Austin High School
Campus Advisory Council (CAC)
Monday, October 5, 2015 5:30 P.M. in the Library
Present:
Amy Taylor, Cathy K Smith, John Dagar, Kerri Ault, Aimee Finney, Amy Moore, Isabelle Salazar, Fred Campillo, Linda
Gregory, Diane Harrison, Lisa Christian, Lynn Remadna, Barbara Knaggs, Lilly Hagen, Lucy Gift, Drew Calver, Craig
Bennett, LaShawn Tanksley-Thompson, Lori MacNeill, Jeanette Smiecinski, Martin Lizarraga Eliza Cardiel, Amy Allen,
Jill Scott, Holly Carlton, Greta Gonzalez, Deena Telley, Nicole Griffith, Tara Miller.
Call to Order:
Approval of Minutes of 09/14/2015.
Public Comments:
There were no public comments.
Student Council Report:
Lilly Hagen stated that the Homecoming: Austin High City Limits celebration went well. Lucy Gift also spoke briefly about
Keep Austin Beautiful (KAB) project, Teacher Appreciation, and made a comment about Physical Education.
Standing Items:
Principal’s Report - the 2015-16 AHS Five Initiatives are: 1) 21st Century Teaching and Learning, 2) Student and
Community Engagement, 3) Marketing and Communication, 4) Safety, and 5) Programming and Services.
Amy Taylor proposed the slogan—We are Austin. She commented that marketing is important and keeps our attendance
and enrollment strong. The local neighborhood school is “not the only game in town.” We are competing with charter,
magnet, private, other schools within our district, as well as neighboring districts. The enrollment at AHS is declining and
ideally would equal capacity. We want AHS to be the school of choice for families in our vertical team. Families are
looking at ACT, SAT, and AP score comparisons which rank lower than other similar schools. In conversations with the
community, staff, and students, areas that make our school “Austin” include: diversity; central location; “Everybody is
Somebody at Austin High” motto; course offerings aligned to industry; high academic standards; cultural representation
such a Ballet Folklorico; cultural awareness and inclusiveness; and loyalty through tradition and history.
Ms.Taylor presented a vision for AHS going forward. She stated that, along with Nicole Griffith and the AHS administrative
team, she is asking her advisory board, the CAC, to support an innovative program that will help Austin High thrive in the
community. In a recent survey, AHS parents indicated preference for a New Tech Academy and a college prep program
designed around a classical collegiate school approach with philosophy and Latin as embedded elective offerings. Ms.
Taylor’s proposals included four academic programs: 1) Academy for Global Studies; 2) New Tech Academy; 3) Classical
Collegiate Institute; or 4) Multidisciplinary Studies.
The proposal included three new elective areas: Environmentalism, Health Science, and Entrepreneurialism. The
proposal considers the possibility of growing AGS slightly with an 80% attendance zone/20% outside the attendance zone
application process. For each of the academies, students would complete one common application with an essay and
other criteria for admissions. The criteria for admissions has yet to be developed.
Ms. Taylor’s proposal also envisions a redesign of common areas for collaboration and digital access. This year’s seniors
would have an opportunity to design a new collaborative space by removing existing lockers on the 2nd floor. By moving
the current benches downstairs, students would have additional seating in the west entrance area. The new digital
collaborative areas would include flat screens with running announcements for clubs and extracurricular events. An
example for redesigning a similar locker area on the 1st floor was shared. In addition, an Innovation Lab or MakerSpace
concept was introduced where students could be creative and collaborative and hold group meetings such as Link Crew
and Student Council.
Holly Carlton commented that portables need to be included in any plan for redesigning space. Lori MacNeill asked how
our NewTech would differ from Anderson HS IB Program.
Ms. Taylor discussed the South Advanced Academic Programing Committee that is currently meeting once per week and
will soon make a recommendation to the AISD school board. AHS along with six other south high schools could be
affected by a new advanced academic program in south Austin.
Diane asked “what % of student population would be participants?” Would prefer that there NOT be a second tier of
students. Ms. Taylor stated that parents in exit surveys are stating they come here because of our small learning
community academic programs, such as AGS but would like more small learning community options. Cathy Smith and
Amy Moore expressed concerns that some students may be negatively affected if they decide not to participate in a
specific academic program.
Ms. Taylor presented various pie charts from the South Advanced Academic Programming AHS parent survey showing
various advanced programs that were requested. Ms. Taylor restated her desire to have the support of the CAC as we
move in this possible direction. With the support of CAC to move forward, a finalized plan, based on staff feedback, is to
have a proposal to the CAC in November.
A motion was made by Barbara Knaggs to obtain staff feedback for the “the Austin Experience a School of Choice” and
return with a report to the CAC in November. The motion was seconded and all approved.
Tara was asked to speak about the 21st Century Teaching and Learning Committee that meets twice per month. She
described the work of the sub-committees in the areas of needs assessment, furniture, devices, and professional
development.
Kerri Ault spoke about the Campus Security and Safety CAC sub-committee to include locking exterior doors to the facility
and a seniors-only off campus enforced lunch period. Suggestions included the purchase of a campus vehicle and an
additional hall monitor. For seniors leaving campus this is an issue of manpower—manning exits in the parking lot. Ms.
Taylor asked the administrative team to review the duty schedule and make recommendations. A check-point close to
Orchestra Room near east entrance and another checkpoint on the west entrance would serve as visitor badge access
locations. The next meeting is scheduled for the 3rd week of October. Hopefully by January, 2016, a new plan will go into
effect. Deena Telley brought up a possible protocol for the front doors to be open, then locking all other doors without
student exit except the main entrances. Someone installed call-boxes at one point, probably due to a bond. Student Lilly
Hagen brought up the door-locking as an inconvenience for students. Parking attendant was a prior discussion as well.
Any discussion of Traffic and Safety Task Force was tabled.
Unfinished Business:
CIP – A motion was made to approve the CIP. Motion was passed and approved. Professional Development on
campus is ongoing and includes common planning time, during the school day faculty meetings, and designated AISD PD
calendar days. Professional Development Plan was moved and approved.
Ranking vs Non-Ranking.
Barbara Knaggs spoke about the details and went over the handout that was emailed to CAC members prior to meeting.
Lisa and Shannon Cameron assisted. She interviewed the principal at Anderson HS, the District Registrar, Ms. Bohl, as
well as Tara Miller. She spoke to college admissions officers, who are seeing a trend towards NOT ranking. If the
student does not have a ranking on the transcript, the colleges are creating a rank. Highland Park and Westlake say that
they are getting more students not in the top ten percent accepted to prominent colleges. AHS looks almost identical to
Anderson HS. Anderson does not provide a rank if you are in the bottom 90%. Sub Committee final recommendation is
for AHS to go forward with NOT RANKING by following the timeline in the handout which includes holding parent/staff
education sessions, a community vote, and presenting proposal to the AISD school board (see timeline and required
activities on handout).
The proposal was approved. Next steps are to review timeline and action items before any changes can be approved.
New Business:
CAC Officer Elections. Two major changes were made. First, the Secretary is no longer an elected position. Second,
faculty and parent representative nominations took place. Regarding the co-chair position/s, Kerri Ault nominated John
Dagar john.dagar@austinisd.org as the faculty co-chair. Barbara Scroggie Knaggs bsknaggs@austin.rr.com was
nominated as parent co-chair. Both nominees were seconded and approved. Martin Lizarraga offered to continue taking
minutes. Martin advised that he would let co-chairs know prior to a CAC meeting if he is unable to make it so that another
individual could take notes in his absence.
John took a moment to ask everyone to express appreciation for all Cathy Smith has done in her two years as co-chair of
the AHS CAC. Cathy also served as a member of the CAC for the two years prior to her co-chairmanship. Cathy has
devoted countless personal hours to fulfill her commitment to Austin High School. She has gone far beyond the “job
description”. Cathy continued her commitment throughout this past summer and returned this fall to ensure that the CAC
would make an effective transition with no ripples in the continuity. Cathy graciously accepted a live flowering plant as a
token of appreciation.
AGS Application Process.
Ms. Griffith would like a new application for AGS as well as any new academies proposed at AHS. Currently, AHS has a
blind lottery for AGS acceptance. A new proposal would include an application and would possibly be scored using a
rubric. About 200 students put in applications for the blind lottery last year. The year before it was 250. The blind lottery
is done before transfers come in. Cathy Smith asked for clarification. Tracking vs non-tracking was discussed as well as
general transfers. A proposal was made for a committee to be formed to define the specific qualifications. Current results
are freshman and sophomore placements are full. This is the first year that the Sophomore class had a waiting list.
Currently in AISD, AGS is the only blind lottery program for attendance zone students only. Magnet programs are 100
percent curriculum transfer. Ms. Griffith stated that currently in AGS, it can be challenging to have a student that is not
properly placed in the program and some of these students drop out at the junior year. Lori MacNeill stated that it is
important that students know up front about programming requirements or lack of course offerings such as dual credit.
Students in AGS can take dual credit classes but not in English and Social Studies. Ms. Taylor said that by the November
meeting we will have a list of courses AGS students can take. Barbara Knaggs stated there is some confusion about
what AGS is and is not. Ms. Griffith stated that there are now different grade level courses. John Dagar asked Ms.Griffith
to express her needs, in terms of a subcommittee. Ms. Griffith stated that she will send out an email (with details) asking
for volunteers to be on the committee. Cathy Smith stated that the most significant acid test was that parents wanted the
process to be fair. Ms. Griffith stated that the biggest complaint she gets is parents that call and are not happy with the
lottery. At this meeting, CAC approved for Ms. Griffith to move forward with forming an AGS application committee and
will report back to CAC at the November meeting.
Pep Rally Safety Plan. After the most recent pep rally, a Pep Rally Safety Plan was developed by the administrative
team. The Plan included disciplinary consequences for inappropriate conduct during and directly after the last pep rally
and sponsorship of a student/staff/parent survey. The next pep rally is scheduled for November 6. Bowie, McCallum, and
Anderson HS principals were contacted to determine their time of day for pep rallies. Each school holds pep rallies at
different times and has various protocols such as a.m. or p.m. time frames or three pep rallies in one block. Kerri Ault
expressed concern about having more than one pep rally per day due to class disruption. Fred Campillo stated that he
has observed varied results. It can be difficult to get students who get on a bus right after a pep rally to calm down. It
takes extra time to get the students settled down after the pep rally. Mr. Campillo states that pep rallies are part of the
student experience. Ms. Ault suggested we have a Spring pep rally to honor various sports, including female sports. Ms.
Taylor stated that it is a privilege to attend a pep rally and that students don’t have to go if they choose not to. The work of
the Safety Plan resulted in the identification of 120 students that are not eligible to go to the next pep rally. Half of them
lost their privilege on the day of the pep rally and the other 60 or so were identified during a review of recorded video
footage of the event. The CAC will review staff feedback and make a final recommendation for the Nov. 6 pep rally format.
TEA Report Card, AP Passing Rates— CAC reviewed these items electronically in advance of the meeting.
Set Agenda Items for November 2, 2015 Meeting:
Nov 6th Pep Rally format
AGS Application Process
The Austin Experience: A “School of Choice”
Safety Update (exterior doors and seniors-only off campus lunch)
The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m.