January 26, 2006 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center
- Call to order, introduce guests
Bob Barnes called the meeting to order at 9:05 A.M.
ACE board members present were Al Sipes, David Huether, Andy Begger, Les Cabot, Mark Brajcich, Tim Dolphay, and Bob Barnes.
Visitors present were Josh Middleton, Fritzie Walker, Jeff Bermes, Brenda Koch, and Martha Young. Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were also present for the meeting.
- Approval of December 28, 2005 minutes
After review, David Huether moved to approve the minutes with the correction of the date being December 21, not 28. Al Sipes seconded the motion, which passed 6-0.
- Approval of finance report
After review, Mark Brajcich moved to approve the finance report as printed. Les Cabot seconded the motion, which passed 7-0.
- Huntley, Northern Cheyenne (Busby) and Lame Deer workshops
Jerry and Gail reported the all three workshops went very well. They reviewed the schedule and responses received. Busby and Lame Deer now have all their ACE material except for the ten sigma rubric disks, which need to be ordered. Gail said she had some calls as to the extent of the ACE curriculum and reminded everyone that it is considered a bear bones skeleton course content to be covered by teachers. It is not intended to contain all areas that teachers at various grade levels or subject areas would address during a school year. However, the curriculum contains what ACE members feel is the necessary for students to be able to reach proficiency on the CRTs.
- Update on March 6 PIR day
Jerry said he signed and returned the contract with Jerry Mills. Jerry also visited with Doug Neihart, the Laurel principal, about the facilities and having a group provide coffee, juice and rolls in the morning and a lunch at noon. The cost would run around $10 per person. Jerry said during some of the PIR days ACE has charged a registration fee and asked the board if he should do the same for the March 6 PIR day in order to cover the cost of the food. Les Cabot moved to have ACE pay for the meal. Dave Huether seconded the motion, which passed 7-0. Jerry said a registration sheet would be sent out in the next couple weeks.
- Update on Dr. Levine for September 11, 2006 PIR day
Jerry reported that Dr. Levine finally responded to his faxes and saying that he could not come on September 11. Jerry mentioned that he has several names for speakers from past meetings and suggested a steering committee meeting be held to help decide both the September 11, 2006 PIR day and the March 5, 2007 PIR day. Josh Middleton said Laurel would be participating in both days and their facilities would be available for ACE to use. The board felt a steering committee meeting would be good in order to get more people involved with the direction of the PIR days. Jerry will set up and inform member school about the meeting. The board reminded Jerry that the PIR days next year should have a main speaker for a half-day with several other workshop opportunities offered at the same time. Member schools would be assigned so half of them would attend the speaker in the morning, and half choose from a number of other workshops offered. The two groups would then switch places in the afternoon with all sessions and the speaker repeating their presentations.
- Report on January 6 A – Z Curriculum meeting in Bozeman
Jerry passed out a printed report on the MASCD and A – Z meeting. Martha Young and Fritzie Walker are also MASCD board members and added to the discussion.
There was some of the discussion on AYP and if grades 3 –8 scores would be used or not. No one was able to say yes or no so Jerry and Gail will try to get the answer.
- Review the 5 year ACE curriculum review plan
Gail Richardson suggested that because OPI was working on Indian Education for All and Social Studies, ACE should move their curriculum review to next year along with the review of the science curriculum. The science review was moved to next year because OPI is redoing the standards. Gail suggested that ACE review music and art in February. It was brought out that Indian Education for All does not just apply to social studies, but to all subject areas. Fritzie Walker said laurel was going to align their textbook purchases to coincide with the ACE curriculum review. She felt ACE should go ahead with the social studies review in February. More discussion followed and Les Cabot moved that Gail set up the social studies curriculum review for February 9th at DJ’s in Laurel. Al Sipes seconded the motion and it passed 7-0. Gail said she would also revise the 5-year review plan for the next board meeting.
- Report on ACSD conference in Chicago April 1 – 3, 2006
Jerry said the registration, plane tickets, and rooms have all been reserved. The group will leave on March 30 and return on April 4. A schedule has been e-mailed to all those going. Jerry asked for permission to rent two vans for the groups use at the convention. The board instructed Jerry to make whatever arrangements needed.
- MASCD Textbook Exhibitor Fairs will be Jan 26 in Missoula and Jan 30 in Bozeman.
Jerry reported that he would be helping with the book fair in Bozeman. He felt that the book fair is a good opportunity for schools to look at a number of presentations from a variety of book publishers if they are looking at any adoptions for next year.
- MASCD June 12 – 15 Spring Conference
An announcement of the conference was passed out. Jerry asked if ACE could become a $500 sponsor of the conference, which would help MASCD plus give ACE some publicity. It was mentioned that ACE had been approached to sponsor several different things in the past and said no. Al Sipes moved the ACE not be a sponsor for the MASCD spring conference. Les Cabot seconded the motion, which passed 7-0.
- ACE summer workshops
The board was reminded that ACE offered 3 days of technology workshops in Red Lodge using Kirt Nell and John Hanson as instructors. Kirt and John received very high evaluations for all of their presentations. When asked about the attended for the workshops, Jerry said very few people went to them. Because of the number of other workshops and conferences held in the summer, the board felt ACE should limit their offerings to the September and March PIR days.