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·      [SL]: We are looking through some historical documents to evaluate open campus, we will also be doing more research.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

12/2

Agenda: 12/2/2011

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Search Committee Rep Selection
4. Council Leadership Discussion
5. Robert's Rules Modification Motion
6. Notes & New Business

“Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did.” ~Newt Gingrich 

Council Minutes 12/2/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [Mod]: Thanks for being on time today! We are thinking about moving back to the auditorium until we find a better meeting time/place. Also, we will be forming a hiring committee and we will be needing two student representatives.

·      [A-Mod]: Please keep side conversations to a minimum.

·      [Sec]: The sound clip of last meting’s ethics discussion is on the website. Senior, junior and freshmen alternates may vote.

·      [DSB]: DSB meeting next Tuesday.

·      [Curric]: We are reviewing the revised CCCC in conjunction with the DEC.

·      [SA]: Quidditch will be on the 29^th. Make sure you dress up.

·      [SL]: Food vending machines should be up and running after Thanksgiving break. We’ve also come up with a tentative plan to get freshmen more involved in school activities.

·      [COI]: COI has spoken in opposition to the CG switch initiative. We also discussed future enrollment projection numbers, they were a little lower than expected.

3.          Freshmen Off Campus Motion

·      Discussion (on the amendment to broaden the motion to all of off-campus):

Debate closes.

Motion (amendment) passes.

·      Discussion (on the amended motion):

o   Would the administration veto this motion if it was passed?

§  Yes.

o   We shouldn’t let the administrations’ opinions impact our own decisions: there is a veto override policy in place if needed.

o   Remember that expanding open campus could risk it for everyone, since there are many opponents of the policy as it stands.

o   This motion could work because parents still have the ultimate authority, they do not have to sign their students’ permission forms.

·      Motion: I move to refer this motion to Student Life.

o   [Rachel]: We need more info, feedback and time.

·      Clarifying Questions:

o   Wasn’t this brought last meeting?

§  Yes, it was.

·      Discussion:

o   There were extensive studies done in the past showing community support for off campus that should be considered.

o   Being a Student Life rep, I think we definitely need to discuss more in committee.

Debate closes.

Motion (referral) passes.

4.         Notes & New Business

·      [Catherine]: We were discussing resisting arrest in Health class, and my CG/Health class wanted some clarification on school policy. If you were at a party, but we not violating the law, could you be subjected to school punishments?

o   No. You will not be punished for simply being at a party unless you have participated in illegal activity.

·      [Ethan]: Let’s discuss changing the start time of school to 8:30 or 9:00. There have been many studies showing the positive effects of school starting later.

o   This is unnecessary. Students just need to learn to manage their time better. Think about the summer time: it will be very hot outside, and in the winter, we will still being going to school when it’s dark outside.

o   This idea would coincide nicely with a lot of studies done on teen health.

o   It might be a good idea to refer this to committee.

o   Ethan had a very good presentation for our Civitas class, he should make that presentation for Council – it’s good info.

Discussion closes.

·       Motion: I move to allocate $200 to the Alternative Energy Club.

o   [Ben Stallman]: Student Activities has reviewed this money allocation and has brought it back with a reduced, yet still significant, amount of money. We have met with them and they have agreed to do some fundraising. We think this is a really great cause.

·      Clarifying Questions:

o   How much money do we have in the co-curricular fund?

§  Around $950.

o   What would the money be used for?

§  The AEC presented a plan on 9/23 which outlined their spending.

·      Discussion:

o   None.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

·      Motion: I move to amend Robert’s Rules so that a Council member may speak and then close debate immediately following his/her comment.

o   [Rachel]: I think it would make more sense if Council members are able to explain why they would like to close debate.

·      Point of Information: This would have to be a bylaw revision, since there is a clause concerning this in part XI of the Bylaws. This would count as a Bylaw notification and this motion would have to come back next week.

·      Motion: I move that we change the consequence from the loss of open campus privileges to a four week schedule up for failing to meet the academic requirements.

o   The current consequence for failing two classes is the loss of open campus privileges the following semester. Because this is difficult to enforce, this motion would make more sense.

·      Discussion:

o   This motion sounds great and meets the original intent, but makes it stronger.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

Meeting adjourns.

11/18

Agenda: 11/18/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

3.          Freshmen Off Campus Motion

4.         Notes & New Business

“Keep smiling – it makes people wonder what you’re up to.” ~Author Unknown

Council Minutes 11/4/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [Mod]: Welcome to Abidjan Walker, former Council member, and to Professor Donovan, who will be discussing ethics with us later.

·      [PR]: The 2012 Presidential Election is one year away, so please be cognizant.

·      [Treas]: We received a thank you note from the Environmental Club.

·      [SA]: Quidditch on Tuesday.

·      [SL]: Looking at food vending machines and getting freshmen involved in activities.

·      [Curric]: Going over some of the CCCC changes recommended by the DEC.

·      [COI]: I’ve published a memorandum about yesterday’s vote on the 1:1 tech initiative. Yesterday, COI voted to pursue the initiative, hopefully to have it ready by the 2013-2014 school year. I opposed the initiative based on input from the Council and the student body. For information, please contact me (Dmitry).

3.          Freshmen Off Campus Motion

Motion: I move to table this motion until after agenda item #4 (Ethics Discussion).

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

4.         Ethics Discussion With Aina Donovan

·      Ethics stuff.

·      See Carl or the website for more details.

Meeting adjourns.

11/4

Agenda: 11/4/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

3.          Freshmen Off Campus Motion

4.         Ethics Discussion With Aina Donovan

5.         Notes & New Business

“A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without

springs – jolted by every pebble in the road.” ~Henry Ward Beecher

Council Minutes 10/28/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [Mod]: Hopefully second semester we will be moving Council to Monday, 7^th period, but this is still in the works. Next Friday we will be able to talk with an ethics professor from Dartmouth, Aina Donovan. As a result, we will be meeting in the auditorium next Friday. Please get your lunch before Council. Staff, please join into the crowd! Also, remember that Council members need to make sure that recycling gets done in their Common Grounds.

·      [A-Mod]: I’ve sat in on Admin and OEC meetings so far, with more to come. Again, we’re still looking at how and where Council meets each week.

·      [DSB]: Remember that Council members should be attending at least one board meeting! Last week we discussed class sizes and reviewed the Dresden Athletic Funding Committee findings about proportions. We also approved the MI options for this year. I also informed them of the letter on the opinion board letter.

·      [PR]: Definitely check out the MI options before next week! Also be sure you’re communicating effectively with your Common Grounds. A new Broadside issue is out today, and we’re looking for feedback on the Council bulletin board.

·      [Sec]: Junior alternate may vote. There’s also an article coming from Ms. Addante about democracy and the HHS Council. Please pick up a copy!

·      [Curric]: We’re looking at the CCCC since it’s back from legal counsel. We’re also talking about what defines leadership at Council.

·      [OEC]: All of our new reps are here, we’re also reviewing the bylaws now.

·      [SA]: Please sign up for quidditch! Monday is Halloween dress-up day.

·      [SL]: We’re looking at both Common Ground and food vending machines.

·      [COI]: We’ve passed a budget for the new school year. We’ll be voting on whether or not to pursue the 1:1  initiative this Thursday, so please give me feedback!

3.          Dance Guidelines Motion

·      Clarifying Questions

o   How does the Dean makes decisions about who will be admitted?

§  His best judgment.

·      Discussion

o   This would ensure a reasonable conversation with the Dean of Students before the dance actually takes place.

o   Giving the administration more power in this case is a good thing.

Debate closes.

Motion passes.

4.         Notes & New Business

·      Let’s talk a little about 1:1 technology.

o   We have other problems around the school that should be fixed first.

o   I don’t think the majority of students are in favor of this.

·      Motion: I move that freshmen be allowed to go to the Co-op second semester.

o   [Walter Mosenthal]: It seems unfair that upperclassmen can go off campus but freshmen can’t. I also think that freshmen should have the same freedom as the other classes.

·      Discussion

o   Besides freshman rights, I’d like to see more reasons for this motion.

o   Upperclassmen need to consider what they would have wanted as a freshman.

o   We discuss this motion every year, and we hardly make much progress. There haven’t been any reasons for not letting freshmen go off campus.

o   This would be hard to enforce for just the Co-op, so we grant general off campus privileges to freshmen instead.

·      Motion: I move to refer this motion to student life.

o   [Rachel]: More, deeper research is needed.

·      Clarifying Questions

o   What new information are you hoping to obtain?

§  More feedback from parents and middle school advisors.

o   What do middle school teachers have to do with this?

§  These teachers could tell if students are ready for privileges.

·      Discussion

o   Thorough research would be great, brining this to committee would bring it further.

o   This is a good discussion to have right now in Council. If this went to SL now, we wouldn’t know what this body thinks anyways.

o   Research wouldn’t be necessary.

Debate closes.

Motion (to refer to SL) fails.

o   We haven’t passed this in the past to help with the transition to high school, keeping them in school the first year would be beneficial. Any change could risk open campus privileges for everyone.

o   This motion would give unfair business to the Co-op. Open campus in general for freshmen would be a better solution since we can’t track the freshmen.

·      Motion:  I move to amend this motion to allow freshmen off campus second semester.

o    [Ethan]: All high school students should have equal rights.

o   This makes the motion more clean and efficient, more research would be good.

o   This would take away a lot of business from the cafeteria, which could cause problems for other students as well.

o   A thank you to Walter for having the courage to bring this motion!

Meeting adjourns.

10/28

Agenda: 10/28/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

3.          Dance Guidelines Motion

4.         Notes & New Business

“Political courage is not political suicide.” ~Arnold Schwarzenegger

Council Minutes 10/21/2011

1.          Approval of Minutes

2.         Reports

·      [Mod]: We really need to work on attendance! Be here on time. Also, let’s calm down about the CCCC, everything is being taken care of.

·      [Sec]: Senior, sophomore and freshmen alternates may vote.

·      [Exec]: Robert’s Rules are used to make meetings go smoother, not as weapons.

·      [SL]: We’re talking about CG Switch, getting more information from CGSC, etc.

·      [SA]: We are planning quidditch, sign-ups begin on October 31^st.

·      [OEC]: Our new Council members are Ethan Gorman, Lazlo Bardos, and Susanna Penfield. We’ve also set the freshmen CC free, they’re looking for staff advisors.

·      [Curric]: We’re taking another look at the CCCC, working with others.

3.          Test Returns Motion

·      Discussion:

o   Over the past few years, we’ve been hesitant to pass bigger motions. Don’t be afraid of what’s going to happen in the administration, either pass/fail a motion based on its ideas and its impact on your constituents.

·      Motion: I move to amend the original motion to read: “I move that all graded tests and quizzes be kept in a locked file cabinet in the corresponding resource centers where students may sign them out and review them in the resource center.”

o   [B]: I think this would please both sides because it would provide access to students’ tests and it would also provide test security.

Motion overruled by moderator, not in the spirit of the original motion.

o   I know many kids that would like to see their tests and be able to keep them permanently, it’s frustrating from a student’s point of view. But we also do have to keep test security in mind. I don’t see why science teachers can’t modify their tests like other teachers do.

o   Teachers shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to test their students.

o   It’s a teacher’s right to do as they wish with their tests.

o   It would not be that difficult for teachers to modify tests, and it would keep the material more relevant for each class. It can be detrimental to a student’s education when some teachers will not modify their tests.

·      Motion: I move to amend this motion to include a written agreement signed by the student, his/her guardian and the teacher, stating that “this test is private material and may be used only by the student for the purposes of studying, review and other pre-approved academic actions.”

o   [James Harvard]: This keeps the original intent of the motion, to let students study from their tests, yet adds a layer of responsibility.

·      Clarifying questions

o   Would any violation of this be a violation of the academic honor code?

§  Yes.

·      Discussion

o   This isn’t even necessary.

o   I think the whole thing should just be referred to Curric. I think it’s offensive to say that teachers are lazy, and students DO cheat.

o   Students have already agreed to this with the academic integrity policy, so this could help enforce it, but this change might be unnecessary.

o   Even when teachers say tests are available, they’re really not. Many students can’t study during the school day.

o   Nobody said teachers were lazy. Students are here to learn. In a work setting, it’s acceptable to take shortcuts to make your job easier, but not if it affects a student’s education. However, the amendment adds more student responsibility to the mix.

o   Compromise is really important here, this would be a good solution.

·      Motion: I move to refer this motion (including the amendment) to the Curriculum committee.

o   [Gabe]: This is obviously an important issue, I think committees could work this out better.

·      Discussion:

o   I agree with this referral, but I think Admin may be a better committee since Curric is so busy lately.

·      Motion: To move to amend the amendment to refer this motion to the Admin committee

Debate (on amendment to amendment) closes.

Motion (to amend amendment passes) passes.

Debate (on modified referral) closes.

Motion (to refer to Admin) passes.

4.         Notes & New Business

·      [Ms. Addante]: Just FYI, there is a Dresden Athletic Funding Update Review Committee which is actually looking at many of the same issues Council talked about a few weeks ago.

·      Motion: I move to change the handbook policy concerning dances to read “HHS Students may bring guests to HHS dances. Guests will be required to show a high school ID and may be required to give their name, address and telephone numbers to the adult at the ticket table. All other guests must get prior permission from the dean of students.

o   [Ms. Stevenson]: We’ve had problems with HHS alumni and other college guests trying to gain entry the night of the dance. Some prior notification may be beneficial.

Meeting adjourns.