Board Meeting Dates

I.

Call to Order

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of September 11, 2013, Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting (Discussion/Action)

II.

Consideration for Approval of the 2014-15 Alternative Calendar and Process (Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Diane Kerschen, Raquel Reedy

III.

Family Engagement Procedural Directive (Discussion)
Presenter: Carrie Menapace

IV.

Update on the Standard Based Assessment (SBA) Retakes and End of Course Exams (Discussion)
Presenter: Shelly Green, RoseAnn McKernan, Eddie Soto

V.

Update on the Truancy Prevention/Intervention Pilots (Discussion)
Presenter: Kristine Meurer, Ph.D., Executive Director, Student, Family and Community Supports

VI.

Future Items (Discussion)

VII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Wednesday, November 13, 2013, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo-Martin Community Room.

VIII.

Adjournment

I.

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 5:05 p.m. by Chair David Peercy.

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of September 11, 2013, Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting - Lorenzo Garcia motioned for approval of the agenda and minutes as amended.  Kathy Korte seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

II.

Consideration for Approval of the 2014-15 Alternative Calendar and Process -
Diane Kerschen presented. The alternative calendar has been approved in eight elementary schools for several years.  Following the process, the administration presents it to the community for approval each year.  Discussion followed in regard to the number of school days.  This calendar has the same number of instructional days as the traditional calendar school.  The schools begin their year in July and have a fall and spring intersession.  The spring intersession is connected to the traditional calendar’s Spring break.  The remaining vacation days and snow days are the same as the traditional calendar and school ends on the same day as the traditional calendar.  Ms. Kerschen also said there was no difference in regard to testing, etc.  Dr. Analee Maestas motioned for approval.  Lorenzo Garcia seconded the motion.  All were in favor.

III.

Family Engagement Procedural Directive - Ms. Carrie Robin Menapace presented.  The committee had been given a document that contained all the changes discussed and the “crosswalks” document presented at the last board meeting.  The suggested changes from the communities were included and the cultural diversity section was changed. The cultural proficiency section will be part of a separate procedural directive and will be included as a cross reference in this procedural directive.   The procedural directive will be posted on line and will be rolled out to the schools in January.  Dr. Duran thanked the staff and all that had contributed; he also expressed his gratitude to the organization, Families United.  Dr.  Maestas also thanked all for working through the process.  Discussion followed.  Dr. Maestas commented that she had attended the first session of Parent University; she would be interested in knowing how this procedural directive would be incorporated into the Parent University.  Dr. Kristine Meurer responded that the program was a pilot, and they would be taking input. Mr. Lorenzo Garcia thanked Ms. Menapace for working on this and said he also appreciated the community’s work.  He is hoping that they translate into measurable objectives and would be interested in hearing how everything was going in a few months. Given all that has to been done, they should be able to measure the progress.  Dr. Peercy suggested a few minor changes.  Ms. Menapace said the procedural directive would be polished, translated and uploaded onto the website.

IV.

Update on the Standards Based Assessment (SBA) Retakes and End of Course Exams - Shelly Green, chief academic officer, presented.  She went over the new credit requirements and explained how they had changed and what was now required to graduate. Credits have been based on the year the student enters high school. Discussion and questions followed.  Ms. Green said the testing requirements also had changed.  A discussion on the End of Course (EoC) exams followed.  Ms. Green explained that the Standards Based Assessment (SBA) tested reading, math and science and the testing would be done at the beginning of March.  This school year the SBA would be a bridge assessment, getting ready for the PARCC or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers tests.  Currently the PARCC does not count. Questions followed in regard to the proficiency scores, subjects and cut scores.  Ms. Korte asked for information as to how many seniors were required to take the two tests and the cost.  Dr. Maestas asked to see the information by schools.  Ms. Green said it cost from 12,000-15,000 dollars to pay teachers to grade the End of Course Exam retakes and the Public Education Department would eventually have an EoC exam for each grade level.  Ms. Green said the most concern was that students do not have an alternative to testing to show competence for graduation.  The EoC is the primary method.  Discussion on the alternate demonstration of competency tests and tests in regard to special education followed.  A report has been created in AIMS that indicates a pass or fail in order for counselors to determine if a student needs to retake any tests.  Ms. Green went over the different parts of the report and the parent notifications.  Dr. Duran commended all in the midst of this transition and thanked the Research Deployment and Assessment (RDA) Department.

V.

Update on the Truancy Prevention/Intervention Pilots –Dr. Kristine Meurer, executive director of the Student, Family and Community Supports Department, presented.  She introduced Ms. Linda Pearson who is a truancy social worker, Mr. Tony Watkins, truancy coordinator, and Ron Romero, truancy director.  She began by saying they were beginning to roll out the truancy pilots, which are robust and complicated.  The “robo” calls reporting absences are still happening and after the fifth absence things start happening.  They are doing data collection and have a partnership with the Policy and Research Department at the University of New Mexico in order to get a report.  She went over the pilot process and spoke about the volunteers and the forms required; the program requires many staff hours.  Ms. Pearson presented examples of the makeup of the parent/student face-to-face meetings.  Comments and questions followed.  Dr. Maestas suggested looking at the community schools model.  Dr. Peercy said he liked the positive reinforcement approach.  Mr. Brooks commented that the City of Albuquerque was working with their seniors to volunteer and were paying for their background checks.

VI.

Future Items – Dr. Peercy asked for an update on Cultural Proficiency.

VII.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - the next meeting will be held Wednesday, November 13, 2013, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

VIII.

Adjournment – the meeting was adjourned at 6:34 p.m.