Approval of Minutes

Minutes from the December 19 School Council meeting were corrected as follows: under Special Needs the first line should read “Kathy reported our two special needs teachers are teaming the Resource Match class during sixth period.” The minutes were approved as corrected.

Parent/Community Comments

Leslie Nielsen reported that Issaquah High School will be running special schedules for WASL testing.

Old Business

Spring Pictures will be taken during lunches only on April 10 and April 11 so as not to disturb classes.

Ron Thiele presented the final draft of the Decision-Making Model.

Ron reported that after checking the campus, there is sufficient space to install approximately 300 additional lockers. He checked into a bid for lockers IMS received three years ago and the cost was $30,390 at that time. He estimates today it would cost between $30,000 and $40,000. There was discussion on funding options such as deferred payments and special fundraisers. Ron will get a couple updated bids and bring back to the next School Council. He will also check into what support may be available on the District level.

New Business

Debra Wells reported that some staff members are concerned about the health issues associated with students being offered soda pop at school. Pop is also being kept in back packs and is being spilled. They would like to look at changing the choices in the pop machines to healthier drinks or removing the machines all together. Per Pat Randall, ASB averages $700 to $800 per month income from the pop machines. Ron will check into the contract we have and will bring information back to the next meeting.

Ron will be presenting our Continuous Improvement Plan to the School Board on February 5. He reported that the Goals Section for reading and writing will be changed. Test scores will not be compared to last year’s results, but scores will be compared to previous tests taken by the same group of students. For instance, 7^th Grade WASL scores will be compared to how those students did on their 4^th Grade WASL. Ron will bring the final Continuous Improvement Plan to the next meeting.

Team Reports

6^th Grade

The sixth grade is planning a field trip to the Cedar Hill Landfill on March 13 and 14.

7^th Grade

The seventh grade will be going to the Village Theatre on January 29 to see “Driving Miss Daisy.” Author Ji li Jiang will be at IMS to speak in 7^th grade Humanities classes on February 3.

8^th Grade

None

Special Needs

Kathy Gottlieb explained that Special Needs teachers will be attending “Pass the Torch” meetings where elementary, middle and high school teachers get together to discuss students who will be moving up.

Classified Staff

Sara Doneyhue noted that the traffic in the parking lot is becoming more and more dangerous. Ron will contact the city to see about making a formal request to have a “No U-Turn” sign posted at the top of 1^st Avenue.

ASB Report

Student, Caitlin S., reported that next week is a Spirit Week – three days only – January 29 is Inside Out Day, January 30 is Little Kid Day and January 31 is Favorite Animal Day. ASB is looking into scheduling a second Spirit Week this trimester.

PTSA Report

Mardi Nystrom reported that PTSA membership is at 696 individuals – 70 to 80 members higher than average. The next PTSA meeting will be February 25 at 7:00 p.m. in the IMS Commons. Author, Susan Quattrociocchi will speak at this meeting.

Community Center

Ross Hoover spoke about Youth Star Search which is planned for May 16. He would like to get IMS students involved – the other middle schools hold a talent show. Caitlin will take this suggestion to ASB. Ross also reported that the last middle school dance had low attendance but was a lot of fun.

FYI – Ron Thiele

January 24 6^th Grade Social 2:30 – 4:00

January 24 7/8 Grade Evening Dance 7 – 9:00 p.m.

Wk of January 26 Spirit Week

January 29 7^th Grade Field Trip

February 4 Staff Meeting – 7:00 a.m.

February 6 Orchestra Field Trip

February 11 Orchestra Concert 7:30 p.m.

February 13 Mid-Tri II

February 17 President’s Day – No School

February 25 PTSA Meeting – 7:00 p.m. Commons

February 27 School Council Meeting – 2:45 p.m.

Other

Parents wondered about information on the Ninth Grade Campus. Ron will check with the district and bring any updates to the next meeting. It was reported that 119 8^th graders were invited to join the National Junior Honor Society. Students must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA from 6^th grade through the first trimester of 8^th grade in order to be invited.

Next meeting will be February 27, 2003 at 2:45 p.m.