Board Meeting Dates

I.

Call to Order

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of February 12, 2014, and March 12, 2014, Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting (Discussion/Action)

II.

Consideration for Approval of the Proposed Additions and Modifications for the  2014-2015 Student Behavior Handbook.(Discussion/Action)
Presenter: Toby Herrera

III.

Presentation on Non-Compliance Activity Fund Procedural Directive (Discussion)
Presenter: Don Moya - Chief Financial Officer

IV.

Presentation on Principal Evaluation (Discussion)
Presenter: Shelly Green - Chief Academic Officer

V.

Future Items (Discussion)

VI.

Announcement of the Next Policy Meeting - The next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2014, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

VII.

Adjournment

I.

Call to Order

Present: Dr. David Peercy, Dr. Analee Maestas (via phone), Lorenzo Garcia (via phone until 5:10 p.m. then present) Dr. Don Duran (via phone).

Absent: Kathy Korte, Steven Michael Quezada., Martin Esquivel

A.

Adoption of the Policy Agenda and Approval of the Minutes of February 12, 2014, and March 12, 2014, Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting (Discussion/Action)

Dr. Maestas motioned for approval of the agenda with the removal of agenda item III.  Mr. Garcia seconded the motion.  Board members Maestas, Garcia, Duran, and Peercy voted to adopt the agenda with the change.  Board member Garcia was not present for this vote.  The minutes were not available for review and approval at this meeting.

II.

Consideration for Approval of the Proposed Additions and Modifications for the  2014-2015 Student Behavior Handbook.(Discussion/Action)

Mr. Herrera stated that a review of the APS Student Behavior Handbook occurs annually.  Six  items were presented for approval:

1. Update new Board of Education positions
2. Request to move transfer process to the month of January, so that principals may have information sooner.  Dr. Peercy suggested changing the text to “January 1 – 31 of next school year” so that updates do not need to happen each school year.
3. A new policy is proposed that addresses student parents that will allow 10 days of absences and more if there is a statement from a physician.  Dr. Peercy asked if this was an additional 10 days.  Mr. Herrera clarified: 10 days of excused absences if for the care of a child and an additional four days with documentation.
4. Request to include e-cigarettes in glossary, including that they are not allowed on campus by adults or students and consequences for use or possession.  Dr. Maestas asked if there is any literature going out to students in regards to e-cigarettes.  Leslie Kelly, director of Counseling, informed that information on e-cigarettes is covered in health classes and is distributed by crossroads counselors.  Mr. Brooks suggested that Dr. Meurer could send out information to all students that e-cigarettes will be treated as tobacco under school policy.  Ms. Kelly offered to prepare a draft to be presented to leadership.
5. Update centerfold matrix of the handbook to include e-cigarette consequences.  Dr. Maestas expressed support for addressing e-cigarettes due to the growing negative impact on students.  Mr. Garcia commented in regards to the Parent Involvement Program that since not every school has a Parent Involvement Program, schools may not have a particular program to offer.  Dr. Duran commented that all high schools have access to the Parent Involvement Program.  Dr. Peercy suggested the word “program” should be spelled out rather than abbreviated.
6. Cyber Bullying is now included under bullying.  Dr. Peercy commented that cyber bullying and the bullying information only talks about bullying of one person.  He requested information on how bullying of targeted groups is handled.  Leslie Kelly responded that the definition does refer to individuals, and each situation, even group situations are evaluated on an individual basis, until identified as a group.  The definition only changes in cyber bullying because one event can go viral and touch a lot of lives.  Toby Herrera stated that if it is a civil rights issue it must be reported to Equal Opportunity Services.  Mr. Garcia said there was such a distinction between individuals and groups and recommended that a statement in the handbook be included that says bullying of any group will not be tolerated because the district supports the equal treatment of any individual and/or groups.  The district has a commitment to cultural proficiency and the idea is to communicate that students treat each other well.  Mr. Brooks asked if there is anything in the handbook on hazing, initiation, etc.  Mr. Herrera said in the athletic handbook it indicates that hazing or initiation is not allowed.  Dr. Peercy asked for any further comments and thanked Mr. Herrera for adding those important components and explanations.

A motion to approve the changes to the Student Behavior Handbook was not offered at this time because this agenda item will be addressed at a future Board of Education meeting for approval.

III

Presentation on Non-Compliance Activity Fund Procedural Directive (Discussion)

This agenda item was removed from this agenda and will be presented at a future meeting,

IV

Presentation on Principal Evaluation (Discussion)

Shelly Green, chief academic officer, presented information on the new principal evaluation process that is being used this year.  This information was received from New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) meeting on February 26, 2014,  A presentation to APS principals was conducted on March 24, 2014. The last window for observations is April 15, 2014, but most information for principals on teacher evaluations will not be available until May 1, 2014.

Issues discussed regarding this agenda item:

Mr. Garcia asked if principals will self-report if they do not complete the observations on time.  Concern was expressed that a list would be printed in the newspaper.  Mr. Brooks stated that the evaluations go into the APS personnel file and are confidential.  Dr. Peercy suggested that the NMPED needs to know this is not a good model.

Antonio Gonzales, principal at Atrisco Heritage Academy; Amy Marr, principal at Jimmy Carter; and Chris Sanchez, principal at Kit Carson, were asked to comment on their experiences with teacher evaluations and the new principal evaluations.

• Antonio Gonzales thanked board members for the opportunity to comment on their experiences with new teacher and principal evaluations.  Principal Gonzales expressed concern about the principal evaluations being open to unlimited submission.
• Amy Marr, a first-year principal, commented that conducting teacher evaluations as a first year principal is stressful, but it is a large part of her evaluation. She also shared the concerns regarding the principal evaluation system.
• Chris Sanchez, a second-year principal, stated that Kit Carson Elementary School received a school grade of D last year and has been stagnant for seven years.  He commented on spending two to four hours a day just to do teacher evaluations and concerns about explaining anomalies.

Dr. Peercy asked about strategies when the observation is high and the value added model is low.  Chris Sanchez responded that scores have hovered between 27–32 percent proficiency because it will take time for teachers to become proficient.  Ms. Green added the observations are based on the work they are doing in classrooms this year and the student achievement is based on previous three years.  Dr. Duran asked if APS had a teacher questionnaire for principals that was part of prior evaluations and is still part of principal evaluation.  Ms. Green responded that the questionnaire is anonymous now and results will be received months later, but it is not part of the NMPED evaluations. Dr. Duran commended the three associate superintendents who work with principals so tirelessly and Superintendent Brooks for his continued support of teachers and principals.  Dr. Peercy reassured the principals and teachers that this is a NMPED model of evaluation and APS should consider coming up with its own evaluation.   Mr. Garcia felt that the district should not put itself in a liable position.  Mr. Brooks responded that it has been discussed that APS have its own evaluation system, but it creates double the work for principals, and the amount of work already has increased tremendously.

Dr. Peercy commented that the message from APS to teachers should be that we can’t do anything about data, only the observations.  Observations should be a basis for what teachers are doing and an opportunity to give constructive feedback.

Mr. Garcia expressed concern regarding the possible loss of good teachers due to the stress of dealing with the evaluations.  Antonio Gonzales responded that there is anxiety amongst principals regarding the summative form due to be available May 1, 2014.  Young teachers are overwhelmed, but it is also overwhelming for seasoned teachers having to spend too much time meeting a check mark.

Dr. Peercy suggested that teachers should be informed that observations are a positive tool.

V.

Future Items (Discussion)

There were no future items presented at this meeting.

VI.

Announcement of the Next Policy and Instruction Committee Meeting

Dr. Peercy announced that the next meeting will be held Wednesday, May 14, 2014, 5:00 p.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room.

VII.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.