September 11, 2014 at 6:30 PM - GENERAL MEETING OF THE BOARD

Description:  Superintendent Lewandowski will update the board on her upcoming participation in the AASA’s International Education Seminar. This delegation of educators seeks to learn about different cultures and their system of education in an effort to improve local efforts in the United States. The delegation is led by the President of the American Association of School Administrators. This year the delegation will be traveling to Australia and New Zealand from October 16-25, 2014.

Description:  Mr. Michael Cowles, Director of Facilities will provide the school Board with an update on the status of the South Education Center Playfield project.

Description:  Mrs. Anne Becker, General Counsel/Executive Director of Labor Relations, will present the Health & Medical policy as a Second Read.

Description: 
Recommended Action:  Board Chair calls meeting adjourned @  ____________PM

Description:  Educational Leadership Consultants, Dr. Charlene Myklebust, and Wendy Loberg will provide culturally responsive, positive school climate cohort training and coaching to school leaders from several suburban Minneapolis school districts and St. Cloud Public Schools.  Minneapolis Public Schools intends to join the project if a Federal School Transformation Grant is awarded in October to Intermediate District 287 and Minneapolis.   “A Better Way” will fulfill a priority to provide professional learning experiences and technical assistance to schools so that they can implement a multi-tiered behavioral framework to improve school climate and behavioral outcomes for all students. This cohort training aligns with the U.S. Government’s Guiding Principles: A Resource Guide for Improving School Climate and Discipline (2014), the Minnesota Safe and Supportive Schools Act, Accountability 2.0, and the World’s Best Workforce legislation.  The project will coordinate with existing, separately funded activities related to improving school climate and behavioral outcomes, including a statewide PBIS project, the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative (JDAI) the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) project to close the racial and special education achievement gap, and the Hennepin County Accelerating Graduation Rates by Addressing Disparities (A-GRAD) initiative.  The objectives of this project are to improve school leader attitudes, skills, and behavior relative to school culture and disciplinary practices that result in significant disparities for children of color and children with disabilities; and to ensure that students attend schools with an array of tiered supports and evidenced-based programs and services that are positive, engaging, culturally
competent and designed to teach new behavior instead of punishing and excluding.