Stillwater Area Public Schools — Transcript
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Story
School board certifies election results; acknowledges achievement gaps
Progress Report on Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Plan and Achievement and Integration Plan
Adventure Club Enrollment and Waitlist Update
2026-2027 School Year Calendar Review
First Reading of Policy 802: Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material
School Board Election Resolutions
Votes (7)
Strategic Direction A: Anderson Elementary School Update
Principal Anna detailed Anderson Elementary's challenges with student achievement, particularly in reading, and the historical 'inverted pyramid' MTSS model. The school is shifting focus to Tier 1 instruction and an 'acceleration model' to provide grade-level content with just-in-time support. Progress in social-emotional learning via the Green Room and SEL SWiM was noted. Staffing instability due to the school's size was highlighted, with optimism for the new school building. The board questioned the root causes of the inverted pyramid and the support for teachers adapting to new instructional methods, emphasizing the urgency and commitment to student growth.
Progress Report on Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Plan (formerly World's Best Workforce) and Achievement and Integration Plan
Caitlyn and Jacqueline presented a candid report, acknowledging the district is 'not on track' for most goals, including closing achievement gaps, career/college readiness, and graduation rates. They discussed legislative changes, including a new goal for 'lifelong learners' and a shift in literacy goals. The Achievement and Integration Plan's shortcomings were highlighted, particularly in retaining diverse staff and secondary-level targeting. New, more inclusive goals for Brookview Elementary were proposed, emphasizing district-wide cultural competency and broader student support. Board members expressed concerns about goal wording, the impact on funding, and the need for more systemized approaches across the district.
Adventure Club Enrollment and Waitlist Report
Annette presented current Adventure Club figures: 853 enrolled students and a waitlist of 68, noting the numbers are dynamic. The main challenge identified is the significant increase in afternoon daycare needs anticipated with the elementary school start time changes next year. Strategies include developing a high school work-release program and partnering with local colleges for staffing. Families needing care for the next school year were encouraged to sign up by December 10th to help plan effectively. Board members praised the progress in reducing the waitlist and discussed staffing ratios and alternative care solutions.
2026-2027 School Year Calendar
Mark presented the proposed 2026-2027 school calendar, emphasizing its rhythm of an early start and early end, and the strategic placement of breaks and professional development days to align with academic quarters and testing windows. A board member raised concerns about the state's mandate for post-Labor Day starts, especially with Labor Day falling late in September 2026, which creates a 'messy' calendar and reinforces the need for districts to set their own calendars. The superintendent predicted a likely legislative workaround of a one-year exemption.
First Reading of Policy 802: Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material
The board received the first reading of new Policy 802, an MSBA model policy addressing the disposition of obsolete equipment and material. The policy aims to provide the superintendent with guidelines for timely and safe disposal, adhering to legal and statutory requirements. It outlines different requirements based on the cost of the equipment, ensuring transparency and administrative responsibility in managing district assets and space.
Resolution: Canvasing Returns of Votes of School District Election
Moved by Chair Sherman [1:52:09] · Seconded by Director Theander [1:52:14]
This resolution was for the formal canvasing of votes from the recent school district election and the certification of the abstract and return of votes cast by the Clerk's office.
Resolution: Authorizing Issuance of Certificates of General Election and Directing School District Clerk to Perform Other Election Related Duties
Moved by Chair Sherman [1:52:40] · Seconded by Director Lower [1:52:46]
This resolution authorized the issuance of certificates for the general election results and directed the school district clerk to execute other duties related to the election process, formally acknowledging the outcomes and the roles of incoming and re-elected board members.
Notable Quotes (16)
within that welcoming environment students are learning students are achieving and they're getting the education they need to grow that is what is going to give them the best hope and the best opportunity for the world that they're living in right now
what we have learned and what we know now is that we need to put all of our time and energy into tier one instruction and that's what everybody gets that's what everybody should have access to tier two and tier three are those extra scoops of support
the best of intentions teachers trying to think that they're doing what they need to to get to students where they're at and try to help them grow and catch up it's not viable we can't have kids catch up if we don't give them grade level standards based access to learning
I like about the acceleration model it it shows kids that we believe in them and that productive struggle and their ability to get through complex content is good for them
when we know better we do better
I don't love sitting here reporting not on track rep not on track not on track right like this doesn't feel good
if we start looking at these pocket groups and we're seeing some good things happening then how do we systematize that and make that something that's happening for all students in the system
I'm glad that you're kind of rethinking the way these goals are phrased and worded I I think that you know words like all you know that's an almost setting yourself up for not succeeding because that's just not possible some of the goals just the language in them I think are just a little off and need to be tweaked
what we did with Brookview goals is there's not a single one of these goals that focusing on one demographic we very deliberately um said we want to focus on every single one of these students because when we only focus on small groups of students other people are going to miss out and that's just not going to be that's not the heart in Integrity of doing academic integr like Equity work so not a single one of these was written with one demographic in mind and that was done purposefully
the afternoon daycare need will increase significantly
if joeo can start on Monday what does that do to the weight list how many people does that take off uh it does somewhat depend on which site you're talking about but generally speaking we carry between a 12 to1 in 15 to1 ratio so it could impact 12 to 15 students
it aligns with the natural breaks um so it's we have end of first quarter is done before mea end of second quarter or first semester is done before winter break um end of third quarter is done before Spring Break and then fourth quarter is done before mea break so kids when they go to those long extended breaks really have time to um relax recharge refocus and get ready to start a new semester a new quarter once they come back from a break and they're not studying or having have um tests or projects to do over those long extended time
I am on the legislative committee for the ass assciation of metropolitan school districts and one of the things that's under discussion for um a plank in their platform for this coming uh legislative year is to ask the legislature to allow districts to set their own calendars
Labor Day does not fall until September 7th that's really late and a lot of the discussion at our legislative committee but superintendents um was that is really going to create um a mess for our calendar that year students are going to be going like way into June or they're going to have to like cut down on PD days or whatever it might be it's not a great calendar
the solution is and this is this is what they were likely default to is well for this year we're gonna pass a bill that says districts can start early but we're just going to do it for this year
the purpose uh of the uh policy is to provide guidelines for the superintendent to assist in timely disposition of obsolete equipment and materials and in a broader sense um that the effect effective use of school building space and considerations for safety of personnel will at times require disposal of obsolete equipment and material
Ordinances & Resolutions (29)
District-level goal to ensure the learning process is adaptable to meet individual student needs, the focus of Anderson Elementary's update.
Educational framework for providing academic and behavioral support, discussed in relation to Anderson Elementary's instructional model.
Instructional model for identifying and supporting students with learning and behavioral needs, referred to in Anderson Elementary's presentation.
District-wide system used for data-driven student support, applied to both academic and social-emotional learning.
Screening tool used to identify students' social-emotional learning needs.
Book recommended for educators to build emotional resilience and co-regulate with students.
Instructional rubric used for teacher observations and formative assessments.
New morning show at Anderson Elementary where students share learning experiences.
Volunteer program that engages community members with Anderson Elementary.
Community event offering various activities and learning experiences at Anderson Elementary.
Grant awarded to Anderson Elementary to bridge science learning to the new school theme.
Name or theme for the new school, linked to the book 'The River'.
Book theme for the new school and part of responsive classroom activities at Anderson Elementary.
State-mandated assessment scores used to measure student achievement, noted as a concern.
Assessment data used for ongoing checks of student academic progress.
District-wide plan for ensuring student readiness, formerly known as World's Best Workforce.
Former title of the Comprehensive Achievement and Civic Readiness Plan, changed per legislation.
District plan addressing achievement and integration goals, tied to specific state funding.
Assessment used to measure phonological awareness in four-year-old preschool students.
Standardized test used to measure college and career readiness.
Test for military entrance, also used to measure career readiness.
Placement exam for community and technical colleges, used to assess college readiness.
Legislation impacting literacy goals, moving the 'read well by third grade' goal to this plan.
Program providing integration components and data for the Achievement and Integration Plan.
District initiative for managing and addressing identity harm in classrooms.
Budget aligning with Achievement and Integration goals.
District's childcare program, with enrollment and waitlist updates discussed.
New MSBA model policy titled 'Disposition of Obsolete Equipment and Material'.
Official documents for canvasing votes and authorizing election certificates for recent school board elections.