BETTENDORF SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES Special Meetting 2.7.05

Unofficial Minutes of the February 7, 2005, Special Meeting

(Pending Board Approval)

1. Call to Order.

The Board of Directors of the Bettendorf Community School District, in the County of Scott, state of Iowa, met in open session according to Iowa law for a special Board meeting at the Ray Stensvad Administration Center, 3311 Central Avenue, Bettendorf, Iowa, on February 7, 2005. President Anderson called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Lynne Lindstrom, Board Secretary, verified that the meeting notice had been posted and mailed to the media as required by law.

Members present: Directors Anderson, Castro, Crockett, Ehrmann, Luton, Mayer, Weigle. Members absent: None. Other officials present: John Perdue, Superintendent; Carol Webb, Assistant Superintendent; Maxine McEnany, Director of Financial & Business Services; Celeste Reuter, Director of Communications; Lynne Lindstrom, Board Secretary, and Nancy Herrin, Administrative Assistant.

2. Agenda Approval.

Motion by Director Crockett, seconded by Director Mayer, to approve the agenda as presented.

Ayes: 7 Directors Anderson, Castro, Crockett, Ehrmann, Luton, Mayer, Weigle. Nays: 0 Motion carried 7-0.

School Improvement Team Reports

Superintendent Perdue and Dr. Carol Webb provided an overview on the development of the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan and its alignment with the school improvement plan and No Child Left Behind legislation. The following 2004-2009 School Improvement Plan Goals were shared:

1. All K-12 students will achieve at high levels in reading comprehension, prepared for success beyond high school.

2. All K-12 students will achieve at high levels in mathematics, prepared for success beyond high school.

3. All K-12 students will achieve at high levels in science, prepare for success beyond high school.

4. All K-12 students will use technology in developing proficiency in reading, mathematics, and science.

5. All students will feel safe at and connected to school.

Dr. Webb reviewed achievement data from the ITBS in the areas of reading, math, and science for grades 4, 8, and 11, which included a comparative analysis for years 2001-2004 and achievement gaps.

Elementary Schools: Ms. Caroline Olson and Mr. Kevin Hatfield outlined the development of the elementary reading goal, focused on improving reading comprehension on ITBS.

They shared the following strategies which were found to be effective in improving student achievement by Marzano (2001) and others:

1. Identifying similarities and differencesórecognizing characteristics, categories, patterns, and relationships among things or ideas

2. Summarizing and note-takingódistilling information into a synthesized form

3. Reinforcing effort and providing recognitionóemphasizing that effort is the cause of achievement

4. Homework and practiceóopportunities to deepen understanding and skills relative to content that has been initially presented 5. Nonlinguistic representationsóusing mental pictures or physical sensations to store knowledge

6. Cooperative learningógrouping strategies that promote positive interdependence, face-to-face promotive interaction, individual and

group accountability, interpersonal and small group skills and group processing

7. Setting objectives and providing feedbackóa meta-cognitive system of thinking in which a direction for learning is established and students receive specific, corrective, and timely information about how well they are learning

8. Cues, questions, and advance organizersóactivating prior knowledge and providing ideational scaffolding Ms. Olson and Mr. Hatfield also outlined the implementation of practices, measurement tools, and evaluation of programs and services to ensure improved student learning. In addition, elementary schools adopted the goal that all students will feel safe at and connected to school. School Improvement Teams shared their primary methods/strategies for achieving these goals as follows:

1. Mark Twain: Utilization of the Love & Logic tapes, providing choices and empowering students.

2. Neil Armstrong: Institution of the 8-step process, what are skills need to take ITBS tests, look closer at skills, teach the skills, etc.

3. Grant Wood: Implementation of the Second Step behavior identification; helps students recognize family attributes.

4. Thomas Jefferson: Ruby Payne Poverty training implemented.

5. Herbert Hoover: Hawk Walk Club initiated to promote and build a school community.

6. Paul Norton: Implementation of the Love & Logic strategies, in addition to Ruby Payne poverty training, teaching responsibility and accountability.

Teachers expressed appreciation for the January 17 staff inservice day at Bettendorf High School, which featured speaker Spence Rogers, Director of Peak Learning Systems. His discussion focused on integrating science and building high performance classrooms through enhanced student motivation, improved curriculum and assessment aligned with research supported, brain compatible instruction.

Bettendorf Middle School:

Representatives from BMS shared their School In Need of Assistance (SINA) two-year action plan for improvement in the area of mathematics, with the following steps for year one:

1. Special and general education teachers will participate in a study of research-based programs/strategies to improve math achievement.

Professional development in math representations will take place prior to the start of 2005/06 school year.

2. Staff disaggregated data, identified weaknesses, and developed an instructional calendar. Staff is utilizing the instructional calendar to develop focus lessons, assessments, tutorials, and enrichments.

3. Through 8 step instructional assessments and/or ITBS data, students found not to be proficient will receive additional support through the following means: double periods of instruction in math, study skills and resource classes, emphasizing math for special education students and Parent Link tutoring.

4. Implement Learners in Focus Time (LIFT), an alternative schedule for all students, providing additional instructional time in math.

5. District study groups will be formed to research student engagement strategies.

6. Standards and benchmarks will be revised for alignment and academic rigor.

7. A study team will participate in professional development for the Pyramid of Interventions and make recommendations for implementation.

8. Student accountability Study Team will research and study the use of the NCA credentialing system.

Bettendorf High School:

Representatives from BHS shared their School Improvement Teams overview, which focused on the goal of improving reading comprehension on ITED.

They outlined the following methods/strategies, found to be effective in improving student achievement by Marzano (2001) and others:

1. Identifying similarities and differencesórecognizing characteristics, categories, patterns, and relationships among things or ideas

2. Summarizing and note-takingódistilling information into a synthesized form

3. Reinforcing effort and providing recognitionóemphasizing that effort is the cause of achievement

4. Homework and practiceóopportunities to deepen understanding and skills relative to content that has been initially presented 5. Nonlinguistic representationsóusing mental pictures or physical sensations to store knowledge

6. Cooperative learningógrouping strategies that promote positive interdependence, face-to-face promotive interaction, individual and group accountability, interpersonal and small group skills and group processing

7. Setting objectives and providing feedbackóa meta-cognitive system of thinking in which a direction for learning is established and students receive specific, corrective, and timely information about how well they are learning

8. Cues, questions, and advance organizersóactivating prior knowledge and providing ideational scaffolding

Implementation of practices, measurement tools, and evaluation of

programs and services to ensure improved student learning were outlined.

Ms. Laura Kauffman, Co-Chair of the North Central Association (NCA)

Steering Committee, presented the 2004 NCA/School Improvement

Summary/Final Report. The capacities assessment graph illustrated great improvement in all stages of development. She shared highlights of the following focus group reports: 9th grade transition, assessment, attendance and discipline, curriculum, positive assets, post-secondary transition, technology, and schedule.

Mr. Dave Thompson acknowledged the dedication, service, and leadership of Co-Chairs Ms. Barb Brown & Ms. Laura Kaufmann on the NCA Steering Committee. Superintendent Perdue also expressed his appreciation for their focused efforts and commitment.

The Students First Program continues to be evaluated. Results from a recent survey which was administered to parents, students, and faculty were shared, along with the D/F Report by grade, and a summary of the benefits and challenges to date.

1. Superintendent Perdue challenged staff to look at new innovative practices to meet the changing needs and high academic standards which are currently not included in the strategic plan. Ideas generated were as follows:

2. Increase utilization of community resources for learning (after school programming, family museum).

3. Continue to investigate alternative learning opportunities.

4. Increase referrals for kindergarten (AEA readiness assessment).

5. Provide time for teachers to review data and plan instructional strategies for learning; review daily schedule, with an attempt to work in more collaboration time and learning time (i.e. late start).

6. Develop a local wellness plan which includes nutrition education and physical activity.

7. Focus more on science specialist at the elementary.

5. Adjournment.

Motion by Director Mayer to adjourn the meeting at 8:00 p.m.

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Barry Anderson, President ATTEST:

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Lynne Lindstrom, Secretary