October 18, 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) Cultural Relevant Resources in Curriculum

Susan Schmidt, Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, William Howes, Office of Education Equity Coordinator, and Dr. Michael Cary, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, presented information regarding the work that has been done in curriculum around improving culturally relevant resources.

1.B.2) Early Childhood Programming

On behalf of Pam Rees, Head Start Director, and Jay Roesler, Director of Community Education and Early Childhood Programs, Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki presented information regarding updates to expansion and enhancement of ISD 709 Early Childhood programs. Specifically, information was shared as to how new revenue for voluntary Pre-K (VPK) from the State of Minnesota is being used to provide more opportunity for free early childhood access to families in our community.

1.B.3) Review of Teacher Development and Evaluation Process

Bernie Burnham, DFT President, and Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki presented information regarding the work that has been done in recent years in the area of teacher development and evaluation. Information was shared about how the Duluth Public Schools' teacher evaluation process aligns to Minnesota statute.

1.C. Grant Partnerships with Duluth Public Schools

1.C.1) MN DEED and Duluth Workforce Development Board

Bradley Vieths, Vocational Program Coordinator, has collaborated on a grant proposal through MN DEED and the Duluth Workforce Development Board in the amount of $118,000.  The proposal is based on work done in collaboration with the Duluth Public Schools' Vocational Programs Coordinator, District Integration Specialist and the Duluth Workforce Center (WFC). If awarded, Duluth Public Schools will not serve as fiscal host, or recipient of the actual grant and/or funds but will work collaboratively with the board to execute the plan. The grant will be fiscally managed by the WFC but carried out by Denfeld and East High School Career and Achievement Centers. Funds will be spent on providing additional support and exposure to high school juniors who identify as "unsure" or "somewhat" sure on post-secondary career plans. Students receiving the most support will be Protected Populations defined as students of color and/or free and reduced. Funding will provide job shadows, exploration, paid work experience, and/or additional training for staff and/or students. 

1.D. Grant Applications

1.D.1) Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation Grant Application - Kids Voting Duluth

Tom Albright, Civic Engagement Coordinator, has submitted a grant application to the Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation in the amount of $1500. If awarded, funds will be used to support Kids Voting Duluth, a non-partisan effort to facilitate education about government and civic engagement through mock elections. Specifically, funds will be used to cover costs of ballot printing, informational flyers for parents, and promotional materials for schools and community centers. Kids Voting Duluth is being facilitated through a coalition including the City of Duluth, The Duluth Public Schools, Marshall School, Edison Schools, The YMCA, Youth In Government, and the League of Women Voters. 

1.D.2) Minnesota Department of Education Grant Application - CTE Work Experience

Bradley Vieths, Vocational Program Coordinator, has submitted a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Education in the amount of $3000.  If awarded, funds will serve as seed money for Duluth Public Schools to visit and explore other districts/entities carrying out work experience programs around the state. The objective is to create a working improvement plan for work experience programs in the district with regards to Special Education, disadvantaged, and diversified occupations programs. Funds will almost entirely cover costs of travel, subs, and planning between all invested collaborators.

1.D.3) Northland Foundation Grant Application - Animal Allies Service learning Project

Annette Petersmeyer, Woodland Hills Academy Intensive Day Treatment Program, has submitted a grant application to the Northland Foundation in the amount of $4500. If awarded, funds will be used to support Animal Allies Humane Educator visits to the classroom twice each month to teach students about care, kindness and empathy; responsibility; compassion and empathy for differences in others; citizenship, fairness and justice; exploring how respect, trustworthiness, honesty and integrity are important in our relationships with people and animals. The goal of the funding from this grant will be to expand on these topics in order for students to more fully understand responsibilities, values, teamwork, cooperation, and communication within their school, at home, and within the community.

1.D.4) Schuler Shoes and Rockport Grant Application

Ann Ek, Woodland Hills Academy, has submitted a grant application to Schuler Shoes and Rockport in the amount of $500. If awarded, funds will be used to purchase healthy foods, to have students try a new food each day during their Nutrition unit. Many students think healthy food tastes terrible ('like cardboard' to quote a few). This would give students an opportunity to try a new healthy food. After they each try each food, there would be 2 quick formative assessments using thumbs up, down or in between for I like it, or not and I would go ahead and buy it to eat it again.

2. Action Items

2.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

2.A.1) Grantee Quality Improvement Plan for Duluth Public Schools Head Start Program

The Duluth Public Schools Head Start program received an Environmental Health and Safety Review on May 10-11, 2016.  During that visit, there was a deficiency noted under Part 1304.53 regarding Facilities, Materials and Equipment. Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki presented the Quality Improvement Plan, response to the Health and Safety Review finding, which will address each issue individually and offer a correction to bring full compliance with Head Start Standards.

2.A.2) ACF Fiscal/ERSEA Review Findings for Duluth Public Schools Head Start

From August 22, 2016 to August 26, 2016, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) conducted a Fiscal/ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment and Attendance) review event for the Duluth Public Schools District #709 Head Start program. Based on the information gathered, no area of noncompliance was found during the course of the review. Accordingly, no corrective action is required at this time. Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki was available to answer any questions.

2.A.3)  Revision to the Head Start Expansion and Duration Grant

Requests for Duration funding from the Administration for Children and Families exceeded the amount available by well over one hundred million dollars. Therefore, ACF has provided guidance to the Duluth Public Schools Head Start program on the requirements for resubmission of the application to increase hours and/or days of operation for Head Start and/or Early Head Start programs. Failure to make corrections may result in DPS Head Start's ineligibility for Duration funding. Assistant Superintendent Amy Starzecki was available for questions.

2.B. Grant Awards

2.B.1) Resolution E-10-16-3398 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-10-16-3398 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve the grant awards from the following organizations:

Lloyd K. Johnson Foundation
Minnesota Department of Education
Verizon
PLACEHOLDER

2.C. Data Sharing Agreements

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

University of Wisconsin - Stout

2.D. Diploma Requests

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

Austin D Hilden - June 9, 2016
Narquise Dimaz Benton - August 17, 2016
Holly Renae Miller - August 17, 2016
Parker John Wilson - September 8, 2016
Andy Jon Bruckelmyer - September 13, 2016
Alaynah Kay Mattila - September 13, 2016
Chase William Ruuska - September 13, 2016
Karl C. Pleus - September 19, 2016
Ty Dillon Romans - September 30, 2016

3. Future Items

Full Service Community Schools Presentation - November
Duluth Public Schools Annual School Improvement Goals - November
Youth in Action Presentation - November
Course Guides and Program Changes for 2017-18 - November
2017-18 Calendar - December
Wellness Policy Updates - TBD