This Weeks Minutes
LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT/FACULTY SENATE - Gregory Muir, Moderator; Chris Doucette, Assistant Moderator; Noah Star, Secretary
Agenda for the February 8, 2012 Meeting
Announcements
Open Comments
Committee Reports
The Community Service Bill (Atkins)
AP Resolution
New Business
THINGS ON THE DOCKET
Bells Music Bill
Minutes 2-1-12
Paula Rizzo: I am the coordinator of the LABBB program. We have been doing the Special Olympics for a while. The last few years have been tough because LABBB has been put solely in charge. We have given you a packet with rules/goals of the Special Olympics. If the Senate supports it, then the school will realize it is a joint community effort.
Robin Strizhak: Having Senate being aware of this makes everyone more aware. It helps have the rest of the school take it seriously; it is actually an opportunity for community service. We are excited the administration is taking us seriously. Parents, school committee, Dr. Ash all attend the event. It is a great way to show off our school.
Paula Rizzo: I am also a LHS alum. When I attended, this wasn't run by LABBB, it was run by the high school. One of the things that is really important is safety. We need to make sure the high school kids are on board with that. There are people who don't belong in a group who want to participate. Mrs. Cohen opened it up. We are going to do interviews with people who want to be buddies. We have asked for faculty support but it has been a hindrance. Mrs. Cohen agreed to 4-5 Faculty and 1 Dean to help supervise. We need staff members that know a good portion of the student body. Kids would receive no count absences and community service hours for participation. There are a few meetings you have to attend. This is all new.
Normile: Scheduling problems. It hurts 4th quarter teaching.
Strizhak: Students wont stay for half-day.
Rizzo: We need a whole day. We did change it. We need good weather for the outdoor facilities.
Hom: September would be hard to get students involved.
The Atkins Bill
Bader: I had a good chat with Ms. Swanson about this bill. Currently religious service counts as long as people don't proselytize. Things aren't allowed that are doing things for you. I am doing this for selfish desire. This serves the person doing the service for the community. Those who support it argue that it serves the community by raising awareness. Raising awareness can be a good thing. Not all forms of raising awareness can be considered service. Suppose someone goes to an abortion clinic. She might not approve even though she should.
Star: We need to redefine what it means to service the community. Think about the broader community, the democratic community. This helps that.
Normile: Every couple years we visit this issue. One, I dint think the present system is broken. I am not sure what problem we are trying to fix. A lot of kids do community service through religious opportunities. Its not like there aren't opportunities. Financial contributions to charities are tax deductible. Partisan doesn't count as tax deductible.
Brown: It allows the majority of students to campaign for liberal causes. Political minorities.
Star: I wasn't saying it would buck liberal trends.
Yost: It is simply community service. How much of an issue is this? It isn't. Ms. Swanson does a good job of being unbiased.
Muir: We shouldn't just fix things that aren't problems.
Congratulations to newly elected Moderator Greg Muir and Secretary Noah Star!
To see the list of the 2011-2012 Senators, visit the Current Senators page.
Read the 2010-2011 Senate End-of-Year Report.
Recently passed:
The Community Service Improvement Bill
The Senate requests that homeroom teachers and counselors, at least twice a year, discuss with each of their students his or her progress in meeting the school goal of ten hours of Community Service a year and in filing paperwork according to the deadlines stated below. Students should state specific plans for achieving their yearly goals. Community service should be celebrated in homerooms and students should be encouraged to help each other to complete their obligations.
Completed Community Service forms must be submitted to the Community Service Secretary within the quarter following the last date on which the service was performed. Hours completed in the summer must be submitted by the end of the first quarter.
Hours rejected solely due to late filing will be credited if the following occurs:
The student appears at a meeting of the Board of Appeals no later than the quarter following the rejection of the service, with paperwork approved for the type and hours of service.
The student, in discussion with the Board, reflects on the service performed and its meaning to the student.
The Board votes to grant the credit, based on the satisfactory completion of 1. and 2.
In order to facilitate a transition to a consistently enforced school policy, all students have until the end of Quarter 1, 2011-2012 to submit to the Community Service secretary paperwork for service performed at any prior time during their high school career, and this service will not be rejected for lateness.
It is suggested that the Board of Appeals meet on the same day as Attendance appeals for the convenience of scheduling and announcements. The Board of Appeals will establish any procedures necessary to carry out this new task.
The Community Service secretary shall keep a record of student hours rejected for late filing and each student's homeroom teacher and guidance counselor shall be informed of these hours.
The Student Handbook should be updated to describe the relevant provisions of this bill.
The Senate will provide quarterly reminders through homeroom announcements to students to fulfill their Community Service and file their paperwork in a timely fashion.
The senate will evaluate the success of this new policy in one year.
[Passed May 4, 2011]