May 8th Meeting Minutes

SEHS Parent Council Meeting Minutes – May 8, 2008

Financial Update – Cindy Wright

We paid $108 for e-news server, we brought in $2,300 in scrip for April. We have $15,145 for the year, our goal for this year was $15,000.

The checkbook balance is $6,931

4j balance is $39,224

Scrip balance is $10,371

Our fiscal year is July 1 to June 30.


Principal's Update – Randy Bernstein

Staff is working to prepare for next year, building schedules and deverloping new and revised programs.

Incoming Freshman Parent Night is Wednesday, May 14. It will start in the cafeteria for general information. Parents will receive color coded folders and split into group[s to rotate around the school. Eric and Travis will be in the cafeteria for questions on transitioning and scheduling, Stephanie and Dave will be in the library to talk about sports and clubs, Randy will be in the computer lab to talk about parent council and volunteering.

We are asking parents to update their scrip recipients. If you have a scrip card, it can be hard to change benefactors if you don't know your password. We want to remind people to change from middle school to high school.

On-line forecasting -- We are working with all the information. Eighth graders are put into the system on paper. Next week we will begin building the master schedule. We have about 50 fewer students for next year than this year. Some sections will be dropped: Global studies will remain the same, English will lose one, Math will lose one, Foreign Languages—French and Spanish will each lose one, Art will lose one, unless our donation drive brings in more money to cover costs.

AVID has been approved by the district. It is intended to help kids who have potential to go to college, but don't have support at home. It is implemented through freshman advisory. It helps kids in note taking, reading, and writing. Over 4,000 high schools in the country have implemented this program, 95% of the kids in this program go to college. We are identifying kids now.

School Improvement Plan – We are working on the goal of making the school more inviting visually and multi-culturally through décor and signage by adding signs in Spanish and several other languages, photo exhibits, posters, etc. We hope parents will work with this, too.

A parent commented that extra-curricular programs are not as well described as academics at the Open House. Helen Garrett suggested that we have a parent education topic in September on clubs and how you can get your kids involved.

Parent Council voted to raise the price of the student directory from $4 to $5 and look into adding e-mail addresses. Also, voted was to raise the suggested donation on the fees schedule for next year from $20 to $25.

Position Update –Helen Garrett is interviewing 2 potential candidates for Parent Council Chair to replace her next year. Helen will continue to organize the Parent Education Series of the Parent Council.

Michelle Pellitier has stepped in to be e-news editor for next year.

Scrip Accountant and Scrip Publicity openings are being interviewed for now.

Parent Council Checking Account and Scrip Checking Account may be combined to simplify.

Helen Garrett's suggested ideas for Education Series topics are “Motivating Boys” for October and “Motivating Girls” for November.


PARENT EDUCATION SERIES – May 8, 2008 – White Privilege, Now that we know

The following are paraphrased comments, some names are omitted in order to simplify note taking.


Tim McMahon from U of O read a quote – White Privilege is unearned advantage by white people simply by being white. Being white means never having to think about it.

The panel consisted of five students of color or multi-racial background who were assembled by South Counselor, Tibor Bessko (TB) for speaking up in classes with passion and courage about difficult topics.

T. B.: Please give your names and what ethnic or cultural group do you identify with?

Student Responses:

I was born in L.A. I am a mix of Hispanic, African American, American Indian and white.

Eugene, I check the box for black.

I was born in Korea. I was adopted. I lived in Springfield and now in Eugene.

I'm Jewish. American culture.

Eugene, I check the box for black.

T. B.: What are some of the things you love about your cultural heritage?

Student responses:

The Natives Program, cooking styles, always being in large groups. We are a huge family, speaking Spanish, sharing stories.

Our history, MLK, Jr., I am proud to be part of our struggle and what we've overcome, for being free. I respect those who stood up for me.

I wasn't really into my Korean culture because I grew up white in a white family.

My Jewish community as a cohesive unit, holiday parties, great food.

Being with my family at my house, being at South Eugene, being together with friends.

T. B.: What are some of the challenges of being in your skin?

Student A: Being half white, half colored. My father is Spanish. We would be followed in stores. Some people think I'm not as smart.

Student B: Am I white enough, black enough? Where am I accepted?

Student C: I lived in Springfield, and I was the only Asian, the stereotype of being an over achiever. Some people looked at me as if I were a different species altogether.

Student D: I have a lot of personal feeling that people think I'm a thug, a rapper, etc. White kids would question me. Am I righteous enough because of my skin tone.

Student E: There is a norm within society of the holidays. Christmas songs in music classes. Everything is planned around Christianity, but not Hanukka, the sports schedule, everything.

Student:

White Privilege: A Clarifying Conversation

Parent Education Series – April 3, 2008

White Privilege
Panelists: Carla Gary, Asst. Vice Provost at U of O, Tim McMahon, UO, Ruth Wren, LCC Women's Program, Arbrella Luvert, Johnny Lake, Eugene District 4j, Juan Quadros, Asst. Principal at Roosevelt Middle School, Donna Koechig, Mark Harris, and James Florendo, Lane Community College.

Randy Bernstein, Principal: The idea for this meeting came from me and a SEHS parent with the hope that parents will see with new eyes and find new ways of looking at things.. Our school staff has spent professional development time and training regarding “cultural competence.” What is it? And Why? Schools are supposed to be the great equalizers. We have an achievement gap. We have an opportunity gap. We would like to be more proud of our programs. We would like to eliminate cultural bias and include cultural sensitivity. Once we recognize white privilege, how do we use that privilege to make things better?

Carla Gary: This is a difficult conversation, particularly in view of current events. This is a journey of a lifetime. Some things you will hear may make you feel uncomfortable. I say, “Welcome to the world, step out on faith, open possibility to see through new eyes. Hard conversations have to happen every day. This is just the beginning, we live it every day of our lives.



What is white privilege? Various paraphrased comments from members of the panel:

It is an institution...white race in dominant positions of power...doors are open to white people.

I have dark skin, dark hair. White privilege is something I don't have.

When I show up at someone's office, they say, “Oh, you don't look the way you sound over the phone.” Meaning that they though I was white because I spoke the king's English.

White privilege in America is never having to think about it. I can be sure of three things:
1. I will always be presumed to be innocent.
2. There will always be a presumption of worthiness.
3. There will always be a presumption of competence.

When does the fish know when he's out of the water? You only realize white privilege when you don't have it. You have an advantage over somebody else who is disadvantaged. Racism and sexism are a norm in our society.

My high school counselor told me to forget about college. He said, “You people are good at working in the fields or with your hands.”

When I came here to Eugene from L.A., I went to a store with my father to look for a toy for my son. We walked up and down the aisles, testing toys. When we left the store, my father said, “Did you see that sales clerk following us, watching as if we were going to steal something?”

Shifts and changes are happening quickly. Kids are not seeing race. Children are more prepared for these conversations than we are. We are behind our children and we had better catch up.

For some students, the U of O campus is the most diverse place they have ever been. You can be pretty sure the professors and administrators are going to be white. White folks just don't bring it up sometimes.

I have lived here for 25 years, but don't consider it home. Why is the immigration issue not about whites? It's always about Mexicans. There are a (large number) of illegal whites in the United States.

If you are a dark skinned Cuban who immigrates to the U.S., you get sent back to Haiti, but white Cubans get to stay.

¾ of 1% of the total population of the U.S. are Native Americans. It used to be 100%. In this country there are over 300 tribes, each one is considered a separate nation. I am an Indian. I've lived in this community for over 30 years. I am the one Indian in the room. How does that affect our community? I'm the only Indian you can find. The only Indian kid in the room becomes the spokesman for all the 300 tribes.

Resegregation of the schools.

I moved here as a white person to this predominantly white community. I didn't know anyone, but always felt comfortable. When I compared notes with my dark skinned friend, he said he did not feel comfortable. His experience was not being welcomed.

I have to blend in. You have to negotiate who you are. A chameleon on a red chair doesn't make the chair red.

Those who have undeserved privilege must be ever mindful of those who have undeserved burdens.

Your perceptions are not necessarily shared.

The audience broke up into groups and were joined by members of the panel. These are various paraphrased responses from the groups:

Table 1 --We had a wide ranging and focused conversation about different types of privilege – adoptees, heavy people, female. We talked about discernment vs. discrimination. We are hard wired to notice these things in different ways. Tolerance and acceptance, apathy and empathy. That's so gay – stereotypes.

Table 2 – We talked about what brought us to this meeting. Some of us wanted to be involved, some of us came from other parts of the country. Why it is important to talk about racism. Responsibility to understand that you have privilege.

Table 3 – We talked about being asked tactless questions about adopted children. Why is student government disproportionately white? How does one take on the burden and become an ally? How do we help have these conversations with our kids?

Table 4 – These are difficult conversations to have because we are afraid we are going to say the wrong thing. It is not something we talk about except in close groups. It is important to have conversations and bring up when it occurs. Need everyone, not just people of color to bring up. We all have responsibility.

Table 5 – We had a sense of awkwardness, started by telling personal stories. How it felt to have contact with people of color. Talked about experiences of racism in schools. “Your son doesn't need to take Spanish because he won't be going to college.

Table 6 – What do we do with our knowledge? Let's not look back but now and forward. Make the situation for all of us better, share the richness, making it better for all concerned.

Table 7 – Personal accounts around white privilege. How it is difficult. We think that Eugene is liberal and hip, but no it is not. There is a lot of work to be done. Continue to do the struggle and hard work.

Table 8 – We giggled over the fact that Eugene is not liberal. We have to talk about this in a way that does not put someone on the defensive. Problem solving, not blaming. We heard a story about a Columbian drug dealer—of course, he's Columbian, must be a drug dealer.

Table 9 – This is about our children and what do we want to teach them? Who is responsible? We want to find that person and set him straight, but he is, of course, us. (laughter)_ We all have inherited these issues. We all have to work together. It has to be a multi-cultural group at the table.

Carla Gary: The conversation has to continue. Important for all children to see themselves as the face of scholarship. Plant a tree under whose shade you do not expect to sit. It is hard to take people on a journey when they think they have arrived. Stick and stay and come back Thursday, May 8, 7:30, for Where do we go from here?

Parent Council Meeting Minutes April 3, 2008

Parent Council Meeting -- April 3, 2008

Helen Garrett : We need someone to step in as a replacement for Chairperson. Helen will continue as coordinator and organizer of Parent Education Series.

Principal's Update:

Today we just got the lists for the lottery. We hope to be able to send out notices by the end of the week on spots for out of district students. This is a complicated process since International High School has a fixed number of spots, but we do not know for sure yet what the projected numbers for Classic South will be. Policies on school choice for the district will change in Fall 2009 school year to balance high school districts.

Site Council did approve the Science changes regarding IB and AP courses. The proposed changes have moved through the Curriculum Committee.

Curriculum Guides are available and students will do their own data entry on line. Students can request courses over an 11-day period. This gives students a little bit more control and time to think about their requests. It is not a first-come, first-serve process – students are requesting courses, which will then be prioritized, not guaranteed. Requests will help administrators determine staffing and availability. Schedules will be sent out in August and may be adjusted.

C-Bop – Credit Based on Proficiency – learn more about this at the next Parent Council Meeting.

School is going until Wednesday, June 19th, 2 days of finals at the end of the semester, Monday may be a review day. SEHS graduation will be on the same day as U of O and Lane CC.

May 8th Parent Education Series-- White Privilege: Now that we know, where do we go from here?