RHS Site Council – Bret Phillips, Secretary
2014-2015
RHS Site Council Minutes
December 10, 2014
6:30 – 8:30 PM
Members Present
John Wollersheim - Principal
Becky Busho – President
Gary Dion – Vice President
Mary Swanson – Treasurer
Lisa Buesing – Parent Leader
Jim Norris – Teacher
Bret Phillips – Secretary
Jake Greener – Student Rep
Grace Herron – Student Rep
Brandon Menne – Student Rep
Michelle Cloutier
Mark Engdahl
Becky Haage
Marcia Herron
6:30 – 6:37
(Becky) Opening/Introductions
6:37 – 7:13
(John) One of the main topics for today’s meeting is to follow up from the
District’s Facilities Focus Group Meeting discussion. The one-to-one
concept was one of the topics discussed at the focus group meeting –
Should every student have a device (iPad) within the school? To show you
more about what the one-to-one is all about we will start off with (Joe
Christman) Earth Science Teacher. Joe is one of the Beta teachers in the
District working with the one-to-one District Beta program. He will be
explaining the Beta program. Joe has been recognized by TIES as one of
their "Teachers of the Year". (Joe) Three questions for us to evaluate. (1) Do
we already use technology? Yes... Rosemount does well with what we have.
But, students having technology in their hands allows for more creativity in
every classroom and at home. This is the PLAN: Yr 1 - (now) select group
(Beta), Yr 2 - Double the size of the Beta group, Yr3 - Grades 8-10 all
students have a device, Future - Two grade levels each year. Four teachers
at RHS are now participating in the Beta program. All four teachers applied
to be a part of the program and all went through training (Summer and Fall).
All other schools in the District each have a few teachers in the program.
The programs are selective as to which subjects they focus on and vary from
school to school. (2) Why are we doing this? Merging Core Principles of
Education - help students become better prepared for their future through
technology. Focus is on what the students can do rather than what the
teachers can do. The program is also creating a "dynamic student learning
experience" with student-centered and collaborative environments. This was
created to redefine how we are doing. (3) What does it look like?
Collaboration with students across the World - i.e. Students in Joe’s classes
are creating their own text books, Maintaining an online blog for daily
conversations, and collaborating with their posts and having commentary.
Exciting thing about this collaboration is the communications with college
professors. Everything they make is posted for the world to see. (Bret) I see
how this approach helps engage the student by using creative collaboration,
however there must be Guidelines in place? (Joe) Yes. There is a check
against library information and there is a peer review. (Becky) Is there a way
to monitor where they go on the Internet? (Joe) Snap chat, etc. In the end...
we are trying to give/help students make their own understanding of the
material. (Gary) How is it meeting your expectations? (Joe) Some students
were initially uncomfortable. Had to increase communications about the
program with both the kids and the parents. I thought that the kids would
RHS Site Council – Bret Phillips, Secretary
2014-2015
have been more tech savvy. But, the results have been amazing. Test
results have shown that Joe’s Beta class has scored better than the regular
courses (John) Your class is still being taught with the same standards.
(Mark) What are you doing to measure? (Joe) Engaged kids, talking about
the material, take information and create their own understanding. (Becky)
Mobile labs available? (John) We have computer labs throughout the
building and we have mobile lab carts. (Jim) Lab availability is available
online - these labs are typically reserved on a daily basis. (John) All the
computer labs are on a District rotation. All the High Schools have the same
computer to student ratio. (Gary) Have you had feedback from the other
Beta teachers? (Joe) Yes. There have been different approaches. But, they
all have been happy with the progress/results so far. (Becky H) Is the
“phasing in” approach working? Or, would you like to see it accelerated?
(Joe) It has been frustrating not having all the devices for the students. But,
the Beta approach has allowed us to handle introducing the program by
working with a smaller group. (John) Has heard that the iPad is limiting in
that teachers would like a keyboard. (Joe) Overall, the iPad has been the
best option for the creativity, etc.
7:13 – 7:18
(Bret) Approval of Minutes. (Becky) 7:35 clarify "good thing is that it never
changes" location of the teachers. (John) Times are not adjusted correctly
(Mary) $49.7717.31 - change period to comma behind the 49. (Becky)
Motion to approve (Lisa) Motion to approve. (Mary) Second.
7:18 – 7:22
(Mary) Financials. November balance is $62,656.38. Academics $566.69,
Arts $553.16, Athletics $2,617.08, Scholarships $6,355.97. Bank continues
to adjust our account with adjustments ($26.90 + Academics). Modulator
was accounted for (Jim). $3,399.38 increase in the Arts.
7:22 – 7:26
(Lisa) Parent Leader meeting. Talked about 2 new calendars. Approved by
the Board on the website. Christmas time is less so that end of school is not
end of June. Discussed how to deal with a death of a student. Capacity at
schools was discussed - it's currently OK at the high schools. Security talked about different school entrances related to safety and the need for
scanning visitor’s driver’s licenses, digital cameras, redoing of parking lots Eagan's cost was $800K. (John) Eagan changed the pick up/drop off.
7:26 – 7:33
(Grace) Student Council. Winter Dance. Survey about the dance will go out
to the students. (John) Topic still on the table is the interest of microwaves.
Also, should know that he brings outside charity interests to the group.
(Jake) Trash cans after break - Green Team. (John) Green Team received a
grant to add recyclable and paper bins throughout the school. Lunch room to
include compost and liquid bins. Lakeville schools have reduced their overall
school’s waste hauling costs through recycling and composting. RHS
recycling and composting program starts in the new year.
7:33 – 8:01
(Becky/John) Strategic Planning facility feedback. Tonight's Wednesday
night meeting was purposely moved to discuss Monday's Facility meeting.
(Becky) Top topic for my group was parking. Added Facility near the Steeple
Center will complicate things. (Mark) It was well attended. Parkview folks
were in his group. Ask how District would handle growth. Will not build new
building/HS. Is leasing space an option? How to measure the success of
one-to-one is a problem. What concerns him is that these referendums
come up in an off-year election. Safety - parking lot cameras. Is the cost of
technology worth the investment? What about students bringing in their own
RHS Site Council – Bret Phillips, Secretary
2014-2015
device? (Becky) Heidi brought up technology changes. Also, Mayo Clinic
brought up stand up work stations and other variety of positioning. (Becky H)
Busing - confused at what they are voting for? (Mark) This was also
discussed in his group. (John) One of his items brought up in his group was
to restore past cuts... Transportation - after school busing for (remedial help
and Career Development-related courses off campus). (Gary) What is
sacrificed with passing a few needs? (John) Thinking that Kindergarten,
preschool, safety are the focus. (Becky H) Arts were left out of the
discussion. (Mark) RHS is an obvious old facility. (John) Two things his
group focused on: (1) Preschool - why? And, (2) One-to-one: is it the right
thing to do? (Marcia) Are all the schools implementing Pre-schools? (John)
No. Not sure why it is a requirement? (Marcia) She has heard from others
that most are unaware that this exists in their District. (John) He will follow
up on the Pre School topic for next meeting.
8:01 – 8:16
(John) Outreach Registration. We lose some, SHMS students coming into
RHS. We lose more than we get to come in. One strategy K, 5, 6, 8 families
who live in the RHS attendance zone are sent a postcard inviting them to
RHS events. (Gary) His kid was thinking of going to Eastview. John made a
phone call - came down to which school would really talk to us? RHS was
more open to collaboration. (Becky H) Loves to see the Elementary students
come in and get excited. (Mark) Why does the school care? (John) District
supports the open enrollment policy. (Becky H) Elementary field trips to
expose them to RHS.
8:16 – 8:22
(John) 50 Year celebration. Three weeks ago. Went well. Guest book with
166 registrants estimated 250-350. Coffee and cake. (Lisa) Nice event to
experience the history. (John) Had a sheet/map to be used to navigate
throughout the school. Pictures/Posters were displayed for the different year
additions of the building. Choir/Band were rehearsing. Jim found a
promotional tape from the 80's. Rosemount Historical Society and
Rosemount Art Society had displays. Rosemount Yearbooks from the past
were on display in the RHS library. Some State Reps and Senator Clausen
as well as past principals were in attendance.
8:22 – 8:23
(John) 100 Year Anniversary will be in 2017. We will move the topic to the
next meeting
8:23 – 8:25
(John) Reimbursement for the 50 Year celebration snacks/misc. paid out of
John’s own pocket. $173.43 on John's Visa card. In the past he has done
this without reimbursement. (Mark) Move to reimburse (Becky H) Seconded.
Moved.
8:25 – 8:30
(Becky) Open Dialogue (Mark) Parking lot cameras. Understands that it is
low on the need list. (Jim) The quality of the technology needed to make a
difference would make it cost prohibitive. Mark had asked that it be put on
the agenda and was OK with it being taken off the agenda after the facilities
discussion.
8:30
Adjournment