December 3, 2008
WASC Parent Meeting
Hall of Fame –December 3, 2008
Attendees:
Nancy Cobb
Jim Garza
Jayne Pimlott
Patricia Guzman
Gigi Thompson
Leticia Barbosa
Nancy Reimann
Toni Lipscomb
Jenny Davies
Gail Davis
Kathy Dragone
Beth Muraida
Brenda Colbert
Denise Sanchez
Susan Mc Garry
Meeting opened at 6:15PM
Chairperson: Jayne Pimlott
Handouts available: Working draft of WASC Report- Chapters 1-4
We reviewed Chapter 4; Vision and Purpose. Leaders and dept. chairs have review and given input for the revision which is not in the draft. The parent group was asked to review Area of Strength and Areas of Growth and give feedback. Everyone is encouraged to visit the website as well and the read the Action Plan. It is a work in progress. Dr. Gen is continually updating the plan.
Nancy Cobb explained how each focus group is given a section of Chapter 4 and it is their group’s responsibility to review and revise that section.
The WASC team will be looking for weaknesses to be addressed. Our weaknesses need to be addressed in every section. Data collected is what drives our Critical Action Needs.
Paradigm shift is how we do our PLC’s- (Professional Learning Community)
A goal is to have general classroom guides for general curriculum so all students are on track.
In order to fulfill the 21st Century Technology education we worked to establish a new lab. The goal in this area is to replace one lab every 5 years to stay current with modern technology. Hopefully If we have more filming requests we can update another lab by the end of the year.
A strength that our school is proud of is in our Special Educ. Department. We have a high rate of students passing the CAHSEE exam and graduating.
A parent asked about the AVID program. Is this program going to increase in number?
We are limited to 140 students in the program per year due to staffing constraints. There can be as many as 40 students in a freshman class if the teacher allows that. Usually the first year (freshman) is the highest rate of participation. The numbers go down in that graduating class because of conflict with schedules. Those that remain in the program will have 1 period every year with the same students. Chapter 1 of the report discusses the AVID program in more detail.
Nancy reviewed page 8 in Chapter 1. New identifying sub groups are the socio-economic and Spanish/Latino sub groups. Both groups need to be brought up to the same rate of participation in the A-G requirements. Rates have stayed the same in the last six years. With the one math class Algebra MRC we hope to increase our numbers by 10% in the year 2009-2010.
Earth Science is another course that we are working on being UC approved.
A goal in the area of A-G requirements is to make the requirements more visible. By posting the requirements and reviewing the goal is to encourage students to attend college.
Question was asked by a parent: How many students with IEP’s complete the A-G requirements?
Julie Reese is collecting data on how many students test out of Special Education and main stream during their high school years here.
Our next meeting is January 7th and we will need parent assistance and input.
The suggestion was made that at this next meeting we role play in preparation for the WASC visit.
Beth Muraida, on behalf of the parents thanked Nancy Cobb for the work put into making a good school.
Meeting adjourned at 7:01PM.