PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES
ROTUNDA OF THE ROUND BUILDING
3:45 P.M.
September 26, 2011
Present: Lisa Jones, Pam Seibel, Jean Shawver, Tiffany Unger, Matt Schvaneveldt, Luke Schroeder, Dawn Beaver, Monica Cook, Kiz Leppert, Polly Hulsey, Deb Rongen, Jamie Briggs, Sara Tolman, Tawnya Thompson, Michelle Sturgill, Sheri Merrell, Lori Coombs, Linda Reese, Craig Maki, Kathleen Noh
Kathleen thanked everyone for their participation in the Parent Advisory Committee.
A copy of the school calendar was distributed. School started the day after Labor Day and will end the Friday before the Memorial Day weekend. Three days are being paid for with Jobs Bill money. Hopefully, state funding will increase enough to maintain this calendar without the Jobs Bill money.
The Wheels on the Bus dinner and auction is scheduled for October 8 at the Middle School.
These funds are used to support travel for activities. The date for Wheels on the Bus dinner and auction has been changed to November 12.
The role of volunteers was discussed. The elementary school utilizes in class help whereas the middle school and high school do not require this assistance. It was suggested that the elementary teachers can recruit help through a letter to the parents. Sara Tolman added that the PTSO has a grade level liaison that can recruit volunteers if teachers request assistance. It was mentioned that some teachers organize their class in such a way that volunteers are needed whereas others do not utilize volunteers. Flexibility is needed for both volunteers and teachers as home schedules and school schedules do change.
The rough draft of the Parent Survey of Teacher Performance was reviewed. It was suggested that parent signatures be required and that the parents be informed that the survey would go to the principal who would discuss the overall results of the survey with the teacher. It was also suggested that the questions be reworded to indicate that student success requires a team effort between the parents and the teacher rather than indicating that the teacher had total responsibility for student success. A revised Parent Survey will be on the agenda of the October Parent Advisory meeting.
Matt Schvaneveldt reviewed the changes in the middle school: more class time with the earlier start and later dismissal and core classes held every day; some specials are every other day; academic labs are scheduled according to student needs with some students having none, some having one and others two. Part of the Academic Lab is an enrichment class without homework. Nutrition has been added to the health class. There was discussion about the role of academic labs.
Luke Schroeder reviewed the changes in the high school: 80 minute and 40 minute classes are scheduled without tardy bells; the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) will be taken by all juniors on April 18 and is being paid for by the state; all juniors will take the PSAT as part of the preparation for the SAT paid by the district; dual credit classes are paid for by the state for seniors who have completed state requirements for graduation by the beginning of their senior year. Advisory Committee members expressed concern about the students having enough time for lunch.
Three minutes has been added since the beginning of school and one hall is dismissed five minutes early each week. It is difficult to eat in town as lunch is now during the busy part of the lunch hour and previously it was at 11:30 a.m. Parents suggested that we investigate having vendors supply food as they do in Twin Falls. The comment was made that the parent role changes from elementary to middle school to high school as the students gain in independence and responsibility. It was also noted that not all students progress toward independence at the same rate so the level of parent involvement varies.
Mr. Maki reviewed the changes in the elementary school: ten minutes has been added to the end of the day; the elementary has five classes at every grade level as they have had a large increase in student enrollment with average class size of 24 students. With the high school and middle school starting earlier, elementary students are arriving earlier. Concern was expressed about the elementary students being out on the playground in cold weather in the morning. There was also concern that the students had to wait for the buses as the high school and the middle school students are picked up first. The buses are scheduled this way in order to allow the parent traffic to leave before the buses arrive in order to reduce congestion. It was suggested that now that the high school gets out later that the buses pick up at the elementary first and traffic control at the corner of Oak and Center be instituted to let the buses out. It was also suggested that indoor supervision be provided before school in either the lunch room or the LA Thomas gym.
The meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.
