December 15, 2015 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) Spanish Immersion Program

Mike Cary, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, provided an update on the Spanish Immersion Program.

1.A.2) Summary of Duluth Public School's Annual School Improvement Goals

Amy Starzecki, Assistant Superintendent, provided a summary of all Duluth Public School's annual school improvement goals and key strategies for improvement.

1.A.3) Overview of Duluth Public Schools Integration Program

William Howes, Education Equity Coordinator, provided an overview of the Duluth Public Schools Integration Program, including the role of the Integration Specialists.  He also presented an update on the Integration Plan, which was submitted to the Minnesota Department of Education.

1.B. Grant Applications

1.B.1) Northland Foundation Grant Applicaiton

Scott Pilate, School Psychologist, Aaron Salmela, Science Curriculum Specialist, and Tom Albright, Student Engagement Coordinator, will be submitting a grant application to the Northand Foundation for up to $2,000. If awarded, funds will be used to create time for developing a matrix that would align district standards to outside educational/experiential resources to include classroom supports, school-based activities, and field trips.

1.B.2) Verizon Foundation Grant Application

Jennifer Pederson, STEM Coordinator at Myers-Wilkins, has submitted a grant application to the Verizon Foundation in the amount of $20,000. If awarded, funds will be used to help continue their mission to make STEM accessible to all by funding additional professional development for science and engineering, provide additional resources to make STEM hands on for students, and to continue to incoorporate STEM activities and education as part of their after-school programs.

1.B.3) NEA Foundation Grant Application

Ginger Backus, Guidance Counselor at Ordean East Middle School, has submitted a grant application to the NEA Foundation in the amount of $5,000.  If awarded, funds will be used to suppport the Duluth Public Schools Teacher Mentoring Program.

1.B.4) Arrowhead Reading Council (ARC) Grant Application

Diane Mozol, ECFE teacher, has submitted a grant application to the ARC in the amount of $150.  If awarded, funds will be used to support the Literacy Live event held at the Washington Center for fragile ECFE families.

2. Action Items

2.A. 6111 - Home Schooling - Deletion 

In moving to the MSBA Model Policies administration is recommending the deletion of Policy 6111, which will be replaced by Policy 611.  This is recommended for a second reading.

2.B. New Policy 611 - Home Schooling

Attached is MSBA model Policy 611 - Home Schooling for the second reading.  This policy would replace the current policy number 6111.

2.C. Resolution E-12-15-3315 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-12-15-3315 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve the grant awards from the following organizations:

-Minnesota Department of Education
-Lester Park Foundation

2.D. ISD 709 2016-2017 School Year Calendar (This item was tabled.)

Amy Starzecki, Assistant Superintendent, presented the recommended ISD 709 Calendar 2016-17 School Year for review and approval. The recommended calendar was also presented to and approved by the Quality Steering Leadership Team at their November 12, 2015 Meeting.

2.E. Diploma Requests

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

- Robert Fox - November 5, 2015
- Christian C. Finley - November 19, 2015
- Daiquan Isaiah King - November 17, 2015
- Jack W. LeNeau - November 24, 2015
- Brandon Michael Koskela - November 3, 2015

3. Future Items

- Elementary Specialists' Overview Presentation - Additional Elementary Programming
- Middle School Programming Presentation