November 28, 2007 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

ACE board members present: Andy Begger, Al Sipes, Josh Middleton, Dave Huether, Tim Dolphay, Les Cabot, and Mark Brajcich.
Guest present: Jennifer Hickok, Luke Enemy Hunter, and Brenda Koch
Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were present as well.

1. Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:05 A.M.

2. Dave Huether moved to approve the October 31, 2007 minutes as presented. Andy Begger seconded the motion which passed 6 – 0.

3. After review, Tim Dolphay moved to accept the financial report with Andy Begger seconding the motion. Motion carried 6 – 0.

4. The group discussed the location and other logistics for the March 3, 2008 PIR day. Jerry has contacted West High and their cafeteria is available on that date because Billings has no school. The cafeteria has 34 round tables that seat 8 each. Other tables and chairs can be put in the room as well. The cost is $50 for the first hour and $25 for each additional hour and proof of liability insurance is required. You can use the Billings school system food services or provide your own. ACE will use the same sound and projection service as it did for the September 10th PIR day. Jerry will visit the school and make sure the facilities will work. The registration fee was discussed and Les Cabot moved to not charge a fee for any ACE members and a $50 per person fee for non-ACE members. Dave Huether seconded the motion which carried 6 – 0. Times for the workshop will be 8:30 to 11:30 with an hour and half on your own lunch break for attendees. The afternoon session will be from 1:00 – 4:00. A conference call with Bea McGarvey and the board will be set up in ordere to discuss the format for the day. Jerry will send our pre-registration lists in order to get an idea of how many will be attending.

5. The Joliet clerk is checking on liability insurance for ACE. She will look into the cost of a rider in case A.C.E. is not covered under the Joliet policy. The board felt it was necessary for A.C.E. to be covered.

6. A sheet with the planned OPI curriculum revision schedule was distributed. Colette Bartow from OPI sent a message asking for nominations for participants in the revision of the K-12 Library Media Content Standards and the Technology Content Standard. The board asked if Gail wished to attend and she said A.C.E. has already reviewed these standards. Gail will continue to communicate with OPI and try to find out the 2008 – 2009 revision schedule.

7. Jerry reported on the last SMART (Southern Montana Alliance for Resources and Training) meeting. As required by the grant, SMART is currently working on a plan to provide Indian Education for All training and would like to utilize the A.C.E. Indian Education trainers. The board felt this would be up to the individual trainers and their school. The board also said that SMART would be responsible for any payments to the trainer and/or the schools.

8. Jerry reported that he attended the November 16th MASCD board and A- Z meeting in Helena. He said Tom Thayer did a presentation on his new Montana History book and materials. Those present at the meeting felt that the products still needed a lot of work and schools need to review the materials carefully before they plan to purchase. The Montana Historical Society is suppose to publish their new Montana History book early in 2008. Gail Richardson said she has previewed some of that work and it was very good. Jerry said that he heard a copy of the Historical Society book was suppose to given to every 6th or 7th grader in Montana at no cost to the districts. The Montana Educator’s Institute will be held June 10 – 12 in Helena with plans confirmed for a full day with Jay McTighe on Understanding By Design. Another presenter the group is looking at is Daniel Pink who wrote A Whole New Mind. Plans should be complete at the first of the year. MASCD will hold three book fairs where publishers do workshops on their materials. The dates and locations are: January 29 in Missoula, February 5 in Great Falls and February 13 in Bozeman. MASCD is also working on plans for a candidate’s forum for the Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction on April 3 in Helena.

9. Jerry requested that he be allowed to attend the Courage to Lead Retreat for Montana Educational Leaders on March 6 – 8, 2008 at Mountain Top Retreat out of Bozeman. Registration is $300 and there is a limit of 20 participants. Les Cabot moved to allow Jerry to attend, Mark Brajcich seconded the motion which carried 7 – 0.

10. The board set January 28 in Red Lodge for an ACE board retreat in order to discuss goals and objectives for the next 3 – 5 years. Jerry will make arrangements and let everyone know.

11. The board set January 23 at D.J.’s in Laurel as the date for a principal’s meeting in order to share and review how ACE materials are being used in member schools.

12. Next ACE board meeting will be on December 19th at 9:00 AM in the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 A.M.