10/22

Agenda: 10/29/10

1.     Approve Minutes

2.     Reports

3.     Activity Period Discussion

4.     Break Into Committees

5.     New Business

Council Minutes 10/22/10

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”

                                                                                                - Albert Einstein

1.     Approval of Minutes

2.     Reports:

·      [Mod]: I missed you all last week!

·      [Secretary]: Senior and sophomore alternates may vote. Please use the microphone so it comes through on the video!

·      [DSB]: There’s a meeting on Tuesday, discussing March Intensive

·      [PR]: Remember to sign in to get points for Winter Carnival, did we figure out the opinion board?

·      [Curric]: Talked about the x-day motion and mid-course evaluations

·      [OEC]: Freshmen class committee should be forming soon, moving on to bylaws

·      [SL]: Working on an internet/printing evaluation.

·      [SA]: Quidditch went fantastically! Next week is Halloween dress up day and semi finals!

·      [COI]: We looked over the March Intensive selections and passed them.

·      [SSC]: Met last night, community forums Oct. 27^th at the Howe Library, and Oct.  28^th at Marion Cross School at 7pm

3.     X-Day Motion

·      Motion: I move that every class have X-periods at least twice a month.

·      [Rachel]: There has been discussion on the purpose of X-periods which are now the teacher’s time to do as they wish. Students’ current problems:

                       o   Making up work due to absences/illness

                       o   No time to meet with teachers to ask questions – no other time from other commitments

                       o   Need for down time to stay focused through the day

                       o   Not all teachers give X-periods

                       o   Students should have the ability to decide how to use X-periods effectively for their learning style

·      Discussion

                       o   Intended not to be just a “work period”

                       o   Would people with lower grades be required to stay?

-       Still a choice to stay or go

                       o   Does not change the meaning of an x, just ensures teachers give them

                       o   Mandated in ALL classes

                       o   Math and science give fewer Xs – won’t change their ways

-       No math and science teachers on council!

-       Have to uses Xs from other classes to make up their work

                       o   Isn’t there time after school, activity period to solve this problem?

-       Sports after school, buses, clubs, not enough time for tests

                       o   Many teachers won’t agree because of their large curriculum

                       o   Remember X-days count as instructional time for teachers

-       Not a student right!

                       o   Some teachers use Xs to invite certain students who need help

                       o   Very useful for make-up work or those falling behind from absences

                       o   This should only apply to freshmen

                       o   We need Xs as breaks, so much to absorb!

                       o   There will always be exceptions to this motion

                       o   Provides more one-on-one meetings with teachers

                       o   We need to make it clear on what our X-period means

                       o   Students should manage their time better, take fewer classes/do fewer activities

                       o   This would only be mandatory twice a month, not every week

                       o   Dresden Plan students need this time to talk with teachers

                       o   Our schedule isn’t set up for extra time, must have these Xs

                       o   Motion: I move to close debate.

Debate Closes

Motion Passes

4.     Activity Period Discussion

·      [Carl]: Talked with a lot of students, there are thoughts to move activity period to after 4^th period.

·      Discussion

                       o   It’s fine how it is, proportional 3 classes then 4 classes

                       o   It would be easier to take Dartmouth classes if Activity Period moves

                       o   It was moved to the current schedule because of Hartford VOTECH

                       o   10:45 isn’t lunch time! This idea makes more sense

                       o   Maybe we could hold a trial week

                       o   Just bring/buy your food and save it for later, not a big deal

                       o   Activity Period doesn’t have to be a lunch time, just a break

                       o   People have different amounts of energy in the morning

                       o   Motion: I move to close discussion.

Motion Fails

Meeting Adjourns

10/15

Agenda: 10/22/10

1.     Approve Minutes

2.     Reports

3.     X-Day Motion

4.     Activity Period Discussion

5.     Notes & New Business

Council Minutes 10/15/10

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.”

                                                                                                                                                - John Quincy Adams

1.     Approval of Minutes

2.     Reports:

·       [A-Mod]: I’ll be moderating in the absence of Megan.

·       [Treasurer]: There’s a money allocation coming up.

·       [Secretary]: Senior alternate may vote.

·       [PR]: We need to decide on the 3 representatives for the Opinion Board.

·       [Admin]: Need to check in with Student Life and set up our NEASC committee

·       [Curric]: Bylaw notification, CCCC revisions, quarter evaluations

·       [OEC]: Working on the bulletin board and freshmen class committee

·       [SA]: Quidditch starts up next Friday, Harry Potter dress-up day, check out our board in the atrium!

·       [SL]: Our meetings are now Monday, Activity Period or Tuesdays before school on short weeks. Mr. Brush is looking into the water fountain motion.

·       [COI]: We talked about cuts and shared thoughts about the portal.

·       [Superintendant Search Committee]: met for the first time, need feedback on these questions:

                       o   What are you looking for in a superintendent? What qualities are you looking for in this person?

                       o   What tasks should they accomplish in their first year?

·       [CG Steering]: Meeting every other week, please send us ideas

·       [Suicide Awareness]: Please remember to be sensitive/tolerant of others.

·       [Kim]: The football game is cancelled.

3.     Money Allocation

·       Motion: I move to allocate $75 out of the CC funds to the Dothan Brook French Program for materials.

                       o   They used to get money from private funds, but no longer are supported

                       o   We have $1,100.25 in co-curricular funds

                       o   This is a great program, we send kids from HHS to spend once a week exposing kids to the French language, creates interest among students

Debate Closes

Motion Passes

4.     Cuts Motion

·       [Mrs. Cep.]: To recap, the cuts policy in the handbook states that the first cut is a warning, and the second a schedule-up. This isn’t serious enough and I proposed to eliminate the warning. I think students will take it more seriously this way.

·       It’s really hard to actually forget to go to class, a schedule-up isn’t that bad

·       This is straightforward and very clear, easier to keep track of in recordkeeping

·       Many teachers are understanding and will let tardiness/cuts go due to unfortunate circumstances, students are honest

·       We should be able to go and talk to our teachers first, “beg for mercy”

·       Our policy now is fine, there are always misunderstandings

·       We need to have the flexibility we have now

·       Note: 3 tardies = cut, more than 10 minutes late can result in a cut

·       Just do a meeting with the Dean of Students

·       Amendment: I move to change the motion to “allow the teacher to recommend a 5-day schedule-up to the Dean of Students on the first cut, but the second cut will result in a 5-day schedule-up, meeting with Dean and parents.

                       o   [Mrs. Cep]: Can I reject this motion?

                       o   This motion can only be rejected by Scott if it is completely against its spirit

                       o   This could cause arguments between Dean of students, teachers, and students

                       o   This is pretty much already stated in the current handbook

Debate Closes

Motion Fails

·       Students are responsible for being at class, respect to teachers and other students

·       Attendance policies for teachers will be in their course standards

·       Disagree with the definition of a cut, need to find a schoolwide understanding

·       We want to produce responsible students and in real life you need to show up on time, trying to provide a real-life experience with this motion

·       Amendment #2: I move to change the motion to say “the student will have a 24 hour period to resolve any misunderstandings with the teacher otherwise there will be a 5-day schedule up.

o   Attendance process: students arrive, teachers mark down if a student is tardy or absent unless there is an excused absence

o   Attendance recorded at the end of the day

o   Motion: Amendment to the Amendment

Motion Retracted

·       POI: Guidance counselors only report behavioral concerns, not cuts

·       Motion: I move to close debate

Motion Fails

·       Discussion on Amendment #2

o   I don’t agree with the zero tolerance policy or even this degree of strictness

o   There’s a lot of other points on the agenda worth getting to

o   This incorporates all the concerns we had, great compromise

o   I disagree with this amendment, class is serious, we come to school to learn

Debate Closes

Amendment Passes

·       Discussion on the Amended Motion

Debate Closes

Motion Passes

·       We shouldn’t just close debate to move things along, keep that in mind

Meeting Adjourns