La Jolla High School Governance Committee
Report on Meeting of January 23, 2006

Members present: Valerie Benito, Kerry Dill, Christy Johnson, Michael Palm, Tim Rush, Dana Shelburne, Pat Spire, Joanne Wainscott, Linda Dowley, Susanna Flaster, Jamie Ginsberg, Abi Bock., Ryan Reif.

In the absence of Liz Lindenfeld (chair) and Joan Hiser (co-chair) Jamie Ginsberg ran the meeting. Susanna Flaster moved to approve November minutes. It was seconded and approved.

Mr. Palm noted that several items from the November meeting have been followed up on at staff meetings and/or minimum days. These include parent-school communication, process for informing at-risk seniors and their parents and consistency of subject matter (horizontal alignment).

1. Changes to the Master Schedule: Mr. Shelburne reported on student requests for movement at the semester, especially from honors level math to regular level courses – an additional section of regular level pre-calculus could be opened to accommodate student requests.

Changes in staffing in the Spanish department were discussed – specifically the staffing situation which took place when Mrs. Savoia went out on maternity leave earlier than anticipated. Mrs. Lyon was pulled from her classes as a substitute – causing concern by both Mrs. Savoia’s students and Mrs. Lyon’s students. The difficulty in finding substitute teachers at the AP level was discussed, as was the importance of communicating with parents when long-term substitutes are put in place. Mr. Shelburne said that in the future, parents of effected students will be informed of staffing changes.

The AVID program for seniors is disbanding at the semester and an additional section of world history is opening to reduce the number of students in classrooms.

2. Counseling Update – Mr. Shelburne let everyone know that Kathy Marron will be out on medical leave for three weeks beginning tomorrow. An intern trained on the mechanics of course changes will be substituting under the supervision of Mrs. Behnke.

3. District’s Zangle Gradebook – Mike Palm reported that the “Parent Connect” segment of the Zangle program was looked out, but it was determined to be very cumbersome and user unfriendly. Micrograde costs the site $1,000 annually, but is much easier for both teachers and parents to work with. Unfortunately, teachers still need to re-enter grades in the Zangle program, even if they are using Micrograde to communicate with parents about student grades. Parent members reiterated that parents are strongly in favor of online communication regarding grades. One school in the district is piloting the Zangle parent program and other schools will hopefully receive a report in the future.

4. Cell Phone Policy – Patti Nussbaum brought forward the issue of cell phones and other electronic devices which provide a distraction to students and a disruption in classrooms – not to mention that cell phones can be used for cheating (via text messaging). It was suggested that the school formulate a policy to minimize disruption and cheating – possibly requiring students to put all cell phones (turned off) on the corner of their desks. Current policy regarding phones and ipods was discussed (cell phones are confiscated if they are turned on in class) and teachers noted that it takes them quite a bit of time to log-in confiscated phones, and they do not feel comfortable being responsible for expensive electronic devices. Teachers noted that text messaging is going on all the time and the proliferation of cheating was discussed. Mr. Shelburne will take the issue of the disruption caused by students using ipods AND the problem of cheating to department chairs and report back to Governance.

5. College Mid-Year Transcript Deadlines – Many colleges have a deadline of February 15 to receive mid-year transcripts and class rank as part of the application process. Due to the late semester end (February 3), the district cannot generate transcripts and send them to schools to send out before the February 15 deadline. This is putting students at risk of not being accepted to colleges, and since the school calendar is similar next year, this same problem will exist then. Mr. Shelburne will call the district about posting mid-year grades electronically so that sites can send out grades (currently, only the district can generate transcripts), or see if there is a way to prioritize seniors’ transcripts at the district level. Mr. Shelburne and Mrs. Ginsberg will communicate with parents to let them know about this issue.

6. Principal’s Evaluation Committee – This subcommittee is still meeting and working on the evaluation process for this year.

7. College Application Protocol Committee – This committee has met, and Michelle Ganon and Linda Dowley are continuing to gather information so that it can be assimilated in a pamphlet to be given to all seniors next fall (or this spring, if possible). Additionally, the committee will report to Governance with recommendations for procedural changes based on their research and examination of the current college application process within LJHS departments.

8. Public Bus Situation – Cuts to current public bus routes are being discussed by the City of San Diego. Changes to the 30 and 34 bus routes could adversely affect ability of LJHS students to make adequate use of needed public transportation. Mr. Shelburne will contact city councilman Scott Peters to let him know how this affects students. Parents of students who depend on the bus should call as well.

Roundtable –

Ryan Reif and Abi Bock (student representatives) had no issues to report.

Mr. Shelburne reported that there will be a Principal’s Chat on February 1 at Memorial Academy for VEEP parents to discuss senior and financial aid issues. He further reported that there will be a reception honoring retiring volunteer Buck Dietzen. Mr. Dietzan has been a tireless volunteer, tutoring students in math for many years.

Library Media Teacher Steve Grant wanted to know when Governance will look at Block Grants for Categorical Funds. When that comes on the agenda, he will be informed.

The meeting was dismissed at 3:20 p.m. The next meeting will be on Monday, February 27, 2006 at 2:30 p.m. in the Counseling Conference Room.

Minutes submitted by Linda Dowley.