Minutes 9.20.17/Agenda 9.27.17
Post date: Oct 17, 2017 11:19:15 PM
Agenda 9.27.17
Approval of Minutes
Reports
Parliamentary Procedure
Environmental Club Allocation
Cell Phone Policy Motion
Cell Phone Discussion
Notes and New Business
Council Minutes 9.20.17
“Education is what remains when one has forgotten what one has learned in school” -Albert Einstein
1. Approval of Minutes
2. Reports
Mod: Some Common Grounds have more than one Council representative, while some others have no Council representatives. As solution, volunteer Council members that have more than one Council representative in Common Ground will report to another Common Ground for first half or can switch entirely. Administration wants to see that each Common Ground has all representative. Reminder to send all New and Tuition Students during Common Ground to library for voting.
A-Mod: Please have concrete wording if bringing amendment during debate. Want amendment to be true to making. Now have all committee chairs. Reminder for all Leadership and committee chairs to attend Exec meetings, 7:30 AM, Conference Room in the Main Office.
Treasurer: Council fund = $6,584.29, but will go down $283.68 dollars for basketball hoop. Co-curricular fund = $5,700, unchanged.
Secretary: No alternates can vote.
Admin: Talked about MLK day and new attendance policy, hopefully bringing next week.
Curric: Discussed possible standardization of course evaluation brought to attention.
OEC: J-Comm elections will be held on Tuesday, October 3rd. Require submission of 250 word essay with 25 signatures to the library. Email Lucas Brock or Catherine Han for more information. New and Tuition Elections tomorrow.
SAC: Started planning Winter Carnival.
SL: Decided to tour Lebanon High School. Discussed take on cell-phone policy.
CPP: Discussion about whether or not to bring scheduling committee to look examine effects of adding lunch period. While some believe committee should focus on bringing students more free time, other believe committee should focus on student experience and learning. Decided creating scheduling committee is not the right course of action at the time, currently no scheduling committee.
3. Approval of Community Members
“I move to add Kirsten Elin, Jen Gantrish, Maggie Minnock Taylor, Kathy Marshall, and John Farrow as Community Members to the Hanover High Council”
Motion Passes
“I move to amend the last paragraph in Article II in the Council Bylaws to read:
The Principal has a two week limit to respond to or produce a timeline of action in regard to a passed motion. This two week period begins when the Principal receives the “Council Passed Motion Form.” This form contains the wording of the motion and a space for the signature of the motion maker, the moderator, and the Principal, along with a space where the Principal will indicate the outcome and explain their motives. If the Principal decides they need more time to consider the motion, they must give a precise weekly timeline to the Moderator and Assistant Moderator. During weekly meetings with Administration, the Moderator and Assistant Moderator will confirm that the timeline is being followed, reporting progress back to Council. If the Moderator and Assistant Moderator decide that Administration is not attempting to make progress on the motion, they can choose to consider the motion vetoed. “
Previously, principal had two week period to return with decision to Mod and A-Mod. Motion was automatic pocket veto if it did not return in two weeks. Original wording put in place to ensure process was quick. In past two to three years, principal has not been able to make decision in two weeks. New motion has principal bring precise timeline two weeks later so Mod and A-Mod know where motion is going, trying to keep communication and responsibility as clear as possible. If after two weeks principal does not return with timeline, Mod and A-Mod can consider motion vetoed and may bring back to Council to override. Some changes conform to previous Gender Motion. Mod and A-Mod meet once per week, Thursday morning, to check timeline is being followed.
Motion Passes
5. Cell Phone Discussion
Teachers should have no discretion over cell-phone use. Taking phones promotes lack of trust between teacher and student. Majority of students will be in college in new few years, where professors will not stop students from using phones. Students are simply hurting themselves. To align with school values and create students who will succeed beyond high school, cannot have cell-phone policy. Don’t understand why students who keep phones away and do not use during class are being punished for doing the right thing. Teachers should have individual discussion and punishments for students who do not follow rules. Students not on phones can set example for rest of the class.
Most important is to allow teacher’s to run class the way they would like.
Collecting phones by basket does not stop students from using phones during class-- some students will not put phones in basket. Best if students not using phone are allowed to set example and allow other classmates to follow example.
Certain classes encourage cell-phone use as part of class.
“I move to amend Section 8 of the Hanover High School Handbook to:
Students, staff, and school visitors may have cellular phones on school property. The use of these devices must not interfere with academics or constitute a threat to health and safety.
Cell phones must be silenced and stored away during classes. Cell phones should only be used in public spaces where students are allowed to congregate such as the atrium, the café, the library, the resource centers and the great outdoors.
Cell phones may be used in corridors; however, cell phone users should be aware of the current handbook rule which states that “Behavior in corridors and foyers which disrupts instruction or harms the school’s generally positive atmosphere will not be permitted.”
Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off or turned to mute during any form of safety or emergency drill or procedure.”
Worked on during last year in Admin. Took language established in 2001 and updated. Some students have phones stored away and silenced. Students with phones out cause distractions for themselves and other students. Students can use phones in hallways, atrium, free time in order to work on responsibility. Addresses teacher’s concerns and allows students to take responsibility. Last piece of language follows emergency protocol. Lockdown drill highlighted some of the discrepancies that occurs in safety procedures. Last piece can be significant in event of something occurring at Hanover High School.
Silenced and stored away includes vibrations.
Mr. Campbell states teachers have complete authority to confiscate student’s property and keep it for as long as teacher sees fit.
Believe cell-phones should apply to smartwatches as well
“I move to amend the motion to add the clause after ‘great outdoors’ in a new paragraph:
‘Additionally staff has no discretion to confiscate an electronic device unless it is visible to them.’”
No need for teachers to ask students who have phones in backpacks. Teachers will call out students that have phone out and confiscate. If not visible, there is no problem. Teacher therefore has some agency over cell-phone use.
Teachers cannot collect phones at beginning of class, but option of basket can be open.
Too many points here that need to be broken down and discussed. Council is not equipped to have a full discussion. Philosophy is being lost, does not speak to us being a democratic school. Make a motion to send it back to Administrative committee.
Point of Order: Was in Questions, not Debate, amendment above null.
“I move to amend the motion to add the clause after ‘Cell phones must be silenced and stored away during classes,’ ‘or may be used at the teacher’s discretion.’
Allows for teacher to have more control over cell-phone use in individual classroom, especially one that encourages cell-phone use.
Motion Passes
“I move to postpone the motion until the next meeting and make it a discussion.”
Do not want to have the limitations of having a motion on the table in order to discuss philosophy of school and committee can hear suggestions from body to bring back to fix wording. Discussion was not finished and people still have opinions that want to be heard.
Want to talk around concrete wording after lots of discussion.
Should vote on wording soon because motion simply clears up wording.
Discussion gives good opportunity for non-Council members to participate without getting bogged down in wording.
6. Meeting Adjourns