CALL TO ORDER - 5:30

INTRODUCTION

Attendance:  All parents were present.  Teachers absent include John Mayock and Ann Oyen.   There was a quorum of the Site Council.

Meeting Minutes:  September meeting minutes were approved with minor edits.  Full council voted to approve.

Discussion of New Meeting Process:  Secretary will post agenda with a note that anyone wanting more information and background material could request such information for the Secretary or Co-Chairs or be formally added to the Site Council e-mail distribution list.  E-mail:  blewe001@umn.edu.

ADMINISTRATION REPORT:   Louis Mariucci

-Enrollment is currently at 984 in grades1-8 representing an increase of 38 students.  This provided an additional $79,800 in general fund and $12,347 for secondary referendum hold back funds. 

-There was a $7,453 cost over run from 2003-2004. 

-2004-2005 Budget was a proposed budget of $3,467,044 million and Louis discussed proposed budget changes.

-Sarah Langworthy commented that the PTO is interested in funding enrichment, enhancement of student experiences and not to make up budget shortfalls. 

MEMBERSHIP:   Sherri Knuth made a motion to reappoint Jackie Blakey to the Site Council; it was approved by unanimous vote.  There is still one additional community representative that we still need to fill.  Sherri said that the membership committee would like to appoint a Hmong parent to serve in this capacity.  Louis suggested that the membership committee should review the District definitions and requirements for community membership and come back with a name of appointment.  It was noted that there was a new parent organization at Capitol Hill - the new HMONG PTO.  Roxanne made a motion that both the Membership and Outreach reports be included as formal October meeting minutes.  The motion passed unanimously.

GSAC REPORT:  Lori Windels passed out a memo from Jeff Koon on GSAC's potential projects/studies to increase the diversity of students served by gifted services.

OLD BUSINESS:  No one attended the leadership conference as time was limited for volunteers to go.  . 

NEW BUSINESS:  2004/2005 SCIP Work Plan and Incorporation of Quality Review Study. 

Louis reviewed the School Quality Review: Report for Capitol Hill Magnet School, January 2004 conducted by the St. Paul Public Schools, Office of Accountability and Support Services.  Mary Reis commented that there were several items that we could check off as having been done or as works in progress.  This document is to be used by the Site Council to guide their activities and should coincide with the new SCIP process.   

Louis then reviewed the Draft SCIP plan for the 04-05 year.  The Site Council should familiarize themselves with the goals of the SCIP and to think about how to make the Site Council an integral part of the SCIP processes.  Louis went over the SCIP goals and each initiative within the four goals. 

GOAL 1:  To get 70% of the students who are at risk for not passing the Basic Skills Test in Reading and Math to pass the Basic Skills Test.

GOAL 2:  To further decrease the number of office referrals for all ethnic groups, so that no more than 30% of students from any one ethnic group require disciplinary action.

GOAL 3:  To have identified the G/T model or program we will begin implementing in the 05-06 school year.

GOAL 4: To increase the level of diversity in both the staff and student body to better reflect the changing make up of St. Paul Public Schools. 

There was a lot of discussion of Goal 4 and the need to increase diversity of Capitol Hill.  The idea is to focus our efforts on what is under the school's control.  Not to take on the district but to recruit and make the environment more inviting.  What is the best way for the Site Council to engage on the issue?

Louis handed out sheet that describes the school committee structure and activities that are going on at Capitol Hill.  Some examples of the committees:  PPC - Pupil's Program Committee - faculty committee to review problems that come at the school;  Fresh Force - Students can join to do community projects.  We don't have a coordinator so we don't have any activity here; Sunshine Chair - Faculty committee to respond to staff member needs when death or other events happen to maintain supportive community environment. 

NEXT STEPS

Louis suggested that he would layout the initiatives in a table format with a timeline.   He also suggested that the group look at the Quality Report and highlight the items we should address.  And then to prioritize what direction we go for developing new activities for 2005-2006. 

November agenda will be to continue to evaluate the SCIP for this year and identify gaps and to get started discussing priorities.  December meeting will focus on further developing priorities for next year's SCIP.

Motion to adjourn.  Adjourned at 7:40 PM.