Counseling, College & Career Center Advisory Council

970 Route 146Clifton Park, NY 12065-3688

Telephone:East, 881-0313 Fax, 881-0386 West, 881-0333 Fax, 881-0363

Please note that these minutes are a summary of topic and discussion points at the meeting

Meeting Date: Tuesday, Sept 29, 2015

Present: Mary Blaauboer (BOE representative), Robert Pressley (BOE representative) Linda Coye (Middle School Counselor and Co-Chair), Donna Gatazka (Jr Parent),Gretchen Lynch (HSE Counselor), Michele Masten (HSE Faculty), Kerstyn O’Brien (JR/Sr Student), Jan Reilly (HSE Counselor), Paul Ripchik (Director of Guidance), William Conklin (Senior Student), Samantha Leonard (Senior Student), Vicky Werthmuller (Junior Parent), Maria Payne (HSW Counselor),

Absent: Laurel Remus (Post Graduate Parent) Donald Flynt (HS Principal), Michael Stahl (Co-Chair)

The meeting was called to order by Linda Coye at 3:15pm

Old Business Items

1. Paul will resend the March 3, 2015 meeting minutes for vote at the Nov meeting:2. Review and approve minutes from May 12, 2015 meeting : The minutes from the May 12, 2015

meeting were voted on and approved.

New Business Items

1. Update Membership Recommendation – Dr. Robinson and the committee have proposed an adjustment to the CAC membership. The committee supported the following edits to our organizational document; 1. Add one Freshman student & one Freshman Parent, Add one Post-Graduate Parent, Add one non-voting BOE member.

Efforts are underway to secure these missing positions with the support of the PTSA and SFA Senate. The intent is to have members approved by the BOE prior to the next CAC Nov 24th meeting

2. Update CAC Organizational Document Regarding Length of Participation- Recommendation by the committee to extend the length of membership on the CAC for up to 5 years. The consideration was so that a Freshman Parent could participate through 1 year of post-graduation.

3. Update the CAC Organizational Document Regarding the Officer Membership – The committee recommended a co-chair position or a chair & vice chair position.

4. Election of Positions for the 2015-2016 School Year – Mary Blaauboer and Paul Ripchik accepted the position of co-chairs of the CAC for the 2015-2016 school year. There were no other interested parties. Paul Ripchik took the minutes at the Sept 29th meeting until a secretary is identified at the Nov meeting. The committee was not able at this time to secure a scribe similar to last year. Efforts will be made to try and fill this positon.

5. Presentation of the HSE counselors goals for the 2015-2016 school year:

Paul Ripchik presented one goal and the outline for two additional goals specific to the HS Counseling Department for the 2015-2016 school year. A copy of the Annual Agreement Template between the counselor and principal was passed out and explained by Mr. Ripchik. This document which each counselor will complete identifies the annual goals. Goal 1 - Element:  9th grade promotion rateBaseline:  26  9th grade students identified as at-risk of failureGoal:  Increase the number of core academic classes passed at the 9 th grade level, significantly increasing the likelihood of high school graduation.

·          76% of students finished the school year with 5.5 units or better·          8% of students finished the school year with between 4.5-5.25 units

16% of students finished the school year with less than 4.5 units.

Discussion followed from membership with questions related to the goal. Questions answered pertaining to Micro Team selection and moving in and out of the program. Counselor Maria Payne explained the process

Goal 2 - Using the results of their Interest Inventory and Personal Profiler, all 10th graders will identify and record at least one potential career field in their Naviance Planner.  This will be completed by the end of the school year.  This goal was developed with the intent of getting students to start making conscious connections of the two career tools that are being used by students as part of the Student College and Career Planning Curriculum.

Discussion followed from membership with questions related to the goal. It was pointed out that this goal would impact a large number of students and start the discussion of how students can start making connections with the learning that takes place as part of the counseling curriculum.

Goal 3 – Goal 3 is currently being developed around the results of a needs assessment survey completed by students in the Alternative Education Program, specific lessons will be developed around the results with the intent to show a measured change.

Counselor Gretchen Lynch provide to the members of the committee hard copies of the 2015-2016 Counselor Calendar. This document outlines an event and curricular timeline for the school year. She pointed out that this document guides the department in their yearly programs giving the team a visual for organization and prioritizing of the time and resources.

Updated Information on current and new programs in the Counseling, College & Career Center – Paul Ripchik presented information on two new initiatives coming out of the Counseling College & Career Center and updated annual events that were up-and-coming

● Career Center - . The first was a Career Center Team initiative run by students. This program is being developed with the intent on providing resources and services to students related to college and career preparation including virtual college tours, career fairs and college and career related seminars

● Shenendehowa Alumni Network – Paul Ripchik presented information on the new Alumni Network internship program run by students supported by the Educational Foundation. This program is being developed with the intent on building a network of alumni that could potentially support the school.

● Naviance Program for Seniors the week leading up to the presentation for parents● Naviance Program for Senior Parents -was moved up this year to the third week of Sept.

based on feedback from the CAC. A discussion took place by the committee on why there may have been a decrease in attendance by parents for this event, and whether a change should be made in the timeline for this event in the future.

● Financial Aid Night -has also been moved up Nov 18th. Counselors will be attending a financial aid update seminar in November.

● Senior Essay Workshop –English Teachers working with students on development and editing of their college essays

Meeting closed at 4:30pm

Next meeting scheduled for Tuesday November 24, 2015

Minutes submitted by Paul Ripchik