Malibu High School PTSA General Association Meeting
February 17th 2005
Nancy Bishop called the meeting to order at 9:10 in the library. There was a high turnout.
Previous minutes were approved.
Cathy Egner- Treasurer. TreasurerÕs report presented. (see attached)
Checks to ratify were approved.
One grant proposal was presented. (see attached)
Motion to approve grant proposal unanimously passed.
Dr. Mark Kelly- Principals report. SMC design course has started, on Monday and Wednesdays after school. The school is hoping to expand this option next year. The President of SMC visited the school yesterday.
Next years budget does not increase or decrease number of students. MHS has the lowest teacher ratio in district. MHS has some areas where class size is not well distributed. Dr. Kelly stated he is working with the teachers to get enrollment up in some classes. If one class is small that means another class has to be large.
Students took part at the last minute in a Decathlon and came 33rd out of 42 schools with no preparation.
High Place Survey going home. This provides feedback to the school about school life.
California High School Exit exams will be taken by all 10th graders. Important to have the maximum participation as this reflects where our school is at. Passing is 350 but we need 374 to meet out target for No Child Left Behind. Extra after school support has been offered for some students.
Homework Issue- Dr. Kelly has been discussing this with faculty heads since last December. Having substantial conversations. Dr. Kelly asked the floor how they would solve the problem and received comments as follows:
- block scheduling.
- homework needs to be graded in a timely manner so the students have feed back or otherwise it is useless if they do not know whether they were right or wrong.
- students need 9 hours of sleep, too much grinding out.
- to hard to do extra curricular activities and the students are missing out.
- too many hours being assigned.
- lots of busy work that take the students hours and they then just get a stamp.
- there is usually one teacher in the same subject that gives a disproportionate amount compared to others.
- the stress of too much homework can lead to drugs etc.
- you get the same credit for whatever amount of homework you did. This is demotivating for the students who put in a lot of time.
- disheartening to see the students not have time to practice there passion i.e. piano.
- there must be data that shows how much homework is appropriate.
- students need to be challenged to produce their best work, studies have shown.
- graduates say they were well prepared for college coming from MHS.
- some AP students drop out straight away when they hear how much work there is.
- when did homework become so big, was it an initial push by the parents?
Dr. Kelly was asked where the complaints were coming from, what grades or specific teachers. He agreed there were some teacher issues but not across the board. There is no clear cut answer to this problem. Teachers are under pressure from state standards, college preparation. He would like to reach a healthy balance. An important dialogue is now going on as to what is reasonable. The teachers will continue to address this subject of what reasonable homework is.
Student Camden Vilkin addressed the meeting. Charity Teen Foundation is trying to raise funds for Principals across Los Angeles for immediate student needs. At present they have to go through the district to get funds which take time. A fundraiser will be held at the Hard Rock Cafˇ on April 17th 10-1. $50 per person. Student council is helping and there will be a live and silent auction. Some students will be providing entertainment.
ASD Student President- Sam Bishop. Student council is low on funds. Only $10,000 left in fund. The council is thinking of ways to raise more money. Will sell cards with a % off. Possible jog-a-thon. The money raised will be used for pep rallies, dances, lunch time activities. Would like to do a spring fling to make school life more fun and less stressful.
Principal addressed the charter school issue and has guided Mr. Wolfson to contact the Superintendent and the head of the teachers unions as the most appropriate places to continue his suggestion that MHS becomes a charter school. Dr. Kelly will not stand in the way of any process.
Stephen Wolfson encouraged everyone to keep an open mind to charter schools. A meeting will be held on the 4th of March for those interested. Anyone may call him for further information. Nancy Bishop thanked him for getting dialogue going.
Other suggestions came from the floor regarding other programs and adding teachers. Dr. Kelly reminded parents that the HS is limited by size (700) and resources.
Block scheduling- Probable not this year. Teachers are aware of parents feelings.
SMC looking into doing a few summer classes. SMMPTA are offering remedial and enrichment summer programs.
A suggestion was made to survey the students to see what programs they would like.
Kathy Wisnicki- SMMUSD Board Member and MHS legislative rep. informed the group of the GovernorÕs latest proposals and how it will effect SMMUSD schools. Please read Dr. Deasy memo on the districts web site. The bottom line is that the school district will be short $3.7 million dollars this year. The district cannot sustain anymore cuts after several years of cut backs and raising property taxes, and Dr. Deasy believes we have reached the end. Therefore he is not making any additional cuts and is working on alternative ways to cover the shortfall.
The PTA is asking everyone to call the governorÕs office (818) 445-2841, press the hot issue button #5 and follow the prompts to leave a message.
Call your local Legislators
Senator Sheila Kuehl (916) 319-2041
Assembly member Fran Pavley (916) 319-2041
To find out more about the PTA advocacy group http:/www.capta.org/sections/advocacy/advocacy-campaign.cfm
A recent Rand Corp. study found that we are the lowest state in the nation for school funds. We also have the highest standards. The Rand Corp is going to have a workshop. Dates will be published when available.
Nancy Bishop- Fund Raising is way down this year. The Shark Fund is raising just enough money to run the existing budget. If the school wishes for anything more we need to raise that money.
A complaint from the floor discussed the lack of accountability, they have had a specific complaint into the district for a year and nothing has been done about it. It was suggested contacting Harry Keiley CTA President. Discussed that it is hard to remove teachers because there are no complaints. People need to get involved to change things.
Ellen Shane- MHS award luncheon is May 12th. Please nominate people you think deserve recogntion for their efforts at the school. We need nominations by second week of March.
Nan Helgeland- Health champions is all set for 6th and 7th grades.
Bridget Hanson- again Bridget encouraged everyone to sign up for escrip. Also recycle ink cartages and cell phones, a drop off box is in the office.. These are easy ways for everyone to contribute to the school at no cost to themselves.
Caolyn Diemer- Parliamentarian. Volunteers were requested from the floor to be on next years PTSA Board Nominating Committee. Five people volunteered with two alternates. The committee will present its progress at the next PTSA Associate meeting.
Mary Hughes- Gardening Angels. An update was given on the progress being made but it is limited by funds. Gardening Angels does not receive any money from PTA. If you would like to make a donation please make check payable to Malibu Landscaping or if you would like to volunteer please call Mary. After middle school area completed, they hope to progress to the HS pod and then amphitheatre and upper fields. This takes a lot of work so please volunteer.
Thank you Mary
Rhonda Mosser will take over the running of Parent Eyes from Terah Tidy. Thank you Terah for getting Parent Eyes going.
There was a high turnout for this meeting and a lot of parent participation from the floor.
Meeting Adjourned at 11.10
Respectfully Submitted
Fiona Corrigan