MINUTES
SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING
February 4, 2004
- Call to order—5:13 pm
- Flag Salute
- A quorum was confirmed.
- Members in attendance were: Parents— Frank Moreno and Aurora Villon Classified Staff—Vivian Martinez, Certificated
Staff—James Halley, Dawn Hughey, Manuel
Cruz, Paulina Vega, Administration—Felicity Swerdlow, ELAC—Emelda Hernandez,
Fernando Camarena
- Members who sent regrets: Parents—Ron Beilke,
Dora Cabrera, Anthony Soltero, Classified Staff—Vivian Martinez Certificated
Staff—Charles Collings, Paulina Vega
- Visitors in attendance: Leticia Fonseca,
Raymond Chavez
- Minutes were approved with the following
revisions
- College night for Special Education
will be on February 11; not February 12
- SIP day was on January 11; not February
11
- Emelda Hernandez
is a member of the council and represents ELAC; she is not a visitor
- Student Reports—no students were present
at this meeting
- DAC—no representatives were present
at this meeting
- Special Ed.—no representatives were
present at this meeting
- Title 1—nothing to report
- GATE—nothing to report
- A motion was made and seconded to discuss
the Parent Project next on the agenda
- Raymond Chavez from the city manager’s
office of Pico Rivera presented information regarding the Parent Project
that is being worked on in his office.
- Mr. Chavez attended a seminar in
Montebello to obtain information about a task force to rid Pico Rivera
of its problems with graffiti. A major part of the problems they’ve
encountered in terms of graffiti has been coming from the homes of young
people who are involved in these activities. In some cases, the parents
are also involved in these activities.
- To provide incentive to reduce crimes
of graffiti, the city has increased fines and started holding the parents
responsible. As a result, so far they have made a number of arrests
and had 4 convictions.
- A pamphlet has been made and distributed
to over 1,000 households in Pico Rivera.
- Currently, Mr. Chavez has been given
permission to pursue funding and is looking into grants for the project. The
project is also being marketed in a number of ways, including on the
community access channel.
- A grant hearing will take place on
February 11th with the Community Resource Advisory Community
in which Mr. Chavez will present the Parent Project. The project could
receive Federal funding.
- Mr. Chavez is interested in working
with the schools on this project.
- A suggestion was made that community
members representing School Site Council be present at this hearing to
show support for this project.
- Mr. Chavez spoke about the Profile
Newsletter and informed the council members that it advertises jobs for
young people. The suggestion was made that teachers use this newsletter
and the Graffiti Pamphlet to teach functional reading to our students
as a means for learning to read as well as keeping students informed. (This
would also provide an inlet to set up collaboration between the city
and the school.)
- Mrs. Villon informed
the council about a monthly meeting in Whittier between city officials,
community members, school staff, and parents met to keep each other informed
about concerns and projects involving the community and to share ideas
and collaborate on projects. Mr. Chavez said that he would be willing
to look into something similar for Pico Rivera, and Mrs. Villon gave
the name of Rich Russell (Personnel Services Director in the Whittier
Union School District) as a resource person.
- Mr. Chavez and Mrs. Martinez shared
that Book Week is coming, and that this year’s focus book is “the five
people you meet in heaven.” The author, Mitch Albom, will be at the Pico Rivera Library on March
11th. There will also be an essay contest. All dates will
be posted in the ER library.
- Scholarship Fundraising
- The Laughlin Turnaround Trip is scheduled
for Saturday, April 3rd. The bus holds 56 people. We have to have a
minimum of 45 people or we will be charged $23 per seat. We will charge
$25 per person. This price includes a buffet. In addition, each person
will receive a $5 rebate when he or she shows up at the bus. The bus
will leave at 6 a.m. and return between 11 p.m. and 12 a.m.
- Ideas for having games with prizes
during the trip were suggested. Suggestions were also made that members
of the council sell 5 tickets apiece and bring in donated goods for the
prizes.
- Council members will each donate
$10-$15 to cover the bus rental.
- Announcements will be placed in the
bulletin and on the Don Page.
- Administration
a. The
state has issued a mandate that all students must pass Algebra 1 in order
to graduate. This has not been an easy task to accomplish, and many students
will not make it.
b. The
district would like to apply for a one time waiver for the class of 2004. The
School Site Council approved the decision to apply for this waiver.
c. The
California High School Exit Exam went smoothly. 850 kids were tested without
the district having to pay for extra help with procedural issues such as
paying teachers to proctor test takers who required time beyond the school
day to finish their tests.
d. Financial
Aid Night is this evening in the ERHS cafeteria.
- Single Plan for Student Achievement
- Continued reviewing the SPSA. The following practices have been implemented
and are a work in progress:
i. New
textbooks for English and Math
ii. GATE—Parents
of students in the Honors Program and AP classes will receive a letter in
the next month regarding a meeting for theses programs
iii. Curriculum
Mapping is taking place across departments so that all classes are on the
same page at the same time
iv. Evidence
of Quality Teaching teams teachers to collaborate and observe one another
to see best practices and offer each other advice
v. Professional
Development Team is working on Advisory Periods so that all students will
feel part of a group and connected to the school. They are also working
on Project Based Learning to increase student learning, interest, and output. A
Project Fair is being worked on for the 3rd Trimester to showcase
the work that is being done in classrooms by students.
vi. An
administrative team was sent to a Principal’s Training Course to learn how
to better support staff, programs, and students.
1. Co-Nect is now defunct. ERHS is now working with the Lindseys.
2. CSRD
funding is keeping us alive. Brenda Rangel and Rosemary Figueroa (replaced
Krista Pruitt who left this year) are the CSR teachers. They, as well as
the PDT, and other teachers act as coaches for the overall improvement of
the school and its teaching practices.
vii. Literacy
intervention, math intervention, and the ELD Program continue
viii. Beyond
the school day programs include Homework Club, Computer Lab, the Library,
and Bilingual Math Tutoring in J-1.
- We are still at Low Academic Performance. We’ve come a long way, but
we still have a long way to go.
- CAHSEE—350 is passing, but proficient is scored
at 387. 39% of our students achieved this level last year, which is
above the requirement.
i. The
majority scored at basic or below basic in math. Therefore, we are having
a massive intervention—the program has been tailor-made for each student
with this deficiency. The program will need to be evaluated.
- The ERHS band has been selected to represent the state of California
in Washington D.C. on July 4th. It will cost approximately
$900 per student, so fundraising is a necessity.
- The North Park band has been invited to participate the
Rose Parade next year.
- The Decathlon will be competing at the Convention Center on Saturday,
February 7th.
- Meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.