Davis High PTA Meeting

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 

The meeting was called to order at 7:30 pm sharp by President Laurie Rollins.

    Laurie welcomed everyone and announced that it is the Davis High PTA’s 49^th year and that we should all watch the website for announcements of celebration of our 50^th anniversary later in the spring.  Laurie introduced herself and members of the board.

In attendance: Karen DiBiasio, Linda Souza, Chris Majestic, Cydney Marshall, Marnelle Gleason, Jim Childress, Lucinda Childress, Julise Johanson, Vera Liou, Ana Jaime, Stacey Black, Shelley MacFarland, Roni White, Dorothy Yerxa, Sheila Smith, Susan Wolbarst, Carol Rosset, Debby Walter, Yu Zhang, Leslie Woodhorse, Peggy Bernardez, Michelle Baker, Feng Tang, Steve Williams, Stacy Desideri, Carol Curinga, Kris Inouye, Melissa Franke, Susan Lovenburg, Mike Cawley, Joan Anton, Kathy Magrino, Laurie Rollins, Eileen Jaffe, Susan Hulsizer.

Approval of the May Minutes:  Kathy Magrino made a motion to approve the minutes, Susan Lovenburg seconded, and the motion carried.

Student Reports
Joe G., ASB President; Tara A., Junior Class President; and Kara B., Sophomore Class President reported.

    Joe G. reported that the senior class is planning float building for Homecoming, Karen Schlegle is the class parent, and a $6,000 deposit has been put down at the Sheraton for the Senior Ball.

    Tara A. reported that the junior class is working on float building, the Junior Prom is December 9, 2006, and they still need a parent advisor to help coordinate activities.

    Kara B. reported that Natalie G.’s mom is the parent advisor and Mr. Gonzales and Mr. Blake are teacher advisors.  They, too, are working on Homecoming activities.

    Joe G. further reported that there will be a Student Government Homecoming assembly on Sept. 26, Homecoming is Oct. 6.  Youth in Government Day is another activity that they are busy planning.  It will be an opportunity for junior and senior students to shadow government officials in Davis and Sacramento.  This Friday is the first Food Faire, during which multiple vendors, including Dos Coyotes and the Hotdogger, will come on campus to sell lunch items.  The idea is to give a farmer’s market feel and keep kids on campus.  They are hoping to have at least one Food Faire per month and all the proceeds will go back to students.  There will be a rally during lunch Friday before the DHS v. Woodland football game this Friday night at Toomey Field.

Teacher Report
    Stacy Desideri, the newly hired librarian, reported that she has been busy getting students and teachers their materials.  She reported that she and several volunteers passed out 12,132 books to over 300 classes in 4 days.  Thanks to all PTA volunteers who helped.  She reported that the library will be opening to classes next Monday, September 11, 2006, and will also be open for Back-to-School Night.  She encouraged parents who are interested in volunteering to go to the DHS website and sign up on the volunteer list.

Parent Education Survey
    Susan Lovenburg and Kris Inouye are planning three parent education sessions on November 2, February 7 and April 4.  They distributed a survey asking for input regarding preferences for topics.  Sally Springer and Marion Franck, authors of Admission Matters, are interested in coming for one of the sessions. 

Treasurer’s Report
    Shelley McFarland announced that the Audit Report needs to be approved by the PTA Board.  Shelley presented the report on behalf of Dian Baker.  It was moved and seconded to accept the audit.  Approved.  It will be filed with the 3^rd District PTA.

    Shelley presented the proposed budget for the year 2006-2007.  Laurie explained some items in the Proposed Revenue portion of the budget, including the fact that the planner lost money last year – losses that come out of the student government budget as this is not a PTA project.  The total expected revenue for the year is $42,150.  The expenditures include awards and plaques for scholarships, a parent volunteer award, and the Friendship Days expenses.  A portion of the dues that are paid go to the Third  District PTA. 

    Laurie mentioned that the newsletter can be emailed, which will save money.  There was discussion about the UnFundraiser, and it is hoped that enough money will be made to fund grants, including paying lunchtime peer tutors in math and science.

    The Survival Guide was mentioned, and it was explained that it is a humorous but informative guide given to sophomores by counselors, and also posted on the website.

    There is $8,000 leftover from last year, and Laurie stated that we should be aiming to have about 10% carryover each year.  It was asked by a parent where cuts would be made if the proposed revenues were not as high as expected.  Laurie answered that the grants for the Unfundraiser would be adjusted.  Steve Williams moved to accept the proposed budget.  Linda Souza seconded.  Carried.

    Shelley further reported that the PTA has 331 members so far, and donations of $3,500.  Shelley distributed the Income and Expense Report and Balance Sheet.

Principal’s Report
    Mike Cawley reported that the start of the year has been smooth.  The enrollment is 1,770, not including DaVinci, DSIS, or the junior high students who attend for one class.  With DaVinci and the junior high students, the number is over 2,200.  He reported that the API is 825 based on most recent test scores.  The goal of every school in CA is to be over 800.  Last year the API was 845, but there will be no penalty since the score is still over 800.  There are about 100 schools in CA with similar demographics.  More information is available on the CA Dept. of Education website under API.

    Mike Cawley explained that scores are broken down into subgroup, but there must be at least 100 students per subgroup to look at scores that way.  He reported that the Asian population increased scores, while white population scores dropped by 31 points.  There was some discussion and questions about the kids who opted out of the test, and it was reported that the data is still being analyzed.  Laurie asked about changing the dates to find a time with less conflict.  The response was that the dates for the test this year are already set and are listed in the planner.  A parent who opted out commented that his child was not allowed to do the make-up.  Another parent suggested that perhaps parents whose children opted out should be contacted to find out why.  The principal said that had been discussed.  Someone asked about the percentage at which there would be problems with opting out.  Mike responded that approximately 90% are needed to take the test, but that there was a formula. 

    Mike Cawley reported that painting, which was the last of modernization, is finished.

Counselor’s Report
Carol Curinga reported that counselors are assigned according to the sophomore students’ English teacher.  A week-long unit is done over the course of the year (with sophomores), which gives information about college searches based on the students’ interests.  For seniors, there are workshops on Oct. 2 and 3, to help with applying to colleges.  CSU application workshop is Sept. 26 and Oct. 17 for UCs.  Both are encouraging online applications.  Senior packets will be available Oct. 2 and 3 for students getting letters of recommendation.  This summer, counselors spent time working on the problem of students who are getting Ds and Fs.  They were working on ways to help those students.  There will be a success workshop and those students will be sent invitations.

    There have been many schedule changes, and Monday, Sept. 11 is the last day to add or drop classes.  Counselors will be soon available to work on other issues.  During the first semester, all English classes for seniors will spend some time working on applying to college.  May 14 Sally Springer is scheduled to talk about private colleges.  There will be a college night in March for junior students.

    For seniors, there are some scheduling problems with students getting multiple English classes one semester and none the other semester.  There was a brief discussion, with a counselor reporting that the reason for this is that those English classes are semester classes; linking is being looked into for next year. 

Vice Principal Report
    Sheila Smith thanked all volunteers for their help with registration.  Students got ID cards at registration - a first for DHS.  Vice principals will be going out into the English classes to discuss the student handbook and behavior expectations.

    DHS PTA, with generous assistance from the Davis Community Network (DCN), has set up these listservers to facilitate communication at DHS.  Information that needs to be distributed to parents can be sent to dhsptamedia@dcn.org.  The website is updated every day, and Dorothy Yerxa will make sure that the information gets communicated in the most appropriate way.  Daily bulletins are often not heard at school, so she encourages email subscription.  There is a new website thanks to DCN and Tsui Chang.  It is DHSPTA.org.  It is very easy to use and there are a surplus of volunteers so if any teachers need help with their websites there are many to help.

Newcomers Welcome
    Kathy Magrino reported for Barb Engel.  This is an activity that is for students and parents who are new to Davis, not just Davis High.  It is designed to make them feel more welcomed and included.  There were 84 invitations sent out to students, plus the School Board was invited.  Peer Helpers will be coming to do ice breaker games with the students.  It will be held in the MPR on Sept. 13 from 7-8:30, and Barb is asking for volunteers to bring food.

UnFundraiser
    Eileen Jaffe reported that this is the PTA’s largest fundraising effort and the money will go to fund staff grants.  Letters will go out to the parents.  Fliers were sent to teachers and staff this week, asking what the PTA can do to help.  Eileen is getting emails with teacher requests.  Requests will be prioritized by a committee.  After the first of the year, letters will be sent out to parents asking for money to fund these projects.  Also have smaller grants that will be funded.  The letters to parents will go out near the first of February.  It was suggested that letters go out in December or earlier, so that parents of seniors will feel like their students will benefit.  A vote was taken, and people supported the idea of sending the letters out in November.  Proposals are due back from teachers on Oct. 4.

Committees
    Laurie said that parent representatives are needed on the following district committees: English Learner Advisory Committee, GATE Advisory Committee and Special Ed Advisory Committee.  There are also parents needed for the School Climate Committee, which meets monthly to work on improving the school climate, and also works on a culminating event to brings students of different cultures together. 

Back-to-School Night
    It was announced that parents will be electing a third school Site Council representative.
Steve Williams, a current parent rep for School Site Council, explained that anyone can run and the term is two years.  The Council updates the school plan, and has some amount of money to decide how to use.  Susan Lovenburg volunteered to be the representative from the PTA.  Laurie asked Steve to pass along the unfunded list from last year.  The Agriculture Dept. was helped quite a bit by the Site Council last year, as well as the library.
 
Newsletter
    Shelly Bronzan reported that the newsletters were mailed today. 

Hospitality
    Joan Anton reported that the Hospitality Chair gathers parent volunteers to bring food to the staff meeting in the MPR once a month, and also coordinates a staff appreciation luncheon and a custodian dinner in May.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:07 pm.