January 24, 2007 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

A.C.E. board members present:  Al Sipes, Andy Begger, Mark Brajcich, Dave Huether, Les Cabot, Bob Barnes, and Tim Dolphay. 
Guest present: Luke Enemy Hunter, Jim Staab, Stephanie Long, Brenda Koch, Bill Schlepp, Fritzie Walker, Brent Bassett, Jennifer Hickok, Martha Young, Chad Johnson, and Al Buerkle.
Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were also present.

1. Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:15 A.M. and had everyone introduce him or herself.


2. Dave Huether moved to approval the December 20, 2006 minutes with the correction of spelling his name correctly. Andy Begger seconded the motion which passed 7 – 0.


3. Jerry reviewed the financial report. Bob Barnes moved to accept the report as given. Dave Huether seconded the motion which passed 7 – 0.


4. Correspondence from Janet Erickson and Bob Barnes were reviewed.


5. The March 5, 2007 PIR day plans were revisited. Luther school sent a letter to Al Sipes with a copy to Jerry Scott requesting they be considered for serving lunch for A.C.E. PIR days as a fund raiser for their 7 and 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. The board felt that Laurel groups should be given first choice. If no Laurel groups wished to serve then Jerry should contact the Luther group. Fritzie Walker will check with the Laurel groups and let Jerry know. Bob Barnes moved to have A.C.E. charge a registration fee in order to cover food and miscellaneous costs. Andy Begger seconded the motion which passed 7 – 0. Jerry will continue to work on the format of the day so information and registration can be sent to all members early in February. Information will also be posted on the A.C.E. web site.


6. Gail Richardson reviewed the Indian Education for All grant. She said all of the presentations have been very informative for the group. There has been a problem with some participants dropping out although they already paid for college credits from MSU-B. Gail reviewed the purpose of the grant explaining how the final product will be used. She mentioned that she would also be looking at the next grant opportunity for A.C.E.


7. Gail reported on the Social Studies Curriculum review held on January 18th. Over 40 teachers participated in the review. Along with curriculum revisions, the group also produced benchmarks for Indian Education for All. The final reviews will be placed on the mtace.org web site and new A.C.E. curriculum standards will be given to all member schools in August. Music and art will be reviewed on March 15.


8. Jerry reported that the September 10, 2007 B. McGarvey workshop will be held at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.


9. There will be 8 participating in the ASCD Annual National Conference: Heather Jarrett (7 – 12 grade family and consumer teacher from Absarokee), Kelli Brewer (9 – 12 grade English and Spanish teacher from Reed Point), Aubrey Miller (Principal and 6th grade language arts and math teacher from Harlowton), Janet Weston (5th grade teacher from Canyon Creek), Jennifer Tolton (3rd grade teacher from Canyon Creek), Marlene Deis (Elementary principal from Columbus), Ron Osborne (Middle School principal from Columbus) and Jerry Scott (A.C.E. director). Registration, travel and room arrangements are being made by Jerry. Everyone is responsible for his or her own meals. As agreed in the applications, schools will be billed 50% of the registration, travel and room expenses after those numbers are known.


10. Gail Richardson attended the Alberta Bair Theater workshop and reported that it was wonderful. The workshop focused on cause and effect showing how to use drama in the learning process. Those attending participated in an example of intertwining a lesson and activity. They were also able to observe the instructor doing a similar lesson with an elementary class.


11. A discussion on Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) took place. Al Sipes said he took the on line introduction of MAP on Tuesday and was very impressed. He said Columbus would switch from their present evaluation program to MAP next year. Al mentioned that it would cost less money than their present system and give them better data. He recommended others take the on line introduction. Columbus is willing to share the training costs with any A.C.E. school if they are interested. Perhaps a train the trainer could take place after the initial sessions. Stephanie Long said they use MAP and it gives the teachers instructional data to use in their classrooms. Martha Young said the data from MAP is also very helpful for new student placement, especially if they are already using MAP. Mark Brajcich was interested in MAP’s relationship with the state’s testing system. The group felt that A.C.E. should be able to help obtain such training by having 40 member districts negotiate a cost savings for everyone. This could also include NOVA NET training, which costs about $6,500 before a district can use it. Schools using NOVA NET explained how they are using as well as the success it is having in their schools. Laurel is using MAP and Fritzie Walker said they would be offering a workshop on how to use the MAP data in the classroom. It was suggested that an introduction to MAP and NOVA NET could be offered as a session at the March 5 PIR day.


12. A handout on a DIBELS essential institute and Mentoring institute to be held on February 20 – 23 was reviewed. The essential workshop on February 20 and 21 will address why use DIBLES, what the latest research is, how to link it with core components of early literacy and instruction, how it can help make educational decisions, and how to administer and score DIBLES. The mentoring institute will include the session on February 20 and 21 plus a two-day session to extend knowledge and train and support others. To be a mentor one has to attend all 4 days. Brent Bassett said DIBLES is very time consuming. Jennifer Hickok felt it is a good evaluation tool for little kids and wondered how it compared to primary MAP. The board felt it would benefit A.C.E. to sponsor some members to attend the mentoring session and continue with the philosophy of training the trainers. Andy Begger moved that A.C.E. pay for up to 4 people to take the DIBLES 4 day mentor training with the stipulation that they offer training to other schools in the future. Bob Barnes seconded the motion which passed 7 – 0. Jerry will create an application form that includes an administrator release time signature on it and send the information to all A.C.E. member schools.


13. Red Lodge librarian, Jamie Jones, sent A.C.E. a proposal to purchase Wilson’s Children’s and Junior High library catalogs, which all A.C.E. schools could then use. After discussion Andy Begger moved to deny the request with Dave Huether making the second. The motion to NOT purchase the catalogs passed 7 – 0. Jerry will inform Jamie Jones of the motion.


14. A list of top websites for elementary school teachers was distributed to those in attendance. It was suggested that the list be placed on the A.C.E. web site.


15. The next A.C.E. board meeting will be held on February 28, 2007 at 9 A.M. in the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.


16. Al Sipes adjourned the meeting at 10:45.