The Capitol Hill Site Council held its regular monthly meeting on March 10, 2003.  Minutes of the meeting will be placed on the website when they have been approved at the next meeting.  Meanwhile, here are some highlights of the meeting.

Town Hall Meeting Report

            Robin Lorenzen, Chair of the School Continuous Improvement Plan (SCIP) Committee reported that upwards of 40 people attended the Town Hall meeting held on February 20.  Budget information was not received from the school district office in time for the meeting, but Mr. Mariucci presented the outline of the SCIP for next year.  Small discussion groups were formed to gather input regarding the possibility of adopting uniforms for students, and the way in which the pledge of allegiance to the flag should be used in our school. 

            On the topic of uniforms, Mr. Mariucci explained that school district guidelines require 80% of all families to approve such a proposal.  A few people in the discussion groups championed uniforms, while the majority of those present opposed them.  The consensus of those present appeared to be that a dress code, which is already in place here, is a more effective way of assuring that students dress appropriatedly for school.

            Before the discussion of the pledge of allegiance, it was pointed out that the school board has stated that school site councils will have the responsibility for deciding how the pledge of allegiance will be used in their schools, and that there is legislation pending that may have an impact on this issue.  Currently at Capitol Hill, the pledge of allegiance is recited at special events and periodically in classrooms at the discretion of individual teachers. Most of the suggestions heard at the Town Hall meeting were aimed at assuring that students don't just recite the pledge, but also learn about its origins and meaning.

            Feedback was also solicited regarding particular programs and activities available to students, by having those present place stickers next to the items they found most valuable.  Detailed results of this preference survey will be available in the March Site Council Minutes.

April Site Council Meeting Time Change – SCIP and Budget to Be Considered

            The April Site Council meeting will be devoted primarily to consideration of the budget and SCIP for next year.  Our proposed SCIP and budget must be filed with the district office in May.  The district has now provided our school's tentative budget, and has directed that we include figures in our SCIP and budget that reflect possible reductions in our final budget.  The final budget won't be known until this summer.

            In order to allow time to discuss these possibilities, the next monthly meeting will be held on April 7, 2003, and will start at 6:00 pm, in hopes of finishing at 9 pm.  A pot luck supper is being organized by Michael Wulf.  The entire school community is invited.  Guests and visitors should contact Michael or another Site Council member if they wish to participate in the pot luck supper, but all are welcome at the meeting in any event.

Parent Representative Election Plans

            Michael Wulf and Ron Podratz reported that seven candidates are running in the election for parent representatives.  A new approach is being used this year, with balloting to coincide with parent conferences, March 19-21.  Three parents will be elected to 2-year Representative terms, and two will be tapped for 1-year Alternate positions.  The results of the election were not available at press time.