MCCSC School Board Meeting, 11/15/2016
Board members present: Kelly Smith, Jeannine Butler, David Sabbagh, Martha Street, Lois Sabo Skelton, Sue Wanzer, Keith Klein
Dr. DeMuth: Appreciation for referendum volunteers; presented a plaque with board members’ names
Peggy Chambers: Celebration of Success
Cheryl Maxwell: 2016 Indiana Elementary School art educator of the year award
Project Green challenge: South students Tamsin Stringer, SungAh Kim finalists, being flown to San Francisco
Damaris Eberle; 5th grader at UES: honored for poem featured in Resilience
Foundation Update: Mr. Bunger
Auction coming up: November 23 through December 7 (Reading, Writing, Bidding)
Annual campaign coming up
Grant program: In process of finalizing fall awards
Public comment: None
Mrs. Bergeson: Update on Community in Schools program
Carol Gardner: Nationwide network that uses model of integrated student supports. School-based system that surrounds families with services. Support of Cook, Inc., and MCCS Foundation
Fairview and Templeton are recipients
Human services, private sector, government and community leaders. Organization is CIS
Needs assessment, planning, integrated student supports, monitor and evaluate
Instructional programs with non-instructional resources. Aim to surround with support:
Place site coordinator in schools
Clark, Lake, and Wayne counties in Indiana
Can be hired by school corporation or by CIS. MCCSC will get to pick.
Hope to start planning in January
Sue Wanzer: talk to me a little bit more about what CIS is. When did they begin, where are they located nationally?
CG: began in 1990, three counties began three years ago.
S. Wanzer: what is the payment to use their services, how long is contract?
Dr. DeMuth: We tried to duplicate this in community where I last served. We tried to model this program with Whitney’s talents.
This is a matching grant program. Our contribution has to be half of what they give (???). Our contribution is Whitney’s salary. We’ll hire another person for Templeton. Goal is wraparound services. Someone who works one-on-one with kids and families.
S. Wanzer: Is there a possibility of doing this at other schools as well? Carol, that sounds exciting, thank you.
Update on International Baccalaureate designation.
J Bergeson…update on each of three schools.
Stephen Marshall from Childs to talk about trans-disciplinary curriculum
4th grade theme. We’re given time to collaborate as grade-level team. We work to incorporate all subject areas on disability awareness. Writing, literacy, science and math. Start with Pallacio’s “Wonder.” Talk about how visual impressions are so powerful, write to August. Distinguish between disease and disability. Math: measuring doorways, checking for wheelchair accessibility. Feel out a reflection packet that tracks our thinking. Aligned with Paralympics, read about that and historical origin. Special area teachers also got involved. P.E. teacher helped them play wheelchair basketball. End with action: Parent with Down syndrome came in to teach unit. Taught sign language. Two years running, kids have pursued local Buddy Walk.
Erin Cerwinske, 6th grade at UES. We are working on theme of how the world works. Physics: Next Top Model. Models provide understanding of intangible systems, but can also promote misconceptions. Media specialist kicks it off with If the world were a village—representation of that. Unit on model of writing: that structure increases creativity. Science: properties of matter make models. Mary D’Eliso will work with them to make graphic representation.
Lara Hall, librarian at Templeton.
We need to provide an opportunity to learn language from at least the age of 7. Units are same for each age level. Currently receive Spanish instruction twice a week for 30 minutes each. Has been a great opportunity to step out of our building and out of our country. UES and Childs applied for authorization this fall. We will apply in April. We’re really excited.
S. Wanzer: The reports make me want to be in one of those classrooms. I was able to visit Mrs. Kinkead’s classroom last year. The kids were able to tell me not just what they were learning but how they learned it. I appreciate our administration for bringing the IB program to three of our schools. I hope we can put this in our middle school soon as well. They are going to need more and greater challenges.
Consent agenda:
Minutes, ECA expenditures, field trips, financial report, claims, payroll register and claims. Approved.
Donors: $60,000
53,00 to University (playground?)
5,000 something to Binford
Student assistance fund received hats, gloves and coats
Personnel report
Mrs. Chambers: Diane Hanks has come out of retirement to serve at Bloomington Graduation School.
Retirements: Patricia Ann Dyer, food services, 18 years
Patricia K. Sparks, substitute teacher coordinator. Joined MCCSC in 1988.
Approved unanimously.
Contracts. Mr. Thrasher 17 to recommend for approval. Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Administrative services for health insurance plan. Employer and employee contributions. Delta Dental (new contract for us). Fully insurant program with guaranteed rates for two years. Both supported by insurance reserve fund. UES asked that we execute this agreement to accept $53,000 donation. Appreciation to their PTO—in association with playground project. Classroom addition at Lakeview. Two change orders, both in positive direction. Reduction in cost of project at Lakeview. Reduction for roofing at UES.
Approval of change of contract language for school transportation services. Currently have contracts with individual operators that will expire. Need to get bids for those routes. Now want to increase to 43 routes that we ask for bids for. Still experience challenges in getting drivers. Want to emphasize that we don’t want to put any of our school corporation drivers out of a job. We’ve increased salaries but still are having problems retaining drivers.
Keith Klein: Can you explain how this can happen if all corporations are in competition.
TT: We’ve opened it up to larger contractors by having larger number of routes. Haven’t excluded possibility of individual operators bidding. When they bid four years ago, we didn’t accept their bid. Took away limitation on fleet contracts.
DDM: This is less than half of our routes, right?
Jeannine Butler: If we end up having a fleet, those drivers will pass same kinds of tests as ours.
Kelly Smith: Thank you for doing everything you can for going out and trying any possible solution.
Unanimously passed.
Reports from committees:
Keith Klein wants to thank community for voters: This referendum will provide extra margin of excellence. This will enable us to continue what I consider a very high level of education in this community.
Kelly Smith: Wants to echo that. Planning and everything across the board was fantastic. We saw improvement in scores, graduation rates. It was an easy sell when we talk about the hard work that our teachers and students put in every day. Congratulations to those who hung onto their board seats and looks forward to serving. Congratulations to Cathy.
David Sabbagh. Allowed us to hire “preventionalists” and “interventialists” to help bring up kids who are struggling.
Jeannine Butler: extends appreciation to our community. I would have said it was nuts to think it would pass by 80%. Our community knows that our teachers and administrators are doing a good job. Thanks to everyone.
Sue Wanzer. Referendum is great, but want to talk about something else. Went to Peace Action Coalition. Spoke and said our corporation is committed to keeping our students safe and comfortable in their learning environments. We will do everything to commit to that.
Lois Skelton: We had a poem written by a very young child tonight. This is one of our beautiful MCCSC kids. That poem shows that we have with all of our efforts, with this incredible community that went out and fought to keep it all going. This poem showed us that we must keep fighting for this. If a child can come forth…let the little children lead them. We must continue to fight for education of all children. I have never been so moved.
Martha Street: Thanks Lois, brief closing.
--Notes taken by Jenny Robinson. For the best, full record of the meeting, please see the CATStv.net recording here.
Board members present: Kelly Smith, Jeannine Butler, David Sabbagh, Martha Street, Lois Sabo Skelton, Sue Wanzer, Keith Klein
Dr. DeMuth: Appreciation for referendum volunteers; presented a plaque with board members’ names
Peggy Chambers: Celebration of Success
Cheryl Maxwell: 2016 Indiana Elementary School art educator of the year award
Project Green challenge: South students Tamsin Stringer, SungAh Kim finalists, being flown to San Francisco
Damaris Eberle; 5th grader at UES: honored for poem featured in Resilience
Foundation Update: Mr. Bunger
Auction coming up: November 23 through December 7 (Reading, Writing, Bidding)
Annual campaign coming up
Grant program: In process of finalizing fall awards
Public comment: None
Mrs. Bergeson: Update on Community in Schools program
Carol Gardner: Nationwide network that uses model of integrated student supports. School-based system that surrounds families with services. Support of Cook, Inc., and MCCS Foundation
Fairview and Templeton are recipients
Human services, private sector, government and community leaders. Organization is CIS
Needs assessment, planning, integrated student supports, monitor and evaluate
Instructional programs with non-instructional resources. Aim to surround with support:
- One-on-one relationship with caring adult
- Safe place to learn and grow
- Healthy start
- Marketable skill
- Chance to give back to peers and community
Place site coordinator in schools
Clark, Lake, and Wayne counties in Indiana
Can be hired by school corporation or by CIS. MCCSC will get to pick.
Hope to start planning in January
Sue Wanzer: talk to me a little bit more about what CIS is. When did they begin, where are they located nationally?
CG: began in 1990, three counties began three years ago.
S. Wanzer: what is the payment to use their services, how long is contract?
Dr. DeMuth: We tried to duplicate this in community where I last served. We tried to model this program with Whitney’s talents.
This is a matching grant program. Our contribution has to be half of what they give (???). Our contribution is Whitney’s salary. We’ll hire another person for Templeton. Goal is wraparound services. Someone who works one-on-one with kids and families.
S. Wanzer: Is there a possibility of doing this at other schools as well? Carol, that sounds exciting, thank you.
Update on International Baccalaureate designation.
J Bergeson…update on each of three schools.
Stephen Marshall from Childs to talk about trans-disciplinary curriculum
4th grade theme. We’re given time to collaborate as grade-level team. We work to incorporate all subject areas on disability awareness. Writing, literacy, science and math. Start with Pallacio’s “Wonder.” Talk about how visual impressions are so powerful, write to August. Distinguish between disease and disability. Math: measuring doorways, checking for wheelchair accessibility. Feel out a reflection packet that tracks our thinking. Aligned with Paralympics, read about that and historical origin. Special area teachers also got involved. P.E. teacher helped them play wheelchair basketball. End with action: Parent with Down syndrome came in to teach unit. Taught sign language. Two years running, kids have pursued local Buddy Walk.
Erin Cerwinske, 6th grade at UES. We are working on theme of how the world works. Physics: Next Top Model. Models provide understanding of intangible systems, but can also promote misconceptions. Media specialist kicks it off with If the world were a village—representation of that. Unit on model of writing: that structure increases creativity. Science: properties of matter make models. Mary D’Eliso will work with them to make graphic representation.
Lara Hall, librarian at Templeton.
We need to provide an opportunity to learn language from at least the age of 7. Units are same for each age level. Currently receive Spanish instruction twice a week for 30 minutes each. Has been a great opportunity to step out of our building and out of our country. UES and Childs applied for authorization this fall. We will apply in April. We’re really excited.
S. Wanzer: The reports make me want to be in one of those classrooms. I was able to visit Mrs. Kinkead’s classroom last year. The kids were able to tell me not just what they were learning but how they learned it. I appreciate our administration for bringing the IB program to three of our schools. I hope we can put this in our middle school soon as well. They are going to need more and greater challenges.
Consent agenda:
Minutes, ECA expenditures, field trips, financial report, claims, payroll register and claims. Approved.
Donors: $60,000
53,00 to University (playground?)
5,000 something to Binford
Student assistance fund received hats, gloves and coats
Personnel report
Mrs. Chambers: Diane Hanks has come out of retirement to serve at Bloomington Graduation School.
Retirements: Patricia Ann Dyer, food services, 18 years
Patricia K. Sparks, substitute teacher coordinator. Joined MCCSC in 1988.
Approved unanimously.
Contracts. Mr. Thrasher 17 to recommend for approval. Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield. Administrative services for health insurance plan. Employer and employee contributions. Delta Dental (new contract for us). Fully insurant program with guaranteed rates for two years. Both supported by insurance reserve fund. UES asked that we execute this agreement to accept $53,000 donation. Appreciation to their PTO—in association with playground project. Classroom addition at Lakeview. Two change orders, both in positive direction. Reduction in cost of project at Lakeview. Reduction for roofing at UES.
Approval of change of contract language for school transportation services. Currently have contracts with individual operators that will expire. Need to get bids for those routes. Now want to increase to 43 routes that we ask for bids for. Still experience challenges in getting drivers. Want to emphasize that we don’t want to put any of our school corporation drivers out of a job. We’ve increased salaries but still are having problems retaining drivers.
Keith Klein: Can you explain how this can happen if all corporations are in competition.
TT: We’ve opened it up to larger contractors by having larger number of routes. Haven’t excluded possibility of individual operators bidding. When they bid four years ago, we didn’t accept their bid. Took away limitation on fleet contracts.
DDM: This is less than half of our routes, right?
Jeannine Butler: If we end up having a fleet, those drivers will pass same kinds of tests as ours.
Kelly Smith: Thank you for doing everything you can for going out and trying any possible solution.
Unanimously passed.
Reports from committees:
Keith Klein wants to thank community for voters: This referendum will provide extra margin of excellence. This will enable us to continue what I consider a very high level of education in this community.
Kelly Smith: Wants to echo that. Planning and everything across the board was fantastic. We saw improvement in scores, graduation rates. It was an easy sell when we talk about the hard work that our teachers and students put in every day. Congratulations to those who hung onto their board seats and looks forward to serving. Congratulations to Cathy.
David Sabbagh. Allowed us to hire “preventionalists” and “interventialists” to help bring up kids who are struggling.
Jeannine Butler: extends appreciation to our community. I would have said it was nuts to think it would pass by 80%. Our community knows that our teachers and administrators are doing a good job. Thanks to everyone.
Sue Wanzer. Referendum is great, but want to talk about something else. Went to Peace Action Coalition. Spoke and said our corporation is committed to keeping our students safe and comfortable in their learning environments. We will do everything to commit to that.
Lois Skelton: We had a poem written by a very young child tonight. This is one of our beautiful MCCSC kids. That poem shows that we have with all of our efforts, with this incredible community that went out and fought to keep it all going. This poem showed us that we must keep fighting for this. If a child can come forth…let the little children lead them. We must continue to fight for education of all children. I have never been so moved.
Martha Street: Thanks Lois, brief closing.
--Notes taken by Jenny Robinson. For the best, full record of the meeting, please see the CATStv.net recording here.