April 27, 2011 ACE Board Meeting
8:30 A. M. @ Billings Hotel and Convention Center
Present were ACE board members Mark Brajcich, Al Sipes, Tim Dolphay, Josh Middleton, Brenda Koch, Jennifer Hickok, and Andy Begger.
Carl Somers, Andrea Fisher, Gail Richardson, and Jerry Scott were also present.
- Call to order, introductions
Chairman Al Sipes called the meeting to order at 8:45.
- Approval of March 30, 2011 minutes
Brenda Koch moved to approve the March 30 minutes with Tim Dolphay making the second. The motion carried 7 - 0.
- Financial report
Expenses and receipts for the past month were reviewed. Jerry said he paid for one of the speakers for the March 7, 2011 PIR, but questioned the cost of the plane ticket for the second speaker and is waiting to hear from ASCD before paying that part of the bill. He reported that Jeanne Carroll, the Joliet clerk, arranged to have the ACE car insured through their agent. Jerry said he was able to obtain exempt license plates through Carbon County.
After a discussion on the funds and a possible 2011 - 2012 ACE budget, Jennifer Hickok moved to have the 2011 - 2012 ACE dues remain the same as the past year. Brenda Koch seconded the motion which passed 7 - 0. Jerry will mail the information and billing to ACE member schools.
- 2011 - 2012 PIR days
Andrea Fischer reported that Yong Zhao will be the main speaker for the September 12, 2011 ACE PIR day. Dr. Zhao will present to the K - 6 groups in the morning with break out sessions to be arranged for the 7 - 12 groups at that time. The two groups will swap in the afternoon. Josh said ACE was welcome to use Laurel High School for the professional development day. Dr. Zhao’s contract will be for $4,000 plus expenses. Bus driver training will also be offered at that time.
Andrea also said that Lisa Carter returned her calls and will be available for the March 5, 2012 PIR day if the board wanted to contract with her. Jennifer Hickok moved to contract with Lisa for the March 5 PIR day and Josh Middleton made the second to the motion which carried 7 - 0. Andrea will work with Jerry to coordinate the PIR schedule. Jerry will send the information to ACE member schools via email and regular mail as well as post it on the ACE web site.
- 2011 - 2012 ACE Clerk position
Jerry passed out information that Jeanne Carroll submitted to Al about the job she has been doing for ACE these past 21 years. Jerry passed out a proposed announcement for the position for the 2011 - 2012 school year. There were several suggestions made for the announcement and the board directed Jerry to work with Mark and Andrea and then send out the announcement within the next week.
- Technology consortium
Minutes and information on the consortium was passed out to those present. Jerry will post on the ACE web site the activInspire Summer Academies information Wendy sent him. Al Sipes said that the workshops are independent of ACE and no ACE funds would be involved. Jerry will also put the names and contact information of the ACE trainers on the web site. These trainers are the ones that ACE paid the training fees for and will be available to help individual schools and ACE with future training.
- MAP Testing
NWEA is working with ACE to have Judith Gap and Belfry be billed with the other consortium schools, thus saving them quite a bit of money. Jerry reported that Custer has indicated that they would like to start MAP testing during the next school year. The board felt that if there is only one school in need of the materials and training, then that school should be responsible for payment to NWEA. If there are other schools that would like to take the training, then ACE can help and the schools would share expenses as in the past. ACE pays the NWEA for MAP testing and then bills and collects those fees from the member schools that are involved.
- ACE Board positions
Josh Middleton and Brenda Koch will be taking a position with the Billings School District next year and submitted letters of resignation for their position as an ACE board member. Mark Brajcich moved to accept the letters of resignation with regret. Andy Begger seconded the motion which carried 7 - 0.
Josh and Brenda were presented with a clock and many thanks for their services on the board.
- MRESA3 meeting
Andrea informed the board about her visit with MRESA3 stating that she felt ACE should continue their partnership with the organization. She will also work with MRESA3 on their professional needs survey in order to obtain information for ACE. The Montana Regional Educational Service Area III (MREA3) was called SMART in the past. Jerry felt that MRESA3 is trying to become a more viable organization and has helped a number of ACE schools with IEA, science teaching, and technology along with other things. He also reported on his attendance to the April 18 MRESA3 board meeting, passed out minutes from the January 24 meeting, and information all present about the June 6 - 9 MSUB Summer Institute 2011 that will be placed on the ACE web site.
- Next ACE board meeting
The next board meeting was set for May 25, 2011 at 9:00 A.M. at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center.