District Advisory Board Agenda

Monday, February 8, 2010

Rocky Mountain High School Media Center - 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Time Topic Presenter Pre-Meeting Material

School Site Teams
• Starting a school Ann Alfonso, Principal Bethke
Site Team Elementary
7:00-
• Re-energizing a http://tinyurl.com/yk29d2n
7:30
school Site Team Anthony Asmus, Principal
• DAB role within a Lopez Elementary
school Site Team

District Instructional
Committee Update Chuck DeWayne, Director of DE 1.1
• DE 1.1 Curriculum, Instruction and http://tinyurl.com/ye7qqj4
• New State Assessment http://tinyurl.com/ya8kehk
Standards
7:30- • Essential Learnings Kevin Hahn, Assistant New State Standards
8:45 • Summative Superintendent of Elementary Attached file -
Assessments Schools STANDARDS Explanation.docx
• Graduation
Requirements Manny Ortega, Assistant Graduation Requirements
• Literacy Adoption Superintendent of Secondary http://tinyurl.com/y8q8ye7
Update Schools http://tinyurl.com/ydrhbws

See email instructions below

Rob Petterson,
8:45- Internal Monitoring and attached file
Academic Sub-Committee
8:50 Report – DAB Feedback 20100124 monitoring
Chair
comments.pdf
Other
• District Committee
See the District Committee
8:50- Updates
Terri Sunset, DAB Chair table below and let me know of
9:00 • Board Update
any changes.
• Officers for 2010-
2011 School Year

Remaining DAB Meetings

Monday, March 8, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010

The meeting was called to order at 7:00pm. The minutes from the January meeting were approved.

Starting and Re-Energizing School Site Team

Ann Alfonso, Principal of Bethke, discussed the beginnings of her school site team and getting parents
involved as Bethke Elementary school was being formed. Prior to Bethke Elementary opening, she held
frequent coffee talks for parents of future Bethke students. She asked the parents what their “best hopes and
dreams” were for their new school. This question led to 2 and 3 hour meetings of parents sharing their views on
what they wanted to see in their new school. The coffee talks were held both during the day and in the evenings
to accommodate as many parent schedules as possible. She also talked with students about what they would
like to see in their new school. Parent and student surveys were sent out as well in an effort to get the broadest
participation possible. From those who attended meetings, she was able to recruit parents for SIT, PTO, DAB,
and the Boundary Committee. Her philosophy is that anyone who wants to participate is welcome to
participate. She has ended up with about 9 parents participating on the SIT team. This group has looked at:
• School goals
• Site decision making matrix
• Developed a school handbook
• Developed a homework policy
• Worked on school safety
• Used results from a school survey to help improve school climate
• Monitors student achievement
• Works on school budget issues

A question was asked about the Bethke wellness program. This is a program for students and staff. It
involves setting goals, silly games, good-natured healthy lifestyle competitions (healthy eating and exercise
competitions). There school does something called JAM, or Just a Minute, where the kids up and move for just
a minute. There is also a weight room in the school, there is a jogging club, also there are days where exercise
opportunities are available a few minutes before or after school. Additionally, the school is trying to move
towards sugar free holiday parties.

The attached document shares the timeline Bethke used as their school was being formed. Here is the
link to the Bethke website: http://www.psdschools.org/schools/bethke/

Anthony Asmus is the new principal at Lopez this year. The school site team started with 4 parent
members this year, and as of the last meeting they had 15 members. They began by working on what their
goals would be for the coming year in order to provide some focus for the group. While meetings are
advertised, word has also spread by parents that the SIT team is an opportunity to be heard and to provide input
to the school. Several programs the team has been working on this year are:
• Recognizing students for academics and behavior
• Fitness
• Pre-K reading club (once a week – for about 1.5 hours) also activities such as cutting/gluing,. This
program was started by Kindergarten teachers and is now expanding into two classrooms. This is
intended to help with the Pre-K to Kindergarten transition.
• School achievement
• School goals

The PTA is focused on helping teachers out. The SIT team has a different focus and parents appreciate
having their voices heard in working on the direction of school. There is a welcoming approach on the SIT
team and there is positive feedback from parents having a chance to be heard.
School improvement goals

DAB members asked what principals would like to see us bring to the SIT team and to the school. They
replied that two way communications are very important. It is important to bring information from the DAB to
the school and to listen to parents and staff at the school to bring information and concerns back to the DAB.
While minutes can be passed along, it is great to have a person give a report so further questions can be asked
and a better understanding gained. Terri suggested that a role for DAB members can be to help principals
understand what parents want to know and to help determine the role of parents on their SIT teams. For
instance, DAB members are welcome to invite DAB presenters or Board of Education members to present at
their SIT meetings.

Another question was raised about middle school SIT teams. Many agreed it was a whole different
world for parents. Middle school parents may get together outside of the larger DAB committee to further
discuss this.

The Lopez website is at http://www.psdschools.org/schools/lopez/

Graduation Requirements – Manny Ortega

PSD has been working to update high school graduation requirements to bring them in line with the Cap
for K, Colorado HB 5212 legislation. As they have worked through this process, they have worked with the
local chamber and business groups to ask the question: What does it mean to be post-secondary ready? They
have determined that this means being work force ready.
A subcommittee of six people created drafts of new graduation requirements which were taken to PSD
department chairs and then to the public. (They presented to the DAB several months ago.) Now that the
committee has completed its work, it is now being presented to us again.

A copy of the graduation requirements policy draft handed out at the meeting is at:
http://www.psdschools.org/documentlibrary/downloads/Superintendent_Office/Initiatives_07-
08/Graduation_Requirements/IKF-3_Graduation_Policy_Draft_01-20-10.pdf

The 21st century graduation requirements reflect:

• A standards-based education that incorporate Colorado state standards;
• Applied mastery of postsecondary and workforce-ready learning skills and content, as defined by Board
of Education Policy DE 1.0 and Colorado state requirements; and
• 240 credits, of which 180 are earned in required areas and 60 are earned in elective areas.

Key points in these requirements are as follows:

• Multiple pathways of study and career planning. This incorporates the idea that students seem to
perform better if working towards an interest. This offers career pathways and builds on the strengths of
the individual student.
• Core Credit Requirements. 30 math credits, 30 science credits, 40 language arts credits, 25 social
studies credits, 5 humanities credits, 10 world language or world culture credits, 10 fine and applied arts
credits, 15 wellness credits, 5 financial literacy credits, 5 economics credits, 5 career and post secondary
transition credits, and 60 elective credits.
• Graduation courses taught in middle school. Approved middle school courses will be available for high
school graduation credit if the student also passes the district assessment for that course.
• International Baccalaureate Diploma. A special diploma for those completing this course of study may
be awarded.
• Endorsements. Endorsements will be available for academic merit and postsecondary success in various
content areas. Some students will have the opportunity to earn an associates degree while still in high
school.
• Certificate Categories. Special recognition can be given to students for Civic Education or Meritorious
Service and a High School Certificate of Attendance will be available for some IEP students.
 Additional information regarding this process can be found at:
http://www.psdschools.org/psdinfo/leadership/majorinitiatives/graduationrequirementsstudy.aspx

Questions?

• Can students testing out of classes if they are already competent in a content area? This hasn’t been
discussed and is currently done on a individual case basis. This feedback will be passed along to the
Board of Education. Some of this may be helped by middle schools offering credit for high school
classes (especially in math and foreign language).

• Several parents expressed concern about foreign language in that either more should be required, or
about children already proficient in more than one language. As far as adding requirements, we don’t
want to put diplomas out of reach of kids who are already struggling. For students already proficient in
multiple languages, keep in mind that English speakers still take 4 years of English in high school.
Bilingual kids should still have content they can work on at higher level.

• Keep in mind that the Colorado Commisssion on Higher Education keeps changing standards on
admittance to Colorado colleges. This can be difficult to keep up with.

• Some parents asked why more than 240 credits won’t be required for high school graduation. PSD
students graduate with an average of 250 credits. Some kids barely scrape together the currently
required 220. 280 may be a better number for college admittance. 240 credits is in line with
requirements in educationally progressive states.

• What is the counselor to student ratio in PSD comprehensive high schools? Don’t have exact numbers
here, but is on the order of 1 counselor to 350 students.

• How can parents step in to fill this gap and have good information to advise kids? Will pass this on
within PSD, but also check out collegeincolorado.org .

Essential Learnings – Kevin Hahn

PSD put together a team to find the elementary essential learnings – basically a list of what students
should know as they move from grade to grade in various subject areas – to calibrate grade level expectations
across the district.

As this process was ongoing, new state standards were developed. The old state standards were very
vague. For instance, the reading standard for grades 1-12 was: “Read for a variety of purposes.” The new
Colorado State standards have much more specificity. We are trying to calibrate our essential learnings to the
new standards.

In the movement towards standards – every school must meet minimal standards for rigor and
expectations. Every school must meet the standards, but different schools may achieve this result by different
meanrs. For instance, and IB or Core Knowledge curriculum may have a different means to meet the standard
than a school following the standard PSD curriculum.
 Massachusetts has some of the clearest standards around. They not only say what the standards are, but
they show you what these standards look like. Colorado standards do say what the standards mean, but they do
not show what it looks like. You can see this for yourself by comparing the Massachusetts to the Colorado
standards:

Massachusetts Standards: http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html

Colorado Standards: http://www.cde.state.co.us/index_home.htm

Questions?

A suggestion was made to have some of the standards available in Back-to-School night folders so teachers and
parents could have a conversation about learning expectations.

Can PSD standards be higher than state standards?

Chuck DeWayne passed out several handouts describing the new state standards.

Elementary Literacy Adoption – Chuck DeWayne

Beginning this week, six elementary schools at a time will have materials available to review. There are
three programs which are finalists for the PSD elementary literacy adoption. Check with your principal to see
when the programs will be in your school. Please take the time to review these materials and let us know what
you think of them.
Additionally, Poudre School District will hold an Elementary Literacy Textbook Adoption Fair from
4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 11, at Timberline Church, 2908 S Timberline Rd., in room 202. This is
available as an alternative to reviewing the materials at your school.
There was a huge turnout of elementary school teachers (250 out of 800) who turned out to do an initial
evaluation of these literacy programs. This helped to narrow it down to three programs.
The new literacy program adoption will be implemented in PSD elementaries beginning this fall. Once
the adoption is decided upon, the plan for the rollout of the adoption will be determined.

Internal Monitoring Report – DAB Feedback – Rob Petterson

The Academic Subcommittee has been working to provide feedback to PSD on their internal monitoring
report. We welcome any additional comments by this Friday, February 12th. The Academic Subcommittee
will be meeting this Thursday at 11:15am at Timberline Church in room 204, you are welcome to attend
and provide input here as well. The Academic Subcommittee has also been looking at PSD science
curriculums.
The monitoring reports can be viewed at
http://www.psdschools.org/psdinfo/boardofeducation/policygovernancepolicies1.aspx .
Committee Reports
• Budget Advisory Committee – Debbie Bostak. This new committee has met three times in the last two
weeks. They will be distributing a survey between February 15th and 20th. It will be distributed to the
DAB e-mail list. A second survey is likely to follow 4-6 weeks after this. Jim Sarchet and/or Dave
Montoya will be at the DAB March meeting to further discuss the budget.
• Small Schools Funding – Tiffany Haag. This committee is in the process of holding forums to discuss
community values related to funding small schools. Two have been held, one more is scheduled at
Fort Collins High School on February 23rd at 7:00pm. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Whether
you are from a large or small school, this affects us all.
• Facility Design Feasibility Committee – Cathy Kipp, Tiffany Haag. This committee has made all its
recommendations and is working on the final report. Kevin Hahn will present an update to the Board of
Education tomorrow night and the final report will be presented to the board on February 23rd ath the
board meeting prior to the small schools funding forum at Fort Collins High School.
• Mill/Bond Committee – Rob Petterson. The Mill/?bond Committee will be determining what will be
asked for in the mill/bond election over the next couple of months. In April or May the Board of
Education will make the decision about whether to take the mill/bond to the voters in the November
2010 election. The current financial reality may affect what is asked for in the mill/bond. It could just
be maintenance of current programs.
• Calendar Committee. John Lynn is the DAB’s representative to the calendar committee. No meetings
have been scheduled by this committee since a single meeting in September. Because of confusion
about the meeting time, John missed this meeting, but talked with every person who had been there only
to find that it was a repeat of their August presentation to the DAB. He was also told no further
meetings are planned, we’ll let you know if they are. Concern was raised about the lack of information
coming out of this committee and the, consequently, the lack of input going into it. Several people also
voiced concern that the calendar should be planned further in advance to give families the opportunity to
make plans when their kids aren’t in school. The Calendar Committee is apparently presenting a
proposed calendar for 2010/2011 at tomorrow night’s school board meeting. No proposed calendars are
on the PSD website.

Board of Education Update – Tom Balchak

• Current relations with the Colorado Department of Education are as good as they have been in several
years.
• PLEASE attend the school funding forum on February 23rd if you have not yet had a chance to attend
one.
• The superintendent’s art show held last Thursday was excellent.
• We will get an update from the Feasibility committee at tomorrow’s BOE meeting.
• On the mill/bond issue, we need to figure out how to meet local needs and address constitutional
constraints. $12 million a year cuts for multiple years can really hurt PSD.
• There are several measures coming up in for a vote in November which could have dramatic negative
consequences for education. Tom is opposing all unfunded mandates, even ones where the reason is
something I really support. These are measures Tom is concerned about:
o Proposition 101: Repeal of Faster Legislation. Faster provided funding for road and bridge
repairs. This measure also seeks to reduce the Colorado income tax from 4.6% to 3.5%.
o Initiative 21: Amendment 61 and mandates that Colorado carry no state debt. It also severely
limits the ability of local governments to carry any kind of debt.
o Initiative 12: Amendment 60. This would sunset all de-Brucing measures. Amendment 60
proposes limiting how property taxes are raised and reversing recent tax laws which increased
taxes. Additionally it proposes cutting mill levies in half by 2020.