Board Meeting Dates

I.

Call to Order

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of July 10 and August 14, 2012 (Discussion/Action)

II.

Legislative Conversation with the Honorable Rick Miera (Discussion)
Presenter: Representative Rick Miera

III.

Consideration for Approval of APS Student Transportation Services request for a Temporary Transportation Boundary Agreement for the 2012-2013 school year between the Albuquerque Public Schools and the Bernalillo Public Schools (Discussion/Action)

IV.

Emerson Common Core Magnet School Update  (Discussion)
Presenter: Raquel Reedy, Ellen Bernstein, Denise Brigman

V.

2013 Graduation Requirements (Discussion)
Presenter: Shelly Green, Eddie Soto

A.

Pathways to Graduation for Students with Disabilities (Discussion)
Presenter: Shelly Green, Anne Tafoya

VI.

Consideration of Approval of New Board of Education Policy I.12 Instructional Credit Acceptance (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Carrie Robin Menapace and Shelly Green

A.

Review of Procedural Directive(s)

VII.

Instructional Audit Update (Discussion)
Presenter: Carrie Robin Menapace

VIII.

APS Board of Education Participation in a Meeting by Means of a Telephone or Other Similar Communications Equipment (Discussion)
Presenter: Carrie Robin Menapace

IX.

Consideration for Approval to Convene in Executive Session Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act NMSA 1978 (§ 10-15-1 (H)(7)) for the Purpose of Considering Legal Action regarding Negotiated Agreements (Action)

X.

Reconvene to Open Session

XI.

Statement of Closure

XII.

Future Topics: Various topics will be presented as time allows.

XIII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo-Martin Community Room.

XIV.

Adjournment

I.

Call to Order – the meeting was called to order at 5:03 p.m. by Dr. David Peercy, chair.

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of July 10, 2012, and August 14, 2012 – Kathy Korte motioned for approval of the agenda and minutes.  Analee Maestas seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

II.

Legislative Conversation with the Honorable Rick Miera - Representative Miera told the committee if they had any questions on the budget he would try to answer them.  He said it would be interesting to see how the legislature worked this year with all the new seats.  He said the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) and the Legislative Education Study Committee (LESC) would be working together. They currently were working on the evaluations and also looking at a different Fine Arts funding formula.  They have invited superintendents to discuss this issue. Another issue was the charter schools who have a definite advantage as they will qualify as small districts.  There are  11 new charter school applications on the horizon.  They will take a bigger bite out of the appropriation.  Rep. Miera asked questions about the credit requirements for graduation and if the word had gone out to the schools and students.  He asked about online courses being taken at the last minute.

Dr. Peercy opened it up to the board for questions. Questions and discussion followed around the following topics:  Teacher evaluations, A to F Grading, graduation requirements/on-line courses/ dual enrollment; audits affecting the budget; the achievement gap; monies around evaluations and student testing.  Discussion took place regardinghow the role of the PED needs to be redefined since there seems to be more guidance/rules but inadequate implementation.  Rep. Miera said the LESC did rely on Mr. Brooks and APS for communication of educational issues .

III.

Consideration for Approval of APS Student Transportation Services request for a Temporary Transportation Boundary Agreement for the 2012-2013 school year between the Albuquerque Public Schools and the Bernalillo Public Schools - Dr. Brad Winter spoke saying this agreement has been brought before the board every year since 2001. Kathy Korte motioned for approval.  David Robbins seconded the motion.  All indicated they were in favor.

IV.

Emerson Common Core Magnet School Update - Raquel Reedy introduced Ellen Bernstein of the teacher union, Clint (Tee) McDougal, assistant principal and Denise Brigman, principal.  They shared what was happening at Emerson beginning in March.  Ms. Reedy said they looked at the different schools.  After comparing the schools they saw the test scores at Emerson were 19 percent in math and 16  percent in reading (this school year the scores were 16 percent in math and 12 percent in reading) the lowest in the district.  They looked at individual students and what they saw was the staff was working very hard but the students were not improving.  They spoke to Ellen Bernstein who had some concerns.  Emerson did have a large mobility rate.  Ellen said they had pulled pieces from different work that had been done.

The idea was if collaboratively they could work together, they could focus on closing the gap.  They are now committed to the Common Core State Standards and have expanded them to fifth grade.  Ms. Brigman spoke about the hiring of a new teaching staff.  Teachers had to be TESOL and ELL endorsed; they have all levels of teachers.  Their open house had 490 parents in attendance; they are very excited the community is coming back.  The teachers are saying students are motivated and willing to learn. Board members had questions in regard to the constant mobility and if there was a plan to keep the students/parents engaged around the Common Core.  Also, if they had the capacity for translating and what the long term plan would be.  Mr. Brooks said he had spoken to the Gates Foundation and also had started conversations with Sandia Labs.  He also had asked Ellen Bernstein to expand the model in the Southeast.  Ms. Korte asked that they also look at our middle schools. Dr. Peercy asked for an update after the first semester.

At this time the committee decided to table agenda items VIII and IX. All agreed to defer these two items.

V.

2013 Graduation Requirements – In order to receive a high school diploma, students in the Class of 2013 and beyond must earn 25 credits and pass the New Mexico Standards Based Assessment (SBA).  The SBA will serve as the high school exit exam for the first time this year, replacing the New Mexico High School Competency Exam. Shelly Green, interim chief academic officer, went over the new requirements and the differences.   A discussion followed in regard to the Alternative Demonstration of Competency (ADC).  Ms. Maestas asked questions in regard to English Language Learners (ELL). Ms. Green explained about the SBA test scores.

A.

Pathways to Graduation for Students with Disabilities - Shelly went over each pathway:  Standard Pathway, Career Readiness Pathway and the Ability Pathway.  Discussion followed.

VI.

Consideration of Approval of New Board of Education Policy I.12 Instructional Credit Acceptance – Carrie Menapace presented.  She said this new policy gives the superintendent direction to create standards and requirements that students must follow in order to have an instructional credit from a non-APS educational organization accepted for purposes of graduation.  The board members expressed concern and had questions.  Mr. Esquivel asked what was being done to prevent students from taking a course/test online at the last minute to receive credit in order to graduate and also asked if a student could possibly attend the APS eCADEMY and make up a grade in two weeks. Ms. Menapace explained the procedural directive and indicated that eCADEMY already had some things in place to prevent this. Other questions from the committee were about home schooling and universities in and out of state.  Discussion followed. It was decided to defer this policy and procedural directive to the next committee meeting.

A.

Review of Procedural Directive(s) – Ms. Menapace asked that the committee send questions to her, if any.

VII.

Instructional Audit Update - Carrie gave an update.  The New Mexico Public Education Department identified schools as priority, focus or strategic in addition to assigning schools a letter grade.  Instructional audits are required for specific categories of schools.  Nineteen APS traditional schools and locally-authorized charter schools are required to undergo an instructional audit led by the New Mexico Public Education Department prior to submitting the final Web Educational Plan for Student Success (WebEPSS).  Fifty two APS traditional schools and locally-authorized charter schools are required to undergo an instructional audit led by the district prior to submitting the final WebEPSS to the State. Ms. Maestas asked if there were any comments back from community or parents in regard to questions they are getting.  Dr. Peercy said they would be giving regular updates in regard to the audits.

VIII.

APS Board of Education Participation in a Meeting by Means of a Telephone or Other Similar Communications Equipment – This item was tabled.

IX.

Consideration for Approval to Convene in Executive Session Pursuant to the Open Meetings Act NMSA 1978 (§ 10-15-1 (H)(7)) for the Purpose of Considering Legal Action regarding Negotiated Agreements – This item was tabled.

X.

Reconvene to Open Session – see item IX.

XI.

Statement of Closure – see item IX.

XII.

Future Topics: Various topics will be presented as time allows.

XIII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 9, 2012, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

XIV.

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m.