Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
Site Based Decision Making Council
Minutes of Meeting
March 16, 2015
4:30 P.M.
Library
The regularly scheduled meeting of the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School – School
Based Decision Making Council was held on March 16, 2015, at 4:30 P.M., pursuant to
written notice specifying the time, place and purpose of the meeting.
ROLL CALL
Betsy Rains called the meeting to order. Thereafter, Ms. Rains conducted a roll call,
recording that a quorum was present and that of 12 council members; the following 10
members were present in person.
Principals
Betsy Rains
Andrea Tinsley
Council members
Hunter Cornett
Karen Irving
Cynthia Jones
Kim Overstreet
Kara Patterson
Summer Perry
Andy Sirginnis
Beverly Smith
Anita Brubeck and Lavonna Floreal arrived after the roll call.
Minutes
After a motion by Beverly Smith and a second by Hunter Cornett, the minutes were
approved.
Budget
Ms. Rains distributed copies of the proposed budget for 2015-2016. The budget is
$4,000 more for next year. The carry forward money is 38,000. The school needs
tables for testing, a science data base for reading and writing, mobile labs, calculators
and books for math and other items. After a motion by Hunter Cornett and a second by
Summer Perry, the budget was approved
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Staffing
No staffing positions will be cut for 2015-2016.Dunbar will add one social studies
teacher, one art teacher and a .5 ELL teacher.
Field Trip
The following field trips were presented to the council:
Social Studies classes will go to National History Day on March 20 and April 29 for a
National History Day competition at UK.
Family Consumer Science classes go to Kentucky State University for Agriculture, Food
and Environment Day, April 14, 2015, Monica Harbut, chaperone
Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference, Galt House,
Louisville, Ky. Robin Johnson and Greg O’Bryan, sponsors April 20-22, 2015
Volleyball
9/11 & 12, 2015 Tournament in Louisville, KY
Volleyball tournament in Roswell, Georgia October 2 & 3, 2015
Second reading and vote for the Humanities Policy Revision
At the last meeting, Ms. Rains presented a request from the staff that yearbook be
added as an additional option for fulfilling the Arts and Humanities requirement for
graduation. The updated policy was presented to the SBDM council for a first reading.
After a motion made by Beverly Smith and a second by Hunter Cornett, and approved
by the SBDM council, it was resolved that the council adopt the establishment of the
following revised humanities policy:
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REVISED HUMANITIES POLICY FOR GRADUATING CLASS OF 2015 AND AFTER
We are recommending that students in the graduation class of 2015 and beyond be
provided additional options for fulfilling the Arts and Humanities requirement for
graduation through additional specialization options.
The options for fulfilling the Arts and Humanities requirement would be as follows1) Students may fulfill the Arts and Humanities requirement by earning one credit in
Advanced History/ Appreciation of the Visual & Performing Arts (HAVPA).
OR
2) Students may fulfill the Arts and Humanities requirement by specializing (taking 3
courses) in one of the following areas of Fine Arts Art (AP Art History is an option of one of the courses) A Graphics or
Photography class may be substituted in place of an Art class.
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Band
Drama
Orchestra
Music (changed to simply Music to include Keyboarding as an option of
one of the courses)
Graphic Arts & Communications -3 of the following classes- Graphic
Communications, Multimedia With Adobe, Photography, Foundations of
Technology, Engineering Design or Architecture. (Within this option
Multimedia with Adobe is replacing Graphics 2 & 3 which will no longer be
offered.) An Art class may be substituted in place of one of these
technology aided design/communication classes.
Multi-Media Arts & Communications- 3 of the following classes- TV
Production, Broadcast Journalism (previously titled Newspaper, yearbook
or Film Studies.
In order to specialize, a student must earn three credits in classes in one of the above
listed areas of specialization. Students wishing to specialize must also note their
choice of specialization in their Individual Learning Plan.
*Changes are in highlighted
Ranking policy
At the March meeting, Ms. Rains announced that the guidance office would like to
eliminate class rank in any form. The current policy from 1994 established a method of
reporting student achievement based on a decile system with the grade point averages
calculated to the hundredth place, with a specific decile system to be determined in
accordance with guidelines implemented by the PLD Guidance Office.
Rationale written by Deanna Smith, head counselor:
1. Over the past several years the GPA for the top 50% the class has increased to
the point that it could be more damaging to students with very high GPA’s than it
is beneficial. For instance, this semester to rank in the top 50% of the class, a
student must have higher than a 3.7115 weighted GPA. While this is impressive
for us as a school, it may be damaging to students with these still very high, very
impressive GPA’s. At the very least it is damaging to their thoughts about their
own individual achievement. The pressure students are receiving from parents
to achieve high rankings with these odds is wreaking havoc on their emotional
and mental well-being. Parents and students alike believe ranks are a vital
component to college admissions, which is not true.
2. After discussing this with counselors, I talked to several colleges and universities
on how rank is used with both admissions and scholarships. I spoke with a wide
range of colleges: Harvard, Stanford, Vanderbilt, Washington University,
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University of Cincinnati, University of Kentucky, and University of Louisville to
name a few. Every college, from the Ivy League to in-state schools, gave me the
same answer: rank is NOT used for admissions or scholarship purposes and not
having a rank will NOT adversely affect a student’s admissions decision. I asked
why rank is requested and again the same answer was given: to gain
information about the overall student body of the school and how the student fits
in within the school. Each school indicated that as long as they had the school
information, such as GPA ranges, they do not need rank for individual students.
Proposal of change in policy:
1. Paul Laurence Dunbar does not calculate or report rank of students in any
method. All reports to colleges or scholarships will be “School does not rank.”
2. Changes the school profile to include information regarding the no rank
policy.
3. Includes in the school profile information regarding the typical or average
weighted GPA’s for the top half of the class. (i.e.: For the past 5 years, the
typical weighted GPA ranges are as follows: top 10% …top 20%...top 30%...)
After a motion made by Summer Perry and a second by Kara Patterson, the council
accepted this as the first reading.
Future Agenda Items
Field trips
No Ranking policy
Staffing
Future Meeting Dates
Meetings are scheduled at 4:30 P.M. on the second Monday of every month.
April 13, 2015
May 11, 2015
June 8, 2015
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:03 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Ellen Fore, Secretary
Read and approved,
Betsy Rains, Principal
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