UNOFFICIAL MINUTES MUSCATINE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PLANNING MEETING June 4, 2012
The Board of Directors of the Muscatine Community School District, in the County of Muscatine, State of Iowa, met in planning session on Monday, June 4, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the Administration Center. President Tim Bower called the meeting to order. Directors Tammi Drawbaugh, Brenda Garcia-‐Van Auken, Penny Jones, and Mary Wildermuth were present. Director Dennis Fox and Nathan Mather were absent. Also present were Superintendent Bill Decker and Director of Elementary Innovation and Instruction Shane Williams. President Bower briefly reviewed last year’s board goals and IASB’s Aligning Priorities and Goals – Planning for the Future. He noted that Tom Downs and Harry Heiligenthal from IASB will discuss the board goals at the board goal planning session next Monday, June 11. He also noted that the district’s goals are in tune and aligned with the rest of the state. President Bower then took the board through the process of the goal setting session. He noted that building administrators and staff will present information and then look at what needs to be tweaked for next year. Board members will look at what they have done, how successful they have been, and then look at what administration feels needs to be looked at further. He stated that should be the focus that the board needs to keep in mind at Monday’s meeting. He reminded the board that the minutes from last year’s board goal setting session were forwarded to them recently. Director Jones noted that at the ABLE Workshop session, it was stated that the board should be getting feedback from all of its stakeholders, not just administration, and the board should not give away their authority to set the goals. She stated that it is the board’s final decision based on the input they receive from the board goal setting session. Director Jones also stated that the board needs to make sure that it looks to district administrators to help and identify success indicators and what will be used to judge and monitor those goals throughout the year. President Bower noted that it will be good to see what the board’s responsibilities are and what the superintendent’s/administrator’s responsibilities are from working with IASB. Director Jones noted that from looking at the diagram provided, the district should have three to five district goals that the superintendent is responsible for and then there would be six to eight goals based on the standards for him under the superintendent
evaluation. She noted that basically this is what was discussed and reviewed at a previous meeting. President Bower asked for questions from board members regarding this process. He noted that at next Monday’s meeting, the board will be listening to feedback regarding the goals. He noted that he wants to make certain that the board understands what is expected of them. He also noted that data will be given at the upcoming meeting as well. Director Drawbaugh shared that the goal sessions that she had been a part of in the past has been her favorite. There has been a lot of good conversation and is time very well spent. It is great to hear and talk to more people and there is a lot more dialogue. President Bower noted that this meeting will allow the board to determine how it wants data presented in the next year. President Bower shared that last week’s Instructional Support Levy planning meeting was a good session and that he has had some positive remarks from the community. He stated that he is looking forward to further discussion at next Monday night’s regular meeting. Director Jones remarked that she would like the drop-‐dead deadlines for the Instructional Support Levy from Mrs. Garner. President Bower asked board members if there is anything that the board sees on a consistent basis that it wants to continue seeing or is there anything that the board is receiving that it does not want to have. Director Jones thanked the directors for having the board packet a week earlier. President Bower reminded board members that the agenda in the board packet is a tentative agenda and there likely will be changes before this Friday. Director Garcia-‐Van Auken suggested that there should be a cut off time to adding items to the agenda. President Bower asked if there was information that the buildings were reporting that the board would like to see different for next year. Director Jones suggested that since Dibels is given at certain times each year to have the data all on one page. This would save buildings time and also board time. She noted that the MAP assessment would be another example of having the data all on one page. Director Garcia-‐Van Auken noted that she didn’t see the buildings tie into the goals when they were presenting.
Director of Elementary Innovation and Instruction Shane Williams stated that quarterly reports focus on the four goal areas in the quadrants and how each building leadership team has taken what the board has directed and have shown what they have done towards meeting those goals. Building reports are more specific to what is happening in their own building to meet the district goals. It makes sense to do it quarterly because of the timing as it keeps data in the forefront and keeps the conversation going. Director Drawbaugh shared that one of the nice pieces about the building reports is that it gives a nice synopsis of each building’s student body and their unique circumstances and challenges. She feels that this is good for the community to hear this as well. She noted that there may need to be a reminder about the connection how the building goals fit into the district goals. Superintendent Decker shared that once the new board members attend Monday’s session it should help them better understand the process. He suggested that the board not diminish its focus on DIBELS and MAP and staff feedback. If anything, administration wants to expand their focus on meeting the goals. He also suggested that the board continue to hear from buildings and how they are meeting the goals and also hear from staff and what they are saying about students. He noted that he feels this is what the board will hear from IASB on Monday morning. Director Jones stated that she likes to have the building reports but also wants to see the scores on one page that pulls it all together. She feels it is important to focus on the data. Director Drawbaugh shared that when she was a new board member it took her a full year to be able to put the pieces together and see how things tie back to the board goals. Director Garcia-‐Van Auken noted that what she is hearing is that she needs to wait a whole year before she knows anything. She asked that when others come on (the school board) that they are brought up to speed sooner. She further noted that information received from attending the School Law Conference in Des Moines and information shared by superintendents and school boards was that one of the best practices utilized was that superintendents met one on one with each newly elected school board member for three-‐four hours each getting them up to speed as soon as possible which is what she had been requesting and didn’t receive. She also noted that she doesn’t disagree that one year and sitting in goal session will help. She stated that seeing this information in a consistent format and reviewing it often, whether quarterly or monthly or whatever administration determines, is beneficial. Director Jones stated that it is a good thing the community is interested in what is going on in the schools.
President Bower reviewed the plans for Monday morning. He shared that IASB will be at the meeting from 7 to 10 a.m. There will be a presentation on topics like goal setting. He shared that the training is new for them and for the board. He noted that in their presentation at the ABLE workshop IASB used Muscatine’s board goals as an example. He also noted that there will be a self-‐evaluation of the board and that IASB will give the board insight on that and will also be in the background at the meeting Monday night to give the board feedback. He shared that after that, building administration and staff discussion will take place regarding the current board goals and refining them for next year. This process will take place until the goals are brought in front of the board for approval. Superintendent Decker stated that at Monday’s board goal planning session, he tries to get everyone’s voice as part of the conversation and wants to make sure their views are known. Building principals will bring input from staff perspective. He stated that he also wants board members’ voices to be heard as well. At the end of the session, consensus between and administration and the board will help develop the board goals. With this feedback, goals for next year will be developed and brought back to the board for approval. Director Wildermuth asked if the SIAC committee is involved. Superintendent Decker stated that their last meeting’s agenda specifically talked about board goals. They reviewed areas of strength and areas that need to be addressed. Mr. Williams noted that this committee is the community entity that is responsible for board goals. He also noted that it was a topic of conversation regarding inactive members and how they need to contact them to see if they still want to be part of the committee. If not, they will need to recruit some additional members. President Bower reminded board members that if they have any questions to call him. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Tim Bower, President Lisa Mosier, Secretary
