HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-09-22 School Council - RMHS Minutesra RECEIVED
Town of Reading TOON CLERK
' Meeting Minutes READING, MA.
2022 OEC -8 PM 59
Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
School Council -Reading Memorial High
Date: 2022-09-22 Time: 4:00 PM
Building: School -Memorial High Location: Conference Room
Address: 62 Oakland Road Session: Open Session
Purpose: School Council Meeting Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
Kevin Tracy, Elleen Manning, Michelle Greenwalt, Marianne Downing, Sherllla
Lestrade, Jennifer Hillery, Daija Forero, Antonio DISerlo, Cole Grant, Bridget
Patterson, Haven Davis
Members - Not Present:
Tim McIntire, Karl Buckley, Laurie Donahue, Christine Lusk
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully submitted By: Marianne
Topics of Discussion:
The meeting began with an Introduction by all members present, including the group of new
student members. Principal Tracey explained how the year would go, including getting in
agenda Items on the Monday before the Thursday School Council meeting.
Principal Tracey explained that he met with the new student members to explain what
school council does, and noted that the goal in the current year will be different than in the
past. He stated that the school council should try to finish the school Improvement plan
(SIP) by mid-May to be able to present to the school committee by mid-June, instead of
spending much of the fall on it, to present to the school committee in early December, as
has been done in the past.
He also noted that this year, to ensure we can get through the work the school council
meetings need to do, that meetings will be longer and will run to an hour and a half instead
of an hour.
Principal Tracey also indicated that as part of his "check in," that he would like to hear from
council members on "hot topics," so the meetings will also go beyond the handbook and the
SIP.
Student and parent members explained multiple hot topic Issues among students, including:
not enough food left by third lunch, high fees charged by MySchoolBucks system, and the
confusion about the new Hall Pass/Smart Pass system. Students noted that for the
homecoming, they were surprised at the level of fees they were charged. Another issue
was the concern about having to use this system or other online electronic payment
systems for other events like athletic games, because of the poor Verizon signals in the high
school area, which limits the ability of those with Verizon phones to access online payment
system.
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The principal further explained what the Smart Pass system is and how It works. For
example, for a bathroom pass, there would be a countdown timer, such as 5 minutes, to let
student and teacher know how long a student has been gone from a class. The Smart Pass
system would help to get rid of a paper pass system for students who are tardy. Also, it will
be easier for students to request passes to see a teacher during flex. Students who
expressed concern with enough time to use a restroom were told that students can change
the time In the timer, in case they need more time. It was also explained that no student
would be denied bathroom access If they did not use the Smart pass system, or did not
have a computer or phone with them.
Principal Tracey also explained that the Smart Pass system can improve safety by helping to
track where students are during fire drills or actual emergency Incidents, and the app can
help you know where students may be located.
A parent member asked, will students be required to use location services to use this
system, and the parent expressed concern about the Smart Pass app tracking students after
school. Principal Tracey indicated that the app would not be tracking students after school,
to his best knowledge, but that staff are still working out the kinks in the system as of this
meeting date, and they will test out the system to see if the system is working as Intended.
The school council then moved on to future meeting topics, including:
--Student Dress Code
--keeping Valedictorian and Salutatorian
--Other academic recognitions
--the guidance process
--graduation requirements
--new RMHS pathways/concentrations, such as robotics, engineering, manufacturing,
computer science, visual/performing arts - Principal Tracey Indicated that RMHS has applied
for a DESE grant to support these pathways
--different or additional dual enrollment programs and classes: Principal Tracey indicated
that one possibility is a dual enrollment program with Middlesex Community College wherein
this college will train RMHS teachers
--where students should wear student ID badges
The next meeting also would include approval of past minutes for the August meeting as
well as minutes for this meeting.
The meeting ended at approximately 5:30 pm
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