January 27, 2010 ACE Board Meeting
9:00 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center

Present were ACE board members Josh Middleton, Al Sipes, Andy Begger, Tim Dolphay and Mark Brajcich.
Guests present were Brent Lipp, Luke Enemy Hunter, Sandy Watts, Sharon Stands, Kay Faust, Bill Feyereisen, Jeri Heard, and Jennifer Hickok.

1. Chairman Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 9:10 A.M. having all introduce him or herself.

2. Andy Begger moved for the approval of November 18, 2009 minutes. Mark Brajcich seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

3. Under correspondence a thank you card was read from the Joliet business manager, Jeanne Carroll for the Christmas gift card presented.

4. The financial report was reviewed and is on file at the ACE office.

5. A letter of resignation from Les Cabot was presented. A slate of three was presented to the board to fill the vacancy. A ballot with Matt Torix, Jennifer Hickok and Terry Grant was distributed to the board. Upon review of the results, Andy Begger moved to appoint Jennifer Hickok to the A.C.E. board. Mark Brajcich seconded the motion, which passed 5-0. A thank you note and gift will be given to Les Cabot in appreciation for his years of service on the A.C.E. board.

6. Luke Enemy Hunter reported that the A.C.E. Indian Education for All grant he worked on was not approved by O.P.I. Luke said the reviewers reported that it was an excellent grant but only 15 could be approved. Josh Middleton said Laurel’s application had also been turned down. Luke will attempt to obtain the reviewer report and comments in order to incorporate it for the next round of IEA grants. Luke reminded those present that this grant would have been in addition to the IEA money already received by the schools. Al Sipes said that he has already used some of the Columbus IEA money to contract with Luke to work with his school.

7. Jeri Heard and Kay Faust reported on the A.C.E. 6 + 1 training. Working in groups was very effective compared to individual work. The participants liked the format of attending the workshop and being able to put into practice in their own classrooms what they had learned then being able to come back and report on successes and failures. Jeri and Kay stressed that 6 + 1 trait writing is not a curriculum but a necessary vocabulary for all subject areas. Andy Begger said he is looking at implementing it in his school. Both Josh Middleton and Al Sipes related how the incorporation of six trait works in their schools. The board thanked Jeri and Kay for their work and stated that this was the reason why ACE helps fund people to become trainers. ACE was given the participant evaluation reports from the workshop. Discussion on future workshops followed including the possibility of having the ACE trainers come into individual schools during early out days.

8. A handout of the preliminary schedule for the March 1, 2010 ACE PIR Day was reviewed. Jerry Scott reported that he was planning to distribute the registration forms by the second week of February. The main delay at this time is getting the presenters to send him their information. Room schedules for the day will be assigned as soon and the numbers are sent to ACE. Ace has already received funds to help with the Geneaux workshop and there are over 100 from non ACE schools planning to attend that strand. There will probably be over 200 after the registration forms are sent out.

9. Josh Middleton reported that Andrea Fisher said Jay McTighe is available to come for the September 13, 2010 ACE PIR Day. A contract has not been sent yet but the cost will be $5,000 plus expenses. Jerry reported that he has been in contact with the Faith Chapel and it is also available for use on that day. Maxine Mougeot from OPI will help coordinate the bus driver training for that day and a separate room at Faith Chapel will be set up.
   

10. The February 4 MAP testing training is set to go with both the morning and afternoon sessions full at this time. Andrea Fischer and Linda Filupla are the presenters.

11. ACE received four applications to attend the nationalASCD Conference on March 4 - 10 in San Antonio, TX. The applicants are Patrick Cates from Canyon Creek, Martin Old Crow from Lodge Grass Elementary, Jennifer Collins from Red Lodge High School, and Russell Blixt from Fromberg High School. Jerry Scott and Gail Richardson also plan to attend for ACE. Tim Dolphay moved to approve all six to attend the conference. Josh Middleton seconded the motion which carried 5 - 0. Jerry will make all of the arrangements for the group to attend.

12. Information on a June 22 - 24 ASCD conferences was mentioned and the board would like more information presented at the next meeting.


13. Gail Richardson reported that she has now completed the last curriculum reviews and put them on line at mtace.org. She mentioned once again that it would be best to review the workplace competencies after OPI has posted its essential learning skills. The board agreed with this decision. Gail inquired about ACE looking into an assessment phase, perhaps for our science curriculum. She has contacted a few ACE schools that already are working on this and wondered if she could coordinate some type of assessment piece that would be step by step for each grade level for the web site. Josh Middleton felt ACE should hold off because the national common core standards are now being discussed by Montana and the other states. He felt that assessment would be a part of that piece and more information would probably be available by the February 24 board meeting.


14. Jerry reported that he attended the SMART / CSPD Region III meeting on January 22 believing that the meeting was to discuss the role of both groups. Instead the day was spent on a team building exercise. Jerry said he left that day expressing that it is still important to meet as a SMART board and discuss the role and goals for both groups.


15. Next ACE board meeting will be held at 9:00 A.M on February 24th at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center. The meeting was adjourned at 10:35.