August 29, 2007 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

Present were board members Al Sipes, David Huether, Tim Dolphay, Andy Begger, Les Cabot, and Josh Middleton. Guests present were: Bill Schlepp, Chad Johnson, Luke Enemy Hunter, Jennifer Hickok, Deani Kirkness, Stephanie Long, Brenda Koch, Marsha Sampson, Debra Miller, and Dwain Haggard. Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were also present.

1. Chairman Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:10 A.M. and had all present introduce him / her self.

2. Dave Huether moved to approve the May 30, 2007 minutes as presented. Tim Dolphay seconded the motion which carried 6 – 0.

3. The financial report was presented. Andy Begger asked that schools be notified to car pool or use school vehicles when attending ACE activities. He requests that his staff use the school van and ACE pay mileage to the school.

4. A report on the ACE August 15 administrator workshop and the August 16 new Member workshops were given.

5. Deani Kirkness reviewed the ACE web site demonstrating it features. She requested that Jerry or her be contacted with any suggestions or corrections to the site. The group felt the web site was very well done, easy to use, and helpful. Deani stated that she wished she would have had such a resource when she was teaching. Deani updated photos for the 2007 – 2008 Board directory. She would like to attend the ACE September 10 PIR day to take photos for the web site.

6. Jerry reviewed the September 10 PIR day scheduled to be held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. Bea McGarvey will do the whole day on Classroom Instruction That Works. Jerry mentioned that he has been in contact with Bea and she will be coming to Billings on Sunday, September 9th. He said he would arrange for the board to meet with Bea that evening for supper if they wished. The ACE $15 registration fee will be billed to individual schools. Jerry mentioned that ACE has Bea scheduled to return on March 3, 2008. When asked if Bea could hold the group for a full day Josh Middleton said she did a great job in Helena for two days and still did not get through all of the handout material. Bill Schlepp felt because it is important to have continuity, it was a great idea to have Bea follow-up on March 3. Al Sipes suggested schools schedule an early out or some other time shortly after the workshop so their staff can discuss the presentation and how it applies to their school. Jerry said there would be about 650 at the workshop. Jerry had concerns about printing the handout because it probably will be over 50 pages long. The board suggested he e-mail that handout to all the schools and let them print their own. Al Sipes told the group that he had approved Jerry’s request to hire a professional sound system that will set up two large screens and be present for the workshop. Jerry said he was told the room would hold up to 900 people. He ordered a continental breakfast and a deli soup and sandwich buffet along with ice tea, coffee and water for the day. He set up a separate room for Bridger, Elysian and Canyon Creek to have lunch with Jim Staab so they can review his work with them.

7. Dave Piel from Shepherd will once again set up the September 10th Bus Driver training. The registration fee of $15 will be billed by Jerry after the workshop. The ACE survey indicates that about 70 drivers will attend the training. Dave will take care of the registration, food and the training.

8. Marsha Sampson and Debra Miller presented information on Region III Resource Partners professional development grant of which ACE is one of the supporting partners. Al McMilin from OPI was to be present to give a PowerPoint presentation but called to say he would not be able to come because he was ill. Marsha and Debra handed out information of up coming Region III training. They reported that there would be a planning session in September to set up the grant training.

9. ACE sent a letter of support to Mrs. Cathey White of MSU-Billings for the Montana Consortium for Educational Advancement Tech Prep in Montana grant application. More information will be given as the grant progresses.

10. Jerry mentioned that Odysseyware would like to come to the next board meeting and visit about their project. Information on their product was passed out. Jennifer Hickok said she has visited with Odysseyware and felt that our relationship with Nova Net was better. The ACE board did not wish to have a presentation by Odysseyware and Jerry will inform them of that decision.

11. Jerry mentioned he received information on a technology cadre training opportunity and a MSU student internship through local governments and would pass the information on to ACE members through the web site.

12. Al Sipes said Columbus was interested in setting up new member training on smart board, six-trait writing and other topics for the October MEA days. Jerry reported that Fromberg might set up a bus driver training during that same time.

13. Jerry will be gone on Sept. 29 to a county superintendent meeting in Great Falls and suggested that Gail Richardson be present if the board wished to hold their next meeting on that date. The board felt it would be OK for Gail to help with the meeting. They requested Jerry set the next meeting for September 29 at 9:00 A.M. at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.

14. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 A.M.