Marta McAllister Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 Proceeding of the School/Community Committee Meeting District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana March 14, 2005 Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Michael Dimich. Members Present: Mike Dimich, Karen Moses, Carol Wicker, Michael Burke, Lisa Posada, Tom Willis, Paul DiLorenzo, Stephanie Krueger, Greta Besch, Jim Hartung, Shanna Kerr, Laura Simonsen, Jennifer Howe, and Don Ami. John Selvig, Bobbie Larson, Bill Selph, Deb Powell, and Jay Kirk were excused Communication from the Public: None Librarian and Psychologist Evaluation Instruments: Bev Flaten, Andrea Meyer, and Mary Jane Orner presented the Librarian Evaluation Instrument for approval. They recommended that the School/Community Committee approve the document. They stated the document follows state standards and the district’s Librarian job description. Carol Wicker recommended the Psychologists Evaluation Instrument be approved as all the Psychologists have reviewed and approve the document. A motion was made and seconded to move for approval of the Librarian and Psychologist Evaluation Instruments. The motion carried. AYP Report – Carried Over From February Agenda: Bev Flaten presented results of the AYP Report. Bev reported that School District 2 has been identified as a school district in need of improvement. The main reason is because the district disaggregates the sub-groups. Bev explained that some schools as a whole did make AYP but the sub-groups did not. Bev explained that is the whole reason behind the No Child Left Behind Act is Adequate Yearly Progress. The intent is that NCLB is the law and AYP is the accountability piece in that law. Bev explained the same child might be reported in more than one group. The district’s sub-groups identified in need of improvement are: Native Americans, economically disadvantaged and Special Education. Bev explained for the district to make AYP in all sub-groups research based strategies must be implemented and a belief that all children can learn must permeate the system. It is very challenging thus Federal courts will need to decide where NCLB overrides IEPs or IEPs overrides NCLB. Bev explained the sanctions for the District includes: 1. Revising the District’s Five Year Action Plans by April 15 and defining what the district’s plan is going to do to help our Native American, economically disadvantaged, and special education children make AYP within the next two years. 2. Ten percent of Title One funding has to be set aside for Comprehensive Professional Development. 3. The district has to have a teacher mentoring process in place across the District. 4. The district has to have a documented parental involvement plan that is impacting student’s improvement. Attendance was discussed as an issue at some schools. Nancy Hines reported that Partners in Education is working with the district to help address attendance issues in Billings. There was some discussion regarding testing and testing attendance. Carol Wicker reported that testing is being done this year in a two day period at the high school level to reduce the pressure of test taking and hopefully improve attendance and reduce make-up tests. Recommended Procedure for Use of Videos on Bus Trips: There was a discussion regarding entertainment videos and educational videos, selecting videos, creating lists in advance for parental discretion, choosing our battles, and adult advisors using common sense when selecting videos shown on bus trips. Several motions and amendments were presented. The final motion was then made. A motion was made and seconded to approve the Guidelines to read as follows: 1. Videos shown on bus trips should be suitable for the age group of students making the trip and approved by the adult advisor. 2. Videos shown on bus trips will be shown in compliance with copyright laws. 3. No “R- rated” videos will be shown on bus trips. The motion carried. Communication Plan: Nancy Hines, Communication Consultant, presented her recommendations for the District’s presented Communication Plan. Nancy reviewed the document she had produced with the Committee. Nancy explained her diagram of the current communication structure and her proposed restructuring of the communication system. The Committee discussed the question as to whether there is too much communication going on without any focus. Nancy suggested that currently the communication structure is a linear system. The public perception currently is that communication is from the top down with the focus needing to be broadened allowing more public contact at all levels. Karen Moses suggested the Communication Plan be passed on to the other Committees to review. Carol Wicker brought up the thought that the Communication Plan is part of the School/Community Committee’s work plan. She suggested waiting to give it to other Committees until School/Community members have thoroughly reviewed the plan as this was its first presentation. Tom Willis recommended members review the Appendix and visit some of the sites. It was recommended that the School/Community Committee members review and prioritize the information before the School/Community Committee adopts a plan. The plan will be a major focus of the April meeting to continue the review after members have studied it again for a month. Carol Wicker asked for clarification as to what the Committee would be adopting in the Communication Plan. Nancy explained it would be the Plan of Action recommendation between pages 46–56. There was discussion regarding the recommendation of hiring a Communication Consultant and how that fit within the hiring freeze. Nancy Hines suggested that this plan is not a magic formula to pass a bond and that would not be its only goal. Nancy stated the magic formula is public trust and that will take some time to build. It was decided that the Committee review and prioritize the Communication Plan information before the April meeting. Absent Committee members will be notified to review the plan before the April meeting. Factual or grammatical corrections found in the Communication Plan upon review can be e-mailed to Nancy at hinesn@billings.k12.mt.us. Feedback on Proposal Regarding Mill Levy: Mike Dimich reported that a meeting was held last week for public input regarding the Mill Levy. There was discussion regarding the district moving forward with a Mill Levy in May’s election. Mike Dimich reported that the School/Community Committee has been asked to discuss the district moving forward with a Mill Levy in May’s election. The following concerns/suggestions were discussed regarding the Mill Levy in May’s election by individual members: 1. There is a need to ask for a mill levy at this time as the district can change its mind if it is not needed. To maintain the same level of service a mill levy is necessary. If you don’t ask you won’t get anything from voters. 2. Impressed with Malcolm Goodrich’s budget presentation. It was good, clear, clean, unemotional and straight forward. In favor of a mill levy. 3. In order to make Adequate Yearly Progress no cuts can be made. It is important that the district budget include funds to keep the smaller learning communities already in place. 4. Since the 20-Year Facilities Committee may also be asking for a bond regarding the 20-Year scenarios, the district may be taking a risk asking for a mill levy at this time. The average citizen will be confused hearing about legislative education funding issues, large amounts of dollars as it relates to School District 2, the mill levy, and the 20-Year Facilities scenarios. 5. It is confusing for people to sort out the information especially if they are not familiar with School District’s 2 funding issues. 6. The district will need a good, effective Communication Plan. 7. There is a perception problem that the district has cried wolf too many times and it is a timing issue. The district will need to clearly identify the needs and what the money is going to be used for. 8. The district’s marketing needs to be very separate from the high school scenarios. The plan needs to include how the money will be spent in a clear and simple way. Previous spreadsheet present to the public are difficult to read and confusing to most people. 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee Report: The 20-Year Facilities Planning Committee will return to present the information they have gathered from the Community. The time line that was discussed at the February School/Community February meeting may change, but the content will remain the same. Legislative Update: Jim Hartung gave an update on the following bills: HB 302: Allows the District Superintendent to speak in favor of a bond issue or levy before an election. This bill passed the Senate. An amendment was added in the Senate that no public funds may be expended for commercial advertising. Before it can pass from the Legislature to the Governor the House must concur with the amendment. The House should accept this bill with no problem. HB 574: Changes voter approval for school bond issue elections to a simple majority. This bill passed the House. This bill has not been received executive action by the committee. HB 747: Limits liability for student construction projects. This bill passed in the House. This bill has not received executive action. HB 436: Allows developers to donate land to school districts. Schools have the right to refuse the land. The bill passed the House. HB 177: Funding bill for 70 to 80 million dollar increase in spending over the biennium. The bill passed the Senate. HB 124: K-12 health insurance program to create a state-wide insurance pool and some state funding for insurance costs as a possible solution to some of the school funding problems. The bill was heard by the House Select Education Committee and was sent to the committee with a “do not pass” recommendation. SB 152: Definition of quality education. Jim Hartung encouraged member to contact legislators about the bills and keep updated on the District’s preference list on the web-site. He also reminded members of the Thursday meetings held at noon in the Board Room to discuss Legislative Issues. Old Business/Announcements/Handouts: None Minutes of the School/Community Committee Meeting: A motion was made and seconded to approve the January 10, 2005 minutes and February February 15, 2005 with the following corrections. January 10, 2005 minutes change the motion to approve the January 10th 2005 minutes to December 13, 2004 minutes and change the spelling of DeLorenzo to DiLorenzo. The motion carried. The next scheduled meeting is April 11, 2005. The Committee members will meet in the Board Room located in the Lincoln Center, at 415 N 30th at 6:00 PM. _________________________ ___________________________________ Mike Dimich, Chairperson Brenda Cross, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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