The Becker School Board held their first board meeting outside the school year Wednesday to discuss board goals, clarity survey data, a 2017 band/choir trip proposal and policy revisions amongst many other items.

 

Members of the school board spent a significant amount of time reviewing strategic goals for the 2015-15 school year.

 

One of the items for discussion was classroom instruction that is directed to foster critical thinking and creativity. The exit outcome for this topic was the have the students become self-directed learners, self-disciplined, autonomous workers and critical thinkers with a drive for innovation and problem solving.

 

The board said the clarity survey, which was administered to staff in the spring, would be used to measure this goal.

 

For grades 1-8, 10 and 11, a goal is to increase achievement by a positive Z score in reading and math comparing the actual to expected growth as determined by testing in the fall of 2015 to the spring of 2016  for NWEA and the spring of 2015 to the spring of 2016 for MCA.

 

The exit outcome for this topic is so the students will demonstrate proficiency of core academic standards.

 

The final goal was for the school board to develop a long-term operational strategy no later than May of 2015. It was noted an operating referendum — which provides a 10-year operational funding strategy — was approved by the voters in November of 2015.

 

The exit outcome for this topic is to maintain the financial integrity of the school district.

 

Ideas were discussed on what the board should do on implementing strategic goals presented for the current school year as well as the school years from 2012 to present.

 

Much of the talk was on how to assure the goals are being met through the years and making sure they don’t add to the list of goals which could cause the board to “lose focus” on the tasks at hand.

 

Goals for the 2017-18 school year include the district working to improve its ability to prepare for and respond to mental health challenges faced by our staff and students. 

 

Another goal is to develop a long term strategy for ensuring the school’s graduates are informed about and prepared for the changing job market. 

 

Creativity vs. Critical Thinking

In a couple graphs provided to school board members, students and staff were compared in relation to their creativity and their critical thinking by the use of technology in the classroom from years 2015 to 2016.

 

In the creativity chart, it was noted the creativity of students increased from 55% in 2015 to 68% in 2016 while staff’s creativity stayed relatively even (49% in 2015, 50% in 2016).

 

In the second chart, 79% of the students reported the use of technology in the classroom has enhanced their critical thinking as compared to 76% last year. Staff’s report remained the same (60%) from 2015 to 2016.

 

The school board’s consent agenda was approved Wednesday which included the May board minutes, disbursements, May financials, personnel, individual contracts, the approval of a student band/choir extended trip, gifts and a resolution relating to the termination of probationary teacher, Laura Posthumus.

 

The board approved the recommended first readings of policy updates that included adding gender to the list of protected categories in three policies — 102: Equal Educational Opportunity; 401: Equal Employment Opportunity; and 413: Harassment and Violence.

 

The policies presented showed “strike-throughs” of wording to be deleted  and underlined emphasis of sentences to be added in each policy.

 

A resolution was voted on   alternative facilities bonds in the amount of $2,970,000 issued to the school district in 2011 to fund health and safety projects.

 

The current principle is $2,170,000. 

 

This resolution gives Baird authority to monitor the market on the school’s behalf. When a savings of at least $200,000 can be achieved, the superintendent or director of business services are authorized to sign a bond purchase agreement, which secures the pricing until the resolution of the sale is approved at the next regular school board meeting. The savings will result in reduced debt service tax levy. 

 

The school board’s annual agenda schedules school board governance education in July. Possible presentations and topics include a futurist, demographer, technology, advocacy groups, staff, MSBA, etc. 

 

At a previous school board meeting, some members suggested it might be helpful to review when the school’s various debt levies expire. It would be appropriate for the board to select a topic so that arrangements can be made for the July (or August) meeting. 

 

Topics in the past have been policy governance (twice), goal setting, high school electives/scheduling and a discussion of board superintendent responsibilities based on a survey completed by the board and superintendent. 

 

The school board should also discuss potential areas for the 2017-18 school year based on the stakeholder input.

 

At the request of the school board, the TRAK committee discussed the school board stakeholder input relative to mental health services and the needs in the school district. They recommended: 1). More direct services (counselors and social workers) and 2). Expanding the wellness center model at the high school to the other buildings.

 

The executive council (principals, directors of curriculum and technology) discussed the TRAK recommendations. All are in agreement that there is a need for mental health support in the school district. The school board would like to analyze this need and potential solutions in more detail. A recommendation will be submitted at a future date for the school board to consider as a goal at their August 1 school board meeting.

 

The school board reviewed once again the stakeholder input information and noted any changes or updates.

 

The next Becker School Board meeting is July 11 at 6:30 p.m.