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Ridgeline High School; School Community Council Minutes
Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 7:00 A.M.; Conference Room
Members Present: Kerri Williams (Chair/parent), Crystal Howe (Vice Chair/parent), Michelle Palmer (Secretary/parent), Robert Henke (principal), Michelle Israelsen (parent), Joshua Nelson (parent), Bonnie Odd (teacher), Emma Smith (teacher), Jerry Skidmore (teacher), Brittany Foster (assist. principal, non-voting member)
Members Absent: Kay Sweeten (parent), Tara Johnson (counselor/non-voting member), David Swenson (assist. principal, non-voting member)
Visitors: Clayton White, Marcie Lyons, Diane Theurer
Meeting Conducted by: Kerri Williams
Agenda Item #1: Approve minutes from April 18, 2017 meeting
Discussion: Michelle Palmer made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 18th meeting and Bonnie Odd seconded. The vote was unanimous to approve the minutes.
Agenda Item #2: Report on SCC Nominations
Discussion: Mr. Henke reported that 14 parents applied to be nominated for next year’s SCC (2017-2018 school year). Brittany Foster will send an email to each candidate today to let them know that they can submit a 100 word informational paragraph about why they want to serve on the council. Elections will then be held via email. Each parent can vote for 3 candidates. The 3 candidates with the highest votes will be assigned to the 2017-2018 school community council. If there is a tie for third place, then 4 parents will join the council.
Agenda Item #3: Students Accessing VPNs at school
Discussion: Clayton White from Cache County School District gave the council some information concerning VPN’s and internet safety. VPN’s are apps that provide ways to get around the internet filters that the school district uses for student safety. He said that the school network is secure and safe for students and parents to use. He is not particularly concerned that the students know the Wi-Fi password because the school network contains firewalls for safety. It is not possible to download a VPN on the school network, but if someone downloads a VPN on their personal device at home, then bring that device to school; it will be able to be used. Teachers should not need to bypass the school’s secure network. If teachers need access to any sites that they currently cannot access, they can contact the school district who can open firewalls and provide the proper access. The district is adding a new firewall this summer to the network. Students will need to put in their user name and password to access the school network. This will provide better tracking of students who may be using the internet in an inappropriate manner. If staff at the school knows of students who are using VPN’s, they can educate and/or discipline the students. Since we need to concentrate on educating parents and students about internet safety, VPN’s, and proper use of electronic devices, Bonnie Odd will write up an educational article which she will post on the Ridgeline website, after it has been approved by Mr. Henke. It was suggested that it could be put in the Fall PTA Newsletter as well.
Agenda Item #4: Report on city response to speed limit concern
Discussion: We now have a resolution from Millville City to move the 45 mph speed limit 100 meters north of the current location on the highway in front of the school. We already have a resolution from Providence City. We are just waiting on a resolution from Nibley City. Crystal Howe will follow up with Kay Sweeten about contacting Nibley City. When she has all 3 resolutions, she will take them to the UDOT representative.
Agenda Item #5: Monson Plaque
Discussion: Kerri Williams is meeting with Julie Monson today to discuss a memorial plaque that may include information about her family/farmland/history of the land on which the school is built. She will find out if the Monson family wants anything about their family on the plaque. If not, the plaque will just contain a short history of the land on which the school is built. She will report back to Robert Henke.
Agenda Item #6: Trust Land Budget
Discussion: The budget was updated in the middle of April. We still have about 41% of the funds remaining. Approximately $27,000 will be spent this summer to pay teachers for their time as they meet as departments to work on common curriculum and assessments. Some of the questions that need to be addressed are: What should teachers do with students who understand the material? What should teachers do to help students who do not understand the material?
Ridgeline has implemented a new program “Failing Friday/Mandatory Monday.” If a student is failing a class at the end of the week, that student is required to go to Flex for that class on the following Monday. Andrew Foster is tracking students who are struggling with grades. He meets with them during the school day, outside their classrooms. We have had 296 students who have at least one Failing grade. There were over 400 F’s on the records. Ridgeline staff and administrators are trying to reduce the number of students who are failing classes.Other: Mr. Henke and Michelle Palmer both mentioned that the street sign on the highway at the light near the school now has the words “Riverhawk Drive” on it. The words are a bit smaller than expected, but it was free for us. It will help visitors find the school.
Next Meeting: The first meeting of the 2017-18 school year will be Tuesday, September 12, 2017.
Crystal Howe will be the Chair next year. At the September 12th meeting the council will need to nominate and vote for a new Vice-Chair and Secretary.
Minutes Prepared By: Michelle Palmer