Dunwoody High School

Principal’s Advisory Council Meeting Minutes November 30, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. DHS Media Center
Principal Advisory Committee Mission Statement: The purpose of the council is to bring schools and communities closer together to solve education problems, improve academics, provide support for teachers and administrators, and bring parents into the decision-making process.

Present: Tom Bass (Principal), Ingrid Gero (Teacher Representative), Mike Nash (Teacher Representative), Allegra Johnson (Chair), Julia LeDoyen (Co-Chair), Megan Cann (Secretary), Katie Scharf (Parent Representative)
Virtual Presence: Jenny Shulman (Parent Representative) Guests: Fran Bartel (PTO President)

1) Welcome: Meeting called to order at 4:03 by Allegra Johnson.

a. Community Member position—This individual does have voting rights. Despina Lamas, Daniel Almeida, and Bob Freeman are all involved in the community and interested in serving in this role. Allegra Johnson made a motion to accept all individuals. Julia LeDoyen questioned the need of having any community members. The group discussed the value of adding community members versus the efficiency and purpose of these roles. Megan Cann made a motion to add Daniel Almeida and Bob Freeman as community members. Discussion ensued. The motion was seconded by Allegra Johnson. The motion was amended by Ms. Gero to add only Daniel Almeida as a community member at this time. All in favor: Allegra Johnson, Jenny Shulman, Megan Cann, Katie Scharf, Ingrid Gero Opposed: Mike Nash, Julia LeDoyen. The motion passed.
2) Approval of Minutes from October 19, 2021

a. Katie Scharf made a motion to approve the minutes. Megan Cann seconded. It passed unanimously.
3) Public Comment-N/A 4) PTSO Update-

a. The PTSO has been focused on supporting classroom needs with grants and

equipment requests. Sixteen additional picnic tables were added to the outdoor space thanks to a Saturday workday with Dunwoody Dads and Mr. Nash’s students to assemble tables and spread mulch. Bus drivers received gift cards to express appreciation. Science lab supplies, counseling sessions, and speakers were purchased as needed. School pride efforts continue. Prizes are being given for displayed spirit. Lunch was provided during Homecoming week. The PTSO is focusing on what they can do since volunteers are still not allowed in the building. The PTSO remains a little short on annual campaign donations and will be doing one more push in December. The PAC expressed their gratitude for the excellent work being done for the school by the PTSO.
5) Teacher’s Report-10 min

a. Coach Nash—All is well. b.	Mrs. Gero—
i. Ms. Magnus asked about Promethean board fixes and replacements. The boards are an embarrassment. The ones in the trailers are not working, not getting fixed, and this is in impediment to learning. Mrs. Gero will get in touch with Megan with numbers of broken boards, and Megan will follow up with Mrs. Pearch. Dunwoody would benefit from an ITS individual on site full time.
ii. Teachers would also like a uniform cellphone policy. Technology is source of major frustration for staff.
iii. Student growth is a focus, and 9th and 10th graders are showing some unexpected immaturity. The block schedule is difficult as a lot of students do not have a 90-minute attention span, resulting in material being missed. Mrs. Gero shared the benefit of year long classes. Others shared that block scheduling is great for math and science but can pose challenges for humanities teachers. There are diverse feelings from staff about the block schedule. Chamblee has a 7-period day with ELT built in

daily. Motivated students are served well by the block schedule as they

are able to take additional classes. Concerns were articulated about the small percentage served by those additional classes. Mrs. Gero shared the emotional/social/behavior concerns lingering from instruction at home due to COVID restrictions.
6) Principal’s Report-Mr. Bass

a. Cell phone policy—there will be no uniform policy. It is up to teachers to manage phone use in their classrooms as different teachers have different needs in different classrooms.
b. Block schedule—Mr. Bass is not a proponent of the block schedule, though there are pros and cons. Mr. Bass would like to move to a hybrid schedule in two years. Vision: implement Focus 40 next year to allow tutoring, counseling services, and make up tests/quizzes. Lunch will be 40 minutes. The media center will become a learning hub. Tutoring is going to be offered starting next week from 0730-0800 by Honor Society students. All professional learning communities can meet during lunch. This will be an intricate plan from a scheduling perspective. The following year will be a monitoring year. 2024-2025 would have a hybrid opportunity. Tentatively, there would be an 8-period day, one being lunch. M,T,F with 50 minute classes. W, Th with 90-minute classes. There will be one less class each year, but classes will last all year. The hybrid offers the best of both. Parent feedback was positive from the PAC.
c. Enrollment is stable at 2140.

d. Work orders are being completed. The work on the media center has been impressive. The vision is to have 10 tables with an on-duty teacher. Plants and painting in the corner with high tops and couches. There will be a room for test/quiz taking that will be monitored. A counselor will be in the media center every day. An aspiring leaders’ program for faculty will be coming.
e. Working with students on a Wildcat Love week, Dude be Nice week, and spirit gatherings.

f.	Cluster gathering planned for 3/17/22 featuring “All Paths Lead to Dunwoody”.

Going to get neon green shirts showing logos and all roads lead to Dunwoody. 5:30-6:30 have four elementary schools with faculty do kick ball games. Peachtree kids against teachers on baseball field. 6:30 will have the big reveal for DHS turning 50 logo! There will be a few big-ticket events for fundraising and community building. Then the powder puff football game will be played.
g. Mr. Bass shared his gratitude for the PTSO.

7) Old/New Business-20 min
a. DCSD Calendar Update
i. DCSD collected input from various PAC representatives. Priorities seem to be finishing before Memorial Day.
b. CMP
i. Town hall meeting coming up next week on 12/6. Considering K-6 for all feeder schools. No relief coming to DHS for some time. Kingsley will stay an elementary.
c. Senior Dues

i. Senior dues are required for prom and cap and gown. Discussion about

students with free and reduced lunch. Julie LeDoyen expressed concern about charging $20 as part of senior dues to be used as a gift for future students. She expressed concern about students and parents having to pay DCSD. Gifts should be optional. She feels like it should not be tied to dues. The group sought clarity if extra money was being used for a gift. In open records, it was clear that a gift was budgeted for. This is a school budget situation that the PAC would like to revisit next month.
8) Adjournment: Allegra Johnson adjourned the meeting at 5:22 9)	Next Meeting January 18, 2022 at 4:00pm