MCCSC Board Meeting, 8/26/2014
Board members present: Jeanine Butler, Martha Street, Keith Klein, Kelly Smith, Sue Wanzer, Lois Sabo Skelton; Absent: David Sabbagh
Celebration of Success (Mrs. Chambers)
• 13 BTV students produced film “Respect—key to peace in the streets.” It won a 1st place award in the global film festival and has been invited to the UN in NYC to receive award. Two students here to be recognized with teacher Mr. Rudkin.
Kelly Smith compliments Batchelor on the BTV program; one of great things about our district and students in it.
• Sea Perch update: 6 teams participated in nat’l sea perch challenge—building underwater, remotely operated vehicle. Open class overall winner was the team from North.
• Dance team—1st place winners at regional and state level.
• Amateur radio club competes 2 x per year. Received first place (nationally) in 2013, 3rd place this spring.
• Marlin getting new playground equipment thanks to grant team ($5000 received)
• ASE Student invited; Igniting—creative energy challenge—3 students recognized
• Academy: rainwater area designated as “Green” area by a Monroe County group
• Short report on media specialists in our district:
Media specialists are different these days than in old days. New breed: library media specialists. Not confined to walls of library or to single function. Teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator. In US, a teacher librarian must have a teaching degree and gain a certification from a school library program. All are certified and hold a teacher’s license. Indiana code states that all schools shall have a media program that is…and that a licensed specialist shall supervise the program. Lists many neighboring counties & school systems where there is only 1 media specialist and where all elementary libraries are staffed by aides. We’re very proud that in MCCSC we have a licensed media specialist assigned to each elementary school and 1 high school. My purpose is to highlight work of our media specialists and to emphasize how proud we are to have them; also that we are proud to staff and have the funding to do so. With conversation and recent articles in the paper, I felt that it was a good time to join the conversation.
Kelly Smith: Appreciates referendum and support of opportunities in community.
Jeanine: Kelly, you said it exactly right. This community saw fit to pass a referendum—allows us to maintain media specialists, preventionists, interventionists—and teachers (inserts KS)—over 70 brought back. Without referendum, we would be in much the same place. Thankful for community.
KS: And extra-curriculars.
MCCSC Foundation Report (Mrs. Helms)
• There are also library endowments that support materials. Available, feel free to call me and I can give you info.
• Board member danced in Dancing with Celebrities. Great job—gave him his own trophy. Thanks to Douglas.
• Team MCCSC campaign. Ask all employees to consider making a gift. Many do donate, and we are grateful. We like to point to percentage of faculty who support us and believe in what we do. Participation rather than monetary piece. You can give to Foundation by purchasing a license place. Money ($18) comes back to local foundation and some goes to health something at state level.
• New fund opportunity: Instagrants. Can respond through hashtag. (If you had $100, how would you use it in the classroom.)
• Kicking off Real Men Read. 37 men, once a month in K classrooms for 5 months?
• Great Grown Up Spelling Bee, Sept 30, 5 pm. Words sourced by Childs and University students.
Public Comment
Deborah Myerson spoke on need for equity in terms of library opportunities; wants all Title 1 schools to have full-time librarians. Lack of equity does not have to do with funding, but with priorities. Almost half of this year’s grant money for Fairview is going to two new positions, data coach and behavior coach.
Jenny Robinson spoke about need for engagement with community and following through on commitments of referendum. IB program may be a liability as it serves three of fourteen elementary schools and displaces librarian positions at two IB schools.
Superintendent’s Report (Dr. DeMuth)
• Thanks for a very calm opening of school year to students and parents. Great attendance at open houses. Congrats to 2 principals, Jeff Henderson and Eric Gilpin, going to China—sponsored by Han Bahn group (?). Thanks institute.
• Charter board hearing. Monday, Sept 22 at MCPL. In our quest to ensure that all students get an appropriate education, we have to talk about positive things. Across Indiana, there is slimmed down staffing in non-referendum corporations. Here, our parents and community rose to the occasion. We have a wealth of extra-curriculars. We should talk positively about great assets. Charter school is a piece of the pie. We’ll testify again, and I encourage community to do same, to make sure those dollars go to the education of all of our children.
• Last year we had group that looked at strategic planning for facility safety and technology. We’ll be looking at a bond in near future (and we’re retiring some debt). Same committee convening. Parents, students on committee chaired by Thrasher, Ciccioli.
• One piece of institution that we don’t talk a lot about: officials at sports activities on field. (My family always second guessing these officials). We have person on our board who has dedicated 50 years to officiating—Keith Klein was recently recognized for that. On behalf of board, congrats.
Report on Summer School (Mrs. Bergeson and Mrs. Miller)
Mrs. Bergeson: At high school: hosted at South, 27 days, 254 students attended, each high school had people who attended; 254 credits earned. Fifteen diplomas earned over summer; counts toward school grad rate. Math, English, Health, Science, Social Studies.
Mrs. Miller: At elementary, 2 opportunities: 1) reading camp for 2nd graders at risk and 3rd graders who did not pass. (included 33 ELL); 2) Virtual learning: 2nd through 6th grade, 18 students
Rasinski model in reading camp; frequent assessment of fluency, used Daily 5 format, and had small ratios available.
Virtual learning: 2 instructors provide lab time. Study Island. Practicing areas of deficit
IREAD-3 Report (Mrs. Miller)
• Spring: 757 students, 637 passed, 838 % pass rate (includes 67 exemptions; they count as having not passed even though they have the exemption)
• After summer school and retake: 758 tested, 131 tested during summer, 706 passed; 93.1 passing 90% or higher in 12 schools, 99% passed or have a good cause exemption.
KK: Do we lose some students. The rate of 93.1%--how does that compare with other school systems?
Mrs. Miller: in past, people were creating own curriculum; this is a well-oiled machine—no down time, they go for three solid hours in a fun way.
KK: Are we unique in school systems?
Mrs. Miller: No, we’re all required to offer summer school; state offers some reimbursement.
Jeanine Butler: asks about good cause exemptions and how figured into percentages.
ISTEP Report (Mrs. Bergeson)
(If you would like to view the data she presented, it is in the Meeting Agenda for August 26 under the Board of Trustees tab; click on the agenda item and you will see the report attached; the same is true for all the reports that follow--JR)
Mrs. Bergeson: We get a ton of data and that’s good.
My (JR’s) notes while looking at graphs: English/Language Arts: she says it has basically stayed the same, but it has dropped slightly. Visual breaks it down by grade level. It’s mainly descended. Most drifting down but she doesn’t say that. Breaks it out by ethnicity. Went significantly down for Hispanic students. Asian very high, but trending down. Special ed has gone down. ELL trending down.
Mrs. Bergeson: What are we doing to increase student learning? We need to continue to move upward. Each building has own plan, is data driven, I think they are really focused on it. Individual data to be examined frequently to modify instruction. Intervention plans in place. Additional strategies. Additional resources. We’re looking at what strategies are highly effective, highly engaging.
Mrs. Miller: we’re working with principals to maximize time that students need to fill their deficits. We are reviewing new standards in Indiana. Need to get prepared for new exam. Have been working on pacing guides and proficiency scales. Almost finished, hopeful. Also looking at assessments to see that they align. Want to make sure drop and drag and click and technological enhancements are included in kids’ preparation.
Jeanine Butler: I’m concerned that I see decreases in ELA. As I read through whole thing and saw strategies for improvement, that gave me more comfort. I hope that next year we won’t see drops. I was a little concerned till I saw what you folks are doing with it.
Mrs. Bergeson: Three years ago, we had implemented proficiency scales. We also started putting in Common Core standards—so we were putting in time in things that weren’t being tested.
Lois Sabo Skelton: Along with that, we’ll have new test, and we don’t know what it is yet, so how do you prepare for that? Disheartening, you know how to take care of kids. I’m not concerned, I think we’re doing very well. Disheartening for teachers to have rules change on them. I do believe we are incrementally gaining, even when it’s going down.
Sue Wanzer: You know I’m not a fan of ISTEP. It doesn’t tell us a lot, doesn’t tell growth of one child. I know that the state in lack of wisdom has determined that ISTEP scores will determine what happens to schools.
Sometimes prep for testing gets in way of teaching and learning, but this is what we have to do to meet standards of state.
I was at University this morning, it was wonderful seeing kids excited about things.
Kelly Smith: Following up on what Doc [he means Jeanine] said. Only disturbing thing—I would call it a drift. Our scores are drifting down while the state average is going up a little bit. Common core direction could have been it. I appreciate fact that this isn’t good enough for you guys, we don’t want to head this direction. That’s what this data can do for us—it can let us know where we can make some changes so we can drift the other way.
Three or four years ago we went to collaborative model. Bringing Marzano and PLC’s together was a challenge (?). I see these two shifts. Stick with these things. Can you tell us more about preventionalists and interventionalists. Any student at any time may have a deficit. They are also taking advantage. Can you tell us what will happen to get these scores up?
Mrs. Miller: We looked at the new standards. Principals and coaches are taking that information, working it into these scales. Therein lies the secret of how we can individualize, skill by child, report card perfect tool, principals masterful at seeing where children are, what they can so. We are operationalizing all resources: staff, schedule, materials. Other concern: vertical articulation (meaning look at how standards for different grades come together). When we’ve gone back we haven’t always laid it out vertically. We’ve got ELA finished. Identify kids, see who doesn’t have mastery, give them opportunity to get it, restructure the day for them if necessary. This has to be highly engaging, using Marzano to make sure it’s meaningful.
KS: You’re doing meta-analysis that people have been doing for many years, we have to get better at doing that. It’s not reinventing the wheel.
Mrs. Bergeson: Interventionists were going into classrooms, but now students go to class to work with interventionists. Once they get to certain lexile, move them out.
KS: I appreciate your nimbleness and flexibility. We can turn on a dime. Thanks for great hard work.
Jan: One of our middle schools improved, and this is what they were doing.
KS: Identifying those power standards is essential.
Sue Wanzer: You’ve made me feel much better through your responses to the questions. Appreciate you saying students shouldn’t be victim to our schedule. The more we can help the public understand, the better.
Report: Acuity replacing NWEA
Mrs. Miller: Acuity is state opportunity. State is leveraging this so they can practice for new state test. IDOE aligning to Acuity. Has technological enhancements, maneuvering with graphics, so MCCSC will be taking Acuity.
KS: How long had we been doing NWEA?
Since 1988 or so.
Jeanine Butler: NWEA was not free. Acuity is.
Mrs. Miller: It’s streamlined, brings together information, 2nd through 8th grade will have 3 opportunities per year (she means three tests).
Real kicker: technology enhanced items: dragging and dropping, manipulating graph
Our new test will have 4 different types of items (single multiple choice, etc.).
Sue: We’ve used NWEA for a long time. My understanding is that faculty liked NWEA. Why is Acuity a better testing tool?
Mrs. Miller: We didn’t want to do both. We’re clear about the high stakes. NWEA not aligned with formatting or with technological enhancements. Every day DOE begged us to sign up for Acuity and began to hold meetings all over state so that we could see what Acuity could offer.
Sue: Cynical—a monetary incentive?
Mrs. Bergeson: The key point is that they are so closely aligned to test. It would be unfair to students not to give them this opportunity.
KS: Do you feel Acuity gives info you were gleaning from NWEA?
Mrs. Bergeson: It has the standard, and you get a report back on each student to see if they met that standard. Students can be given instructional resources and can try it over and over again. NWEA was a growth model. With Acuity all the tests are on grade level.
KS: Challenge was that kids never saw that format when I taught. It was difficult to prepare kids for question types. You break the pattern and though they might know the material, they’re gone. I like technology piece too. NWEA will need to move to that to stay relevant.
KS: You wonder if the high 8th grade math score was related to taking Acuity. [Middle school has been using Acuity for several years now.]
ACT report (Mrs. Bergeson)
About a fourth take ACT.
ACT puts together a college readiness benchmark, and percentages of MCCSC students reaching or exceeding those are very high relative to state and national averages.
Talent and Diversity Update: (Mrs. Chambers)
• MCCSC has committed to increasing cultural competency and to representation of underrepresented groups.
• Last year our diversity business tour took place—IU, city, county, ivy Tech, even H-T. Held diversity forums for all minority groups. Held summit, invited community businesses.
• In area of recruitment, reached out to IU southeast, Ball state, U of Kentucky, more.
• Of 70 new teachers, seven were members of underrepresented group. Looking ahead, we intend to concentrate on cultural competency. Goals in recruitment and retention, mentoring and advancement. Establish community advisory council. Cultural responsive instruction.
Sue Wanzer: I get excited about diversity and I remember when you came to talk to me about a supportive GLTB program in your school when you were principal of Batchelor. I love to hear you talk about these initiatives. Appreciate especially the community advisory council.
KS: Mrs. Hanks now at Bloomington Grad School, thanks for continued work and plans.
Consent Agenda (Keith Klein)
Motion approved. All voted for it.
Donations (Keith Klein)
we accept as presented. $16,000 dollars. Reads each individual donation. Special thanks to all.
Personnel Report (Mrs. Chambers)
It was 28 pages long—that’s how busy we’ve been. 35 new teachers, 66 support staff, 16 substitutes. Retirement of Peggy Hillenberg. Aide for students with disabilities.
JB: You and staff have been extremely busy.
Mrs. Chambers: We still don’t have all positions filled. Timing this year unusual. In past, schools were like islands, would want to hire from outside and we didn’t see lots of transfers. Now teachers all know one another. A lot of recruitment within MCCSC went on this year. That postponed the hiring of support staff since we do that after we hire all the teachers. It was over a compressed period of time. It was fun and exciting to see, says a lot about collegiality and our corporation. A lot of work, but gratifying.
Personnel report approved.
--KS’s daughter hired at Highland Park so he abstained.
Average 1.5 % increase for support staff (admin and non-union)—they all approve
Contracts (Mr. Thrasher)
• 14 contracts. One with Boys Town, recommended by Dr. Hugo: $21,000 from School Improvement grant.
• --Quest for respect 795 from extra curricular fund.
• $9000 from Title II and III grants for principal and administrator training.
• $835,000 for Binford—the lot we discussed on east side of Binford.
• IU Health—continuing athletic trainer services. From middle school’s extra-curricular funds. Baseline reading for impact/concussion.
• Shiba Business Solutions Inc. New cost per copy—reduction by 1/3. Paid from capital projects fund.
• Bid: Dave O’Mara, contractor.
Resolution to authorize and advertise 2015 budgets and plans (Mr. Thrasher)
• $122,000 for contract bus drivers from transportation operating fund to school bus replacement fund. Provides relief, have done it for several years. Other part –authorize us to advertise budgets for 7 adopted funds. Had work session with board 2 weeks ago, talked about changes.
• New formula: Dollars in general fund very small. If our enrollment remains unchanged, only $185,000. An increase of a third of a percent, need to receive 2% to keep up with inflation.
• Have included public information officer.
• Overall increase in general fund: __ %.
• Contract with Synergistic (cut energy usage) is over. Substantial savings.
• Referendum fund: increase 2.6 %?
• Annual payment of 425,000 for bond issue for technology—we need to make substantial investment in tech infrastructure to support one-to-one.—Also considering loan through Common school fund with very low interest rate ($400,000)
• Capital projects fund: included $500,000 for additional technology. We have to make substantial investment in infrastructure to support one-to-one device program. We do have some revenue coming in to support that. Will trade 2,500 iPads—will get back 350,000 to 380,000 dollars.
• Transportation operating fund. Expect tax rate to come down significantly. Advertise higher tax rate to protect ourself, should come down. Gives a ceiling. You can move money around, board still has flexibility.
• Will have hearing on budgets at board meeting on Sept. 23. Public will have opportunity to be heard, on Oct. 28th will be recommending approval.
Dr. Demuth: Many communities struggling with cost of busses because it’s capped. We provide a great service to our students.
KK: We have silos, and can you explain how we can’t take money from one and put in another?
Mr. Thrasher: We look at them to try to keep total tax rate as steady as we can. Anticipate new referendum in 2016 to have those funds in 2017. Trying to be conscientious about tax rate. We’ll advertise budget in next several days.
KS: Where are ECAs?
Mr. Thrasher: not in here. Coaching salaries are in here in referendum fund. ECA stipends to teachers are spread out throughout the regular teaching accounts in referendum funds. Also there are ECA accounts that individual schools have.
Anticipate that tax rate will decline.
KK: Point is, it’s below what we’ve been capable of taking.
Resolution to approve budgets approved.
Board Protocol Manual (Dr. DeMuth)
Approved as presented.
Supt. DeMuth: subcommittee has been working hard, now we have final product.
Sue would like to thank group for adding a couple things—agrees to involve parties who will be affected by a decision as early as possible. Under 6e (president must recognize board members before they speak?), board president keeps control, prevents us from stepping on each others’ comments, I understand this as meaning.
Want to clarify—there’s nothing in here to prevent us from responding to e-mails from public?
Old Business (Dr. DeMuth)
Attendance policy (at State Fair), annual performance report—changes from Jan to March, mandatory curriculum, adds CPR and one other thing—board policies.
Dr. DeMuth: Info on Seclusion and Restraint Guidelines—we provided policies about a year ago, now we have the guidelines. Proud of this board.
Board Comments
No additional comments from board.
Board members present: Jeanine Butler, Martha Street, Keith Klein, Kelly Smith, Sue Wanzer, Lois Sabo Skelton; Absent: David Sabbagh
Celebration of Success (Mrs. Chambers)
• 13 BTV students produced film “Respect—key to peace in the streets.” It won a 1st place award in the global film festival and has been invited to the UN in NYC to receive award. Two students here to be recognized with teacher Mr. Rudkin.
Kelly Smith compliments Batchelor on the BTV program; one of great things about our district and students in it.
• Sea Perch update: 6 teams participated in nat’l sea perch challenge—building underwater, remotely operated vehicle. Open class overall winner was the team from North.
• Dance team—1st place winners at regional and state level.
• Amateur radio club competes 2 x per year. Received first place (nationally) in 2013, 3rd place this spring.
• Marlin getting new playground equipment thanks to grant team ($5000 received)
• ASE Student invited; Igniting—creative energy challenge—3 students recognized
• Academy: rainwater area designated as “Green” area by a Monroe County group
• Short report on media specialists in our district:
Media specialists are different these days than in old days. New breed: library media specialists. Not confined to walls of library or to single function. Teacher, instructional partner, information specialist, and program administrator. In US, a teacher librarian must have a teaching degree and gain a certification from a school library program. All are certified and hold a teacher’s license. Indiana code states that all schools shall have a media program that is…and that a licensed specialist shall supervise the program. Lists many neighboring counties & school systems where there is only 1 media specialist and where all elementary libraries are staffed by aides. We’re very proud that in MCCSC we have a licensed media specialist assigned to each elementary school and 1 high school. My purpose is to highlight work of our media specialists and to emphasize how proud we are to have them; also that we are proud to staff and have the funding to do so. With conversation and recent articles in the paper, I felt that it was a good time to join the conversation.
Kelly Smith: Appreciates referendum and support of opportunities in community.
Jeanine: Kelly, you said it exactly right. This community saw fit to pass a referendum—allows us to maintain media specialists, preventionists, interventionists—and teachers (inserts KS)—over 70 brought back. Without referendum, we would be in much the same place. Thankful for community.
KS: And extra-curriculars.
MCCSC Foundation Report (Mrs. Helms)
• There are also library endowments that support materials. Available, feel free to call me and I can give you info.
• Board member danced in Dancing with Celebrities. Great job—gave him his own trophy. Thanks to Douglas.
• Team MCCSC campaign. Ask all employees to consider making a gift. Many do donate, and we are grateful. We like to point to percentage of faculty who support us and believe in what we do. Participation rather than monetary piece. You can give to Foundation by purchasing a license place. Money ($18) comes back to local foundation and some goes to health something at state level.
• New fund opportunity: Instagrants. Can respond through hashtag. (If you had $100, how would you use it in the classroom.)
• Kicking off Real Men Read. 37 men, once a month in K classrooms for 5 months?
• Great Grown Up Spelling Bee, Sept 30, 5 pm. Words sourced by Childs and University students.
Public Comment
Deborah Myerson spoke on need for equity in terms of library opportunities; wants all Title 1 schools to have full-time librarians. Lack of equity does not have to do with funding, but with priorities. Almost half of this year’s grant money for Fairview is going to two new positions, data coach and behavior coach.
Jenny Robinson spoke about need for engagement with community and following through on commitments of referendum. IB program may be a liability as it serves three of fourteen elementary schools and displaces librarian positions at two IB schools.
Superintendent’s Report (Dr. DeMuth)
• Thanks for a very calm opening of school year to students and parents. Great attendance at open houses. Congrats to 2 principals, Jeff Henderson and Eric Gilpin, going to China—sponsored by Han Bahn group (?). Thanks institute.
• Charter board hearing. Monday, Sept 22 at MCPL. In our quest to ensure that all students get an appropriate education, we have to talk about positive things. Across Indiana, there is slimmed down staffing in non-referendum corporations. Here, our parents and community rose to the occasion. We have a wealth of extra-curriculars. We should talk positively about great assets. Charter school is a piece of the pie. We’ll testify again, and I encourage community to do same, to make sure those dollars go to the education of all of our children.
• Last year we had group that looked at strategic planning for facility safety and technology. We’ll be looking at a bond in near future (and we’re retiring some debt). Same committee convening. Parents, students on committee chaired by Thrasher, Ciccioli.
• One piece of institution that we don’t talk a lot about: officials at sports activities on field. (My family always second guessing these officials). We have person on our board who has dedicated 50 years to officiating—Keith Klein was recently recognized for that. On behalf of board, congrats.
Report on Summer School (Mrs. Bergeson and Mrs. Miller)
Mrs. Bergeson: At high school: hosted at South, 27 days, 254 students attended, each high school had people who attended; 254 credits earned. Fifteen diplomas earned over summer; counts toward school grad rate. Math, English, Health, Science, Social Studies.
Mrs. Miller: At elementary, 2 opportunities: 1) reading camp for 2nd graders at risk and 3rd graders who did not pass. (included 33 ELL); 2) Virtual learning: 2nd through 6th grade, 18 students
Rasinski model in reading camp; frequent assessment of fluency, used Daily 5 format, and had small ratios available.
Virtual learning: 2 instructors provide lab time. Study Island. Practicing areas of deficit
IREAD-3 Report (Mrs. Miller)
• Spring: 757 students, 637 passed, 838 % pass rate (includes 67 exemptions; they count as having not passed even though they have the exemption)
• After summer school and retake: 758 tested, 131 tested during summer, 706 passed; 93.1 passing 90% or higher in 12 schools, 99% passed or have a good cause exemption.
KK: Do we lose some students. The rate of 93.1%--how does that compare with other school systems?
Mrs. Miller: in past, people were creating own curriculum; this is a well-oiled machine—no down time, they go for three solid hours in a fun way.
KK: Are we unique in school systems?
Mrs. Miller: No, we’re all required to offer summer school; state offers some reimbursement.
Jeanine Butler: asks about good cause exemptions and how figured into percentages.
ISTEP Report (Mrs. Bergeson)
(If you would like to view the data she presented, it is in the Meeting Agenda for August 26 under the Board of Trustees tab; click on the agenda item and you will see the report attached; the same is true for all the reports that follow--JR)
Mrs. Bergeson: We get a ton of data and that’s good.
My (JR’s) notes while looking at graphs: English/Language Arts: she says it has basically stayed the same, but it has dropped slightly. Visual breaks it down by grade level. It’s mainly descended. Most drifting down but she doesn’t say that. Breaks it out by ethnicity. Went significantly down for Hispanic students. Asian very high, but trending down. Special ed has gone down. ELL trending down.
Mrs. Bergeson: What are we doing to increase student learning? We need to continue to move upward. Each building has own plan, is data driven, I think they are really focused on it. Individual data to be examined frequently to modify instruction. Intervention plans in place. Additional strategies. Additional resources. We’re looking at what strategies are highly effective, highly engaging.
Mrs. Miller: we’re working with principals to maximize time that students need to fill their deficits. We are reviewing new standards in Indiana. Need to get prepared for new exam. Have been working on pacing guides and proficiency scales. Almost finished, hopeful. Also looking at assessments to see that they align. Want to make sure drop and drag and click and technological enhancements are included in kids’ preparation.
Jeanine Butler: I’m concerned that I see decreases in ELA. As I read through whole thing and saw strategies for improvement, that gave me more comfort. I hope that next year we won’t see drops. I was a little concerned till I saw what you folks are doing with it.
Mrs. Bergeson: Three years ago, we had implemented proficiency scales. We also started putting in Common Core standards—so we were putting in time in things that weren’t being tested.
Lois Sabo Skelton: Along with that, we’ll have new test, and we don’t know what it is yet, so how do you prepare for that? Disheartening, you know how to take care of kids. I’m not concerned, I think we’re doing very well. Disheartening for teachers to have rules change on them. I do believe we are incrementally gaining, even when it’s going down.
Sue Wanzer: You know I’m not a fan of ISTEP. It doesn’t tell us a lot, doesn’t tell growth of one child. I know that the state in lack of wisdom has determined that ISTEP scores will determine what happens to schools.
Sometimes prep for testing gets in way of teaching and learning, but this is what we have to do to meet standards of state.
I was at University this morning, it was wonderful seeing kids excited about things.
Kelly Smith: Following up on what Doc [he means Jeanine] said. Only disturbing thing—I would call it a drift. Our scores are drifting down while the state average is going up a little bit. Common core direction could have been it. I appreciate fact that this isn’t good enough for you guys, we don’t want to head this direction. That’s what this data can do for us—it can let us know where we can make some changes so we can drift the other way.
Three or four years ago we went to collaborative model. Bringing Marzano and PLC’s together was a challenge (?). I see these two shifts. Stick with these things. Can you tell us more about preventionalists and interventionalists. Any student at any time may have a deficit. They are also taking advantage. Can you tell us what will happen to get these scores up?
Mrs. Miller: We looked at the new standards. Principals and coaches are taking that information, working it into these scales. Therein lies the secret of how we can individualize, skill by child, report card perfect tool, principals masterful at seeing where children are, what they can so. We are operationalizing all resources: staff, schedule, materials. Other concern: vertical articulation (meaning look at how standards for different grades come together). When we’ve gone back we haven’t always laid it out vertically. We’ve got ELA finished. Identify kids, see who doesn’t have mastery, give them opportunity to get it, restructure the day for them if necessary. This has to be highly engaging, using Marzano to make sure it’s meaningful.
KS: You’re doing meta-analysis that people have been doing for many years, we have to get better at doing that. It’s not reinventing the wheel.
Mrs. Bergeson: Interventionists were going into classrooms, but now students go to class to work with interventionists. Once they get to certain lexile, move them out.
KS: I appreciate your nimbleness and flexibility. We can turn on a dime. Thanks for great hard work.
Jan: One of our middle schools improved, and this is what they were doing.
KS: Identifying those power standards is essential.
Sue Wanzer: You’ve made me feel much better through your responses to the questions. Appreciate you saying students shouldn’t be victim to our schedule. The more we can help the public understand, the better.
Report: Acuity replacing NWEA
Mrs. Miller: Acuity is state opportunity. State is leveraging this so they can practice for new state test. IDOE aligning to Acuity. Has technological enhancements, maneuvering with graphics, so MCCSC will be taking Acuity.
KS: How long had we been doing NWEA?
Since 1988 or so.
Jeanine Butler: NWEA was not free. Acuity is.
Mrs. Miller: It’s streamlined, brings together information, 2nd through 8th grade will have 3 opportunities per year (she means three tests).
Real kicker: technology enhanced items: dragging and dropping, manipulating graph
Our new test will have 4 different types of items (single multiple choice, etc.).
Sue: We’ve used NWEA for a long time. My understanding is that faculty liked NWEA. Why is Acuity a better testing tool?
Mrs. Miller: We didn’t want to do both. We’re clear about the high stakes. NWEA not aligned with formatting or with technological enhancements. Every day DOE begged us to sign up for Acuity and began to hold meetings all over state so that we could see what Acuity could offer.
Sue: Cynical—a monetary incentive?
Mrs. Bergeson: The key point is that they are so closely aligned to test. It would be unfair to students not to give them this opportunity.
KS: Do you feel Acuity gives info you were gleaning from NWEA?
Mrs. Bergeson: It has the standard, and you get a report back on each student to see if they met that standard. Students can be given instructional resources and can try it over and over again. NWEA was a growth model. With Acuity all the tests are on grade level.
KS: Challenge was that kids never saw that format when I taught. It was difficult to prepare kids for question types. You break the pattern and though they might know the material, they’re gone. I like technology piece too. NWEA will need to move to that to stay relevant.
KS: You wonder if the high 8th grade math score was related to taking Acuity. [Middle school has been using Acuity for several years now.]
ACT report (Mrs. Bergeson)
About a fourth take ACT.
ACT puts together a college readiness benchmark, and percentages of MCCSC students reaching or exceeding those are very high relative to state and national averages.
Talent and Diversity Update: (Mrs. Chambers)
• MCCSC has committed to increasing cultural competency and to representation of underrepresented groups.
• Last year our diversity business tour took place—IU, city, county, ivy Tech, even H-T. Held diversity forums for all minority groups. Held summit, invited community businesses.
• In area of recruitment, reached out to IU southeast, Ball state, U of Kentucky, more.
• Of 70 new teachers, seven were members of underrepresented group. Looking ahead, we intend to concentrate on cultural competency. Goals in recruitment and retention, mentoring and advancement. Establish community advisory council. Cultural responsive instruction.
Sue Wanzer: I get excited about diversity and I remember when you came to talk to me about a supportive GLTB program in your school when you were principal of Batchelor. I love to hear you talk about these initiatives. Appreciate especially the community advisory council.
KS: Mrs. Hanks now at Bloomington Grad School, thanks for continued work and plans.
Consent Agenda (Keith Klein)
Motion approved. All voted for it.
Donations (Keith Klein)
we accept as presented. $16,000 dollars. Reads each individual donation. Special thanks to all.
Personnel Report (Mrs. Chambers)
It was 28 pages long—that’s how busy we’ve been. 35 new teachers, 66 support staff, 16 substitutes. Retirement of Peggy Hillenberg. Aide for students with disabilities.
JB: You and staff have been extremely busy.
Mrs. Chambers: We still don’t have all positions filled. Timing this year unusual. In past, schools were like islands, would want to hire from outside and we didn’t see lots of transfers. Now teachers all know one another. A lot of recruitment within MCCSC went on this year. That postponed the hiring of support staff since we do that after we hire all the teachers. It was over a compressed period of time. It was fun and exciting to see, says a lot about collegiality and our corporation. A lot of work, but gratifying.
Personnel report approved.
--KS’s daughter hired at Highland Park so he abstained.
Average 1.5 % increase for support staff (admin and non-union)—they all approve
Contracts (Mr. Thrasher)
• 14 contracts. One with Boys Town, recommended by Dr. Hugo: $21,000 from School Improvement grant.
• --Quest for respect 795 from extra curricular fund.
• $9000 from Title II and III grants for principal and administrator training.
• $835,000 for Binford—the lot we discussed on east side of Binford.
• IU Health—continuing athletic trainer services. From middle school’s extra-curricular funds. Baseline reading for impact/concussion.
• Shiba Business Solutions Inc. New cost per copy—reduction by 1/3. Paid from capital projects fund.
• Bid: Dave O’Mara, contractor.
Resolution to authorize and advertise 2015 budgets and plans (Mr. Thrasher)
• $122,000 for contract bus drivers from transportation operating fund to school bus replacement fund. Provides relief, have done it for several years. Other part –authorize us to advertise budgets for 7 adopted funds. Had work session with board 2 weeks ago, talked about changes.
• New formula: Dollars in general fund very small. If our enrollment remains unchanged, only $185,000. An increase of a third of a percent, need to receive 2% to keep up with inflation.
• Have included public information officer.
• Overall increase in general fund: __ %.
• Contract with Synergistic (cut energy usage) is over. Substantial savings.
• Referendum fund: increase 2.6 %?
• Annual payment of 425,000 for bond issue for technology—we need to make substantial investment in tech infrastructure to support one-to-one.—Also considering loan through Common school fund with very low interest rate ($400,000)
• Capital projects fund: included $500,000 for additional technology. We have to make substantial investment in infrastructure to support one-to-one device program. We do have some revenue coming in to support that. Will trade 2,500 iPads—will get back 350,000 to 380,000 dollars.
• Transportation operating fund. Expect tax rate to come down significantly. Advertise higher tax rate to protect ourself, should come down. Gives a ceiling. You can move money around, board still has flexibility.
• Will have hearing on budgets at board meeting on Sept. 23. Public will have opportunity to be heard, on Oct. 28th will be recommending approval.
Dr. Demuth: Many communities struggling with cost of busses because it’s capped. We provide a great service to our students.
KK: We have silos, and can you explain how we can’t take money from one and put in another?
Mr. Thrasher: We look at them to try to keep total tax rate as steady as we can. Anticipate new referendum in 2016 to have those funds in 2017. Trying to be conscientious about tax rate. We’ll advertise budget in next several days.
KS: Where are ECAs?
Mr. Thrasher: not in here. Coaching salaries are in here in referendum fund. ECA stipends to teachers are spread out throughout the regular teaching accounts in referendum funds. Also there are ECA accounts that individual schools have.
Anticipate that tax rate will decline.
KK: Point is, it’s below what we’ve been capable of taking.
Resolution to approve budgets approved.
Board Protocol Manual (Dr. DeMuth)
Approved as presented.
Supt. DeMuth: subcommittee has been working hard, now we have final product.
Sue would like to thank group for adding a couple things—agrees to involve parties who will be affected by a decision as early as possible. Under 6e (president must recognize board members before they speak?), board president keeps control, prevents us from stepping on each others’ comments, I understand this as meaning.
Want to clarify—there’s nothing in here to prevent us from responding to e-mails from public?
Old Business (Dr. DeMuth)
Attendance policy (at State Fair), annual performance report—changes from Jan to March, mandatory curriculum, adds CPR and one other thing—board policies.
Dr. DeMuth: Info on Seclusion and Restraint Guidelines—we provided policies about a year ago, now we have the guidelines. Proud of this board.
Board Comments
No additional comments from board.