Helix High School

A California Charter School

Charter School Board Regular Meeting

January 28, 2002

Helix High School Library

 

Board members Present: Lori Free-Trout, Lisa Hamann, Cheryl Jones, Judy Kirk, Beth Leighton, Richard Sutton, Garry Wilcox

 

Student Representatives: Cosa Bullock and Warren Ruis

 

Representatives Present: Principal Doug Smith; Barbara Lenihan, Manager, Business Services

 

1.0  Approval of Minutes of December 17, 2001, Meeting

 

Member Free-Trout moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Member Leighton. Motion passed with all in favor.

 

2.0  Approval of Agenda

 

Member Jones moved to approve the agenda, seconded by Member Leighton. Motion passed with all in favor.

 

3.0  School Calendar Draft 2002/2003

 

Two drafts (A and B) of next school years calendar was presented by Trampus Thomason and Mimi Test. Draft A has school starting August 19 and ending Term I before winter break with spring break late in the month of March. The calendar committee proposed draft A as educationally sound. Draft B has school starting August 26, Term I ending at the end of January, and spring break early in April. Both calendars have school ending June 20. Both calendars will be presented to the entire staff on Wednesday, January 30 at the all staff meeting, for all staff to look at and gather total staff input.

 

There was a calendar inserted in the Charter Board packet and Richard Sutton proposed that calendar be given to all staff as well as draft A and B. There was little difference with this calendar and draft B with the major difference being dates for HSEE and HSEE make-up.

 

4.0  Budget Update/Report on State Budget 2001/02 and 2002/03

 

Barbara Lenihan presented the Board with a Statement of Revenue and Expenditures for July 1, 2001 – December 31, 2001. Additionally, she shared highlights of the workshop she and Dr. Smith attended on School Services of California concerning the proposed budget for 2002/2003. Dr. Smith interjected that if the budget is enacted there would be significant changes in the District.

 

Barbara had met with all parties involving attendance and the consensus, at this time, is that attendance reporting is more accurate this year with  SIS and we have more absences this year.

 

Barbara reported the budget committee met on Thursday, January 24 and there are a few positions to be filled and she would be advertising for those.

 

5.0  CANEC Conference March 14 – 16, 2002

 

Dr. Smith encouraged all Board members to attend this year CANEC Conference. Lisa, Lori, and Garry had planned to attend so far.

 

6.0  Charter Board Election Update/Selection of Ad Hoc Committee Chair

 

It was moved by Member Leighton and seconded by Member Jones to elect Judy Kirk as the Committee Chair to over see the upcoming election of two new board members.

 

7.0  Student Representatives Report

 

Cosa Bullock reported on her senior project “Student Link” and hopes by the 2002 Spring Fling, every Freshman will complete a survey that will enable her to “hook” them up with an upperclassman mentor .Throughout the year the upperclassmen will be encouraging and mentoring their freshman counterparts.

 

Warren Ruis commented on ASB Camp and the impressive guest speakers Rick Minnifield and Keith Hawkins and this particular camp probably being the best one he’s attended yet. He thanked Liz Barrett and Marina Sarwary for organizing this event.

 

Warren also commented on the winter formal being a huge success and very economical.

 

8.0  Principal’s Report

 

Dr. Smith reported on the construction of the Girls Softball field and that being completed in February. The Pony League no longer uses this field, but Helix would be working with the City of La Mesa in reconfiguring the field so they would be able to utilize it. A long-term modification of the field would include two baseball fields on this campus.

 

Cosa Bullock inquired about the student parking lot lights. Ken Clark, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services with GUHSD commented that the hold up was from SDG&E saying the cover to the switch needs to be redesigned to pass code.

 

9.0  Board Communication/Public Input

 

Jennifer Osborn, Public Relations Officer for Helix reported that she was making progress on her publicity materials and presented a tri-fold that was designed to hold all the information that would be given out at career fairs, school fairs, etc. She still needs brief bios from faculty, surveys returned that were handed out to alumni, and the VAX issue to be resolved, so she can obtain information for those alumni. She is working on the Accountability Report Card.

 

A blood drive was held in December and was very successful. She met with Mrs. Trevino regarding the Oral History Project and is continuing to publicize HCOP (Helix Community Outreach Program). She will continue to attend Department Chair meetings and develop mailing list forms to build a database for Performing Arts Dept. An account was set up with San Diego Clipping Service to keep track of press received.

 

10.0          Adjournment

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.