Minutes August '06

TEACHERS
Ron Baker -- teacher rbaker1@houstonisd.org ext. 8026
Susan Boone -- teacher sboone@houstonisd.org ext. 6028
David Clardy -- teacher dclardy@houstonisd.org ext. 6077
Vanessa Coronado -- teacher vcrowe@houstonisd.org ext. 6213
Robyn Davis -- teacher rmacgreg@houstonisd.org ext. 6135
Brian Hill -- teacher bhill4@houstonisd.org ext. 8010
Debra Savage -- teacher dsavage@houstonisd.org ext. 6126
Karen Tellepsen -- teacher ktelleps@houstonisd.org ext. 6048

PARENTS

Kelly Simmons
Barbara Nassab

ADMINISTRATION

Martha Albright

Peggi Stewart fstewar2@houstonisd.org ext. 8019
Non Instructional
Michelle Mulchahy mmulcahy@houstonisd.org ext. 6014
Student Representatives
Larry Hunt
Parent Representatives
Frances Robinson-Hunt (PTO)
Tammy Head
Susan Hertz
Community Representative
Dorothy Davison

Attendance:  

Paul Castro -- principal
Diana Baron – communications head
Tammy Head – PTO
Patsy Newsom -- faculty
Karen Tellepsen -- faculty
Debbie Savage -- faculty
Cynthia Allen -- parent
Colleen Stavinaugh -- faculty
Robyn Davis -- faculty
Vanessa Coronado (Crowe)
Susan Boone -- faculty
Diana Baron -- staff
David Clardy -- faculty
Dorothy Davidson – community
Francis Robinson-Hunt -- parent
Larry Hunt – student
Jackie Eckerd - parent

Enrollment: 8/16/06 – projected 2875 actual enrollment: 2692
(enrollment counts on the last Friday of October). Full funding will be given for 2840.

Staffing – funding formula, House of Representatives added $250 for each high school per student enrolled used to meet the higher graduation standards. Did not give specifics to use. After HISD process, WHS allocated $187 per student. $ Tied to one teacher per core content area. Created a huge balance issue in class size. WHS charged four teacher salaries to the House Bill money ($540,000). Moved four teachers, and Miki Karacek as a college counselor.

Title I – based on demographic data for WHS attendance area. Student Enrollment for ‘home’ students. We have been labeled a ‘neighborhood’ Title I school. 35% or more of students in ‘neighborhood’ must qualify for free or reduced lunch. (Last year, 40.1% were on free/reduced lunch).

• ($380,000)--Target low income students to close achievement gap compared to non-impoverished students.
• Another goal is to increase parent participation. ($6,000), especially students that are low income.
• ($30,000) should be spent to address teachers’ learning needs to meet the low income students.

Reducing class size using HB1 (moved four teachers and 1 counselor) and Title 1 funding. (four teachers and Title 1 coordinator).
This funding has freed money in general fund.

Have outstanding $140,000 note from incurred debt during the first two years. ~three teachers and one clerk.

VACANCIES – one Chemistry position,

VISA issue – Homeland Security Office now located in Maryland . Visa clearance is currently taking about two months. Three teachers are currently affected, two Spanish teachers and one math.

New Administrator – Tracy Portis is new dean in North 1

May not have to accept AYP requests from other schools (leave no child behind…when school doesn’t meet AYP requirements, they can choose schools that do)

However: under preliminary results, WHS did not meet AYP. Accountability must be 95% -- currently not meeting AYP because of 1 student. AYP percentage for WHS is 94.4%. (Hispanic students – 164, for AYP, needed 156 to sit. 152 actually did. Have been able to disqualify three, (one enrolled after testing, one withdrew before, and one miscoded). Trying to find one more that may have been mismarked….

WHS has until mid September to appeal process.

Dropouts -- accountability occurs during December.

Off Campus Policy -- currently a “privilege” policy. Students meeting certain GPA/behavior were allowed off campus. System did NOT dictate the WAY students left campus as long as they were in a vehicle. District advised revision due to possibility of accidents.

Under Texas law, schools are accountable under gross negligence, excessive discipline and anything involving transportation.

Q: Is having the requirement for having a car an economic advantage over other students?

Regardless of litigious issue, cannot cancel program.

Suggestion: Ad Hoc off-campus committee to gather input from faculty, students etc. No decision was made as to WHO would head and organize this committee.