EHS Transition Committee Meeting
Thursday, September 15
6-8 PM – Culinary Arts Dining Room of the SST
Present: Victor Sokul, Ben Allen, Joanne Pare, Jerry Frew, Sam Bruno, Vicky Avery, Angela Lennox, Roy Morrisette, Jennifer Kinsey, Bill Thompson, Richard Pratt, Anne Plumer-Fisher, Jim Daley, Peter Stackhouse, Holly Tisdall, Robin Scott, Peg Gaillard, Patrice Baker, Evan Mousseau, John LeSage, Liz Faria
All signed in and received a white binder.
Introductions: Everyone introduced themselves to group and shared something about themselves with the committee.
Vic gave out a handout and also a form for everyone to record their names, addresses, etc. It was decided that email would be the best form of communication.
Meeting schedule, times, frequency and locations. Meetings are open to the public. It was decided that meeting times will be 6:30. Meetings will be held in the Culinary Arts Dining Room. Committee will try to keep it within 2 hour time frame. Next meeting will be at the new high school. If there is time they will reorganize back at the Culinary Arts Dining Room after the tour.
Vic discussed the timeline. He said the School board would like a report from committee by their January Meeting. So this committee has that time frame to compile their report. There will also be meetings after this January date.
Vic suggested that we let everybody give their input and then make decisions. It is a tremendous responsibility and not to take lightly. Guidelines should be arrive as friends and leave as friends. Be respectful and be able to speak their peace. All opinions will be valued and ultimately when decisions are made they will move on.
Posters of architect’s renditions of building, interior and exterior for committee to look at are displayed. At our next meeting 9/29/05 we will meet at the new high school for a visit at 5 PM. Will need to start earlier because of daylight. Important to see building organization, construction in progress. Then will be able to understand how much flexibility there is. Wear work boots and hard hats will be provided. Construction is on schedule. The plans for fall are to get building buttoned up and fire up boilers and start drying the building out.
Committee broke up into three groups and were given fifteen minutes to address these questions.
- What do you see as our tasks?
- What does the transition mean to you?
Vic: Looking for the tasks we need to capture now.
Group 1
1. Management of kids
- communication outside and inside school
- student input
- school is personalized
2. Urban rural
- how does this affect:
- PEA – SST
- Teen Center – Charter School
3. Can’t forget the history of this place
- citizens
- alumni
4. Keep heart & soul of school
5. Clear Mission Statement
6. Want/need staff input
- need them “on board”
Group 2
1. How to best use the new space at EHS
2. Communicate to all feeder towns of EHS
3. Make sure we are realistic about what we can get done between now and January/06.
4. Research models and ways of dividing the new school up
Group 3
1. Keep remembering to ask the students what this means to them
2. This is an opportunity to stop and reflect
3. Need to build community
- faculty
- students
4. Connect w/school as a whole not just one piece of it (i.e. sports)
5. Each student should be able to identify w/one adult at school
6. Ease anxiety during change
7. This is about change
8. coherence
Minutes will be distributed to members via email and will be posted on website.
My original intent. Does it match your thoughts?
Vic felt the committee captured his intent tonight.
Review the EHS Mission Statement – EHS has a statement of purpose called a Mission Statement. Gave out copies to committee members. Vic feels mission statement should say who we are and should be recited by the kids and they should be able to understand it. Feels kids may not be able to understand the current one. One task should be to look at the Mission Statement.
What is Breaking Ranks – Vic gave a little bit of history of “breaking ranks”. Basically a notion that came up in coop with 2 groups (Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the National Association of Secondary School Principals) who looked at high schools of America. On the first breaking ranks had NH rep. - Mayor of Manchester Robert Baines was a former HS principal. Two years later came up with recommendation for high school to go into the next millennium. Discussion followed. Vic will bring the expectations academic, social and civic that was developed for EHS. Jerry Frew – felt all discussions should be student centered.
Committee Members broke into different groups to discuss the following question: What are the characteristics of a good High School
Group 1
1. Producing graduates that are ready to excel in the next phase of life
2. Excellent, caring teachers
3. Fosters a sense of community and fosters teamwork
4. Offers a curriculum that offers a variety of experiences available to all students
5. Effective leadership
6. School pride
7. High expectations: all students can learn
8. Community support from all constituents
Group 2
1. Celebrating good work at all levels
2. High level of communications among faculty, parents and students
3. Make sure school is something all kids want to go to
4. Participation: all students relate to school and activities that take place there
5. healthy positive relationship
6. Safe environment
Group 3
1. Parents have a role, are comfortable at the school, welcomed
2. A rich and diverse academic program
3. Professional development of staff
4. High school works smart – uses resources wisely
5. Community service component
6. Application of learning is important beyond walls of school
Visit to new EHS – next meeting – September 29 – Time 5 PM – Meet at the new High School. Coming from Exeter go W on 101 Exit 9, Take R, couple miles and there will be a church on R and after church will be the entrance to HS. East on 101 Exit 8, there will be the NE dragway and go R a mile or so down the road. Drive in and park in the front by the Clock tower. Someone will meet you there at 5 pm. Hard hats will be provided.
Meeting that week will primarily be the tour. If someone can’t make it Vic will make arrangements to take them. And also noted the second Tuesday of every month the SB does a full walk through and anyone can show up then as well at 7:30 AM.
Channel 22 is a good way to spread the word. Vic, Evan, Dick, Jennifer, Anne and Joanne volunteered to go on TV to do a presentation.
Roundtable – feedback from group.
Meeting went well
Students attending tonight have great insight
Vic has names of those who have interest but weren’t selected for this committee for possible subcommittees
Agendas will be posted on web
Put in newspapers
Very positive, lots of energy
Lists of everyone will be attached to copies of minutes
Spin control – rumors
Future Meetings: 9/29/05 – 5 PM – New High School Site
10/13/05 – 6:30 PM - Culinary Arts Dining Room/SST
10/27/05 – 6:30 PM – Culinary Arts Dining Room/SST
Meeting adjourned 8:05 PM
Respectfully submitted,
Mary E. Murphy