SHS SITE COUNCIL MINUTES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2007

2:30 PM

Ginger Thompson’s Room 105

Present: Patrice Clark (facilitator), Brenda Goebel, Steve Globerman, Janae Hodge, Karen Hoelscher (recorder), Kathy Moran (timekeeper), Phyllis Textor

Regrets: Karen Saadat, Ginger Thompson

Guests: LauraLee Carbone, Augutus (Gus) Carbone

· Introductions  

Patrice welcomed everyone and reviewed the recorder /time keeper calendar; Steve G and Karen H will exchange dates for their duties to meet Steve's availability.

Since several members were still enroute, Patrice invited discussion about the possible areas of focus we have developed for our year's work together:

(1) parent involvement (e.g., mentoring, getting parents more connected to the school),

(2) students (e.g., supporting students who are struggling, marginalized, or new); and

(3) school issues (e.g., signage; safety; security; alcohol and other drugs). 

These ideas were further informed throughout the meeting.  

· Old Business

        Review of minutes from October 2007 was postponed and will be done electronically when they are ready for committee members to review.

· New Business

The committee welcomed Sehome parent LauraLee Carbone, who presented suggestions in two areas: (1) developing a school culture supportive of SHS clients: students, teachers, parents, and (2) suporting students more fully through visual presentation of information on teachers' websites.  Discussion followed, including parent reports of bullying behaviors, students feeling like outsiders, students within SHS boundaries who have made decisions to attend other high schools that better meet their needs, and potential ways to gather empirical data that could produce responses to client needs.  Phyllis and Janae described a process in place aimed at developing an understanding of student needs (e.g., painting a picture of "what is a Sehome graduate?").   

Student Site Council candidates- interview  

The committee welcomed Gus Carbone (freshman, former home schooler) as its new student member after some interview questions from the committee.  He agrees to attend monthly meetings and find a sub in his absence, in addition to being willing to seek input from other SHS students as needed to further inform the work of the committee.  

Presentation by Site Council member, Karen Hoelscher

Parent Communication Network  

Karen Hoelscher presented an overview of the Parent Communication Network (PCN), a Minnesota-based group founded in 1982 with the goal of supporting parents and educators to build stronger families and a stronger community.  Since 1982 hundreds of PCN chapters have organized at K-12 public and private schools across the US.  Each group shares the same general goal:  to increase communication between and among parents and educators through quality parent education forums and opportunities to interact with each other on topics related to the personal, social, and academic development of students in grades K-12.

Karen shared PCN models from the following PCN groups:

Edina, MN           http://www.edinapcn.com

Northfield, MN    http://www.northfieldhci.org/pcnew.php

Sioux Falls, SD    http://www.sfpcn.org

Discussion followed, with the group indicating interest in exploring the potential of establishing a Sehome PCN.  Karen agreed to attend two upcoming meetings with Phyllis (Table Topics and PTSA) to introduce the idea and gauge support for forming a PCN at Sehome High School.  Given the nature of launching an effort of this size, the site council acknowledged that we would need many volunteers to indicate leadership interest.

Reports 10 min  [ALL TO NEXT MEETING] 

Principal- Phyllis Textor or Janae Hodge [NEXT MEETING]  

Table Talks- Cathy Moran [NEXT MEETING]   

PTSA- Karin Saadat [NEXT MEETING]

Review/Discuss/Prioritize Goals for Site Council form subcommittees [NEXT MEETING]

Respectfully-

Karen Hoelscher, recorder