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

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) Minnesota Adult Diploma Presentation

Patty Fleege, Duluth Adult Basic Education Manager, shared information about the newly created Minnesota Adult Based Diploma Program, which will be replacing the standard credit recovery based diploma program that the Duluth Adult Learning Center has been implementing for many years.  This new program was passed by both legislative houses and was piloted around the state by thirteen Adult Basic Education consortia during the 2014-15 school year.

1.A.2) Eligibility Requirements for Duluth Public Schools Athletes

Tom Pearson, Director of Student Activities, shared information on changes to eligibility requirements for Duluth Public Schools student athletes as a result of the newly adopted high school grading periods.

1.A.3) Immunization Policy Update

Jason Crane, Director of Special Services, and Susan Sederberg, School Nurse, provided information on student immunization progress resulting from updates to Policy 5140 - Immunization Requirements, which the Duluth School Board approved at the March 18, 2014 School Board Meeting.

1.B. Grant Applications (None)

1.C. Externally Sponsored Trip Request

Adair Ballavance, teacher at Denfeld High School, traveled to Italy from June 14 - 24, 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 Tonya Sconiers, Principal at Denfeld High School.

2. Action Items

2.A. Policy 5090 - Use of Cell Phones, Digital Imaging Devices, and Other Personal Electronic Devices

Rachel Jackson, Assistant Principal at Ordean-East Middle School, presented revisions to Policy 5090 - Use of Cell Phones, Digital Imaging Devices, and Other Personal Electronic Devices for the second reading.

2.B. Data Sharing Agreements

It is requested that the following organization be granted access to the Student Information System to support District functions from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016.

University of MN, Duluth

2.C. Policy 5005 - Equal Educational Opportunity (Formerly Focus on Students)

Assistant Superintendent, Amy Starzecki, presented revisions to Policy 5005 - Equal Educational Opportunity (formerly Focus on Students) for the second reading.

2.D. Resolution E-7-15-3282 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-7-15-3282 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards from the following organization:

United States Department of Education

2.E. Diploma Requests

The following students have met all graduation requirements for the Duluth Public Schools and should be awarded a Diploma:

Jovonne Garland-Milhauser - June 4, 2015
William M. Hillman - June 3, 2015

2.F. 2015 Graduates

It is recommended by administration that the official minutes include a certified list of June 2015 graduates as submitted by the respective high schools.

3. Future Items

- Career Centers
- Curriculum Specialists Overview - Additional Elementary Programming
- Middle School Programming
- Special Education Caseload Policy
- Duluth High Schools' Programming Options