Whittier High School

School Site Council

Meeting - Thursday, October 27, 2016

Minutes

Present: Tim Liggett, Diana Salazar, Vanessa Stewart, Carmen Fox, Maggie Torbet, Kevin Gotts, Manoosh Martinez, Yvette Gutierrez, Nathaniel Velis, Cynthia Garcia

Welcome and Introductions:

Introductions of School Site Council members.

Election of Chairperson:

Manoosh Martinez moved to approve Maggie Torbet as Chairperson. Manoosh Martinez first the motion and Tim Liggett second the motion to approve. Motion carried to approve Maggie Torbet as School Site Council Chairperson.

Call to Order:

The meeting was called to order at 3:25 p.m. by Maggie Torbet.

Review minutes of last meeting:

Minutes were reviewed for May 5, 2016 School Site Council meeting. Minutes were reviewed and approved by the School Site Council members.

Committee Reports and Program Updates:

Diana Salazar reviewed the following:

  • English Learners
  • Alexa Nisbet teaches the Academic Language Development class that has 10 students.
  • Help students be successful in their classes.
  • Communication with teachers in areas they are struggling with.
  • ELAC recommendations
  • ELAC meeting Thursday, November 3 in the Library 6:00 p.m.

Agenda items:Importance of attendance

Technology Training - Aeries Program

ELAC recommendations

  • September meeting some recommendations. Recommended we use translators at meetings. Providing that service with Elsa Cueto as a professional translator.

Legal Requirements:

Diana Salazar reviewed the following:

1. School Site Council Training

SSC members will understand:

  • Purpose, Role and Legal Responsibilities of a School Site Council.
  • SSC Composition Requirements
  • SSC Compliance Issues
  • The SSC’s role in the development, monitoring, and evaluation of the SPSA.

What is a SSC?

  • Group of people selected by their peers to represent parents, teachers, administration and other staff.

SSC is composed of the following members selected Principal, teachers, other school staff, students and parent or community members.

  • The SSC is given the responsibility to develop, monitor, and evaluate the SPSA for schools receiving certain state or federal funds.

Why is SSC Composition Frequently Non-Compliant?

  • Members not selected by peer group.
  • Lack of appropriate election procedures or procedures not followed.
  • No Written process for replacing members unable to fulfill term.
  • Schools aren’t aware that parents employed at the site may not be SSC members representing parents.

How to Ensure Compliant SSC Composition

  • Verify school bylaws include a definition based on education code, of groups represented on SSC and the electing peer group.
  • Ensure that there is a policy describing the process for selecting members.
  • Maintain records of elections.
  • Review site election procedures, timelines, notifications.
  • Periodically review SSC composition for any changes.
  • Review bylaws to ensure they include a process for replacing members mid-term.

SSC Bylaws

  • While SSC bylaws are not required in the statute, bylaws guide the council beyond the Greene Act Requirements.

Recommended Officers

  • Chairperson: organize, convene and lead meetings
  • Vice-Chairperson: serve in the absence of the chairperson
  • Secretary: record actions taken at SSC meetings & keep records
  • Parliamentarian: resolve questions of procedure
  • Other officers as necessary.

SSC Meeting Requirements

Must be open to the public.

  • Public may address the council.
  • Meeting notice posted 72 hours in advance.
  • Notice must specify date, time and place.
  • Council action limited by the posted agenda.
  • Questions or information need not be on the agenda.
  • Violations require the item to be reconsidered at the next meeting after public input.

SSC Responsibilities

  • Plan, monitor and evaluate the activities and expenditures for Consolidated Application programs operated at the school to improve student achievement.

Federal Programs Title 1, Title II and Title III and State Programs ( no longer part of Con App. Economic Impact Aid)

SSC annually develops, reviews, and updates the SPSA.

The SSC may appoint committees to:

  • Gather and analyze information.
  • Propose strategies for improving instruction.
  • Examine materials, staffing, or funding.
  • Draft portions of the SPSA for council consideration.

LCAP and the SPSA

  • LCAP is a required district plan
  • Per Ed code 52602(4) - Districts must review school plans and ensure that specific actions included in the LCAP are consistent with strategies included in the Single Plans for Student Achievement.

District & School Administration

Responsible for implementing the SPSA by:

  • Assigning, directing, and supervising project staff.
  • Purchasing materials & equipment.
  • Accounting for project funds.
  • Providing training & information to the SSC.
  • Developing proposals for consideration by the SSC.

District Governing Board

  • Adopts policies for the development & implementation of the SPSA consistent with law.
  • Approve or disapprove the Single Plan for Student Achievement and its subsequent revisions.
  • Certify that school plans are consistent with local improvement plans required for federal funding.

Federal Program Monitoring and School Site Council (FPM)

Evidence for Meeting Compliance

  • Single Plan for Student Achievement
  • Evaluation Results
  • Minutes of SSC approving allocations, proposed expenditures and centralized service.

Why SSC is so important!

  • If members are not present, the SSC may not have a quorum.
  • If there is no quorum, the SSC can’t take action.
  • If they can’t take action, they can’t develop/revise the SPSA.
  • Without the SPSA the school can’t spend their Title 1 funds and students may miss out on services.

2. School Safety Plan

Juan Anzaldo reviewed the following:

The different drills were reviewed at a period x period meeting with teachers on August 29, 2016.

Lock down drill

  • Lock gates, turn off lights and secure campus.

Fire drill

  • Go outside their classrooms and leave the buildings.

Active shooter drill

  • WHS first to implement this drill.
  • Administration will have assigned areas around the campus.
  • Students are able to go to classes or offices. Students that are on the front lawn may go to the cafeteria and the cafeteria may get full with students. Once in class an adult will tell them what they should do. Custodians will unlock the gates if needed.
  • In the summer Whittier High School had a mock drill.

Earthquake drill

Reviewed the Evacuation sheet

  • Command Center
  • Evacuation Area Leaders
  • Student Release/Football Field
  • Emergency Container/Football Field
  • Rescue/North Side and South Side
  • First Aid/North Side and South Side

Custodians will be spread out on campus to help. New this year First Aid med packs 5 at Whittier High School campus.

Students will alphabetize themselves on the field.

Second drill will be in the spring with mock parents and students. Students will hide in the classrooms at lunch or nutrition. Drill should be done in ½ hour. Teleparent will be sent to inform parents of an earthquake, lockdown or any emergency drill.

Tim Liggett moved to approve, Vanessa Stewart first the motion and Kevin Gotts second the motion to approve. Approved by SSC members.

New Business

1. Recap of SPSA/ School Goals

Diana Salazar reviewed the following:

  • Goal 1 (Area of Improvement): Increase student literacy skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening, technology) across all curricular areas through the full implementation of Common Core.
  • Goal 2 (Area of Improvement): Increase learning success rate of all statistically significant subgroups with an emphasis on English Learners.
  • Goal 3 (Area of Improvement): Decrease the schoolwide D/F rate through intervention and common grading practices.
  • Goal 4 (Area of Improvement): Increase collaboration and participation of all stakeholders (staff, students, parents, and the community).
  • Goal 5 (Area of Improvement): Increase student access to college and career enrichment and exploration opportunities.

The plan will be rewritten this school year and School Site Council will be a part of that.

Entire school plan meeting the 5 goals.

Expenditures

Title 1 Funds

  • 2016 Leadership Conference (ERWC)
  • Myers Briggs Type Inventory Certification Program
  • National Association College Admissions Counselors Conference
  • Capturing Kids’ Hearts Training
  • CA Science Teacher Association
  • EL Accountability Conference
  • CA Mathematics Council
  • LACOE - Integrated ELD and SDAIE Strategies
  • Bureau of Education and Research

LCAP Funds

  • AP Annual Conference
  • UC Conference Irvine
  • UC Conference Riverside
  • College Board Counselor Workshop
  • CSU Science Teacher Association

2. LCAP Taskforce Updates

Tim Liggett reviewed the following:

  • LCAP Plan - how we want to use the money
  • Revise it on a yearly bases 3 year plan and is part of the legal process.
  • All staff, principal, teachers and LCAP advisory, students are areas of needs.
  • November 17, 6:00 p.m. next LCAP meeting. Staff district meeting will be in March.

Look at data at district LCAP meeting.

Vanessa Stewart reviewed the following:

  • Areas of discussion what we have been focusing on, what has been working and look at improvement for growth.
  • Concern with period absences and students with issues or problems. Money is spent on certain issues is the money really helping the students.
  • Looking on how we are spending the money on computers and do we need more.

Tim Liggett reviewed the following:

  • After school spending

-How much are we spending what are we getting out of it.

-Places that we can take out.

  • Rewrite plan to improve.

3. Cardinal Wings

Tim Liggett reviewed the following:

  • How many students benefiting from Cardinal Wings.
  • The students that were attending Cardinal Wings were making improvements but not many.
  • Spent over $100,000 last school. Weren’t enough students last school year attending cardinal wings.
  • Asking teachers to have a specific purpose for after school cardinal wings.

Upcoming events:

Parent Education and Collaboration WorkshopOctober 27, 2016

Typical or Troubled

ELAC MeetingNovember 3, 2016

Fall Play - Lost In YonkersNovember 3, 4 & 5, 2016

Veterans Day No SchoolNovember 11, 2016

Financial Aid Night November 14, 2016

Parent Night 9th & 10th gradeNovember 16, 2016

FAFSA Line by line help for parents November 16, 2016

Line by line every month through January

LCAP Advisory meetingNovember 17, 2016

Meeting adjourn at 4:41 p.m.