Additional Details

Board of Education Meeting

AGENDA

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

5:00 PM

John Milne Community Board Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Minutes of Board of Education Meeting

Albuquerque Public Schools

A Board of Education meeting of Albuquerque Public Schools was held Wednesday, October 2, 2013, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the John Milne Community Board Room, Alice and Bruce King Educational Complex, 6400 Uptown Blvd. NE.

I.      Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m.

A.     Color Guard Presentation Provided by the Eldorado Marine Corps JROTC

I.      Pledge of Allegiance / Moment of Silence

B.     Roll Call

Present: Kathy Korte, Lorenzo Garcia, Martin Esquivel, and Dr. David Peercy

Absent: Dr. Analee Maestas, Steven Michael Quezada, Dr. Don Duran

C.     Adoption of the October 2, 2013, Board of Education Meeting Agenda and Approval of the September 4, 2013, and September 18, 2013, Board of Education Meeting Minutes and the September 13, 2013, and September 27, 2013, Special Board of Education Meeting Minutes (Discussion/Action)

Dr. Peercy motioned for the adoption of the agenda and approval of the minutes.  Kathy Korte seconded the motion. Board members present adopted the October 2, 2013, Board of Education meeting agenda and approved the September 4, 2013, and September 18, 2013, Board of Education meeting minutes and the September 13, 2013, and September 27, 2013, Special Board of Education meeting minutes.

II.     Recognition of Students, Staff and Community

Cyndi Kuchera of Manzano Mesa Elementary School and Nancy Shelton of Petroglyph Elementary School, both formally of Tierra Antigua Elementary School and the students from Ms. Kuchera’s 2012-2013 Tierra Antigua third grade class were recognized for encouraging the city of Albuquerque to build a bus shelter at Rainbow SW across from Volcano Vista High School.

APS Counselors Brian Gabaldon of Atrisco Heritage High School, Megan Goodman of Eldorado High School, Rhonda Sandy of Volcano Vista High School, Laura Grossman, Victoria Reed and Susan McKee from the District Office were recognized for volunteering on the APS District Stress Management Response Team in response to a suicide during the summer.

A is for Art volunteers and Fine Arts staff were recognized for helping to create an extremely successful A is for Art experience for the students, families, schools and the community.

Special Presentation: West Mesa High School students, who in conjunction with Carlos Rey Elementary School participated in a high altitude balloon launch over the summer.

III.    Public Forum

The participant of public forum expressed concerns about the poor condition of the soccer field at Wherry Elementary School, and frustration with a reduction of available copying services considering requirements and lack of resources for teaching dual language programming and implementing Common Core curriculum,

IV.    Matters of Information

1. A. Superintendent's Report

Superintendent Brooks reported on the following:

• Participation in Double Eagle Elementary School mirror making crafts for the guests at the upcoming Council of the Great City Schools Conference
• Gratitude for the Fine Arts Department for coordinating the art creation and the Board Services Office, especially Brenda Yager for coordinating the Council of the Great City Schools Conference details
• Expected attendance at the conference
• Gratitude for Michele Tigelaar, APS’ grant writer/manager, for completing the Race to the Top application, which focused specifically on the lowest performing middle schools
• APS Community Clothing Bank, in conjunction with the Sheraton Airport Hotel and the APS Foundation, holding a children’s new underwear and new socks drive.
• Teacher town hall meetings throughout the district providing opportunities to explain the teacher evaluation system to teachers and answer questions
• Community town hall meetings for parents and families to learn about the new teacher evaluations, as well as presentations on testing and on graduation requirements

o   Introduction of new communication staff, Maralyn Beck, who will focus on social media efforts

B.     Board Member Comments

• Appreciation for the A is for Art event and its benefits, especially for the students participating
• Resolutions submitted to the New Mexico School Boards Association (NMSBA) with resounding support
• Concern for teachers with experience leaving the profession because they are upset and indignant about being accused of being bad teachers with the new evaluation system
• Gratitude for the town hall meetings, which has allowed for parents and APS education professionals to express their concerns
• Importance of everyone learning about the teacher evaluation system and the student testing and graduation requirements so that they can contact elected officials with their opinions
• Invitation to legislators and stakeholders to go to Town Hall meetings

C.     President's Report

President Esquivel stated that the A is for Art event was an excellent program and that he is looking forward to the Council of Great City Schools Conference.

V.     Special Issues

A.     Water and Energy Conservation Committee Update (Discussion)

Dr. Brad Winter, chief operations officer; Reuben Hendrickson, deputy chief financial officer: John Dufay, Maintenance and Operations executive director; Karen Alarid, Capital executive director, and Kizito Wijenje, Capital Master Plan executive director, relayed the following information about forming the Albuquerque Public Schools Water and Energy Conservation Committee:

• Challenged with creating a management plan built on strategies to reduce district-wide water and energy consumption
• 16-member committee, made up of utility and other community representatives, and APS employees
• APS spends about $50,000 a day for electricity, natural gas and water/sewage
• During the 2012-13 school year, the district spent more than $11 million on electricity, $3.8 million on natural gas and $2.3 million on water/sewage for a total of $17 million
• Plan will include a school engagement program and a public relations plan
• Results of monthly meetings of the group will share its recommendations with the APS Board of Education
• Previous projects are now being reviewed for possible inclusion
• Importance of teaching schools how to use facilities conscientiously

Discussion about this agenda item included:

• Inclusion of parents, teachers and students as members of the committee
• Consider Key Performance Indicators (KPI) when evaluating strategies
• Comparison of per square foot usage and cost to other school districts the same size
• Council of the Great City Schools’ knowledge base as a resource
• Cost of preventive maintenance
• Return on Investment (ROI) for education programs
• Balance of facility usage and opportunities for student learning

1. B. Parent University Update (Discussion)

Dr. Kristine M. Meurer, Student, Family, and Community Supports executive director, reviewed information about APS’ Parent University:

• Objectives-
• School administration role
  • Approve the parent engagement project for their school; with learned knowledge, the parents/guardians will work on a project that is approved by principal to increase parent engagement at the school
  • Parent University attendee role
    • Gain knowledge about APS and specific topics
    • Relay information obtained from Parent University to other parents at their school (i.e., parent meetings, newsletters, school website, community forums).
    • Lead a parent engagement project, approved by the principal, in their school
  • Benefits of Parent University
    • New Mexico Federal Educator’s Credit Union providing funding for projects in the five pilot elementary schools (approximately $500 per school, snacks/drinks for monthly meetings, mileage reimbursements, if needed)
    • District support providing a summary of the project, which will be productive and aligns with the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) grading system
  • Tentative schedule of course offerings
  • Pilot Schools

• Increase parent/guardian and student interaction
• Improve student outcomes through active engagement
• Develop a community of parents/guardians who understand Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) systems and decision making
• Support parents/guardians in navigating the educational process for their student
• Increase the percentage of families who feel they have access to quality school programs
• Provide parents/guardians with evidence-based knowledge, skills and resources to support their student’s education and increase student achievement
• APS Board of Education Goal #3, Family and Community Involvement strategy-creation of a Parent University to “meaningfully engage families and enhance partnerships with the community to maximize student achievement”

• Identify two parents/guardians and one alternate to attend monthly Parent University courses

• September-Orientation and Nurtured Heart Approach
• October-Health/Wellness/Volunteerism/Clothing Bank/School Supplies
• November-Truancy/Bully Prevention-Effective Discipline
• December-No Classes due to Winter Break
• January-M&O/Budget-Financial Literacy (Tax Preparation)
• February-Food Services-Healthy eating on a Budget
• March-Academics/Special Education/Bilingual Education-Test Prep, Homework
• April-Extended Programs:  After School and Summer School-Summer Programs
• May-Presentations of Parent Engagement Project/Graduation Ceremonies/Celebration

• Adobe Acres
• Barcelona
• Susie Reyes Marmon
• Eubank
• Inez

Discussion about this agenda item included:

• New staff to organize Parent University
• Pilot cohort model
• Parent University information for board members will be updated with the use of a binder
• TALL acronym for Teachers Advocates Learners and Leaders
• Sponsors and funding to support and create parent engagement  project
• Expected number of schools participating
• Number of students in each session
• Number of participants changes dynamics of the learning experience
• Planning and thought process needed for next steps to take the program to more participants and ultimately district wide.
• Learning the difference of involvement and engagement
• Important that students are aware that parents/guardians care about their learning environment and experience

VI.    Announcement of Upcoming Board Meetings

President Esquivel announced that the next Special Board of Education meeting will be held on Friday, October 11, 2013, at 7:30 a.m., in the DeLayo Martin Community Room and the next Board of Education meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at 5:00 p.m., in the John Milne Community Board Room.

VII.   Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

APPROVED: ____________________________

Martin Esquivel, President

ATTEST: __________________________________

Steven Michael Quezada, Secretary