Dunwoody High School Principal Advisory Council Meeting Minutes February 11, 2020

Attendance: Ms. Cole, Bob Fiscella, Ebony Greene, Kevin Travis, Dave Levy, Yolanda Parker Smith, Fran Hughes (Davina Profit and Randi Siegel are excused)

Guests: Lisa Beiger, Julia LeDoyen, Andrew Ziffer, Mayor Lynn Deutsch

Bob calls the meeting to order at 5:15pm

Agenda unanimously approved

Minutes from December 10, 2019 meeting unanimously approved

Teacher’s Report - Ms. Greene and Mr. Travis

• Ms. Greene reported that she had one last minute email-otherwise no complaints
• Mr. Travis reported that the teachers are not happy with the Verge platform. Teachers feel it is clunky, and not effective. Teachers are using the minimum mandated shell and doing their own thing. They are requesting to remove as it is not user friendly.
• Mr. Travis reported that supervision is needed after school for students that not leaving the campus. Ms. Cole requested teacher volunteers and added that students may be staying late for tutoring, sports or other school functions and should sit in the auditorium
Mr. Travis reported that teachers feel students need less time between class to transition to next class and maybe the time should be dropped to 5 minutes rather than 8 minutes. Ms. Greene added that students may need to bring clear book bags if they do not have time to transition to classes. Discussion was had on the ramifications of a mandated book bag. Ms. Cole asked if

teachers would prefer students bring book bags to class or have the 8 minute transition. Discussion was had that new trailers would be added and the additional time would probably be needed for students to transition across the campus. Discussion regarding the number of quads that will be added. 1 quad will be added by the auditorium. 1 or 2 the following year by the tennis courts (tennis courts will be relocated next to the softball field).
• It was discussed that next year could add an additional lunch period bringing the total to 5.

Principal’s Report - Ms. Cole

Attendance/Enrollment – 2,234

School Safety and Security:

• Ms. Cole mentioned that she wants to move carpool drop off next year as she does not feel the current location is safe for students.

Schedules/Instructional Needs:

• Ms. Cole handed out the “Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP)
• Priority Area #1: a potential tutoring program (a math workshop during lunch periods similar to the writing workshop) that would go into effect next year. Possible peer tutoring was discussed as well.
• Priority Area #2: All strategies implemented. Priority Area #3: Working on sub groups and group participation
• Ga United Credit Union wants to bring hold one of their shredding events with food trucks and have a community event

Teachers/Staff Issues-Needs

• New teacher starting next Tuesday.

• Smart Goal Specific-approve for 2021

Marquee Sign

• Sign was being installed but did meet specifications so work was stopped and contractors re-installed as per the design

Modular Units

• 1 quad will be added by the auditorium. 1 (maybe 2) the following year by the tennis courts (tennis courts will be relocated behind the softball field).

Chrome Books

• Goal is for 90% of students to receive in first semester. Most returned in good condition. There was discussion about why some students still don’t have chrome books. Ms. Cole advised that there was a problem with some students not giving the application to the parents and parents not completing the application. There also are some students who, according to PCMS records, are ineligible because they did not return their chrome books last year. DHS is investigating whether those PCMS records are accurate. There was discussion about problems with built-in security and students are blocked from getting to some necessary sites for information.

CAC Report - Dave

• Addition project put on hold until a new comprehensive plan can be completed. In the meantime, the county will move forward with artificial turf on football fields, including Dunwoody High’s field. One of the improvements included in the addition project was the detention pond being paved over. Ms. Cole would like to see this project completed as planned to solve parking issues.
• Need short term relief. Current rate of growth will be 2,500 + students before the comprehensive plan is complete

• Moving the magnet program (700 students) from Chamblee to a central location in county could open up seats at DHS.

New Business/Unfinished Business

• Game On Campaign – now less than $11,000 short to start concession stand/restroomPac voted to fill open positions:

• Davinia nominated as secretary - Davinia was unanimously approved.
• Dave nominated as chairperson for 2021- unanimously approved

Other Business

• Bob brought up the December 20th incident at DHS where a student brought a gun to campus after the school day as Dunwoody was hosting Chamblee in a basketball game that evening. Ms. Cole shared the student, knowing that backpacks are not allowed at games, voluntarily handed security the backpack (which contained the gun) as he was entering the building. As a matter of course, security searched the backpack, found the gun, and the student was arrested. The student did not make any threats. A redacted copy of the police report was distributed for members to review.
• PTSO shared the school will be showing the film “Angst” Thursday during 3rd block and the parent screening would be at 7pm and Summit Counseling would be present.

Public Comments

May 19th non-partisan votes school board

Meeting Adjourned by Bob at 6:10pm

Next meeting is March 10, 2020 at 5pm (subject to change as

there is no CAC meeting)