MCCSC Board Meeting, January 27, 2015
For the best record, please go to catstv.net, do a search for "MCCSC," and select the January 27 board meeting. Minutes are also available from MCCSC. --Jenny Robinson
Board members present: Jeannine Butler, David Sabbagh, Martha Street, Keith Klein, Kelly Smith, Sue Wanzer
Absent: Lois Sabo Skelton
Celebration of Success (I arrived several minutes late, so these notes start in the middle of this agenda item—JR)
Glenda and Patrick Murray honored for long-term commitment to volunteering (and donating) to Fairview.
Patrick: Love libraries. Library plays large role in unlocking world for children. Want kids to have access to “keys.”
Jeannine Butler: We thank you from bottom of our hearts.
Peggy Chambers: Mary Keck and Bob Zaltzberg here from the Herald-Times. Helped initiate H-T writing club. Met weekly at Fairview for ten weeks. This semester plan to venture out into community (Assembly Hall, Wonderlab, Police Dept.) Students absolutely love it. Dann Denny, Sarah Morin, Abby Tonsing, Kat Carlton too. (Ten kids now). Also working with Jeff Redkin and his team—Batchelor kids in Poland.
Keith Klein: Thanks H-T for high school columns as well. Thanks to staff, publishers, for publicizing what young people are doing that work
Kelly Smith: I delivered the Herald-Telephone in the afternoon. Appreciates all volunteers going into building. It’s that village thing that we were talking about.
Peggy Chambers: This is the favorite part of my job. Thanks for opportunity to share.
Public Comment
Ellen Wade: A senior at IU, an intern for Cover Monroe—a local not-for-profit group to help community enroll for health insurance under ACA. Now it’s federally required to have health insurance. Penalty 2% family income penalty. Other resources available—local certified Indiana navigators including a Spanish speaking navigator. Have 11 certified navigators. Last day to enroll February 15. Health forum programs. Thanks United Way for printing materials.
Paul Farmer: I wear a variety of hats. Tonight, MCEA president. Saw flyer for 2015 legislative session. Has been reflecting a lot. Our legislators have taken our voices from Bloomington. What’s happened lately is that our voices are not getting there. The more we talk about what’s happening at the state, the cuts, the changes, what’s happening at association, tons of bills coming in. We have to get our community aware of all these things that will tremendously impact public ed for generations. We have a new ISTA app that goes to a blog. We have individuals in Indy. We can write notes to legislators. That’s one way we are trying to educate our teachers. As a community thing, Bloomington needs to be aware.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. DeMuth: Following up on Mr. Farmer’s introduction. Event February 10 at the Co-Lab. What to Expect in terms of legislation: what can we do to protect public education. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Couple of years ago, we (B’ton Hospital, Premier Healthcare, Community Foundation, others) talked about needs of students and families, what could we all do to help our parents and students. Extremely pleased that we came together in partnership, Coordinator of School Health, paid by IU Health but housed in our school. Lisa Petscher. Excited to help.
David Sabbagh: I love it when the community comes together. I think it’s terrific.
Keith Klein: This is unique to a public school system. Thanks to all involved who invested to make this happen.
Sue Wanzer: Wants to thank superintendent too. It was a cooperative, collaborative effort. Not sure people realize how much health matters to our school. Takes load off teachers and allows them to do better in classroom.
Dr. DeMuth: Thanks to board of trustees for support.
We have people who are doing Ph.D.s, people who are studying for principal’s license. We’ve been looking to home-grow our own leaders. Clear Creek video put together by team there. Video shows school’s emphasis on health and wellness. Change the play program, school garden, salad bar. Principal, asst. principal, teacher, talk in video. Daily five in music classroom. My teacher helps me learn by sending me to the right reading and math classes.
Dr. DeMuth: Calls attention to featured student artwork
Curriculum Updates
Mrs. Bergeson: Chinese Bridge program. Two years ago, David Pillar and I were part of this. Since then, teaching Chinese in all three middle schools and this year in both high schools. This year, Jeff Henderson and Eric Gilpin (Batchelor) participated.
Mr. Gilpin: shares pictures. Went over Arctic. Air temperature negative 61 degrees. APEC was there. Holiday to reduce traffic. Saw Great Wall, Tiananmen Square. Inside a classroom, shows video: Math class. Open air classroom so students have coats on. Students have to stand up to give response (individually). Chinese class. English class. Jeff Henderson visited elementary schools. Lots of representations of traditional Chinese culture being taught in schools (that was what they wanted us to see—cultural education).
Dr. Henderson: Compulsory only through 9th grade. School we visited was boarding school with 9,000 students. Students would travel home by train for weekend. All clothing hung to dry outside. In physics class, students were learning to read instruments.
Mr. Gilpin: Gifts from students. School just ten years old, but facilities not a high priority. Kids did cleaning. Every Monday morning, tai chi. When finished, ran laps in groups of about twenty.
School hours: 7 am to 5 pm. With 2 hour lunch. 40 to 60 kids in classroom. In high school, teachers would go from class to class. Teachers just had two classes a day at high school level. Their teachers were interested in American education. They stated over and over that students were not very creative, not good at problem solving. What do you do on weekends? Study. What do you do other than study?
They were coming to us saying how can we get kids to be creative. 11-11 singles day while we were there.
Dr. Henderson: One of largest online shopping days in world. $9 billion in commerce online that day. Massive expansion in cities right now (effort to bring people to cities from rural homes).
Mr. Gilpin: Clash of cultures right now. Our guide was working five jobs. Communism and capitalism going at same time. No FB, Twitter, Instagram, Google, videos limited. Did have Yahoo. There was social media, but just for Chinese, regulated by government.
Dr. Henderson: One of things that struck us. Sense of urgency in China among children and families to get high-quality education. When is right time for us to begin teaching other languages? Middle school might be too late. One thing I hope to do is to develop potential partnerships with Chinese schools, exchange teachers. Lots of bureaucratic issues and differences between countries. The way you change the world is put children together. There was a student there from Texas at the boarding school there. Interesting to get his perspectives. Roadblocks disappear when you talk to kids. How do we incorporate the study of China, urban development, history as we develop economic partnerships.
Martha Street: What percentage of students attend high school?
Dr. Henderson: They did not provide us that information. Also, it was tuition-based. They had to pass another high-stakes test to get into college.
Keith Klein: I remember David Pillar saying that a lot of the things we do are far ahead.
Dr. Henderson: I would agree with that. When we spoke in English with Chinese, we kept hearing issues with planning (like the cables in the trees). One man told us, Our idea of burying cables here is make a hole the size the bundle of cables (not thinking of needs ten or fifty years out).
Mr. Gilpin: We heard them brag about educational system, but that was right after we got off plane. High scores on standardized tests that are drill and kill type things, because that’s how you’ve got to teach when you’ve got 50-60 kids. It was a pretty corrupt system according to an article we found.
Sue Wanzer: So important for our legislature to know that standardized testing is not be-all and end-all, when global superpower is saying you are doing it right with creative thinking.
Kelly Smith: What kind of course offering in terms of elementary and secondary?
Jeff Henderson: They tended to show us a lot of history and culture of China in classes. Athletics, too. I was getting beat up by six and seven-year-old girls in ping-pong. Those things are not part of competitions between schools, it’s the academic work that’s competitive. Actual class: a lot of direct instruction. Tutoring outside of classroom. Kids are required to come and get that on their own.
Keith Klein: What about school year?
Mr. Gilpin: They do have time off for holidays and extended time for summer.
Sue Wanzer: How were teachers regarded?
Mr. Gilpin: A lot of prestige.
Keith Klein: How valuable was this to our school system?
Dr. Henderson: provided me with insight into why it’s necessary to prepare our kids to deal with burgeoning economy. Wouldn’t necessarily choose the school we saw to partner with…it was the top-ranked one in that town (Hefei). Made massive population of China very real. When you see people packed on top of each other…just a very different culture.
Mr. Gilpin: Lots of fun to see historical pieces. You realize that what’s in news is not related to China, but that’s the largest population in the world. A lot of power there, we need to be aware of it. It’s going to part of our students’ lives. Realized how open they were to wanting to be part of American history, education.
Dr. Henderson: Majority of ads we saw were for western products, featuring western models.
Kindergarten Registration
Mrs. Miller: Registration and open house. February 2—schools, teachers, secretaries ready. On web site, transportation tab has boundary map so you can know where to enroll…or call curriculum office. Open house corporation-wide on Thursday, February 12. An opportunity for parents and kids to visit classrooms. We invite them to school events and school performances after they register. Some schools start programming…buddy readers. Want to do everything to make families feel welcome and get excited about kindergarten.
We contact all preschools too to get info out.
Keith Klein: What determines whether kids are full-day or half-day.
Ms. Miller: We don’t have any half-day at this point. Sometimes there will be a health issue or something like that, but it’s definitely an exception.
Update on 1-1 Technology Project
Mr. Watson: we’ve just about completed first phase of infrastructure project. Infrastructure between schools done. Proud of our guys. We’re getting now to next phase, working on elementary and middle school wiring.
Selection process for device and bag—we’ve done a great job of preparing for device, surveys, discussion with staff. Amazed by high school faculty, they put a lot of thought into what they would use it for.
Technology criteria: four-year life span. These are better parts, this is a business-level device. Part of the cost of an enterprise-level computer is that they stockpile all parts. Kids will be repairing machines for us (elective classes at the high schools) so they will have those skills.
The highly debated bag: rubber bumpers, slim, good place for cord. Passes around bag. Was surprised faculty spent so much time deciding what kind of bag.
HP/Windows tablet. Heavier than iPad, but high quality. Battery life about 15 hours. We hope we don’t have to replace all the batteries. There is a stylus in the “garage.” Teachers can write on the assignment with the stylus. We’re very happy with the process we went through, with the discussion with the teachers. A small number of students on the committee. It passed the kid test too.
Martha Street: At what grade level will they have these?
Mr. Walton: 9 through 12. Academy already has theirs.
You’d have to go to HP to get this [as an individual], it would cost about 50% higher. MCCSC is paying $599 laptop, suitcase $35. Quote from Dell was much higher. On state contract this one was $100 more. Process has been a lengthy one with a lot of input from all stakeholders.
Martha Street: What is their warranty?
Mr. Watson: 1 year right now. Goal to build up a self-insured process. With our own kids fixing them, and we receive a discount on all the parts. We think that our pot of repair money will get greater.
Sue Wanzer: What happens at end of four years?
Mike Watson: Recommendation to lease them for four years. At end, we turn them back in, they send them somewhere overseas, where their requirements aren’t as high, so total price decreases. Not much good to us after four years.
Sue Wanzer: What about seniors now?
HP Pro x2 Tablet. 3820 at $599
Targus Slip Case 3500
What’s individual rent price for five years?
Martha Street: Are these kids who do repairs going to be in each high school? Are the teachers trained to teach them?
Mike Watson: It’ll take a little while to get [up to speed]
Dr. DeMuth: Parents will be able to purchase insurance if they don’t want to use their homeowner’s insurance.
Mike Watson: If student breaks something, we can offer voluntary insurance.
Martha Street: so that’s not part of book rental. Will we be rolling this out for fall?
Is this one that has most available with curriculum software packages?
Mike Watson: That’s a separate issue, not connected to hardware. Faculty machines will come in earlier, so they’ll be able to preplan a semester before.
Dr. DeMuth: We’ll be working with staff to choose content delivery software. Want to have computers for labs in elementary schools for testing. We’ll be able to use them for testing, then get them out to high schools.
David Sabbagh: Every business is using these things, and we’ll have kids who know how to repair them.
[Someone asked what would happen if kids don’t use the case but just put the bare devices into their backpacks.]
Mike Watson: We have to control that. Kids have to have laptop in the bag at all times when not using, part of care and maintenance that we’ll go over with kids. If they are in backpacks loose with books, they will get dropped [and they are much more likely to break].
Kelly Smith: Are the units identified per student?
Mike Watson: Yes, they will be asset-tagged.
Kelly Smith: The ones at HH Gregg are only designed to last a year or two. I appreciate you doing the research on that.
Mike Watson: Operating system is Windows 8.1, we will get free upgrade to 10.
Kelly Smith: the iPad is an App-based machine. These are designed to work with MS suite, Adobe suite. Do you think we’ll be able to get the apps we want on there?
Mike Watson: These machines will boot to a __, not a touchscreen.
Kelly Smith: Battery life of a tablet. Can you recharge the tablet battery alone, or does it have to be attached to the keyboard?
Mike Watson: I’m drawing a blank.
Kelly Smith: Do we own the bags? What do we do with them after four years? Surplus. We’ve got one class currently that will learn the repairs. Are we ready to expand to two classes or have back-up plan?
Mike Watson: One period a day will be instructional period. What I see more is, it will take 2 years for kids to add A+ certification.
Dr. DeMuth: Goal is for student never to be without a computer. Students will get replacements while they wait for theirs to be fixed.
Kelly Smith: I appreciate time you’ve taken to find sturdy machine. Sounds like you guys have done a great job. Thanks for all hard work you’ve done.
Consent agenda
Approved.
Donations
Accepted as presented.
Personnel Report
Peggy Chambers: 5 certified staff, 25 support, some substitutes. Intent to retire from four certified staff, all science teachers at North. 134 years of service. Thanks for dedication and service to students of Monroe County.
David Sabbagh: See wife of one all the time at the Y. Rick and Joy wonderful people. This is a big chunk. I hope we’re going to continue teaching science at North.
Kelly Smith: You won’t find a better group of teachers. We talk about professional collaboration. These guys were doing this the right way a long time ago. Want to point out I’m not the William Kelly Smith who’s resigning from transportation.
Personnel report approved unanimously.
Contracts
Moved and seconded that we approve as presented.
Tim Thrasher: 20 contracts, 2 bids. Need to make correction on number 8.
HP financial services.
Kudos to Mike for savings of over $100 per device.
We have a quote for the retaining wall at BHS North and that money will come from the Capital Projects Fund.
Keith Klein: Are we going to have other re-routing issues related to I-69?
They vote unanimously to approve contracts. Also, Tim Thrasher receives authorization to bid without getting separate board approval each time.
Kelly Smith: What is the surface going to be at the U-School playground?
Mr. Ciolli: It will be tiles like the Bryan Park surface.
Board Comment
Sue Wanzer: Reads from a letter from Jim Bradley that ran in the H-T today, and also from the comments on it: Invest in early childhood, invest in teachers. The truly poor cannot use vouchers because they don’t have the means of providing transportation.
Kelly Smith: I loved what we saw about people who are actually in schools, that we had two teachers in China, students in Poland, I love to see what Deb [the principal] is doing at Clear Creek. Thanks to folks for doing what they’re doing.
David Sabbagh: I believe the way to raise yourself out of poverty is through education. Thanks Dr. DeMuth for reporting on the schools at each board meeting.
Keith Klein: I take delight every day in hearing about our schools. Thanks for making it possible. Spread the word [on the February 10 event at the Co-Lab].
For the best record, please go to catstv.net, do a search for "MCCSC," and select the January 27 board meeting. Minutes are also available from MCCSC. --Jenny Robinson
Board members present: Jeannine Butler, David Sabbagh, Martha Street, Keith Klein, Kelly Smith, Sue Wanzer
Absent: Lois Sabo Skelton
Celebration of Success (I arrived several minutes late, so these notes start in the middle of this agenda item—JR)
Glenda and Patrick Murray honored for long-term commitment to volunteering (and donating) to Fairview.
Patrick: Love libraries. Library plays large role in unlocking world for children. Want kids to have access to “keys.”
Jeannine Butler: We thank you from bottom of our hearts.
Peggy Chambers: Mary Keck and Bob Zaltzberg here from the Herald-Times. Helped initiate H-T writing club. Met weekly at Fairview for ten weeks. This semester plan to venture out into community (Assembly Hall, Wonderlab, Police Dept.) Students absolutely love it. Dann Denny, Sarah Morin, Abby Tonsing, Kat Carlton too. (Ten kids now). Also working with Jeff Redkin and his team—Batchelor kids in Poland.
Keith Klein: Thanks H-T for high school columns as well. Thanks to staff, publishers, for publicizing what young people are doing that work
Kelly Smith: I delivered the Herald-Telephone in the afternoon. Appreciates all volunteers going into building. It’s that village thing that we were talking about.
Peggy Chambers: This is the favorite part of my job. Thanks for opportunity to share.
Public Comment
Ellen Wade: A senior at IU, an intern for Cover Monroe—a local not-for-profit group to help community enroll for health insurance under ACA. Now it’s federally required to have health insurance. Penalty 2% family income penalty. Other resources available—local certified Indiana navigators including a Spanish speaking navigator. Have 11 certified navigators. Last day to enroll February 15. Health forum programs. Thanks United Way for printing materials.
Paul Farmer: I wear a variety of hats. Tonight, MCEA president. Saw flyer for 2015 legislative session. Has been reflecting a lot. Our legislators have taken our voices from Bloomington. What’s happened lately is that our voices are not getting there. The more we talk about what’s happening at the state, the cuts, the changes, what’s happening at association, tons of bills coming in. We have to get our community aware of all these things that will tremendously impact public ed for generations. We have a new ISTA app that goes to a blog. We have individuals in Indy. We can write notes to legislators. That’s one way we are trying to educate our teachers. As a community thing, Bloomington needs to be aware.
Superintendent’s Report
Dr. DeMuth: Following up on Mr. Farmer’s introduction. Event February 10 at the Co-Lab. What to Expect in terms of legislation: what can we do to protect public education. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Couple of years ago, we (B’ton Hospital, Premier Healthcare, Community Foundation, others) talked about needs of students and families, what could we all do to help our parents and students. Extremely pleased that we came together in partnership, Coordinator of School Health, paid by IU Health but housed in our school. Lisa Petscher. Excited to help.
David Sabbagh: I love it when the community comes together. I think it’s terrific.
Keith Klein: This is unique to a public school system. Thanks to all involved who invested to make this happen.
Sue Wanzer: Wants to thank superintendent too. It was a cooperative, collaborative effort. Not sure people realize how much health matters to our school. Takes load off teachers and allows them to do better in classroom.
Dr. DeMuth: Thanks to board of trustees for support.
We have people who are doing Ph.D.s, people who are studying for principal’s license. We’ve been looking to home-grow our own leaders. Clear Creek video put together by team there. Video shows school’s emphasis on health and wellness. Change the play program, school garden, salad bar. Principal, asst. principal, teacher, talk in video. Daily five in music classroom. My teacher helps me learn by sending me to the right reading and math classes.
Dr. DeMuth: Calls attention to featured student artwork
Curriculum Updates
Mrs. Bergeson: Chinese Bridge program. Two years ago, David Pillar and I were part of this. Since then, teaching Chinese in all three middle schools and this year in both high schools. This year, Jeff Henderson and Eric Gilpin (Batchelor) participated.
Mr. Gilpin: shares pictures. Went over Arctic. Air temperature negative 61 degrees. APEC was there. Holiday to reduce traffic. Saw Great Wall, Tiananmen Square. Inside a classroom, shows video: Math class. Open air classroom so students have coats on. Students have to stand up to give response (individually). Chinese class. English class. Jeff Henderson visited elementary schools. Lots of representations of traditional Chinese culture being taught in schools (that was what they wanted us to see—cultural education).
Dr. Henderson: Compulsory only through 9th grade. School we visited was boarding school with 9,000 students. Students would travel home by train for weekend. All clothing hung to dry outside. In physics class, students were learning to read instruments.
Mr. Gilpin: Gifts from students. School just ten years old, but facilities not a high priority. Kids did cleaning. Every Monday morning, tai chi. When finished, ran laps in groups of about twenty.
School hours: 7 am to 5 pm. With 2 hour lunch. 40 to 60 kids in classroom. In high school, teachers would go from class to class. Teachers just had two classes a day at high school level. Their teachers were interested in American education. They stated over and over that students were not very creative, not good at problem solving. What do you do on weekends? Study. What do you do other than study?
They were coming to us saying how can we get kids to be creative. 11-11 singles day while we were there.
Dr. Henderson: One of largest online shopping days in world. $9 billion in commerce online that day. Massive expansion in cities right now (effort to bring people to cities from rural homes).
Mr. Gilpin: Clash of cultures right now. Our guide was working five jobs. Communism and capitalism going at same time. No FB, Twitter, Instagram, Google, videos limited. Did have Yahoo. There was social media, but just for Chinese, regulated by government.
Dr. Henderson: One of things that struck us. Sense of urgency in China among children and families to get high-quality education. When is right time for us to begin teaching other languages? Middle school might be too late. One thing I hope to do is to develop potential partnerships with Chinese schools, exchange teachers. Lots of bureaucratic issues and differences between countries. The way you change the world is put children together. There was a student there from Texas at the boarding school there. Interesting to get his perspectives. Roadblocks disappear when you talk to kids. How do we incorporate the study of China, urban development, history as we develop economic partnerships.
Martha Street: What percentage of students attend high school?
Dr. Henderson: They did not provide us that information. Also, it was tuition-based. They had to pass another high-stakes test to get into college.
Keith Klein: I remember David Pillar saying that a lot of the things we do are far ahead.
Dr. Henderson: I would agree with that. When we spoke in English with Chinese, we kept hearing issues with planning (like the cables in the trees). One man told us, Our idea of burying cables here is make a hole the size the bundle of cables (not thinking of needs ten or fifty years out).
Mr. Gilpin: We heard them brag about educational system, but that was right after we got off plane. High scores on standardized tests that are drill and kill type things, because that’s how you’ve got to teach when you’ve got 50-60 kids. It was a pretty corrupt system according to an article we found.
Sue Wanzer: So important for our legislature to know that standardized testing is not be-all and end-all, when global superpower is saying you are doing it right with creative thinking.
Kelly Smith: What kind of course offering in terms of elementary and secondary?
Jeff Henderson: They tended to show us a lot of history and culture of China in classes. Athletics, too. I was getting beat up by six and seven-year-old girls in ping-pong. Those things are not part of competitions between schools, it’s the academic work that’s competitive. Actual class: a lot of direct instruction. Tutoring outside of classroom. Kids are required to come and get that on their own.
Keith Klein: What about school year?
Mr. Gilpin: They do have time off for holidays and extended time for summer.
Sue Wanzer: How were teachers regarded?
Mr. Gilpin: A lot of prestige.
Keith Klein: How valuable was this to our school system?
Dr. Henderson: provided me with insight into why it’s necessary to prepare our kids to deal with burgeoning economy. Wouldn’t necessarily choose the school we saw to partner with…it was the top-ranked one in that town (Hefei). Made massive population of China very real. When you see people packed on top of each other…just a very different culture.
Mr. Gilpin: Lots of fun to see historical pieces. You realize that what’s in news is not related to China, but that’s the largest population in the world. A lot of power there, we need to be aware of it. It’s going to part of our students’ lives. Realized how open they were to wanting to be part of American history, education.
Dr. Henderson: Majority of ads we saw were for western products, featuring western models.
Kindergarten Registration
Mrs. Miller: Registration and open house. February 2—schools, teachers, secretaries ready. On web site, transportation tab has boundary map so you can know where to enroll…or call curriculum office. Open house corporation-wide on Thursday, February 12. An opportunity for parents and kids to visit classrooms. We invite them to school events and school performances after they register. Some schools start programming…buddy readers. Want to do everything to make families feel welcome and get excited about kindergarten.
We contact all preschools too to get info out.
Keith Klein: What determines whether kids are full-day or half-day.
Ms. Miller: We don’t have any half-day at this point. Sometimes there will be a health issue or something like that, but it’s definitely an exception.
Update on 1-1 Technology Project
Mr. Watson: we’ve just about completed first phase of infrastructure project. Infrastructure between schools done. Proud of our guys. We’re getting now to next phase, working on elementary and middle school wiring.
Selection process for device and bag—we’ve done a great job of preparing for device, surveys, discussion with staff. Amazed by high school faculty, they put a lot of thought into what they would use it for.
Technology criteria: four-year life span. These are better parts, this is a business-level device. Part of the cost of an enterprise-level computer is that they stockpile all parts. Kids will be repairing machines for us (elective classes at the high schools) so they will have those skills.
The highly debated bag: rubber bumpers, slim, good place for cord. Passes around bag. Was surprised faculty spent so much time deciding what kind of bag.
HP/Windows tablet. Heavier than iPad, but high quality. Battery life about 15 hours. We hope we don’t have to replace all the batteries. There is a stylus in the “garage.” Teachers can write on the assignment with the stylus. We’re very happy with the process we went through, with the discussion with the teachers. A small number of students on the committee. It passed the kid test too.
Martha Street: At what grade level will they have these?
Mr. Walton: 9 through 12. Academy already has theirs.
You’d have to go to HP to get this [as an individual], it would cost about 50% higher. MCCSC is paying $599 laptop, suitcase $35. Quote from Dell was much higher. On state contract this one was $100 more. Process has been a lengthy one with a lot of input from all stakeholders.
Martha Street: What is their warranty?
Mr. Watson: 1 year right now. Goal to build up a self-insured process. With our own kids fixing them, and we receive a discount on all the parts. We think that our pot of repair money will get greater.
Sue Wanzer: What happens at end of four years?
Mike Watson: Recommendation to lease them for four years. At end, we turn them back in, they send them somewhere overseas, where their requirements aren’t as high, so total price decreases. Not much good to us after four years.
Sue Wanzer: What about seniors now?
HP Pro x2 Tablet. 3820 at $599
Targus Slip Case 3500
What’s individual rent price for five years?
Martha Street: Are these kids who do repairs going to be in each high school? Are the teachers trained to teach them?
Mike Watson: It’ll take a little while to get [up to speed]
Dr. DeMuth: Parents will be able to purchase insurance if they don’t want to use their homeowner’s insurance.
Mike Watson: If student breaks something, we can offer voluntary insurance.
Martha Street: so that’s not part of book rental. Will we be rolling this out for fall?
Is this one that has most available with curriculum software packages?
Mike Watson: That’s a separate issue, not connected to hardware. Faculty machines will come in earlier, so they’ll be able to preplan a semester before.
Dr. DeMuth: We’ll be working with staff to choose content delivery software. Want to have computers for labs in elementary schools for testing. We’ll be able to use them for testing, then get them out to high schools.
David Sabbagh: Every business is using these things, and we’ll have kids who know how to repair them.
[Someone asked what would happen if kids don’t use the case but just put the bare devices into their backpacks.]
Mike Watson: We have to control that. Kids have to have laptop in the bag at all times when not using, part of care and maintenance that we’ll go over with kids. If they are in backpacks loose with books, they will get dropped [and they are much more likely to break].
Kelly Smith: Are the units identified per student?
Mike Watson: Yes, they will be asset-tagged.
Kelly Smith: The ones at HH Gregg are only designed to last a year or two. I appreciate you doing the research on that.
Mike Watson: Operating system is Windows 8.1, we will get free upgrade to 10.
Kelly Smith: the iPad is an App-based machine. These are designed to work with MS suite, Adobe suite. Do you think we’ll be able to get the apps we want on there?
Mike Watson: These machines will boot to a __, not a touchscreen.
Kelly Smith: Battery life of a tablet. Can you recharge the tablet battery alone, or does it have to be attached to the keyboard?
Mike Watson: I’m drawing a blank.
Kelly Smith: Do we own the bags? What do we do with them after four years? Surplus. We’ve got one class currently that will learn the repairs. Are we ready to expand to two classes or have back-up plan?
Mike Watson: One period a day will be instructional period. What I see more is, it will take 2 years for kids to add A+ certification.
Dr. DeMuth: Goal is for student never to be without a computer. Students will get replacements while they wait for theirs to be fixed.
Kelly Smith: I appreciate time you’ve taken to find sturdy machine. Sounds like you guys have done a great job. Thanks for all hard work you’ve done.
Consent agenda
Approved.
Donations
Accepted as presented.
Personnel Report
Peggy Chambers: 5 certified staff, 25 support, some substitutes. Intent to retire from four certified staff, all science teachers at North. 134 years of service. Thanks for dedication and service to students of Monroe County.
David Sabbagh: See wife of one all the time at the Y. Rick and Joy wonderful people. This is a big chunk. I hope we’re going to continue teaching science at North.
Kelly Smith: You won’t find a better group of teachers. We talk about professional collaboration. These guys were doing this the right way a long time ago. Want to point out I’m not the William Kelly Smith who’s resigning from transportation.
Personnel report approved unanimously.
Contracts
Moved and seconded that we approve as presented.
Tim Thrasher: 20 contracts, 2 bids. Need to make correction on number 8.
HP financial services.
Kudos to Mike for savings of over $100 per device.
We have a quote for the retaining wall at BHS North and that money will come from the Capital Projects Fund.
Keith Klein: Are we going to have other re-routing issues related to I-69?
They vote unanimously to approve contracts. Also, Tim Thrasher receives authorization to bid without getting separate board approval each time.
Kelly Smith: What is the surface going to be at the U-School playground?
Mr. Ciolli: It will be tiles like the Bryan Park surface.
Board Comment
Sue Wanzer: Reads from a letter from Jim Bradley that ran in the H-T today, and also from the comments on it: Invest in early childhood, invest in teachers. The truly poor cannot use vouchers because they don’t have the means of providing transportation.
Kelly Smith: I loved what we saw about people who are actually in schools, that we had two teachers in China, students in Poland, I love to see what Deb [the principal] is doing at Clear Creek. Thanks to folks for doing what they’re doing.
David Sabbagh: I believe the way to raise yourself out of poverty is through education. Thanks Dr. DeMuth for reporting on the schools at each board meeting.
Keith Klein: I take delight every day in hearing about our schools. Thanks for making it possible. Spread the word [on the February 10 event at the Co-Lab].