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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010_07_13 Board MinutesJuly 13, 2010 6:30 PM Executive Session Idaho Code Section S67-2345 (B) Student Hearing 7:00 PM Board Chair, Dave Lent called the meeting to order. Present from the Board of Trustees Dave Lent, Chairman Jerry Wixom, Vice Chair Ernest Jensen, Treasurer Deidre Warden, Clerk Lisa Burtenshaw, Member Pledge of Allegiance was led by Ernest Jensen. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY: a. Reorganization of the Board of Trustees. Present from the Administration: George Boland, Superintendent Guy Wangsgard, Director of Business Karla, LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education Gail Rochelle, Director of Student Achievement & Professional Development Debbie Wilkie, Recording Clerk The Board of Trustees dissolved the organization and George Boland was acting chairman to accept the motion from Jerry Wixom to nominate the following officers: David Lent as Chairman of the Board, Ernest Jensen seconded. Jerry Wixom as Vice Chair, Deidre Warden seconded. Ernest Jensen as Treasurer, Lisa Burtenshaw seconded. Deidre Warden as Clerk, Lisa Burtenshaw seconded. Guy Wangsgard as Deputy Clerk of the Board, Ernest Jensen seconded. Five aye votes —motion carried. b. Set dates and times of regular board meetings. Lisa Burtenshaw moved to accept the 2010-11 Board Meeting Schedule, Ernest Jensen seconded the motion. Superintendent Boland asked to change the August 3, 2010 agenda setting meeting, he will be in Boise on that day attending the State Superintendent's Meeting. After reviewing their calendars, Superintendent Boland, Board Chair, Dave Lent and Vice Chair, Jerry Wixom will set the August 10, 2010 meeting agenda via email prior to posting it on August 6, 2010. Five aye votes — motion carried. 7/13/2010 District 91 Board Minutes Page 1 of 5 ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA: Ernest Jensen moved to adopt the agenda as written. Jerry Wixom seconded the motion. Five aye votes. Motion passed. REPORTS/INPUT%INFORMATION a. Patron Input: Christi Cooper - spoke in support of the Bush Magnet School proposal being presented tonight and asked the Board for their support. Dr. Gandhi — asked the Board to reevaluate the mathematics courses being offered at the AP level. The district currently offers AP Calculus AB and he would like to see them add the AP Calculus BC class to further prepare students for taking a college entrance exam. b. IFEA Report— Michelle Sakota reported: • Peggy Park, Regional IEA Rep., retired this summer; they are currently looking to fill her position • Raise Your Hand Snake River Coalition, a group of local paraprofessionals, are headed to Boise to work with others across the state to find ways to help fund public education. • Mitzi Ellingson, IFEA Vice Chair, and Shelley Thiel, attended the Regional Assembly in New Orleans June 301" —July 7th. This year's theme was Turning Hope in to Action. The representatives spent several days, along with 10,000 other teachers across America, reviewing by-laws and making resolutions on several issues. c. Education Foundation —Terri Frickey reported: • Cami Smith is now able to update the Ed Foundation webpage herself, this should help keep the information more current. • The Foundation continues to work on funding for secondary science consumables and the robotics class. • The Dual Credit Luncheon is set for September 28, 2010 at noon, at the Red Lion, an evening presentation will be held at Taylorview Junior High at 6:30 pm that same night • The Foundation will fund the Plan Assessment Test for all 10th graders during the 2010- 11 school year. d. Bush Magnet School Proposal — First Reading Karrin Allen and Nancy Leahy, teachers at Bush Elementary, presented information regarding the extended math and science curriculum they would like to adopt. The proposed curriculum would allow Bush Elementary to become a magnet school providing students with a "unique and living" instructional experience. Karla LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education and the Board Curriculum Committee expressed their support for the proposed curriculum change. A discussion was held in regards to sustainability of the program and students moving within the district. The curriculum samples will be at the district office, for public review and input. The second reading of the proposal is scheduled for the August, 10, 2010 board meeting, and then it will be an action item on the August 24, 2010 agenda for a board decision. A Policy will need to be developed in regards to changing the name of the school. The Board asked the administration to put together a recommendation for their consideration. The Board commended the Bush faculty for the great example of leadership and thanked them for their work. 7/13/2010 District 91 Board Minutes Page 2 of 5 Policy 603.6 Middle Level Credit Policy - First Reading The need for this policy came about after the State Board of Education set new requirements for progression at the middle school level. Students in the 71" and 81" grades must pass a minimum of eighty percent of the total credits attempted to be eligible for promotion to the next grade level. Additionally, a student is required to attain, at a minimum, a portion of the total credits attempted in each area in which credits are attempted except for areas in which instruction is less than a school year in order to be eligible for promotion to the next grade level. This policy addresses interventions that will apply for non-compliance of the requirements. The Board asked the administration to change the header listed as 603.6 — Clair E. Gale, Eagle Rock, and Taylorview Junior High Schools to something like Middle Level Credit Policy. The second reading of the proposed policy will be at the August, 10, 2010 board meeting, and then as an action item at the August 24, 2010 meeting, to have the policy in place prior to the start of the 2010-11 school year. Superintendent's Report Superintendent Boland turned the time over to Karla LaOrange, Director of Elementary Education, to further address the math placement and curriculum changes. Several math teachers from the district were on hand to share their vision of what the proposed math curriculum changes will look like. CONSENT AGENDA: Lisa Burtenshaw moved to adopt the consent agenda as written. Deidre Warden seconded the motion. Five aye votes. Motion carried. Items approved include: Meeting Minutes Payment of June 2010 Claims Matching Funds Staff Actions: Retirements: Linda Stanger Fox Hollow 4th John Schooler Taylorview Band Jeanne Baker Bush 5th Julie Rahl Skyline English June 8, 9 and 22, 2010 $8,783,199.92 Fox Hollow Elementary Sunnyside Elementary $ 7,601.69 $ 7,500.00 7/13/2010 District 91 Board Minutes Page 3 of 5 Resignations: Annette Morell Clair E Gale .5 FTE FCS Amy Cox Longfellow 6th Grade Francine Hassing ERJH Special Ed Chris Valentine ERJH Career Awareness Candie Madsen District PE Brooke Flemming ERJH English Angela Chamberlain Linden Park Special Ed Elizabeth Batt Erickson 5th Grade PE Whitney Deist Specialist Temple View &Taylorview New Hires: Applonie, Dona DeHart, Leigh E Rigby, Tami Jean Principal 4th Grade Special Education Sunnyside Elementary Dora Erickson Elementary Temple View Elementary Barrett, Stacey A Dodd, Pamela J Sorensen, Susan Compliance Specialist .68 FTE 1 st Grade EMT Instructor Administration Office Longfellow Elementary Idaho Falls High School Benson, Andrew A Flamm, Kaylene Stoddard, Tiffany 5th Grade Family & Consumer Science .50 FTE 2nd Grade A H Bush Elementary Eagle Rock Jr High Theresa Bunker Elementary Bevan, Danielle N George, Kelly S Tobin, Hal R 4th Grade Special Education 5th Grade Dora Erickson Elementary Fox Hollow Elementary Hawthorne Elementary Billings, Sara R Hansen, Amy N Waite, Sara K 1 st Grade 1 st Grade 4th Grade A H Bush Elementary Temple View Elementary Theresa Bunker Elementary Briggs, Amy Suzanne Karazia, Bryan D Walker, Kevin N Vocal Music 5th Grade 6th Grade Taylorview Jr High Theresa Bunker Elementary Longfellow Elementary Buzard, Amy A Keck, Amy L Walker, Renee J 2nd Grade Special Education Reading Linden Park Elementary Eagle Rock Jr High Clair E Gale Jr High Carroll, Christina M Maitland, Adam M Zohner, Sydney Kindergarten Special Education C.N.A. Instructor Longfellow Elementary Edgemont Elementary Skyline High School Chestnut, Amanda L Miller, Scott A Youinou, Heather M Social Studies Principal English Eagle Rock Jr High Skyline High School Clair E Gale Jr High Cross, Marie Estelle Nelson, Rebekah A Webster, David E Special Education Art Counselor Longfellow Elementary Idaho Falls/Skyline Edgemont Elementary Davidson, Janine P O'Neill, Kimberly D Art Special Education Eagle Rock Jr High Clair E Gale Jr High Davis, Clarissa A Rapp, Mark Russell 5th Grade Special Education Linden Park Elementary Idaho Falls High School 7/13/2010 District 91 Board Minutes Page 4 of 5 PROPOSALS Second Reading Board Policy 407 —Transportation The revised policy has been available for review since the first reading on June 8, 2010. No comments have been received to date. This will be posted as an action item on the August 10, 2010 agenda for a Board decision. b. Osgood Joint Use Agreement Guy Wangsgard stated this is in regards to the ball field adjacent to the Osgood School building and the Osgood L.D.S. Church. Church officials would like to formalize an agreement with a written contract. Discussions were held regarding what benefits a Joint Use Agreement would have, leaving things as they are or is it time to sell the property. The Board asked the administration to do some preliminary work, without going to any great expense, before a decision is made. ACTION ITEMS a. Student 2009-10B Re -admittance Decision Lisa Burtenshaw moved to reinstate Student 2009-10B, in District 91, for the 2010-11 school year. Deidre Warden seconded. Five aye votes. Motion carried. b. NSBA Nation Affiliation Membership Jerry Wixom made a motion to maintain the membership affiliation with the National School Board Association. Ernest Jensen seconded. A discussion was held regarding the benefits received from the affiliation with the NSBA. Five aye votes. Motion carried. c. Emerson High School Lab Chair Purchase Jim McCubbin, a teacher at Emerson H.S., attended an auction held at EITC in June and was able to purchase 24 lab chairs at $4 each for a total of $96.00. Heidi Crouch, Emerson H.S. Principal, is asking for approval to reimburse Mr. McCubbin for the purchase of the chairs which will be used at Emerson. Lisa Burtenshaw moved to reimburse Jim McCubbin $96.00 for the purchase of the chairs. Deidre Warden seconded. Five aye votes. Motion carried. Deidre Warden moved to enter Executive Session. Jerry Wixom seconded. A roll -call vote was taken: Dave Lent —yes Ernest Jensen — yes Jerry Wixom — yes Deidre Warden — yes Lisa Burtenshaw —yes EXECUTIVE SESSION Jerry Wixom moved to return to Open Session. Lisa Burtenshaw seconded. Motion carried. Lisa Burtenshaw moved to adjourn. Deidre Warden seconded. Meeting adjourned. 7/13/2010 District 91 Board Minutes Page 5 of 5 Suketu Gandhi's Comments6 _�g=�July13, 2010 Every student in the district should have access to very challenging instructions. Schools need to facilitate such access by continuing to identify suitable topics in various courses, provide challenging homework assignments and stimulate thinking by asking the right questions. In this regards, mathematics courses offered at the AP level need to be reevaluated. Recent actions on mathematics at both the District and the State levels justify this action. District 91 has made a correct decision to see to that all of the core courses are full year. Idaho State Department of Education is evaluating the new standards for the mathematics curriculum. They should determine whether the proposed standards are adequate, or they need to be made stronger. (For your information, concerned officials of the State and the District have been provided with specific comments on the specific ways to improve mathematics education.) In a few years down the road, as students enter their senior year, they will have had taken full year of core courses throughout high school years. Full year math course should help students to retain the materials taught, and should substantially reduce the failure rate in any of the college bound mathematics courses. A few years after more higher caliber mathematics curriculum is incorporated, students should be in position to handle very tough AP math course. The most challenging AP math course is the curriculum for Calculus BC. At the present, the District offers Calculus course that prepares them to undertake Calculus AB examination. There are significant differences between the content of Calculus AB and Calculus BC courses. A few examples of the topics found exclusively in Calculus BC include parametric and polar equations, L'Hdpital's rule, Taylor's series. These topics are utilized in AP Physics (C) course. Taking this course helps the students score high on the standardized mathematics tests for college admissions (i.e., ACT & SAT/Math and SAT Subject/Test Mathematics Level 2). This is not to say that those who take AP Mathematics with Calculus AB will be unable to be admitted from a college (to pursue studies in sciences, engineering and mathematics). What I am saying is that those students, who wish to study at those universities that provide strong curriculum in science, mathematics and engineering fields, will need to take challenging courses. Those students who demonstrate that they have taken and are capable of handling very rigorous courses will find it easier to access admission to number of universities that have demanding curriculum for science, engineering and mathematics majors. Admission to outstanding state universities outside of Idaho would admit out of state students who have far superior academic qualifications than the corresponding instate students. Certain private universities naturally give a serious consideration to those students who have strong academic preparation to handle science, engineering and mathematics courses. When the District offers the mathematics course that prepares them take Calculus BC examination helps those students who seek admission to the universities that provide very rigorous education in sciences, engineering and mathematics. The District should address the issue raised here: In a few years down, will students be able to handle a course that prepares them for AP Calculus BC examination? If not, what corrective actions are needed so that students are prepared to handle the course, and there is a larger pool of students who would end up taking Calculus in high school years. When corrective action is taken, should a math course be offered that prepares students for Calculus BC examination?