Stonington High School – SBIT Minutes

Tuesday, 21-September-2004

Members Present: J. Jones, J. Macko, S. McCarthy, M. McKee, S. Mueller, S. Murphy, J. Norcross, C. Rossi, C. Sartor, P. Schmitz

Visitors Present: Katie Haughey (Westerly Sun), Tom Kasprzak (Stonington Times), Joe Wojtas (New London Day)

Meeting started 5:38 pm.

I. Reports

A. Minutes (6/8/04) – Minutes accepted.

B. Student Report (Paul Schmitz) – The ‘Moving On’ Dance was cancelled. It had been scheduled for the Friday after the opening of school. Student Government is looking at other options. Clare Sartor asked if it was cancelled due to lack of interest. Paul felt that there was a lack of interest, not because the kids didn’t want a dance evening, but rather because it was scheduled too close to the start of school.

C. Membership and Appointment of Chair – SBIT now has 3 new members. A member of the junior class is also needed.

D. Dress Code – See below (agenda items presented out of order).

E. Building Update – See below (agenda items presented out of order).

· Tour of Building

F. 2004-2005 Goals –

· ‘Conduct the NEASC Self Study’ - See item G below

· ‘Implement job-embedded professional development through collaborative team meetings to focus on student work and how students best learn.” - On an 8-day cycle, teachers across the disciplines form a collaborative team so that everyone learns from everyone else.

· ‘Continue to implement an Advisor / Advisee program by adding a Junior House component.’ When the current juniors (Class of 2006) are seniors, the cycle (Advisor / Advisee) will be complete.

· ‘Complete the SHS renovation / expansion project.’ - Renovations continuing.

G. NEASC Standards Committee – The NEASC visit is scheduled for March 12 – 16. They are planning to visit SHS to evaluate many aspects of the school. Members of the SHS faculty / community are creating a self-study. There are seven ‘standards’ committees within this self-study. They are:

Teaching and Learning Standard

1. Mission & Expectation

2. Curriculum

3. Instruction

4. Assessment

Support Standards

5. Leadership & Organization

6. School Resources for Learning

7. Community Resources for Learning

There are 10 meetings during the year scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month (2:15 – 3:15 pm). Members are needed. Sharon Mueller and Jen Norcross are members of the Steering Committee.

Dress Code (John Jones) – A document, created by the FACT sub committee, was distributed for discussion. It contained suggested dress code rules.

The ‘big item’ already approved, advertised and put into place was the ‘no head covering’ dress code rule. Students have been more or less compliant. Regarding the ‘no back pack’ rule, parents and students had been complaining of the excessive weight of the packs. To alleviate this problem, backpacks are no longer allowed at SHS and passing time has been increased from 6 minutes to 10 minutes. Administration is trying to be flexible in allowing grocery bags or to allow kids to carry books in their arms like ‘the old days’. Jen Norcross said there has been some complaining. Sharon Mueller pointed out that motorcycle helmets don’t fit in the lockers. Steve pointed out that 250 backpacks were a problem at lunch – the fire marshal was not happy with 250 packs in the cafeteria. Backpacks, for the most part, fit in the lockers. Backpacks with wheels do not fit in the lockers. Seniors are in the old building; everyone else is in the new building. Seniors with a ‘C’ or better can earn senior release privileges. Administration hopes the old building becomes a ‘senior campus’. Regarding dress code, students have been more or less compliant, maybe due to air conditioning in the new building? Jen Norcross asked a couple students to turn their alcohol-themed t-shirts inside out. Michael McKee suggested the SBIT take a look at the “Board of Education Dress Code” policy. A copy was distributed and discussed. Michael felt that the broader the policy, the more likely administration would be able to enforce the policy. The more general a policy, the more items it encompasses. Enforce a policy without creating strife. Steve pointed out that any policy is only as good as how well it is enforced. Rampant disregard if not enforced. Paul Schmitz felt that the students would comply if administration explained that ‘in the real world’ this is acceptable dress. (For example, in the real world, you shouldn’t have your undergarments exposed.) Clare Sartor suggested that school could be an extension of what some parents already expect from their teens regarding acceptable dress. Corinne Rossi was ‘leery of too many specifics’. After much discussion, the new dress code was decided upon as items 3 –6 (no hats, etc; no alcohol / profanity clothing; must wear shoes; no undergarment exposure) and ‘no midriffs shall be exposed’.

Building Update – The lit up staircase is very impressive at night. The new cafeteria should be available in January. The new gym should be available in February. Renovations for the music area, choral area, and auditorium should be complete by the end of the year. The addition should be complete by September 2005. Other great features included in the renovations are ceiling projectors in the classrooms as well as wireless Internet capability through out the building.

II. Visitors’ Comments - none

III. SBIT Comments - Sharon Mueller said that the Westerly Sun did an impressive story regarding the new building in last Sunday’s paper. Also there are the following changes in the list of members:

Corinne Rossi’s e-mail is corinne_rossi@hotmail.com.

Clare Sartor’s e-mail is mgrace97@yahoo.com

Clare Sartor’s work telephone number is: 536-5396.

IV. Action

V. Agenda

VI. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned 6:55 pm