Standards & Curriculum, Presented by Minda Anderson, Asst. Supt., Curriculum & Instruction

Description:  
1.  MCA Testing will take place for this year.  MCA's will go from March 28th through May 12th.  We will also have the final Fastrbridge assessments that will begin on May 16th and go through the end of the year. 

2.  March 16th is the Region VI Day at the Capitol.  We are still working on logistics and opportunities to meet with our legislators virtually from the State level.  Representative Mekeland and Senator Mathews will both be invited once things are finalized by our MASA group.  They both have been very helpful throughout the past couple of years in dealing with the many legislative and school issues. Both have been very supportive of Becker School District.  

3.  State Bills of particular interest to schools include the following:
Bill introductions of Note:

S.F. No. 3239: A bill for an act relating to education; providing for transparency in curriculum and expanding parents'; rights in schools.

S.F. No. 3270: A bill for an act relating to education finance; modifying the calculation of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; amending the allowed uses of long-term facilities maintenance revenue; modifying the calculation of safe schools revenue; amending the allowed uses of safe schools revenue; appropriating money
 
S.F. No. 3293: A bill for an act relating to teacher licensing; providing for short-call substitute teacher emergency licensing provisions; appropriating money.
 
S.F. No. 3380: A bill for an act relating to education; modifying the safe schools revenue program; appropriating money.

H. F. 3624, A bill for an act relating to education finance; creating a grant program to provide funding for a one-time payment for any teacher with an educational loan; appropriating money.
 
H. F. 3634, A bill for an act relating to education; requiring mental health screening for students; creating student mental health supports revenue; appropriating money.
 
H. F. 3673, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying substitute teacher provisions; requiring school buildings to employ a substitute teacher; appropriating money.
 
H. F. 3723, A bill for an act relating to education; modifying social studies requirements; requiring school districts to offer a course in government and citizenship.
 
H. F. 3727, A bill for an act relating to education finance; increasing the portion of special education aid paid in the current year; appropriating money.


4.  MASA/MASE Spring Conference is on March 10-11 in person.  Minda and I are registered and plan to attend the conference.  

I recommend approving the personnel actions as presented.

Policy 602 Article IV, C states, "Proposed changes in the school day shall be subject to review and approval by the school board."

I, along with the executive team recommend March 31 be changed from a student contact day to a staff development day. 
 

Policy 706 Acceptance of Gifts permits the school board to accept donations or gifts under the terms of the policy. I recommend accepting the gifts as described on the enclosure.

Policy 206, Public Participation:  Changes the word "Citizens" to "Persons"

Policy 211, Criminal or Civil Action:  Adds an "s" to agreement and changes "It is the" to "The"

Policy 423, Employee-Student Relations:  Changes statute number from 8700.7500 to 8710.2100

Policy 519, Interviews of Students by Outside Agencies:  No change, only review.

Policy 523, Wellness:  Updates in Redline, based on new statutes for Food Service and Wellness.

Policy 532, Use of Peace Officers and Crisis Teams:  Has a few different changes.

Policy 603, Curriculum Development:  IIID is new and adds Dyslexia paragraph.

Policy 605, Alternative Programs: Minor Text updates

Policy 606, Textbooks and Instructional Materials: Updates references.

Policy 607, Organization of Grade Levels:  Updates references

Policy 608, Instructional Services; Special Education:  Minor text updates and reference update.

Policy 609, Religion:  No change

Policy 722, Public Data Requests:  New Policy