May 18, 2010 at 6:30 PM - Education Committee - Regular School Board Meeting

1. Presentations 
 

1.A. Are You As Healthy As a Third Grader Service-Learning Presentation

Nancy Stubenvoll provided a brief service-learning update and introduced Nancy Shega, third grade teacher at Laura MacArthur Elementary School.  Nancy and some of her students presented information about their year-long service-learning work titled, "All for One, One for All - Third Graders Take on Childhood Obesity." Their project has been woven into nearly every currricular area - health, social studies, math, language arts, science, and reading.  Students have counted their steps with pedometers, graphed their steps, and have charted their walk on a map.  They have analyzed nutritional information and evaluated different foods.  They visited City Hall, walked the skywalk to HOCHS, and walked in and out of offices carrying signs "Are you as healthy as a third grader?", chanting "Don't be obese, eat junk food the least."  They organized and conducted a health fair at Laura MacArthur. 

1.B. Update on Woodland Middle School's Response to Recent Crisis Management Incidents

Administration from Woodland Middle School shared response updates from recent crisis management incidents as well as developments in the investigation process.

1.C. Statewide Health Program (SHIP) School Health Initiative Presentation

Mimi Stender, Amy Kaiser, and Nancy Anderson presented the SHIP School Health Initiative occurring in three Duluth Public Schools.  Three School Health Teams (Lincoln/Piedmont, Morgan Park, and Denfeld) made up of a broad representation of school personnel and community members have worked for five months on an extensive work plan focusing on ways to improve the nutritional environment within the school setting.  The ultimate goal of the SHIP initiative is to refine our current wellness policy and other related policies and facilitate systemic changes.

1.D. Duluth Dare Devils Robotics Team Demonstration

Duluth Dare Devils Robotics Team Coach Tim Velner and team members who recently returned from a very successful run at the Regional Robotics Competition held at the University of Minnesota Campus/Mariucci, demonstrated their robot "Ctrl-Z" and shared information on their successes at the Regionals.

1.E. Presentation on Duluth Internet Safety and Duluth Public Schools Compliancy with Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

Keith Anderson, Supervisor of Technology, presented information on the Duluth Public Schools Compliancy with CIPA.

1.F. Proposed Enweyang Ojibwe Language Nest Immersion Program at UMD

Brian Mcinnis presented information on a proposed partnership between UMD and ISD 709 where ISD 709 students would attend an Enweyang Ojibwe Language Nest Immersion Program at UMD beginning September 9, 2010.

2. Informational Items

2.A. Grant Applications

2.A.1) Edwin H. Eddy Family Foundation Grant:  Educational Therapy Materials, Updated Tests, Supplies, and Technology
 
The Special Services Department of Duluth Public Schools, on behalf of district Speech/Language Pathologists, has submitted a grant proposal to the Edwin H. Eddy Family Foundation in the amount of $19,261.06.  If awarded, this grant will be used for the purchase of new materials, tests, supplies, and technology for children in this school district who have been identified as having very significant communication disorders.  These children range in age from birth to age 21.  Speech/Language Pathologists need to teach children in ways that the brain can learn language using different pathways. With updated materials, tests, supplies and technology, more can be accomplished with the students.

3. Action Items

3.A. Presentation Items Requiring Approval

3.A.1) 2010-11 Duluth Public Schools State Head Start Application

Pam Rees, Director of Head Start, will present the 2010-11 Duluth Public Schools State Head Start Grant application for review and approval.

3.B. Resolution E-5-10-2754 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools

Attached is Resolution E-5-10-2754 - Acceptance of Grant Awards to Duluth Public Schools, to accept and approve grant awards for the following organizations:

National Science Teachers Association - Toyota Tapestry Grants
Duluth Superior Community Foundation - Duluth Public Schools Endowment Fund  

3.C. Extended Trip Requests

The following extended trip requests are submitted for approval:

Central High School's Honors American Government Class attended the National "We the People" Competition in Washington, DC from April 23-27, 2010.  The cost of the trip was $1,074 per student and all expenses were covered from donations.

Fifth grade students at Grant Elementary went to the Como Zoo and Science Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota from April 29-30, 2010.  The total cost of the trip was $1,826 and all expenses were covered through fund raising activities.

3.D. Suspension of Policy 6160 - Field Trips

Administration is requesting that Policy 6160 - Field Trips be suspended to allow seventh grade Morgan Park students to travel to Thunder Bay, Canada from May 26-29, 2010 under the supervision of Bruce Holm, Morgan Park Geography teacher.  The trip was planned without knowledge of newly implemented district stipulations related to international travel as stated in revised Policy 6160 - Field Trips. 

3.E. Educational Agency (LEA)

Mary Ann Rotondi, Federal Programs Supervisor, is recommended for authorization to act as the LEA Representative in filing an application for funds as provided under Public Law 103-382 for the 2010-11 school year.  This includes the NCLB Consolidated Application for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - Title I, II, IV, and V, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

3.F. 2010-2011 Continuation of Change in Contractual Day – Educational Audiologist
 
According to Article X, Section VII, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between ISD 709 and DFT, deviation from the contractual workday or school day may take place if certain conditions are met.
 
For each of the past four school years, the School Board approved a change in contractual day for Educational Audiologist Linda Kalweit.  It is requested that approval be given for a change in contractual day for Linda Kalweit, with a workweek defined as up to forty hours and to include up to ten-hour days, as mutually agreed upon with the Director of Special Services, for the 2010-2011 school year.
 
This will allow Ms. Kalweit to accommodate the changing needs of the students and families that audiology serves, including evening hearing clinics, evening home visits for early childhood (deaf and hard of hearing) students, and for programming deaf and hard of hearing student amplification systems (personal FMs) after school hours so that students do not miss out on teacher instruction during the school day.

3.G. Diplomas

The following students have completed all high school requirements and should be awared a diploma:

Harry Andrew Kapinos III            January 31, 2010
Zachary R. Taylor                          February 18, 2010

3.H. Certificates of Attendance

Certificates of Attendance will be awarded to the following Denfeld High School foreign exchange students in lieu of a high school diploma at Commencement in June 2010:

Ayaka Doi
Niclas Henningsson
Dmitry Yurevich Kuznetsov