April 21, 2015 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) East High School Student Presentation (Tabled until May)

Tim Renier, a senior at East High School, will present information on a science project he has been working on for most of his high school years entitled, "Sick of Getting Sick", which he will be bringing to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) being held in Los angeles, California from May 11-16, 2015.

1.A.2) Regulation 6095-R - Curriculum (K-12)

Dr. Mike Cary, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented revisions to Regulation 6095-R - Curriculum (K-12) for School Board review.

1.B. Grant Applications

1.B.1) Perpich Center for Arts Education Grant Application

Deb Hannu, Art Curriculum Coach, has applied for a Perpich Arts Integration Network of Teachers (PAINT) grant from the Perpich Center for Arts Education (PCAE) in the amount of $2,000.  If awarded funds will be used for professional development for teachers and administrators on standards-based collaborative arts integration, aligned curriculum, instruction and evaluation, and technology tools.

1.C. Externally Sponsored Trip Request

Annette Strom, Science Teacher at Ordean-East Middle School, will be traveling to Costa Rica from April 6-14, 2015 with a group of Duluth Public schools students as an externally sponsored event. The Acknowledgment That the Trip is Not Sponsored by the School District forms have been completed, signed, and turned into the Assistant Superintendent by the parent(s)/guardian(s) of all traveling students along with the Externally Sponsored Trip form signed by Principal Gina Kleive.

2. Action Items

2.A. 2015-16 Federal Head Start Grant Application

The Federal Head Start Grant proposal for FY 15-16 has been approved by the Head Start Policy Council and was presented to the Duluth School Board by Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, for review and approval for submission.

2.B. Request for Suspension of Policy 6160 - Field Trips and Resolution E-11-10-2826 - Waiving Liability on Foreign Travel With the Exception of Canada

Administration is requesting to suspend Policy 6160 - Field Trips and Resolution E-11-10-2826 - Waiving Liability on Foreign Travel With the Exception of Canada, to allow a delegation of Duluth Public Schools staff and students to travel to Dalian, China as a District sponsored activity from Monday, June 8, 2015 through Wednesday, June 24, 2015. This is a continuation of an International Exchange between the Duluth Public Schools and the High School Attached to Dalian University of Technology, which started last February with thirty staff and students from Dalian traveling to Duluth and attending classes at Denfeld and East High Schools. Assistant Superintendent Crawford shared additional information and answer any questions.

2.C. Revised ISD 709 2015-2016 School Year Calendar Reflecting Grading Period Changes for 2015-16

Dr. Mike Cary, Director of Curriculum and Instruction presented the recommended revised ISD 709 Calendar 2015-16 School Year reflecting the grading period changes for the 2015-16 school year, which were presented at the March 10, 2015 Education Committee Meeting as an informational item.

2.D. Diploma Requests

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

Ja'Quan Donald Williams - February 25, 2015
Lexie Rickford - March 24, 2015

3. Future Items

- Musical Instrument Rental Dollars
- Career Centers
- Specialist Overview
- Middle School Programming