January 8, 2025 (Minutes)
January 8, 2025 (Minutes)
FHS SCHOOL COUNCIL MINUTES
January 8, 2025 at Lawrence School
Attendance: Paula Carlson Cahill, Mike Feeney, Rebecca Gonzales, Alan Harris, Dylan Kenny,
Mananjo Jonahson, and Paula Smith
The meeting opened at 5:30 pm with a welcome and introductions.
Today’s Agenda was reviewed and approved.
October 24 meeting Minutes were reviewed and approved.
There was much discussion about the district-wide #IAMACLIPPER I Can statements, with many
ideas about the language with some ideas on how to integrate this; how make it more connected to
students and in teacher/leadership ways. We are doing the work - now to connect it.
Suggestions: delete “can” and change to I “am”; belch it; short TikToks; make posters from the C - L -
I - P - P - E - R -S; make it more prominent in rooms & hallways; theatre group make the letters into
skits; link classroom learning/tasks to a letter when assigning; student government could brainstorm
some creative ideas. Tom McManamon will attend our March meeting and will update us on the
NEASC report.
FY26 Budget - we are still correcting coming out of the pandemic and pandemic funding, new contracts
and COLA increases were negotiated, the level of students needing services is much higher than ever
and the cost has gone beyond what was anticipated. Enrollment continues to decline - FHS is one of 5
area choices for high school students resulting in more schools and fewer students - which will cause
reductions in staff and budgets. When there is a vacant position, for example a retirement or resignation,
that position is considered for reduction. Over the next two years, we will examine ways to increase
internships and dual enrollment while continuing to increase breadth of arts, career, AP and honors
offerings. This will likely include consideration of our school start and end times as well as schedule.
The meeting adjourned at 6:25 pm to allow attendance at the Superintendent’s Budget Presentation in
the Lawrence Library, for those able to attend.
Upcoming Meetings:
Monday, March 3, 2025 @ 3:30 pm at FHS Library
Monday, May 5, 2025 @ 3:30 pm at FHS Library