Bettendorf board updated on student achievement tests

Unofficial Minutes of the December 18, 2006 Regular Meeting of the Board of Education (pending Board approval)

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 their regular Board meeting at the Administration Center, 729 21st Street, Bettendorf, Iowa, on December 18, 2006. President Anderson called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and the Board recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Colleen Skolrood, Board Secretary, verified that the meeting notice had been posted and mailed to the media as required by law.

Members present: Directors Anderson, Crockett, Justis, Mayer, Weigle. Members absent: Directors Ehrmann, Tinsman.

Other officials present: Marty Lucas, Superintendent; Carol Webb, Assistant Superintendent; Maxine McEnany, Director of Business and Financial Services; Celeste Reuter, Director of Communications; Joe Slavens, Treasurer; Cindy Ferguson, BEA Representative; Cara Voelliger and Nick Hunt, Student Representatives; and Colleen Skolrood, Board Secretary.

Motion by Director Mayer, seconded by Director Crockett, to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried 5-0-2.

President's Statement. On behalf of fellow Board members, at this time I would like to invite any member of the audience to step to the microphone with comments about items of interest or concern that do not appear on the agenda this evening. Please begin by stating your name and address. It would be most appreciated if you would limit your comments to three minutes so that we can keep the meeting moving in a timely fashion and allow others an opportunity to speak. We ask that you remember that Iowa law prohibits us from discussing specific employees or their job performance. If you have thoughts to share about items that are included as topics for tonight's meeting, we would invite those comments when we reach that point in the meeting. Thank you for your support of our school district. There were no comments.

Motion by Director Mayer, seconded by Director Crockett, to approve the consent agenda as presented. Motion carried: 5-0-2.

Director Tinsman arrived at 7:03 p.m.

Approval of December 4, 2006 Special Board Meeting Minutes.

Approval of December 4, 2006 Regular Board Meeting Minutes.

Financial Reports:

Financial Reports – November 30, 2006

Unspent Authorized Budget

Food Service Report

Approval of December 18, 2006 Bills Recommended for Payment.

Approval of Administrative Recommendations--Personnel.

Certified Approval to Hire

Stephanie Simmons/PN/Core Reading/.50 FTE/BA, 0/$6,440/Replacing Kristen Nyberg/Effective 1-3-07

Schedule D Approval to Hire

Jason Evans/BHS/Assistant Varsity Wrestling Coach/$2,805/Replacing Robbie Furne/Effective 11-13-06

Classified – Resignation

Kelly Bentley/BMS/Para Educator/Effective 12/8/06

Katie Morrow/Adm Center/Administrative Assistant/Effective 12/21/06

Michael Rosenthal/BHS/Para Educator/Effective 12/21/06

Classified - Recommendation for Employment

Melissa Willers/BMS/Para Educator/$11.98 per hour/5.75 per day/Replacing Kathleen VanHorn (trans)/Effective 12/18/06

Construction Change Order.

Approval of Requests for Open Enrollment.

Into Bettendorf, 2006/07

Jeremiah Burroughs, grade 1, from Davenport, continuation

Matthew Burroughs, grade 5, from Davenport, continuation

Robert Burroughs, grade 7, from Davenport, continuation

Zachary Burroughs, grade 7, from Davenport, continuation

Brandon Callen, grade 10, from Davenport, continuation

Dakota Callen, grade 3, from Davenport, continuation

Joshua Callen, grade 12, from Davenport, continuation

Oliviya Caruthers, grade 2, from Davenport, continuation

Dominique Donelson, grade 6, from Davenport, continuation

Maurice Hughes, grade 1, from Davenport, continuation

Marquese Hughes, kindergarten, from Davenport, continuation

Christian Maitlen, grade 2, from Davenport, continuation

Nichole Maitlen, grade 1, from Davenport, continuation

Jordan Manley, grade 8, from Davenport, continuation

Tasianna Manley, grade 6, from Davenport, continuation

Hannah Moeller, grade 2, from Pleasant Valley, continuation

Joseph Morrissey, grade 10, from Pleasant Valley, good cause

Justin Sheumaker, grade 9, from Davenport, continuation

Paul Thachil, kindergarten, from Pleasant Valley, continuation

Into Bettendorf, 2007/08

Hannah Montgomery, grade 6, from Pleasant Valley

For information only. The following students have open enrolled out of the Bettendorf Community School District:

Out of Bettendorf, 2006/07

Allissa Hyde, grade 2, to Davenport, continuation

Miranda Hyde, grade 1, to Davenport, continuation

Stephen Smith, grade 11, to Pleasant Valley, good cause due to change of residence

Samuel Struckman, grade 2, to Davenport, continuation

Out of Bettendorf, 2007/08

Samuel Necker, kindergarten, to Pleasant Valley

Kyle Sehlin, kindergarten, to Pleasant Valley

Director Justis met with Linda Goff, Middle School Principal, for Board orientation and said it was very informative.

Student representative Nick Hunt thanked all those who made the blood drive successful last Wednesday. The goal was 120 pints of blood and they received 119 pints.

Dr. Carol Webb presented data from the 2006 Iowa Tests of Basic Skills and Iowa Tests of Educational Development for reading, math and science.

Elementary school student achievement data showed an increase in the percentage of proficient from 3rd to 4th grade in all areas. However, all elementary buildings are still experiencing fluctuations from year to year. Proficiency levels are above state trajectories.

Director Crockett asked what is being done to correct the fluctuations from year to year. Dr. Webb said they continue to look at group dynamics and non-proficient students.

Director Crockett asked if the percentage of students who had a full academic year from 3rd to 4th grade was a greater percentage than the percentage of all fourth grade students currently in the district. Dr. Webb responded that in most grade levels across subjects a greater percentage are proficient who had been in the district for a full academic year, but it was not significant. Mr. Lucas noted that in some buildings there was a substantial increase in the percentage of students scoring at the proficient level who had been in the district for a full academic year, but it is not consistent. Dr. Webb said there is about 10% mobility rate across the board. Director Mayer asked if there is a way to track transients within the district. Dr. Webb said it has not been easy in the past, but will be possible with the new Infinite Campus student program.

Middle school student achievement data showed a stable to steady growth in reducing percentage of students scoring in the low band and increasing the percentage of students scoring in the high band. Proficient scores are above state trajectories across subject areas and grade levels.

Director Weigle recommended comparing the performance levels of eighth grade students who attended Bettendorf Schools as 4th graders with their fourth grade performance levels. Director Tinsman suggested tracking everyone who is non-proficient to see if they are gaining and by what percent even if they are still in the non-proficient category.

High school student achievement data showed a substantial growth in reducing the percentage of students scoring in the low band and increasing the percentage of students scoring in the high band across subject areas. Proficiency rates are above state trajectories.

The high school student achievement scores were substantially higher this year. Dr. Webb and Cindy Ferguson feel that sharing the ITED data with the students has encouraged the students to take the test more seriously.

Current initiatives to improve achievement are district-wide focus on reading, professional development and implementation, and individual career development plan alignment. Statewide initiatives to improve student achievement are early childhood, core curriculum at the middle school and high school, high school reform, Instructional Decision-Making Model, Iowa Professional Development Model, and Teacher Quality Act.

There were no action items for this meeting.

Next Agenda Planning. Superintendent Lucas said they are still struggling to even out the quarters for the 2007-2008 school calendar. He plans to have a draft ready for the staff to review at the first of the year.

Director Tinsman shared an article on bringing schools out of the 20th century. Celeste Reuter shared an executive summary on Tough Choices or Tough Times.

Treasurer Slavens asked if there was any new information on the Eagle’s building. Superintendent Lucas said they are still waiting for the bids to come back.

Motion by Director Mayer to adjourn the meeting at 7:44 p.m.