Minutes 5/6/15

Agenda 5/13/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Approval of Executive
4. Officer Elections
5. Notes & New Business

“It's time to say goodbye,

but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello.

Hello to a new adventure.”

— Ernie Harwell

Council Minutes 5/6/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (Mod): Committee chairs should start writing letters for next year.
• (DSB): Next meeting is May 26, currently the Condom Motion is not on the agenda.
• (OEC): Elections ran smoothly; special thanks to the Math department!
• (RJ): Began work on animated informative video, and first case in process.
• (COI): Presentation on solutions to chronic honors student absenteeism including individualized courses.
3. Henry Money Allocation
• Motion to allocate $50 to reimburse Henry Lang for the purchase of two Salt Hill gift cards.
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qAsKCHUUfiTc9pT2G4z6chl8KzTATtPpnFTWqpHj6c8/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• Motion passes.
4. Co-Curricular Budget (15-16) Motion
• Motion to approve the Co-Curricular budget for the 2015-16 school year.
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IZ3-XHGcxFBA7jjRNiwHLNIEkJYt_zYUFrBoufSJgn0/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• Amount given to clubs is less than what was available.
• Any underfunded club was encouraged to come back to Council at a later date for renewed funding.
• Motion to table the motion.
• Motion to table passes.
5. CC Funds Transfer Motion
• Motion to transfer all of the remaining money in the Co-Curricular budget to the Council fund.
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1089JOHTCFObnv7EIY4eClNQw2zPn0uHaz0g1Dx6iMR8/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• Motion passes.
6. Athletics Over Break Motion
• Motion to adopt a policy to limit athletic practices and games (optional and non-optional) during school vacations.  Any scheduled practices or games would take place for no more than half the total days of the break (including weekends) and must be consecutive days.
• This will set a good standard for the school and the state.

Meeting adjourns.

Minutes 5/6/15

Agenda 5/13/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Leadership Nominations
4. Henry Money Allocation
5. Co-Curricular Budget (15-16) Motion
6. CC Funds Transfer Motion
7. Athletics Over Break Motion
8. Notes & New Business

“Coming together is a beginning;

keeping together is progress;

working together is success.”

— Henry Ford

Council Minutes 5/6/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (Mod): Middle school elections have concluded and the following have been elected: Simon Roach, Elizabeth Napier, Will Laycock, Dillon Bradley, Adam Blackburn (Alternate).
• (Treas.): Worked on budgets and will bring CC budget next week.
• (COI): Presentation next meeting on chronic honors absenteeism.
• (OEC): Elections started off well, staff are encouraged to run.
3. Special Announcement to Thank Mr. Tindall and Ms. Murray
• Council has been fortunate enough to have been given access to a large open room by the generosity of two teachers. To thank them for allowing us to disrupt their classrooms and rearrange their seating charts frantically, Council presents two gift cards to Salt Hill Pub to Mr. Tindall and Ms. Murray.
4. Course Concern Handbook Motion
• Motion to replace the existing handbook policy entitled “To Register a Complaint” with improved wording and provide a clearly labeled link to this policy on the homepage of the Council website:
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TmMUvd2lXp1ULSqoOkbQlP962rfg8I65OOfh_UegUdE/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• This motion is to clean up and make more accessible.
• Uses language that is less negative.
• Reinforces proper steps, including a conversation before anything else.
• Students feel more comfortable praising than criticising so this should be kept functioning.
• Just an improvement on existing, not a creation.
• Motion passes.
5. PR to SL Bylaw Revision
• Motion to move the PR Officer to the Student Life committee.
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sSEjlSjY4NO7cK9advDMR4U57vFA0Yda2wOO6JHs0v8/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• PR is only in OEC to promote Council elections.
• SL should have a leadership member.
• Motion passes.
6. Council Member Survey Presentation
7. Exams After Break/Block Scheduling Survey Presentation
8. Only Staff Elect Staff Discussion
• Could allow for two staff to fill one representative role on Council.
• Current resources for staff need to be properly utilized before Council is made unequal.

Meeting adjourns.

Minutes 4/27/15

Agenda 5/6/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Special Announcement
4. Course Concern Handbook Motion
5. PR to SL Bylaw Revision
6. Notes and New Business

“Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds.

The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace.

The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm.”

— Charles Caleb Colton

Council Minutes 4/27/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (DSB): Dresden Education Committee is in favor of RJ passing, the Broadside has new Council updates, a Council survey has been distributed to all members, and staff appreciation day is May 8.
• (RJ): Looked at committee members being trained for the RJ process and creating a video for basic info on the system.
• (COI): Discussed honors student absentee issue and lack of consistent and productive staff meetings.
• (Sec): Senior and freshmen alternate can vote.
3. Principal Response Motion Bylaw Revision
• Motion to set a two week limit on the Principal’s allotted time to respond OR produce a timeline of action in regard to a passed motion. This two week period begins when the Principal receives the “Council Passed Motion Form.” This form contains the wording of the motion and a space for the signature of the motion maker, the moderator, and the Principal, along with a space where the Principal will indicate the outcome and explain his or her motives. The Principal (or a representative thereof) must deliver a progress report on the administration’s decision during the Council Executive Committee meeting taking place NO MORE than two school weeks after the Principal receives the form. At the “one-week progress report,” the Principal (or a representative thereof) may request an extension. On the second Council meeting after a decision has been reached, the Principal’s decision will be presented.
• https://docs.google.com/a/hanovernorwichschools.org/document/d/1eLO1gM8Em7Jey-H5n6BmHUFT_b9UeHUOO-w4o3Bhlt0/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• Motion to append the motion with “If by the second meeting, an extension has not been granted and the Principal has not come to a decision, the motion is considered vetoed.”
• It’s good to have this process if the motion falls through the cracks.
• A “pocket pass” instead could work just as well.
• This addendum is more of a political move and is unnecessary.
• Amendment passes.
• This process has worked so far this year.
• Mr. Campbell is in favor of this motion.
• Motion passes.
4. Council Forum Motion
• Motion to implement a public Council forum taking place during Activity Period on Tuesdays, as instructed by the Moderator. Council Committees will rotate hosting the Forum.
• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ySwr_JpPF34rndjBdtdpz3ks4GkFMR7R3Q1qm-nYGgI/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• The entire committee will go so can hold meeting during the forum.
• Using a whiteboard creates a form of sample/response bias.
• The more often this forum is used the less potent its effects are.
• Other methods need to be used to gauge the school’s opinions.
• This does not have to be held every week.
• Common Ground should still be the focus.
• An evaluation should be assessed next year.
• Motion to amend the motion to read “as instructed by the Executive Committee.”
• Amendment passes.
• Motion passes.

Meeting adjourns.

Minutes 4/22/15

Agenda 4/27/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Principal Response Motion Bylaw Revision
4. Forum Motion
5. Course Concern Handbook Motion
6. PR to SL Bylaw Revision
7. Notes and New Business

“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation

with the bricks others throw at him or her.”

— David Brinkley

Council Minutes 4/22/15

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (Mod): Spread the word about the opening of the Council Executive position for the 2015-2017 term.
• (DSB): Next meeting Tuesday, April 28, where the vote on RJ will take place. A Council self-evaluation survey will be distributed shortly.
• (OEC): Elections are May 12, nomination forms are currently available in the library. Spread the word to run!
• (Curric): Finalized course concern handbook revision.
• (COI): Discussed honors student absentee issue.
• (Sec): Freshmen and staff alternate can vote.
3. Tom Hanlon Cup Voting
4. PR to SL Bylaw Revision Notification
• Motion to move PR to Student Life.
• https://docs.google.com/a/hanovernorwichschools.org/document/d/1sSEjlSjY4NO7cK9advDMR4U57vFA0Yda2wOO6JHs0v8/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
5. Principal Response Motion Bylaw Revision
• Motion to set a two week limit on the Principal’s allotted time to respond OR produce a timeline of action in regard to a passed motion. This two week period begins when the Principal receives the “Council Passed Motion Form.” This form contains the wording of the motion and a space for the signature of the motion maker, the moderator, and the Principal, along with a space where the Principal will indicate the outcome and explain his or her motives. The Principal (or a representative thereof) must deliver a progress report on the administration’s decision during the Council meeting taking place NO MORE than two school weeks after the Principal receives the form. At the “one-week progress report,” the Principal (or a representative thereof) may request an extension. On the second Council meeting after a decision has been reached, the Principal’s decision will be presented.
• https://docs.google.com/a/hanovernorwichschools.org/document/d/1eLO1gM8Em7Jey-H5n6BmHUFT_b9UeHUOO-w4o3Bhlt0/preview for full motion details and supporting material.
• Addresses the need for transparency in the time period after council passes a motion.
• There should be a set process that occurs after a motion is passed.
• The form system has been used during the entirety of this year and has been successful.
• No consequences are necessary, Mr. Campbell will respect this.
• A staff meeting is not necessary for the principal to approve a motion.
• Motion to amend the motion to read “…during the Council Executive Committee meeting taking place…”
• An approval process will take up a lot of Council time.
• Only the Moderator and A-Mod need to grant the extension.
• Amendment passes.
• This is over legislating a problem that doesn’t really exist.
• A two week length is too short.
• Motion to amend the motion to read “three weeks” where appropriate.
• No motion that would need more than two weeks would pass suddenly.
• The short amount of time makes sure the motion doesn’t get lost.
• Amendment fails.
• This motion is prudent for the future and different administration.
• Motion to append the motion with “If by the second meeting, an extension has not been granted and the Principal has not come to a decision, the motion is considered vetoed.”

Meeting adjourns.