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Policy Governance |

School Board meeting summary, August 17, 2010

Enrollment update
Carole Nielsen, director of finance, presented an enrollment update for the 2010-2011 school year. Current enrollment projections indicate 9,649 K-12 students projected to attend Mounds View Public Schools this fall. The data will be monitored up until the start of the school year. For a chart of projected enrollments and average class sizes by school and grade, visit www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf07/EnrollmentProjections8132010.pdf. Another enrollment projection will be presented at the September 9 work session.
Readiness for school
Cabinet members reported on all aspects of school operations in preparation for the 2010-2011 school year, including transportation services, nutrition services, human resources, facilities, technology and communications. All support areas are ready to welcome students after Labor Day.
Summer projects update
John Ward, director of human resources and operations, and Chris Paquette, manager of maintenance and operations, presented an update on the conclusion of summer maintenance projects. Summer projects included improvements to Highview Middle School's pool, work on the Area Learning Center parking lot, resurfacing of the bus lot at Edgewood Middle School and replacing the roof at Irondale High School. Todd Hansen, building management supervisor, indicated that District facilities are cleaned and ready to host students for the 2010-2011 school year.
TIES contract
The Board approved a membership with Technology Information Educational Services (TIES) beginning 2010-2011. The District has been contracting with TIES for accounting and reporting of student information for the past four years. A membership in the TIES consortium will provide access to a number of advisory committees to help influence current and future services and will offer professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators at no additional cost.
Levy referendum
The Board adopted a resolution to seek renewal of the District's existing operating levy authority, which is expiring in 2011. The proposed referendum revenue authorization, which would be effective for taxes payable in 2012, would not result in a tax increase, rather it would simply renew the $532.54 per pupil that the District is receiving annually as part of the existing operating levy that expires in 2011. The question of renewing the general education revenue of the school district will be submitted to the qualified electors of the district at a special election, which will be held in conjunction with the state general election on November 2, 2010. If passed, the levy would be applicable for eight years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.
Student achievement and Annual Yearly Progress
Mary Roden, assistant director of assessment and evaluation, presented 2009-2010 student achievement results including data from NWEA Measure of Academic Progress and Minnesota Assessments: MCA-II and GRAD. The median performance at each grade level on NWEA MAP for math and reading shows District students perform one to three grade levels above national norms. Results also show that District students out perform their peers in the state when it comes to the percent of students proficient in reading, math and science. GRAD results show 95 percent of students are proficient in written composition, more than 85 percent are proficient in reading and more than 77 percent are proficient in math. For the full report, please visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf07/AssessmentResultsAug172010.pdf.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act recently reported 2010 results of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for Minnesota schools. Despite improvements to results in some categories, 2010 NCLB reports deem the District in need of improvement due to not making AYP for three years. Island Lake, Sunnyside, Bel Air and Valentine Hills elementaries, Edgewood and Highview middle schools, Irondale High School and the Oak Grove special education programs didn't make AYP. In subsequent Board meetings, administrators from these sites will share how they are responding to this information.
Summer work by teachers
RoAnne Elliott, director of curriculum and instruction, presented an overview of the summer curriculum projects and staff development activities. She talked about the more than 100 elementary, middle school and high school teachers who worked in collaborative job-alike groups this summer to revise curriculum and refine assessments. Many teachers also participated in courses taught by District Teacher Leaders.
Class rank
On June 22, 2010, the Board took action to eliminate class rank from student transcripts beginning with the graduating class of 2011. High school principals Julie Wikelius (Mounds View) and Scott Gengler (Irondale) presented the class rank implementation plan, which addresses all the details associated with the action to eliminate the practice of routinely displaying class rank on student transcripts. Wikelius and Gengler also talked about changes to the grade point scale. Beginning this school year, both high schools will move from a 12.0 grade point scale to a traditional 4.0 grade scale. The 4.0 grade point average scale is a more widely recognized academic measurement used by colleges and universities on admission applications. This conversion will not advantage or disadvantage a student's standing in their class.
Policy review
Policy EG-3113 - Student News Publications was presented for first reading. The Board waived the second and third readings and adopted the policy as presented. For details, please visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org/sb_policies.asp?DocID=349.
Thank you
The Board accepted, with appreciation, gifts from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign, Liz Guthrie, Shoreview Community Foundation, Julie Beckman, Helen Callaghen, Applewood Pointe, Cub Foods Arden Hills, Cub Foods New Brighton, Faith Christian Reformed Church, Hunger Solutions, MVEA, New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary, Rotary International District 5960, Turtle Lake School, Valentine Hills School, Residential Mortgage Group and Medtronic Foundation.
A look ahead
August 30, 6 p.m., work session
September 9, 6 p.m., work session
September 14, 7 p.m., regular meeting
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Enrollment update
Carole Nielsen, director of finance, presented an enrollment update for the 2010-2011 school year. Current enrollment projections indicate 9,649 K-12 students projected to attend Mounds View Public Schools this fall. The data will be monitored up until the start of the school year. For a chart of projected enrollments and average class sizes by school and grade, visit www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf07/EnrollmentProjections8132010.pdf. Another enrollment projection will be presented at the September 9 work session.
Readiness for school
Cabinet members reported on all aspects of school operations in preparation for the 2010-2011 school year, including transportation services, nutrition services, human resources, facilities, technology and communications. All support areas are ready to welcome students after Labor Day.
Summer projects update
John Ward, director of human resources and operations, and Chris Paquette, manager of maintenance and operations, presented an update on the conclusion of summer maintenance projects. Summer projects included improvements to Highview Middle School's pool, work on the Area Learning Center parking lot, resurfacing of the bus lot at Edgewood Middle School and replacing the roof at Irondale High School. Todd Hansen, building management supervisor, indicated that District facilities are cleaned and ready to host students for the 2010-2011 school year.
TIES contract
The Board approved a membership with Technology Information Educational Services (TIES) beginning 2010-2011. The District has been contracting with TIES for accounting and reporting of student information for the past four years. A membership in the TIES consortium will provide access to a number of advisory committees to help influence current and future services and will offer professional development opportunities for teachers and administrators at no additional cost.
Levy referendum
The Board adopted a resolution to seek renewal of the District's existing operating levy authority, which is expiring in 2011. The proposed referendum revenue authorization, which would be effective for taxes payable in 2012, would not result in a tax increase, rather it would simply renew the $532.54 per pupil that the District is receiving annually as part of the existing operating levy that expires in 2011. The question of renewing the general education revenue of the school district will be submitted to the qualified electors of the district at a special election, which will be held in conjunction with the state general election on November 2, 2010. If passed, the levy would be applicable for eight years unless otherwise revoked or reduced as provided by law.
Student achievement and Annual Yearly Progress
Mary Roden, assistant director of assessment and evaluation, presented 2009-2010 student achievement results including data from NWEA Measure of Academic Progress and Minnesota Assessments: MCA-II and GRAD. The median performance at each grade level on NWEA MAP for math and reading shows District students perform one to three grade levels above national norms. Results also show that District students out perform their peers in the state when it comes to the percent of students proficient in reading, math and science. GRAD results show 95 percent of students are proficient in written composition, more than 85 percent are proficient in reading and more than 77 percent are proficient in math. For the full report, please visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org/pdf07/AssessmentResultsAug172010.pdf.
The federal No Child Left Behind Act recently reported 2010 results of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for Minnesota schools. Despite improvements to results in some categories, 2010 NCLB reports deem the District in need of improvement due to not making AYP for three years. Island Lake, Sunnyside, Bel Air and Valentine Hills elementaries, Edgewood and Highview middle schools, Irondale High School and the Oak Grove special education programs didn't make AYP. In subsequent Board meetings, administrators from these sites will share how they are responding to this information.
Summer work by teachers
RoAnne Elliott, director of curriculum and instruction, presented an overview of the summer curriculum projects and staff development activities. She talked about the more than 100 elementary, middle school and high school teachers who worked in collaborative job-alike groups this summer to revise curriculum and refine assessments. Many teachers also participated in courses taught by District Teacher Leaders.
Class rank
On June 22, 2010, the Board took action to eliminate class rank from student transcripts beginning with the graduating class of 2011. High school principals Julie Wikelius (Mounds View) and Scott Gengler (Irondale) presented the class rank implementation plan, which addresses all the details associated with the action to eliminate the practice of routinely displaying class rank on student transcripts. Wikelius and Gengler also talked about changes to the grade point scale. Beginning this school year, both high schools will move from a 12.0 grade point scale to a traditional 4.0 grade scale. The 4.0 grade point average scale is a more widely recognized academic measurement used by colleges and universities on admission applications. This conversion will not advantage or disadvantage a student's standing in their class.
Policy review
Policy EG-3113 - Student News Publications was presented for first reading. The Board waived the second and third readings and adopted the policy as presented. For details, please visit http://www.moundsviewschools.org/sb_policies.asp?DocID=349.
Thank you
The Board accepted, with appreciation, gifts from Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign, Liz Guthrie, Shoreview Community Foundation, Julie Beckman, Helen Callaghen, Applewood Pointe, Cub Foods Arden Hills, Cub Foods New Brighton, Faith Christian Reformed Church, Hunger Solutions, MVEA, New Brighton/Mounds View Rotary, Rotary International District 5960, Turtle Lake School, Valentine Hills School, Residential Mortgage Group and Medtronic Foundation.
A look ahead
August 30, 6 p.m., work session
September 9, 6 p.m., work session
September 14, 7 p.m., regular meeting

