coen Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Proceedings of the Education Committee School District No. 2, Yellowstone County High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County Billings, Montana October 10, 2005 Call to Order The Education Committee Meeting of School District No. 2, Yellowstone County, Montana, and the High School District, Yellowstone County, Montana was duly held at The Lincoln Center, 415 North 30th Street, Billings, Montana, Monday, October 10, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. Chairman Conrad Stroebe presided. Roll Call The following were present at the meeting: Conrad Stroebe, Malcolm Goodrich, Kathy Olson, Shaun Harrington, Margaret Aukshun, Patty Fain, Anne Barlow, Karen Ziegler, Kyle Colling, Kathy Boehler, Seth Hirschkorn, Dave Cobb. Sandra Mossman was excused. Other members absent were Joe Burst, Karen Rice, Julie Sykes, Kip Farnum. Carol Blades was present as a guest. Brett Jette arrived at approximately 7 p.m. Minutes of September 12, 2005 Education Committee Dave Cobb made a motion to approve the Education Committee minutes of September 12, 2005 as presented. Patty Fain seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously. School Funding in the State of Montana The Chair reviewed that there were five documents included in this agenda: 1) Montana’s Promise Proposal from MQEC, 2) MQEC’s Keys to Compliance Report, 3) letter from Governor Schweitzer to the Honorable Mike McGrath (Attorney General), 4) Montana Rural Education Association briefing, and 5) email from Conrad Stroebe regarding MQEC meeting in Great Falls. Mr. Stroebe asked that the Committee look at each of the attachments separately and discuss. He stated that primarily the Superintendent Rod Svee and Trustees Karen Moses and Sandra Mossman are representing the district on the funding issues with MQEC and QSIC (Quality Schools Interim Committee). Mrs. Barlow asked about the commitment in the past for facilities. Mr. Stroebe stated that approximately $2-10 million per year for the last two or three bienniums. There is $25 million maintenance fund for one time use. Just Billings requires $50 to $75 million to bring up to snuff. Patty Fain sees two issues: building and maintenance. Kathy Olson stated that the proposed full-day kindergarten would be a large issue for our district. We do not have the facilities available for use. This would require either renting or purchasing more facilities. The only AA district now providing full-day kindergarten is Great Falls. The Interim Committee is trying to determine what they are going to fund. The funding system is inadequate and inequitable, but their attention seems to be on controlling costs. Conrad Stroebe asked if the Committee wants to recommend action to the Board. Malcolm Goodrich stated that the $88 million mentioned is not new money. There is only so much money in the state. He would be in favor of recommending to the Board to give whatever is necessary to MQEC to enforce the Supreme Court order. Conrad Stroebe called for comments. It was mentioned that there is a new federal law which allows only intervention for all students which was changed around Thanksgiving time last year. Now 15 percent can be used for early intervention and at-risk. Health insurance funding of stop loss insurance. Total cost is around $15 million. $100 million out of general fund and put in the teachers’ retirement system. $25 million to maintenance. Mr. Stroebe stated that the Teachers’ Retirement System is short because of the market crash. The committee is tying recruitment and retention to this. The Interim Committee has ignored the MQEC. Need to look at some base tax reform and state funding. How are they going to fund? The $88 million appropriation is also coming from the local taxpayers so one-third of the concept is untrue. Patty Fain suggests addressing a letter to the Attorney General with a copy to the Governor and the Interim Committee about the impact. Malcolm Goodrich recommended a motion to the Board to prepare a District response to the Governor’s letter pointing out issues of metropolitan districts in response to his letter. Patty Fain seconded the motion. Information is missing in the Governor’s letter of how it is going to be paid for. The committee voted on the motion and it passed unanimously. Malcolm Goodrich moved to recommend to the Board to request MQEC take immediate steps to enforce the Supreme Court order. Dave Cobb seconded the motion. All members voted in favor of the motion. Conrad Stroebe stated that you cannot apply different rates on the same tax to taxpayers based on where they live. Possible Scenarios to Address High School Renovation and Capacity Kathy Olson reviewed that the Board Chair, Kathy Kelker, is requesting a recommendation to the Board from the Committee as to the educationally relevant factors on this item. Dave Cobb stated that 9th and 10th graders are completing academic requirements and have more common classes and teachers. After that students have more electives. He also stated that the dropout rate is highest for 9th and 10th graders. Mr. Cobb asked if the Career Center is offered as a fifth high school, would that exclude students from other schools taking vocational classes there. He is not sure students would want to do that. Would we be able to duplicate services at other high schools? Malcolm Goodrich believes that changing the Career Center to a high school changes our educational system. He is concerned about “tracking.” Anne Barlow is concerned about the integrity of the Career Center program. Karen Ziegler feels the Career Center needs to stay the same, but upgrade and update the programs. Mrs. Barlow stated that we are close to an agreement with the College of Technology which would be beneficial to those students. It is a concern that having the Career Center as another high school the students would lose out on the opportunity for expanding knowledge. Patty Fain agrees but states that we are limited to what we can provide. We need to have a fair balance in what we offer. Have to go both ways. Educational decision based on the facilities and what we have. Carol Blades stated that we need to expand the opportunity at the Career Center. She feels there is a huge need. Conrad Stroebe asked if it would be possible to have a career school at each school. Karen Ziegler stated that we would be limited because of space necessary and the money needed. About 60 percent need the program but it is only offered to 5 to 10 percent. Dave Cobb said that the entry level technical courses are offered at each high school. Because of safety issues you need a large area for a small number of students for these programs. Anne Barlow stated: 1) 60 percent of jobs do not require a four-year degree; 2) Does the Career Center do a community outreach? 3) females now make up a larger percentage of graduates from four-year colleges. Carol Blades stated that the program is not a secret and enrollment could be doubled. There is a need to look for apprenticeships and mentorships. This would require outcomes. Dave Cobb stated this would require someone to followup those kids. Employer needs dialogue with school. Staff needs to be committed. Patty Fain feels that it is our job to educate the kids, not employers. Vocational education needs to be supported. Do not drop other AP classes. Kyle Colling feels that we need to work through the Career Center curriculum. Shaun Harrington stated that we are still responsible for basic knowledge and we probably need to do a better job of exploring career education. Kyle Colling feels that we need to expand the Career Center to comprehensive high school with a vocational high school. Dave Cobb stated the Career Center already has 93 full-time students and 593 part-time students, 11th and 12th graders. The facility will hold 800. It does not have advanced or AP classes. Kyle Colling feels that we are “tracking” now. Malcolm Goodrich asked what the national data shows as far as how many students go to college. Montana has a higher than national average. Limiting factor is the number of classes. He is concerned with segmenting the community. Kyle Colling feels that tracking is already done. Quality education can occur with a vocational career. Dave Cobb stated that we need to expand the program. Patty Fain—not limiting students at all, comprehensive high school. Malcolm Goodrich comprehensive high school 9-12, 8th graders need to make a determination or will be tested. Separating kids based on determination in 8th grade. Conrad Stroebe stated that there needs to be a mission statement with each of these. Need to define what these are. Conrad Stroebe addressed the ownership issue of middle school 7-9 grades, the high school district owned 1/3, probably talking about Will James and Riverside. Karen Ziegler said our middle schools aren’t big enough to add 6th grade, so how could they be made into a high school? Conrad Stroebe stated that they are big enough for a small high school. It would be a stand alone high school. Boundaries would need to be redone. It may have to be a non-AA school. There was a discussion about whether the configuration needed to remain the same, K-6, 7-8 and 9-12. Kathy Olson cautioned that in this community there are lots of children who move to lots of different schools, and different configurations would be very difficult for them, especially in K-6. Dave Cobb stated that Billings is growing and adding on won’t be big enough. Patty Fain stated that the data doesn’t support this. Anne Barlow feels that we need to look at boundary changes. Conrad Stroebe stated that we need to move forward. Malcolm Goodrich would support adding something on the south side or in Lockwood. He feels that the third item is probably the most saleable at this time, even though it is going to take a bond issue. Kyle Colling feels that the first one might be saleable too. Conrad Stroebe reminded the committee to look at the educationally relevant factors. Malcolm Goodrich commented that educationally, smaller learning environment is better. Set up smaller high schools from this point forward. Dave Cobb said we could create a building with smaller learning environment with different schedules, even different bells. Kathy Olson asked if flex scheduling had been considered at the high schools. Mr. Cobb replied that because of the number of kids in extracurricular activities, even clubs, and working it is very difficult to have flex scheduling. Patty Fain stated that not all kids are involved in activities, and there may be a group of kids where different schedules would work. Conrad Stroebe asked what the committee would like to take to the Board. Anne Barlow stated that a mission statement for clarification is needed. Malcolm Goodrich made a motion to have the administration provide data to support mission statement with figures and studies that show desirable outcomes. Kathy Boehler suggesting asking kids what they want. Conrad Stroebe feels there is good background data available. Two surveys have been done by Joe Floyd. International Baccalaureate Shaun Harrington presented the information on IB, showing the number of contact hours we now have for AP and honors courses. The only district that currently has IB classes is Kalispell, which has seven students enrolled in the IB program, and they do not have an AP program. They have 2,500 high school students total, 9-12. Margaret Aukshun shared that West High School has a new teacher, Ivana Fritz, who was previously at Kalispell, and is familiar with the IB program. The IB program is well-rounded but is very expensive. Three teachers in each area need to be trained, and every school needs to be chartered. Schools have to develop curriculum which requires release time for teachers. There has to be a site visit from the IB people at district expense. The programs impacts students in activities. Most kids in activities are just certificated. They need to have the full program for the full benefit. It would be better to use the money to fulfill needs at the high schools. Ivana Fritz would be willing to answer any questions. Kathy Olson reminded the committee that they need to make a decision. There is no idea of cost and how to fund. Malcolm Goodrich asked whether this would advance us beyond agreement with MSU and RMC? Shaun does not think so. This program is well recognized throughout the world, maybe beyond AP. It is probably more expensive than AP. Margaret Aukshun would like to see more staff development at the AP level, differentiated strategies and pre-AP training at all levels. Because there were new members present, the Chair asked each person attending to state their name and affiliation. Dave Cobb informed the committee that there is a new funding formula for calculating ANB by number of hours a student attends a school. Clarification is needed on whether we can count for a full ANB if they fall under the minimum number of hours. College would be able to count them for part time. The Board needs to be prepared for a funding loss. Patty Fain asked about the range of classes. Malcolm Goodrich feels there is an educational benefit for any college level class. Status of Activities at Crossroads Alternative High School Carol Blades, Principal at Crossroads, was present to discuss her request for some money to fund student activities at Crossroads. There is no money this year unless this committee would address the Board asking them. The students are very interested in at least intramural volleyball and basketball programs. Mrs. Blades shared that the population at Crossroads is 35 percent American Indian and 10 percent Hispanic, and a multi-cultural club is also a need. Patty Fain commented that the committee needs to do it based on a per student average across the district. Carol Blades said that $5,000 will do a lot. She has a teacher who wants to open the gym on Saturday nights. Dave Cobb made a motion to allow the Board to look at financing $5,000 to start an extracurricular program. Patty Fain requested that instead of $5,000, the motion read per student average of the district. Anne Barlow seconded the motion. Shaun Harrington mentioned that there is a need for start-up money for activities. Carol Blades just wants something for this year. Patty Fain feels they should not have to beg for the same thing other students get at other schools. Carol Blades would be happy with $5,000. Carol thanked Margaret Aukshun for lobbying for Crossroads activities. The amended motion passed unanimously. Smaller Learning Communities Grant Update There were no questions or comments on this item. Out-of-Area Transfer Process Kathy Olson presented this item by stating in the past the district has had an open door policy for the K-6 program. The basic parameters for a transfer involve three things: class size, attendance and behavior. Karen Ziegler read a document she had written outlining her actions before school this year. She encourages the committee and the Board to leave the policy the same. She did not require that the students go back to their home school; they were given choices of schools where the classes had room. Kathy Boehler agrees that the policy should remain the same but is concerned that each school does it differently and there is a need to be consistent throughout the district. Karen Ziegler pointed out that 6th graders are not transferred back. Patty Fain wants the policy and procedure included on the form so there is no question of what was agreed to. It would be clearer. Transfers could have a domino affect. Parents/students have to reapply each year. Kyle Colling feels this requires no action. Conrad reiterated that this is for information only. Karen Ziegler was asked to call all the parents, which she has ready done. Kathy Olson also called some of the parents. October 3, 2005 State Enrollment Conrad Stroebe pointed out an error on the report for Will James, 8th grade, page 6 of the report. He mentioned that there was a large drop from 9th to 10th graders at Senior and wants to identify in what category where those kids went. Dave Cobb knows of a report—change of code by grade by school. This report is tied to the dropout report. Margaret Aukshun would like to see what the class sizes are at the high schools, as well as the elementaries. Mr. Cobb did that two years ago and basically it is done every year for funding and budgeting purposes. Kyle Colling asked if the IB item needed a motion. Kathy Olson made a motion to focus our energies on improving our AP classes and discontinue discussion of the IB program. Malcolm Goodrich seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. There being no other items of business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m. _________________________________ Conrad Stroebe, Chairman ________________________ Nancy Coe, Recorder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.