Hudson High School

Site-Based Decision Making Team Meeting Minutes
September 6, 2006

Members Absent: P.T. Walters, Becky Holton.

1. Discussion of Waiver Application for Modified Testing Schedule on TAKS Days

Mr. Webb recommended seniors who are not taking TAKS be allowed to come to school at 12:00 on testing days. This would allow students to each lunch and be present for fifth period. The official attendance for those days would be taken at 1:00 p.m.

Ms. Hughes made a motion to accept Mr. Webb's recommendation and the motion was seconded by Mr. Small.
The committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion.

2. Special circumstance for a half-time student

A high school student has an infant with serious medical problems. The infant is currently hospitalized in Galveston. The student has an excellent academic and attendance record. TEA has informed Mr. Webb that Hudson ISD can serve the student by having a teacher in Galveston keep a log of the student's class time. The student would be considered half-time until she can return to Hudson full-time.

Mr. Lambert made a motion that Hudson ISD provide the student services under these special circumstances. The motion was seconded by Mr. Sims. The committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion.

3. Tardy Policy and Bell Schedule

Due to the use of buildings on the middle school campus, high school students have been unavoidably late for classes. There was much discussion about how long students need in order to use the restroom, go to the locker and still get to class on time. Mr. Small made a motion to allow the students 8 minutes between classes. The motion was seconded by Ms. Hillebrandt and the committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion. Mr. Webb agreed to have the bell schedule changed as quickly as possible so teachers may begin marking tardies. Ms. Throckmorton suggested that students who continued to have an excessive number of tardies could eventually be sent to DAEP for insubordination. Mr. Webb and Mr. Courtney will review the discipline consequences and, if necessary, revise last year's policy.

4. Exemption Policy

In prior years, students have been able to exempt semester exams if they met certain attendance, discipline and academic criteria. Ms. Hughes made a motion to keep last year's exemption policy. Mr. Largent seconded the motion and the committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion. The committee does plan to reconsider the exemption policy in the spring for the 2007-2008 academic year.

5. Student Schedule Changes

Currently, the only time a student can change out of an advanced class is at the end of the first semester. Ms. Throckmorton made a motion to allow a student's schedule to be changed out of an advanced class at any time if the teacher, the parent, the counselor, and the principal agree that it is in the student's best interest. This is with the understanding that every effort has been made to help the student be successful in the advanced course. The motion was seconded by Mr. Lambert and the committee voted unanimously in favor of the motion.

6. Pep Rally Schedule

Ms. Hughes made a motion that Pep Rallies be scheduled alternately between fourth and seventh periods. This would prevent pep rallies from always interrupting the same class period. It would also allow seniors who need to leave after sixth period to attend at least half the pep rallies.

7. Campus Plans

Mr. Webb informed the committee about the current status of campus plans. Currently campus plans are under review by the various academic departments. The committee will participate in campus planning at a future date.

8. Governor's Educator Excellence Award

Hudson High School earned this $100,000 non-competitive grant for comparable improvement on TAKS scores from 2004 to 2005. A committee will be responsible for planning how to use these funds for teacher merit pay.

9. Advanced Placement Funds

The state awarded Hudson High School $651.20 in additional funds to be used for the AP program. These funds can be used for instructional supplies or for teacher stipends. The committee agreed that the AP teachers needed to decide how best to use these funds. Mr. Webb will meet with them to make a decision.

Meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.