SANTA MONICA HIGH SCHOOL PTSA
ASSOCIATION MEETING SEPTEMBER 13, 2005
SAMOHI CAFETERIA
Roshan Nozari, PTSA Auditor presented audit. For period ending June 30, 2005. Motion to adopt by Christiana Miller; seconded and motion unanimously passed.
Debbie Mulvaney, presented the 2005-2006 budget. Cindy Forman made a motion to approve the budget which was seconded and passed unanimously.
Nancy Schmidt, is the legislative chair. She explained the upcoming special election. The CA State PTA has taken an oppose position on proposition 76 - how money is distributed to schools.
Also said that voter registration cards are available but must be mailed by October 25th.
Maria Rodriguez, Thanked the students who set up the sound system for the meeting. and referred people to the back of the agenda for organizations working on behalf of Katrina victims.
Dr. Straus introduced new staff at the meeting. She acknowledged that there was a smooth registration and that more than 2800 students were processed including taking their student ID photos. She reported that over 42 new staff members were hired this year. She reported that PTSA meetings are a good source of school updates as well as the website and the Viking Voice. Also the parent grade level meetings are good sources of information. The House Advisor is the first person to call with issues. She discussed the online grading system which is accessible to parents.
Dr. Straus reported that the Samohi API is up 21 points. More than 90% of the students passed the exit exam on the first try. We received last June a six-year accreditation with a three-year review. This was a rigorous process.
She discussed new initiatives as a result of the tensions from last Spring:
- Student advisory committees that will meet once a month. Students are from all backgrounds and all achievement levels. There will be 20 students from each house.
- Safety measures. Students are required to bring ID to school for entrance on campus.
- Video cameras on the exterior of the school.
- In school suspension program (requested by students)
- SM College dual enrollment program for dance and a few other areas
- New parent center
- Enhanced College and Career center area
- Freshman Seminar is dealing with some of the issues that arose in the Spring
- All staff will participate in diversity training
- Added academic support to encourage all kids to go to college. There is an AP tutorial class taught by Mr. Burnett which helps students prepare for the rigor.
Dr. Straus mentioned the College Fair in October at SM Civic auditorium.
Mr. Felix gave a presentation on Freshman Seminar. Using history to better understand yourself. Examining human patterns to understand human behavior. Over the summer, faculty met with the ÒFacing HistoryÓ staff to develop the scope and sequence of curriculum for the 2005-2006 freshman seminar.
Meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
House meetings convened.