RHSPG MEETING MINUTES, 11/06/2006
Vernon Senior Center

The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm with Pegi Deitz-Shea presiding. Administrators in attendance were Mr. Brian Levesque, Principal RHS, and Kim Marinan, head of guidance. There were 31 people in attendance.

Pegi Shea welcomed everyone and indicated that refreshments were being served. The Community Voice channel was also present to film the meeting for broadcast on public access television.

I. Principal's report

A. New Faculty:

Mr. Levesque reported that RHS welcomed 15 new faculty members this year at RHS. There were 4 new faculty in attendance at the meeting and each were introduced and spoke a little about themselves:

Mr. Darcy Davis, Band Director- Mr. Davis went to UCONN and heard of the RHS band and became interested. He came to RHS and then left to teach 5^th grade band for 4 years. He returned to RHS this year as the band director.

Sarah Prattson- Ms. Prattson is a new Spanish teacher having come to RHS through the alternative route to certification. Her prior career was in management and she was interested in working with youth having worked with Junior Achievement in the business world.

Ms. Rhonda Morgan- Ms. Morgan is a new guidance counselor and is happy to be working in the Vernon School district.

Mr. Ron Parlante - Mr. Parlante came to RHS from the Bridgeport School system. He arrived here October 1, 2006, and is teaching Earth Science. He grew up in East Hartford and went to Western Connecticut State University. He originally wanted to be a meteorologist but decided on a teaching career. He is happy to be in Vernon and closer to his family.

Mr. Levesque reported that due to other commitments the other new faculty members could not be in attendance.

B. School Improvement

Mr. Levesque reported on the new attendance policy that was a result of the SIC. The new policy does not suspend/discipline students for missing class/school as the committee found that this type of discipline only gave the students what they wanted which was time out of school. The policy allows for so many class misses for ½ year courses and for full year courses. After the student has reached the number of misses allowed, they must make up the class either in an after school detention situation for 82 minutes where they must complete work for that class or on a Saturday. He added that the new policy has cut down tremendously in class cuts. "The halls are empty during class time. Kids are where they belong."

The school has moved to a privilege system where last year's 4th quarter was used to determine privileges for the beginning of this school year. Seniors can leave during a free block with the appropriate permission slips, juniors can come in late or leave early if they have a study hall first or last block, and sophomores can have a cafeteria study hall with food available and more social interaction. They are awaiting 1^st quarter results to determine how this system is working.

C. Policy Changes

Breathalyzers- 4 breathalyzers were used for the Homecoming dance were 600+ students were in attendance. It went smoothly with no delay in entrance to the dance and there were no reported positive results.

Drug-sniffing dogs- There has been one surprise inspection and only two students to have been found with marijuana in his/her car. The dogs did not find anything inside of the school. The dogs were not able to inspect both parking lots as apparently they become "tired" after a certain amount of time/inspections and the next time they will have more police and more dogs to do a complete search.

Data-Driven Decision Making - Each teacher is part of a team that meets monthly to review data as to school progress. All Vernon schools achieved adequate yearly progress in regards to the "No Child Left Behind" legislation. RHS has made adequate yearly progress for the 2^nd year in a row.

Emergency Evacuation- There was an evacuation on 11/6/06, due to a gas leak in one of the chemistry labs. Everything was shut off as well as the emergency valve and there was still an odor so the building was cleared out and the Fire Dept. was called. They located a faulty shut off valve and repaired it. The building was aired out and the students and faculty returned to the building about 30 minutes after the evacuation. They determined that there needs to be a better plan for the students who are in the cafeteria at lunch so the teachers will now have a list of students sign in when they return to the building to ensure that everyone is where they should be.

Mr. Levesque reported that there are regular inspections of the labs and valves but he wasn't sure of the inspection schedule. He would find out and report back.

There was no plan in place during the evacuation for students with medical needs and this will be further investigated.

Lock Downs- They have practice lock-downs but not when students are in the cafeteria. They will do so and ensure that students and faculty go to an area not visible from the outside away from windows and near walls or in the kitchen area.

II.  Band presentation

Mrs. Sue Vorcheimer, the RHS Band Booster Club President, gave a presentation on the RHS Band program and what the students have been doing this year. The band was established in 1941 and has averaged about 60 students per year with a total of over 3000 RHS students having participated in the band program over the years.

Students start the program with a 2 week band camp in August each year. This is a good place for freshman to meet other students before entering the high school and is a good transition program for them.

The chorus program also has about 75 students participating this year with some students doing both band and chorus.

There has been some discussion of starting a winter guard program, a Pep Band for basketball games, and a winter drum line.

The marching band has performed in 5 competitions this year.

Booster Club funding is through volunteer efforts and some funding through the Board of Education totaling between $10,000 - $17000 per year. The band has not purchased new uniforms since 1985, and needs many new instruments.

There has been discussion concerning recruitment of 8^th graders before coming to the high school as the number of students in band seems to decline between middle school and high school.

The band has a trip to Disney World planned for 2007 and they usually go every 4 years.

Mrs. Hahn the music coordinator for the town and the chorale director at RHS, reported that the chorus does many public performances such as the lighting of the tree at RGH, performing at the Pitkat Living Center, and performing at the Art Exhibit at the Rockville Library.

Several band members also set up a laptop computers before the parent group meeting so that parents, teachers, etc. could view some band performances after the meeting adjourns.

Pegi Shea thanked Mrs. Vorcheimer and the students for the attendance and for their presentation.

III. Report on New Legislation re: House Parties

Vicky Rispoli, a member of ERASE, reported on the new legislation recently passed (10/1/06) regarding the penalties for persons having house parties and providing/allowing young persons under 21 to have alcohol. ERASE is a substance abuse education program and is comprised of members from 13 surrounding towns.

Mrs. Rispoli reported that there would be a presentation on Thursday, 11/9/06, at the South Windsor Town Hall beginning at 3:45 pm to discuss the new law and its implications. She distributed literature on the law and a notice re: the 11/9/06 presentation.

IV. RHS Parent Group President's Announcements

Pegi Shea reported the following:

1. There will be a Superintendent's Search Meeting offered by the Board of Education Thursday, 11/9/06 at the Administration building at 7pm in which all parents, citizens, etc. are invited to discuss their ideas concerning what they are looking for in a superintendent. This will be shared with the consulting group hired by the Board to conduct the search for a new superintendent.

2. On 11/16/06, the Parents Helping Parents group will be holding a session "Just for Dads" on how to communicate better with their kids.

3. Voter Registration- An ad hoc committee is being formed, with at least one representative from each school in the district. A committee head is needed. For now, email Pegi at pegideitzshea@aol.com

4. Tri-Town Pantry is seeking holiday donations as well as HVCC for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

5. April vacation in Spring 2008 will be shorter on the "front end" of the vacation by three days.

V. Old Business:

Mr. Levesque reported that there is a website link from the RHS website to the building project. He reported on what will be happening re: RHS over the next 2 summers and next school year.

Peggy Jackle, BOA liaison to the RHS parent group, reported that the budget project will be starting soon and they are looking for parental input.

The next meeting of the RHS Parent Group will be held on 12/4/06 at 7pm at the RHS library.