Board Meeting August 28, 2007

Special Meeting August 28, 2007
9:00 AM U of I Harbor Center

Minutes

At 9:15 AM, Chair Edie Brooks called the meeting to order. Trustees Vern Newby, Christie Wood, Sid Fredrickson and Diane Zipperer were present.

Property Issues
Harry Amend has had discussions with Hayden City Administrator Jay Townsend as the City of Hayden looks toward the future acquisition of Hayden Lake School. The City of Hayden holds first right of refusal until 2010. The Coeur d’Alene School District has not exchanged property with cities without remuneration. Ideally, the city of Hayden would like to retain the building for a future community center. Mr. Newby noted that the city may be close to making a proposal for purchase. Mrs. Brooks mentioned that with all the growth happening in the North, schools are filling quickly and additional facilities are needed. She feels in order to build for future needs we will need to receive fair price from that resource. Mrs. Wood asked about an in-kind trade.

Discussion followed about the acquisition of the Federal Building. The Federal Building has been granted to a consortium of agencies serving the homeless. The conversation turned again toward the need for facilities in the Northern portion of the district. Enrollment has increased this year and students will be shuttled out of their attendance zones. The District will stay in a holding pattern regarding the sale of property as we may need it for future classroom space and/or transition space.

New Finance Reports
Steve Briggs and Julie Day presented plans for new budget reports and supporting graphs produced through the district’s internal software program. Categories represented will be programs, functions, and general fund. Cash flow, reconciliation and building reports will continue to be provided to the Board. New software will allow for more dynamic reporting capabilities. A sample of the new quarterly Special Education Report was shared. Mrs. Brooks asked about comparisons to previous years. Additional beneficial information will include numbers of affected identified students and categories. Mrs. Wood asked for a definition of the “funds” as listed in the reports.

Budget amendments are time consuming and looked at as best practices however, most school districts amend at year end which allows for one hearing only. The new reporting format will clearly identify adjustments made to the proposed budget and provide reports with the detailed information. We will know what the approved budget is and changes will be communicated during the year. We can meet the statutory requirements without preparing a separate budget amendment. The Board will be kept abreast of adjustments throughout the year and will be asked to critique the reports through the year.

Board Meeting Schedule
Hazel Bauman asked if the Board would consider adjusting their schedule to meeting once monthly for the regular meeting and designate the second meeting to training. A forum will be provided for patrons who have unresolved issues. Committees will include members who have dissenting opinion whether novels or attendance zone changes. Publishing rationale from both sides of an issue should save time at future Board meetings. Testimony could be given to the review committee, listing logistics that back up their position and objections. All committee meetings should include a secretary who will take minutes, and retain as part of public record. The second Board meeting will include training as part of the Lighthouse Project.

Recess at 11:30 a.m. – Reconvened at 12:00

Televised Board Meetings
Ms. Bauman stated that televised board meetings on local cable as the city routinely does, will build good rapport with citizens. The Board would like to pursue this idea and see a plan.

Recognition of Local Businesses
Mr. Amend discussed defining levels and selection criteria with regard to local businesses and district purchases. Our guidelines may include some language regarding Idaho businesses. Can the process be weighted but competitive? A committee is currently looking at the purchasing policy. Teachers are encouraged to shop locally for classroom supplies using their state monies. Mr. Briggs would like to have a purchasing agent for the district.

Special Services
Dr. Tom Trotter provided an overview of how the special services department has been structured. An advisory group helped to create a vision and mission statement which helps to guide programming. Many special educators work with students in general education as well as those placed in special education. A large percentage of their time however is spent with special needs students. Mrs. Brooks requested information noting the number of identified students in order to provide a framework for budgeting purposes. Dr. Trotter said the budget may flex depending on the student population and that staff provide services for all student populations. He briefly noted the programs and services, delivery systems, focus and changes. Their department follows the state and national model regarding counselors. Nursing services, homebound instruction and homeless are also part of the plan. A new program (PBS) located at Borah and Lakes will enable teachers to get a handle on behavioral problems currently facing the district. Another program “Why Try” works with at-risk students primarily at the middle and high school levels. Another goal is to improve curriculum delivery systems at the secondary schools and they plan to watch closely a model currently used at CHS. Work continues on improving the Medicaid reimbursement process. Mrs. Brooks recommended training for teams in order to learn what services are reimbursable through Medicaid. Dr. Trotter responded that training is ongoing, and has already started. Mrs. Wood asked about plans for strategic planning and if plans include utilizing Brandi Meade as a resource due to her recent training at the federal level. Mr. Amend thanked Dr. Trotter for his efforts in creating a great system under a single umbrella for services.

Continued Use of Electronic Board Packets
Board Clerk Lynn Towne reminded Board members that the pilot program for BoardBook will expire next month. Board members agreed to continue with this method of creating packets, which saves time and paper.

Review Strategic Plan/District Data
Ms. Bauman reported that IRI percentages of students performing at grade level have stayed flat since 2004. ISAT grade 2-10 have remained flat since 2004. No Child Left Behind will be reauthorized this year, with the goal of 100% by 2013. The entire state is down in language due to changes in the test and cut scores. The test vendor was changed which affected the norming population.

Elementary Reading Pilot
Pam Pratt reported that three elementary schools (Borah, Bryan and Ramsey) were selected and staff agreed to pilot a reading program. Meetings were held to share the proposal. The plan consists of the following:
 Hire literacy coach – Title 1 teacher Kathy Jones has been hired to fill this position. She will work 1.5 days at each building and will train the para-pros and remediation professionals.
 Class size reduction – Reading class size will be kept low.
 Staff Development – Plans call for principal walkthroughs, common collaboration and training for teachers.
 Program Fidelity – There are currently too many programs to choose from so these teachers will be true to the current adopted program: Macmillan McGraw-Hill and Open Court Phonics. Accompanying training consists of LIPS and LETRS. Time will be designated for daily reading and writing. Additional intervention is available through ability grouping. Finally, intensive intervention using remediation will be provided for identified students. These students may be pulled from science or social studies instruction time. Another possibility is to offer instruction in a before/after school program. These are students who continue to fall behind.

Demographics and Program History Overview – This information will be shared at a future Board meeting.

Adjustment in Remediation
Rosie Astorquia provided a brief overview of the remediation program at the secondary level and how teachers are working in teams collaboratively. Mrs. Wood asked about communicating information to parents so it’s very understandable. Just because the district has failed to meet AYP does not mean we are not meeting the needs of students. The schools are performing well however, small sub-populations of students impact the scores. Ideas to share information include: school newsletter, Superintendent letter in newspaper, and offer an annual report card for each school to be sent home with every student. Explain programs specifically within this parent information. Another suggestion was to form a policy which could require students to miss an elective in order to attend an extra reading or math class based on test scores.

Change in Title 1 Program
Frances Huffman reported that 8 elementary schools and Project CDA are considered Title 1 schools. Services will continue to be provided at Lakes; the teacher position is funded by the district rather than state or federal funds. Mrs. Huffman requested that each teacher be the literacy leader in their building. They are working to narrow the curriculum, use best practices, and continue training. Title 1 teachers are using Aims Web software to share data within their buildings. Another focus will be to give a better understanding of children in poverty; another layer for student needs.

Advanced Learning Program Overview
Glenda Armstrong reported that the program changed due to levy funding; ALP teachers will teach 3rd 4th and 5th grade reading and math during the switch schedule. Teachers are collaborating monthly where lesson plans are created. She hopes to offer some additional staff development.

Hayden Meadows and Fernan are in the “candidate phase” for PYP (Primary Years Program). International Baccalaureate consultants will be here in October to finish level 1 training. Level 2 training will take place later this year, requirement to apply for Application B. Mrs. Brooks asked about methods used to identify Advanced Learning students. How often are students in ALP instruction? Students spend 45 minutes in Language Arts and 45 minutes in math on a daily basis. Mrs. Armstrong will share some data with the Board showing growth at all 10 elementary schools. Elementary students who are gifted in math continue to be bussed to the middle schools.

Jim Facciano presented a brief overview of the challenges of the second year of the IB diploma program. He spoke about the requirements of the program. Coordinators at each high school have moved into administrative duties and a teacher will assist 1 hour per day to help facilitate the program. He will take a proactive role working with IB teachers, including collaborating about assessments. Twelve seniors at each high school are in the diploma program. Mrs. Wood asked if we have confirmed that the diploma will be accepted by higher education. Not only will they be accepted, but diploma graduates are given some preferred status at colleges across the state. NIC is creating a policy to address incoming diploma students. The challenge to the district is that only 50% of students take the exams which are not required. Fear and costs are reasons that students are not taking all exams for the diploma. What can we do? We can require students to take the test, as long as teachers prepare them so they are not fearful. Funding the costs continue to be a challenge. The District is working on a plan to assist students in need.

Mr. Fredrickson asked about advanced learning opportunities at the middle school level. Some middle school advanced courses are offered and students are kept in cohort groups. A three-way switch happens at 6th grade. Mr. Facciano hopes to be involved this year coaching IB teachers in the buildings.

Motion by Mrs. Wood, second by Mrs. Zipperer for Executive Session: Idaho Code 67-2345, Subsection (b) to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent or public school student: Roll Call Vote: Brooks, Newby, Zipperer, Wood, Fredrickson each “yes”.

Meeting returned to open session and adjourned at 4:15 p.m.

Edie Brooks, Chair
Board of Trustees

Lynn M. Towne, Clerk
Board of Trustees

Summary Statement of Executive Sessions
At 4:00 PM, in accordance with Idaho Code 67-2345, Subsection (b) the Board held an Executive Session to consider the evaluation, dismissal or disciplining of, or to hear complaints or charges brought against a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent or public school students.

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