September 26, 2007 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

1. At 9:00 AM the meeting was called to order by President Al Sipes. Board members Dave Huether, Tim Dolphay, Andy Begger, and Josh Middleton were present. Director Jerry Scott was in Great Falls and his assistant, Gail Richardson, represented him. Guests: Jennifer Hickok, Pryor; Stephanie Long, Canyon Creek; William Schlepp, Roundup.

2. Dave Huether moved to approve the August 29th, 2007 minutes as presented. Tim Dolphay seconded; the motion that carried 5-0.

3. The financial report was presented. Gail noted that since the printing of the report Elder Grove and Lodge Grass had paid their dues. Lavina still owed. The new balance is $108,488.51. Question was asked if we knew if Lavina intended to pay. Gail did not know the answer. The amended financial report was approved 5-0 with Mark Brajcich moving and Dave Huether seconding.

4. The written report (by Jerry Scott) on the bus driver training was read. Comments from the participants and shared with the superintendents were positive. Question was asked about the cost of the speaker – Jerry will let us know in October.

5. Gail Richardson presented the report (prepared by Jerry Scott) on the September 10, 2007 PIR day.

1. A discussion followed with the general consensus that only a small percent of the participants were displeased – any presenter will have that. Those in attendance at this Board Meeting felt the day was very worthwhile and that their teachers got a great deal from it. We should not cater to the small percent that are disinterested. We are paying big bucks and need to have her expertise shared for a full day. A 6 hour March 3, 2008 PIR day presentation by Bea McGarvey presented to the entire group of attendees was moved by Mark Brajcich, and seconded by Andy Beggar. The motion carried 5-0.

2. Some logistical things need to be tweaked, but in general a very successful day. Those participants who were rude should be addressed by building principals and superintendents. One particular school was mentioned in an evaluation as having had particularly rude participants. The superintendent of that school will be personally notified. Letting him know would give his administration an opportunity to address the problem.

3. All schools should be encouraged to have follow up meetings with their staff to pull out what that district could use and implement – and how. Follow through is imperative to teachers seeing the value in an in-service experience like Bea McGarvey’s.

4. Positives: Excellent content, 3 screens, audio system being hired-out

5. Suggestions to Bea McGarvey: When offering small group discussion opportunities, give more time – felt they were cut off just when discussions were getting good.

6. Idea: Purchasing Marzana books for schools so that administrators could use as staff development prior to Bea’s return.

6. March 3, 2008
1. Suggestions for speaker:
   Have Bea McGarvey address:
   Classroom Management that Works
   Classroom Assessment & Grading that Work
   Have Bea allot more time to table discussions

2. Location ideas

1. Billings schools are out – their lunch rooms may be available, parking would be good and perhaps we can contract with a party planning business to set up tables and chairs (lunchroom furniture too uncomfortable). Ideas of places to contact: West High, Sr. High, Skyview, Harvest Church (have large gym), and Faith Chapel.
2. If table facility not possible then need to find an excellent (comfortable, good acoustics, sound system, visual system – again one of the Billings High Schools or a large church facility. Problem with MSU-B – school in session so parking would be a nightmare. Findings to be shared at October Board Meeting.

7. Jerry participated in a conference call to set an agenda for an October 1 meeting with the Region III Resource Partners which will be held from 9 - 4 in the Lewis and Clark room of the MSU-Billings SUB. Jerry will attend, Al Sipes will try to attend and Jennifer Hickok plans to attend. It was suggested that those attending encourage CSPD to expand their audience beyond Special Ed. Perhaps to even consider coordinating their in-services with areas that ACE is working on such as Differentiated Instruction, etc.

8. Gail reported that the September 20, K – 4 Language Arts curriculum review went very well and that the teachers did an excellent job of spiraling course content in the areas of Reading and Writing from Kindergarten through 4th grade. The same group will meet again Nov. 8th to continue their work in Sp/List. and Literature.

1. At the Sept. 25 New Member Workshop there was a total of 29 participants: Broadview 1, Shepherd 9, Laurel 7, Lame Deer 2, Pryor 2, Red Lodge 3 and Joliet 3. Marlene, Jerry and Gail became very aware of the datedness of the Ten Sigma materials. They feel it would be worth ACE’s while to have them and anyone else interested in participating go through the materials and customize them to ACE. No action was taken on this suggestion.

1. It was reported by Gail Richardson that Microsoft has pulled the software that supported iAnalyze. This means that Measured Progress is presently developing a new program. New training will be necessary even though the new program would be similar in many ways to iAnalyze. iAnalyze will be continue to be available for use with the 2007 CRT results, but the 2008 will require the use of the new, yet unnamed, program.

1. The Board was reminded of the following upcoming dates:

1. October 4: Curriculum review for Health/PE and Guidance
2. November 8: Curriculum review for Lang. Arts K-4 continuation
3. ,January 17: Curriculum review for Language Arts grades 5 – 7
4. February 28: Curriculum review for grades 9 – 12
5. March 3: ACE PIR day

12. Discussion took place about the possibility of other meetings being held beyond the monthly Board Meetings. Suggestions included:
1. Board retreat to review and set goals
2. Principals’ meeting (no superintendents to attend) to share and review how ACE materials are being used, and to promote a healthy discussion on how we are doing, where would they like us to go? Thought late fall
   would be a good time – during MCEL?
3. No motion made – will give this area thought and readdress at October meeting.

13. Discussion took place on the 4-day school week and the necessity of holding extra curricular events on non-school days. Administration has to push AD’s to carry this message to the AD conferences/meetings.

14. Jerry requested the use of some of his travel budget to pay for plane tickets to go to the National Rural Education Conference in OK City. Cost is about $450. The County Supt. Budget will pay for registration and room and Board. The primary discussion by the Board centered around the question “How does this benefit ACE?” It was moved by Andy Beggar and seconded by Josh Middleton to deny the request. The motion was carried 5-0. Other alternatives are open for future evaluation.

15. The next meeting will take place on October 31, 2007 at 9:00 AM at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.

16. The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 AM.