Minutes 11.08.17/Agenda 11.15.17

Post date: Dec 6, 2017 2:22:36 AM

Agenda 11.15.17

• 1. Approval of Minutes

  2. Reports

     • Council Representation in Common Ground

     • SAC All-Day Winter Carnival Report

  3. Electronic Voting Discussion

  4. Late Dismissal Discussion

  5. Cafeteria Discussion

  6. Notes and New Business

Council Minutes 11.08.17

“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can do what others can’t.” -Unknown

1. Approval of Minutes

2. Reports

• • Mod: Moving around Council members so we can hear and see each other better. This will allow us to be more integrated.

  • A-Mod: OEC members may be coming into meetings now that elections are finished. Check out bylaws.

  • Treasurer: Council fund=$6369.71. Co-curricular currently= $5200, but will go down after UNICEF and Rock Climbing Club allocation.

  • Secretary: Junior alternate and sophomore alternate can vote.

  • Curric: Finalized Course Evaluation Standardization Motion to bring today.

  • OEC: Finished bylaw revisions.

  • SAC: Finalized presentation for Winter Carnival that will be presented at staff meeting today.

3. Course Evaluation Standardization Motion

“I move to add the following wording to Section 6 of the Handbook under the subheading “Course Evaluations and to Register a Concern:

In addition to mandatory, teacher-written midterm course evaluations, in order to standardize course feedback throughout the school, Administration will administer an online evaluation each semester. Surveys will be taken during class time within a one week period for every class in the school. Results will be shared with respective Department Heads, teachers and the Administration; however, demographic questions will not be shared with teachers or department heads. The following questions will be included on this survey:

Gender:

Grade:

Expected Grade in the Class:

Students will have the option to choose one of the following for each question:

There will be one optional comment box at the end of the survey where students may leave explanations for their responses.”

• • Coming with a recommendation from Curric committee with a unanimous vote. Talked about misperception of motion from parents and teachers. Was student interest for this motion since 2004, so coming from students. Did want one comment section for entire survey but not for each question so students will take the time to fill out the survey. Mr. Campbell recommended this. Questions are applicable to all classes. Results will be used for general trends. Did not make administration too specific so can be changed on yearly basis. Teachers will be able to see comments but not demographic questions. Curric will follow up after motion if implemented to see how it is going and if there are any necessary changes.

  • Expected grade part will only be shared with Administration for overall trends.

  • Teacher will not see gender, grade, or expected grade in the class. Will see answers to all nine questions and comment section.

  • Not annoyance for Administration if there is one comment section.

  • Council has jurisdiction over whether we are allowed to do this or not because it is going into the handbook. Mr. Campbell stated that he would be able to do this whether it went through Council or not. Can always survey a class about teacher, and frequently does when there are issues.

  • Appropriate motion for Council because students are frustrated about course standardization motion in the past. If teacher does not give, there is no way to give feedback. Online course concern does not work. Is another demonstration of student voice.

I move to add point 10 to read “The teacher provided or plans to provide a course evaluation for this class.”

• • Reason this motion came about is a lot of teachers are not giving out mandatory course evaluation. No check in because only person who sees result is teacher. Question allows for Administration and department heads to know if teacher has provided or plans on providing a course evaluation.

  • Some teachers use very similar questions for mandatory teacher-made course evaluation.

  • Where question is placed currently would place question to be answered as “Strongly Agree, Agree, Neutral, Disagree, Strongly Disagree.

I move to amend the amendment to move point 10 to the demographics section after “Expected Grade in the Class”

• • Question should be yes or no question. Question would not be shared with teacher.

  • There needs to be some way to track whether teacher is giving course evaluation or not.

  • Trying to track something with this question instead of seeing trends in how a student experienced a class. If trying to track something, should use different means.

  • Motion Passes

I move amend point 10 to read “The teacher provided or plans to provide a mid-course evaluation for this class.”

• • Student can comment concerns in the comment box.

  • A lot of teachers do mid-course reflections and verbally hold discussion with class instead of physical evaluations.

  • Some students will not want to speak out about something that did not work in the class during verbal mid-course reflection, so it is important to have an evaluation where a student can anonymously give input.

  • Motion Passes

  • Amendment is not necessary. Legislating something that should be looked over by department heads separately.

  • Council can bring an amendment in the future if it is found to be beneficial after trying out this year. Should be passed with committee recommendation.

  • Motion Fails

I move to amend the heading to read “In order to standardize course feedback throughout the school, Administration will administer an online evaluation each semester in addition to mandatory, teacher-written midterm course evaluations. Surveys will be taken during class time within a one week period for every class in the school. Results will be shared with respective Department Heads, teachers and the Administration; however, demographic questions will not be shared with teachers or department heads. The following questions will be included on this survey:

• • Wording was poorly written before. Is much more clear with rearrangement.

  • Motion Passes

  • Motion Passes

  • Abstentions: Feel there are still many things left to discuss.

4. Meeting Adjourns