11-2009_Minutes

Minutes: November 18, 2009 Meeting was called to order at 6:18 Lori Clark, Paul Dautremont, Matt Kershaw, James Mitchell, MarySue Nydam, Vanessa Sliwa, Natalie Vasquez, Yuki Ochi, Chris Saunders, Rachel Andrews, Mirna Fatho, Morena Mekho, Nathaniel Payumo, Teri Sprecco, Marie Ochi Mitchell asks to approve of the agenda and verifies the agenda, to which everyone approved. Minutes motioned for approval by Vanessa Sliwa and seconded by Natalie Vasquez, ending with a unanimous approval. Minutes were approved.
 * El Cajon Valley High School Site Council**
 * Members in attendance:**
 * Agenda Approval:**
 * Minutes Approval:**

James Mitchell questions about the changes of by-laws suggested for the school site council guidelines. Natalie Vasquez questions if the by-laws will include the broad notification of staff for the minutes. James Mitchell supports by asking if she means if all are to be approved. Natalie asks if all are to be approved or if it is to specific “yeses”. James Mitchell goes on to continue that an issue is the current vacancies. He questions if there is a need to change the by-laws in order to have a special election for the school site council guidelines. Chris Saunders suggests that we have a 2/3rd majority to approve whether to replace and clear the vacancy. The discussion is then whether if we have to change the part where the guidelines question whether the part may go unfulfilled. James Mitchell states that it could be changed so that a special election could be held, and Teri Sprecco questions whether if the change should be occurred in the first or third section of Section 3 in the guidelines. Natalie motions to amend the by-laws in which the by-laws would be changed so that the membership of a new person could be approved by a simple majority vote. Chris Saunders seconds it and a unanimous vote approves. Natalie Vasquez also motions for approval for all the other changes in the by-laws made by the last discussion. Chris Saunders asks to go over the methods of voting so that the vote could be reached electronically. James Mitchell states that he needs the motion of the approval for the approval of minutes and the by-laws included. Yuki Ochi motions/ Lori Clark seconds, and a unanimous vote is given, motion approved.
 * New Business:**

Teri Sprecco states that it is necessary for the council to read over the Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). Teri Sprecco mentions that we need to approve the budgets, and that the group will go over the plan. The first is the table of contents, second is the mission statement, and the ESLR’s, as well as the goals projects, and initiatives. Mirna Fatho questions that the EL learners still need to learn, and if the CAHSEE is regarded differently for them. Teri Sprecco confirms that it is not different for any student and there is a grace period but the time of the test does not change. James Mitchell states that “all” students are expected to pass all sections proficiently. Teri Sprecco shows the council that the API score is listed and that it is improving. Time is given to go over the different years regarding the API scores. Morena Mekho questions what socio-economic background means and what it represents, and is answered by saying the financial income level. Teri Sprecco also brings up the changes in the CAHSEE results over the pass few years regarding language arts and math. James Mitchell questions if there is a glossary, and Clark states that it is not needed as all are given their descriptions. Teri Sprecco defines the QEIA grant as a grant to help increase the API, and their goals to increase the percentage of 10th grade first timers to pass the English section by 1%, and their next goal is to increase the Math by 1%. Teri Sprecco continues to state that we need to achieve at least four of the five goals given in order to be acceptable for the grant. Paul Dautremont reveals that it wasn’t until last year that the requirements for the grant changed from having an average increase to a prerequisite of four accomplishments. Teri Sprecco continues to the category goals and Morena asks whether the quarter system is a disadvantage to the students and Teri Sprecco asks how it affected her personally and she replies that she forgets half the things she learns after a term passes. Teri Sprecco questions whether we met our goal, and it is replied that we didn’t. Then, she mentions the English learners have met the goal, which we did. The third site goal was to increase the amount of A’s, B’s, C’s and decrease the amounts of D’s and F’s. Nathaniel asks what happens if the majority of students fail at a teacher’s level, and Natalie responds her experiences and the tough work exerted. James Mitchell responds that it depends on the situation given and the situation needs to be corrected. Teri Sprecco states that at a systematical level, the teachers discuss how the problem could be solved and how it could be solved systematically. The next is to increase the number of students who graduate, and internal graduation rates. Natalie questions if the numbers are the same in the graduation data, and Teri Sprecco agrees that the reassurance needs to be made. Teri Sprecco states that the A-G completion rates have increased. Nathaniel questions how the graduation requirements are set, and Paul Dautremont responds that the requirements are determined by local school boards. Mirna questions whether the change affects every person attending the high school, or just the new ones attending. Teri Sprecco responds that it is the new ones attending, and Paul Dautremont supports it with his statement. Natalie questions if the results are satisfactory and Paul Dautremont states that the average is around the same amount listed, and that some go beyond the 95%. Nathaniel questions whether an absence on an A day counts on a B day. It is discussed that the amount of period truancies are to be checked on the amounts of enrollment and the distinct changes in other months. The school profile is briefly looked over and the core subject areas are looked over, determining goals, challenges, and the needs to be overcome. It is then questioned and known whether or not the Middle Eastern will have its own category of record. The El Cajon Valley High Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) is looked over and understood. The SPSA is discussed and is understood and there is a small change on page 96 where addition activities are located. Vanessa Sliwa questions the funding of an Academic Advisor, but is told that it needs to be included. Chris Saunders states that the methods towards achieving these goals. Among federal programs needed to approve for their budgets, the first to be discussed is the Title 1 Entitlement it is to be spent on supplemental programs that can help our students. The next is FTE Classified Staff for Support and Intervention for Bilingual statuses and parental mentors as well as Brave Adventure. The list continues to: Translations, materials, equipment and the career center and labs, maintenance, printing, professional services, conference catering, and communication. The money given is to be spent by June 30th, and the next given pots of funding are parental involvement, as well as improvements on the computer lab and tutorials, and each specific fund must be spent on professional development. The next pot is the AARA funds given. Mirna Fatho questions if there is a summer school program that is going to occur at the school, and Teri Sprecco is uncertain, stating that it is another item that we need to discuss on the agenda. Vanessa asks why we chose the alternate program for funding, and Paul Dautremont and Teri Sprecco discuss that the choices given, the alternate was better. The places for the funding are discussed, and the descriptions are then given. The funding for professional development, support materials, supplies and activities are discussed. The EIA/LEP funds are presented. James Mitchell questions for discussion for the given budgets, and Yuki Ochi motions and Lori Clark seconds that the SPSA budgets and funding are to be the ones that are to soon be changed, and it is a unanimous decision made, motion approved.
 * Review of Single Plan for Student Achievement**

Paul Dautremont addresses that we will have the money for the Yearbook class to use to spend on the cameras discussed in the last meeting, but it will be pushed for the next meeting.
 * Update re: Funding Request for Yearbook equipment**:

James Mitchell addresses that in the next meeting we will be discussing how specific we will be in order to decide on how we approve the budgets made. He questions how we will use the method and if we should have a system to help implement those ideas.
 * Items from Members:**

 8:15 P.M.
 * Adjournment:**