Education Committee - November 14, 2005

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Proceedings of the Education Committee

School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

November 14, 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, November 14, 2005 at 5:30 p.m.

 

Chairman Conrad Stroebe presided.

 

Pledge of Allegiance

 

The Chair led those assembled in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

Roll Call

 

The following were present at the meeting: Trustees Conrad Stroebe and Sandra Mossman, Kathy Olson, Shaun Harrington, Margaret Aukshun, Patty Fain, Kyle Colling, Kathy Boehler, Seth Hirschkorn, Kip Farnum, Julie Sykes, Karen Rice. Anne Barlow was excused. Other members absent were Malcolm Goodrich, Joe Burst, Dave Cobb, Karen Ziegler. The following guests present for part or all of the meeting included: Gail Surwill, Nina Miller, Dani Kieckbusch, Travis Niemeyer, Angel Greenley, Lisa Scott, Jan Besel, Dennis Sulser, Scott Anderson, Stan Barr, Bob Whalen, Woody Jensen, Tim Cranston, Peter Gesuale, Barb Bryan, Donell Small, Mike Iverson.

 

Minutes of October 10, 2005 Education Committee

 

Because it appeared that members of the committee had not reviewed the minutes of the October 10, 2005 meeting, Chair Stroebe deferred this item to the December meeting. He asked Kathy Olson to make sure that all members of the committee were provided copies for their review. It was mentioned that a draft was available at the meeting as well as on the Internet.

 

Math/Science Partnership Federal Grant (MSP) Progress Report

 

Gail Surwill was present and introduced this item. She explained that funding for this grant is provided from Title II money. It provides $175,000 each year for two years for a middle school math coach and two elementary math coaches. The objects of the partnership are to: (1) provide sustained professional development for teachers, (2) decrease the number of failing 7th and 8th graders, and (3) increase the percentage of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders proficient on the state CRT. Lisa Scott is the middle school math coach, and Nina Miller and Angel Greenley are the elementary math coaches. Ms. Surwill feels we will be able to write an extension to the grant. Lockwood, Laurel, Trinity Lutheran, and Huntley Project Junior High Schools are included as part of this partnership.

 

Lisa Scott spoke about the middle school component. She explained that results of pretests and post tests indicate that teachers showed statistically significant improvement in both test areas (geometry/measurement and probability/statistics). Different tests were given but the same objectives were tested.

 

Angel Greenley explained that as a result of the staff development, the number of students failing math has decreased. Data has been collected from last year only. Students from all the schools in the partnership are reported together.

 

Nina Miller explained the increase in the percentage of state CRT and the range of gain is from 5 to 19 percent in 6th graders, 3 to 20 percent in 7th graders, and 9 to 33 percent in 8th graders.

 

Jan Besel, 7th and 8th grade teacher from Riverside, spoke about the positive impact on her teaching and the effect on her students from this program.

 

Travis Niemeyer, Eagle Cliffs 5th-6th grades combination teacher, stated that this program has changed the way he teaches completely. He feels we should be looking at how to get more people involved in this.

 

Dani Kieckbusch, Resource Room teacher from Boulder, praised Nina Miller for teaching alternative strategies in math. She related several success stories of kids who had previously had problems with math and how Ms. Miller helped them to succeed. She feels that this has changed their lives.

 

There were 27 teachers last year and 22 this year. Karen Rice stated that kids love the program. Patty Fain asked if there were a way to get parents involved.

 

Currently, the program is open to all teachers but is by invitation only. Kathy Olson stated that new staff is glad to have help from the math and reading coaches.

 

Call to Public

 

Woody Jensen was present to address the committee under the call to the public. He presented information to the committee on electronic learning (E-learning). He explained that Adult Education was the first alternative high school in the district. Dr. Jensen explained that WWIDEA has been successful in home schools and Alaska, and in Idaho this year. An option for this program is MSELC but WWIDEA has a much more comprehensive program WWIDEA will do all administrative and guidance functions. This program is targeted to start in the spring of 2006 and will possibly generate 100 to 200 ANB. This will come from home schoolers or other students who have good support for learning. The parent is the recipient of services because funding doesn’t allow him to serve less than 16 year olds. He explained that the funding from ANB comes after the completion of the year. He anticipates the funding to come from Adult Education, high school general fund and grant dollars. Full-time ANB for high school yields $5,300. Of that, about $2,915 goes directly to funding in building budgets for operating costs. The estimated cost of startup per 100 students per year is about $425,000 without Adult Education support.

 

Karen Rice had another commitment and left the meeting at 6:20 p.m.

 

Discussion of the Educational Implications of Possible Scenarios for High School Renovation

 

The high school principals were asked to attend the meeting to discuss the educational implication of the four scenarios for high school renovation. Each scenario was discussed separately.

 

The first scenario discussed was to develop the Career Center site to include both a comprehensive high school and the Career Center program. Bob Whalen informed the committee that he was a former director of the Career Center as well as a

counselor, starting in 1988. He believes that the Career Center needs to stay as a satellite. There is a need for vocational education. We would have to provide technical education classes currently at the Career Center. The system needs to be updated and expanded, and probably need to audit out programs not keeping up with the times. In the case of a new school on that site there would be problems with traffic, parking, having enough area to have football fields, etc. There is a need to expand to accommodate other kids. Conrad Stroebe repeated that this scenario is to keep the Career Center as is and add a comprehensive high school.

 

Stan Barr, current Director of Career Center, stated that he has worked at the center since 1982. He feels we need to expand classes offered now. Scott Anderson feels the Career Center is fitting a need and the opportunity to serve more kids is necessary. Dennis Sulser agreed with Scott Anderson. He feels a new comprehensive high school would affect staffing substantially, scheduling and to equally balance class loads is difficult. He feels the Career Center could be expanded.

 

Sandy Mossman asked if some students attend school at Career Center now full time. There are approximately 115 full-time students there now but they still graduate from their home high school, and they are only 11th and 12th graders. The limitations of those 115 are that they are unable to participate in activities. There are some groups at Career Center.

 

Patty Fain asked if it limits the ability to expand the Career Center because of space. Peter Gesuale stated that there is no room for a larger high school on that site. Is there a portion of students who would take advantage of a smaller high school with not all of the offerings – “school of choice”? It would offer a smaller learning environment. Patty Fain could see it as a magnet school. Scott Anderson said there is a high potential at the Career Center. Kathy Olson asked if with expansion of offerings, there would be more students.

 

Stan Barr stated that finding people to teach classes is a problem. The facility would support increases if the 9th graders moved back to West. They would have another 12 classrooms.

 

Conrad Stroebe would like to see a program by program cost estimate, including teachers’ salaries. He mentioned that the Heights Task Force would like to have a career center in the Heights. Stan Barr can provide overall numbers for cost estimates but not in detail. Stan said that Carl Perkins money keeps the Career Center program going. Patty Fain asked if 12 classrooms would alleviate the overcrowding. Stan replied that more kids would be able to come to the Career Center.

 

The second scenario discussed was: the elementary district may deed one of the middle schools to the high school district to be used as a comprehensive high school, and build a new middle school to replace the vacated middle school. Mr. Stroebe explained that this scenario had most likely come about because of the subcommittee looking at property ownership issues, and schools being owned jointly by both districts. Dennis Sulser asked who would decide who occupies this school? Where do the middle school kids go to school? How do we decide? Sometimes a decision has to be made about that. How do you make the students go there?

 

Conrad Stroebe said at some point in time, we need to talk about boundaries, school by school or district wide. Kip Farnum stated that the problem is so complex and there are so many different issues. Would this necessitate busing kids to middle school? Peter Gesuale pointed out that a new middle school would be built. He feels that there is interest in a smaller learning environment and used Central Catholic High School as an example. He feels that some families would make that choice.

 

Conrad Stroebe said that we need to look at what is happening in some other urban areas, namely that some are turning to K-8 and going away from the middle school concept.

 

It was mentioned that building a middle school would be cheaper than a high school. Barb Bryan stated that there are educational factors. Having new space would increase the funding out of general fund to operate the schools which would have a bearing on all educational programs in the district. Conrad Stroebe stated that we need a cost benefit analysis.

 

Donell Small stated that we now have five buildings needing repair. The 20-year committee’s information showed that there would be fewer students in the future, do we need another building? Peter Gesuale pointed out the benefits of educating more kids, participating in activities to prevent dropouts.

 

The third scenario discussed was: renovate existing facilities and add to each of the existing high schools as needed to allow the operation of freshman and sophomore academies on each high school site. Bob Whalen likes the idea of renovating the high schools and feels it is long overdue. He is not in favor of expanding them to allow more kids – they are too large now. Scott Anderson would love to have the 9th graders back in their building. He stated that with renovations they need to look at classroom size. Shaun Harrington stated that teaming would require more FTE. Conrad Stroebe asked about different scheduling at different schools.

 

Dennis Sulser stated that the academy concept has tremendous potential. Some things take an educational mind shift as well as facility shift. Would have to decide what education they want to do before changing the facility.

 

Peter Gesuale asked if they could reabsorb the 9th graders. Scott Anderson stated Senior High would need 12 classrooms and West would need more. Labs are a big issue. They would both need labs as well.

 

Tim Cranston asked if it would be an easier educational mind shift to implement if the students were back at West. Dennis Sulser stated it is not easy at either place. Teaming in smaller units.

 

Kyle Colling asked if basically the committee was being asked to consider two outcomes: scenarios 1, 2 and 4 result in a smaller high school and the other option is to renovate existing senior highs. Conrad Stroebe stated renovation needs to add space because of crowded conditions, and he does not feel any of the scenarios are mutually exclusive. Patty Fain stated that hopefully the student population will grow.

 

Conrad Stroebe does not see leaving them as they are as a choice. The 20-year committee’s recommendations were to live within facilities we have.

 

Sandy Mossman stated we need to look at educational specifications as well as facility and make sure what the educational specifications are. Patty Fain brought up the issue of parity. Tim Cranston stated that their committee had considered parity.

 

The fourth scenario was: add a high school with a 600-1000 student capacity in the southern corridor of the city to accommodate current overflow. Scott Anderson stated this scenario has the same issues as adding a school at the Career Center site. Conrad Stroebe asked about the impact on your school of losing the southern corridor students. This would require a boundary shift. We have to address the boundary issues and balance of children.

 

Bob Whalen stated that for a southern corridor school, the issue of diversity is huge. There has to be some sort of plan to face schools in the future.

 

Donell said renovating and adding classrooms would cost $120,000. Patty Fain feels if the principals join together making a decision and move forward. Is there some consensus?

 

Scott Anderson stated there was a consensus of his faculty advisory council at Senior. Their recommendation was to renovate the four high schools, balance the children and hold to the boundaries then we can have an operational levy to maintain them.

 

Dennis Sulser stated that we have to take care of our buildings first regardless of expansion. We need to look at student population. In his 11 years at West High, there has been an increase of 300 students.

 

Bob Whalen feels there is a need to develop an ongoing maintenance program for Skyview, look at boundaries then start looking at something to alleviate pressure that West High is going to continue to have. We need to take care of schools because that is where the kids are now.

 

Stan Barr stated the Career Center needs maintenance. If we can expand kids will come.

 

Conrad Stroebe asked how do we address the $98 million to renovate Senior and West. Consider educationally relevant factors and increase participation from 50 to 100 percent in activities to keep kids as well as parents in the schools. Dennis Sulser stated that the $98 million was the Cadillac and we could look at that again and be more efficient. It also was a school for 2,400 students. Scott Anderson wants to work on the second question and continue to work on that. Kids are involved in the community as well. Bob Whalen stated that we are competing with kids who are working at an earlier age.

 

Barb Bryan urged the committee and the Board to consider what the public thinks. Boundary issues, inequitably, needs to be addressed, public will not vote for anything that does not have renovating our schools, including building another school and not being able to maintain it. We need to maintain a career education focus.

 

7th and 8th Grade Social Studies Curriculum Adoption – First Reading

 

Shaun Harrington explained the social studies curriculum and stated they have decided to have geography/history considerations and align the curriculums better. They will look at resources after the adoption. This is being presented to the committee tonight for first reading, then to the Board at their regular meeting and will come back to the committee for third reading. Sandy Mossman moved to recommend adoption of the 7th and 8th grade social studies curriculum on first reading. Kyle Colling seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

Sandy Mossman asked about future agenda items for the committee. She would like to see the administrative recommendations in response to the dropout report. It was mentioned that it is being discussed at the School/Community Committee meeting tonight. Sandy feels that the Board has an interest in looking at preventions. Carol Wicker will present that report to the Board. Kyle Colling would like to have alignment of data collection so it can all be aggregated. Shaun Harrington stated that this is being done on Zangle. Kyle Colling would like to look at that. Kathy Olson stated that the dropout data is available on the state website. She can bring that information back to the committee next time.

 

Sandy Mossman said the status of recommendations should come back to this committee, what progress is being made, and make a recommendation to the Board. Kathy Olson will email Kathy Kelker.

 

Conrad Stroebe passed out some information on school size and educational equity as well as school funding budget comparisons.

 

There being no other items of business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

 

 

 

_________________________________

Conrad Stroebe, Chairman

 

 

 

________________________

Nancy Coe, Recorder