom period could be tried before the end of the semester, and he explained that the school’s class schedule required approval of the SDUSD and he did not know whether the school board would approve of an amendment. The members of the subcommittee were encouraged to solicit the reactions and ideas of LJHS students, especially students who were not in ASB and might be marginal.

By motion made, seconded and passed, the meeting was extended for an additional 15 minutes.

7. New Business -- Principal Evaluation Subcommittee – Ms. Ginsberg confirmed at the subcommittee would meet briefly after the meeting in order to schedule a subcommittee meeting. In addition, she said that she would call the SDUSD for information on principals’ evaluations.

8. Roundtable discussion

Ms. Ginsberg asked about Mr. Shelburne’s plans to interview applicants for new teacher positions, and reminded him that a representative from the LJHS Site Governance Committee should be involved. Mr. Shelburne indicated that he expected that interviews would be necessary to fill the positions being vacated by Mr. Baron (due to retirement) and Ms. Cargo (due to the temporary nature of her appointment).

Ms. Ginsberg relayed a question from a La Jolla resident with a child in a private school who might want to attend LJHS in the future and wondered about possible displacement of the child because of the requirements of the federal “No Child Left Behind” law if not enrolled at Muirlands Middle School. Mr. Shelburne explained the prioritization of students for enrollment at LJHS.

Ms. Ginsberg also suggested that Mrs. Shaler be invited to be present in the Counseling Center on the next parents’ visitation day, Wednesday, February 14 th.

Mr. Martin asked about what kind of support would be provided at LJHS for failing 8 th grade students.

Ms. Dill explained that “Airband” at LJHS would be held on Thursday, February 8 th, not February 15 th, as previously announced.

Mr. Briggs asked about the status of the memorial to the late teacher Tim Rush. Mr. Shelburne explained that a 10’ x 12’ rectangle outside the Counseling Center was being constructed and that three 6’ benches would be added. He said that M.E.Ch.A. will solicit donations for the memorial.

Ms. Zink asked about the wall repair work in the 900 building, and Mr. Shelburne explained the situation.

The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 5, 2007, at 2:30 p.m. in Room 304.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

Minutes submitted by Michael Briggs, Recorder.