2023-24 PAC Minutes

I. Welcome and Introductions

Attendees: Olivia Beckett, Angie Yeh, Melissa McClellan, Kelli O'Loughlin, Jordan Fischer, Rose Quint, Cathy Balfanz, Megan McCourt, Caitlin McCourt, Kaaren Jurack, Rana Kahl, Renae Robinson, Elija Robinson, Vanessa Olson

• Please remember to sign in using the QR code

II. Chairperson's Time

• • Review and Approve September 2023 Minutes
  • Review last meeting's questions: Chronic Absenteeism-breakdown numbers
    • 10% of school days (18 days), excused and unexcused
    • 634 students last year: 18-98 full day absences, 56.4% excused absences, Doctor's notes asked for in some cases
  • Evolv update
    • "Walk throughs" tomorrow and Wednesday as practice
    • Three doors operational at drop off, then just Door 1
    • Colgan is one of the last schools to go live
      • Gainesville HS observed: 33% false positives first day, down to 10% second day

III. School Stakeholder Reports:we are working to reach out to leadership in these groups to have clearer message from the organization

• • • (PTSO, Athletic Boosters, CFPA, Student Leadership, SACI, Other)
      • Presented differently this year: more streamlined presentation in the future from Kelli

IV. Principal's Time

• Requested Data
  • College Data from last three graduating classes
    • Self reported, not exact data
    • Post-Secondary Plans passed around for classes of 2021-2023
  • PSAT
    • October 18
    • Seniors don't come to school
  • SAT during school day on October 26
    • No cost to students with opt out (assumed seniors will take it)
    • 550 students
    • Regular school day for all other students
    • Date for juniors in March, no details yet
  • Disciplinary Data from last three years
  • • Includes suspensions and non-suspension data
    • Vaping is a continued challenge
    • Parent Questions: Do offenses go on transcripts?
      • No, but go in student folder
      • Colleges don't get disciplinary data
    • Parent Question: What is the disciplinary consequence for bring a weapon?
      • Default for any weapon is a 5-day suspension based on severity
    • Generally a safe community at Colgan HS
      • Tipline is used by students and taken seriously
        • Posters and See Something Say Something app
      • Tardies and vaping are two biggest offending behaviors
• Next meeting: Continuous Improvement Plan
  • School division has a Strategic 5-Year Plan
  • In alignment with division, targeted areas of focus
    • Shared with faculty, central office team, and PAC
    • Not static plan, modifications made

V. Round Table: Presentation Discussion

VI. Q and A:

• AP Test Data
  • will present in the future
• Athletic tryout info: starting earlier? concern about overlap between fall and winter season
  • Students guaranteed 3-day tryout
  • Virginia High School League dates, not set by Colgan
• Rent musical opens this week
• Homecoming is inside this year
  • Security will be at dance
• Question about book choices.
  • No books have been banned
  • A few parents in PWC have challenged books at all schools
    • Committee formed and reviews
  • Books that plan to be used: parents receive 30-day notice and can opt out if book is not on school division's list
  • School division put out list of explicit books at beginning of the year.

VII. Adjournment

• Meeting adjourned at 8:12 P.M.

Remember to sign in using the QR Code if you haven't already

**Next meeting: Monday, November 13, 7 pm in the Colgan Library

I. Welcome and Introductions

• Revision to October minutes: The default for any weapons violation is 5 days suspension. Based on the situation, the student can receive additional penalties.
• Minutes will be brought back in January with revision. Will approve both the October and November minutes in January.
• Please remember to sign in using the QR code

II. Chairperson's Time

• Review and Approve October 2023 Minutes
• Review AP Test Data
  • AP Test data is moved to the next meeting. We are working on registering all students for AP tests. We are honoring a student with a perfect score on the AP Spanish exam.
• Evolv update
  • EVOLV Update- We are getting increasingly better. We have a 3-5% hit rate (where students identified for further screening). Makes students feel safer. From the buses around 7:00- 7:02 students sprint to the door. From about 7:02 to 7:12 there is a long line. By 7:15-7:18 lines are gone. We are hoping that rain continues to stay away. Kids are getting used to the system. Discussions have been dialed back on using these systems for every event. But we are keeping bag policy. The Evolv system was not used at homecoming.
    • Question: If buses get here before 7, can they come in early?
    • Answer: We do not let students in early because we do not have the staff to supervise large numbers of students before 7.
• Capacity
  • This year our enrollment is over 2900 students. Our official capacity is 2080. We are overcapacity by a large elementary school. This is the first year we feel over capacity. We could eliminate the entire Senior Class and still be over capacity.
    • The CFPA nets the school about 100 students
    • We have 31 teachers that float
    • Class sizes are generally ok. We are surviving with the use of the 10 trailers.
• Feedback on Homecoming
  • Students reported it was great. There were over 2,000 students in attendance.

III. School Stakeholder Reports:we are working to reach out to leadership in these groups to have cleearer message from the organization

• (PTSO, Athletic Boosters, CFPA, Student Leadership, SACI, Other)
  • SACI: We held the first meeting of the year in November. Dr. McDade presented the state of the school division. This is the same presentation that was provided to the school board in October. We are seeing improvements, but we are still working on our subgroups. Specifically we are working to address the needs of our Hispanic population. We also discussed the attendance policies. We are not going to see the school pull back on their efforts to push for attendance.

IV. Principal's Time: Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) presentation

provided with an overview of the Strategic Plan

• • Learning and Achievement for All
    • Area of Focus: EL students will increase pass rates on SOL exams
      • Current rates
        • Reading: 86%
        • Writing: 68%
        • Science: 66%
        • Social Studies: 60%
        • Math: 67%
    • Area of Focus: SPED students will increase pass rates on SOL exams.
      • Current Rates
        • Reading: 86%
        • Writing: 69%
        • Science: 68%
        • Social Studies: 61%
        • Math: 68%
    • We are working on strategies to reach these goals.
  • Positive Climate and Culture
    • 23.12% of students were identified as chronically absent. This is 677 students. The rate is 29.59% of Hispanic students (179 students).
      • Goal- Decrease percentage of students who are chronically absent from 23% to 19%. We are giving a special focus to our Hispanic students.
        • Q1 data- We have 531 students who are chronically absent (18%).
        • Highest day of absenteeism was Oct 30. SAT data was the 2nd highest, last day of Q1 was the 3rd highest.
  • Family and Community Engagement
    • We have a 81.7% satisfaction score. We want to increase it to 84%.

  All schools must have a CIP plan. On Wednesday we will be meeting with representatives from central office to update on goals.

  V. Round Table: Presentation Discussion

  VI. Open Comments:a time to bring up issues for discussion at our next meeting

  • open discussion of the issue will be limited until appropriate information can be gathered
    • General Questions
      • Question: Retakes- Are teachers allowed to create own policy or is there a general policy?
        • There is not a whole school policy, but all blocks of classes should have the same policy (ex. Algebra I).
      • Question: Parent Liaison- Can we talk about this position?
      • Question: Bus Liaison- Do we have a person in this position that can communicate changes to transportation?
      • Question about forbidden books
        • Answer: Colgan does not have a specific forbidden books list. There is a regulation that has a list of books that requires teachers to notify parents about the book.

  VII. Adjournment

  • Meeting Adjourned 8:37. Next meeting January 8, 2024.

  Remember to sign in using the QR Code if you haven't already

Attendees Timothy Healey, Melissa McClellan, Chase Durgin, Sam Durgin, Kelli O'Loughlin, Jessica Durgin, Melissa Johnson, Vanessa Olson, Simone Jackson, Rana Kahl, Christine Romer, Rose Quint, Kaaren Jurack, Becky Maurer, Claudia Smith, Cathy Balfanz

Meeting Called to Order at 7:02, Kelli O' Loughlin, Chair, Colgan PAC

I. Welcome and Introductions

• Please remember to sign in using the QR code

II. Chairperson's Time

• Motion to Approve November 2023 Minutes passes

III. Principal's Time: Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP) presentation

• Requested data
  • Next PAC Meeting topic: budget
    • Superintendent presents her budget to School Board. Dr. Healey gets the allocation February 9. He has five business days to prepare budget. Will talk about the budget at the next PAC.

• AP Exam Data presented by Mrs. McClellan, liason to College Board
  • 1693 students taking the test this year, 2024
  • Data given for 2017-2023, including number of exams, average score, percent of exams scoring 3 or higher, Virginia percent scoring 3 or higher, global scoring 3 or higher.
  • School division has a goal to increase access to AP classes. Rigorous classes are gateways to higher education.
  • PWCS pays for all AP exams
  • Last year was the first year the College Board gave digital exams in some courses. Seven total. Eventually all courses will be offered digitally.
  • Questions:
    • Colgan is above the rest of the state in many areas except math.
      • Statistics- lower enrollment in recent years, higher pass rates.
      • Calculus has had more turnover. Math department is taking a hard look at prep classes prior to calculus. Working on finding the right vertical progression.
      • College Board gives detailed breakdown of test results. Mrs. McClellan provides this data to teachers to prepare instruction.
      • Comment: Some parents say that students get A's in class, but the teacher did not prepare them well for the test.
      • Question: Do students lean towards DE for college credit?
        • In English, some will take DE senior year because it transfers to colleges better than AP Lit.
        • The challenge for providing DE is that teachers need a masters or higher in the subject.
      • Comment- Parent who has had several children go through calculus at Colgan and she said teachers have improved at Colgan over time.
      • Anyone can take an AP course, even if the course is not offered. If not enrolled in the course, families need to pay for it.
      • Registration final date is March 15.
      • Question: How are students encouraged to take AP?
        • Equal Opportunity program from county gathers Student Insight Cards that provides student feedback. Teachers and counselors have conversations with students during academic advising.
      • Question about AP US Gov scores and possible improvements to the course.
        • AP US Gov, teacher went to training. College Board is now offering project-based training. DE Gov is now being offered, so maybe that is why enrollment is down.
      • Latino student club is holding event to encourage students to take AP classes.
• Course Selection
  • Junior Family Info night is tomorrow night.
  • January 22 AP/ DE Info night will be restructured. Better job of presenting what those classes entail to help parents understand what’s involved.
    • Parent comment- some students panic because of the messaging received by the teacher at the beginning of the year.
      • Dr. Healey mentioned that they reiterate positive messages to teachers.
    • Comment: Benton has not sent out info about Rising 9th Grade Info night on Jan. 17. Colgan counseling will reach out to Benton counseling.
    • New classes are being offered. Data Science is an exciting offering to encourage seniors to take a math.
    • Dr. Healey is pushing for students to take full courses senior year and is pushing back on reduced course load. Parents will be required to write a letter.

IV. Open Comments:a time to bring up issues for discussion at our next meeting

• Parent Question: Any concerns about qualified teachers for next year? Any incentives for teachers to major in specific subjects for DE?
  • Concern about the teacher shortage. Trend is still there.
  • Incentives from government and educational institutions.
• Parent Comment: PSAT feedback- digital created a more chaotic environment with everyone taking breaks at different times, student was not directed to find the tools for the math portion and didn’t know where to find them until the end. Student felt like it really impacted her score.

V. Adjournment

• Meeting adjourned at 8:28 PM.

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Meeting called to order at 7:07 pm, Kelli O'Loughlin, Chair, Colgan PAC

I. Welcome and Introductions

• Motion to approve January 2024 minutes approved

II. Chairperson's Time

• Review and Approve January 2024 Minutes

III. School Stakeholder Reports:We are working to reach out to leadership in these groups to have clearer message from the organization.

• Parent representative Claudia Smith brought forward information from the February Superintendent Advisory Council on Instruction (SACI) meeting regarding the Budget and the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Shakeel Yusuf, CFO. He has been 30 years in public service, and he noted that this is the first time in all of his public service life that he saw the actions reflecting the vision and the plan in place. In the second portion of the presentation, Dr. Matthew Cartlidge, Supervisor of Planning, explained how projections were calculated. Vernon Bock, COO, Heather Diez, Director of Facilities, and David Beavers, Supervisor of Planning & Financial Services, were also in attendance and contributed information.
  • Funding comes mainly from Prince William County (46.7%), through our property taxes, 7.4% from our Sales Taxes, and State Aid (40.8%). Federal aid accounts for less than 3%
  • Funding has been allocated as follows: 9% of our budget goes to central support, 79% to instruction, 6.1% to facilities Mgt., 4.9% to transportation, and the remaining 1% to reserves.
  • The enrollment projections were mostly decreasing, which surprised the greater majority of attendees at SACI. The presentation only mentioned significant growth in Early Childhood Special Education. Note: Numbers excluded VPI, Headstart, Virtual Learning, and Pre-K speech. Current enrollment shows a higher number in High School than in the lower grades. This means that in ten years those lower numbers will be at the High School level. Statistics showed an increased migration towards Richmond as well, and the rate (variance between the years 2018 and 2030 ) of new construction showed a decline for PWC as a whole.
  • Representatives raised questions regarding the decrease in projected enrollment. The statistical methodology has changed from years past. The rise in families working from home was also given as explanation. Overseas immigration is taken into account by seeing an increase in numbers in a specific grade (for example, Grade 1) that was not present in the prior year (in this example, it would be Kindergarten), and as such, this variation explains immigration to the area, independent from where it comes from.
  • Parent Representatives also raised questions regarding the addition of space needed within just a year of a building being inaugurated. The changes in methodology in projection computations are trying to correct this long-term. In the short-term, management is working with Principals.
  • Representatives raised questions regarding the budget for the Arts/musical instruments. The decision to eliminate student fees for instruments has impacted the budget, but the main office is working with grants and special programs to replace old or damaged instruments. There are also additional grants that schools can apply for.
  • Colgan is operating with close to 400 additional students than the original projection. Its capacity without portables is at 2053. The new 14th High School would assist with the projected Colgan’s student availability of -840 to -1,004. Yet the 14th High School’s opening has been delayed by two years to SY2029-2030 and reduced in size by 1,400 students due to the projected reduction in enrollment in the higher grades by 2030. The slides presented and the debate by current and future representatives (those in elementary and middle schools zoned in this area) was evident during the Q&A on where these numbers were coming from.
• Regarding the budgetary process and how parents can provide input:
  • On February 7, 2024, Superintendent McDade presented her proposed budget to the School Board. YouTube Link to Dr. McDade's presentation
  • On February 12, citizens had the first opportunity to address the School Board. The School Board does not have the authority to generate funds.
    • 1. A second public hearing will take place on February 21, 2024.
    • 2. Each parent can email our School Board Representative. They will take the opinions and information they receive into their work sessions geared to adopting a final budget proposal on March 20, 2024.
    • 3. That proposal is then presented to the County Board of Supervisors in April 2024.
  • *This is a projected budget based on current numbers.
  • *The majority of PWCS funds come from Prince William County and the State.
  • *Interesting note: One-penny rate cut in property taxes equates to a 5.7 million dollar decrease in the School Budget. Parents and public can advocate for the funding levels that they deem appropriate at the state and local levels.
• Also, SACI presented the new PWCS catalog for courses tied into a variety of tracks for the future of all our students. See more at catalog.pwcs.edu

IV. Principal's Time: Budget Fiscal Year 2025

Dr. Healey presented the Superintendent’s Budget Proposal highlights and the process for the county budget, as well as Colgan’s Budget FY2025 specifics, as they continue to work on the plan that will be presented as the first Draft on February 21, 2024.

• The Superintendent's Budget Proposal (Selected Highlights)
  • Full proposal available at www.pwcs.edu
  • Superintendent proposed budget to the School Board on February 7, 2024
  • School Board Approval of Budget- scheduled for March 20, 2024
  • Board of County Supervisors Approval of Budget - TBD (Note that they cannot veto a line item)
  • Employee pay increases
  • Health insurance premium increases of 3% only to PWCS employees
  • Supplemental pay rate adjustments
  • Budget aligns with Prince William County Supervisor Strategic Plan
• Colgan High School Budget Specifics (selected highlights)
  • First draft of budget due Wednesday, February 21 (based on proposed budget received by PWCS)
    • Colgan has about a week to a week and a half to present their proposal changes
    • Colgan is looking to add 2 English Teachers, 2 Math Teachers, 1 Science Teacher, 1 ESOL, and 1 Gifted Teacher
    • CFPA program has a classification of gifted in the arts. Therefore, and given the CFPA specialty at Colgan, our gifted student numbers are fairly high in comparison to other schools
    • PWCS and Colgan added funding for additional Teacher Assistants SPED and one Athletic Assistant
    • Note: PWCS allocates the cost of each teacher the same across all levels of tenure to avoid impacting each school’s budget. PWCS calculates this cost by averaging their workforce and making sure that all benefits and manpower costs are included. This method allows each school to hire the best-qualified teacher from those who apply.
    • Students of varied abilities have a budget that is allocated by program. This allows the entire program/class to be funded, independently of the class size.
    • Activities are budgeted considering the number of seasons that they take place. This is the reason that Cheerleading seems to have additional funding, but they have additional seasons, as well.
    • Colgan is looking to propose a budget based on actual numbers now, not the reduced number provided, as that number of enrollments was from the beginning of the year, and we have had many additional students since then.
  • Modifications to school budget will be due in early May (based on approved budget)
  • Final amendments to school budget (based on September 30, 2024 student membership)
  • Next steps:
    • PAC input
    • Department Chair input
    • Personnel decisions (usually 91 to 93% of the budget)
    • Department Supply/Equipment Request
    • CIP plan and schoolwide priorities
    • Adjust staffing all through spring, Academic Advising, and monitoring of student membership numbers as they continue to roll in

V. Round Table and Open Comments

• Parents thanked Dr. Healey for pointing out the need to have a full schedule for Seniors
• Request from Parents to the Advisory Counselors to verify that classes recommended to/for students are aligned with prerequisites.
• One parent brought up the upcoming re-zoning in the Parsons' area, the additional Data Centers and the 250 housing developments happening in our district. If you who like more information about this, contact Jamie Van Echo [email protected]
• Future SACI Meeting Topic: Family Engagement and Parent Liaisons’ work presentation and panel discussion. Requesting questions or items of relevance to bring up at that March meeting (Second Thursday of each month).
• Music Tech does not have enough levels. Can this be evaluated?
• Could the instruments that are not being used anymore, for exanple, the guitars, be added to Music Tech?

VII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 pm

Meeting Called to Order at 7:03 pm, Kelli O'Loughlin, Chair, Colgan PAC

I. Welcome and Introductions

• PLEASE remember to sign in using the QR Code

II. Chairperson's Time

• Motion to approve February 2024 Minutes: Approved

III. School Stakeholder Reports:If you are attending the meeting as a representative of one of these groups, please let the chairperson know prior to the start of the meeting.

• (PTSO Athletic Boosters, CFPA, Student Leadership, SACI, other)

• Parent representative Vanessa Olson brought forward information from the March Superintendent Advisory Council on Instruction (SACI) meeting regarding the topic Family and Community Engagement. Mrs. Yanet Boyd, supervisor of the Family & Community Engagement program presented how this program started and continues to develop. She explained the positions of the Parent Liaison (PL) and the Family Academic and Community Engagement Specialists (FACES).
  • The role of the PLs is currently under review and is being expanded based on current community needs to maximize inclusion.
  • The new PL's Job Description is being developed and tweaked.
  • FACES have an educational/instruction background and as such they increase the family and student engagement from an academic perspective.
  • Not all schools have FACES.
  • Most schools, if not all, have a PL.
  • The SACI meeting concluded with a panel of six (6) PLs and FACES representatives for Elementary, Middle School, and High School within the Prince William County division. They presented examples of how they accomplished their work thus far, showcased situations in which they helped their communities, and answered questions from the Parent Representatives in the room.
  • The next SACI meeting in April will tackle our reporting session. Mrs. Kahl will represent Colgan HS and High Schools in general during the SACI end-of-the-year report writing. She offered to be contacted if there is any subject in particular that needs to be highlighted or taken into account for this upcoming project.

IV. Principal's Time

Dr. Healey introduced Colgan's Parent Liaison (PL), Ms. Melisa Pasero, to talk about her program within our school.

• Parent Liaison Introduction/Presentation
  • Ms. Pasero explained this was her first year at Colgan as the PL, and she loves working here.
  • Her job creates a bridge between the school and the parents. She is available to all families
  • Dr. Healey added that if the school needs to have more PLs they can, but they need to find funds to maintain the additional position. One PL per school is the required amount by the PWCS’ program and so all schools should have one PL. It is also possible that there might be schools still looking for the right candidate and might not have a PL yet.
  • A parent asked how the position is advertised and how do parents know how to reach our school’s PL. Ms. Pasero explained how she worked with Admin to embed herself in the Parent Welcome and Back to School events, as well as representing High School Parent Liaisons at SACI, and how she adjusted the Colgan HS’ website to include her information. She presented the PL Flyer she created in English and in Spanish for the Parent Welcome and Back to School events. Another parent and a School Administrator added that the PLs program might have been communicated in one of the PWCS Superintendent’s communications at the inception of the program, but it could have been missed.
  • Some examples of the school’s needs have been in guiding English Learners’ (EL) Families with adapting to school’s regulations and new technological tools. She has been instrumental in Parent-Admin meetings to help build trust and create a bridge of understanding. The PL has helped with chronic absenteeism, attendance issues, class selection, connecting students and/or families with counselors, and ParentVUE and Canvas. The PL stated that guiding new families, adjusting to cultural differences, and adapting to technological tools were the three most requested topics of help.
  • Gathering Data, such as the number of calls or support hours per type of issue, have not yet been determined. PWCS has a Lead at the Kelly Leadership Center (KLC) that is looking at how to revamp our positions. PLs do provide data for the KLC, but the program is being recalibrated at this time. The PL’s supervisor is also new. A parent commented that she hopes someone at the KLC is following this data and creating a budget line item to source it appropriately so that PLs do not become tech support and they can be utilized as initially intended. Parents value this new PL proposition and believe this position will become more important with the arrival of our ever-more diverse community and it will require appropriate resources.
  • Colgan’s PL sees positive feedback from parents every day. She looks forward to having better data to demonstrate the success of her position, and she reiterated that she utilizes all school resources, such as Colgan’s social worker, Instructional Tech Coach or Counselors, to guide her families. The PL’s local supervisor at Colgan (note: she reports to someone at Colgan and someone at the KLC) sees great value in this added position as well.
  • The PL is considered a classified employee within PWCS. It is a fixed line item in our Budget and funding comes from the Central office. It took about 4 years for this position to be fully implemented.
  • All parents at the meeting thanked Ms. Pasero for being here at Colgan. A first-generation family added that she wished she had someone like this PL when her kids started school in the U.S.
• End-of-Year Status Report
  • We have 47 school days left of school.
  • AP testing is being set at Colgan, just like all High Schools across the Nation.
  • SOL testing will happen within the first 2 weeks of May.
  • The Embark with the Shark event is all set up. This is an informational event where rising 9th graders get to learn everything about Colgan. Our PL will be present as well.
  • Senior Externship planning is already underway. These are two weeks where Colgan allows Seniors to get work experience for two whole weeks outside of Colgan, and it culminates with an oral class presentation of all that they have accomplished, in lieu of a final assessment. Students must have good grades and not be considered chronically absent for the entire school year to qualify. Colgan believes that hands-on experience, collaboration, and business or trade experience are crucial for Seniors at this stage.
  • Colgan hired ten individuals already. This is mostly because Colgan started being short-staffed.
  • We are still looking for a new Band Director, as Mr. Magee is retiring. This is a very important position for our school. A panel of stakeholders is participating in this recruiting interview, including one student, one parent, and other school members with musical knowledge. (Update – New Band Director has been hired.)
  • Colgan had a very low index of turnover this year. Thus far, only 3 teachers and/or counselors have decided to leave/retire.
  • Colgan has already 2,921 students enrolled for SY 2024-25. From an infrastructure point of view, the administration believes that our bathrooms are becoming a point of stress. For example, during lunch, not all students have enough time/space to utilize them.

V. Round Table and Open Comments

• All parents present at the meeting expressed their concern with regard to Colgan and Woodbridge High School’s enrollment over capacity. All parents showed increasing concern over the new estimations that prompted the team in charge of CPI and Budget for PWCS to delay the construction of the 14th High School, which was supposed to alleviate the ever-increasing number of high schoolers enrolled in our area.
• A parent asked Dr. Healey if anybody from the Planning Committee at PWCS had ever talked to him in person with regard to our enrollment numbers or capacity issues, to which he answered, no.
• Parents had a lively discussion on how PWCS could predict lower enrollment numbers in the future with the number of construction projects for new residential housing being approved in the prior years and continuing to be approved. One parent explained that she lived in a non-HOA neighborhood where many houses have three entire families living within. Another parent/staff thought that maybe they were looking at numbers in other schools, such as Battlefield HS, where they are under capacity. In conclusion, most parents agreed that those few schools under capacity do not absorb, nor are able to absorb, the number that Colgan HS, Freedom HS, or Forest Park HS have as over-capacity. The areas are different, and our area is growing exponentially.
• Another parent brought forward the information of changes happening to lands near Colgan HS. More people should be attending our Board of County (BOC) Supervisors meetings. New data centers, 200-Houses Projects (like the one at the corner of Independent Hill), and traffic-inducing businesses are coming to the surrounding areas of Colgan HS, which already has traffic jams during school peak hours. These projects affect school capacity, electricity grid capacity, and traffic jams during peak hours. Next month BOC will vote on the new Semi-Truck Park.
• One parent discussed Music Technology and expressed a desire to have further discussion with Dr. Healey.
• Externship Criteria was not found on the website. Admin answered that it might be on Canvas and that Counseling handles that information. Dr. Healey will connect with the parent, who is trying to create a new externship possibility for Seniors.
• Senior event questions and plans. How many will the maximum number of tickets be per student or family? Possibly 7. Admin clarified that there are usually not many problems, and that the year 2021 was an outlier due to the Pandemic.
• Another parent asked how long it usually takes to complete a safety drill and whether the overcapacity is affecting it. The exact answer will be researched, but no serious problem has ever been communicated to Admin in this regard thus far.

VI. Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 pm.

I. Welcome and Introductions

Attendees: Patricia Flores, Kaaren Jurack, Jessica Durgin, Becky Maurer, Jaime Van Echo, Desmond Van Echo, Dr. Tim Healey, Melissa McClellan, Vanessa Olson, and Claudia Smith.

II. Chairperson's Time

• A. Review and Approve April 2024 Minutes: Approved
• B. Nominate New PAC Board
  • Acting Chair explained that this was the PAC’s last meeting of the year, and therefore, a new Board was up for elections. The PAC Chair could not attend today’s session, but she sent comments to the Acting Chair for today’s meeting. The Acting Chair presented the President, Vice President, and Secretary positions. She opened the floor for nominations and explained that the President’s position was open for elections but that Kelli, our current Chair, offered to continue if nobody else was available. Claudia stated that she had been acting Secretary for the past three sessions and offered to continue with her assistance. She also commented that she had been selected as the High School Officer for next year’s SACI.
  • Board selection was approved by members present, with open pending positions moved to next year's Colgan PAC
    • President: Kelli O'Loughlin
    • Vice President: OPEN
    • Secretary: Claudia Smith
    • SACI Rep: Claudia Smith
    • SACI Rep Alternate: OPEN

III. School Stakeholder Reports:If you are attending the meeting as a representative of one of these groups, please let the chairperson know prior to the start of the meeting.

• (PTSO Athletic Boosters, CFPA, Student Leadership, SACI, other)
  • Claudia and Vanessa explained to those present the work accomplished during last week’s SACI meeting when the final SY 2023-24 SACI Report was thoroughly reviewed by all members and voted on with edits. Most of the work entailed making sure that those items voted on by members as being the most important to all were adequately explained as needing further clarification or added creative suggestions for consideration. We understand that sometimes those suggestions are not permissible due to state or federal regulations, but they create points for future conversations and clarifications. The End of the Year SACI Report also points out our commendations to the Superintendent’s Team to ensure that programs we are happy with continue to be funded and/or enhanced. We asked the team to continue expanding their work with Parent Liaisons, special programs for students with different abilities, programs to enhance the students’ future work readiness, such as the Vision Profile and Community Engagement programs, as well as their positive culture, and their efforts towards reducing inconsistencies and increasing alignment among different schools.

IV. Principal's Time

• Dr. Healey announced that the Prom went well, with about 1,100 students in attendance and only loud music to report, but it was music liked by all. Colgan was able to implement a Bus parking shuttle to the elementary nearby since one of Colgan’s teachers has a CDL and volunteered to do so. Parking constraints have been mentioned in the past. Even though the administration doubted that the service would be well received by the students, Colgan can safely say that it was a true success. Many students decided to avoid parking jams and use the Prom Shuttle.
• Colgan is in the middle of testing. Everything is going very well for the amount of testing scheduling that we have. Make-up testing will take place next week. Advanced Placement (AP) testing goes through Friday, May 17, 2024.
• Colgan wishes to acknowledge the hard work that our students have put in. This year, we have four (4) kids going to Ivy League schools (Yale, Cornell, and Dartmouth) and two (2) students going to renowned military academies, without counting the many accepted to UVA and Vtech.
• Cappies are the Tony awards for high schools. It has peer reviews. It is student-driven. Only the very top projects get nominated. Colgan created Rent recently, and we got eight (8) nominations, including the best song, which will be performed at the Kennedy Center. Tickets must be purchased by the general population and even by parents of students performing. The theatre group will pay for student tickets.
• Staffing: Colgan continues to be in a good spot. During the last PAC meeting, we informed the group that Colgan had three (3) teachers/staff turning over. The number has only increased to a total of six (6). This is excellent news for us at this time of the year.

V. Round Table and Open Comments

• One of Colgan’s students asked if a new teacher had already been found for the ASL program next year and wanted to highlight how good their long-term substitute teacher was. Dr. Healey said we would continue to have an ASL program next year, and he cannot comment on specifics at this moment, but he was pleased to hear the kudos the substitute teachers received.
• Regarding Externships. Do we have an internship for teaching? Colgan has had at least one in the past. Students attend a different institution to avoid conflict of interest or to diminish nervousness. Colgan had students work with judges, police, and other public servants.
• Has the Back-to-school date been decided? Yes. It will be on September 5, 2024.
• ACTIVITY Request from the Colgan Admin Team: The PAC Team worked together through creative brainstorming to gather parents’ input. The Colgan Admin team will use the information gathered today to keep programs, revamp others, and guide new ideas. Parents wrote on sticky notes to complete three posters as follows:
  • KEEP
    • Underclassmen Award Ceremony
    • Students' support of one another-Culture of Colgan
    • PAC meetings open
    • Dual Enrollment for Multivariable Calculus & Linear Algebra
    • Student Info Sessions on AP/DE classes
    • Keep Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
    • Externships
    • Summer Work Opportunities Connections
    • CFPA Music Tech program
    • Free Narcan at parents' events to educate
    • Budget Overview at PAC to answer Q&A
    • Having nurse assistants send multiple reminders
    • Boosters Scholarship Opportunities
    • Strong Leadership Program
  • STOP
    • Disconnect between Canvas and ParentVUE (inconsistencies)
    • Allowing course enrollment without prerequisites
  • CONSIDER
    • Using the Colgan Students Canvas Page to post announcements each morning
    • Updating and providing club and activity information early in the year.
    • More foreign language options
    • Separating scholarship awards from the other awards ceremonies to reduce the length of the event.
    • More trips to colleges and universities for Juniors and Seniors
    • Re-evaluate parent-teacher communications – the importance of contacting parents if there is a problem.
    • Incentives for students to participate once or twice at PAC meetings to learn how to participate in school planning.
    • Opportunities for post-grads to return and mentor self-contained students for peer-to-peer EBP activities.

VI. Open Comments: a time to bring up issues for discussion at our next meeting.

• • Cell phone usage at school is becoming an item of public discussion. It will be added to next year’s PAC discussion. Parents discussed the pros and cons of phone availability in schools, but it became apparent that more time was needed to balance all possible points. All agree that smartphone and social media addiction is becoming more prevalent, and it is affecting focus, attention, and learning. The question remains on which are best practices to enact to adapt for the future.
  • A parent asked if there were any changes to the Code of Conduct that might impact Colgan. Dr Healey has not been made aware of the changes they are trying to address. We know they are trying to bring greater consistency in how we address issues and how we can help educate our students toward a positive culture. This time, we have very formalized processes to follow for severe threats. Still, for minor issues that affect students in harmful environments, it is healthy for students and administration to have the freedom to work with those families and situations that are in a problematic spot already. This flexibility is important.
  • Congratulations were given to next year’s PAC officers, and the highest appreciation was shown to all parents who took the time to attend and share their impactful and creative ideas.

VII. Adjournment

• Meeting was adjourned at 8:16pm