March 12, 2009
For Immediate Release
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MARCH STATE BOARD MEETING
The Kansas State Board of Education met on March 10, in Topeka, and March 11 at the Kansas State School for the Deaf, Olathe, and Kansas State School for the Blind, Kansas City. All members were present at the March 10 meeting. Eight members were present at the March 11 meeting. Ken Willard and Janet Waugh were absent as they are attending the NASBE Legislative Conference in Washington, DC.
The Board received a draft copy of the proposed Accident Prevention Course evaluation rubric. Under a change in regulation, the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), on behalf of the Kansas State Board of Education, must approve and monitor Kansas Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention courses that can be offered for insurance premium reduction. As a result, proposed criteria for review of such applications, including a rubric to determine whether or not the course and sponsoring agency meet the criteria, must be developed. Dea Lieber, general counsel for KSDE, reviewed the criteria, rubric and process for the approval with the Board.
Dr. Diane DeBacker, deputy commissioner of education, reviewed four charter school petitions with the Board. Three public schools and one private school submitted petitions for review. The petitions were reviewed on February 27, 2009. The review committee followed all required components established by the United States Department of Education (ED) and scored the petitions according to the State Board of Education (SBOE) approved rubric. The results of the review, findings and goals of each proposal were presented to SBOE. Based on the rubric, one of the four schools met the criteria and will receive funding. One school was close to meeting the rubric. One school was denied because Kansas law stipulates that charter schools be affiliated with a public school district. After discussion, Kathy Martin moved and Sue Storm to allow the two charters schools which, during the review process did not receive the minimum score to be recommended for funding, to resubmit their applications if all required steps can be accomplished within the acceptable time limit. (submitted and approved by their local boards in time to be reviewed and presented at the April Board meeting).Motion passed 9-0 with Ken Willard absent. The SBOE then directed Deputy Commissioner DeBacker to contact schools with this information.
Commissioner Posny brought back to the State Board the mission statement and four goals which the Board had discussed at the State Board retreat held last month. The SBOE voted 9-1, with Dr. Chappell dissenting, to accept the mission statement. On a 9-1 vote, with Dr. Chappell dissenting, they then accepted the four goals as discussed. Commissioner Posny and her staff will work on the objectives and strategies to achieve the goals and bring this document back to the Board next month for action.
Dr. Sid Cooley, math consultant at KSDE, introduced Pam Davis, gifted facilitator at Baldwin High School and coach of the 2009 Real World Design Challenge winners. The Real World Design Challenge is a nation-wide contest that put Kansas high school students alongside industry experts. The challenge focused on solving real problems currently faced in the engineering industry, specifically, fuel consumption and efficiency in an aircraft. Baldwin High School students Carson Barnes, Colin Busby, Colby Soden and Lauren Barnes provided an overview of their project to the Board. The Real World Design Challenge National event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, will be held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center located just outside of Washington, DC on March 20-22, 2009. The Kansas team will travel, all-expenses paid, to compete for the National Title.
Robin Harris, assistant director innovation and improvement team, updated the State Board on the integration of career and technical education into the academic standards. The work expands what was formerly known as vocational education to a broader and more comprehensive career and technical education system that uses the Career Cluster model.
It was moved and seconded that the Kansas State Board of Education set a public hearing on the proposed amendments to teacher licensure regulations S.B.R. 91-1-200, 91-1-202, 91-1-203, 91-1-204, 91-1-205, and 91-1-206 for Tuesday June 9, 2009, at 1:30 p.m. or as soon as possible thereafter, in the Board Room at the State Education Building, 120 SE 10th Ave., Topeka. Motion carried 8-0, with Ken Willard and Walt Chappell absent.
The Board received an update on the Federal Stimulus Funding package, the Governor’s Budget Amendment for FY 2010, the House Appropriations Committee and Senate Ways and Means Subcommittee budget recommendations and an update on the current budget status for KSDE for FY 2009, 2010 & 2011 from Dale M. Dennis, deputy commissioner of education.
Mr. Dennis then presented an update on holding virtual meetings.
The consent agenda was approved.
The Board met on Wednesday at the Kansas State School for the Deaf and the Kansas State School for the Blind for their annual visit to these campuses.
The State Board of Education then attended the Accessible Arts Inc. (AAI) Awards Ceremony.
Martin English, executive director of AAI introduced Jana Shaver, vice chair of the KSBE, who
had the honor of introducing the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award in Arts and
Disabilities, Irene Eisenbise. Mrs. Shaver read and presented the Board certificate to Ms. Eisenbise and
Mr. English presented the Distinguished Service award. Mrs. Eisenbise made remarks following the
presentation.
Martin then announced the recipient of the 2008 Educator of the Year in Arts and Disabilities, David Will, who could not be present. His award was accepted by a colleague. Following the presentations, guests were invited to a reception in the Brighton Recreation Center.
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