SWAN VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT

District School Improvement Team/Curriculum Coordinating Council

Monday, February 14, 2011

6:30 p.m.

Present:  Kathryn Louks, Tammy Webb, Shana Bielby, Ann Laundra, Kelly Conger, Carrie Leddy, Diane Fong, JoAnn Schneider, Heidi Erlenbeck, Colleen Schaeding, Craig Blower, Dave Essmann, Shelly DuRussel, Mat McRae, Rich Dyer and Dave Moore

MINUTES

1.   Welcome and Introductions – Dave Moore

Members were welcomed and a review of the agenda was done.

2.   Update on Curriculum Initiatives for 2010-11 – Rich Dyer

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Rich Dyer, updated the committee on the Curriculum Initiatives for 2010-11.  The K-12 Technology Committee has begun their work as K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 committees and will be making revisions in the current technology curriculum.  The 9-12 art revisions are close to completion as Bill Snyder and Kay Wejrowski are working on those.  The 7-12 music and K-8 Spanish review committees are being placed on hold until 2011-12 due to temporary staff being in place during the 2010-11 school year. 

The Board of Education has approved a committee to review materials and make recommendations for the purchase of new K-12 science materials. 

Rich has also developed a K-5 training plan for teaching technology to K-5 teachers.  This will work will begin in March or April. 

Rich also reported that there are several “School Improvement Workshops” that have been developed through the SISD.  Principals have been encouraged to take their School Improvement Chair and attend these sessions in March, April and May, if needed.  In working through this program, the Building Level School Improvement Plan will be competed.  

3.   Update on MEAP Results – Rich Dyer

The district has received the preliminary scores, but the State has not allowed to us to release them. 

4.   Update on Study Committees – Rich Dyer, Dave Essmann, and Dave Moore

4.  
   1. K-12 Assessment Committee (Rich) - The committee has completed their review and members were asked to review the final product.  This K-12 Assessment Committee recommendation will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at the February board meeting.   
   2. Stratification Study Committee (Rich) – The committee which is a small committee of parents, teachers, and administrators, has completed its research and will be recommending to the Board of Education not to make this a district committee for 2011-12.  The committee’s decision was based on the fact that there was no clear cut savings to the district and no conclusive evidence that positives outweighed the negatives in making the change. 
   3. Special Education Study Committee (Dave M) – The committee has met three times and has worked toward developing district belief statements, mission statements, and vision statements.  At their next meeting, they will be discussing transition for students in special education K-12 and ideas on consistent testing for grades K-12. 
   4. On-Line Learning and/or programs for high performing students Committee (Dave E) – The committee has investigated Destination Imagination, Odyssey of the Mind, and Lego programs.  They have been to Breckenridge to observe and will be continuing to observe programs in the next few months.

5.   Update on Freshman Transitions class @ the High School – Mat McRae

Mat presented information on the Freshman Transitions class.  The class will be a one trimester class that will be offered the first trimester and will be required of all freshmen.  Curriculum was handed out.

6.   Update on rotational classes & the TAV results @ the Middle School – Craig Blower

Craig and his staff are working on the changes in the rotational (exploratory) classes for 2011-12.  They are dropping Speech which is already covered in the language arts classes.  There are five classes that occur for seven weeks at each grade level.  Proposed classes are:

6^th grade – Art (new), Computers, Careers, Life Skills, Spanish

7^th grade – Music appreciation (new), Art, Home Ec., Spanish, Computers

8^th grade – Student Productions (new), Art, Home Ec., Spanish, Computers,

Pacing guides are being developed for all new classes.  These new classes will be presented to the Board of Education in March or April. 

7.   Update on Budget for 2011-12

We are awaiting Governor Snyder’s recommendations on February 17 before the district can develop a budget.  Some of the factors that go into the budget are projected enrollment, change in insurance cost, additional costs based on an increase in the retirement rate, and the amount of the foundation allowance for 2011-12.  Budget meetings for the Finance Committee of the Board of Education and the SVEA will begin in March. 

8.   Strategic Plan Ideas for 2011-12

Committee members were given a copy of the 2010-11 Strategic Plan at the October 18 DSIT/CCC meeting.  Members were asked to look over the plan once again and to recommend ideas for the 2011-12 planning meeting which will be on April 14.

9.   Other

Future Meeting Dates:   April 11, 2011