Minutes 10/22/14

Agenda 10/29/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. New & Tuition Abstainers
4. 3 Test Motion
5. Notes & New Business

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”

— James Heller

Council Minutes 10/22/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (Mod): The Web Presence Motion has been moved to Admin to balance out the load.
• (SL): School wide survey planning for Common Ground.
• (OEC): Started work on bylaw revisions.
• (Admin): Worked on web presence survey for teachers.
• (SA): Researched swipe card system at Lebanon HS.
• (Curric): Worked on web presence motion.
• (RJ): Presentation next Wednesday to staff.
• (COI): Approved March Intensive courses, all-day budget meeting 10/23.
• (Sec): Freshmen alternate can vote.
3. Bylaw Revision: OEC Poster Motion
• “I move to strike Article VII, Section C, Clause 2, Point b and to add “To review and approve campaign posters one week before Election Day” under Article VII, Section E, Clause 2, Point j in the Council Bylaws.”
• Motion passes.
4. Bylaw Revision: Combined New and Tuition Election Motion
• “I move to modify Article III, Section A, Clause 1, Point e to read “Incoming new students will meet in the September of their first year at Hanover High School to hear statements from any students who wish to run for Council that did not attend HHS or RMS in the previous school year. These students will elect one or two voting representatives to Council, depending on interest.”, and to strike “and tuition” from Article III, Section B, Clause 3, Point a, and to strike “and tuition” from Article VII, Section E, Clause 2, Point i, and to strike Article VII, Section E, Clause 2, Point iv.”
• This will allow for the most interested students to run.
• Having separate groups allows for different views.
• Each individual will choose best fit for personal views regardless of distinction new vs. tuition.
• It’s already a short time to determine best candidates.
• This system is overly complex and drove away candidates.
• These tuition students give outside perspective.
• Anyone can still come to Council.
• We are already artificially assimilating all students to their respective classes after one year.
• These students are all already overwhelmed with the new school how are they expected to be passionate about something they have never experienced?
• We don’t segregate students in our minds, so this election should be only to give chances to students who could not run before.
• We are a representative democracy and have a duty to represent our electors.
• Motion passes.

Meeting adjourns.

Minutes 10/15/14

 Agenda 10/22/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Bylaw Revision: OEC Poster Motion
4. Bylaw Revision: Combined New and Tuition Election Motion
5. Notes & New Business

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.”

— Henry David Thoreau

Council Minutes 10/15/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (Mod): Welcome to our German exchange students.
• (A-Mod): New arrangement of room today to give equal space on every side.
• (Treas): Allocated money for MLK speaker was replaced by assembly fund.
• (DSB): Broadside report will be coming, next meeting is October 28.
• (Admin): Discussed handbook revisions.
• (Curric): Created course concern form.
• (SA): Potentially adding breast cancer awareness days. Halloween is nearest dress-up day!
• (RJ): Meeting this Friday.
• (COI): Meeting tomorrow to approve MI courses.
• (Sec): Staff alternate can vote.
• (Mrs. Addante): Strategic Planning meeting Oct. 29 and Nov. 6. More info at HHS website.
3. Bylaw Notification
• Changes to poster verification from Admin to OEC.
4. Bylaw Notification
• Changes to new and tuition student elections.
5. Lost & Found Motion
• Current Wording: “Lost and found items will be taken to the Haven after three weeks unclaimed.”
• Current Amendment to replace “after three weeks” with “at the end of each quarter if”.
• The specific day does not matter if everything is replaced on one day.
• We are over thinking a simple matter.
• Newer items should roll over into next quarter if they have not been in lost and found for too long.
• If items are valuable they will be looked for sooner.
• Not enough space in closet to contain all the items for a quarter.
• Bonnie is currently running the system and knows how to manage it best.
• Amendment fails.
• Motion passes.
6. Council Accountability Discussion
• Motions tend to die off after their passage.
• If motions are unused then they had no purpose to begin with.
• Everyone needs to be aware of motions that have been passed.
• We need way to gauge effectiveness of passed motions.
• We need to utilize the CG announcements more.
7. Dress Code Discussion
• “Distracting” is ambiguous but also dangerous.
• Wording is up to too much interpretation.
• Certain body types are targeted.
• More females are addressed with the code than males.
• Students tend to be stopped in hallways as opposed to classrooms where distraction from material is a viable issue.
• Young people have enough problems with body image vis-à-vis media.
• Team spirit is equally as distracting as current violations and is sanctioned.
• Expecting one individual to be responsible for another’s reaction and experimentation is common at this age.
• More females push the limits of dress code than males.
• Each gender has different issues with code. Males more likely to wear inappropriate slogans/wording, females more likely to violate amount of skin shown.
• Does not have strong wording to give teacher authority.
• Administration and staff tries to be gentle and appropriate to not come off as targeting certain individuals or groups.
• Teachers need to make sure they do not get into liability issues with dress and harassment.
• Individuals have conscious choice to dress in a certain way regardless of societal pressures.
• Academic environment does not allow for inappropriate clothing, it’s all based on setting.

Meeting adjourns.

Minutes 10/8/14

Agenda 10/15/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Lost & Found Motion
4. Dress Code Discussion
5. Notes & New Business

“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

— Oprah Winfrey

Council Minutes 10/8/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (OEC): Made Council poster for open house.
• (SL): Discussed Mrs. Caldwell’s student/teacher communication outside of school hours.
• (SA): Additional research on swipe cards.
• (Curric): Survey questions and teacher reporting.
• (RJ): Created website, presenting to staff and common grounds at the end of the month.
3. Intercom Quote Motion
• “I move to include an inspirational quote after the pledge.”
• Does this need to be a motion?
• If it’s a motion then it can continue after graduation of current students.
• Motion passes.
4. Web Presence Motion
• “Teachers are required to maintain a web presence with an up-to-date syllabus.”
• Was voted to pass previously now back with administration-approved wording.
• What is the allowed amount of time?
• Tech Department is willing and able to help.
• Day-to-day system of assignments works well for most teachers.
• Why are we forcing teachers on doing things online?
• Original reasoning: absent students to view assignments and reduce confusion and grant access.
• Amendment to append “and assignment calendar.”
• Some classes do not revolve around assignment calendars.
• Should we add to require only at request of student?
• This will be too onerous for something that will not be used.
• Amendment to append a definition of web presence.
• Mr. Campbell requested this change he should define as he wishes.
• Motion to refer to the Curriculum Committee.
• Motion fails.
• Amendment fails.
• Motion to refer to the Curriculum Committee.
• Motion passes.
5. Lost & Found Motion
• “Lost and found items will be taken to the Haven after three weeks unclaimed.”
• Bonnie is willing to organize and drive.
• Bonnie already tracks items.
• Who takes over for Bonnie?
• Would not include binders, books, equipment, etc.
• Urges students to be more responsible about their belongings.
• Having a set date allows everyone to check, this might make more stuff be permanently lost.
• If an item is lost on the day everything moves then there is no chance.
• Amendment to replace “after three weeks” with “at the end of each quarter if”.

Meeting adjourns.

Minutes 10/1/14

Agenda 10/8/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
3. Intercom Quote Motion
4. Web Presence Motion
5. Notes & New Business

“If you are determined enough and willing to pay the price, you can get it done.”

— Mike Ditka

Council Minutes 10/1/14

1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
• (A-Mod): Kelsey is out for an APES field trip.
• (DSB): Replacement for NECAPs has been decided – Smarter Balance. 5 MI options have no money cap.
• (Treas): Council funds are at $2935.44, co-curricular funds are at $1460.00
• (SA): Quidditch next Tuesday, dress up days are coming too.
• (Mr. Berube): Youth US senate program presentation:
• Open to juniors and seniors on Council.
• Scholarship will be awarded.
• Write an essay to be eligible.
• In March following competitive application.
• Due Friday activity period.
• (Jud): New members have been elected:
• Owen O'Leary (Chair)
• Luke Strohbehn
• Lilly Cadow
• Marco van Gemeren
• Lauren Koval
• Henry Lang
• Molly Cook
• Daniel Zegans
• Margaret Caldwell
• Matt Prince (Alt.)
• (COI): Approved new course: Digital Art & Design.
3. MLK Money Allocation Motion
• “I move to transfer $125 of Council funds to Diane Henry for the MLK Day Assembly.”
• Split total 50/50 with Mr. Campbell.
• Very informed speaker.
• Photographer during civil rights movement.
• Traveling from Plymouth, NH
• Motion passes.
4. Homework Assignment Motion
• Amendment (“I move that all homework and required materials be assigned during a student's class period. It is not permitted to change entirely or increase a homework assignment after class has ended. Modifications to the existing assignment must be made no later than 20 minutes after the last class period of the day.”)
• Amendment passes.
• 20 minutes after the school day is too long.
• Should read “minor” modifications.
• Loopholes aren’t always used by teachers and so don’t need to be concerned with minutiae.
• Nothing after the first sentence is necessary to convey purpose of motion.
• There are lots of good reasons to have extra elements, eg. guidance for teachers.
• Motion passes.
5. Intercom Quote Motion
• “I move to include an inspirational quote after the pledge.”
• The pledge is read anyways, might as well do more with the action.
• Easy to find quotes if others do not submit it.
• Will take less than 15 seconds most likely.
• Want to use intercom as infrequently as possible.
• Would be more effective if written and posted.
• Not Council’s area.
• Will not be continued after current reader graduates.
• Still benefits from time in practice.
• Replaces current greeting.
• Sets mood for day.
• Cuts down if learning especially if discussion of quote afterwards.
• Intercom not best medium for this message.
• If on a screen, it can always be available.
• No one looks at the screens – everyone already has to listen.
• Why can’t the quote be on both?
• Spoken seems more personal.
• Does not reach band or orchestra rooms.
• Quotes should be respective and secular.

Meeting adjourns.