SAC
Minutes
Attendance
Daniel
Porris – 11th grade representative
Paola
Kathy
Cappy – teacher
Michelle
Ruiz - student
Adrian
Ogle – Student senior representative
Mitchell
Baratz – community representative
Gregory
Griffith - teacher
Jeff
Uchin – Sac Co-chair
Kristy
Modia – teacher/SAC secretary
Jill
Klosenberg – SAF chair
Bev
Gallagher - parent
Daniela
Sosa – ESE Parent
Lilian
Carrillo - parent
Susan
Royal - parent
Olga
Caceres - parent
Hector
Jimenez – faculty/ SAC Vice Chair
Carol
Sheppard – faculty/ SAC Chairman
Joyce
Hawkins – teacher/ mathematics coach
Camille
Barnett – teacher
Mary
Cook – reading coach
Amy
Miller – 12th grade representative
Rhonda
Kaleel - teacher
Chip
Osborn – administration
Elinor
Adler – parent
Terry
Oren – parent
Henry
A. Rose – parent
The September 13th
meeting of the School Advisory Council for Flanagan High School was called to
order at 4:10 by Mr. Osborn, Assistant Principal.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Daniel Porris and Amy Miller. They are part of the Best Buddies program at Flanagan High School which is a club dedicated to forming friendships with our disabled population
Confirmation of
tentative dates and times of meetings for the 2004-2005 year.
Mr. Osborn then confirmed the tentative SAC meeting date as follows:
October 11 November 8 December 13 January 18 February 14
March 14 April 11 May 2 May 31
Norms were
established by SAC and posted by Co-Vice Chair, Hector Jimenez. The norms are
as follows:
Review of Minutes
Minutes were reviewed and accepted as is.
The Charge
According to the SAC By-laws, the primary purpose of SAC is to facilitate the School Improvement Plan and student achievement. Please see June’s minutes for an overview of other SAC responsibilities.
The Challenge – Make
the Grade
Hector Jimenez provided an article from Dr. Till called “Community, parent involvement are key to success”, and it discussed increased student performance, graduation rates, and safety. Dr. Till stressed the importance of community and parent involvement as part of a united effort with our teachers to help educate our students. Flanagan High School’s “Annual Report Card 2004” was also included in the SAC packet.
Hector Jimenez discussed how teachers have certain responsibilities for improving the school grade such as attending inservice workshops geared toward student achievement, participating in cross-curricular lessons, and improving the writing and reading standards within their classrooms.
Daniel Porris read an essay he wrote about the responsibilities students have in this process of “making the grade.” He states that the upper-class must be role models for underclassmen by giving them guidance and demonstrating a positive attitude towards the FCAT. The underclassmen must also do their part by studying and working hard.
Henry Rose spoke on behalf on the community and parents. He stressed the importance of being proactive and checking student attendance and making sure that homework assignments have been completed on a nightly basis.
The issue of attendance was brought up by Bev Gallagher. She mentioned that the computerized system at Flanagan was often inept. She then offered to help Flanagan purchase the Pinnacle software which is used throughout the county with great success.
The Grade
Although Flanagan scored enough points to be labeled a high “C” school, it did not effectively raise the scores of the lowest 25th percentile by 50%. There was also a problem with the amount of students who were being retained. The county has altered the promotion system. Students must now earn five credits to be promoted, whereas before they needed both their English and mathematics credits to move on.
Flanagan periodically offers FCAT preparation classes on Saturdays. The new textbooks purchased by McDougall in mathematics and science included more reading passages and FCAT related assignments. Tutoring continues to be offered after school for those in need of assistance in mathematics or reading. The pathfinder’s curriculum has been modified to include reading and FCAT preparation.
The Plan
Mary Cook, our reading coach, reported on the reading objectives of the SIP. The reading department has doubled this year with teachers trained according to county guidelines. Students are diagnosed and placed in appropriate courses according to their reading proficiency. Teachers are using Virtual Counselor to identify areas of weakness. Silent Sustained Reading is taking place in all classes, twice a week. Weekly reading workshops are held for all teachers during and after school.
Team leader Rhonda Kaleel reported on the program to group 9th grade students while moving them through competencies by coordinating curriculum, discipline, and attendance. Teams meet regularly with the goal of increased student achievement.
Camille Barnett reported on Total Tutoring through the Urban Academy and on our after school programs which offer assistance by the National Honors Society, Students Helping Students, and Mu Alpha Theta.
Finalize 2004-2005
School Improvement Plan
Chip Osborn reported on changes in the SIP, which will be signed and forwarded to the South Area Office by September 17th.
School Site Boundary
Conference
Mr. Osborn also stated that Flanagan will not be participating in the boundary conference. He also discussed the five alternative enrollment options. Relief to relieve overcrowding includes Everglades High School, maximum use of school facilities, flexible school day with dual enrollment at BCC, students graduating under the 3 year graduation policy, and making a 24 room permanent classroom addition.
Adjourning
The meeting was adjourned at 5:30.