OLD BUSINESS

School Council members noted that they had voted last Spring not to add snack vending machines as a fund raiser for ASB.

School Council approved the proposed change to add the line “Does this absence adversely affect progress?” to the Pre-Arranged Absence Form. Discussion of other changes ensued, so another revision will be brought back to the next School Council for approval.

Principal Ron Thiele asked for feedback on delineating more clearly passing times in the daily schedule. Margie Rhen said that teachers seemed to be more consistent about asking students to keep moving. Megan C. thought that having parents in the halls with the Walk About program helped. Ron noted that at some point we would have to look at the entire schedule, including the possible need to add ten minutes to the end of the day and the potential impact on bus schedules. Margie raised the question of whether she should allow 6^th graders to bring their backpacks to 6^th period – 7^th and 8^th graders in that class do and the travel time to lockers from the Arts Tech Building and then to the buses is long. Shona Campbell noted that after talking with Asst. Principal Corrine DeRosa she had been allowing her 6^th graders to bring backpacks to 6^th period, but some of them were arriving late; many seemed to still be struggling with locker combinations. It was agreed that teachers should use their judgment on this issue and allow 6^th graders a bit of adjustment time.

NEW BUSINESS

Ron noted that the Activities Calendar would be undergoing changes in the future. Teachers had expressed concern about the time students spend out of class. Also, he said that he and Corrine were more comfortable with dances right after school rather than at night and that the number of night dances between ASB and Friends of the Library had increased from nine last year to 11 this year. In the discussion that followed Margie noted that we also need to look at assemblies and all the other activities that impact class time. Sandy Grace said that she is in favor of Activity Days because kids need that opportunity to learn how to interact with other kids and develop social skills. Cindy Streck noted that kids don’t have much time to socialize and enjoy themselves during the school day. Neva Luke pointed out that everything on the calendar is good but that the bottom line is that we don’t have enough class time and we need to prioritize. Margaret Brown said that evening dances are not part of the middle school philosophy. Brian De Broux said that money coming to the library from Friends of the Library dances is good for the library, and he said we also need to consider field trips when addressing the Activity Calendar. Megan suggested that moving slowly with changes this year would be more acceptable to students. It was agreed that this issue needs to go back to Teams and be discussed at a future School Council meeting.

Carol Penney discussed the possibility of changing the SLC/SSR selection process. One method would be to have the computer randomly select students, balancing numbers and gender of students. The present method of having teachers select their groups causes a time lag which also delays having the emergency plan in place, printing final locater cards, and preparing accurate enrollment and overload reports. Leah Van Eenwyk noted that when teachers with no block classes have students they don’t know assigned to them, they feel as if they have another prep. Neva said that 6^th grade parents are more likely to discuss issues with the SLC/SSR teacher if their student also has that teacher for a class. It was agreed that selection should be made earlier next year regardless of which process is used.

ASB Report

Megan reported that Friday is red/white/blue day and that students will be selling cookies during lunches and possibly after school on Monday to raise money for the Red Cross. The Magazine Drive Assembly is scheduled for Tuesday morning. Megan also noted that some of the magazine incentives involved pulling students from class, and after several members voiced concern over that, she said she’d take those concerns back to ASB for reevaluation.

Team Reports

6^th Grade

None

7^th Grade

David Kappler expressed the 7^th grade team’s concern with turning in textbooks too early at the end of the school year and with scheduling field trips at the end of the trimester. He also called attention to the fact that the 7^th grade staff list, which must be updated at the District level, is not presently accurate.

8^th Grade

Leslie Nielsen reported that 8^th grade is planning a field trip to see a play on December 5. She said her team would also like to have a school policy prohibiting students from calling home to have parents bring in home work assignments. Pat Randall noted that parents also fax assignments to the office. Ron said we would look at putting a policy in place.

Special Needs

Cindy asked all teachers to be patient about the delay in receiving adaptation information. Teachers who need to identify the special needs students in their classes are can get that information from her.

Additional Parent Comments

Mary Lou Pauly clarified that anyone involved in a project centering around the tragedy in New York and Washington D.C. – the Teddy Bear project, letter writing campaigns, cookie sales -- should coordinate with Ann Perkins. Nancy Campi said that she had been involved with the District discussions of the Learning Improvement Day and was interested in IMS’s concerns.

FYI – Ron Thiele

Ron reminded everyone of the following:

Staff Meeting on Tuesday, September 25 at 7: a.m. (snacks provided by the 6^th grade team)

Curriculum Night on Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m

Early dismissal for students at 10:50 a.m. on Thursday, October 11 for State Inservice

No school for students of Friday, October 12 for State Inservice.

Next meeting will be Thursday, September 27, 2001at 2:45 p.m.

Chairperson: Megan C. Gatekeeper: Pat Decker

Present at Meeting: Parents: Mary Lou Pauly, Pam Campi Staff: Brian DeBroux, Pat Decker, Neva Luke, David Kappler, Margaret Brown, Leslie Nielsen, Margie Rehn, Carol Penney, Sandy Grace, Corrine DeRosa, Ron Thiele, Shona Campbell, Leah Van Eenwyk, Pat Randall Students: Megan C.