MINUTES OF MEETING
State Board of Education
June 3, 2004
The June meeting of the
Board of Education was held over the Iowa Communications Network (ICN). Gene Vincent conducted the meeting from
Carroll High School. Board members
participating from other ICN sites were as follows: Jim Billings and Charles Edwards-Grimes Building, Sally
Frudden-North Iowa Area Community College-Charles City, Mary Jean
Montgomery-Okoboji High School, Sister Jude Fitzpatrick-Davenport Central High
School, Greg McClain-Cedar Falls High School, and Wayne Kobberdahl-Iowa Western
Community College-Council Bluffs. Rosie
Hussey and Megan Srinivas – Absent.
Present at the Grimes Building site were Director Ted Stilwill and staff
members Carol Greta, Kathi Slaughter, Jackie Crawford and Beverlee Adams. Dr. Dennis Vander Plaats, Chair of Dordt
College Education Department was present at the Sioux Center High School site.
President Gene Vincent
called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. and welcomed new Board member Wayne
Kobberdahl.
A unanimous roll call vote
was taken to approve the agenda as written.
There was no public comment.
Mary Jean Montgomery reported she had met with the NASBE Committee on selecting
the Friend of Education and indicated that the winning group or individual
would be announced in the fall at the NASBE Convention. She also attended a fundraiser for a
graduate school of education that was raising money for scholarships for teachers
in a graduate program committed to working with diverse learners in
impoverished areas or in high-risk high schools.
Sally Frudden – No report
Jim Billings - No report
Charles Edwards – No report
Sister Jude Fitzpatrick appreciated receiving the information from the
Governor’s Office about the Washington Community School District and the family
that had been so well-served by the school district and community.
Greg McClain - No report
Wayne Kobberdahl – No report
Gene Vincent expressed
sympathy from the Board to Gail Sullivan in the loss of her mother.
Director Ted Stilwill
reported on the following items:
The minutes of the May
meeting were approved with the following amendments:
Amend page 3 to read as
follows:
Greg McClain mentioned that he received a letter from NASBE about membership dues and encouraged Iowa to continue their membership.
Sally Frudden suggested that the cost of the membership dues be brought to the Board for discussion.
The last sentence of the first paragraph on page 4 was amended to read as follows:
The meeting was held at the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
Rules
Chapter 84 “Financial Incentives for National Board Certification (Adopt)
The State Board approved the Chapter 84, “Financial Incentives for National Board Certification” rules for adoption following a review by Legal Consultant Carol Greta.
Chapter 56, “Vocational Rehabilitation” (Adopt)
The State Board approved the Chapter 56,”Vocational Rehabilitation” rules for adoption.
Appeal
Decisions
Carol Greta, legal consultant reviewed the recommendations for the decision In re Lonnie William Billings. She indicated the Appellant was seeking reversal of the decision of the Burlington Community School District Board of Directors made on January 12, 2004 to uphold a disciplinary decision of its administration. The question posed in the appeal was whether a 30-minute detention was wrongfully issued to Lonnie Billings.
Greg McClain stated concerns he had with the facts of the decision.
Motion: It was moved by Sister Jude Fitzpatrick and seconded by Charles Edwards that the decision of the Board of Directors of the Burlington Community School District made on January 12, 2004, upholding the administration’s disciplinary decision be affirmed.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken on this motion: Ayes: Frudden, Billings, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, Montgomery, Kobberdahl and Vincent. Nay: McClain. The motion passed.
Greta also reviewed the appeal decision In re John Myers. She commented the Appellant was seeking reversal of a decision of the Newell-Fonda Community School District Board of Directors made on April 5, 2004, denying her son’s (“John”) request for open enrollment due to harassment. Three prior cases had served as precedent for this type of appeal and this appeal met the criteria set by those cases.
Motion: It was moved by Sally Frudden and seconded by Jim Billings that the decision of the Newell-Fonda Community School District Board of Directors made on April 5, 2004, to deny John Myer’s late-filed open enrollment request based on harassment, be reversed.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken on this motion. Ayes: Frudden, Billings, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, McClain, Montgomery, Kobberdahl and Vincent. The motion carried unanimously.
Dordt
College Practitioner Preparation Program
Jackie Crawford, Administrative Consultant, Practitioner Preparation presented this agenda item. She also introduced Dr. Dennis Vander Plaats, Chair of the Dordt Education Department, located at the Sioux Center High School site. Crawford reviewed the strengths of the program identified by the review team. She also identified the areas that had benefited from additional attention by the Dordt College administration and staff. The Dordt College practitioner preparation programs are now in full compliance with Iowa standards for program approval.
Motion: Jim Billings moved and Wayne Kobberdahl seconded that the State Board approve the Dordt College practitioner preparation programs through the 2009-2010 academic year.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken on the motion. Ayes: Frudden, Billings, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, McClain, Montgomery, Kobberdahl and Vincent. The motion carried unanimously.
Appeal Decision
Administrative Law Judge, Carol Greta reviewed the appeal decision In re Zach Hodges. She indicated the Appellants were seeking reversal of a decision of the Missouri Valley Community School District Board of Directors made on April 5, 2004, to suspend their son, Zach, for the remainder of the year.
Motion: It was moved by Mary Jean Montgomery and seconded by Sister Jude Fitzpatrick that the decision of the Board of Directors of the Missouri Valley Community School District made on April 5, 2005, be affirmed.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken: Ayes: Billings, Edwards, Fitzpatrick, Kobberdahl, McClain, Montgomery and Frudden. Abstain: Vincent The motion passed.
There was a discussion about two action items that required Board action and it was decided to include these items on the State Board Retreat agenda on June 17.
President Gene Vincent adjourned the meeting at 2:35 p.m.
____________________ ________________________
Gene Vincent Ted Stilwill, Director and
President Executive Officer