Members present: Patricia Dow, Trista Tallon, Linda Kissane, Carol Heller, Tom Dittus, Roger Wells, Karen Pound, Nick Round, Sue Mellon, Dave Eagle, Bill Elder

Plans were drawn up for possible European speakers in social studies and business classes. Patricia Dow will contact local businesses who employee people from European/Asian countries inviting them to speak. Tom Dittus offered to contact Jacqueline Touba of the World Awareness Museum of Glens Falls, who is especially versed in Mid-Eastern Culturals. Trista will contact social studies teachers to set dates for speakers. Other ideas included: E-pals, which is a program set up for e-mailing students of other countries – Dave has more information; special program on Martin Luther King day; Saga City student exchange – Millie Koh will present at an upcoming faculty meeting, and Bill Elder will contact friends at Troy High School for other possibilities.

The protocol for our next Middle States review needs to be decided sometime this year. Members should share the handout given at the last meeting with constituents.

Discussion about difference between CST and IST. We presently have a CST committee comprised of counselors, nurse, special education coordinator, psychologist, principal and assistant principal, along with special education teacher when needed. CST is for behavioral problems, skipping school, etc.; where IST is for students with learning disabilities, not being able to concentrate in class, etc. Rosemarie Earl has offered to chair this committee. We would like to have 4-6 or more teacher volunteers for this committee.

Brian Clements is working to get more students involved in setting up/fixing computer equipment, etc. for teachers and staff. Give names of possible interested students to Brian.

Discussion of our present system of getting students into AIS labs and ways to enhance or change the system followed. Our schedule is tight for students as well as teachers and it was suggested that we contact some area schools to see how they are doing it. We also discussed the possibility of holding AIS labs after school for those students who need the lab but do not have time in their schedule for AIS labs.

Change GOAL: STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT as follows:

Move "Examine AIS as possible collaborative class" to Objective column: Ideas for strategies: discuss model, what we like about the model, what can be improved with model, add topic sheets, strategies that work, list of what would help AIS teachers and referring teachers, sharing of ideas, develop communication sheet between AIS teacher and referring teacher.

1. Multi-cultural ties in area – get list in by December. Get ideas & support.

a. Epals – check out www.epals.com (there are samples there)

2. CST/IST –Need volunteers for IST committee.

3. Middle States – go over chart given last meeting

4. Technology – get student volunteer names to Brian Clements

5. How did you like Opening Day schedule?

6. AIS labs – what is working, what is not, suggestions.

Open House will be held Tuesday, September 27. Brief discussion held. We will add one minute between classes for parents. Babysitting for young children will be held in cafeteria by FBLA, but parents are discouraged about bring junior/senior high students to "hang out" while open house is going on. There will be student guides by Junior Honor Society and Effective Schools, however. These students will have ID’s. This information will be noted on notices, along with encouragement to come for all or part of the night’s activities. Teachers are encouraged to prepare handouts for parents for the night.