Booker High School

School Advisory Council

Minutes of Meeting November 16, 2006

 

Present:           Johan Akal, Jill Dorsett, Ricardo Galatzan, Lillian Mignano.

Beverly Porter, Claudia Postell, Tracey Roberts, Linda Ware,

                        Mignon Lyons.

 

I.          Welcome & Minutes:  Meeting began at 5:30 PM

SAC members welcomed

Guest introduction: Mignon Lyons-community interests

                                                SAC Minutes from October 19, 2006 read, corrected,

                                                            and approved.

 

 

II.        Chair Report               Claudia Postell, acting SAC Chairperson:

 

                                                New Directions Task Force report:  This committee has

                                                been organized as recommended by the State Consultants.

                                                Their mission is to review consultants’ recommendations;

                                                draft core values, determine the priorities and implementation

procedures. 

 

Committee report indicates the following areas of

priority:  Leadership of the Principal, unethical staff,

                 Academic achievement of students

                 Meeting the challenge of testing scores to

                        ensure Booker High ranking as a “B”

                        school.

 

                                                New Directions Task force draft will be presented to the

                                                staff at a faculty meeting  and to students and community

                                                at an open meeting.

 

                                                New Directions Task Force to dissolve end of December, 2006.

                                                A committee will be formed to monitor the implementation and

progress of changes.

                                               

 

III.       Principal Report          Ms. Dorsett, Principal:

 

·         Small Learning communities –

All high school students in Sarasota

                                                      County high schools will be assigned to a Small Learning

      community.

 

Booker High School SLC’s :  Human Services, Education & Training; Law; Government & Public Safety, Hospitality & Tourism; Scientific Research, Mathematics, Engineering & Manufacturing; Architecture & Construction; Business Management Marketing & Finance; Arts, AV Technology &

Communications; Visual Performing Arts; and Performance Based Diploma Program (Drop Out Prevention).

 

Guidance department will implement students with a six (6)

year plan in lieu of a four (4) year plan.  A career interest inventory will be taken by current eighth graders to assist with

placement of incoming 9th graders into a SLC. 

 

 

Students will have a homeroom for a minimum of 30 min per

week.

 

Some teacher classrooms will be re-assigned to accommodate

SLC.

 

SLC programs are not tied into school choice.

 

High Schools are driven by funding and instructional staffing.

Additional certifications may be needed by some staff.

 

·         Booker High School Rebuild Project:

 

As per Ken Marsh, Sarasota County  - This project is currently on hold.  Monies allocated for this project are to be encumbered over the next 5 to 10 years instead of the original 3-5 year span – as follows: 

2008 - 2009     - $3 M

            2010 – 2011    - $2 M

            2012 – 2013    - $3 M

            Total to be spent          - 11 M

Riverview High School renovation is currently accounted at $150 M.

 

·         SAC proposal:   Renovations match architecturally to current

            design;

 No new Administration Building, however some

            interior re-design may be necessary, including but

            not limited to rest room facilities;

All construction and renovation occur within the next 3 to 5 years

            Correction: 5-7 years ;

SAC member appointed to be involved with the Sarasota

 County School Board Planning – David Grain

 recommended to serve as Booker High School

representative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Technology Need: 

Approved by SAC -Expenditure of $30,000 for new

computers in computer lab.  Booker High School current computer lab computers to be used in the Career Lab.

 

Request Purchasing Dept. to provide new vendor / bid list for Computers.  Purpose:  Allow maximum purchase power for monies to be spent.

 

Ms. Dorsett to request Sarasota County School Board to

share in this technology expenditure; i.e. as per Booker High School Improvement Plan needs assessment to improve technology.

 

·         FCAT grading scale revised point system places Booker

High School in jeopardy of loosing “C” school status.

Goals for Booker High School include: 

a.       Lowest 25% must improve FCAT scores

b.      More students must participate in FCAT test

c.       Instructional staff to be more creative in teaching

FCAT materials to students.

 

                                                            Consequences of a “D” school:

a.       Further lower school image to community          

b.      Funding cuts.

 

 

IV.       Student Report           Student SAC members were not in attendance due to VPA Theatre

                                                Production.    

 

V.        Old Business              

 

VI.       New Business             Booker High School Teacher of the Year 2006-2007:

                                                Claudia Postell

 

                                                Next SAC Meeting:  Change date to Monday 12/11/06 – 5:30 PM

                                                Change due to winter holiday schedule.       

 

 

Meeting Adjourned:  7:00 PM

                                   

 

Minutes Submitted by:  Linda Ware

   SAC Secretary

                                       Booker High School