May 21, 2013 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) The Minnesota Partnership for School Connectedness Presentation

The Minnesota Partnership for School Connectedness (MPSC) is a United States Department of Education, Institute of Education Science (IES) funded initiative. MPSC is an intercollegiate , interdisciplinary initiative partnering the University of Minnesota with diverse school districts throughout Minnesota to increase connectedness between sixth grade teachers and students and foster student engagement in learning.  Doug Antonich, Ordean-East Middle School teacher, and Dawn Paro-Strother, Lincoln Park Middle School teacher, shared information about the professional development opportunities offered through the partnership and their experience with the cohort.  Paul Snyder of Minnesota Partnership for School Connectedness, was also present.

1.A.2) Duluth Public Schools Agricultural Class and FFA Presentation

Jennifer Madole, Agricultural Class teacher, along with two students presented an overview of the Duluth Public Schools Agricultural course and the FFA Organization (also known as Future Farmers of America) activities they are involved in.

1.A.3) Proposed Multicultural Communication Glossary Presentation

Bridget Hines, Social Worker Intern for the Duluth Public Schools, presented the attached proposed Multicultural Communication Glossary for review.  The intent of this proposed Glossary is to have a common language within the Duluth Public Schools when talking about culture as part of our effort to promote safe and welcoming schools.

1.A.4) Key Zone Presentation

Jay Roesler, Director of Community Education and the K.E.Y. Zone (Knowledge, Enrichment & Youth Development) Leadership Team provided an update on the collaborative school age care and academic enrichment out of school time program for grades K-5. Partners include Duluth Public Schools and Duluth Area Family YMCA with additional support from the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) grant.

1.B. Grant Applications

1.B.1) Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional Services (ADSIS) Grant Application

The Duluth Public Schools has applied for the Alternative Delivery of Specialized Instructional (ADSIS) grant offered by the Minnesota Department of Education.  The purpose of the grant is to provide direct instruction to students who need additional academic or behavioral supports before a referral is made to special education.

The grant committee analyzed various data to determine which school sites best fit the expectations of the grant and could benefit from additional personnel to provide small group instruction in reading and math to students identified by appropriate assessments.  The grant allows districts to purchase personnel, materials specific to the needs of the identified students, and progress monitoring tools.

Grant recipients are required to provide approximately thirty percent of the total grant amount.  The ADSIS grant request is less than $200,000.

Patti Bambenek, Scott Pilate, Carla Harrold, Martha Lippit, and Tawnyea Bolme-Lake worked together to fulfill all of the requirements of the application.

1.B.2) Perpich Center for Arts Education Grant Proposal

A two-year grant proposal has been submitted by Teri Akervik, Music Curriculum Specialist, and Deb Hannu, Art Curriculum Coach, to Jeff Pridie, Director of Professional Development and Research at PCAE.  The grant proposal is $62,500 for each year, FY 14 and  FY 15.  Duluth Public Schools would continue to serve as a Regional Center for PCAE for Northeastern Minnesota.  The money would be used for staff development and the training of Arts teachers (Music, Media Arts, Visual Arts, Dance and Theater) in Duluth as well as the Arrowhead region.  The budget includes a .2 FTE cost for a grant coordinator position(s), stipends, workshops, and supplies.  The project is to be defined by the Duluth Arts educators and Project Coordinator(s) in collaboration with the Learning Services Department.  It will include research, writing of Arts Curriculum and Assessment, collaborative work with PCAE staff and training for other school districts to meet Minnesota arts standards.  It is based on the model of Teacher to Teacher Initiative and peer mentoring.

1.B.3) Northland Foundation Grant Application

Bonnie Wolden, Lester Park Principal, has submitted a grant application to the Northland Foundation in the amount of $2,500.  If awarded funds will be used to purchase Second Step curriculum materials to support teaching in the area of emotion management, empathy, and pro-social skills.

1.B.4) Lloyd K. Johnson Grant Proposal

The Office of Education Equity has submitted a grant proposal to the Lloyd K. Johnson in the amount of $2,000.  If awarded funds will be used to support bringing Ronald F. Ferguson, PhD of Harvard University, to Duluth to speak to educators and the community regarding the Tripod Project as part of the Duluth Public Schools' effort to provide Achievement Gap training support.

2. Action Items

2.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

2.A.1) Proposed Closed Campus for Lunch at High Schools

Administration is recommending that beginning with the 2013-14 school year both Denfeld and East High School campuses be closed during lunch-time for all students in grades nine through twelve. Tonya Sconiers, Laurie Knapp, Cheryl Lien, and Jim Erickson were present to share the proposal and answer any questions.

2.B. Policy 5085 - School Discipline Policy

Revisions to Policy 5085 - School Discipline Policy will be  presented for the second reading.  Members of the Student Policy Committee were available to answer any questions.

2.C. Policy 4015 - Prohibiting Harassment, Violence, and Bullying

Attached are revisions to Policy 4015 - Prohibiting Harassment, Violence, and Bullying for the second reaading.  Members of the Student Policy Committee were available to answer any questions.

2.D. 6140.10 - Co-Curricular Activities Participation Fees

Attached are revisions to Policy 6140.10 - Co-Curricular Activities Participation Fees for the second reading. 

2.E. Resolution E-05-13-3095 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-05-13-3095 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards from the following organizations:

  Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation - Scott D. Anderson Leadership Foundation Fund
  Northland Foundation
  Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation - Duluth Public Schools Endowment Fund
  MSHSL Foundation
  Flint Hills

2.F. Extended Trip Requests

East High School Physics students will be traveling to Chicago, Illinois from May 2-4, 2013.  The objective of the trip is to provide students the opportunity to see first hand physics, science, and technology, along with diversified activities which round out the entire trip.  They will travel to the House on the Rock, Fermi Lab, Navy Pier, the Sears Tower, Museum of Science and Industry, and take a Seadog Cruise.  The total cost of the trip is $16,620 and will be funded through donations and student fees.

Denfeld High School's Automotive Program-SkillsUSA Club (one student and instructor) will be traveling to Kansas City, Missouri from June 24-28, 2013 to participate in SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference where they will be attending events and seminars along with competing in the SkillsUSA Championship on June 27, 2013.  The total cost of the trip is $1,590 and will be funded through grant dollars, fundraising activities, and student fees.


An East High School Culinary Arts student  and his instructor will be traveling to Kansas City, Missouri from June 24-28, 2013 to compete in the Culinary Arts Competition at the SkillsUSA Championship.  The total cost of the trip is $1,590 and will be funded through grant dollars, fundraising activities, and student fees.

Duluth Public Schools FCCLA-HERO students will be traveling to Nashville, Tennessee from July 8-13, 2013 to compete at the National Leadership Conference and attend leadership training.  The cost of the trip is $1,650 per student and will be funded through grant dollars, donations, and student fees.

Eleventh and twelfth grade HOSA students will be traveling to Nashville, Tennessee from June 25-30, 2013 to compete at the National HOSA Leadership Conference.  The total cost of the trip is $19,865 and will be funded through grant dollars, fundraising activities, and student fees.

Fourth grade students from Nettleton Elementary will be traveling to the Minnesota Zoo and State Capitol on June 4-5, 2013.  The objective of the trip is to learn about Minnesota history, government, and animals and habitats.  All expenses will be paid with grant dollars from Flint Hills.

2.G. 2013-14 Continuation of Change in Contractual Day – Educational Audiologist
 
According to Article X, Section VII, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between ISD 709 and DFT, deviation from the contractual workday or school day may take place if certain conditions are met.
 
For each of the past five school years, the School Board approved a change in contractual day for Educational Audiologist Linda Kalweit.  It is requested that approval be given for a change in contractual day for Linda Kalweit, with a workweek defined as up to forty hours and to include up to ten-hour days, as mutually agreed upon with the Director of Special Services, for the 2013-2014 school year.
 
This will allow Ms. Kalweit to accommodate the changing needs of the students and families that audiology serves, including evening hearing clinics, evening home visits for early childhood (deaf and hard of hearing) students, and for programming deaf and hard of hearing student amplification systems (personal FMs) after school hours so that students do not miss out on teacher instruction during the school day.

2.H. Elementary Science Upgrade

The Elementary Science Committee has recently completed aligning the Elementary Science Curriculum with the state standards.  Many of the Foss Kits used for Elementary Science do not fulfill all of the current state standards and those that do are in poor condition as they were originally purchased in the late 1980's.   With the new alignment, the Elementary Science Committee is recommending the purchase of new FOSS kits to fullfill the current standards, new books to meet the new literacy standards, and supplies to update kits that still meet the current standards.  The total cost of this Elementary Science upgrade is $131,311.72.  Details are attached.  Aaron Salmela, Science Curriculum Coach, and Elementary Science Committee members were present to answer any questions.

2.I. Diploma Requests

The following students have completed all high school requirements and should be awarded a diploma:

  Miles Albert Palmer - April 22, 2013
  Jessica Leigh Skulbru - April 18, 2013
  jordan Stanley Potti - April 22, 2013