June 17, 2014 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) 5085R - Student Discipline for Elementary and Secondary Schools 2014-15

Revisions to 5085R - Student Discipline for Elementary and Secondary Schools 2014-15, which will be included in the 2014-15 Student Policy Handbook, were shared with the Board at the May Education Committee Meeting.  Further revisions have been made and an overview of the additional revisions were shared for informational purposes.

1.A.2) School Improvement Efforts at MacArthur Elementary (This item was tabled.)

Nathan Glockle, Principal at MacArthur Elementary, will present information on school improvement efforts and the progress being made at Laura MacArthur Elementary, which has just completed its second year as a Minnesota Department of Education Priority School.

1.A.3) Service Learning Presentation

Dave Taylor, Service Learning Coordinator for the Duluth Public Schools, presented an overview of the many worthwhile Service Learning activities that our K-12 students participated in during the 2013-14 school year.

2. Action Items

2.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

2.A.1) Duluth Public Schools AYES Automotive Program Curriculum Update and Adoption

The Automotive Program Business Advisory Committee just completed its Curriculum Review process for updating and maintaining its national certification.  Upon completion of the review the Business Advisory Committee is recommending the purchase of the CDX Automotive Curriculum.  The cost for this curriculum package is $3,745.95.  Matthew (Phil) Rannila, Automotive Instructor, and Jim Arndt, Supervisor of Career and Technical Education, were available to answer any questions.

2.A.2) General and Honors Biology Adoption

The K-12 Science Curriculum Review Committee has just completed the  curriculum review process for General and Honors Biology.  As a result of this extensive review process, Aaron Salmela and members of the K-12 Science Curriculum Review Committee presented their proposal for the adoption of textbooks and supplemental materials for School Board review and approval. The Committee is recommending the purchase of Glencoe Biology by Mader from McGraw-Hill.  The total cost of the adoption is $103,176.00.

2.B. Extended Field Trip Requests

Fourth grade students from Meyers Wilkins Elementary will be traveling to the Minnesota Zoo and Minnesota State Capitol from June 3-4, 2014.  The objectives of the trip are to learn about local and state government systems.  There are no costs to students or the School District associated with this trip.

2.C. Resolution E-6-14-3188 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-6-14-3188 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards from the following organizations:

Northland Foundation

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, 2014 to June 30, 2015.

Lutheran Social Services
Men as PeaceMakers
MN Alliance with Youth - Promise Fellows
MN Math Corp
MN Reading Corp
The College of St. Scholastica
The College of St. Scholastica, Upward Bound
University of Wisconsin, Superior

2.E. Local Education Agency (LEA) Authorizer

It is recommended that the Duluth School Board authorize Michael Cary, Director of Curriculum, 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 2014-15 School Year.

2.F. 2014-15Continuation 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 six 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 2014-15 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.G. Policy 5085 - Student Discipline Policy

Attached are revisions to Policy 5085 - Student Discipline Policy for the first reading.

2.H. Diploma Requests

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

Sarah Kathleen Sjodin - May 5, 2014
Eddie Michael Edwards - May 15, 2014