March 18, 2014 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) Annual Head Start Training

Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, conducted required training to School Board members pertaining to their roles and responsibilities as elected officials relating to the Duluth Public Schools Head Start Program.

1.A.2) 2013 Graduation Data

Tawnyea Bolme-Lake, Director of Assessment, Evaluation, and Performance, presented information on the 2013 Graduation Rates for the Duluth Public Schools, which was released by the Minnesota Department of Education on February 19, 2014.

1.A.3) Curriculum Alignment Implementation Plan Presentation

Superintendent Gronseth and Kevin Abrahamson, Curriculum Coordinator, shared information on the implementation plan and time-line for full curriculum alignment to the Minnesota standards by the 2014-15 school year as required by the Minnesota Department of Education.

1.A.4) Closed Campus Update

Laurie Knapp and Tonya Sconiers, High School Principals, shared updated information on the financial impact of moving to a closed campus at Denfeld and East High Schools beginning with the 2014-15 school year.

1.B. Grant Applications

2. Action Items

2.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

2.A.1) Recommended Changes to the 2013-14 School Year
The School District has currently lost seven instructional days during the 2013-14 school year.  In order to add instructional time back to the school year, we have developed the following plan:

May 16, 2014, currently scheduled as a Staff Development Day, will become a student day.

June 6, 2014, currently scheduled as a teacher work day, will become a student day.

Starting March 24, 2014, there will be 12 minutes added to each of the remaining 49 days (12 X 49 = 588 minutes ~ 588/60 = 9.8 hours - approximately 1.6 days).  This plan makes up 21.8 hours (approximately 3.6 days) of the 42 hours (7 days) that have been missed. 

2.B. Extended Field Trip Requests

Duluth Public Schools Business Professionals of America (BPA) students in grades eight - twelve will be traveling to the National BPA Competition in Indianapolis, Indiana from April 29-May 4, 2014.  This opportunity will allow students to test classroom business practice learning in real-world situations.  Students will demonstrate occupational competencies, broaden knowledge, skills, and attitudes, expand leadership and human relation skills, demonstrate a competitive spirit, and receive recognition.  The cost of the trip is $1,365.55 per student and will be funded with student fees and through fundraising activities.

Denfeld's Automotive AYES Program-SkillsUSA Club students will travel to the Bloomington Sheraton Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota from March 28-30, 2014 to participate in the State SkillsUSA Conference.  They will be be participating in the Auto Service Technology Competition, which are based on industry driven occupational skill standards.  The total cost of the trip is $1,860 and will be funded with student fees and through fundraising activities. 

Fifth grade students from Homecroft Elementary will be traveling to the Minnesota Science Museum and the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota from March 13-14, 2014.  The objective of this trip is to provide students a learning opportunity in a hands-on manner.  It will involve a great deal of learning pertaining to the District's Science Curriculum and the Minnesota State Standards.  There are no student or District costs associated with this trip.  It is being funded through Flint Hills Resources as part of their Flint Hills Resources Science Matters Program.

A student from East High School was selected to travel to Mississippi from March 15-23, 2014 for the Civil
Rights History Tour through the University of Minnesota-Duluth Office of Cultural Diversity.  The total cost of the trip is $2,136 and funded with Duluth Public Schools Integration Funds.

Duluth Public Schools Culinary Arts students will be traveling to the Double Tree Hilton in Bloomington,
Minnesota from March 28-30, 2014 to participate in the Skills USA State Leadership and Skills Championship Conference where they will compete in the area of Culinary Skills.  The total cost of the trip is $2120.42 and will be funded with student fees and fundraising activity dollars.

Denfeld High School students will be traveling to Denver, Colorado from March 24-28, 2014 to attend the National Johnson-O’Malley Association Conference. The objective of this trip is to provide an opportunity for these students to increase their leadership skills. They will participate in activities designed for students in grades 7-12.  They will build friendships, engage in dialogue and listening sessions, develop communication, leadership, and other skills that they will be able to utilize in the future when completing scholarship and college applications. The total cost of the trip is $5,857.50 and will be funded with Duluth
Public Schools Integration Funds.

2.C. Policy 5140 - Newly Enrolled Students - Health Standards (Newly Named  - Immunzation Requirements)

Attached are revisions to Policy 5140 Newly Enrolled Students - Health Standards (newly named - Immunization Requirments) for the second reading.  Jason Crane, Assistant Director of Special Education, will be present to answer any questions.

2.D. Policy 6151 Addition of an Athletic Program

Attached are revisions to Policy 6151 Addition of an Athletic Program for the first reading.  Athletic Directors, Tom Pearson and Shawn Roed, will be available to answer any questions.

2.E. Diploma Requests

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

Aaron Wayne Ledo - February 12, 2014
Candace Michele Mead - February 12, 2014
Robin Lee Stills - February 11, 2014
Tyler Thomas Vega - February 26, 2014
Ryley Merrill Olsen - February 25, 2014