Sky View High School

School Community Council Minutes

January 18, 2022

Present: Mike Monson, Brady Fonnesbeck, Phil Morris, Connie Rawlins, Bonita Richins, Shannon Hougaard, Toni Gibbons, Cheryl Peck, Jessica Higginbotham, Sheri Egbert, Melanie Chambers, John Louviere, Summer Gunn, Teri Rhodes, Kathy Christiansen, Tom Olsen, Kathy Bullen

We were welcomed by Toni.  She also motioned to approve the Minutes from the last meeting.  Mike seconded the motion and all were in favor

1. Budget Update (See Handout)                                         

Mike updated everyone on the Trustland Budget and where we are so far this year and make sure we are consistent doing everything we said we were going to do. At the end of the year we need to have less than 10% of the money left in the budget. The rollover was $85,000 from last year.  We hired a teacher in math department with some of the money and had also budgeted for a para-pro (math tutor). We   had hired Derick Banks, but had to quit.  We are shifting that money into the technology budget.  We had 2 groups of staff go to different conferences.  One to a Social/Mental Health conference and to Adelaid Stevens HS, to learn about PLC’s.  It was also used on supplies:  calculators, microscopes, and training books.  We also bought some textbooks for English.  Using the technology supply budget, we bought chrome books, sound systems, computers and monitors, IPads for teachers, and smartboard supplies. For computer software, we purchased Go Guardian, programs, plagiarism software with grammar check as well as some library software and math/English/science programs.

2. Safe Technology (See Handout)

Mike reminded everyone that part of council’s responsibility  is to oversee the digital safety of the school.  We don’t have the Netsmartz assembly anymore so we’ve been trying to address the topic through RCK hour advisories or through some of the classes. 

3. ACT Prep Course for Juniors                                                        

Brady reported that  as we’ve looked over our ACT data from last year and realized that it is something we need to improve on.  We would like to raise the average score for the school 3 points higher  We want students to invest in the mantra “3 for Me” for them to raise their personal scores by 3 points as well.  There has been some downplay on ACT scores the past few years where a lot of colleges don’t require it any more.  Example: Blake Bishop scored a 17 first time- he didn’t prepare, but next time he prepared and then got a 28 that time.  We are pushing all of the Junior students into an online ACT prep course.  If they do well and earn an A we’ll put on their transcript and give them .25 credit.  The course includes 4 lessons a week, 3 paper practice test sections and all work is submitted online. ACT prep teachers are school teachers and will be paid extra for it (from extra FTE after Oct 1 count).  Our goal is to gain familiarity and confidence on the ACT.

It was asked when the students meet with teachers?  They can meet before, after school or during RCK.  Each teacher only has 12-13 students.  The class starts today.

Summer asked if we have a plan for those with accommodations? Resource teachers are assigned to those students and work with them.

SV has always been high on ACT scores, but last year we really dropped so this is how we will try to remedy it.

4. Graduating with Honors                                      

Tom talked about the new Honors program that we are going to try. We’ve always talked about ways that we can increase enrollment in AP courses.  USHE let us know that AP courses college credits will drop from 6 to 3.  Now it will be the same as concurrent classes and will be a harder sell to students. We decided to offer an honors diploma. To receive this diploma students, need to have a 3.3 GPA and have taken 4 AP classes or 3.3 GPA with 3 AP classes and 3 concurrent classes.  These students will be honored at graduation wearing a gold stoll and will receive a different diploma. 

Cheryl Peck said her concern is that when they go to college they will get less credits in college areas overall.  Mike said that students need to make a  decision - are you doing it to learn and for the rigor?  We are going to try to cut down AP classes from 3 trimesters to 2 trimesters to make it easier for students. Concurrent classes don’t have the same depth because they are only one trimester.  The things we hear from our graduates is they don’t know for sure what they want to study but are juniors because of all their concurrent credits.  There a lot of pros and cons both ways.  Sophomores can take the AP Bio and Euro History.  If you are looking just at value for your money and time – concurrent is the option. But AP is more about the rigor.  The concurrent classes are a better experience at the high school than at the college.  Summer asked if this is something that we present to the school board and make is standard between all the high schools. Right now, it is just in the planning stages and will probably need to do that.  Not positive about making it standard with all schools, although Green Canyon is looking to do the same.

Toni said the counseling team is good about guiding the students and in helping students decide which is the best option for them.

Examples of previous students were given.

5. “Hats Off Award” 

Mike said every year the CEF does the Hats Off Award.  Anyone can nominate any teacher that has influenced their student.  It doesn’t matter if they have received it before.  Teri said the selections committee looks at all the specifics.  If that is included they almost always receive it.  Nominations are due March 4^th and can be submitted online.www.ccsdut.org/hatsoff

6. Other

Meeting adjourned until Tuesday, February 15, 2022 – 6:45am