University School Advisory Committee

February 16, 2009

Call to Order at 6:00pm

October and November minutes accepted via email.

Members Present

Nancy Renfro, Sonja Hadad, Dr. Knight, Dr. Brinson, Rebecca Nunley, Kathleen Ecay.

Others Present

Pat Jungkeit, April Blakely, Dan Pohlgeers, Cathy Carter Bisner.

Agenda Items

Director’s Report:  Dr. Brinson

-           Dr. Brinson outlined the repairs & remodeling scheduled for the building:

o       2^nd floor painting of lockers – Middle School students will be asked to empty their lockers completely for Spring Break.

o       Floors will be repaired & refinished starting with 1^st floor.

o       General cleaning & sprucing up of areas in need.

-          Proposal for University School to fund one $75/student fee each semester for dual enrollment and a $75 grant toward each AP test fee for students enrolled in AP courses beginning next school year 09/10.

-          Dr. Brinson is looking for volunteers from USAC to work on revision of Field Trip and School Sponsored Travel policy revisions with him during early April.

Dean’s Report:  Dr. Knight

-           Dr. Bach (ETSU Provost) has asked a committee to re-examine University School student selection guidelines for possible revisions in these areas:

o       Leaving empty spaces in each grade for ETSU to “give” to incoming faculty as part of ETSU hiring incentive.

o       Selecting for Gender – leaving “wiggle room” if gender is tilted by 60% in order to facilitate more even distribution of boys and girls.

o       Selecting for ethnic diversity.

o       This March there will be spaces left for incoming ETSU faculty until May 15^th at which time empty spaces will be released to lottery list.

o       UH/ETSU will develop a formal policy next year.

School Improvement:  Pat Jungkeit

-           Ms. Jungkeit announced that the SACS Five Year Review will take place April 2-3

-          The NSSE survey has been sent to US Parent population

-          The Standards Assessment Report is on the website under Accreditation and she welcomes feedback.

-          Mw. Jungkeit did a Power Point Presentation on proposed High School Course Sequencing for the Math & Science Signature School initiative. 

o       Next year grade 12 has no change

o       Next year grade 10 and 11 students need 4 math credits and 4 science credits.  They need to take a math and a science course each of their four years of high school.

o       Next year grade 9 students will need to meet the new TN graduation requirements.  Along with this they will follow the revised Science/Math sequence. (See attached)

Please review the attached document outlining proposed course sequencing for math and science.  Any Questions on the Course Sequencing should be directed to Ms. Jungkeit or Dr. Brinson. 

Revisioning:  April Blakely

 Ms.  Blakely updated the USAC on Revisioning by commenting on the seamless integration of the various Revisioning results.  She noted gains in achievement are already becoming apparent based on testing and SACS data.  For example:

o       Middle School Encore Math to aid students in preparing for the new Course Sequencing outlined by Ms. Jungkeit.

o       Web based research by 8^th grade

o       Green School Initiative is placing plants in classrooms to help clean air.

o       New Maps are up in halls & classrooms.

o       Codian Bridge Platform

§         Video conferencing initiative is in the training stages for faculty.

·        Live feed over the internet for conferencing, pod casts, etc.

-           Global Partnership with China

o       Beginning July 9^th, ten to fifteen 8^th – 12^th grade students from China will be staying with University School Host families.

o       Students will be attending school full time

o       Goal is Cultural Immersion to maximize learning & awareness.

o       In 2010 University School students will travel to China

Open Forum:

-           Chair Nancy Renfro addressed a concern she had received from a University School parent about Remediation for students such as tutoring.  Along with that question was the concern that Intersession is no longer a time when students could “catch up” through extra teaching available through tutoring or remedial opportunities. 

o       Parents who work have difficulty finding appropriate and educational child care for University School Students other than in the summer when camps are offered.

o       Where is Girls, Inc?  Why is there no information about Girls, Inc? at Intersession anymore?

§         Dr. Knight said that Girls, Inc. could not support the program because they lost money doing it.

§         Dr. Knight said that they are looking at Intersession as a time when students might do credit recovery or have tutoring offered.

-           Dr. Brinson said that parents need to speak up & let him know their concerns & needs.  He said this problem can be addressed, but he needs input.

-          Directory:  Dr. Brinson said that a Directory is in the works and will likely take the form of an email list.  He also said that the newsletter will soon be electronic and the school will save lots of time & money by not mailing it home.

o       Opportunities will exist for people to get hard copies if needed.

New Business:

-           Class Representative Nominations & Elections

-          Dress Code

Adjourned at 8pm

University School

Effective 2009/2010 for Entering Freshmen

Please review the attached document outlining proposed course sequencing for

Please review the attached document outlining proposed course sequencing for math and science.  Any Questions on the Course Sequencing should be directed to Ms. Jungkeit or Dr. Brinson.