Volume 27, Issue 7 - June 12, 2015 | Archives | AlabamaSchoolBoards.org
State board approves emergency charter school rules
The state Board of Education Thursday adopted regulations to serve as a starting point for implementing charter schools and comply with the deadline set in the 2015 School Choice and Student Opportunity Act that made Alabama the 43rd state to allow charter schools.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Tommy Bice gave the board an overview of the broad regulations in a special called work session Thursday morning. Bice said his goal is to be “as child-focused as possible” in this process, and he wanted to give the state board the opportunity to “stay within the confines of the law.”
After the special work session, the board voted in its regular meeting 4-0-3 — with Stephanie Bell, Ella Bell and Betty Peters abstaining — to approve the emergency rules. And, with the same vote count, the board announced its intent to adopt final regulations. Guidelines will be issues later to flesh out the regulations.
Bice said the charter school law gives local boards “an option they didn't have before” in educating students. State board members asked if charters were subject to key accountabilities regarding school safety, special education, audits, assessments and public posting of vendors. Federal rules that come with federal dollars cannot be waived, Bice said, and charter school students must take state assessments.
Also at the meeting, a group of citizens spoke against the proposed Comprehensive Counseling and Guidance Model for Alabama Public Schools. Several of the comments reflected disagreement with common core state standards. Others were concerned with data privacy and perceived infringement on certain parental rights. The comments were made even though the guidelines were, according to Bice, removed “indefinitely” from the agenda. He said the state department will “move in another direction.”
The board unanimously decided to release the Birmingham City School System from state intervention and took the next procedural step toward adopting new rules that increase the expectations of educator preparation programs. Though members agreed it should already be the practice, the state board passed a resolution granting Bice the ability to hire without board approval the members of his cabinet — positions that are “at will.”
After lunch, the state board reconvened for its regular work session, during which it learned $3.2 million each year for seven years will go toward improving outcomes for students in Alabama’s Black Belt region. The U.S. Department of Education has awarded a seven-year, $49 million grant to the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP, is a grant program designed to boost the number of at-risk, low-income students who graduate from high school ready to succeed in postsecondary education. The project wraps services and supports around students as well as their parents and teachers.
Gear Up Alabama targets 9,300 sixth- and seventh-graders who, if they graduate high school college- and career-ready, will get a free postsecondary education. Bice suggested, and the board agreed, the project should be studied to see what best practices can be gleaned from the initiative impacting the classes of 2020 and 2021 in 17 county and four city school systems. Bice expects the effort to be a “game-changer,” particularly for low-income students.
In addition to a bottom-line look a the $6 billion Education Trust Fund budget, the state board also heard about an effort to elevate teacher voices in public discourse about education and to help the public understand education funding issues and learn about the great things happening in schools.
State board members pointed to the winning videos of AASB’s “How We Achieve Excellence in Our School” video contest as an example of positive messages students can help generate. The winning videos were shown at the regular state board meeting. The first place winner of AASB's 2015 statewide "How We Achieve Excellence in Our School" video contest is G.W. Carver High School of Birmingham ($1,500). In second place is Demopolis Middle School of Demopolis ($1,000 prize), and the third place winner is Dadeville High School of Tallapoosa County ($500 prize). Winner of $250 and an honorable mention is Central Middle School of Coosa County. The contest was co-sponsored by Fairbanks LLC and Alabama Public Television through its American Graduate grant funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The videos will be shown again at 9 a.m. on Dec. 5 during the AASB Annual Convention.
The next state board meeting and work session will be July 14.
Board celebrates Teachers of the Year
The state Board of Education celebrated on Thursday the 16 district finalists for Alabama Teacher of the Year, including the winner, Jennifer Brown of the Vestavia Hills School System, and Alternate Teacher of the Year Minnette Wiggins of the Hoover City School System. Brown, a science teacher at Vestavia Hills High School, automatically becomes Alabama’s nominee for National Teacher of the Year. Wiggins is not only the alternate but is the 2015-2016 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She teaches at Trace Crossings Elementary School. Brown and Wiggins will spend much of the school year serving as ambassadors for public education and the teaching profession.
Join a listserv, network and share
Listservs offer members an opportunity to use one email address to post a message to a group of colleagues about a topic they share. AASB provides free listservs, so groups can network, share ideas and ask questions. The AASB Policy Listserv helps school systems maintain effective policies and policy manuals. If you would like to join, email policy@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org. Only members of the Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys and the Alabama Association of Administrative Assistants may only participate in their respective listservs. If you’re a member of either group and haven’t received messages, email info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
Save money, schedule your whole board training now for July, Aug. or Sept.
Get a jump on earning your 2016 state-required whole board training by signing up early. Alabama requires 2 hours of interactive, facilitated whole board training by June 30 each year. Early birds get 10 percent off the regular fee if they schedule their AASB-provided whole board training for July, August or September 2015. Prices start at $500 (plus mileage) or join up with other school boards in your area to share the cost.
Subscribe to Policy Pipeline; don’t miss July 30 policy conference call
Policy experts who have kept a close watch on the new laws, state rules, court cases and other issues that affect board policies will update Policy Pipeline subscribers on July 30.
The 10 a.m. subscribers-only conference call is a great opportunity to ask questions about policy maintenance and new developments that impact policies.
If your school board contracts with AASB to use its Policy Review & Analysis service, you will get a free, one-year subscription to the Policy Pipeline to ensure those policies remain up-to-date. Alabama school board members also benefit from a 10 percent discount on the Policy Module, and AASB will upload your policies to that module at no charge.
Annual subscriptions are $850. Subscribe now to receive the update just in time to make policy revisions effective for the upcoming school year.
For more, call 800/562-0601 or email policy@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
Check the mail for membership renewals
AASB membership renewal notices will be arriving in mailboxes soon, as will Legal Assistance Fund membership, board attorney membership, board secretary membership and Professional Sustaining Member renewals. AASB members receive a wide variety of services, including training, legislative and legal information and support, publications, risk management services, fee-based services and financial services. Thank you for your continued support of the association. If you do not receive your renewal notice soon,
contact AASB at 800/562-0601 or email info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
Is there an unsung hero on your board? All-State nominees due Sept. 1
Honor the commitment and achievement of one of your board members by nominating him or her for AASB’s All-State School Board Member Recognition Program. The All-State award, one of AASB’s highest honors, celebrates the work of up to five past or present Alabama school board members who have exhibited exemplary boardmanship.
AASB Bylaws & Resolutions due
Please submit your proposed resolutions or changes to AASB Bylaws in writing by Aug. 14. Proposals will be considered by AASB’s Delegate Assembly in December. Fax submissions to AASB (Attn: Bylaws Submission) at 334/270-0000; mail to: P.O. Box 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488 or email us.
Sales Tax Holiday set for Aug. 7-9
As belts tighten across the state, communities should be reminded of an opportunity to save on school supplies. Alabama will hold its 10th annual Sales Tax Holiday. Shoppers can enjoy a weekend free of state sales or use taxes on certain items, such as computers and clothing, purchased between 12:01 a.m. (CST) on Friday, Aug. 7, and ending at midnight on Sunday, Aug. 9.
President’s Award will be given at Aug. 31-Sept. 21 District Meetings
During the AASB Fall District Meetings, school boards are recognized if 60 percent or more of their members attended at least three AASB conferences in the academy year and, in that same year, all board members met state-mandated training requirements. These Aug. 31-Sept. 21 meetings are an excellent way to interact with your district directors and to network with school board members from your area.
The only cost is for dinner, but pre-registration is still strongly encouraged to reserve your seat and meal. The meetings all begin at 6 p.m. central time with the exception of District 5, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Locations and other details will be posted soon at AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
Coming Oct. 4 & 5: Fall core course on optimal learning environment
The learning environment is more than just bricks and mortar. That’s why board members need to learn strategies for managing facilities, keeping schools safe, improving parental involvement, expanding internal communication and fostering teamwork.
The AASB School Board Member Academy presents its core course on Leadership to Create the Optimal Learning Environment Oct. 4 and 5 at The Renaissance Montgomery in downtown Montgomery. It will be taught again in 2018. School board members who take this required academy course will earn 6 hours, enough to meet the state’s requirement for annual individual school board member training.
Stay over for the Oct. 5 post-conference workshop When Social Media Attacks.
For more, visit AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.
Opportunity to enter the 2015 Alabama’s Best Contest is coming soon!
LEAN Frog, in association with AASB, is proud to announce the second annual contest for Alabama public schools. This year’s “Alabama’s Best” contest has been expanded to include best practices and innovations in instructional departments as well as non-instructional departments. The contest is open to all Alabama public school systems. Systems may submit up to three entries describing a best practice in their departments. The best practice must have been implemented within the last two school years (i.e., 2013-2014, 2014-2015).
Applicants must complete an official entry form and submit either a PowerPoint presentation or video about the best practice. Entries will be evaluated on the following:
· Creativity – the uniqueness of the practice or its application;
· Sustainability – practice makes lasting improvement;
· Impact on Students – practice improves student achievement and increases value by
1) improving students’ environment or well-being,
2) improving the quality of service provided to students, or
3) reducing costs or increasing revenue for the school or system.
Entry forms, rules and regulations, evaluation criteria and further details will be available on the LEAN Frog website. The winning entry will receive $3,000. Two second place winning entries will receive $1,000 each. Award presentations will be made during the AASB Annual Convention in Birmingham. In addition to the cash prizes, the winning media presentations will be recognized during the Dec. 5 awards ceremony.
Are you up to date?
Stay current on education issues. Make sure you don’t miss a thing by keeping AASB updated on how to reach you. If you have moved, changed your phone number, or changed or added an email address, call 800/562-0601 or ask your school board secretary to update our information in the eMEMBERSHIP database
It’s a date!
June 18-21
AASB Orientation & Summer Conference,
Orange Beach
July 16 (1.5 hours)
Webinar
Aug. 31-Sept. 21 (1 hour)
Fall District Meetings
Oct. 4 & 5 ( 6 hours)
Optimal Learning Environment
Core Conference
— Denise Berkhalter and Emily Maxwell
contributed to this report.
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“army of advocates” today!
Take a stand for public schools.
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