PRESENT: Cara Beames, Deb Beck, Carol Heller, Dave Eagle, Linda Kissane, Sue Mellon, Cathy Stanilka, MaryAnn Gipson, Nick Round, Patricia Dow, Nicole Tearno

ABSENT: Margaret Jones

Cara Beames called the meeting to order at 2:45. A new updated list of constituent representation was distributed along with calendar meeting dates.

Dave announced that Patricia Dow’s parent rep term would be up in September and she will become the Community Representative for the coming year. The PTSO would be holding an election to fill the position at our Open House on September 18^th. Interested parents should apply through the PTSO. Nicole Tearno was welcomed as the student-at-large rep. Two other student council reps will be named soon.

Copies of last year’s Forum Goals were distributed for information only. Past goals were discussed and modified as needed. A proposed set of goals for 2003-2004 is attached. Each member was asked to discuss with constituents for any further suggestions or changes and a final copy of goals will be set at the next meeting.

Communications on our Web Pages and ways in which people could respond or e-mail teachers were discussed. There are e-mail links on the "Staff Page" at www.lkgeorge.org/hsadmin/hsstaff.htm where parents can contact forum members, heads of department, teachers and staff. We will be adding more information pages on the cable soon. Brian Clements will be asked to put our announcement of "Raising a Team Player" by Harry Sheehy, Director of Athletics to be held on Wednesday, September 17^th and information about Open House to be held on Thursday, September 18^th.

A discussion about Open House followed with ideas to make the night better. Dave will find out if we still have the Open House banner and have it put up in front of the school. MaryAnn Gipson offered her Effective Schools’ members to be ambassadors for the Open House evening. It was suggested that we add a few extra minutes to the schedule so that feedback sheets could be filled out in last period class and left with the teacher.

Other items that could be included on the cable station could include an Alumni page with pictures and links for past graduates; information about the Mel Levine Conference including discussions about special skills or intelligences of students, and dates of the next STEP Parent program.

School dances were discussed and an idea to help manage and identify younger students was to have students sign in and out at the ticket booth. It would give chaperones a complete list of who attended, when they came and when they left. This might be helpful for parents who question when their student arrived or left the dance. Also, it would immediately identify LG students and visiting students.

MaryAnn Gipson reported that Effective Schools was sponsoring a Halloween Dance for the junior and senior high and are re-doing the cafeteria bulletin boards. She further reported that the R.A.K.’em-Up program would be starting soon and encouraged all staff to continue using the R.A.K. ‘em-Up cards.

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 14^th.