Oct 2004 :::

LT Community Advisory Council Minutes

October 20, 2004

LTHS Extra Curricular Activity Report - Part I

During the first ten minutes of the meeting, Tom Kokontis took pictures of the members for a LTCAC handbook.


I.   LTCAC Orientation and Call to Order (7:00 pm)

The meeting was called to order by new co-chair, Frank Painter.

A.   Minutes

The members in attendance unanimously accepted the minutes as written for the September 22, 2004 meeting.

B.   New Name Tags

New nametags were presented to the LTCAC membership. Thanks to Harriet and the LTHS AV Department!

II.   Superintendent Report - Dr. Dennis Kelly (7:15 PM)

A.   Homecoming Report

Over 2800 students attended the recent Homecoming dance. Dr. Kelly noted that while some neighboring schools/students have little interest in their respective Homecoming festivities, LTHS students thoroughly enjoy theirs.


B.   Facilities Planning

  1. The three projects in process are being reviewed in order to find ways to make changes that will comply with the existing budget. All processes and decisions that would be impacted by the proposed project changes are being revisited. The project architects will be presented with new project parameters by November 1. New/revised designs will be created and new bid documents will be drafted for the projects. Bids will be returned to LTHS in early January for review. If any of the project bids come in under budget and the work being quoted represents time-tested, maintenance-free quality, the Board will present the bids to be accepted for Spring 2005 groundbreaking.

  2. Liliana Zarnowiecki (student representative to the Board) reported the 7 th place Boys’ Golf Team win and the 3 rd Place Girls’ Golf Team win in the state.

  3. The "curriculum event" for the last Board meeting was the restructuring of the English program with a move away from an intensive literature based program to which emphasizes balance and requires a semester of Speech class and written composition. The sophomore honors’ project was removed from the curriculum. Copies of the curriculum changes will be provided to the LTCAC once they are completed.

  4. The School District Goals for 2004-2005 were adopted (7 major goals with 20 major objectives). While these goals are adopted for a calendar year, some are goals that can only be achieved with several (3-5) years of ongoing work. The goals, once achieved, become part of the school culture. The goals were presented to LTCAC at last month’s meeting in the form of a handout and were reviewed by Dr. Kelly at that time.

  5. New Staff Hiring will occur in three (3) phases. The first phases takes place between now and Thanksgiving to fill 7 key positions. Phase 2 will be to fill 18 teaching positions by January 2005. The third phase will be to fill 11 positions by March 2005. The key to LTHS’ strategy is to get "best" personnel for all of the open positions by recruiting and filling the slots before most of the other schools begin their job initial recruitment in April of 2005. Any LTCAC member who is interested in serving on an interview committee (must be available during the day) should contact Dr. Kelly at dkelly @lths.net

  6. Frank Painter asked if Dr. Kelly sensed that the recent bids, which came in over budget, were fair for the project work or if contractors used a "rubber ruler" to establish their fee base due to the misconception of "deep pocketed" school systems. Dr. Kelly maintained that most all of the contractors that bid on LTHS projects are "school contractors" in that they work primarily in the venue of school construction. These contractors are held financially accountable because they are bidding against their fair market competitors. The contract bids are sealed to further ensure a fair bidding process.

Sandy McLaughlin asked about the status of No Child Left Behind. LTHS final numbers have been sent to the state. Adjustments to curriculum will be made once the numbers have been evaluated. Many of the other schools in the state are "sitting on the fence" to see what will happen to the NCLB program in regard to the upcoming federal elections.


III.   School Board Member Report - Allen Polich (7:25 PM)

  1. Al is pleased with the ongoing project construction work that he’s seen to date.

  2. Al reported that Bob Boyd believes that the Music Program has been greatly improved.

  3. The Vaughan Gym is now a beautiful facility.

  4. Kids have said that they like the improvements at Bennett Field.

  5. Harriet asked about an Open House and was told that it would occur sometime within the next 30 days (Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m.) 



IV.   LTHS Extra Curricular Activity Presentation ~ Mike Morris and Attila Weninger (for Kris Costopoulos) (7:30)

  1. The "co" in Co-Curricular implies student "involvement" in the process. Kris Costopoulos works with the "social" side of the co-curricular activities. Kris can be emailed at: Kcostopoulos@lths.net

  2. Students are encouraged to give a lot of input to help shape the co-curricular activities that are made available to them.

  3. The primary way that a co-curricular activity is developed is through student interest. Twenty-five (25) students must be interested in a proposed activity. Forms and petitions are filed as an activity proposal. The Stipend Committee looks at the merits of the student proposals. If the Stipend Committee approves the activity, then they allocate a faculty stipend to the activity after the activity has run for one year. This stipend is funded by the School District. Fund raising generates all other funds necessary to support the activity. There are some activities for which the School District provides further funding (e.g. Athletics, Cheerleading, Pom, Speech, Debate, Math). The School Board considers special funding for unusual activity requests on a case-by-case basis.

  4. Available co-curricular activities are listed in the LTHS Athletics/Intramurals & Student Activities Information Booklet (handout). They are promoted through: Future Freshman Night on first Monday in December for 8 th graders who will be incoming Freshman the following fall; Freshman Orientation Co-Curricular Event for incoming Freshman in August; Freshman Survey conducted online; Entire student body is surveyed every four years; Posters in school; Announcements on the PA system; Advisory Period; Club sponsors respond to student surveys.

  5. New staff sponsors are paid based on the 2000-2001 negotiated pay scales at 1% of the BA1 annual salary level for every 14.4 student contact hours. The LTHS Compensation for Differential Responsibilities (handout) shows what each activity sponsor gets paid according to this scale. On the average most staff sponsors contribute more than the required 14.4 student contact hours.

  6. Kris Costopoulos trains staff sponsors via either a group meeting or by one-on-one training. Staff sponsors receive a "how to" handbook. Assistant staff sponsors are typically hooked up with a veteran staff sponsor for mentoring. Staff are hired not just because of their academic prowess, but also because of their ability to "be good for" the students. Inherent in the staff sponsor, then, is a teacher who was hired because of his/her ability to relate to kids and set a good example for them.

  7. Kris told Attila to report that at this time no additional resources are needed for the co-curricular program.

  8. Kris estimates that about 25% of the student body does not participate in co-curricular activities. Participation is described as having attended at least 50% of the scheduled meetings. Kris estimates that more girls are participating than boys. Minorities are not well represented. No "real" data exists for statistical evaluation of the co-curricular program. This analysis is underway right now.

  9. Student recognition of co-curricular participation is done through "Student of the Month" program. They are recognized on LTTV. On occasion, students are brought to the Board for recognition. Seniors are individually recognized for their co-curricular activities.

  10. There is no deterrent to joining a club or activity. Students must simply show up and have an interest.

  11. Corral is underused. It has been difficult to get students involved. Attila asked for suggestions from the LTCAC membership. LTCAC members were invited to attend An Evening of Live Radio on October 29 at the Corral.

  12. Attila suggests that our expectations may be too high for our students. Their involvement in academics and co-curricular activities doesn’t allow for other pursuits like family, church, down-time, etc.

  13. Life skills are found to be better for students involved in co-curricular activities. Engaging the disenfranchised students is still a problem. Finding "hooks" to get the students involved is tough. Teachers are encouraged to identify interests in their students. An example is that some success has been met by combining intramural soccer and homework in sessions at the Corral.

  14. Intramural sports are not "data" monitored. It is not known how many times a student participates in intramural activities.



V.   Question & Answer Session (8:30 PM)

  1. Attila confirmed that clubs with less than 15 members were eliminated.

  2. Attila contends that we may have too many academic courses and possibly too many co-curricular activities.

  3. 70% of the invited future freshmen participate in the December meeting.

  4. Sport standard practice time is typically 3:25 pm to 5:45 pm. There are some exceptions like the diving team and varsity football. It is a Monday through Saturday commitment.

  5. Most clubs have no prerequisites unless they are academically based. "Cut" sports do have prerequisites for membership. Some clubs have physical limitations that determine membership numbers.

  6. Staff sponsors are matched to the activity clubs by affinity or experience. Sponsors are interviewed. Sports coaches are interviewed twice. If no one from faculty applies for an open position, staff sponsors are recruited from other schools and in our community.

  7. Coaches are trained with the Policies and Procedures of LTHS. They are licensed in the sport that they coach. Mike Morris is responsible for dealing with student/parent complaints regarding coaches who are lacking people skills or allowing student code violations. Mike can recommend counseling, mentoring, education, etc. for a coach who has been reported for questionable behavior.



VI.   Extra Curricular Activity high School Comparisons - Mary Fleming (8:30 PM)

  1. Extra Curricular Activities Web Page Printouts for Hinsdale South, Glenbard South, Hinsdale Central & LTHS (Handout)

  2. Extra Curricular Activity High School Comparison Sheets (Handout)

  3. Mary presented research regarding extra-curricular activities at other local high schools.

  4. Mary found that LTHS is very fortunate to have a full-time Activity Director. Most schools do not have such a position.

  5. Promotion and information dissemination for the extra-curricular activities are done on the Internet.

VII.   Announcements (8:35 PM)

  1. Tom Kokontis thanked new members for joining.

  2. Harriet asked that LTCAC members review the topics for future meetings and provide some feedback for future agendas.



VIII.   Small Group Round Table Discussion-Recommendations for Improving the Extra curricular Activities Program (8:40 pm)

  1. Feedback and Table Recommendations

    1. It seems that lack of transportation between campuses (South and North) may be prohibiting all grade levels from participation in certain activities. This lack of transportation may also predispose certain activities to be "class specific" because of the campus at which the meetings are held.

    2. Minority students are not "welcomed" into activity groups causing students to drop-out after minimal attendance. Sponsors and members should be encouraged to encourage new members and "draw them out".

    3. Some clubs seem to be geared toward upperclassmen even though there is a great interest shown by lower classmen. In such instances (like Eurythmics) perhaps each campus should have a club to accommodate the interest.

    4. Students should be encouraged to participate in CEP (Community Extension Program).

    5. The Corral is a great resource that is not being used to its potential. Students don’t seem to have enough information. Awareness of programs is low. Advisory Period would be a good platform for providing specific information about the various activities and programs being offered at the Corral.

    6. Better use of the Internet (Edline and LTHS website) and the addition of electronic message boards in common areas at both campuses could aid in Extra-Curricular Activity information dissemination.

    7. Some mechanism should be put into place to allow for follow-up with coaches once activity "cuts" are made. The coaches could provide a forum in which the "cut" students would understand why they were not allowed to continue in the activity. This process might also help the student to accept the decision more easily.

    8. Clubs should be reviewed periodically in regard to their being apropos for the "current" student body and the broad scope of student interests. It is thought that the Trans-Students represent a sub-group that is not proportionately represented in EC Activities. A half pipe built somewhere on campus might be an excellent recruitment tool for engaging some of these "non-represented" students on campus. Adults/teachers may need to be the activity advocates in cases where students don’t or won’t self-advocate.

    9. There is a need to be able to track all types of diversity within the various EC Activities. How are Socio-Economic and Academic levels represented?

    10. Are some students "over-involved" in EC Activities because of peer and college admission pressures?

    11. Is the 75% of the student body reported as participants in EC Activities a "good & true" number? Is it a realistic percentage based on other high school’s EC Activity participation?

    12. Is it the case that some students aren’t disenfranchised, but simply un-interested. Is 100 % student participation for EC Activities a desirable/attainable goal?

    13. When students are polled on the Internet regarding their personal participation in EC Activities there should be a text entry area in the survey that allows for some informal/unstructured student input. Provide student-specific follow-ups to the responses on these surveys.

    14. Sophomores that are not yet involved in EC Activities could be targeted during Advisory and Counseling sessions.

    15. The LTHS EC Activity Website could be better maintained. It is not regularly updated. Can the responsibility of website updates be assigned to a sponsor?

    16. Encourage EC Activity participation by scheduling a club/activity period during classroom hours once a week.

    17. If there is a freeze on EC Activity expansion, then what is the process for moving an established but less popular activity out or the program to make room for a new, more desirable activity?

    18. Implement a senior exit interview to identify successful EC Activity programs along with other areas of interest.

    19. EC Activity Announcements on the school PA system during third period are not effective as the "only" means of getting information out to the students. If the message is missed, students miss their one opportunity of staying in the loop.

    20. "Second Wave" follow-ups might be effective for catching the freshmen students who were too involved in just getting into the flow of LT to be able to address the EC Activities available to them. Also for catching-up with students who come out of sport activities mid-term and are not in prime position for joining new activities.

    21. There seems to be a disproportionate amount of "no cut" sports by gender. This disparity does not seem to be driven by lack of interest. Why does this disparity exist?

    22. The means to engage in community service roles should be made more available to the student body. Is there any way to determine how many students are currently involved in community service? Is there a way to reward community service with school credit?



    IX. Adjournment (9:10 PM)
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