Dunwoody High School Principal Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting
Summary of Action September 12, 2019

Attendance: Ms. Cole, Bob Fiscella, Ebony Greene, Dave Levy, Mary K. Morris, Randi Siegel

Guests: Lisa Beiger, Kelly Clinch, Michelle Fincher, Chad Griffith, Stan Jester, Lisa May, Pam Tallmadge, Andrew Ziffer

Dave calls meeting to order at 4:33 PM.

Agenda with changes was unanimously approved.

Minutes from the August 20, 2019 meeting were unanimously approved.

Teachers’ Report ‐ none

Principal’s Report – Ms. Cole Attendance/Enrollment – 2254 enrolled as of today.

Curriculum Night ‐	A success!
‐	A suggestion was made to give teachers a few more minutes in each block.

School Safety and Security
‐	 The State of Georgia has given schools a $30,000 grant for security spending. DHS will be using these funds to purchase a new PA system. The new PA system costs $30,000. The option chosen has to be submitted by Sept 20th. Should be installed by March.
‐	Features of the PA system include panic buttons along with zone funtionality. Parts of the PA system use VOIP technology, and will be using the school Wi‐Fi.
‐	Other security items needed are additional security door video systems that will allow students to enter from other areas in the building besides the main door. This grant will not cover those items.
‐	PAC approved the spending of the grant on the PA system.

Schedules/Instructional Needs
‐	The school received additional points this year with the increased enrollment and hired new teachers with those points.

‐	There are still some additional points to use for 2nd semester to meet classroom needs.

Teacher and Staff Issues/Needs
‐	With all of the new teacher initiatives, teachers and the administration are trying to figure out how to balance these new responsibilities, teaching, and keeping a work/life balance. Teachers are feeling a little overwhelmed.

Parking
‐	 Parking has still been ok. Some minor reminders to students have been needed about allowable parking spots in the DHS lot.
‐	St. Luke’s spots are still being used, kids are getting here even earlier to park on the street.
‐	 The school is trying to get a DCSD bus stop established at St. Luke’s to help with the transportation to/from DHS.

New Modular Units
‐	Teachers have designated 1 set of doors on each modular for each building so that there is consistency, more order, and security in the structures. Signs were purchased to put on the designated doors to help students identify which ones to use.
‐      New modulars have smart boards, but the old ones do not (12 rooms total). ‐      Are there other schools that have smart boards that can be moved to DHS?
Austin? Other DeKalb high schools with empty seats?

CAC Report – see notes from today’s meeting.

New Business/Unfinished Business Wildcat Fund & Other Fundraisers
‐	Game On is launching a campaign to build a new structure for concessions, bathrooms, and press box. This will replace the current building next to the baseball field.
‐	The goal amount is $100,000. A Go Fund Me campaign has started.
‐	The work still has to go through the RFP process, which DeKalb runs.
‐	There is also a plan to place another set of risers on the other side of the football field, pending the building project.

Concessions
‐	 At a prior meeting, the PAC asked Stan Jester to explore keeping concession and ticket sales from home football games if parents volunteer to staff the facilities.
‐	Stan reported getting pushback from district, claiming a concern about equity among the district schools able to run the stands

‐	Additional discussion occurred about the management of the funds raised from athletic events. There was a suggestion that the district should have a financial audit for athletics completed.

PAC Vacancy
‐	Lisa May has resigned from the PAC, as she no longer has a child at DHS.
‐	 Ms. Cole nominated Yolanda Parker Smith to serve the remaining year of Lisa’s two‐year term.
‐	The PAC approved the nomination.
‐	 Yolanda will email the PAC to introduce herself and will attend the October 15th meeting.

Technology Naviance
‐	DeKalb is implementing a new system (Naviance) to provide support for college applications, including teacher and counselor recommendations.
‐	The system is not live for teachers and counselors at this time. It is not ready for district use.
‐	 The current training plan for counselors and teachers consists of an 8 minute video and a training packet.
‐	This has raised a big concern among students, parents and teachers who have deadlines for college applications soon. (October 15 is the early notification deadline for UGA.)
‐	 The Common App cannot be used anymore to request recommendations for counselors and teachers; Naviance is now interfacing with Common App but does not have any working functionality at DHS.

Chromebooks
‐      There are not enough Chromebooks at DHS to meet the need. 287 additional Chromebooks are needed at DHS. This is an issue at other schools as well.
‐	Participation rates in the Digital Dreamers program may be higher than last year, which could be contributing to the problem.
‐	Optional insurance (instead of mandatory) this year may also lead to higher demand and usage.

Misc.
‐	DeKalb County hired a new CIO. Do not know his start date.

Other Business Calendar ‐
‐	The PAC motioned for and approved the recommendation of early release days in the 2020 – 2021 calendar

Public comments

‐	Can the teachers be surveyed on what they need so that the community can help provide support?
‐	The school calendar for 2020 ‐ 2021 should be out by the next PAC meeting. Meeting is adjourned at 5:45 PM.
Next PAC meeting: October 15, 2019 at 5:00 PM, follows CAC meeting at 4:00 that same day.