January 21, 2020 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

The purpose of this report is to provide regular updates to the Education Committee regarding teaching and learning. Assistant Superintendent Jeff Horton shared current information regarding implementation of district initiatives and school operations.

1.B. Curriculum and Instruction Report

The purpose of this report is to provide regular updates to the Education Committee regarding teaching and learning. Director of Curriculum and Instruction Gail Netland Froyd shared current information regarding the status of the work of the curriculum and instruction department.

1.C. Companies to Classrooms Presentation

Companies to Classrooms Board Chair Mary Streufert and Store Manager Carolyn Schroeder shared a program overview and update.

1.D. Grant Applications

1.D.1) 2020 Target Field Trip Grant Application

Amy Hatton-Walters, Lowell Elementary Nueva Visión Spanish Immersion Kindergarten Teacher, has submitted for and received a 2020 Target Field Trip Grant in the amount of $700.  Funds will cover the cost of a field trip in May 2020 for the Spanish Immersion Kindergarten students to the Boulder Lake Environmental Center, including the cost of the bus, books, snacks, sunscreen, and bug spray.

1.D.2) Minnesota Department of Natural Resources "No Child Left Indoors" Grant Application

In partnership with the Jeffers Foundation, Nathan Glockle, Stowe Elementary Principal, has submitted a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $50,000. The Jeffers Foundation previously provided a grant to Stowe Elementary School to build their community garden. If awarded, funds will be used for environmental education, to expand what Stowe is currently doing with recess clubs and after school programming to include Native American philosophy about care for the earth and application to students'everyday lives. We would hope to bring in community experts to work with staff and students while we learn together and build a geographical partnership with our local Ojibway community. 

1.D.3) Essentia Health Community Contributions Grant Application

Jim Erickson, Laura MacArthur Elementary Principal, has submitted a grant application to Essentia Health in the amount of $20,000. If awarded, funds will be used to support a Lü Interactive Playground system at Laura MacArthur Elementary. The Lü system transforms traditional school environments into immersive and interactive spaces using a vast catalog of purposeful activities and world-class audiovisual equipment and engages students in learning through physical fitness activities. Laura MacArthur has a great gym space for this system, but lacks the funds in installing the technology.

2. Action Items

2.A. Policies

2.A.1) REVISED Policy 1035 - Relationship with the Media (Renumbered to Policy 908)

Administration is recommending the revision of Policy 1035 - Relationship with the Media and renumbering to the 900 Series: School/Community Relations. Attached is Policy 908 - Relationship with the Media for the first reading.

2.B. Resolutions

2.B.1) Resolution E-1-20-3708 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-1-20-3708 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards from the following organizations:

Target Field Trips - Scholarship America

2.C. Diploma Requests

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

Bahbahmisaybinaysikway May - December 18, 2019
Paul Joseph Schraufnagel - December 20, 2019
Andrew Jay Lundgren - December 20, 2019
Clifford Carl Lagarde - January 10, 2020
Devon J. H. Shepard - January 16, 2020

3. Future Items

Policy Updates
Immersion Transition
Early Childhood Update
3D Coaching Presentation