June 18, 2013 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) 2013 Duluth East Daredevils Robotics Team Demonstration

The 2013 Duluth East Daredevils Robotics Team who ranked tenth out of 100 teams in the Galileo Division at the First Robotics World Championship April 24-27, 2013 in St. Louis, Missouri presented a Team Demonstration and a recap of another extremely successful season.

1.B. Grant Applications

1.B.1) Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation Grant Application

Ron Haglund, Education Equity Coordinator, has submitted a grant proposal to the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation in the amount of $2,000.  If awarded funds will be used to bring 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.

1.C. Externally Sponsored Trip

Annette Strom has arranged an externally sponsored trip through Education First (EF) Tours and will be traveling to Costa Rica with Ordean-East students on June 12, 2013.  Ed Crawford has received acknowledgement that the trip is not sponsored by the District from the parent(s) of all Duluth Public Schools' students participating in this trip. 

2. Action Items

2.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

2.A.1) Closed Campus Presentation

Mike Tusken from the Duluth Police Department presented information about the Duluth Police Department's support and rationale for closed campus lunch periods for students at Duluth Denfeld and East High Schools.

2.A.2) Modified Open Campus Recommendation

Tonya Sconiers, Denfeld High School Principal, and Laurie Knapp, East High School Principal,  presented recommendations for a modified open campus at Denfeld and East High Schools beginning with the 2013-14 school year in lieu of closed campuses, which have been discussed at the previous two Education Committee Meetings.

2.A.3) Aventa K-12 Online Program Presentation

Ed Crawford and Adrian Norman presented information on the the Aventa K-12 Online Program that administration is recommending for credit recovery at Denfeld and East High Schools, a newly created blended program at Unity/ALC, and as a supplemental online learning program for all Duluth Public Schools students beginning with the 2013-14 school year.

2.B. Resolution E-06-13-3105 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-06-13-3105 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards from the following organizations:

Northland Foundation
Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
Northland Foundation

2.C. Extended Trip Requests

MacArthur Elementary School's Fifth Grade Boys Group  will be traveling to Camp Newman in Superior, Wisconsin on June 13-14, 2013 in partnership with Men as Peacemakers.  This trip will allow these boys to continue the work  that took place throughout the 2012-13 school year of building meaningful and respectful friendships only  in a deeper and more significant way.  The total cost of the trip is $495 and will be funded with donation dollars.

Homecroft Elementary School fourth and fifth grade Key Zone students will be traveling to Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in Finland, Minnesota from June 19-21, 2013.  This trip will provide an experiential learning opportunity for these students, help meet the Minnesota State Standards in Science and Physical Education, and provide a chance for personal growth and team building for the students.  The total cost of the trip is $8,998 and will be funded with grant dollars, donations, and student fees.

2.D. Access to Internet Student Data - Non-District Employees

It is requested that the following organizations be granted access to the Student Information System to support District functions from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014.

Chester Creek and Merritt Creek Academy
The Educational Department of The College of St. Scholastica
Men as Peacemakers
Minnesota Alliance with Youth
University of Minnesota, Duluth
University of St. Thomas
University of Wisconsin, Superior

2.E. Local Education Agency (LEA) Authorizer

It is recommended that the Duluth School Board authorize Charlie Leibfried, Federal Programs Supervisor, to act as the LEA representative for the Duluth Public Schools in filing application for funds as provided under Public Law 103-382 for the 2013-14 School Year.

2.F. German V Textbook Adoption

The Duluth Public Schools World Langauge Committee is recommending the purchase of the Kaleidoskop, Kultur, Leteratur and Grammatik textbook by Moeller, Mabee, Berger and Adolph for the new German V course, which the Board approved at the December 18, 2012  School Board Meeting.  The total cost of this purchase is $6,503.60.  Lynn Gibson, World Languages teacher, was available to present information and answer any questions.

2.G. Sixth Grade Social Studies Adoption

The Duluth Public Schools Social Studies Committee is recommending the purchase of the Northern Lights Revised Second Edition textbook for sixth grade social studies, Minnesota Studies from the Minnesota Historical Society.  The textbook is written specifically to align with new Minnesota State Standards in History, Geography, Economics, and Government.  The total cost of the adoption is $39, 749.  Susan Schmidt, Social Studies Curriculum Coach, was present to share information and answer any questions.

2.H. Diploma Requests

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

Justin Anderson - April 30, 2013
Jacob Ormand - June 4, 2013
Landon Warden Gill - April 24, 2013
Felicia K. Hiltunen - May 9, 2013
Anthony C. Williams - June 5, 2013
Hakeem Coles - June 5, 2013
Keith Oliver - June 5, 2013
Dennis Riggins - June 5, 2013
Halee Regan - June 5, 2013
Amber Workman - June 4, 2013
Jacob Mathew Howley - February 13, 2012