State Board of Education Meeting: Sept. 15-16, 2014
Jeff Sandquist reporting on September 15 events, Ben Martin on September 16
- 1:30 p.m. Call to Order Immediate motion to go to closed session.
- Closed Session-- During closed session a closed circuit loop played Top 10 by 20 and Early Childhood promo videos. Interesting that they state “research shows” but so far no credits or references to any specific research. Dept. of Defense and Nobel Laureate quotes were featured. Early Childhood ties in to top 10 by 20goal. Every child in state to have access to Early Childhood Ed by 2020. (according to 2012 video). Now…cut to the elevator music….hmmmm, why did I agree to come here so Ben could go meet and greet with Jane Chu, new NEA chief? Ben’s response—because I outsmarted you on this one!
- Regular Business …Board reconvenes at 3 p.m. Or rather is supposed to do so.
There’s no big rush to get back in their seats….OK, 3:02 here we go… not bad.
- Agenda Approved….it is noted that the art work on the walls is from Mehlville School District
MSBA on Sept. 26th Panel discussion featuring board members-- Vic, John, Joe, and Peter will be there.
Teacher of the Year Banquet in Oct. at the Capitol Plaza.
Board Roundtable Reports--
JoeDriskill: Thanks Dennis Cooper for attending meeting at Ft. Leonard Wood on setting and achieving high standards. Military is now checking achievement of students.
Vic Lenz: Meetings in Normandy…board meeting and housing meeting. Three other meetings with board members and admins on how its going. More questions…not too many answers.
John Martin- meetings with superintendents on accreditation with distinction issues in KC area
2 board members reported no formal meetings….
PeterHerschend: He was sure he had meetings but doesn’t recall them.
Herschend announces Agenda ITEM I will be Tuesday at 9 a.m. Charter Proposal.
- Minutes of Aug. 12 & 20 (out of order) approved
- President’s Report
NASBE Report There is No NASBE Report
- Setting of Closed Meeting
Motion for November Closed meeting. Passed.
Maynard Wallace is absent – Mother passed away….
Motion to accept Nicastro Resignation on Dec. 31. moved and seconded. approved
Dr. Nicastro speaks: Thanks to board for their support and service.
Appreciates all educators, teachers, principals, superintendents. Thanks to all including parents and students. Standing ovation from the board.
Victor: Words of thanks to Nicastro for her leadership seconded by Peter H.
Board giving serious consideration to leadership transition. No announcement on process or potential replacements at this time.
- Consent Agenda- moved and accepted.
- Consideration of Personnel Report
- Items for Discussion
- Report on Calculation of Charter School Payment Dr. Lankford
Ok, hold on. We’re trying to reproduce Dr. Lankford’s explanation, but are afraid a new dimension in space and time may be necessary to contain it.
Money is sent to charters through the foundation formula each month. Originally, this wasdone monthly per school. After new law went into effect, it was changed to be done on same schedule as regular schools.
Powerpoint to explain methodology is contained in the agenda. and the link is in the next line. Good luck.
The process changed in 2007 Receive $ directly from the state instead of the school district they are located in.
3 part formula-- Basic amount + local effort (not tax) + Local tax if above 3.43
WADA = weighted district and charter daily attendance.
KC and St. Louis are hold harmless so different formulas for them.
ADA –average daily attendance
Local effort amount $3.43 is the performance levy. Used regardless of local tax.
Assessed valuation is from 2004-5
IF above 3.43 then you don’t use the 2004-5 but the previous year.
Property tax eq is included in St. Louis. KC tax rate is above $4…..so charters in St. Louis end up with more state funds than KC.
KC gets 8,827 for total charter payment. KC school district gets $422 from charter schools for each student WADA.
KC 10,661
KC Charters 10,691
St. Louis: $ 7,994 per WADA
St. Louis gets $1,751
St. Louis Charters $9,574
I give up, See Power Point
- Update on Normandy Schools Collaborative
UPDATE Lankford and VanDeven and Cooper….
LANKFORD: Financial and Admin. 321 students transferred out to 16 districts nearby. All but one district,Francis Howell, agreed to keep the transfers they had last year. 37 students were court ordered to be accepted in the district they had been attending. 321 students meanscost of the transfers is slightly above $2 million. A court has ordered Normandy to pay what the district charges. Districts do not have to accept the lower rate originally established by DESE. If numbers of transfers go up to 600 it will affect Normandy Coalition, and they will have to cut programs. Normandy is currently solvent unless #’s of transfers go over 500. Normandy Coalition budget 14-15 42 million down 7 million from last year.
Riverview Gardens 66% of last year’s transfers are still there. They have a transient population so they are doing due diligence. Unknown is how many would choose to leave Normandy or R. Gardens if given the choice.
Court decision was to allow 83 students who met the deadlines as posted to transfer. Transfer option has not been opened up for other “new” students.
Ifthe number of transfers goes above 500 transfers..then educational programs in the Normandy Collaborative would have to be cut. Not sure why one part of the report said 500 and the other 600? To date 500 is the number where it becomes a financial burden. Enrollement in district is 3200. + the transfers.
Very real possibility that the transfers could go over 500 and the district would financially fail.
Tuition calculation: 16 schools have set tuitions, only 1 is undecided. 3 will take the lesser amount $7236 ;11 want to keep the tuition as defined by current law. 5 exceed twice the amount of tuition. $14,500 + Rest are pretty close.
Question: Is there a balance of resources in Normandy.
Vandeven: Everything has to go back to what is budgeted in the Normandy Collaborative. 7 teachers have resigned…and they are looking to refill these 7 positions. Class sizes are currently actually in attendance are within MSIP guidelines. But the sub pool is too low and classes get reassigned when they can’t find a sub.
Nicastro: Big disparity between those who are enrolled and those actually attending…It will be until end of September before that is settled. So far the class sizes are OK, based on those actually attending
Vandeven; Staffing in Normandy Collaborative. Learning services…in 5th week of school. Communications protocol has been beneficial. Weekly meetings with leadership team have become almost daily. Professional Development: classroom management is a big issue. PD schedule adjusted to get them the help they need.
Cooper Katnik and Helwig:
LEADERSHIP –Changing adult behaviors is difficult and yet key to success.
Working on Improved observation skills
Creating Leadership teams
Developing teacher skills.
Positive feedback and intervention strategies are key.
How to coach and talk to teachers is still being worked on. Good luck . . .
Working with 22 administrators half of whom are new to Normandy or to the position.
PH Early indicators on success? Calibrating using the form with all administrators. So far its been surprisingly consistent. Feedback skills vary by administrator…identifying those who need additional assistance is important.
30 60 and 90 Day plan……30 day specific goals…60 and 90 “continue work”..
Jones: Is this kind of plan existing in “successful” districts? Is this something that needs to be done?..Inablity to quantify what successful leadership looks like.
Katnik: must have consistency in leadership. Instruction to show it works…Missouri has no identified program that can be held as a model but belief is that this is important.
Nicastro: Some stuff can’t be quantified…must use multiple measures at multiple times. (What a concept! Can we use that everywhere?)
Martin: Can’t compare Normandy and Ladue….apples and oranges. One school enhancement of a pre-existing base of knowledge…while in the other just building a base of knowledge.
Jones; Are we creating a one size fits all program? Or a program to meet the needs of particular students. Poverty is an obstacle but not an impediment.
Fundamental assumptions for motivational strategies are going to be different.
COLLABORATIVE CULTURE
Cooper: Culture in Normandy is different. Has to have high standards data teams to collect analyze and act on student data to improve performance.
Create high levels of learning and expectations.
Progress measured by data….attendance, discipline referrals etc.
Martin: Is the cultural gap (Ruby Payne) being addressed? Is the relationship between adults and students antagonistic or collaborative? Students in poverty won’t accept anything if they don’t feel like they are liked and respected. High level of suspensions 10-20% indicates there is an antagonist relationship.
Nicastro: leadership being trained in cultural differences and strategies. They are attempting to address the issue.
Anheuser Busch Marketing research showed the Latino and Black communities wanted and valued RELATIONSHIPS over price, and quality issues. End result…we have to have the Relationship FIRST.
CURRICULUM AND ASSESSMENT
Helwig: Variety of factors working in the schools…created staffs and team groups in June and July….many new teachers…more than usual. New curriculum, new materials, provided pd for new curriculum and materials. Benchmark assessments implemented and literacy supports.
Some issues with technology based instruction…and tech snafus where instruction couldn’t be provided…led to behavior issues etc.
Elementary: new curriculum and materials…staff working through it. Effort is being made…it will be a challenge to show the immediate improvement expected. 10 literacy coaches are working with staff to do assessments and assist teachers on classroom structure.
PD scheduled every Tuesday and Weds. Working on classroom management skills, putting structures in place that will work and can be implemented.
EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION
Cooper: Flipped classrooms at HS level. Staff is more veteran than elementary schools. National Math Science Initiative NMSMI strategies were impressive.
Using them now with students. Project based strategies. At Elementary balanced literacy is being implemented. Looking for engagement of students, high rigor, bell to bell instruction. Regional School Improvement Team will start evaluating in October. Will be reported monthly.
? Where is PD coming from: Ans: Vendors and coaches (working with teachers). Coaches are retired part-time teachers, working with staff.
Katnik: Vendors and internal DESE staff providing PD.
Don’t know how many new staff are NEW teachers or those with experience..
Comment that letting half of the staff go at Normandy was probably a good thing.
Preparation and Routine are important…one more sports analogy….
Peter H ? is attendance going to be as good, not as good, or better? Are discipline referrals up down or different? Answer: Attendance is down, due in some part to transfer issues. Behavior…mixed results. Much could be the result of forced transitions and that impact on behavior. PH wants to know if attendance improves…are kids going to school?
Cooper: Data collection is UP so it should help?......
PH: wants meaningful data sent on to the board…last year’s data not valid…can’t be trusted.
Meeting Adjourned at 4:55.
SBOE MTG Sept 16
Ben arrives and tags Jeff out of the ring
Agenda Item D Charter Schools update
Reports on charter performance across the state. See link above for the report.
Still asks if staff can provide proficient and advanced breakdown. Herschend asks historically is this an improvement. Staff says yes overall. H asks what about the underperforming schools, are they on a short leash. Herschend worries that some of the largest are some of the worst performing. Asks for a report in near future on those schools. He notes a sense of urgency
Lots of other discussion about the details of the report. Lenz asks whether there is an accreditation system comparable to regular public schools. Staff no. Lenz should we? Legally, we cannot. The Legislature did not authorize it.
Agenda I. Venare school approval.
See link above for details. For details on SABIS go to
Agenda Item E. Charter Law Workgroup.
VanZandt reviews current status of charter law and regulations Plan is to do a thorough review, see what programs exist elsewhere, come back with recommendations for policy proposal. Some comments on the need for it.
John Mattin says needed
Item F. Governmental Affairs report
Agenda Item G. Common core, Missouri learning standards review committees Approving the make up of those committees
All are selected except from the legislative groups. They object to DESE scheduling and organizing. They want to let each group organize itself. Martin- whose fault if this doesn't work. Staff -us. Herschend says take the bull by the horns and get started. Nicastro says this burden is hitting districts too as they pay for subs
Break.
During break I spoke with Sharon Helwig about the Arts Ed director position. 4 candidates. She asked if we wanted to be in on the interviews along with a rep from MAC.
Agenda H. Accredited with Distinction
Driskill talks about the objection from MCSA. Asks staff to explain it.
Admin don't like it at all and then they also don't like the additional items beyond the 90%.
Talk about the impact of Foudation formula and financing on the ability of districts to reach it. Staff says not a problem. Still opposes, but mainly because he says it doesn't do enough, not stringent enough.
Jones still in favor because it encourages above average.
Big discussion about allowing sub groups to achieve at a lower levels. Essentially Still, Martin and Jones are concerned that it cements a system of separate and unequal expectations for subgroups. Eventually the motion is withdrawn
Agenda J. Budget
The budget does not reflect the release of funds after the veto session. Staff goes through the 2016 request.
Driskill expresses great concern about DESE being understaffed especially in the area of outreach. He says to raise the alarm, a statement needs to be made with this budget request. Jones agrees, quotes Dec of Independence "and government . . . ."
Shields agrees and says his greatest frustration as a legislator was when people didn't ask for what they needed when he sat on appropcomm.. Nicastro offers to present such a budget if the board will pass this one now. Herschend says thanks but we ought to target what we can get. Motion to approve. Lankford asks if that means the vote to increase will happen at next meeting or before.
Herschend summarizes saying find the high impact areas and propose them. Lenz wants to see about services to failing schools.
Motion passes on budget as presented
.
Agenda K. Employee Background checks
Lankford, since we don't have a written policy, we need one. Concern that it is a lesser check than many businesses and only Missouri records are included.Driskill asks about including misdemeanors. VZ says this is comparable to the school employee checks. Conversation continues.
Agenda L. Districts reclassification
Staff recommended accredited status for Swedebourg and no change for Jennings or Caruthersville. Moved and passed.
Agenda M Licensure issues