a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
a strong voice for kids 2nd Congressional District
BURNETT: [No report.]
HUDAK: In hope of keeping with Stanford's "law" on the inverse relationship between a Board member's loquaciousness and the length of their term remaining, I vowed to try to keep this report short. To help in that end, I submitted in writing a review of my quarterly visits as the Board's liaison to the Colorado Council for Library Development and the State Advisory Committee for Gifted and Talented Education. I mentioned that I had attended a seminar sponsored by Jefferson County Administrators' Association entitled "Breaking the Silence: The Truth About the Effect of Racism on Student Achievement" which covered a study of black students in California revealing that it is a student's race, not socioeconomic status, that affects achievement; the highest-performing black students were often lower than the lowest-performing white students, regardless of poverty or affluence. I reported that the Colorado School Finance Project will be unveiling its Adequacy Report in January - an analysis of how much it costs to provide an "adequate" standards-based education. I thanked the Alliance for Quality Teaching on its good work giving our Board input on the rules for principal preparation and commended them on the colloquia on teacher quality that they have been conducting. I attended the CASB conference last week and was particularly impressed with the workshop presented by McRel on the "national dialog" on standards-based education. I continue to be impressed with the excellent work going on in the HR-1 subcommittees. I referred to the editorial in The Denver Post entitled "Cheating Tomorrow's Citizens," which lamented the fact that CSAPs being in reading, writing, and math is causing schools to put less emphasis on social studies at a time when Americans are "woefully behind" in knowledge of geography and history and when our country needs people with "a basic understanding of the world around them." Finally, I spoke about how much I will miss Gully Stanford, today being his last SBE meeting. He has been seated beside me at Board meetings for two years, providing a strong guiding hand - and at times also a hand over my mouth, so to speak - and has been a mentor that means more to me than I can put into words. I will miss him terribly.
ORR: Came across some interesting facts about the SBE in 1958: there were 5 members then; 7,500 teachers had a degree and 2,800 didn't; salaries averaged $4300; there were 929 school districts. When Stanford came on the Board, Orr had been on for two years. They've had their differences, but Orr's belief in his maker has given him the strength to have the respect for his colleagues. Stanford always came to meetings prepared, and his humor is outstanding. Wish he could learn more from him. When the Board was under attack, Stanford "would always circle the wagons with us." Stanford has always done the right thing for children and schools. Presented him with several books as a good-bye gift, including one on "The Pageant of Colorado."
POLIS: Has been an honor to serve with Stanford, who has been a great inspiration and mentor. Stanford has character and eloquence, if not brevity, and will be missed; leaves some large shoes for his successor to fill. Will frequently avail himself of Stanford's wisdom. This is an interesting time for the state with the recession. Thanks to Amendment 23, education funding is fairly safe, but there is a possible threat. Question of how we can maintain the long-term fund. The Governor's proposal is fiscally prudent. Many districts are not secure and continue to face budget crunches. We had a terrific pass rate on bond issues in the recent election. Attended the CASB conference - it was good to visit with the men and women across the state who govern the districts. Commended Pam Suckla's presentation on the School Land Trust, along with the people from Utah who came in to help with that. We need to ensure that the Trust grows over the years. CASB passed the same resolution as the SBE passed, and other organizations, thanks to Karen Gerwitz. It's difficult for people to take on a long-term mind-set, a legacy that will make a huge difference in 50 years, but not 5 or 10 when we are still in office. If we do the right thing now, hopefully in the future they will look back and thank us. We will be joined by two new members, expanding to an 8-person board.
STANFORD: It has been an exciting month for the momentum for education reform. As we heard in our Work Session yesterday, things are going well to align with NCLB and in the new rules for principal licensure; kudos to CDE staff for their work, as well as the Regional Service Team people. Had a most enjoyable and informative time at the CASB conference. There was a high level of awareness and collaboration on major issues. Three items for Board's attention: (1) Jo O'Brien's remarkable update on data collection and analysis. We need to be sure to protect and promote longitudinal analysis as in our accreditation. The Legislature might push to economize and stop going towards this. Jo had a wonderful phrase about "not just value-added, but value-needed." (2) Regarding our priority of closing the achievement gap, the Cherry Creek School District did a wonderful workshop on closing the gap in the north area of the district where there is a palpable gap. They are modeling the specificity of closing the gap. (3) There was a good workshop presentation on data anaylsis from the Harrison School District. In the field, the implementation and adoption of strategies for goals of accreditation going very well. The Academy School District is eager to present to us the work that they have done in this area. The Online Education Task Force continues its work; they will be talking about accountability and access in the coming meeting, and their full report is due in February. Complimented Eric Feder and his colleagues from CDE on that. THANK YOU to colleagues for the extraordinary privilege of serving on this Board. It's been delightful, and occasionally mind-boggling. Colorado has come together to say that education is #1. Hope we'll look at it as lifelong learning in pay attention to early childhood as well as higher ed - so we don't operate in a vaccuum. Nice to see the coalitions that have developed with libraries, higher ed, etc. - there really is a convergence. Glad to have had the opportunity to work with us. To the staff of CDE and SBE, could go on too long thanking everyone. Thanks to Moloney for the collaborations and achievements that have taken place on his watch; they haven't always seen eye to eye on the strategies, but have established a clear vision to do whatever we can for all students. As online learning blurs the lines, remember that the way we get the job done is by serving the needs of our students. Doesn't believe this organization has ever had such a balanced and effective team. Final thought, that of Hickock, "mister NCLB himself," who stood up in the Seawell Ballroom during the ELC conference, after observing performances of students from Columbine High School and Denver School of the Arts: "This is the best that the students of this country can aspire to." The willingness of CASE, CASB, CEA, and legislators to help members of this Board is why we've come through with good legislation and rules. It's been a delight to be able to see it play out in his own children's schools. Has a responsibility to the SCFD in 2004. Board Relations staff make it a pleasure to do SBE work.
SUCKLA: CASB conference is always good and seems to always get better. Hope Ann Fattor enjoys her semi-retirement and wishes well for the new president, Jon DeStefano. Looking forward to the upcoming CASE conference. Commends Karen Gerwitz for "jumping in with both feet" on the School Trust Lands issue. Met with the three ladies from Utah who we consider the national experts on this issue. They work for the Utah Department of Education, but also help do research on the issue nationally. As Board members, we all come here with an agenda, and hers is Trust Lands, which it's been since Amendment 16 passed. Commended Stanford for working for years very hard. The Board will truly, truly miss him. It isn't something that goes away; once you dabble in education, it never goes away. Wished everyone a great holiday season and quoted Celine Dion: "Could we not just have it for one month of the year."
DEHOFF: Read excerpts from "you know you're from Colorado when...." Referred to the 1902 report from State Superintendent of Public Instruction - the same issues of school finance, teacher scarcity, teacher quality, and State School Lands show that we haven't made much progress in 100 years. At the CASB conference found out that two of the districts that are recognized as the best (Cherry Creek for one) realized that they aren't helping all of their students, and they shared they've come up with to improve. Best wishes to Ann Fattor and Jon DeStefano. When came on the Board, the relationships with CASE and CASB weren't the best, but they have improved, and it's not due to any one person. Is also concerned about the decline of Social Studies in the schools. We are committed to all the content areas. They neglect Arts and Social Studies at their own risk. Has made a commitment to the members of this Board that the there will be "no story" regarding the new 8-member Board and the new operating procedures for electing Chair and Vice Chair. Our commitment is to education. Thanks to Stanford. He won't be missed to education - he will continue to work with us in some ways, such as serving on the NASBE Study Group on thestudy of arts in education. NASBE is also excited about his being in that group. He has been an asset to this Board and has truly become a friend. Proud to say that he considers Gully a true friend. Gully had made a reference, when they were e-mailing, to its being similar to the correspondence between Adams and Jefferson.
COMMISSIONER MOLONEY: Like most of us, there is a sense that words fail us regarding Stanford's leaving the Board. Can only affirm and marginally add to what Stanford's colleagues have said. We face a time of great challenge in education; daunting realities out of that. Circumstances have brought the opportunity for great leadership. One of the themes that has permeated comments today is that of unity. Public congratulations also to DeStefano and mention of a conversation that took place with him during the SBE reception at the CASB conference that unity is an imperative. On this Board, nobody has been more symbol and substance of unity on behalf of children than Stanford. He was daunting at times, but always had high principles. We have always been in awe of all he knows. It might be said that Gully Stanford is the last person that knows everything. Even in arcane areas, we have wondered how he know so much. Along with knowledge, he has brought great energy. For example, phone messages he left at 5:30 a.m. regarding articles in that day's paper. Insightful and useful, Stanford is a resource that nobody can replace. But the single greatest service was in the cause of reform, which is not easy; what was indispensable was his persuasive suggestion that reform is not going away. On all the major issues, this is not just a united SBE, it's a unanimous SBE. Has served with 15 people, all people of strength and conviction. Never once did anyone dissent on this topic. Those who look at the future of an 8-member board - you can't deadlock unless you have an issue to deadlock over. At the times that this room has been rather theatrical, the issues were quite extraneous. Gully enabled Moloney to be a "linguistic centrist" between Orr and Stanford [referring to Orr's "cowboy" background, Stanford's Irish accent, and Moloney's Massachusetts accent]. Those two are the ones that have been on the Board since he began, and now only Orr will be left. Of Stanford, quoted: "He stood so well, so strong, his absence shall leave a lonely place against the sky."
Approved the establishment of an on-grounds special education school/facility to Monarch Youth Homes - Chenango in Colorado Springs. It has met the criteria for eligible facilities as described in the Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act of 1994, as well as the requirements set forth by the Special Education Services Unit. This facility provides residential treatment services for girls ages 13-17 who are in need of mental health treatment and/or have behavior issues that make them inappropriate for the public school setting.
Approved excess cost rates for Eligible Facilities for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. [The Exceptional Children's Education Act provides that the SBE establish the excess cost rate "for educating a child with a disability in a community-centered board or a facility" and that the charge be "the maximum amount the school district of residence shall be obligated to pay." The community-centered boards and eligible facilities have completed forms developed by CDE in accordance with the procedures defined by the SBE in rules and regulations, and CDE has reviewed and approved the applications.]
(1) ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE PROGRAM
Approved Metropolitan State College of Denver Academy as a designated agency for the preparation of teachers through the alternative licensure program. [SBE rules provide that Colorado school districts, BOCES, accredited independent schools, or accepted institutions of higher education may develop and implement alternative teacher programs for the preparation and licensure of individuals who have not completed a program through an approved teacher education institution. Such programs must meet the requirements as set in SBE rules.]
(2) WAIVER OF PLACE ASSESSMENTS FOR ALTERNATIVE LICENSURE PROGRAM
Approved waiver on the timing of the PLACE assessments for alternative licensure candidates for Metropolitan State College of Denver Academy.
[The waivers allow the schools to employ alternative teachers who have not yet passed the assessments but meet all other requirements for the program. The teachers are then required to complete the assessments during the school year and prior to receiving their provisional license. The SBE may grant waivers, with a two-thirds vote, for any requirement in the rules regarding alternative teacher programs. Waivers may be granted only if they are necessary to improve the quality of the affected educators and with evidence of the need to prevent extreme hardship to the district. Waivers may be for a two-year period and are renewable.]
(3) EMERGENCY EDUCATOR AUTHORIZATIONS
Approved emergency Type III educator authorizations for 254 initially and 186 renewals.
[Local districts may request Type III Emergency Authorization to employ non-licensed teachers, principals, administrators, or special services providers if they agree to provide an induction program. The SBE's approval is based on consideration of whether the district has demonstrated a shortage of licensed personnel and the employment of non-licensed personnel is essential to preserving the instructional program and to the well-being of the children enrolled.]
(4) DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS
(These remain confidential until action is taken by the Board.)
(1) RULES FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE ACT
Schedule a hearing for February 13, 2003, for amendments to the rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act of 1994. [Rules for the Administration of the Public School Finance Act have not been updated for several years. Legislation has been passed that has affected various elements of the Act. Auditing requirements have been updated, but the rules that coincide with statutory language and auditing requirements have not.]
(2) RULES FOR THE COLORADO PRESCHOOL PROGRAM
Schedule a hearing for February 13, 2003, for amendments to the rules for the Administration of the Colorado Preschool Program Act. [Rules for the Administration of the Colorado Preschool Program Act have not been updated for a few years. Legislation passed in the last two sessions of the State Legislature needs to be incorporated into the rules.
(3) PAYMENTS UNDER PUBLIC SCHOOL FINANCE ACT
Approved $214,821,168.22 payable to school districts for the Public School Finance Act as state share of total program for December 2002. [The SBE is responsible for funding which local school districts receive monthly from the state under the provisions of the Public School Finance Act. Districts are entitled to receive these funds by the 25th of each month. These payments for December 2002 incorporate updated pupil counts, assessed valuations, categorial program funding, and TABOR limitations, if any, to which districts may be subject this fiscal year. Also, these payments include adjustments to ensure that each district will have received exactly one half of its state funding through December.]
Adopted amendments to proposed rules for the Administration of the Summer School Grant Program for Facilities Schools based on revisions that the SBE directed from the hearing on November 14, 2002. (Vote was 4:3, Burnett, Orr, and Suckla dissented.)
[The Summer School Grant Program for Facilities Schools was established in the School Finance legislation during the 2002 session of the Legislature. It provides for an application process and funding to assist Eligible Facilities (facilities with on-grounds schools) to provide summer school programs designed to improve academic achievement for children performing below grade level in reading, writing, math, and science. The facilities include residential child care facilities, day care treatment centers, and treatment centers and hospitals. The SBE administers the program and must promulgate rules for time frames for submitting applications, the form of the applications, and time frames for distributing the grants.]
Adopted unanimously the amendments to the rules for the Administration of the Teacher Development Grant Program. [As part of the legislative oversight of executive branch rulemaking, the Committee on Legal Services voted not to extend Rule 2207-R-2.02(3) of the teacher development program. The SBE must make revisions to that portion of the rules. The rule at issue is one which involves evaluation of individual school programs by the Teacher Development Advisory Council.]
Conducted a board-only discussion to consider proposed rules for the Administration of Colorado Cyberschools in Association with the Allocation of Online Program Positions. [HB 02-1349 provided for 135 full-time student slots for students receiving their education predominately online through a Colorado cyberschool via the worldwide web. These student slots are for Colorado students who, during the preceding school year, were enrolled after October 1 in public schools in Colorado school districts or in private schools, or were participating in nonpublic home-based education programs or in home instruction by licensed teachers. Rules must specify the requirements that the Colorado cyberschool programs will have to meet in order to qualify for these student slots and the method that the Department staff will use to allocate student slots to qualified schools. At its July 2002 meeting, the SBE adopted emergency rules to allow the 135 slots to be allocated for the 2002-2003 school year. Permanent rules are needed, since the emergency rules expired as of November 2002.]
FEDER (CDE): Clarified that the slots will be divided equally among all qualified cyberschool programs.
The Board did not have any other changes to make to the rules. Agreed unanimously to schedule for adoption at the next meeting.
Conducted a hearing to consider proposed amendments to the rules for the Administration of the Educator Licensing Act. [SB02-152 requires the SBE to adopt rules for principal preparation. The rules must be for performance-based principal standards to guide the development of principal preparation programs offered by institutions of higher education. The SBE develops these standards in collaboration with superintendents, local boards of education, institutions of higher education that offer principal preparation programs, and the Commission on Higher Education.]
GOTLIEB (CDE): As a constituent of Stanford's and one his predecessors on the Board, gives her personal thanks to him for his work on the SBE. These rules are a follow-up to the emergency rules previously passed on principal preparation, amendments to Educator Licensing Act due to SB02-152. The rules refer to preparation of principals in the future, as well as professional development of current principals. The discussion about what assessment will be given to principals will be collaboratively determined among districts, the SBE, and higher education. Polis thanked Gotlieb for her open and collaborative style for including the Alliance for Quality Teaching and higher education in designing the rules.
PEG PORTSCHELLER (CASE): On behalf of CASE, they believe that Stanford is incomparable. Commended all of SBE on the Teacher of the Year last night. CASE recently gave the Principal of the Year Award and the Superintendent of the Year Award. In March CASE will recognize the Elementary, Middle School, and High School Principals of the Year, and there will be a banquet for them in April. Has come to the Board particularly as a representative of elementary and secondary school principals. There has been extensive input into the principal preparation rules document. The field greatly appreciates the openness from the Board and the Department. CASE strongly supports these standards.
Agreed unanimously to direct revisions and schedule consideration of the rules at the next meeting.
Voted on the recommendation to instruct the department staff to issue a notice of denial and appeal rights to an applicant for a teaching license. (Motion passed 5:2, Hudak and Burnett dissented)
Delayed action on the proposed expenditure of excess lottery proceeds from "Powerball," pending further review of the FY 2002-2003 budget for CDE and proposed FY 2003-2004 budget, including the long-term stability of the State Education Fund (6:1, Polis dissented).
[Lottery "Powerball" monies in excess of the amount anticipated - totaling $4,399,940 - have been deposited in the state public school fund contingency reserve, as required by statute. Applications from school districts seeking these funds have been received and reviewed by the Capital Construction Advisory Committee, who have provided a list of projects totaling $4,399,940, with back-up projects totaling $1,343,452 that would be funded by any unused project contingency moneys. Still remaining are 161 projects, from 51 districts, totaling $41,883,025 that will not be funded.]
Stanford said that he is not saying that the Powerball money shouldn't be spent on capital construction, but given that the Powerball came in at twice the amount expected, the Legislature would not have allotted so much money from the Education Fund towards the $15 million for the settlement of the Giardino lawsuit. Would like to see the money returned to the Education Fund for responsible use for the purposes that Amendment 23 is for. Given this windfall, it would be more appropriate to restore the Amendment 23 money for the purposes for which it was intended. Polis says that he doesn't trust the Legislature to return the money to the Education Fund rather than use it for other capital construction. Stanford said that it would be a legal stretch for them do that. DeHoff said that we have heard that despite the fiscal constraints, this money has to go for the given purpose.
Adopted revised operating procedures for the SBE. [The Board's operating procedures were last updated in 1996. The new ones make them consistent with current statute and address issues related to the forthcoming even-numbered Board.]
Polis moved an amendment to Article V, Section F, on setting the quorum, that the rules specificy that the majority consist of 5 members. With the commitment of the other Board members that Polis "will be counted as a member unless he is ruled by the Court to be off the Board" (DeHoff), he withdrew his motion.
Polis moved that in the event that there is no majority vote for a chairman, rather than having the immediate past chairman serve until a new chairman can be elected, we have a rotation of all Board members serving as chair for three months. Suckla spoke against the motion because she said that Robert's Rules of Order require us to revert to the previous officers in the event of a tie. I pointed out that if after the 9 rounds of voting proposed in the new rules, we are still tied, we will not have a different outcome at a future meeting. Stanford said that rotation provides a lack of credibility to the outside world. Orr suggested that reverting to the status quo is not a good idea, and he would just as soon see a coin toss. DeHoff said that we have consistently been saying that we will be able to make a decision and that our responsibility is to work with one another; if we let it be resolved by a coin toss, we will still be left with hard feelings. Polis said that if we get to this last option, we will have failed at all attempts to work together. The advantage of a coin toss is that it is equally fair to both and not arbitrary. I said that as a Democrat who has been a minority on the board, I would like assurances that a Democrat will be at least half of the leadership. DeHoff said that it is a matter of trust and that the four Republicans are committed to having a bipartisan board. Polis withdrew his motion.
Orr expressed concern about the provision that if the chair and vice chair are from different parties, the chairmanship will rotate between the elected chair and vice chair - since the law says that the chair is elected for two years. Suckla echoed this concern. She also said that CASB has a one-year chairman term, and having experienced a one-year term, she found that it takes nearly a year to learn to be effective. She said definitively that she is not interested in being the chair. Stanford said that the issue is about teamwork, and that the Chair and Vice Chair should work in partnership - keeping this part in there forces the representatives of the two parties to work together. DeHoff also said that part of the Chair's responsibility would be to work with the Vice Chair to prepare him or her to take over. However, Orr said that in the spirit of bipartisanship, he will not move to strike the provision. Polis expressed concern about "enshrining" political parties in the provision.
The new operating procedures passed 6:1 (Suckla dissented).
Due to the resignation of two members from the CCLD, the SBE is asked to appoint two individuals to replace them, as well as one individual to represent the new 7th Congressional District as a citizen representative. The replacement appointments are for citizen representatives from the 3rd and 6th CDs.
The SBE will be asked to approve Teacher in Residence Programs for the following:
[Nobody came to address the board.]
Copyright © 2001-2007 Evie Hudak - All Rights Reserved