3/2

Agenda: 3/2/2012

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Class Withdrawal Motion
4. Test Preparation Motion
5. Notes & New Business

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse." ~Jim Rohn

Council Minutes 2/10/2012

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

• [Mod]: Thanks for everyone who came to help at the open house.
• [Treas]: We have signs for Winter Carnival next week, please hang them up!
• [Sec]: Senior, Junior and Sophomore alternates may vote today.
• [PR]: I've made some alterations to the Council board, so please let me know if you have suggestions. There should also be a Council update in the upcoming Broadside. We've talked a little bit with Lebanon; we may look into creating a Facebook and/or a Twitter account to broadcast ourselves a little more. Students from Lebanon will tentatively be visiting us at our next meeting on March 2nd.
• [Curric]: We met today and discussed the code, which is going to the DEC meeting today. We also talked about the Council kickoff movie and ways to improve the election transition process. We also discussed mid-year course evaluations, which should be happening.
• [OEC]: We're looking for suggestions for the Council election kickoff video.
• [SA]: Please help hang up the posters, get psyched for Winter Carnival next week!
• [SL]: We successfully transferred the freshmen parent off-campus survey to the school account, we're also looking into the delayed school start time motion.
• [Exec]: A reminder that we cannot eat in here until we change the rules to do so.
• [Ms. Doyle]: We should probably start thinking about switching the meeting time for next year.

3.          Test Preparation Motion

• Delayed until the following meeting (3/2/12)

4.         Class Withdrawal Motion

• Motion: I move to amend the Student Handbook to read "Students may drop the second semester of a full year course with no penalty. Students wishing to make such a change must first discuss the change with their guidance counselor, as well as with the teacher of the course that they are dropping."
• [Jacob]: I think we need to make it possible to drop a course after the first semester. Since all courses are now semester courses, I think this should be changed anyway. It doesn't seem fair to prevent a student from being able to change their academic interests.
• Clarifying questions:
• Is it true that all classes are now semester-long? If so, is this change necessary or could we just get rid of the whole policy.
• Supposedly, all classes are now semester-long. 
• Some courses are still year-long.
• What is the reason behind the current policy?
• Many seniors drop a hard class second semester once they've gotten into college, it can be an issue for teachers.
• Some courses have state-mandated requirements that prevent students from dropping out.
• How is this different from how it stands now?
• This would make this student-initiated, it would also be up to the student with input from the teacher and the guidance counselor. Right now you can drop any course, but you may get a withdrawal fail instead of just a withdrawal.
• What exactly are we trying to fix? How big of a problem is this really?
• My friend was  in Chorus and was not really enjoying it. Instead, she was more interested in taking a science class second semester. She was not able to do this without receiving a withdrawal fail in Chorus.
• On average, how often does the Guidance Department see this scenario?
• Not often, maybe 8-10 cases per year.
• Why did we even switch to semester long courses in the first place?
• Part of the decision was a computer programming issue, it was also for consistency across the school. 
• Is this in our jurisdiction?
• This is in the handbook, so it is within our jurisdiction, but it is our best interest to work with the administration because they need to be onboard as well.
• Debate:
• This shouldn't be a handbook revision, we're better off on a case-by-case basis.
• I think the only issue is with Chorus and Band, we shouldn't target them.
• This does apply to other courses as well, we're not targeting Chorus.
• This also shows responsibility in taking control of your academics and how to make decisions for yourself.
• Motion: I move to amend the motion to allow students to drop a course second semester if they are filling that gap with another class.
• [Rachel]: This is in the spirit of the original motion, but it gets rid of the senior-drop problem. This would allow students to pursue other academic interests, instead of just getting free time.
• Debate:
• There could still be a problem with people taking classes to look good for college and then taking easier academic classes.
• What's the issue with free periods? If a senior has been working hard for three and a half years, he should have the option of taking time to relax or learning something new.
• When you sign up for a full year course, you have an obligation, a responsibility, to finish it.
• Full year courses are designed on a full year curriculum, there's a reason why a student shouldn't be able to drop out.
• It's important to relax and be well rounded, but this is a school - we should be learning.
• Colleges are sent updates concerning changes to a student's schedule, so this could hurt the student as well.
• This would be the student's consequences, and therefore it should be the student's choice of whether they want to take a free period or another class.

        Debate closes.
Motion (amendment) fails.

• Knowing your limits is also part of responsibility. So finishing something doesn't necessary demonstrate your responsibility.
• We DO need a motion for this, this is how we change things in the school this is the best way to do things like this.

Meeting adjourns.

2/10

Agenda: 2/10/2012

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Test Preparation Motion
4. Class Withdrawal Motion
5. Notes & New Business

“We Athenians make decisions for ourselves, or at least participate in the full discussion of them: for we do not regard debate as a barrier to effective action, but as a necessary condition for acting wisely.” ~Pericles

Council Minutes 2/3/2012

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

• [Mod]: I’d like to welcome Chief Robinson today. We are looking for volunteers for open house next week.
• [Treas]:
•  Motion: I move to allocate $135 to Student Activities for Winter Carnival.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

• [DSB]: We met last Tuesday and passed the budget without the 1:1 initiative, but we’ll be looking into that later.
• [Sec]: Junior and Senior Alternates can vote.
• [Admin]: We’ve been looking at the goals of the Test Returns Motion and we will bring an alternate motion today that attempts to accomplish the same goals.
• [OEC]: We’re working on putting together the Council video for elections. Please send in available pictures or interviews.
• [SA]: Winter Carnival is next week [later postponed until 2/17]. Please volunteer to help.
• [SL]: We’re reviewing responses to the survey we sent out to freshmen parents. 56% of parents already had a child in HHS, 64% felt that they understood the open campus policies, 81% sad they did not think their 9^th grader had gone off campus yet this year, 43% did not know what ‘academic schedule-up’ meant, but 32% said that they would do it. 84% felt no pressure to give open campus privileges to their 9^th grader when they became a sophomore. 60% though giving open campus to freshmen might compromise their academic experience. 63% said they thought their freshmen would be better prepared for sophomore year with open campus, 55% would not give their freshmen open campus starting second semester.
• [COI]: Course evaluations are being done but we’ll discuss with Curric. We also discussed how March Intensive participation will be marked on a report card – SP, NP, or  UP.
• [Dmitry]: After talking with several people, I decided to remove the self-reporting piece from the motion and hopefully we can bring that as a separate motion in the future.

3.          Test Returns Motion

• Motion: I move to fail the original Test Returns Motion.
• [Admin]: Some teachers did not like the idea, and felt this is not Council’s jurisdiction and this would probably be vetoed anyways. Instead we endorse the Test Preparation Motion.
• Clarifying questions:
• Why would this not be in our jurisdiction?
• This deals with the curriculum and hopefully the TPM would work more effectively.
• How does this change things from the original motion?
• This might prevent scheduling conflicts, and is still relatively forceful.
•  Have we gotten any student feedback on this issue.
• No, just informally. But we’ve talked with students and most students support this motion and its goals.
• Does this motion include final exams?
• No.
• Debate:
• Motion: I move to table this motion.
• [Rachel]: I think we need to discuss this more with the staff.

Debate closes.

Motion (to table) passes.

• Let’s fail this, the TPM is a better alternative for both parties. We can’t give into a minority of teachers, but we have to be diplomatic with this as well.

Debate closes.

Motion (to fail the TRM) fails.

4.         Test Preparation Motion

• Moved to after agenda item #5.

5.         Robert’s Rules Modification Motion

• Motion: I move to amend the bylaws to allow a speaker to speak and then close debate directly afterwards.
• [Rachel]: This provides the speaker the ability to give background on why he/she wants to close debate.
• Clarifying questions:
• So you have to move to close debate and then you’re able to speak?
• No.
• Debate:
• If it is unclear why the speaker is closing debate, debate should not be closed at all. Also, this gives unfair weight to a single speaker’s comments, especially if debate is closed immediately afterwards.
• This would shut down even more discussion on ‘no-brainers.’

Debate closes.

Motion fails.

Meeting adjourns.

2/3

Agenda: 2/3/2012

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Test Returns Motion
4. Test Preparation Motion
5. Robert's Rules Modification Motion
6. Notes & New Business

“Change is not a destination, just as hope is not a strategy.” ~Rudy Giuliani

Council Minutes 1/27/2012

1.          Reports

• [Mod]: I’d like to welcome Officer Fleury, our newest community member.

• Motion: I move to approve Chief Robinson as a community member.

Motion passes.

• [Sec]: No alternates can vote today.
• [Admin]: We’re not bringing the Test Returns Motion today. We sent out a survey to the staff, and the science department did not think it was Council’s place to be doing this. They say it infringes on their intellectual property. Many teachers gave positive feedback, but there was a lot of hostility towards Council in general. We will be bringing something else back next week.
• [Curric]: We’ve incorporated Council’s changes into the Code of Conduct, still getting feedback on that.
• [OEC]: We’re working on a new way to start the Council election process – maybe a presentation with a video or something like that.
• [SA]: We’re firming up the roster for Winter Carnival. Please sign people up to participate.
• [SL]: We’re awaiting survey results from freshmen parents about open campus. We’re also collecting data about how often freshmen utilize the cafeteria.
• [Jacob]: Environmental Club/Outing Club is hosting a concert tonight.

2.         Test Returns Motion

• Coming next week.

3.          Robert’s Rules Modification Motion

• Rachel is not here today. Again, this will come back next week.

4.         Honor Code Restitution Amendment

• [Dmitry]: Actually I would just like this to be a discussion. Starting with the Code of Conduct, I’ve been thinking about and discussing this idea of restitution and how it would fit in at HHS. Restitution looks at the basic need behind the problem and focuses on solutions.  The most our school can do is to create conditions for self-evaluation. This concept would send out a message saying “we're not always perfect.” It asks students to think about their actions and the consequences of such. My future motion would give the opportunity for restitution to all students. Students would be asked to agree to the “social contract,” essentially the honor code. This acknowledges the reasons behind the inappropriate behavior, and if passed, this would include a reflection sheet with important questions for the students to think about and answer. Restorative efforts show excellent academic and behavioral improvements.
• Clarifying Questions:

o   Would this be on top of any disciplinary policies already in place? Have you talked with Mr. Seibel or Mr. Smith about this?

§  Our school would determine so called ‘bottom line’ incidents and work from there. I have not talked with them yet, that would happen afterwards.

o   Do students suggest their own punishments?

§  Students would decide what they need to do, but at the same time understand the needs of the administration. This is centered on the individual, not the administration.

o   This is just a chance for the student to be involved in the discussion about what they need to do to make things right?

§  Yes.

o   Does self-reporting make the handbook null and void?

§  The student may receive a lesser consequence, it would be up to the administration.

o   Is this optional for the student?

§  Yes.

o   What if the student think he’s done nothing wrong.

§  Again, students may opt in, so it’s their choice.

o   So students are able to self report their actions, and hopefully get a lesser consequence?

§  Yes.

o   Would this require use to rework the Code of Conduct and the handbook, or would this fit in?

§  We would have to figure this out later – we might have to look at our handbook ad decide bottom line consequences.

o   Does the school have the responsibility to report these incidents to the police? Is this legal?

§  The school is not mandated to suspend the student. Through the Memorandum of Understanding, so it would depend, but there are many cases when we don’t have the responsibility to report the incident to the police.

o   Some Code of Conduct consequences would not apply?

§  In some circumstances, yes.

Meeting adjourns.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Test Returns Motion: I move to require teachers to give back tests to students and let students keep them after they’ve been taken.

Test Preparation Motion: I move that students' graded tests and quizzes be made available as study tools for cumulative tests and final exams. The assessments may either be returned to the student permanently or made available during a dedicated x-period preceding each cumulative assessment. Additional reviews of graded tests may be arranged as necessary between teachers and their students.

1/27

Agenda: 1/27/2012

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Test Returns Motion
4. Robert's Rules Modification Motion
5. Honor Code Restitution Amendment
6. Notes & New Business

“You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” ~Winston Churchill

Council Minutes 1/13/2012

1.          Reports

·  [Mod]: Mt. Greylock loved visiting and learning about our school, we got some great feedback. Thanks for everyone’s help!

·  Motion: I move to approve Officer Fleury as a Council community representative.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

·  [Sec]:  Freshman alternate may vote.

·  [DSB]: We met on Tuesday to ask questions about the budget. We also looked at enrollment numbers. We have another meeting here next Tuesday, it would be nice if you could come!

·  [PR]: Congratulations, I thought the MLK assembly went very well.

·  [Admin]: We sent out a survey to teachers concerning the Test Returns Motion.

·  [OEC]: We are looking at new ways of starting off the Council election process.

·  [SA]: Please sign up students for Winter Carnival events next Monday.

·  [SL]:  We’ll be sending out a survey to 9^th grade parents.

·  [James Harvard]: I met with the Acceptable Use Committee, we’re going over what school technology can be used for. We’re meeting next Tuesday after school in the lower computer lab.

·  [B Sachsse]: Why are we back in the auditorium?

o   We can have better discussion.

2.         Approval of Minutes

3.          School Start Time Motion

·  Motion: I move to amend the motion to read that Council charge Student Life, teachers, the Administration and the Dresden School Board with reviewing the implementation of a delayed start time of school due to the overwhelming health, academic social and benefits on both students and teachers.

o   [Ms. Stevenson]: Student Life was not originally included, it seems obvious that we should include ourselves in this discussion as well.

Debate closes.

Motion (amendment) passes.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

4.         Mission Statement Discussion

·  [Ms. Eakin]: This originally came out of Admin, but we didn’t have to redo it when NEASC came around. We gathered information and wrote a draft of a revised mission statement. NEASC changed terms to Core Values, but we’re keeping it in the same format. Let’s look for changes concerning briefness, let’s also make sure the language is appropriate. We wanted to add a clause showing that HHS is a democratic school.

o   It was nicer when it wasn’t quite so brief.

o   Maybe we should add something about stewardship for the environment?

o   Stewardship for the environment is not appropriate for this document.

o   Maybe we could include something about being global citizens?

o   Maybe we should include the arts in this.

o   We might want to clarify ‘democratic high school,’ keep it more specific.

o   Some words are a little hard to understand.

5.         Guest Presentation by Robbi Ross, School for Ethics and Global Leadership in D.C.

Meeting adjourns.

1/13

Agenda: 1/13/2012

1. Approval of Minutes 
2. Reports 
3. School Start Time Motion 
4. Mission Statement Discussion 
5. Test Returns Motion 
6. Robert's Rules Modification Motion 
7. Notes & New Business

“The value of the majority lies not in the opportunity to wield great power,
but in the chance to use power to do great things.” ~John Boehner

Council Minutes 1/6/2012

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [Mod]: Staff members from Mt. Greylock are here visiting us today, they’re observing our school and its democratic operation.

·      [DSB]: We met two weeks ago and discussed the 1:1 technology initiative. I said that although the technology is great, I didn’t think it was needed, especially since so many people do not want taxes to be raised. Also these technologies could be distractions for students in class.

·      [Sec]: Senior alternate can vote.

·      [Admin]: We’re wrapping up plans for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day assembly.

·      [Curric]: We are going to look at NEASC survey results instead of creating our own.

·      [SA]: We’re planning Winter Carnival. Next Friday, the 13^th, will be Fancy Friday.

·      [SL]:  We drew up some survey questions for Freshmen parents concerning open campus.

·      [Mr. Smith]: Since we discussed CG in the beginning of the year, a CG committee has been formed and we are looking for one more student representative from Council.

o   We will address this next week.

·      [Mrs. Stevenson]: Do we have community members? I haven’t seen any.

o   [Ms. Gillespie]: I have to go through my emails but we will get going on it.

·      [Henry]: I am happy to be back at HHS and I would like to encourage students to investigate the School for Ethics and Global Leadership, where I was this past semester.

3.          School Start Time Motion

·      Motion: I move that the Council charge the teachers, administration and the Dresden School Board with reviewing the implementation of a delayed start time of school due to the overwhelming health, academic social and benefits on both students and teachers.

o   [Ethan]: Teenagers have different sleep cycles, they tend to go to sleep and wake up later. It’s been shown that a delayed start time not only increases sleep in the morning, sleep is increased on both ends. GPAs and SAT scores tend to increase, while car crash incidents tend to decrease. Mental health increases as, and use of illegal substances tends to decrease as well. I have also laid out a plan to work out the bus schedules without affecting the other schools.

·      Clarifying Questions:

o   Where are these facts coming from?

§  Ms. Stevenson has my bibliography; the facts come reputable sources.

o   Will the end time be moved back? Will Activity Period be cut?

§  Scheduling can and will be addressed, but right now the motion just charges other groups with investigating this matter.

o   Without changing the bus schedule, would this really help that much?

§  The bus schedule would probably end up being changed.

o   Would this affect after school activities?

§  This motion just lays the groundwork for the concept; this would be worked out later.

o   Have you considered adding a siesta to the school day instead?

§  No.

o   Have you polled any parents?

§  I’ve polled some parents and they support this idea.

·      Discussion:

o   [Dr. Bass]: These results are quite dramatic, and it’s also important to note that student attitudes improve dramatically as well. This motion seems very beneficial.

·      Motion: I move to table this discussion until next week so that we can talk with our visitors from Mt. Greylock.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

4.         Mt. Greylock Questions

·      Questions and answers concerning the Council’s operation, recent motions

and changes, and the Code of Conduct.

Meeting adjourns.

1/6

Agenda: 1/6/2012

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. School Start Time Motion
4. Mission Statement Motion
5. Robert's Rules Modification Motion
6. Notes & New Business

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” ~Albert Einstein

Council Minutes 12/16/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

3.          Open Executive Session Motion

• Motion: I move to enter executive session.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

--Contents Confidential—

4.         Close Executive Session Motion

• Motion: I move to close executive session.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

Meeting adjourns.

12/16

Agenda 12/16/2011

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Open Executive Session Motion
4. Close Executive Session Motion
5. Robert's Rules Modification Motion
6. Notes & New Business 

“If you think Council is stupid…you’re wrong.” ~Carl Tischbein

Council Minutes 12/9/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [Mod]: Mt. Greylock students are now visiting January 6^th. Admin should be working on organizing the Martin Luther King assembly.

·      [DSB]: DSB Meeting on Tuesday the 6^th of this month.

·      [PR]: A Council update in the Broadside is forthcoming.

·      [Admin]: We’re still researching the test returns motion.

·      [Curric]: The CCCC will be coming to the DSB this Tuesday, we’ll be looking at it today.

·      [SA]: We’ll be discussing Winter Carnival next week, please bring suggestions for activities!

·      [SL]: We are looking through some historical documents to evaluate open campus, we will also be doing more research. Food vending machines will be coming soon.

3.          CCCC

·      Motion: I move that Council endorse the DEC-approved Co-Curricular Code of Conduct.

o   [Melanie]: The creation of this document has been a long process, with the original goal being to create equal guidelines between extra-curricular activities. This is also supposed to promote truth-telling.

·      Significant Changes & Questions:

o    The Dean of Students may rely on the filing of police charges to make decisions.

§  We’re not going crazy here, this is just because it can take a while for the legal formalities to go through – we want to be able to make decisions in a speedier manner. But we’re not going to take advantage of this.  Also schools operate under lower legal standards then the rest of the world.

o   The administration may assign a stricter punishment based on severe misconduct.

o   if there is no offense within 18 months, the violation may be considered a first offense.

o   Punishments may include removal from 20% of TOTAL public performances.

§  How do we know number of games in finals/end-of-season games? How will this be calculated?

o   Student leadership positions can be restored by the Dean of Students.

o   Students will be punished for accepting transportation other than school-provided transportation without proper permission.

o   Council is currently considered an activity under the code.

§  Is Council a co-curricular activity? Should it be subject to the jurisdiction of the code?

Meeting adjourns.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Council Minutes 12/12/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         CCCC

·      Motion: I move to amend the motion so that the document title would be the “Code of Conduct” and the following paragraph would be added to the first section of the code:

The Council is “the governance body at Hanover High School, representative of the students and staff” and Council members are therefore subject to the Council Bylaws in addition to these guidelines; the Council Executive, the Council Executive Committee, and the Organizational Engineering Committee (OEC), in concert with the Dean of Students develops and enforces the standards and penalties applicable to the “The Council.”

o   [Melanie]: This amendment make it such that Council is no longer considered a co-curricular activity. It would also ensure that Council members would be subject to the minimum guidelines of the code, but Council would still have the power to do follow up with its own decision-making process.

·      Clarifying Questions:

o   This would just state the Code is the baseline for punishment, correct? And our Council process is an additive to the code?

§  Yes.

o   Based on what we discussed two weeks ago, what defines Council leadership?

§  The code will state that only the Council executives and committee chairs are  considered leadership.

·      Discussion:

o   This will really clarify the code for the board, it’s good progress. It will also give the board a opportunity to look over the Council bylaws recently.

o   The changes are good in general, except the name might be a little confusing as to who it applies.

o   This amendment is redundant, clubs and activities are already given the opportunity to enforce their own consequences.

o   This is great because Council can still make its own decisions freely.

o   What would the order be? Would the code’s punishments come first? Or would Council’s?

§  It would be great for everyone to meet first, but the Code’s punishments would happen first.

o   Although not the best, this version is the best we have right now.

Debate closes.

Motion (amendment) passes.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

Meeting adjourns.

12/9

Agenda: 12/9/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

3.          CCCC

4.         Robert’s Rules Modification Motion

5.         Notes & New Business

“There is nothing so powerful as the truth, and often nothing so strange.” ~Daniel Webster

Council Minutes 12/2/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [A-Mod]: Mt. Greylock students will be visiting us a week from today (later changed) and they are looking at HHS and our democratic school. We are looking for shadowees to host them when they come.

·      [DSB]: We talked about the principle search committee, as well as school climate and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

·      [Sec]: No alternates can vote.

·      [SA]: Flannel dress up day later this month.

·      [SL]: Looking at the freshmen off campus motion.

·      [Curric]: CCCC coming next week, we’ll be discussing leadership today.

·      [Dmitry]: Talent show tonight, benefits MI Scholarship Fund.

3.          Search Committee Rep Selection

·      Principle Search Committee Student Reps:

o   Rowan Dunfey & Krista Brown.

4.         Council Leadership Discussion

·      We need to discuss whether all Council members are considered leadership or if only leadership is considered leaders. We should figure out how these roles play into the CCCC. Right now, OEC deals with this.

·      Admin: We don’t really like either option, but if we had to choose one, we would say only Council leadership should be considered leadership. We really don’t think judging Council members on the same criterion as athletic teams is right, we are a governmental body and should have a different set of rules.

·      OEC: Only Council leadership should be considered leadership. The code would take care  of the removal of a Council Officer, but then OEC could manage disciplinary actions for Council members (including leadership that had already been demoted by the code).

·      Student Activities: We think OEC should be controlling this, but only Council leadership should be considered leadership.

·      Student Life: We thought in the same ways as the other committees, Council leadership should be considered leadership.

Meeting adjourns.