SPECIAL WORK SESSION, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BREVARD COUNTY
April 20, 2005
The School Board of Brevard County, Florida held a workshop on Tuesday, April 20, 2005, at 3:00 p.m., at the Educational Services Facility, 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, Florida. Notice of the meeting was advertised in The Reporter newspaper on Thursday, April 14, 2005, and the affidavit of publication with a copy of the notice attached is filed in supplemental minute book #205, page 205-325.
Chairman
Larry Hughes called the workshop to order at 2:00 p.m. and Dr. DiPatri led the
Pledge of Allegiance.
Members Present:
Larry Hughes, Robert Jordan, Janice Kershaw, Amy Kneessy
Member Absent:
Bea Fowler
DISTRICT ACCREDITATION & STRATEGIC
PLANNING
Dr. DiPatri briefly reviewed the agenda and the
Strategic Plan calendar before turning the meeting over to Brenda Blackburn,
Associate Superintendent for Curriculum Services. A copy of the agenda and the calendar is filed in supplemental
minute book #205, Pages 205-326 through 205-334, inc.
Brenda Blackburn introduced the Strategic Plan committee members and reviewed the district accreditation activities beginning with 2003-2004. A slide presentation on this initiative was presented and a copy is filed in supplemental minute book #205, pages 205-335 through 205-380.
Walt Christy, Director of Secondary Education,
discussed what district accreditation is, the purpose of district accreditation,
what is involved, and what the benefits are.
Vicki Mace, Director of Choice Schools, and the gatekeeper of the
Strategic Plan, reviewed the process, which involves the vision, mission,
organizational values, and goals of the district. She reviewed the Strategic Plan 2005 calendar with events leading
to Board approval of the plan on August 23, 2005.
Jim Hulse, Director of Accountability, Testing &
Evaluation, reviewed the School Improvement Plans and the process used. All schools are to follow a State Template
to complete their plan. He noted the
goals to be addressed. The Strategic
Plan and School Improvement Plans are directly tied together. He reviewed important dates for the 2005-06
school year. School Improvement plans
are due to DOE by October 15th and the SACS visiting team will be in
the district the second week of November.
Pam Gillette, Director of Title 1 & Early
Childhood Education, introduced the team for organizing for district
accreditation. She noted that there are
now one set of standards for all K-12 schools.
She also reviewed areas of continuous improvement and the quality
assurance visit. Fifteen schools will
be visited the review team. The SACS
exit report will be held on November 9th at 2:00 p.m. The Board members are invited to this
meeting, which will also be televised.
The Board Chairman will be interviewed on behalf of the Board.
DESKTOP STUDENT DATA SYSTEM
Steve Muzzy, Assistant Superintendent for
Educational Technology, briefly reviewed the new student data system. Because of the nature of the data involved,
it cannot be reviewed publicly. Each
board member will meet individually with the Educational Technology staff to be
briefed on how the system works. Jim
Hulse, Director of Accountability, Testing & Evaluation, gave a
demonstration comparing the current system with the new system. This system interacts with the CrossPoint
system and updates automatically overnight.
The system includes information on all students such as attendance,
discipline, immunizations, history of FCAT testing, etc. Dr. DiPatri noted that the system is
instantly accessible no matter whom or how many people are accessing it.
Some concerns voiced by the Board include privacy
issues with student history, discipline records, free & reduced lunch
information, and health information, to name a few. Also a concern is that the information could be available to
other students and that teachers might get a preconceived idea about a student
because of the information included.
Robert Jordan stated that he has seen the program and is impressed. He especially likes having the data
available at expulsion hearings. There
may be a problem with the types of computers teachers have. Steve Muzzy stated that ET is working
closely with technology specialists to ensure teachers can access the
software. Another initiative that will
support this is the upcoming Facilities Project List. Dr. DiPatri asked if the AIP system and this student data system
will be linked together. Jim Hulse
responded that it was a work in progress and additional programs a ready with
minor changes. Steve Muzzy stated that
staff would like to have the system available to all teachers by May 2nd. Steve Muzzy noted that the system tracks
additions/changes/deletions only. The
system is Intranet access only and is a Crystal Report Writer product. Larry Hughes asked if staff was doing hit
counts on different pages to see what is being used. Steve Muzzy responded that they were not doing this presently but
would check into it.
SECONDARY SCHOOL REFORM
Dr. DiPatri made a presentation on secondary school reform. School districts were hit with the middle school reform last year, and Florida’s Governor is trying to promote secondary school reform. He has been asked by several educational groups to not mandate this now. Won’t know until May 6th what the decision will be but don’t believe they will make this a requirement at this time. Discussion was started at the Best Practices session with high school principals on where Brevard is with this issue. He feels that our high schools are high performing. Dr. DiPatri pointed out some data: 26% of high schools in the State are A or B with many being specialty schools. Brevard has 93% of their high schools are A or B. There are 37 ‘A’ high schools in Florida with 7 schools in Brevard. Brevard is second in the State in drop out rate, 2nd in the State in graduation rate, and 1st in the State in dual enrollment. Brevard is strategically well placed with four community college sites throughout the county and there are two high schools of choice.
Research shows rigor, relevance and relationships. Need greater rigor at the high school level, need to have a relevant curriculum, and need to determine how students are connected. Dr. DiPatri feels the board needs to move, over this timeframe, to a system of high schools in a mode of continuous improvement. Suggestions over the next five years include:
Dr. DiPatri reviewed the next steps in this process. A high school reform workgroup will meet on May 14th to generate background data for a Harris-sponsored leadership workshop to be held on May 26th to be presented by Dr. Bill Daggett. The board is invited to attend this workshop. A Principal’s retreat and a Sr. Staff retreat will be held in June and a national conference for all high school principals will be held in Nashville, Tennessee the end of June. Aboard workshop on strategic plan and budget is scheduled for July 19th.
Robert Jordan stated this is a move in the right direction and that he likes the idea of a 5-year high school in order to give students who don’t go to college an option. Larry Hughes asked if the 5-year high program would also expand opportunities for two year degrees. Dr. DiPatri replied that it would but that the board would have to commit and may have to pick up some of the cost. Larry Hughes noted that the board would have to consider how have to balance those already on block if they bring back the 7th period. Janice Kershaw suggested the board look at some models already in place, such as having students stay with the same homeroom teacher. Dr. DiPatri agreed and stated he would have the workgroup look at programs already in place.
There being no further discussion, the workshop
adjourned at 4:00 p.m.
Chairman:
______________________________
ATTEST: ______________________________________
Secretary and Superintendent of Schools