March 26, 2008 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

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

Guests Present: Jennifer Hickok, Luke Enemy Hunter, Stephanie Long, Andrea Fisher, Bill Schlepp, and Al Buerkle, Ryan Conrad, and Kevin Youngblood. Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were also present.

1. Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:14 A.M. Josh Middleton introduced Laurel’s new curriculum director, Andrea Fisher, who is presently the principle at Graff Elementary School.

2. Dave Huether moved to approve the February 27, 2008 minutes as printed. Tim Dolphay seconded the motion which passed 6 – 0.

3. Jerry reviewed the financial report and responded to questions.

4. Gail Richardson gave a presentation on the March 8 field trip for the ACE Indian Education for All grant. Gail said the group had a guide who took the group to sacred areas that are usually closed to the public. Her presentation consisted of information gained and pictures of the trip. Gail went over the goals and the schedule for the rest the grant. The next trip will be to the Pow Wow at MSU-B on April 12. A guide will be present to explain events and answer questions from the group.

5. Gail also reviewed the February 28 ACE 9 – 12 Language Arts Curriculum review held in Laurel. Another meeting is set for April 1 to finish the work. Revisions will be placed on the mtace.org web site. The board agreed that no disks with the reviews should be made this year. In this manner Schools can become more aware of the web site for information and updated curriculum.

6. Ryan Conrad from Odyssey Ware gave a presentation on their on line classes. The president of the company, Kevin Youngblood, helped with the presentation. Ryan demonstrated the web based curriculum and passed out booklets. Odyssey Ware is a grades 3 – 12 on line, web based, curriculum with offerings in a wide variety of subject areas. Their goal is to help students learn. Over 800 schools are now using the product and they would like to become a partner with ACE in offering it to Montana. Training can be done on site or via the web. Ryan will send a proposal to ACE with a goal of 50 licenses or more, which would bring the cost per license down from about $1,000 to $750. Anyone can use the license for any of the course offerings 24 hours per day. Jennifer Hickok felt that students are not as frustrated using the program compared to others she had experienced. Jennifer felt this was because Odyssey Ware puts the student on their own level of achievement and sequentially moves them on. Both Ryan and Kevin thanked the ACE board for allowing them to present. I appreciation they said they would pick up the expenses for breakfast.

7. Jerry once again brought up the subject of a $500 Sponsorship for Montana Educators’ Institute June 9 – 12 in Helena. The board asked if there would be a reduction of registration fees or any other benefit to ACE. Jerry said that as far as he knew, the sponsorship would for advertising and getting our organizations name out to those attending. Al asked if anyone wanted to make a motion for the sponsorship and none was made.

8. A preliminary summary of the March 3 PIR Day expenses was presented. Around of 260 attended the professional development with a total cost estimated at about $8,000. Preliminary evaluations were very positive. Andy Begger felt that teachers who participated in book study groups were ahead of the curve in learning vs. those who just felt they had to come. A suggestion was made to have ACE ask member schools what professional development they are working on in order to design the two PIR days around their needs. Book studies could be done ahead of time if member schools knew what was being presented. Jerry said a final report on the PIR day would be given at the next meeting.

9. The board affirmed that the format for the September 8, 2008 PIR day be a main speaker and a selection of other workshops to choose from. Half of the group would be assigned to attend the speaker in the morning with the other half attending workshops of their choice. The groups would flip flop in the afternoon. Josh said Laurel would be the host site for the September 8th PIR day.

10. The board felt that Para-professional training should be available during our PIR days. Jerry will look into what kind of offerings would be available. The board also said ACE should continue with bus driver training for the fall workshop.

11. Jerry reported that upon visiting with Jeanne Carroll, the Joliet business manager, a large number of book keeping changes would be necessary if ACE kept its Federal Tax ID. On her recommendation Jerry requested that ACE’s federal tax ID be dropped. He also recommended that ACE not purchase liability insurance but continue as is under Joliet’s umbrella as well as the insurance rental sites provide. The board felt that they would be covered under their own school’s insurance but had concerns for Gail, Jerry, and others they contract with. Al suggested that Jerry work with him looking into liability insurance. More information will be gathered for the April 30 ACE board meeting.

12. A preliminary report on the National ASCD conference held in New Orleans on March 13 – 18 was given. Stephanie Long thanked the board for providing the 50% expense scholarships stating that schools such as Canyon Creek could not afford to send people to such a conference without finical help. Stephanie said those who have attended from her school bring a wealth of information and experience back to the school and its students. Jerry reported that the next national ASCD conference would be in Orlando, Florida and ACE should register much earlier next year in order to save money on travel and registration.

13. Stephanie Long said her school received an AGET grant to do a workshop on Differentiation Training presented by Marcia Imbeau. The dates will be August 22 with a follow up on January 19. Canyon Creek will have room for a few more participants and would like to invite other ACE members to attend. Stephanie will give Jerry the information so it can be sent to ACE members as well a placed on the ACE web site.

14. The subject of MAP testing was brought up. The board felt that most schools were already involved in MAP testing. Mark Brajcich reported that Red Lodge, Park City and Independent schools would all be involved in training in the future. He would let ACE know if more schools could be involved and share the expenses.

15. Next Ace board meeting April 30th at 9:00 am in the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45.