| A
description of the meeting, who was there, action items and
the next meeting date.
Executive
Council Meeting Minutes
February 2nd & 3rd, 2006
Thursday,
February 2nd
Present:
Peter Evans, Laurie Singer, Frank Spencer, Madeline Young,
Lynn Coale, Joe Bowen, Rob Bliss, June Sargent, Dick Kraemer,
Steve Houghton, Dave Cobb, Debi Price and Judi Maynard Staff:
Ray Pellegrini and Bob Johnson Guests: Bill Porreca, Cindy
Elcan & Donna Diaz from Special Olympics; Tracy Gallo
& Bob Stevens from DOE
1. Welcome
– Peter E.
2. Dick
K. moved approval of minutes of November 17th, seconded by
Dave C. Approved.
3. Reports:
President’s
Report – Peter Evans passed out his report. The topics
included: High School Completion Advisory Committee; New Faces
in New Places workshop, Aspiring Principals workshop, Commissioners
Advisory Committee on Integrated Secondary Education and NASSP
Conference in Reno. There was a good follow-up discussion
on the Commissioners committee.
Middle
Level Symposium: Laurie S. gave an update of the
recent middle level symposium she went to on behalf of the
VPA. Each state met as a group and will develop a task force
for middle level issues. Laurie raised the issue of adding
middle school association dues onto our dues form.
Vermont
Education Leadership Collaborative – Laurie Singer
gave an update of her and Ray’s involvement with this new
group (VELC). She described the ‘rubric’ that is being developed
for the various levels of leadership.
NAESP
Report – Dave Cobb passed out his report. Topics
included: San Antonio conference; Communications; Advocacy;
Membership; and Regional Events.
NASSP
Report – Joe Bowen handed out his report. Topics
included: Release of Breaking Ranks in the Middle: Strategies
for Leading Middle Level Reform; New benefits to members;
90th Annual NASSP Convention; New Proposed bylaws of NASSP
and No Child Left Behind Task Force.
Federal
Relations Report – Madeline Young handed out her
report. She described the bleak nature in DC at this time
deal with funding. She will be attending the fourth annual
NAESP Federal Relations Conference later this month.
NFHS
Report – Steve Houghton handed out his report. The
topics included: NFHS financial policies manual; CSIET report;
Sports Medicine Advisory Committee recommendations; Executive
session on pending and existing lawsuits; approval for NFHS
citation awards and approval to go forward with T-Mobil program
which includes student leadership, ads promoting value of
high school sports and activities, the national event and
money to NFHS and states.
Committee
Reports
- VPA
Principals’ Institute Planning Committee: Laurie Singer
gave an update of the institute. We had the first of three
overnight experiences last week in which 38 people participated.
The two strands were High Schools on the Move and Differentiated
Instruction.
- Annual
Leadership Academy Planning Committee: Ray gave an update
of the strands that are planned for this summer. The hope
is to have the program finalized before the end of February.
- Executive
Director’s Report – Ray Pellegrini reported on
the following:
a.
Professional Development & Activities – Ray gave
an update on some recent highlights from the handout:
Aspiring Principals, Principals Institute and Regional
Meetings for Elementary Principals
b.
Draft of Revised Director of Development description
– Ray P. presented the draft of the revision. After
a brief discussion, moved by Dick K. seconded by Steve
H. and approved.
c.
Legislative Update – Ray P. presented a handout that
included some highlights of recent events at the legislature,
including: early education, integration of secondary
education, statewide calendar, etc. He then talked about
the support he hoped for on an early ed statement from
the Executive Council. He will give out copies of the
VSBA resolution and the discussion will continue after
lunch.
d.
Early Education discussion continued. Ray passed out
copies of the VSBA resolution and again stated what
he is hoping the council will support the memo that
will be based on the components of The VSBA resolution.
Dick K. moved the concept of the VSBA resolution with
the explicit inclusion of us being against only having
the funding for the at risk students. Debi P. seconded.
Approved.
e. Appointment of ASC candidates: Ray and Bob presented
information on the three candidates: Geoff Lyons, Mike
Redington and Deb Howard. Lynn moved and Frank S. seconded
the nomination of Mike Redington. Approved. Dave C.
moved Deb H. seconded by Dick K. Approved.
Director
of Student Activities Report – Bob Johnson asked
for questions based on his report. There were discussions
on a number of issues: 8th graders playing varsity, pitchers
and catchers, community high school, etc.
4. Guests/Discussion:
Special
Olympics – Unified Sports Program: Bill Porreca,
President, Donna Diaz, Director of Sports and Cindy Elcan,
Director of Programs presented information on their Unified
Sports Program. They are hoping that the VPA will endorse
Unified Sports.
What would
be expected from the VPA if we got involved. Bill responded
that he would like to see us promote the program to principals.
Possibly down the road there would be a partnership where
we run the activities together. Ray P. talked about his phone
call from Mike Savage, CT Executive Director who said that
their partnership in Connecticut was a win-win situation.
In Connecticut the association and Special Olympics co-fund
a position to run the program. According to Mike Savage, it
is mostly funded by Special Olympics.
Tracy
Gallo and Bob Stevens, DOE – HSOM-Bob Stevens handed
out a report. The topics included High School Summit, Middle
School Symposium in Rhode Island, Regional Elementary Meetings,
High Schools on the Move Excerpt, Integrated Secondary Schools,
Learn and Serve Grant. Tracy Gallo spent some time talking
about the committee work on integrated secondary schools.
Bob S.
then posed some questions to the group:
a. Should
we continue to develop workshops for K-12?
Advantages/Disadvantages.
Some
felt that it was a viable discussion. Others felt that there
were specific needs for their levels. Some felt it would
be hard to come to consensus on what should be studied.
b. What
are the needs at the Middle Level? Does VAMLE speak for
middle level.
More
training on differentiated instruction and RTI. Effective
models for DI for each subject area.
Is VAMLE
the voice? Mixed reviews.
c. What
are the needs at the Pre-K-4 level? Elementary?
Models
around access to mental health and physical health services.
How to make using student performance data and other indicators.
Positively promote finding out in ways that make sense to
kids.
d. Initial
reactions to a discussion about “rules and regs” for better
implementation of HSOM?
Bob
S. explained that in Rhode Island there are rules and regs
that implement a HSOM type program to force the issue. Laurie
S. said it should be through the School Quality Standards.
Dick K. recommended looking at NEASC standards to force
issues. He mentioned that a group of 35 educators can revise
the standards. Joe B. expressed the concerns of increased
expectations, increased costs and what is going to be taken
out if there are new expectations at a time when the Governor
and other want schools to control education spending. Teachers
are incredibly frustrated and overwhelmed. Compliance capacity
is an issue. Ray P. brought up the political aspects of
the process for changing rules and regulations.
Friday,
February 3rd
Present:
Peter Evans, Laurie Singer, Madeline Young, Lynn Coale, Joe
Bowen, Rob Bliss, June Sargent, Dick Kraemer, Steve Houghton,
Dave Cobb, Debi Price and Judi Maynard Staff: Ray Pellegrini
and Bob Johnson Guests: Nancy Thomas from VCSEA and Tracy
Gallo & Bob Stevens from DOE
1. Guest:
Nancy
Thomas, VCSEA
a. Roundtable
Meetings: Laurie and Nancy have been working on this format
and are planning these events regionally to discuss topics
of mutual importance between Special Ed Directors, Principals
and Superintendents. People thought this would be a good
idea, and certainly the discussion of RTI seems current.
They will pilot one meeting in the Montpelier area. Peter
E. recommended that teacher leaders be included in these
discussions. Curriculum Coordinators may also be invited.
b. RTI-The
federal law says you can’t require schools to use the discrepancy
system for learning disabilities. Therefore RTI is permitted.
The state is working hard to get information out. The state
has selected four elementary schools as pilots, and they
have a checklist of where people are in readiness to try
RTI. The checklist includes types of reading programs the
school has, a way of doing regular checks of kids’ progress.
Continual progress monitoring is the biggest challenge in
this process. Then, once we know, what are we going to do
if they are not making progress. There was a discussion
about the three tiered process; both opportunities and challenges.
June mentioned the work they have been doing at Mt. Abraham
for the past year.
c. HQT
for Special Educators – Special Educators have received
letters stating what is on record for their credits. Nancy
feels that there is a great deal of confusion based on what
is or what is not included in the letters. It is very complicated
compared to regular ed. Schools will report out on the educator
census. Nancy recommends that the Special Ed Administrator
be a part of developing the census. She is concerned about
the lack of clarity in the communication from DOE. This
becomes both an assignment and support issue. Ray recommended
that the ESA’s be included in the regional discussions or
that they be met with to discuss helping with the professional
development needs for Special Educators.
d. AYP
for students with disabilities: There will be an increase
of identified schools due to increased testing (3rd through
8th) increasing sub group accountability. There was a short
discussion on the out-of-level or alternative testing.
e. Project
Groups: Nancy mentioned that Anne Bordalano from DOE has
formed groups of Sped Administrators to work on the above
topics.
Tracy
Gallo suggested that we have to think about a structure
that works. She asked what the best way to get information
out so that people know it is important. Judi cited the
written report that she and Bob handed out yesterday as
a good way to stress highlights. It could be emailed with
links. Have clear headings of who it is for (ie. Principals,
superintendents, etc.)
2. Gear-Up
Grant: Ray reported that the VSAC grant came through
and $40,000 per year for six years has been allocated. ideas:
mentoring, leadership academy, cognitive coaching, differentiated
instruction . We will meet at the VPA office on Feb. 13th
at 1:00 PM
3. Unified
Sports – Special Olympics: Ray and Bob recommended
that we endorse and promote their programs because of the
compatibility with our mission of working with all children.
Motion by Lynn C and seconded by Joe B. Approved.
4. Strategic
Plan Status Report – Ray and Bob gave brief comments
about the status report of the strategic plan.
5. Executive
Director Evaluation templates - Ray handed out two
forms: the input form that Executive Council members would
fill out and then the compilation report that Peter would
fill out. Dave Cobb recommended having a range of scores in
the categories instead of just the average. Ray will clean
up the forms and they will be sent out to the council members.
6. VPA
Brochure - The council reviewed the draft brochure.
7. Upcoming
Meeting Dates
- March
30th , 10:00 am-3:00 PM, Chamberlin School, South Burlington
- May
2nd – Holiday Inn, South Burlington
- 10:00 am EC Meeting
- Noon-joint lunch with ASC
- 3:00 PM – Annual Meeting
- Hall of Fame Dinner (optional)
- August
1st (optional)-Principals awards given out after the opening
dinner at the Annual Leadership Academy, Killington Grand
Resort
- August
9th and 10th-Summer Retreat, 10:00 am start on the 9th,
place TBA
8. Other
Warning
about Myspace.com website. It has very explicit pictures on
the website. It was suggested that the warning be put in the
News for Parents and the e-newsletter. Some kids are blogging
very negative profiles about teachers.
9. Executive
Session - Personnel Matter Dick K. moved and Joe
B. to go into Executive Session.
After
coming out of Executive Session, it was moved by Dick K. and
seconded by Steve H. to adjourn. Approved
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