ACE Board Meeting Minutes

February 27, 2008 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

ACE Board Members Present:  Al Sipes, Tim Dolphay, Dave Huether, Mark Brajcich, Andy Begger and Les Cabot.

Guests Present: Dan Nelson, Stephanie Long, Brenda Koch, Marsha Sampson, Bobbie Larson, Chad Johnson, and Bill Schlepp.  Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were also present.
  1. Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:05 and made sure everyone knew one another.
  1. Tim Dolphay moved to approve the January 30, 2008 minutes. Dave Huether seconded the motion, which carried 6-0.
  1. The group reviewed the financial report as attached.
  1. Jerry reminded the board that in the past ACE has given a $500 Sponsorship check for Montana Educators’ Institute and wondered if the board wanted to do the same for the June 9 – 12 conference in Helena. After discussion Andy Begger moved to approve a $500 sponsorship for MEI. Les Cabot seconded the motion, which failed on a 3-3 vote. Al requested that the item be placed on the March agenda to be reconsidered at that time.
  1. Bobbie Larson and Marsha Sampson reviewed the goals and mission of SMART (Southern Montana Alliance for Resources and Training). Pamphlets were distributed to everyone and their web site was reviewed. Bobbie assured that SMART was not in competition with ACE but was a partner with a goal to work with all the schools in CSPD region III. Partners and board members for SMART include ACE, Billings Public Schools, Montana Small School Alliance, MSU-Billings, and Region III CSPD. The purpose of SMART is to provide professional development opportunities as requested or reflected in priority needs of Region III. SMART will also provide for the design and delivery of state initiatives including Indian Education for All. Bobbie reported that SMART has applied for a three-year science grant. Jerry said that the grant application form appeared to be designed by OPI to favor regional alliances such as SMART. Jerry also mentioned that MSU-Bozeman had contacted him looking for support for their science grant application. He said that after the SMART board reviewed their proposal, ACE’s needs would be best served by the SMART grant proposal. During discussion the board mentioned that they were glad that Jerry was on the board to partner with SMART as well as keep the ACE board and members informed.
  1. The final plans for the March 3 PIR Day were reviewed and all is ready. Jerry went over the plans for the day. Information can be found on the ACE web site along with the handout.
  1. The board discussed the format for the September 8, 2008 PIR day. Jerry recommended that ACE hold the session at Laurel with a main speaker on classroom management having half the group in the morning in the auditorium (3 hr) and the other half choosing from several sessions (1.5 hr and/or 3hr). The group would flip flop in the afternoon. Laurel could serve lunch as they did two years ago. The group suggested several names of people who have done and could do a workshop on classroom management. The board felt that such a presentation should be geared to elementary for half the day and high school for the other half of a day. More suggestions will be obtained from the group attending the national ASCD conference.
  1. The board also discussed the March 2, 2009 PIR day. Jerry said he has penciled in the two 2008 – 2009 PIR dates at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center but can change the location if needed. Some of those present mentioned several names of possible presenters. The board said there was time to look at a format for the day and again mentioned that one of the purposes of ACE sponsoring people to attend the national ASCD conference was to bring back information on possible presenters.
  1. Jerry reported that Lanny Stene informed him that Shawna Heiser has done Para-professional training in the past. The group reviewed Shawna’s proposal. Marsha Sampson said that SMART could help in locating a trainer for Para-professional workshops. Debra Miller could also help find trainers. Other Para training possibilities was discussed. The board felt that ACE should provide its member schools need Para-professional training. Jerry will continue to look for a trainer to do a workshop for both of the 2008 – 2009 PIR days.
  1. A proposal for Liability insurance was reviewed. The board had concerns as to the coverage for the $1,330 per year premium. The main concern was to make sure any workshops and training that ACE did was covered as well as Jerry and Gail. Several of those present mentioned that when an event is contracted at a location, that location should provide its own liability insurance. The board also felt that since ACE was housed in the Joliet School as a waver of their yearly dues, ACE would no doubt be covered by the Joliet liability policy. Perhaps it would be best to continue as is as and not obtain ACE’s own policy. Jerry was instructed to continue to look into the liability insurance situation and report back at the March meeting.
  1. Gail Richardson reviewed the plans for the ACE 9 – 12 Language Arts Curriculum review in Laurel on February 28th. She said ACE needs both experienced teachers as well as new ones in order to get the work done smoothly. The board told Gail to schedule a second day for the review if she needed to.
  1. Gail also reviewed the new ACE Indian Education for All grant. A schedule of events for the grant is posted on the ACE web site. Because of the bus size, there will be room for others to attend the field trips. The first trip will be on March 8 to the Dull Knife College. The last trip is scheduled for August 23 to the Crow Fair. Gail responded to questions as to the bus contract, presenters, and the schedule.
  1. The Blue Creek contract to become an ACE member was reviewed. Dan Nelson said Blue Creek plans to be an active member and appreciated the board’s willingness to help and to let them join.
  1. Jerry reviewed his notes from the February 6 ACE board workday. He will write a thank you letter to Jeff Wilson from the LuPine Inn for the use of their conference room at no charge to ACE.
  1. There will be 9 teachers and administrators attending the National ASCD conference in New Orleans from March 13 – 18th. Arrangements for travel and rooms were made through Expedia at quite a savings over any prices Jerry could find. The charges had to be placed on his credit card in order to make the reservations. Registration for the conference was faxed using a purchase order from Joliet.
  1. Conrad Ryan is now working for Odyssey and request to be placed on the April ACE board agenda. He would be willing to pay for the room and food for that meeting. Several of those present voiced an interest in the Odyssey software and the board instructed Jerry to invite Conrad for the March meeting.
  1. Jerry reported that he had attended the MAP testing demonstration on February 21st in Laurel. Patrick Dugan did the presentation and said he was very willing to continue to work with the ACE member schools at the best prices he could give. Jerry mentioned that Patrick said Northwest is working with very small rural schools in the Dakotas and perhaps the county superintendent’s organization or the Montana Small School Alliance could help set up a similar situation in Montana.
  1. Next Ace board meeting was set for March 26 at 9:00 am in the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 A.M.
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