Notes on the MCCSC School Board meeting of January 28, 2014
Present: all board members (Jeanine Butler, David Sabbagh, Martha Street, Keith Klein, Kelly Smith, Sue Wanzer, Lois Sabo-Skelton)
The board meeting began with Bev Smith (director of community outreach) making a brief statement. She said the administration intends to continue to invest in Artful Learning at Fairview. She said that there will be two focus groups, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on February 5th and 6th at Fairview, that will be opportunities for the community to contribute as the district works on an improvement plan that it will file with the IDOE. After those meetings, they will decide if there is a continued need for community input.
[There will also be a 5:30 p.m. board work session on February 11 in which administrators will report to the board on curricular changes. Jeanine Butler publicized this at the end of the meeting.]
Public Comment: In the wake of the Fairview situation, parents from a number of schools spoke of concerns they have about top-down management, about transparency, about teachers' voices being involved, about the quality of the decision-making and the kinds of processes that happen when a crisis is declared. Also, one teacher spoke about Artful Learning and one parent asked for improvements to recess policy that reflect AAP recommendations.
• Jenny Robinson asked that the board discuss Sue Wanzer's request to send a letter opposing HJR-3. The civil rights of employees, students, and their families affect children's learning in a way that is not trivial. I want MCCSC to put processes in place so that teachers can be part of the discussion in a protected way. The district has already announced its commitment to a competency model, so what space is there for employees to raise concerns?
• Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer said that she is in contact with lots of parents and people throughout the district and that there are rumors that teachers are being told that they need to implement the program and that part of their job is to bring the community along with them. She is hearing that parents with concerns were dismissed as "hippies." There are also rumors that administrators are going through teachers' emails to see if any incited parents to rebel against the abrupt Fairview changes. Cathy said that these are just rumors, but whether they are true or not, they speak to an atmosphere of fear and a lack of trust.
• Libby Hogan spoke about the need for transparency and teamwork.
• Julie Hammond talked about the changes at Clear Creek that were implemented two years ago under Cameron Rains (then director of elementary education) and Tammy Miller (then Clear Creek's principal). [This is the model that the district wants to replicate at Fairview.] Parents were told two weeks before the beginning of the school year that the multiage and looping program would be dismantled. Instead, children were organized into classes based on their test scores. Children were asked to carry around a "data notebook" that included their benchmark tests and NWEA and ISTEP scores. Julie said that her children are okay due to the loving and committed teachers at Clear Creek, and that she appreciates the current principal's willingness to respond to some of her concerns--for instance, the standardized test scores are no longer included in the notebook.
• Jill Perkins took her daughter, for whom English is a second language, out of a private school to enroll her in the Artful Learning program. Yet under the intended reorganization of Fairview, only the 30% of students who were at grade level according to NWEA testing would be getting a 45-minute block of Artful Learning, and the students for whom the program was specially designed--the other 70%--would not have it. Even the designation of a 45-minute block seems to indicate that administrators do not understand the Artful Learning model, which is supposed to be incorporated throughout the day.
• Stephanie Moore spoke of the constant communication that she receives at Childs as a parent of a child with severe allergies, and of her appreciation for the teachers. She would want that commitment from administrators to respectful communication to be a norm for all schools.
• Deborah Myerson, co-president of the Fairview PTO, pointed to the proven long-term track record of the Artful Learning model, giving an example of an Iowa school serving a similar demographic that has seen immense progress over nine years or so. MCCSC has already invested over $100,000 in the Artful Learning model.
• Gergana May has a child who attends Arlington. She is impressed by the devoted teachers and says that the fact that each year the teacher is wonderful is clearly not an accident. She feels that Arlington, as a Title I school, could be the target of a similar drastic reorganization and she would want teachers' to be centrally involved with any change of plan.
• Kayte Young, a parent at Templeton, spoke of the wonderful experience that her child is having in the multiage class at Templeton and how children work with others and develop generosity, empathy, and citizenship in that environment. She is very concerned about decisions to group children according to their test scores, and is concerned that the district puts too much emphasis on testing, assessment, and test results.
• Kathy Heise, a former Fairview teacher who helped launch Artful Learning, said that she had been asked by Fairview parents to speak about Artful Learning. She emphasized that Artful Learning and PLCs support each other, and that children are encouraged to learn first in the modalities that come most naturally to them, so that they can carry that sense of confidence and enjoyment as teachers encourage them to work in other modalities.
• Daphna Yeshua-Levy gave each member of the board a copy of the AAP policy statement on the crucial role of recess in school (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/183.full.pdf). Representing a group of concerned parents, she asked the board to consider two steps: 1. implement a policy in which recess should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons, and 2. Add additional recess each day to the curriculum.
Foundation Report: Ms. Helms: On February 3, at Jackson Creek, there will be a panel discussion on Internet safety. Childcare will be provided. Please RSVP to the office so that they will have the right number of care providers.
Superintendent's Report:
Dr. DeMuth: The board asked that we report on the themes of the community conversations. Recess has been a big theme and we are committed to kids getting outside. The principals have been talking about this and I think you will see some changes. We are also working on the pre-K to kindergarten transition.
Dr. DeMuth also reported on legislation affecting the schools. HB 1320 would have given the Legislative Services Agency student data, but it looks like it will stay in the hands of the IDOE. REPA 3 takes away the obligation for teachers and administrators to be properly licensed. One good piece of legislation deals with teacher loan repayment.
Dr. DeMuth said "the data piece is part of legislation" and that assessment is growing nationwide.
Celebration of Success:
Twelve students received IU honors in foreign languages. Three MCCSC students were declared IU Wells Scholars (a very high honor). Clear Creek and University 5th and 6th grade girls participated in a Lego League championship and placed well. A food service supervisor appears in the 2014 Indiana Brides Guide.
A-F Update:
Jan Bergeson and Tammy Miller presented on the A-F system as it has been in place for the last two years. For elementary schools, a base score is decided according to a school's ISTEP grades. Bonus points are then given or taken away depending on the percentage of the school's students who show "high growth" or "low growth." If I understand this correctly, growth is determined by the percentage who score higher or lower on ISTEP than they did the previous year.
Several board members vented their frustration with the inadequacy of this system. Kelly Smith and Sue Wanzer had critical questions about how growth is determined.
Keith Klein: Do any school systems think this is a great idea?
Dr. DeMuth: Any metric that you're presented with, you want your people to rise to it. There's been a lot of hard work by lots of people, I don't want anyone to diminish that.
Dr. Demuth is proud of the "A" that MCCSC received. She rejected the idea that MCCS should not emphasize school grades.
For high school, the metric is slightly different.
Jeanine Butler: For graduation rate, it is crazy to say it only counts if you finish in 4 years. Plenty of kids finish in five and we should celebrate that.
Dr. DeMuth: On this scale, we are penalized for that.
Sue Wanzer: I am proud of all our schools. I don't believe this grading system accurately reflects their qualities. I would ask that we not advertise the grades, the A's included, on the schools themselves or over the phone system. The grades demoralize our schools.
(Loud clapping from parents in audience.)
I can't remember whether it was here or elsewhere, but Dr. DeMuth energetically repulsed this idea.
Charter School Overview:
This was a strange part of the meeting. No context was given as Jan Bergeson and Tim Thrasher went over definitions of charter, organizer, and authorizer and discussed the mechanisms through which a school district could authorize a charter, and the costs.
Mr. Thrasher: Charter school budgets tend to be tighter and the rules can be stricter. If we were the authorizer [and the charter was not meeting standards] we would be required to close a school. There is not a strong financial incentive to be a charter. We could charge a fee for services, but we can only charge 103% of the actual cost.
Lois: A day goes by and the law changes. I don't want us to get hooked up with a charter school, I'm afraid of what the law will do to us. We need to use our time, money, and talent to make us as good as we can be. I'm blown away by our students [gives example of Lego team]. We have plenty of work to do as a system.
Sue: Is there a way that we could be both the authorizer and the organizing agent? If we redistricted and emptied a school, could we house a charter program within that school? I'm attracted to the flexibility that charters have, but the law doesn't give us that flexibility. I don't want us to lose money when our students go to a charter. [My impression was that Sue was trying to figure out if MCCSC could run a charter school itself. I don't quite understand why one would need a charter; can't districts organize magnet schools?]
Dr. DeMuth: The money follows the child. Even if we were the authorizer, we would lose money as kids from our district went to the charter.
It was at this point that Dr. DeMuth clarified why the board was having this presentation/discussion. Green Meadows organizers had asked MCCSC to consider being authorizer for that proposed school. Mary Goral and Daniel Baron, both leaders of the Green Meadow initiative, were present. They left the meeting after this agenda item.
End-of-Course Assessment Results vs. State Results:
Jan Bergeson: The Algebra ECA went up and the English ECA dropped. We're modifying courses to make sure we hit the standards. We want directed, intensive small-group work because that is what works. There was a drop in Biology as well. But that doesn't matter for our grade, because we're just graded on how many students take the Biology ECA, not how many pass it.
Sue Wanzer: This is crazy. How much money are we paying for testing?
J Bergeson: We're paying, all right.
Sue Wanzer: I can't believe we have to pay for something and the results on it don't even count.
Dr. DeMuth: Whether we like the metric or not, this is what we're being measured by. We care about the arts. We talk about the arts at every board meeting. We are envied throughout the state. People use the metric used by the DOE.
Department of Labor Youth Career Connect Grant:
Jan Bergeson worked with Baxter, Cook, Ivy Tech and maybe others to develop a partnership in four areas that will help high school students make connections with Ivy Tech and local industry. The plan is to implement in two places, the Academy (ASE) and Hoosier Hills. They will identify career pathways, it will involve mentoring, internships, and a capstone project. They will hear if the grant comes through in April.
David Sabbagh: This is another example of the community coming together. We have to remain relevant for today's and tomorrow's economy.
Kelly Smith: What's impressive about Cook and Baxter is that there is a lot of growth from entry level jobs. This is a good career pathway for those who decide to go there. Even if we don't get the grant, this is the right way to go.
Update from Talent and Diversity Specialist:
Diane Hanks has met with all the principals to see what they are doing in the area of diversity.
She has assembled an advisory committee of three people. Students from the high schools will also participate.
On MLK day, there was a breakfast at the Academy, which had a leadership program. Middle school students worked as ushers at the Buskirk Chumley for the MLK program there.
Recruiting season has begun and she has a number of contacts.
New Business:
The personnel report was approved. There are 7 new certified staff, 22 new support staff, and 17 new substitutes. Three certified staff members retired.
Tim Thrasher asked the board to approve a policy change so that support staff would receive compensation under emergency conditions. MCCSC learned that Ivy Tech and IU have this in place, so that hourly workers who cannot come to work because of the weather will still be compensated for that time. Also, essential staff who come in in emergency conditions receive a leave day at a later date. We're recommending that MCCSC do the same.
Keith Klein: This is compassionate for our employees and I think it's the right thing to do.
The board approved this unanimously.
Contracts:
Tim Thrasher highlighted a $1,409,000 contract with Apple that covers the lease of iPads over three years. It will be paid through the capital projects, technology, and textbook rental funds. The lease rate is 1.39%.
There is an agreement with the city of Bloomington, which will provide some schools fiber optic cable connections for no charge.
Contracts were approved unanimously.
School age care rate increase of $1 per day was approved unanimously.
Board Comments:
Lois Sabo Skelton: I couldn't be more proud of the talent in our schools. Thanks again to our parents.
Sue Wanzer: Two things. Thanks to the parents who spoke. If I take one thing from this, it's that we need to be more mindful about being open and transparent. I'm concerned about this issue of teachers' voices, if it really is the case that teachers do not feel free to speak up when they have concerns. I want us to think, how do we create an atmosphere where everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Effort to add letter opposing HJR-3 to agenda:
At this point, Sue reminded the board that she had requested putting on the agenda discussion of a letter opposing HJR-3.
Sue Wanzer: I'm disappointed that it was not put on the agenda. This amendment is bad for business. To realize our mission, we need to hire the best and brightest, and how can we do that when families are not recognized as being as valid as everyone else's? I hope the board will reconsider.
Keith Klein asked Mr. Bunger to clarify the procedure.
Mr. Bunger: While the board president sets the agenda, a board member can make a motion during the meeting to add an agenda item.
Sue then made the motion to add the agenda item (seconded by Lois) and read her letter, which was eloquent. I will post it. She proposed that it be sent to the school board delegation, to the superintendent, and to the governor.
Mr. Bunger: First you have to vote on whether the board will add this to the agenda.
Sue and Lois voted to do so. Martha Street abstained. Four school board members (David Sabbagh, Jeanine Butler, Keith Klein, and Kelly Smith) voted not to add to the agenda a discussion of the merit of sending the letter opposing HJR-3.
Board Comments continue:
Kelly Smith: I'm concerned about the comments from parents about teachers having no voice. PLCs' essence is collaboration. But I have mixed feelings about complaints about a top-down approach. I think that's in the eye of the beholder. We hire principals, we hire a superintendent to be instructional leaders. I'm not sure it's a bad thing that they're leading. It's easy to throw terms around. I agree with David that we have to talk about what's good. We're playing well by the rules we've been given.
Martha: Congratulations to all those honored tonight. It's wonderful to have three Wells Scholars.
David Sabbagh: We have to make sure that we don't lose focus. Sometimes we get too bogged down in politics. These are the rules, we've got to play by the rules. I celebrate being an A school, I love driving by and seeing the "A" banner. Let's keep our eyes on the ball and score the basket and score the touchdown.
Jeanine Butler: I want to remind the people who came that we have a work session on February 11 in which curricular changes [such as Fairview's and maybe Clear Creek?] will be reported on to the board.
Keith Klein: I want to thank everyone who came. This board is committed to making Fairview into the best possible place it can be with Artful Learning. We need the assistance of the public. We like what's going on there in terms of what the kids are doing. We've congratulated a lot of students, and they've all thanked their teachers.
This meeting is available on CATS (catstv.net). I did my best to accurately take down what folks said, but to hear the actual words, watch the meeting on CATS. --Jenny Robinson
Present: all board members (Jeanine Butler, David Sabbagh, Martha Street, Keith Klein, Kelly Smith, Sue Wanzer, Lois Sabo-Skelton)
The board meeting began with Bev Smith (director of community outreach) making a brief statement. She said the administration intends to continue to invest in Artful Learning at Fairview. She said that there will be two focus groups, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on February 5th and 6th at Fairview, that will be opportunities for the community to contribute as the district works on an improvement plan that it will file with the IDOE. After those meetings, they will decide if there is a continued need for community input.
[There will also be a 5:30 p.m. board work session on February 11 in which administrators will report to the board on curricular changes. Jeanine Butler publicized this at the end of the meeting.]
Public Comment: In the wake of the Fairview situation, parents from a number of schools spoke of concerns they have about top-down management, about transparency, about teachers' voices being involved, about the quality of the decision-making and the kinds of processes that happen when a crisis is declared. Also, one teacher spoke about Artful Learning and one parent asked for improvements to recess policy that reflect AAP recommendations.
• Jenny Robinson asked that the board discuss Sue Wanzer's request to send a letter opposing HJR-3. The civil rights of employees, students, and their families affect children's learning in a way that is not trivial. I want MCCSC to put processes in place so that teachers can be part of the discussion in a protected way. The district has already announced its commitment to a competency model, so what space is there for employees to raise concerns?
• Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer said that she is in contact with lots of parents and people throughout the district and that there are rumors that teachers are being told that they need to implement the program and that part of their job is to bring the community along with them. She is hearing that parents with concerns were dismissed as "hippies." There are also rumors that administrators are going through teachers' emails to see if any incited parents to rebel against the abrupt Fairview changes. Cathy said that these are just rumors, but whether they are true or not, they speak to an atmosphere of fear and a lack of trust.
• Libby Hogan spoke about the need for transparency and teamwork.
• Julie Hammond talked about the changes at Clear Creek that were implemented two years ago under Cameron Rains (then director of elementary education) and Tammy Miller (then Clear Creek's principal). [This is the model that the district wants to replicate at Fairview.] Parents were told two weeks before the beginning of the school year that the multiage and looping program would be dismantled. Instead, children were organized into classes based on their test scores. Children were asked to carry around a "data notebook" that included their benchmark tests and NWEA and ISTEP scores. Julie said that her children are okay due to the loving and committed teachers at Clear Creek, and that she appreciates the current principal's willingness to respond to some of her concerns--for instance, the standardized test scores are no longer included in the notebook.
• Jill Perkins took her daughter, for whom English is a second language, out of a private school to enroll her in the Artful Learning program. Yet under the intended reorganization of Fairview, only the 30% of students who were at grade level according to NWEA testing would be getting a 45-minute block of Artful Learning, and the students for whom the program was specially designed--the other 70%--would not have it. Even the designation of a 45-minute block seems to indicate that administrators do not understand the Artful Learning model, which is supposed to be incorporated throughout the day.
• Stephanie Moore spoke of the constant communication that she receives at Childs as a parent of a child with severe allergies, and of her appreciation for the teachers. She would want that commitment from administrators to respectful communication to be a norm for all schools.
• Deborah Myerson, co-president of the Fairview PTO, pointed to the proven long-term track record of the Artful Learning model, giving an example of an Iowa school serving a similar demographic that has seen immense progress over nine years or so. MCCSC has already invested over $100,000 in the Artful Learning model.
• Gergana May has a child who attends Arlington. She is impressed by the devoted teachers and says that the fact that each year the teacher is wonderful is clearly not an accident. She feels that Arlington, as a Title I school, could be the target of a similar drastic reorganization and she would want teachers' to be centrally involved with any change of plan.
• Kayte Young, a parent at Templeton, spoke of the wonderful experience that her child is having in the multiage class at Templeton and how children work with others and develop generosity, empathy, and citizenship in that environment. She is very concerned about decisions to group children according to their test scores, and is concerned that the district puts too much emphasis on testing, assessment, and test results.
• Kathy Heise, a former Fairview teacher who helped launch Artful Learning, said that she had been asked by Fairview parents to speak about Artful Learning. She emphasized that Artful Learning and PLCs support each other, and that children are encouraged to learn first in the modalities that come most naturally to them, so that they can carry that sense of confidence and enjoyment as teachers encourage them to work in other modalities.
• Daphna Yeshua-Levy gave each member of the board a copy of the AAP policy statement on the crucial role of recess in school (http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/131/1/183.full.pdf). Representing a group of concerned parents, she asked the board to consider two steps: 1. implement a policy in which recess should not be withheld for academic or punitive reasons, and 2. Add additional recess each day to the curriculum.
Foundation Report: Ms. Helms: On February 3, at Jackson Creek, there will be a panel discussion on Internet safety. Childcare will be provided. Please RSVP to the office so that they will have the right number of care providers.
Superintendent's Report:
Dr. DeMuth: The board asked that we report on the themes of the community conversations. Recess has been a big theme and we are committed to kids getting outside. The principals have been talking about this and I think you will see some changes. We are also working on the pre-K to kindergarten transition.
Dr. DeMuth also reported on legislation affecting the schools. HB 1320 would have given the Legislative Services Agency student data, but it looks like it will stay in the hands of the IDOE. REPA 3 takes away the obligation for teachers and administrators to be properly licensed. One good piece of legislation deals with teacher loan repayment.
Dr. DeMuth said "the data piece is part of legislation" and that assessment is growing nationwide.
Celebration of Success:
Twelve students received IU honors in foreign languages. Three MCCSC students were declared IU Wells Scholars (a very high honor). Clear Creek and University 5th and 6th grade girls participated in a Lego League championship and placed well. A food service supervisor appears in the 2014 Indiana Brides Guide.
A-F Update:
Jan Bergeson and Tammy Miller presented on the A-F system as it has been in place for the last two years. For elementary schools, a base score is decided according to a school's ISTEP grades. Bonus points are then given or taken away depending on the percentage of the school's students who show "high growth" or "low growth." If I understand this correctly, growth is determined by the percentage who score higher or lower on ISTEP than they did the previous year.
Several board members vented their frustration with the inadequacy of this system. Kelly Smith and Sue Wanzer had critical questions about how growth is determined.
Keith Klein: Do any school systems think this is a great idea?
Dr. DeMuth: Any metric that you're presented with, you want your people to rise to it. There's been a lot of hard work by lots of people, I don't want anyone to diminish that.
Dr. Demuth is proud of the "A" that MCCSC received. She rejected the idea that MCCS should not emphasize school grades.
For high school, the metric is slightly different.
Jeanine Butler: For graduation rate, it is crazy to say it only counts if you finish in 4 years. Plenty of kids finish in five and we should celebrate that.
Dr. DeMuth: On this scale, we are penalized for that.
Sue Wanzer: I am proud of all our schools. I don't believe this grading system accurately reflects their qualities. I would ask that we not advertise the grades, the A's included, on the schools themselves or over the phone system. The grades demoralize our schools.
(Loud clapping from parents in audience.)
I can't remember whether it was here or elsewhere, but Dr. DeMuth energetically repulsed this idea.
Charter School Overview:
This was a strange part of the meeting. No context was given as Jan Bergeson and Tim Thrasher went over definitions of charter, organizer, and authorizer and discussed the mechanisms through which a school district could authorize a charter, and the costs.
Mr. Thrasher: Charter school budgets tend to be tighter and the rules can be stricter. If we were the authorizer [and the charter was not meeting standards] we would be required to close a school. There is not a strong financial incentive to be a charter. We could charge a fee for services, but we can only charge 103% of the actual cost.
Lois: A day goes by and the law changes. I don't want us to get hooked up with a charter school, I'm afraid of what the law will do to us. We need to use our time, money, and talent to make us as good as we can be. I'm blown away by our students [gives example of Lego team]. We have plenty of work to do as a system.
Sue: Is there a way that we could be both the authorizer and the organizing agent? If we redistricted and emptied a school, could we house a charter program within that school? I'm attracted to the flexibility that charters have, but the law doesn't give us that flexibility. I don't want us to lose money when our students go to a charter. [My impression was that Sue was trying to figure out if MCCSC could run a charter school itself. I don't quite understand why one would need a charter; can't districts organize magnet schools?]
Dr. DeMuth: The money follows the child. Even if we were the authorizer, we would lose money as kids from our district went to the charter.
It was at this point that Dr. DeMuth clarified why the board was having this presentation/discussion. Green Meadows organizers had asked MCCSC to consider being authorizer for that proposed school. Mary Goral and Daniel Baron, both leaders of the Green Meadow initiative, were present. They left the meeting after this agenda item.
End-of-Course Assessment Results vs. State Results:
Jan Bergeson: The Algebra ECA went up and the English ECA dropped. We're modifying courses to make sure we hit the standards. We want directed, intensive small-group work because that is what works. There was a drop in Biology as well. But that doesn't matter for our grade, because we're just graded on how many students take the Biology ECA, not how many pass it.
Sue Wanzer: This is crazy. How much money are we paying for testing?
J Bergeson: We're paying, all right.
Sue Wanzer: I can't believe we have to pay for something and the results on it don't even count.
Dr. DeMuth: Whether we like the metric or not, this is what we're being measured by. We care about the arts. We talk about the arts at every board meeting. We are envied throughout the state. People use the metric used by the DOE.
Department of Labor Youth Career Connect Grant:
Jan Bergeson worked with Baxter, Cook, Ivy Tech and maybe others to develop a partnership in four areas that will help high school students make connections with Ivy Tech and local industry. The plan is to implement in two places, the Academy (ASE) and Hoosier Hills. They will identify career pathways, it will involve mentoring, internships, and a capstone project. They will hear if the grant comes through in April.
David Sabbagh: This is another example of the community coming together. We have to remain relevant for today's and tomorrow's economy.
Kelly Smith: What's impressive about Cook and Baxter is that there is a lot of growth from entry level jobs. This is a good career pathway for those who decide to go there. Even if we don't get the grant, this is the right way to go.
Update from Talent and Diversity Specialist:
Diane Hanks has met with all the principals to see what they are doing in the area of diversity.
She has assembled an advisory committee of three people. Students from the high schools will also participate.
On MLK day, there was a breakfast at the Academy, which had a leadership program. Middle school students worked as ushers at the Buskirk Chumley for the MLK program there.
Recruiting season has begun and she has a number of contacts.
New Business:
The personnel report was approved. There are 7 new certified staff, 22 new support staff, and 17 new substitutes. Three certified staff members retired.
Tim Thrasher asked the board to approve a policy change so that support staff would receive compensation under emergency conditions. MCCSC learned that Ivy Tech and IU have this in place, so that hourly workers who cannot come to work because of the weather will still be compensated for that time. Also, essential staff who come in in emergency conditions receive a leave day at a later date. We're recommending that MCCSC do the same.
Keith Klein: This is compassionate for our employees and I think it's the right thing to do.
The board approved this unanimously.
Contracts:
Tim Thrasher highlighted a $1,409,000 contract with Apple that covers the lease of iPads over three years. It will be paid through the capital projects, technology, and textbook rental funds. The lease rate is 1.39%.
There is an agreement with the city of Bloomington, which will provide some schools fiber optic cable connections for no charge.
Contracts were approved unanimously.
School age care rate increase of $1 per day was approved unanimously.
Board Comments:
Lois Sabo Skelton: I couldn't be more proud of the talent in our schools. Thanks again to our parents.
Sue Wanzer: Two things. Thanks to the parents who spoke. If I take one thing from this, it's that we need to be more mindful about being open and transparent. I'm concerned about this issue of teachers' voices, if it really is the case that teachers do not feel free to speak up when they have concerns. I want us to think, how do we create an atmosphere where everyone feels safe and comfortable.
Effort to add letter opposing HJR-3 to agenda:
At this point, Sue reminded the board that she had requested putting on the agenda discussion of a letter opposing HJR-3.
Sue Wanzer: I'm disappointed that it was not put on the agenda. This amendment is bad for business. To realize our mission, we need to hire the best and brightest, and how can we do that when families are not recognized as being as valid as everyone else's? I hope the board will reconsider.
Keith Klein asked Mr. Bunger to clarify the procedure.
Mr. Bunger: While the board president sets the agenda, a board member can make a motion during the meeting to add an agenda item.
Sue then made the motion to add the agenda item (seconded by Lois) and read her letter, which was eloquent. I will post it. She proposed that it be sent to the school board delegation, to the superintendent, and to the governor.
Mr. Bunger: First you have to vote on whether the board will add this to the agenda.
Sue and Lois voted to do so. Martha Street abstained. Four school board members (David Sabbagh, Jeanine Butler, Keith Klein, and Kelly Smith) voted not to add to the agenda a discussion of the merit of sending the letter opposing HJR-3.
Board Comments continue:
Kelly Smith: I'm concerned about the comments from parents about teachers having no voice. PLCs' essence is collaboration. But I have mixed feelings about complaints about a top-down approach. I think that's in the eye of the beholder. We hire principals, we hire a superintendent to be instructional leaders. I'm not sure it's a bad thing that they're leading. It's easy to throw terms around. I agree with David that we have to talk about what's good. We're playing well by the rules we've been given.
Martha: Congratulations to all those honored tonight. It's wonderful to have three Wells Scholars.
David Sabbagh: We have to make sure that we don't lose focus. Sometimes we get too bogged down in politics. These are the rules, we've got to play by the rules. I celebrate being an A school, I love driving by and seeing the "A" banner. Let's keep our eyes on the ball and score the basket and score the touchdown.
Jeanine Butler: I want to remind the people who came that we have a work session on February 11 in which curricular changes [such as Fairview's and maybe Clear Creek?] will be reported on to the board.
Keith Klein: I want to thank everyone who came. This board is committed to making Fairview into the best possible place it can be with Artful Learning. We need the assistance of the public. We like what's going on there in terms of what the kids are doing. We've congratulated a lot of students, and they've all thanked their teachers.
This meeting is available on CATS (catstv.net). I did my best to accurately take down what folks said, but to hear the actual words, watch the meeting on CATS. --Jenny Robinson