Board Meeting Dates

Additional Details

District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

AGENDA

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

5:00 PM

DeLayo Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Minutes of the District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

Board of Education

Albuquerque Public Schools

A District and Community Relations Committee meeting of the Board of Education of Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) was held Tuesday, October 23, 2012, beginning at 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE.

I.          Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:00 p.m.

1. A. Roll Call

Present:  Paula Maes, Analee Maestas, Martin Esquivel, Lorenzo Garcia, and David Peercy; by phone were David Robbins and Kathy Korte

Absent:  There were no members absent.

1. B. Adoption of the October 23, 2012, District and Community Relations Agenda and the Approval of the September 25, 2012, District and Community Relations Minutes (Discussion/Action)

Chairman Lorenzo Garcia asked for a motion to adopt the agenda and approve the minutes.  Dr. David Peercy made the motion; Dr. Analee Maestas seconded the motion.  Board members unanimously adopted the October 23, 2012, District and Community Relations agenda and approved the September 25, 2012, District and Community Relations minutes.

II.         Public Forum

There were no participants in the public forum.

III.        Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council (SuperSAC) Report

Joseph Escobedo introduced SuperSAC students Mirinisa Stewart from the Career Enrichment Center (CEC), and Manuel Marquez from the Early College Academy.  The students shared that the topic for the first SuperSAC meeting of the year was bullying; more specifically, how and why it happens as well as ways to prevent it.  The students attribute bullying behavior to human nature, trying to fit in, and standing up to other bullies.  Suggested deterrents include a friendly, helpful environment at the school, staff involvement in social media guidance (outside of school), heavy consequences, zero tolerance, promoting positive behavior, peer encouragement for positive behavior, and anti-bullying clubs (already in place in several schools).

Joseph Escobedo shared that the SuperSAC meeting was recorded and is available for anyone who would like to listen.  SuperSAC students will be assigned to attend future meetings and encouraged to ask questions.

Committee members agreed to address the following:

• Establish clearer guidelines on the social media policy to include teacher or parent oversight;
• Communicate to students about the measures APS is taking to circumvent bullying behavior.

SuperSAC students were asked to provide input in the following areas:

• How technology in the classroom is working or not working;
• Encourage leadership at their schools;
• Do surveys on:
  • Who a student would turn to if they are being bullied
  • Where a student would go to get information about APS’ prevention efforts.

Mr. Marquez invited board members to a meeting of the Mayor’s Advisory Council on October 27 at 2 p.m. at UNM (he will e-mail the details).  The purpose of the meeting is to improve the literacy of the state, specifically Albuquerque.

IV. Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. of New Mexico (ABC),

Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), Central New Mexico College (CNM),

and Mayor Berry’s Office Partnership for an Inaugural Vo‑tech Program

Monica Armenta, executive director, Communications, shared that Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. of New Mexico (ABC), Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), Central New Mexico College (CNM), and Mayor Berry’s Office are partnering together to offer a vocational-technical program that will introduce high school students to skilled construction trades.  Ms. Armenta introduced Carla Kugler, program coordinator with Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., and announced they would like to take committee members on a virtual field trip through a video presentation.  The initial offering brought in 19 students who were eager to take advantage of curriculum not available at their schools.  The program takes place two days a week.  Interested students should talk to their counselors.

The dual credit program for juniors and seniors counts for four CNM credits. Unlike many dual credit programs, there is no accuplacer score required upon entry and it is available to students from any high school.  The curriculum is nationally recognized and accredited through National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) and focuses on basic safety, construction math, introduction to hand tools/power tools, construction drawings, basic rigging, basic communication skills, basic employability skills, and introduction to materials handling.  ABC hopes the program will increase student interest in construction, reduce the student drop-out rate, and enhance the employment opportunities in the construction industry after graduation.

Discussion clarified that the program would not be feasible as an online program because it offers a lot of hands-on.  Classes are kept to about 20 students.  The District and Community Relations Committee was asked to help publicize the program to students for next year.

Superintendent Brooks shared that Roxanne Rivera, President of Associated Builders and Contractors, New Mexico Chapter offered APS the use of a facility on 4^th Street for this purpose.  APS has begun discussions with real estate, automotive, construction, health systems, law and other venues to offer different apprenticeships.

District and Community Relations Committee members were supportive of creating a long-term, sustainable plan for vocational education as an extension of APS’ academic purview, a mentorship training program, and bringing in community partners that can hire students into those fields.  It also presents an opportunity to work with charter schools.

V. Consideration for Approval of Race to the Top District Level Competition

Submission

Shelly Green, interim chief academic officer, and Michele Tigelaar, grant manager/writer, presented the first round submission for the Race to the Top (RTTP) District Level Competition.  The main pieces of the grant include:

• The APS (Accelerated Progress for Students) Center
• Professional Development
• Technology and Assessment Tools
• Early Education Efforts
• Secondary Education Efforts

Ms. Green recommended that the District and Community Relations Committee consider approval of this first round submission.    APS has yet to hear back from the New Mexico Public Education Department on the submission.  Discussion clarified that APS has continued to make improvements and that PED does not have the improved version.  Improvements include a commentary referencing more to community and teachers, family engagement policy, truancy and absenteeism (selected as one social economic indicator), and edits.  The RTTP committee and the Research, Deployment, and Accountability (RDA) Department are looking at subgroups and developing targets to address the achievement gap more effectively.  Ms. Green and Ms. Tigelaar stated that the application is a living document that can be tailored yearly; improvements will continue to be made and input is welcomed.

District and Community Relations Committee members requested the following revisions be made to the application:

• Add the names of the schools targeted for renovation to page 29 and how they will be renovated (include designs);
• Add how Promethean white boards will be utilized for teacher training;
• Add an explanation about the SIG grant that APS has had, its components, and what has been learned through it (show collaboration with union and state, and address the teacher evaluation system);
• Correct the typo on page 119;
• Reword page 182 to state that an upgrade to a centralized server is needed rather than 73 schools are not on the APS network.

Discussion addressed sustainability of funding to implement and support common core and clarified that the budget will be reprioritized going forward to direct funding into those areas that are yielding positive results.  RDA is refining the baseline numbers.

Chairman Garcia asked for a vote to approve the grant application; Dr. Maestas made the motion; Dr. Peercy seconded.  The vote was five to zero to approve the first round submission for the Race to the Top grant.

VI. Consideration for Approval of Nomination to the Leadership New Mexico

2013 Local Government Program

The Local Government Leadership Program is an educational partnership among a number of organizations, including the New Mexico Association of Counties, the New Mexico Municipal League, the New Mexico School Boards Association, and Leadership New Mexico, with the goal of developing and enhancing leadership capabilities of government officials while fostering a higher level of civic and community concern and participation.  The dates for the 2013 sessions are March 7-9, 2013, in Santa Fe and April 17-19, 2013, in Albuquerque.  It would require a commitment to the full number of days, tuition, and hotel for two nights.  The deadline for receipt of applications is December 3; if nominating two, consider one male and one female.  Leadership NM will make the final decision as to who will attend.

Brenda Yager made the recommendation that the District and Community Relations Committee consider approval of a nomination to the Leadership New Mexico 2013 Local Government Program to represent Albuquerque Public Schools.

Marty Esquivel made the motion; David Peercy seconded the motion.  The District and Community Relations Committee unanimously approved participation in the program.  Dr. Maestas and David Robbins expressed an interest in attending.

VII.      Next District and Community Relations Committee Meeting

Chairman Garcia announced that the next District and Community Relations Committee meeting would be held on Tuesday, November 27, 2012, at 5:00 p.m., at the Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

VIII.     Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:39 p.m.