September 20, 2016 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items - These items are provided for informational purposes only and no action is required.

1.A. Assistant Superintendent's Report

As part of her monthly report, Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki highlighted efforts in teaching and learning across ISD 709. Updates were shared regarding implementation of District initiatives to support teaching and learning.

1.B. Informational Presentations

1.B.1) Hound Pack and Link Crew Student Groups

Student representatives from Duluth East High School and Denfeld High School presented information regarding their respective student groups' role in assisting incoming students to acclimate to the high school environment and schedule.

1.B.2) 2016-17 High School Course/Program Offerings Presentation

Tonya Sconiers, Denfeld High School Principal, and Danette Seboe, Duluth East High School Principal, presented the Course/Program Offerings for the 2016-17 school year at their respective high schools.

1.B.3) 2016 ACT Assessment Results

Dr. Tawnyea Lake, Director of Assessment and Evaluation, shared the results of the ACT for the graduating class of 2016, which were released August 24, 2016 by the Minnesota Department of Education.

1.B.4) 2016 Multiple Measurements Ratings and Focus Ratings

Dr. Tawnyea Lake, Director of Assessment, Evaluation and Performance, shared the 2016 Multiple Measurements Ratings and Focus Ratings, which were released September 1, 2016 by the Minnesota Department of Education.

1.C. Grant Applications

1.C.1) Northland Foundation - MDE PreK-3 Leadership Series Grant Application

Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki has submitted a grant application to the Northland Foundation in the amount of $1000.  If awarded, funds will be used to support sub and travel costs for early childhood and elementary principals and teachers to participate in the MDE PreK-3 Building Principals Leadership Series; the Coherence Sessions; and/or the MDE Webinar Series.

1.C.2) Northland Foundation - True North AmeriCorps Grant Application

Duluth Public Schools has submitted a grant request to the Northland Foundation totaling $15,000 which will go towards operating costs for True North AmeriCorps programs. True North AmeriCorps is a program of the YMCA that receives financial support from both the City of Duluth and Duluth Public Schools in order to place volunteer members serving year-long full time and half time commitments into all nine elementary schools within ISD 709. Members conduct reading interventions with students in grades 4 and 5, and math interventions with grades K-3. Money from the Northland Foundation has been received every year of the True North AmeriCorps program in order to defray the cost of providing stipends to site supervisors at each school and cash match costs for members.

2. Action Items

2.A. Diploma Requests

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

Diondrea Shantel Etheridge - June 7, 2016
Rory Edward Freeman-July 27, 2016
Quiendez Noel - July 28, 2016
Shane Michael Yagoda - July 28, 2016
Parker J. Swor - August 9, 2016
River Deval Petermeier - August 16, 2016
Jack Bridger Munger - August 22, 2016
Aurora Fae Wallace - August 22, 2016

2.B. Data Sharing Agreements

It is requested that the following organizations be granted access to the Student Information System to support District functions from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017:

- The Regents of the University of Minnesota through its Duluth Campus Upward Bound
- MN State University Mankato
- Minnesota Alliance with Youth

3. Future Items

- Early Childhood Programming - October
- Review of Teacher Development and Evaluation Process - October
- Full Service Community Schools Presentation - November