PSG Meeting Minutes February 21, 2014 Attendance In attendance: Sheri Andro, Becky Reder, Jodi Mann, Lori Horan, Jackie Weigand, Patti Scullion, Lisa DeFoggia, Candace Core, Robin Rowe, Susan Herrle, Hanan Jadros, Chris Misback, Yvonne Balouris, Jolene Lowery Introductions Vice President Sheri Andro welcomed everyone to the meeting. Meetings will be held in the Spirit Room through the end of the year. For future meetings, please park in the bus lanes. A Thank You note was received from Peter Lyon for the School Board Recognition donation and a thank you was given to those who signed up to sell Sadie s Dance Tickets Treasurer's Report Jodi Mann reported that the only expenditure for last month was to pay for coffee service for our PSG meeting. Prom Fashion Show Update Ragini Derk and Claire Henley are chairs. It was difficult to secure a date for use of the auditorium as Musical is a week later this year. We were unable to secure dresses from shops after April. The event will be held on March 13 in the Cafeteria. More help will be needed for set up, etc. Robin Rowe asked if there would be an organizing meeting. It was suggested to Robin to contact Ragini. Teacher Appreciation Luncheon Yvonne Balouris has set a date of May 15. There is a sign up sheet and one will be sent out via PR NEwsletters Blood Drive Wednesday, Feb. 26 7:30am to 7:30 pm. Christine Misback indicated that she had enough canteen volunteers. Student sign ups have begun as well. Principals Report Things are quiet. Students and Guidance are working with scheduling process. Next Tuesday, February 24, students will shoot a lip-dub video in the hallways. This video will be one shot sequential and there will be no editing of the video. Should be a fun thing for the kids. Will try to recognize as many groups, sports, activities and kids as possible. There will be about 30 kids as singers and other students will participated as the singers move through the hallways. This is
student run and those students have put a lot of work into it. Video will be looked at before it goes public to ensure no inappropriate behavior is on the video. Key Club and Student Government are requesting a dance on March 15 as a very casual dance. If we at least get 400+ kids coming to the dance it will go ahead. All proceeds to benefit Make A Wish foundation. Spring Sports are to start on March 3. A question was asked about Snow Make-Up Days Dr. Miller will be better able to answer that question. Prom Theme is "Candy Land" and the theme is being reviewed by administration. Kids would like a "make your own pixie stick machine" as one activity. Use of Auditorium It is a highly used facility. Hard to book and musical takes up much of the time. Best option is to sometimes use other sites such as Eden Hall or Richland. Guidance Jen Bowers opened with her background including 17 years with the district in the counseling office. She opened the floor to questions rather than give a presentation. First question was regarding Scheduling (process, timeframe, etc.): Scheduling has gone "back to the future" and teachers are having more input into what the kids can schedule. Teachers gave core academic placements and counselors are sitting down with students to schedule one on one. Not much flexibility to change the schedules. By end of March the placement list will come home and that is the only time changes can be made. Verification will then be sent home in June. When are the schedules due? Freshmen are due next week. Sophomores and Juniors have already scheduled. Rumor that Applied Art credit is required for graduation? Yes, one has to be a fine art and one has to be an applied art. Applied is business, tech, family consumer science, etc. Applies to all Juniors and Seniors and below. Fine art is performing art, music, theatre and arts.
What is difference between Honors and AP? Advance Placement is a national program. Must be accredited by AP. Teachers submit a curriculum and if it is approved we can call it an AP class. More rigorous class...basically a freshman college class. Each student must take the AP exam at the end of the class. Some colleges will give credit for a 4 or 5 score or even a 3 on the exam. Honors Classes are weighted a.5 ex. 4.5,3.5. AP Classes weighted a full point A=5. Difference between Business Calculus or CHS Calculus? Difference is CHS is paid by student and run through Pitt and exams designed by the university. Business Calculus is run through the high school. CHS is much like a dualenrollment and Pitt will give credit for that class. Are there courses that colleges are looking for that students are taking their senior year? All schools will look at different things based upon the school, what you will major in, etc. Is there the ability to take a foreign language beyond AP 5? We have an association with LaRoche College for AP French and AP Spanish during those classes. Nothing after. Class of 2015 and beyond only required to take Social Studies for 3 years. Can take all types of classes from AP Psychology, etc. Encouraged to continue with SS. What should parents look ahead for their students for post-hs education? Guidance will get your kids the requirements to graduate. Meet with your counselor and get a 4 year plan. You do want to push and challenge your child but you do not need to take all honors classes. It becomes very individualized. Encourage kids to try different things before they leave here. Take a variety of classes...think about college you want to attend and what their requirements are. All Sophomores do a "Career Match" through Naviance to give them some guidance. Robin Rowe suggested the book, "The 376 Best Colleges" which it has 2 pages/college and it is easy to compare colleges your student may be looking at. Many books, resources are available in the Guidance office. Naviance is very helpful to students and families.
Students and Parents are encouraged to realize that there is a place for everybody and kids should look for schools that the students are interested in. Look at size of school, majors offered. etc. Jen Bowers thanked the PSG for providing new lanyards to the new students. Assistant Superintendent and Human Resources Head Mike Pasquinelli introduced himself as the new Assistant Superintendent. We are currently in a selection process for new Principal at HS. Intentions are not to have parents to sit in on interview process. What are parents looking for? Looking for our feedback. Mr. Kenny reviewed the hiring process: Owen Kenny: Director of HR and Legal Affairs. 16 months with district. Currently recruiting...ads out throughout the State and on PA Educator. Trying to attract as many candidates as possible. Applications received and take a quick first look. Each application is put into an accept, maybe and reject pile. Will bring in 10-15 candidates and a three round interview process. Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent/HR/Asst./3 teachers (Special Ed, Specialty area and one para professional). Candidate does a writing assignment, 30 minutes of standard interview questions. Focus on six areas: 1 Education and background 2 History with staff/professional development 3 Personnel Management 4 Instructional Leadership (drive and focus on educational process, motivate teachers) 5 School Culture (principal and school leaders who push school culture) 6 Overall Presentation: communication skills, writing skills, etc. Second Round: Perform a Data Analysis exercise (how do they use student data) 30-45 minute interview (10-15 minute presentation on integration process to our school) Senior Leadership Team conducts the second round. Look for a natural breaking point between the first and second round. Range of 3-5 candidates in second round. Third Round is more informal. More a conversation and reviewing answers they gave in first two rounds of interviews.
Once that happens each recommended candidate goes before the School Board and the School Board then makes it's final recommendation. We are looking for everything and looking for the best. Someone who can inspire staff and motivate them as well as the students. Move our core curriculum up and have students ultimately prepared when they move on. We are not just looking for a high performer...we want someone who will be excited to be at PR and wants to be here. Dedication and commitment to PR. Very extensive background check that occurs as well. If we don't find a suitable candidate, we will continue to look. For example, only one candidate made it through the 3rd round for EHUE and administration decided that it wasn't the best choice. Went back to previous candidates. Will not settle for just a person in the candidate pool. Mr. Pasquinelli: Looking for in a candidate: Goal is to have someone in place by July 1 but will go beyond that date if right candidate is not found. What he will be looking for in a Principal: 1 Instructional Leader (grow other adults/teachers). 2 Child-Centered (must want to be around high school aged children) 3 Be highly visible to the students. Must be available to evening school related activities. Be a part of this district. No requirement to live in district. 4 Special Education Background or Awareness...gifted students as well as support students. Tools, resources and know-how to get resources to all students of all levels. Focus on the kids in the middle as well, 5 21st Century Experiences: technology friendly. Teach students how to use technology appropriately. 6 High Expectations for self and others: must be visible to kids during school days. 7 Tech Savvy Feedback from audience: Someone who addresses the morale of the students and the staff. Make school a pleasant place to be. Communication, efficient, effective respectful communication to parents, teachers, students and community.
Kids need to feel the excitement that is portrayed in our Strategic Plan. So many exciting opportunities in our curriculum, etc. Will the new principal have the liberty to change the other administrators on their team? No...assistants will stay the same. Role of principal will be to grow and develop their staff. We want stability in our administration team. Has the staff been able to get feedback as to what they want? Yes, ongoing discussions with the representatives of the Teachers' Association. Administration knows the concerns of the teachers. Someone who really likes kids. Meeting adjourned at 11:05 am. Respectfully Submitted, Becky Reder PRHS PSG Secretary