Community Council

Dr. Steve Kahn will speak at our Wednesday, March 5, Community Council meeting, 6:30-8:00 p.m. His topic is “Now What! Parenting Strategies for the Teenage Years.” Dr. Kahn and Associates provide counseling and psychological assessments to twenty-two elementary and high schools in the Twin Cities. His website, www.drstevekahn.com has articles about children, teenagers and parenting, as well as information about his recent book, Insightful Parenting: Making Moments Count.

Please join us, and feel free to invite any other interested family members or friends.

6:30 pm meeting began

We had introductions and then brief updates from faculty (passed on to myself and Phil Grant by Christina Beck earlier that day), and administration.

We then spent most of the rest of the meeting discussing logistics and plans for the Silent Auction. Chris and Dean Weigel are working on this event, but are new to it, and so asked for more information and help with the process of soliciting donations, scheduling etc. Since this is the first time the Silent Auction has been combined with the Medieval Feast, we had some decisions to make about how the two will combine together. Plans seem to be well underway now. Letters are going out to the families this week with requests for donations and other necessary information. Craig Wenberg, Chris Weigel and myself (Nell) are working together to solicit and secure donations. Chris has additional information from Leslie Kallas (in charge of this event last year), and is now feeling fairly optimistic about it all.
Linda Weber brought in some literature about a program for at risk boys called Boys to Men and we will be including it in our resources library.
We adjourned at 8:00 pm.

Please click here to view the agenda ->CC_AgendaMay2007Web1.htm

To view the proposed agenda, please click this link->CC_AgendaApril2007Web1.htm

Please click here to view plans ->CC March 2007 Notes.htm

Click here for agenda ->CC_AgendaMarch2007Web1.htm

Watershed Community Council Minutes ->CCFeb07, 2007.htm

To view the agenda pleas click here ->CC_Agenda_Feb2007Web1.htm

Please click to view ->CC_Agenda_Jan20076Web1.htm

Watershed Community Council
Dec. 6, 2006
“Watershed: Because it Works!”
 Note: This meeting did not follow the usual format due to faculty and board member involvement in a special meeting with representatives of the state DOE which ran concurrently to this CC meeting.
 
Present:  David Woolley (11^th grade parent , CC co-chair), Endel Kallas (10^th grade parent CC co-chair and interim scribe), Paula Nordhem(11^th Grade parent, Class Rep), Daniel Passer (12^th grade parent), Nell Ubelohde (11^th grade parent),  Betty Edwards (10^th grade parent)
Arriving “in progress”: Mark MaGarraugh (Faculty, 10^th Grade Sponsor, Christina Beck (Faulty Co-Chair, 9^th Grade Sponsor),  Susan Hasti (9^th grade parent),
  

1. Welcome, Introductions, Verse
   

Nine people were in attendance and shared a call for reverence and respect . Introductions included recognition of Betty Edwards for her service at the front desk and a call for more volunteer support in this role as parents were taking on more hours under the administrative reorganization.
 

2. Agenda Review & Additions
   

The forum/discussion segment of the meeting was moved to the top of the agenda pending arrival of faculty and board members for the presentation of their updates.
 

4:42 (This time is noted in an effort to monitor and review meetings for ongoing timeliness against the agenda)
3. Recap of the financial forum]
The forum was characterized as having presented a clear and frank statement of the WHS financial position and a general plan for recovery. It opened the way for parents to fully join in the extraordinary effort underway to realize the full potential of the school.  David Woolley noted that fundraising and enrollment targets and progress to date had been posted on the WHS web site. Including donations at the forum, some $40,000 had been raised to date towards a total goal of $123,000). (For current progress see http://www.watershedhs.org/donation.htm ),
 

The question of long term viability and the impact of this question on fundraising was discussed. It was suggested that while a fair question, the answer was best realized by directly participating in the discussion and the community initiatives to ensure our viability. (i.e. simply questioning our viability in a skeptical and aloof manner was not acceptable. Viability would be ensured by answering the challenge and becoming involved.)
 

It was noted that maintaining and increasing enrollment was another variable in the equation for recovery. Given the natural fluctuations in enrollment over the course of the year, the challenge .of assigning a meaningful enrollment number at any given time and the meaning of ADM were discussed. It was also noted that there was a natural tension between increasing enrollment and ensuring a good fit for students and the school alike.
 

Linda Weber’s closing remarks highlighted the value of WHS to the community by reminding us how much it means to parents and students, and the accomplishment its success to date represents.
http://watershedhs.org/currents/lyceum/doclib/archives/206
 

15:00  
4.     Recent Developments – Special Board Meeting
 
As the community (council) representative to the board, Endel Kallas characterized this evening’s special board meeting as a very positive development. Charles Speiker, a representative of the Minnesota Department of Education and seasoned advocate of charter schools has offered his services to help the school develop an official recovery plan and gain the states endorsement and ongoing support as we move forward. Due for filing with the state by January 31^st, 2007, this plan will help us focus and articulate our efforts to date to improve and sharpen the operations of the school.  Furthermore, state approval of the plan will signify endorsement from the decision makers that matter the most when it comes to our long term viability and should open the door to funding opportunities we not be fully taking advantage of at this time.
 

Mark Magarraugh echoed these impressions and the valuable guidance we are now in a position to receive. Mark reported on student efforts to contribute both financially and in spreading the word to other students in support of enrollment. Questions and a discussion on enrollment ensued . Upon joining the meeting, Christina noted that enrollment ideas have increased since the financial forum
 

(In the course of discussion, Daniel Passer shared materials on obtaining donations from Sam’s Club.)
 

40:00
4.     Faculty and Admin Update – Christina Beck 
 

Christina echoed Mark’s remarks on the positive response of students to participation and support for the school. She also noted that hightened participation had a “shadow side” of a low level increase in anxiety amongst the student population in general. There was agreement from Mark that overall this was a positive opportunity for the students to learn from their involvement.
 

In response to questions on the annual campaign and the expected parent role, Christina responded that:
 

·         Patricia Neal had been appointed the development committee chair
·         Sheila Weidendorf has composed a parent letter for inclusion in the annual appeal which is just about ready to go out 
·         Christina and Leslie Wilson are drafting a letter to be mailed home to describe the current development (to go out by the end of the week)
 

With respect to the admin restructuringS, it is a bit of a whirlwind. Everything is being handled but new systems are not in place. Things feel clean and clear and headed in a good direction.. The target for reinstating a new admin director might be around the end of the school year.
 
 

52:00
5.     Return to fundraising discussion/brainstorming 
 

Topics included:
. Measuring participation as well as amount
. Giving year-end gifts to the school in the name of others
-          Giving on behalf of or in support of specific teachers
 

1:05:00
6.         Faculty Report/Enrollment Report 
 Pedagogy/Curriculum discussions are ongoing and remain strongly on track.. The committee will meet during the break to evaluate opportunities for the next semester and the next school year.
 
In response to question on where our enrollment appears to be coming from Christina mentioned Patrick Henry, a home schooling candidate, and other diverse sources.
 Daniel Passer asked about progress on the idea of an enrollment table at parent/teacher conferences. Mark suggested that we need to prioritize our targets as some districts are more hospitable. Daniel talked about our relagation to a compromised space at the recent all-school fair.
 Christina talked about the kind of students that succeed at Watershed. She has a counselor letter that talks about what kinds of students have historically thrived.  (e.g.  Withdrawn students tend to have problems. Self-motivation is a key attribute.)  Kids who are “looking for something” tend to do well.  Kids who are “coming towards” something  (like arts infusion).   
 

The meeting concluded with a brief review of upcoming events. (See Agenda)
 Respectfully submitted, Endel Kallas,  Community Council Scribe