January 9, 2017 School Board Meeting
- Call to Order- Welcome
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Adoption of Agenda - Changed agenda to put closed session after board communications.
- Public comments
- None
- Consent Agenda
- Bills, Human Resource Report, and Gifts
- District Positive Accomplishments - Aldo Leopold Lego Club
Mrs. Salisbury and two Aldo students presented information on the Lego Club. There were nine students on it. It's a program where students learn how to program robots that can to complete missions and solve problems that fit a theme. The Aldo team included one student from Ed Stone. This year’s theme is different than the previous year. This year’s theme is Animal Allies. This team won an award for Core Values - (professionalism, team work, etc).
- Student Representative Report - no representative present to give a report. Mr. Keane shared that there was a great jazz concert yesterday. Beach night occurred last Friday.
- Superintendent’s Report
Mr. Coen was not present. Sharon said she and Coen were at the community meeting at Grimes concerning the violence in the community. She said it was well attended and they are beginning to work on an action plan to address. Sharon also said that the board members were given a copy of his report.
- Items for Discussion or Action
- Review architect request for proposals high school chiller
Mr. Keskerke presented. Chiller 2 had a high content of ammonia which indicates its deteriorating. Trane came and checked them out and they can’t be repaired because the parts don’t exist anymore. He presented the bids on the replacement of the chiller. There was a vast different in the bids. Two chillers will be replaced. The budget is $750,000 for the project. They are trying to come up with a more energy efficient way to cool the high school. They are looking at different types of systems to use rather than doing the same system that we have currently. The timeline is unknown. It probably won’t be worked on until next fall. There is an $18,000 fee from the architects/engineers. They are going to work with Alliant to try to get some energy saving ideas/rebates.
A motion was made to accept the submission by the engineers and it was passed.
- Sunnyside State of School Report
Mr. Bolander and his intern, Stacey Hatten (?) presented. Sunnyside had a proficiency of 83.5% which is above the state average. She went over the ITBS scores for reading, math, and science for different grades. They showed the FAST scores for the grades. This is used to determine intervention. They have been doing the PCL model for three years. She went over their data wall at Sunnyside. They have designed and organized book rooms. They are proud of the Sunnyside volunteers. They appreciate the Parade of Excellence. They have “fabulous staff, students, and parents”. They have many student activities and awards.
9.3 Dr. Muhammad Review
Sharon included in the packet an overview of what happened. She talked about what happened on the days of training including how we change the culture to make it a healthy culture no matter who the administrator is. Mr. Keane then started talking about it. He said he thought for the most part, Dr. Muhammad presented things that we already know such as the communication and timeliness issues. He said that there are people in the building who don’t know other people in the building. He said the audit showed that we are about in the middle in terms of culture. He said he learned about it and that the staff learned that they had to take ownership and not wait for the administration to do things. He found some of a little painful and he got a little defensive but he thought the information was good. We have implemented a concerns committee to address concerns. He said that culture at a large high school takes everyone because there is a lot going on. Communication is a big thing that came of this. He said that since the training six different people came to him with a problem and came up with a solution. An example, Mr. Moffitt, condensed his classes so that he could open up a session for students to struggle. Other teachers have helped out with the lunch. He felt we have a great group of people at the high school. We just sometimes disagree with the way to get to where we want to get. Bross asked if there was going to be a follow up with this. Mr. Keane said he thought there would be. He referred to the part when we teachers and administrators were expressing the concerns. He said we need to have more of that even though it was hard to hear it. He admitted that there needs to be more open conversation. The department chairs have helped by organizing the agendas for the meeting. Garwood - keep the lines of communication and ownership to the building, staff, each other. Kendell asked for follow up because district invested $35,000 and he wanted to know what we got for our money and what we did with it. He also wants a follow up report on this in 3-4 months. Keane said he had worked with Dr. Muhammad previously. He said a lot of staff members have come and gotten books and read about. Keane said Muhammad is coming back one more time for the high school. Sharon said they want to have the same process for the middle schools and elementary but not a three day training. She said most teachers have bought into the collaboration time Big item - learning how to manage frustration. Vickstrom asked how progress can be measured. Sharon - yes (I’m not sure how they plan on doing it). Keane talked about how we celebrate and highlight success - use trophy cases to do this. This is a small thing that can be done and helps. Vickstrom asked what our reference point for measuring improvement was.
Keane - the audit that Muhammad did.
- Review of Equity Report
Tabor - The DE did an audit focussed on career/tech education. We have a lot of disparity with groups. The audit looked at our compliance with various titles. The report was over 21 pages long. Positives - 504, title 9 training ok., stereotypes not perpetuated by promotional materials.
Recommendations from the DE: do a better job of researching technology for ELL students, Google technology isn’t the best tool for this. Change course descriptions for CTE (we have discriminatory language restricting access to the classes). We need to develop a policy for equal access for pregnant students, make a written plan for how students access HS facilities by students with disabilities (has) - not much to be done without major changes to the facility. Develop a procedure review for the electronic IEP and training to staff. Must provide response to audit team.
Kendell asked if there was anything unexpected in the audit. Tabor said the course description finding was. Staff were interviewed by DE?
- BHS Update - trimesters, curriculum schedule
Sharon said there was a packet of stuff. Curriculum work - went over what power standards are and talked about the inservice we had about developing curriculum. It is a lot work. This is not something that is expected to be done this year and that is continually looked at and developed. They aren’t all designed and the process has been clarified. Keane - Concerns about being year long. Some core subjects have come up with electives that allow for a full year of learning. Referenced the science department (because I am here? ). The English department has differentiated some of their classes. He has encouraged the math department to add more practical classes. Practical Geometry - how do you use geometry in real life. CTE have created some capstone classes for seniors and will be multiple period that extend all year. Art has added an art appreciation class. Music appreciation has been added. There is a four year plan that has the required classes . The junior and senior year allow a lot of time for electives and taking a variety of classes. The first two years are more restricted than the last two years. The first couple of pages are a bell schedule. He said the lunches were too long and he will present two variations to the department chairs Wednesday. He talked about Hound Room and how it isn’t working for us. He is proposing a 50 minute Hound Room for Wednesday instead of having it every day. He thought the department chairs were in favor of this. Sharon said it works with the SCC Steps for Success (Wacky Wednesday). There will be no more A/B days. Vickstrom asked about the impact trimesters has on staffing. Keane said he won’t know until the course registration. There could be some staff reduction. He thinks the majority of the kids will not be in study hall. Vickstrom asked if there be recertification necessary. Keane - No. We have well certified teachers.
Kendell likes trimesters because kids can get caught up. Can students use 3rd trimester to get caught up? Keane - Yes, a kid can take 1st trimester again in the 3rd trimester. We will also try to get a different delivery method for kids who don’t succeed. Sharon - 8th graders could be put into a skills class to strengthen skills before putting them into an academic class. For example they might not jump into algebra first trimester but might be in it by second trimester. Kendell - are we going to work with 8th grade counselors to let them know what is going on? Keane - yes we will be more involved in the process of getting 8th graders scheduled. Middle school has used Naviance well. Videos for the 8th grade will be made. A 9th grade transition class will be required for all incoming freshman. Some students will be able to opt out. This will include how to organize themselves and work with others etc. There is a class called topics in math to expose students to all types of math. January 18 and 20 - staff training. Registration gets underway on January 23 using Naviance. There are 53 speakers lined up for the Career Fair. Several are non-traditional career presenters. Vickstrom - how much is going to the community to explain the processes? Keane- Promotional materials will be put out. Brueck - Who teaches the transition classes? Keane - Freshman classes, it will be put up for those who want to do it. Hope to get people from each department. Hatteburg - Transition course has to be written yet? Keane - yes. Some of it was piloted with the 8th grade over the summer. Bross - AG class in course catalog? Keane - Mediapolis will allow us to send students to AG I class. We are getting a number kids from other districts for the building and trades program. West Burlington - has civic engineer class - our kids can take it. Bross - Have we coordinated schedules with other schools? Have we coordinated with SCC? How is trimesters going to work with them?
Keane - Talked to all of them. Some schools changed their schedules to meet our project lead the way classes. SCC is looking at blocking some class in the morning. Once registration numbers are in, more meetings will occur. We have to take care of BHS kids first. Making every effort to align schedules.
- Board Communications
Vickstrom - nothing. Brueck - good luck to students with final. Hatteberg - accepted two month substitute job. She appreciates what teachers do every day. Bross - thanked Sharon for participating in the citywide crime meetings. Comment on cost per pupil was incorrect because we provide many more services than other districts. Garwood - thank you Sharon for stepping in and conducting the meeting. Thank you Mr. Keane for the information, time and hardwork, dedication. Good luck on finals. Kendell - Wish students well with semester finals. Stay healthy. Try to avoid the bug that is going around. Appreciate the sunnyside and Aldo presentations.
- Closed Session for re-admission
- Adjournment
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