Agawam Public Schools - SC Minutes September 11, 2007

The first item on the agenda was a review of Policy JLCCB, Students with Life Threatening Allergies, which has been adopted by the Arlington Public Schools. Dr. Czajkowski explained that the Mass. Department of Education has strongly suggested that all districts adopt such a policy. She also noted that we have several students in our own district with serious, life-threatening allergies. L. Galarneau said she had reservations about adopting such a policy until she can see a copy from the State. P. Cavallo said he would like to review Arlington’s policy and extrapolate portions that would apply to Agawam. It was agreed that Dr. Czajkowski would send subcommittee members a copy of the state’s suggested policy to review prior to the next subcommittee meeting.

Next, Mr. Sapelli explained that he and members of the high school administration and guidance department had met to review Policy IHCA, Summer School, Policy IHD, Adult Education Program, and Policy IHE, Dual Enrollment – Night School, as there are concerns, which need to be addressed. It was the consensus of subcommittee members to make the following changes to Policy IHCA, Summer School:

· Under “Additionally,” #2 would be changed to read, “An Agawam High School student who passes summer school with a grade of D- (65) or better will receive graduation credit for this course.”

· #3 would be changed to read, “Both the grade of the failed course and summer school course will appear on the transcript; however, the summer school course grade will not become part of the student’s grade point average (GPA).”

In addition, the following changes were made to Policy IHD, Adult Education/Night School Programs:

· To remain consistent with language in the policy, the policy’s name would be changed to “Evening School Programs”

· Paragraph #4 would be changed to read, “Any adult or student 16 years of age or older not enrolled in a day school may enroll in an adult program leading to an Agawam Evening High School Diploma or its equivalent.”

· Paragraph #5 would be changed to read, “An Agawam High School senior who passes evening school with a grade of D- (65) or better will receive graduation credit for this course.”

· Paragraph #6 would be changed to read, “Both the grade of the failed course and evening school course will appear on the transcript; however, the evening school grade will not become part of the student’s grade point average (GPA)”

· The last sentence of the policy would be changed to read, “These courses can be taken at any community college and/or at the Agawam Evening School Program with prior approval of the Principal and at the student’s expense.”

Next, the following change was made to Policy IHE, Dual Enrollment –Night School:

· To remain consistent, the policy’s title will be changed to “Dual Enrollment – Evening School.”

It was the consensus of the subcommittee to place all three revised policies on the September 25, 2007, meeting agenda for a first reading under Policy Review.

The next discussion item on the agenda was a sample of Granby Public Schools’ “Chemical Health Policy,” which AHS school substance abuse counselor, Stacy Wright, brought to Dr. Czajkowski’s attention. Ms. Wright explained what the benefits would be for instituting this policy such as a mandatory assessment prior to the student’s return to school. She also noted that Granby school adjustment counselor, Charlene Korza, would be a guest speaker at the first DWST meeting on Friday, September 14, 2007, and invited subcommittee members to attend, so they could hear more about the proposed Chemical Health Policy. Dr. Czajkowski said that she would contact Granby Public Schools superintendent, Patricia Stevens, for more information about the success of their Chemical Health Policy. It was suggested that Ms. Wright review Granby’s policy and compose a draft of a proposed policy for Agawam. Mrs. Schoenberger volunteered to help draft the proposed policy.

Next, a discussion took place about extending the district’s present grades K-6 Peanut-Free Serving Line policy, which was recommended by the Agawam Board of Health, to grades K – 12. It was the consensus of the subcommittee to hold on that policy until more information had been gathered and studied.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:58 p.m.

Alexis Ferioli, Committee Stenographer