Watershed Community Council

February. 6, 2007

6:30-8:00 pm

Watershed High School

 

Present:  David Woolley (11th grade parent , CC co-chair), Endel Kallas (10th grade parent CC co-chair and interim scribe), Daniel Passer (11th grade parent), Nell Ubbelohde (10th grade parent),  Christina Beck (Faculty Co-Chair, Interim Admin, 9th Grade Sponsor), Diane Siegal  (10th grade parent), Leslie Wilson (10th/11th grade parent, Board Co-Chair).

 

  1. Welcome, Introductions, Verse

Seven people were in attendance and shared a verse from the last board meeting on strength and vision and the diminished importance of fear.  Introductions included recognition of Nell’s role in helping organize volunteers for Medieval Feast and a discussion of family names and roots. Ethnic backgrounds mentioned included German, Finnish, Estonian, and English.

 

  1. Agenda Review & Additions (9:00  -This time reflects the number of minutes into the meeting and is noted in an effort to monitor and review meetings for ongoing timeliness against the agenda))

Eveyone was asked to highlight their agenda priority for this meeting. Theses included an update on Medieval Feast, a discussion of student smoking at the bus stop and general health issues, an update on the current student experience and mood, indication of curriculum ideas and preferences, an update of what is going on and a  fundraising update.

 

3.     Review of Minutes (10:30)

Endel apologized that last months minutes had not been posted due to among other things a failure to capture content of the proceedings. The critical need to “do the little things right” with respect to capturing and sharing information was acknowledged. Records of some sort will be posted (probably a submitted form of the faculty/admin report and a submitted form of the attendance statistics discussed with Jamie Hepner,

 

4.      Administrative Update – Christina Beck (13:30)

Our financial plan been informally approved by the State of Minnesota. Formal/written approval is expected shortly. With this accomplishment behind us, discussion is now turning toward considerations for next year including budgeting, contracts, faculty and staff, and the nature of administration. It is clear that we will still face financial constraints and will not be in a position to spend more than we are spending currently. This will present some challenges in reconciling currently adopted measures involving additional responsibilities being addressed with fewer staff. It is also recognized that even current measures and arrangements present challenges in meeting all the needs of sound administrative practice (e.g. maintaining g the timely and attentive communications we all agree is needed). This acknowledged, we are doing remarkably well sustaining critical administrative functions and staying healthy, vibrant, and present in the classroom. With plenty of good will and hard work restructured administrative efforts (e.g maintaining the front desk) are progressing with relatively few problems.

 

It some respects it is amazing how well the school has “absorbed” the challenges it has faced. In addition to hard work and sacrifice, this is attributable to efficiency of operation and prioritization of effort while staying realistic and focused on what is present, essential and works well. There has also been a unity of focus upon getting a tough and conservative financial plan in order. Other administrative initiatives include negotiating a lease with CLWS and managing special education issues. We are also in the process of outsourcing our bookkeeping. This will make for clarity and transparency.. The February payroll will be produced by cmERDC.

 

 

(Note: The term SOD was discussed. SOD stands for Statutory Operating Debt. When a school district passes a specified benchmark in the ratio of its operating debt to income, the State of Minnesota requires submission and approval of a formal plan to correct the situation within a specified time period. This situation is currently shared by several schools of all types throughout the state.  Through an exceptionally supportive and fruitful collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education WHS has been successful in crafting such a plan.)

 

 

5.      Faculty Update – Christina Beck (27:20)

 

Jen Stephens, our Spanish teacher is leaving. She had shown a great deal of promise bringing many interesting elements to her classroom teaching and will be missed. Challenges of the high school environment including issues with student disrespect played a contributing factor to her decision to accept another position teaching younger students. There are currently seven applicants under consideration as her replacement at least one of whom is being very well received by the students and faculty.

 

To communicate a more tangible sense of the mood of the school, Christina presented “gestures” or vignettes of school life. They resonated with the observations of others, confirming the fundamentally positive nature of students as well as the challenging/daunting, confrontational posture they can assume.

 

-     Since holiday break, the school has been exceptionally “loud” with a bombardment of media (personal video and audio players, multifunctional cell phones etc.). This has been the focus of various encounters between student and faculty with students often defending and standing up for each other.

 

-          Many students are very communal and seem to crave and enjoy each others company. This embrace of friendship and support is often extended to the welcoming and integration of new students into the student community.

 

Christina presented the notion of “the intense encounter” as the new right of passage. The challenge for educators is to understand this and stand firmly, absorbing the confrontation with a mature, nurturing, “mother earth”  kind of strength and then transform it and feed it back as fresh air to the students. This form of love and caring works and when the students finally understand it, the effort is worthwhile.

 

While school policy allows for immediate confiscation of personal media, headphones  re allowed if the teacher deems it educationally appropriate or beneficial. Given the effort required to enforce nuances of the policy,  the notion of a media free school was discussed briefly. This is being considered and will be discussed further by faculty as an option for next year.

 

The sense of general respect among students and faculty was confirmed while one student exception was noted.

The question was raided as to whether the financial challenges had an impact on student behavior. Several positive student reactions (pep rally, enthusiasm for the benefit concert were cited.

 

6.      Board Update – Leslie Wilson (45:00)

 

Over the past five month or so, the board has been diligent and hard working and can be characterized as getting up to speed on and clarifying the school picture. While challenging, this picture is positive and promising for the future. Key items on the agenda include the issue of our site and  continuing to improve our financial situation.

 

Discussions with CLWS on securing a signed lease are on-going and Christina noted that it is our goal to remain in our current site. While borrowing more money and the possibility of more cuts will be considered, maintaining the essence, viability and quality of the school remain central.

 

Christina also commented on enrollment noting that a conservative estimate as recommended includes about 114 students total with an anticipated incoming class of 22 and overall class breakdown of about  20/20/30/40.

 

The board is currently seeking a treasurer. The search is being expanded to include outside corporations or organizations who might be able to provide needed expertise. The next board meeting is 2/22/07 at 5PM.

7.     Committee Updates – (53:00)

Communications – Web Site Update – David Woolley

In the fall we had asked a group of students from Augsburg to address redesigning our website to a number of criteria. The results were unsatisfactory and we have turned to a team headed by Sam Lien (former student, son of Pam Lien) who has a graphics design background and David Woolley... . 

 

The redesigned web site consists of two “sections”: a “brouchure” component to introduce the school to prospective parents and students and provide public information and a second component to communicate information of interest to the active school community (e.g. Snippets, committee materials, event coordination and organization),  When implemented (over the next couple of months?) the brochure features will include a smart appearance, simplified site navigation, updated photographs and images, and a much improved overall presentation of the school. The second  function  is already being  served by what we have referred to as “BLOGS” (i.e. tools based on a web log format) which open up the site to easy contribution and update of content a variety of people without requiring a high degree of  technical skill.  There is also the procedural advantage of not having to funnel all new content through a webmaster and potential process bottleneck. BLOGS are quick and easy to set up. When used effectively, they become repositories of information, reference resources, and tools for knowledge transfer from one year to the next (i.e. institutional memory).

 

In discussion, Nell asked if a BLOG could be set up for interested students to use. This would serve to engage the school community more in the web site. Christina brought up the value of place for parents to go to engage in consideration of school issues such as student health and smoking at the bus stop It was agreed that the communications committee would further consider the details and facilitate such usage.

 

Note: At a later point in the meeting, Christina also asked that an all-school meeting we consider a session introducing students and teachers to BLOGS and their use at WHS.)

 

8.     Financial Update – (59:30)

 

No-one from the Development or Finance Committees was present to deliver a financial update.

 

David articulated the need for a knowledgeable, clear and coherent statement on the status of the school fundraising effort. Having raised an incredible $82,000+, what are the consequences of still needing some $40,000 to reach our stated goal of $123,000? What is our plan and focus for going forward?

 

Christina indicated that there were potential developments involving further restructuring that are not yet ready for public release that could significantly impact the public statement. She described the process to include a Finance Committee Meeting, a small working group meeting, and then the board meeting after which a public statement could be addressed. 

 

9.     Medieval Feast (Nell Ubbelohde – (1:05:00)

 

The volunteer response for the Friday performance is a little light. There are a few “wild card” volunteers that can be called in if necessary.  Responses from others all still outstanding and some on-the-spot fill-ins are expected. Having tried to call everyone once, Nell will continue calling people for whom messages had been left on the first try. The “Apple Crisp” response appears to be adequate. The recipe has been posted on the BLOG.

 

Note on Parent/Teacher Conferences - A request from various parents was relayed that teachers who need to leave early or would not be available for conferences communicate this information beforehand.

 

 

 

 

 

10.     Forum/Discussion  - Student Health Issues Smoking – (1:19:50)

 

There was a discussion of the topic as introduced by Diane Siegal, Initially raised by Karlie Schaaf, via email ,  the issue has resonated with a number of individuals on a variety of fronts including :

-          Concerns for the health and welfare of WHS students and those around them (other students CLWS etc.)

-          The full gamut of student health concerns including tobacco use, substance abuse, safe sexual practices, etc.)

-          Current curriculum and other formal, informal efforts in effect to  address these concerns

-          The use and availability of various supporting programs and materials beyond the curriculum.

-          The specific use of tobacco at the bus stop directly across the strett from WHS/CLWS

-          The negative impact of poor public image on public relations and school enrollment

 

 It was recognized that a multifaceted approach to addressing student health and these related concerns was appropriate and several initial steps/actions were proposed including:

 

1. Establishing and using an on-line WHS blog to accommodate further group/community discussion 

2. Addressing the students with a statement and appeal about image, PR , and public smoking

3. Learning more about and following the state legislature’s consideration of banning public smoking

4. Learning more about post-treatment psychology of the student addict

5. Contacting our community service officer about addressing underage smoking at the bus stop

6. Further investigating cessation and materials and programs as well as WHS curriculum and effots.

7. Engaging student council or other means to engage the student body in issues of student culture

 

11. Conclusion

 

The meeting concluded with a brief review of upcoming events. (See Agenda)

 

Respectfully submitted, Endel Kallas Community Council Scribe