February 24, 2015 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Informational Items 

1.A. Informational Presentations

1.A.1) School Community Partnership Operations Manual

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota awarded a two year grant (2013-2014) to Duluth Public Schools who partnered with the Myers Wilkins Community School Collaborative, United Way of Greater Duluth, the Duluth Local Initiative’s Support Corporation (Duluth LISC), and Community Action Duluth to expand services that address the social determinants of health impacting Myers-Wilkins families and other Duluth residents. The partners produced a School Community Partnership Operations Manual that details articulated steps to enable collaborations that address the social determinants of health and improve school/ community connections. A DVD was also produced which clarifies the progress the project has achieved. Both the manual and DVD are now on the District web site and accessible to District staff and the community to utilize. Deb Wagner, Duluth Public Schools Families in Transition Coordinator, and Kathy Bogen, Myers-Wilkins Community School Collaborative Director, were present to highlight the School Community Partnership Operations Manual.

1.A.2) Career and Technical Education Program Overview

Peggy Ehlert, Career and Technical Education Curriculum Coach and Business Education teacher, and Mike Emerson, Hospitality Careers teacher, presented an overview of the Duluth Public Schools Career and Technical Education Program highlighting courses in the following areas: Hospitality Service Careers, Business, Technology, Construction Occupations, Vocational Agriculture, Communications Technical Careers, Medical Careers, and Industrial Arts.

1.A.3) College and Career Readiness Assessments

Dr. Tawnyea Lake, Director of Assessment and Evaluation, reviewed the most recent results of the ACT Explore (grade 8) and ACT Plan (grade 10). Dr. Lake also provided a brief update on the District's plans for the statewide administration of ACT Plus Writing (grade 11). All three of these assessments are required under the new Minnesota College and Career Readiness legislation.

1.A.4) Civic Engagement Presentation

Tom Albright, the newly hired Civic Engagement Coordinator, will provide an overview of his position goals, as well as the projects and programs he is developing within the District.

1.B. Grant Applications

1.B.1) FAB Lab Grant Application (Moved to 2.C. Acceptance of Grant Awards)

Dr. Michael Cary, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Jim Arndt, Career and Technical Education Coordinator, applied for a grant from First Technologies for up to $30,000 in matching funds.  If awarded funds will be used toward the implementation of the new FAB Lab at Denfeld High School beginning with the 2015-16 school year.

1.B.2) Scott D. Anderson Leadership Foundation Fund of the Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation Grant Application

Rory Johnson, Proctor Public Schools, has submitted a grant proposal in the amount of $29,000 to the Duluth- Superior Area Community Foundation for consideration of funding from the Scott D. Anderson Leadership Foundation Fund. The Duluth Public Schools would serve as the fiscal agent and funds would be used to support the week-long Annual Scott Anderson Leadership Forum this summer.

2. Action Items

2.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval - None

2.B. Extended Field Trip Requests

Denfeld SkillsUSA Automotive Club students will be traveling to the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Bloomington, Minnesota from April 10-12, 2015 to participate in the 2015 Minnesota State Leadership and Skills Conference.  Students will participate in  contests, attend personal development training workshops, and learn about post-secondary educational opportunities for SkillsUSA students.  The total cost of the trip is $2,000 and will be funded through student fees, Booster Group dollars, and grant dollars.

2.C. Resolution E-2-15-3236 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-2-15-3236 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards from the following organizations:

Minnesota State Colleges and Universities/United States Department of Education
First Technologies

2.D. Request for Suspension of Policy 6160 - Field Trips and Resolution E-11-10-2826 - Waiving Liability on Foreign Travel With the Exception of Canada

Administration is requesting to suspend Policy 6160 - Field Trips and Resolution E-11-10-2826 - Waiving Liability on Foreign Travel With the Exception of Canada, to allow a delegation of Duluth Public Schools staff and students to travel to  Dalian, China as a District sponsored activity from approximately April 3 - 14, 2015. This would be a continuation of an International Exchange between the Duluth Public Schools and the High School Attached to Dalian University of Technology, which started last February with thirty staff and students from Dalian traveling to Duluth and attending classes at Denfeld and East High Schools.  Assistant Superintendent Ed Crawford shared additional information about this exchange and answer any questions.

2.E. Diploma Requests

The following students have completed all high school graduation requirements and should be awarded a diploma:

Kaylee Marie Burnette - January 15, 2015
Cameron Hunter Brown - January 15, 2015
Angelo John Hunter - January 15, 2015
Brianna Nicole Hansen - January 20, 2015

3. Future Items

- Community Education - Gun Safety, School Cafeterias, Parking Lots
- Musical Instrument Rental Dollars
- Career Centers
- Specialist Overview
- Middle School Programming