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Education Committee Meeting 01/09/06


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Proceedings of the Education Committee

School District No.2, Yellowstone County

High School District No. 2, Yellowstone County

Billings, Montana

 

January 9, 2006

 

 

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, January 9, 2006 at 5:30 p.m.

 

Chairman Conrad Stroebe presided.

 

Roll Call

 

The following were present at the meeting: Conrad Stroebe, Joe Burst, Kip Farnum, Sandy Mossman, Brett Jette, Kathy Olson, Patty Fain, Karen Rice, Margaret Aukshun, Kathy Boehler and Julie Sykes.

 

Minutes of December 12, 2005

 

Margaret Aukshun made a motion to approve the Education Committee minutes of December 12, 2005. Karen Rice seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

 

Vision Statement for High School Education in Billings

At the request of the Board chair the Education Committee worked to develop a vision statement for High School Education in Billings Public Schools. A brainstorming format was used to develop this vision statement. Through this brainstorming session, the committee identified foundational principles that led to the development of the vision statement. The foundational principles were:

 

• Equal opportunity for all students

• Lifelong learners

• Students feel and achieve success

• Student empowerment for learning

• Positive environment

• Zero tolerance for discrimination of all-cultural, academic, racial, gender and age.

• Respectful of individual differences

• Accountability expectations for students as well as staff

• Scheduling of class offering to allow students to engage in a multitude of offerings (single section offerings)

• Consistent offerings across all high schools. Flexible course offerings.

• Open campuses for courses for all high school students who can’t schedule course work at their home school.

• Provide tools to achieve success

• Modern and adequate equipment and facilities

• Safe environment

• Empowerment of teachers

• Highly trained and skilled staff

• Challenging academic and social opportunities

• Opportunities to give back to the community

• Variety of pathways toward graduation

• Expectation of students to engage in the most rigorous coursework commensurate to their ability level and be rewarded accordingly

• Expectation that teachers hired and currently working are highly skilled and qualified in their subject area on and off campus

• Materials-textbooks, technology, lab-are current

• Coursework to allow all students regardless of ability to show progress

• Course offerings to address the needs of the community

• Strengthening programs for 8th to 9th transitions

• Service learning opportunities for credit

 

Vision Statement:

“In partnership and support of the uniqueness of our community we believe that all Billings Public School students shall be provided Equal Opportunity for a rigorous education commensurate to individual needs and talents. A positive safe & accepting environment challenges and permits students and staff to strive for excellence in which problem solving, creative thinking, individuality and citizenship are valued.”

 

This vision statement is based on the following beliefs.

• There ought to be multiple ways of achieving a high school diploma

 

• Students should be able to choose an avenue for achieving outcomes at the high school level specific to their goals

 

• High school diplomas should be the same. Students should have the opportunity of earning additional certificates in specific areas.

 

Requirements for attainment of the Vision Statement

• Smaller learning communities either within existing high schools or at separate locations.

 

• Upgrade and maintain all existing high school facilities to the highest level of modern standards.

 

• Develop a master plan for coordination between the College of Technology and the Career Center

 

• Evaluate the education impact of boundaries.

 

• Increased allocation of funds for curriculum and staff development at all high school facilities.

 

 

The Vision statement, The Foundational Principles, The Beliefs and The Requirements for Attainment were forwarded to be included in the January Board agenda packet.

 

There was a discussion regarding High School diplomas. Part of the discussion included attainment of certificates in specific areas of study.

 

Agenda Item C: Committee Member Roster Published on Web Site

The Education Committee members in attendance agreed to allow to have their names published on the Billings Public Schools Website.

 

Agenda Item D: Approval of New Education Committee Members

The Education Committee unanimously voted to forward Rachel Court Stagg and Ellen Hilde names to the Board for approval as potential Educational Committee members.

 

Dropout Study

Sandra Mossman requested that a committee be developed to respond to the Dropout report. Members of the committee should include the Director of Secondary Education, High School and Middle School Principals and Counselors. The purpose of the committee is to respond to the recommendations of the Dropout Report. The Dropout Report was presented at an earlier Education and Board meeting. The Dropout report was prepared by Kyle Colling, an Education Committee Member.

 

 

There being no other items of business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

 

 

 

 

Conrad Stroebe, Chairman

 

 

 

Vickie Schultz, Recorder

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