ACE Board Meeting Minutes

February 28, 2006 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

Present were ACE board members Al Sipes, Dave Huether, Tim Dolphay, Bob Barnes, Andy Begger, Les Cabot, and Mark Brajcich.

Guests present were Josh Middleton and Brenda Koch.  Gail Richardson and Jerry Scott were also present for the meeting.
  1. Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:10 A.M. and dispensed of introductions since everyone knew one another.
  1. Dave Huether moved the approval of January 24, 2007 minutes as presented. Tim Dolphay seconded the motion which passed 7 – 0.
  1. The financial report was reviewed.
  1. Under correspondence the group was given information on the Rocky Mountain Regional Reading Conference that will be held in Billings on October 18 – 19, 2007.
  1. A handout containing the sessions and pre-registration numbers for the upcoming March 5, 2007 PIR day was passed out. Jerry and Gail reviewed the numbers and responded to questions. The Laurel staff will fix the lunches and bill ACE. ACE will in turn bill the $15 registration fee to those schools present. Jerry reported that Debra Miller, coordinator for Region III CSPD committed $1,000 towards the expenses for the Wayne Callender presentation. Debra indicated that CSPD would like to continue to partner with ACE for future training.
  1. Gail reviewed the February 10 Indian Education for All class. The group is required to attend the March 5 IEA sessions and will also meet May 5 in order to finish the project. Gail said OPI indicated that there were no grants available at this time for future work unless legislators budget for it. Gail will take 3 of the attendees for the April 12 – 15 IEA grant showcase in Helena.
  1. Jerry and Gail reported on the February 7 Roundup new member training. The group discussed the benefit of schools working with the ACE curriculum and participating in training opportunities.
  1. Jerry said everything is in place for the 8 members to attend the ASCD Annual National Conference in L. A.
  1. Jerry reported that 4 members attended the DIBELS essential institute and Mentoring institute held in Billings on February 20 – 23. He has not received any billing at this time. The board said ACE should only pay for the billing for the four approved attendees and not consider any others that attended. There was some discussion as to the use of DIBELS, MAP testing, AIMs Web, and others. The question as to the future of the Iowa exams was brought up as well. Andy Begger wondered when too much was too much when it came to testing. Those present shared what testing they are doing this year.
  1. A handout on the OPI Assessment Workshop April 23 – 24 was reviewed. The board felt we should wait for further information before committing anyone to attend.
  1. Information on a U of M Educational Leadership weekend retreat that is to be held in the Flathead area on April 27 – 28 was passed out to those in attendance.
  1. The board looked at dates for the August 2007 Administrator workshop and new member workshop dates. Dave Huether moved to set August 15 for the administrator workshop followed by the new member workshop on August 16. A second new member workshop will be offered on September 25. Les Cabot seconded the motion which passed 7 – 0.
  1. Josh Middleton reviewed the ten minute walk through workshop that will be offered at Laurel.
  1. The board visited about the work Jim Staab is presently doing with some of the A.C.E. schools. Al Sipes said Jim’s work at Columbus was outstanding and that Jim was able to tie together all of the schools data as well as getting the staff involved. The group felt that Jim could be a good resource for A.C.E. member schools. Al Sipes will ask Jim to do a presentation at our next board meeting on what he would envision for the consortium schools and how he might continue to help A.C.E. Mark Brajcich wondered what would happen if Jim were hired as a resource and then resigned for another job. Bob Barns said the time is over when schools can just sign off stating they are doing well without proof. Tim Dolphay questioned the time commitment in order to work with 40 schools. It was felt that Jim’s presentation would be a follow-up to our goal setting session as well as future work by A.C.E. It should include the possibility of a presentation at the August 15 administrator workshop.
  1. B. McGarvey will be the presenter for the September 10, 2007 A.C.E. PIR day. The group will continue to discuss March 3, 2008 PIR day ideas especially what might be a follow-up to B. McGarvey’s presentation.
  1. The board approved Nova Net to come to the March meeting in order to visit about work with the 40 consortium schools.
  1. The art and music curriculum review will be on March 15 at 9:00 A.M. in the meeting room above D.J.’s in Laurel. Gail has encouraged all ACE members to send a representative. Gail also reviewed the work done by some of the review groups, which included strands and a curriculum checklist. Although it is time consuming, she was willing to continue to work on checklists for other curriculum areas. Mark Brajcich wondered if this would be a question for a steering committee. Al Sipes said he could see where such a list could be a useful tool for the teachers because it would get them involved in the standards. Brenda Koch reported on how her school is developing a quarterly checklist for its teachers. Les Cabot felt A.C.E. should continue to do the checklists as curriculum areas are reviewed. David Huether stated that he felt it would be especially useful in the math and reading areas.
  1. The Bozeman Teaching American History Program brochure was reviewed and the board felt participation in the program should be up to each individual district.
  1. A letter from the Montana Small Schools Alliance on the March 5 Board of Public Education hearing on distance learning was presented. Al Sipes said he was going to Helena to testify at the hearing. Jerry presented a letter on behalf of A.C.E. opposing the rule change because it would limit the use of distance learning, some of which is already being used by the consortium schools. The letter was passed around for signatures and given to Al to present at the hearing.
  1. The board felt A.C.E. should continue with helping provide training for trainers by sending members to the Wee Can Write six trait writing conference in Portlans. Jerry will work out the details.
  1. Bob Barnes said he has always felt that the small schools in Carbon and Stillwater Counties should maintain a role on the A.C.E. board because they were the ones to originally form the consortium. He felt his philosophy was changing because of the involvement of some schools and non-participation by others. Bob said he has cherished his role on the A.C.E. board. Because of his upcoming retirement from education, Bob wanted to submit his resignation from the A.C.E. board effective at the end of this meeting. He also recommended that Josh Middleton be appointed to fill his position on the board. Dave Huether moved to accept Bob’s resignation and to appoint Josh on the board. Les Cabot seconded the motion which carried 7 – 0.
  1. The next board meeting will be held at 9:00 A.M. on March 28, 2007 in the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.
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