Dunwoody High School Principal Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting
Minutes October 15, 2019

Attendance: Ms. Cole, Bob Fiscella, Ebony Greene, Kevin Travis, Dave Levy, Michelle Fincher, Erin Dixon, Yolanda Parker Smith

Guests: Pam Tallmadge, Andrew Ziffer, Stan Jester, Lisa Beiger

Bob calls the meeting to order at 5:06 pm

Agenda unanimously approved

Minutes from September 12, 2019 meeting unanimously approved

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

● Discipline mandates from the county taking more time. Teachers are in the hall but still difficult
● Would like to look into the cost of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) to encourage good behavior.
● Paperwork demands for new class Module system, required by DCSD, creating time stress for teachers. It is good information but suggest it be scaffolded to ensure practice vs compliance (time for mastery).
● Exceptional Education teachers have the added responsibility of IEP paperwork, sometimes needing information from students’ teachers, who are also busy with their own paperwork.
● New lesson plan formatting, required by DCSD, creating concerns. DHS departments had already created what worked best for their subject areas and can no longer use them. New system impedes authentic lesson planning, and time is being spent “templating” instead.
● Stan, Bob, Ebony, and Kevin plan to meet to discuss and bring a request for lesson plans that make sense for content areas to the administration through Stan.
● Principal Cole suggested early release days be considered for the DCSD calendar so that teachers have more time for paperwork. Stan will try to add early release days to the 2020-2021 calendar survey.

Principal’s Report - Ms. Cole

Attendance/Enrollment - 2247 as of today

School Safety and Security

● A second SRO will be hired because enrollment is so high. This will allow one SRO to stay on campus.

● The newly installed fence will be moved out of the right of way this weekend, according to the City. This will allow trees to be planted outside the fence. Bob will ask the city about coordinating with DCSD’s landscape plans inside the fence. The fence is serving the purpose of protection for the last modular, and look of containment for students eating lunch outside.
● The DCSD-conducted random search went well, with nothing alarming found. Not everyone was searched after the buses arrived due to the volume of students arriving at once.
● The school should hear about the new PA installation date by end of December. There is a deadline of the end of March for the State security grant.
● Teachers are being intentional about hallway monitoring.

Scholastic/Instructional Needs

● There will be a need for approximately 4 teachers next semester due to a resignation, a possible FMLA absence, and a need to meet the demand for courses (Coordinate Algebra).

Teachers and Staff Issues and Needs

● Custodian staff has been short by 3 employees, but 2 more have recently been hired. Dunwoody Dads gave the custodians $50 gift cards to show appreciation for tackling the extra load. They also received a catered lunch, and new uniform shirts with the school name.
● Great teaching staff, but they feel overwhelmed at times with extra work from DCSD mandates concerning modules and lesson planning.

Parking

● Parking is going well. Faculty parking will be maxed out this month with new hires.

Modulars

● The school will know in November if it expects to receive another trailer.

● Stan reported he is pushing for the detention pond to be covered for either parking or additional trailers. The construction schedule is uncertain due to timeline/uncertainty of GO Bond vote.

CAC Report - Dave

● Geo testing (soil sampling) bids are in and the architect will review with DCSD to choose a vendor. Testing should be completed by late October/early November, then wait for results.
● Next CAC meeting TBD - may not have any new information.

New Business/Unfinished Business

New Vice-Chairperson, Secretary

● Erin Dixon unanimously elected Vice-Chairperson. ● Michelle Fincher unanimously elected Secretary
● Dave Levy unanimously elected in a Community Member position as CAC representative.

Wildcat Fund/Game On Campaign

● All Fore One funds not finalized, waiting on the final bill from Dunwoody Country Club ● SGA has expressed interest in raising funds for the Game On campaign

Chromebooks

● The school still needs approximately 100 Chromebooks for students who turned in user agreements after the first deployment of devices.
● Students and staff prefer to use their own devices as DCSD Chromebooks lack some basic functionalities, (such as editing software).
● Stan reported DCSD is spending approximately $5M on new Chromebooks.

Concessions

● Bob is waiting to hear from about 3 more high schools in South Dekalb to discuss willingness to run concessions through booster clubs at home games.
● Stan reports making some progress towards a pilot program.

Other Business

● The 2019 senior gift, a bronze wildcat, was installed by the flagpole near sports fields. ● Dunwoody Dads are planning Waffle House again.
● Food trucks are coming November 5 for the teacher workday.

Public Comments

● PTSO looking to connect with businesses to help celebrate teachers (gift cards, etc.).

Meeting is adjourned at 6:22 pm

Next PAC meeting is November 12, 2019 at 5:00pm, following CAC meeting at 4:00pm. PAC will tentatively move to 4:00pm if there is no CAC meeting.