April 20, 2010 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Presentations
 

1.A. General Education/Special Education Co-Teach Model Presentation

Marci Hoff, Laura Fredrickson, Jason Crane, and Tom Tusken presented information on the development and growth towards a General Education/Special Education Co-Teach Model within the Duluth Public Schools.

1.B. Federal Head Start Enrollment Reduction Proposal

Duluth Head Start staff have written a proposal that will decrease the number of children served in the Head Start Program while allowing money to continue to be tied to those slots.  The proposal originally went to the Region V Officers in January 2010 and was returned for clarification in February 2010.  On March 3, 2010 the proposal was sent back to the Region V Office clarifying any questions.  Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, presented information on the resubmitted proposal that essentially will reduce federal numbers from 298 to 255, eliminating one classroom and the two staff positions tied to the classroom, which will allow for lower class sizes and increased para-professional, family advocate, and mental health time.

1.C. Two High School, Two Middle School Transition Updates

Keith Dixon and Joe Hill presented updates on the two high school, two middle school model moving forward including labor/management agreements for process, programming items, operational items, staffing allocations, and strategies to close the achievement gap across the district.

1.D. 2010-11 Elementary, Middle, and High School Program Structure

Keith Dixon and Joe Hill gave an update on the finalized elementary, middle, and high school programs as reviewed by administration and School Board representatives on March 30th and 31st.

2. Informational Items

2.A. Grant Applications

2.A.1) Lion's Club Fund Request:  Eye Charts for School Nurses

The Early Childhood Screening Program of Duluth Public Schools has submitted a funding proposal to the Lion's Club of Duluth, Minnesota in the amount of $434.  If awarded, these funds will be used for the purchase of fourteen (14) Mass Test HOTV Distance Charts for school nurses.  The purpose of Early Childhood Screening is to detect possible health or learning concerns, so that children can get needed help before they start school.  Once in school, current vision charts are necessary to meet the expectations of Minnesota's guidelines for vision screening.  Marci Hoff was present to answer any questions.

3. Action Items

3.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

3.A.1) K-8 Math Adoption

The K-12 Math Curriculum Review Committee has completed a three-year curriculum review process for K-12 Mathematics (including revising the Duluth Public Schools K-12 Mathematics Belief Statement, reviewing current data and research, determining the need for new materials and resources ~ checking the alignment of current materials), determining current K-12 assessments and future needs, developing a criterion tool to evaluate K-8 materials, piloting materials for K-8, and selecting instructional materials for Mathematics in K-8).  As a result of this extensive review process, Patti Bambenek and members of the K-12 Math Curriculum Review Committee presented their proposal for the K-8 Math Adoption for board review and approval.  The Committee is recommending the purchase of Math Expressions by Houghton Mifflin for K-5  and Big Ideas Math by Big Ideas Learning for 6-8 with the total cost not to exceed $700,000, which will support the purchase of required materials through school year 2015-16. 

3.A.2) 2010-11 Federal Head Start Grant Application

The Federal Head Start Grant proposal for FY10-11, which has been approved by the Head Start Policy Council, was presented by Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, for board review and approval. 

3.A.3) Federal Head Start 1.84% COLA Grant Application  for 2010-11

Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, presented the Federal Head Start 1.84% COLA Grant Application for 2010-2011 for board review and approval.

3.A.4) Federal Head Start 1.84% COLA Grant Application for July 2010

Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, presented the Federal Head Start 1.84% COLA Grant Application for July 2010 for board review and approval.

3.A.5) Minnesota Partnership for School Connectedness (MPSC)

The MPSC is a U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences (IES) funded initiative.  The University of Minnesota is partnering with MPSC in a three-year intercollegiate, interdisciplinary initiative with five diverse school districts throughout Minnesota to increase connectedness between sixth grade teachers and students and foster student engagement in learning.  Woodland and Morgan Park Middle Schools have been selected to participate in this initiative.  Joe Hill presented an overview of this initiative for board review and approval.

3.B. Resolution E-4-10-2748 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-4-10-2748 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards for the following organizations:

    1.   Northland Foundation
    2.   Perpich Center for Arts Education
    3.   Minnesota Department of Health
    4.   Minnesota Department of Education

3.C. Extended Trip Requests

The following extended trip requests are submitted for approval:

Congdon Park Elementary students will be attending Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota from April 21-23, 2010.  The total cost of the trip is $13,650 and will be funded through the PTA, donations, and student fees.

Woodland Middle School seventh and eighth grade students attended the State Science Fair at the Crown Plaza Riverfront Hotel in St. Paul, Minnesota from March 26-28, 2010.  The cost of the trip was $120 per student and was funded through the PTA, donations, activity fees, and student fees.

3.D. Diplomas

Donald E. Nelson left Denfeld High School in June of 1965 to enlist in the United States Airforce serving our country in the Philippines, VietNam, and other places from September 1965 to September 1969 and is requesting a high school diploma be granted to him dated June 10, 1965.