MINUTES OF MEETING
State Board of Education
August 12, 2004
The August meeting of the Board of Education was held in the State Board Conference Room, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines. The following Board members were present: Gene Vincent, Sally Frudden, Jim Billings, Charles Edwards, Sister Jude Fitzpatrick, Rosie Hussey, Wayne Kobberdahl, Greg McClain (telephonically), Mary Jean Montgomery and Megan Srinivas. Also present were Department Director Ted Stilwill and Department staff members Gail Sullivan, Janice Friedel, Judy Jeffrey, Lee Tack, Carol Greta, Jackie Crawford, Lana Michelson, Dennis Dykstra, Michelle Wendel, Tom Andersen, Jim Fliehler, Kathi Slaughter and Beverlee Adams. Also present were Dwayne Ferguson and Robin Madison, Legislative Services Agency; Gene Gardner, Iowa Association of Community College Trustees; Hunter Moorman, Institute for Educational Leadership (telephonically); Dave Darnell, Sally Hinders, Barbara Williams, Janet McMahill, and Eunice Meredith, Drake University; Jeffrey Cornett, Dean, Bill Callahan, Greg Reed, University of Northern Iowa; Marc Haack, University of Iowa; and Madelaine Jerousek, Des Moines Register.
President Gene Vincent called the meeting to order at 12:15 p.m.
It was moved by Mary Jean Montgomery and seconded by Sister Jude Fitzpatrick to approve the agenda as written.
There was no public comment.
Sally Frudden reported that Director Stilwill had visited with members of Charles City and surrounding communities about declining enrollments in Iowa and connecting economic development with education. Frudden said that the Governor and Iowa Learns Council released the final report of their recommendations. She indicated the Governor would be attending the September Board meeting to share this report and its priority in his administration.
Dr. Frudden acknowledged that the School Administrators of Iowa had recognized Ted Stilwill with the “Friend of Education” award.
Wayne Kobberdahl – No report
Sister Jude Fitzpatrick – No report
Rosie Hussey indicated the State Board Retreat Committee had met and reminded the Board of the June 15-17, 2005 retreat dates. Hussey appreciated the opportunity she had to attend the New Board Member Orientation at NASBE in July. Ms. Hussey reported she had also attended the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees annual meeting.
Mary Jean Montgomery – No report
Charles Edwards – No report
Megan Srinivas – No report
Jim Billings reported on the Community College Council meeting and also handed out a legislative brochure from IACCT entitled Adding Value to the Lives of Iowans.
Greg McClain – No report
Gene Vincent indicated that the Marshalltown Community School District Board of Education had been selected for the IASB Ted Davidson Award.
Director Ted Stillwill reported on the following items:
Minutes
The minutes of the June 3 and June 17, 2004 meetings were approved.
The State Board approved 281 Iowa Administrative Code, Chapter 79 “Practitioner Preparation Program Approval” for adoption.
Nonpublic School Approvals
Isaac Newton Christian Academy, Cedar Rapids was approved for accreditation of grades preK-8.
Heartland Christian School, Council Bluffs was approved for grades K-6 accreditation.
Rules: Chapter 35 – Extended School Program
Carol Greta, legal consultant presented information on new Chapter 35. She indicated the new chapter implemented the statutory requirement in Iowa Code section 282.1A which directed the State Board to adopt rules for the administration of extended school programs to persons who are beyond the maximum school age. Greta said the legislative intent was to achieve the goal of educating more Iowans and improving Iowa social and economic environments.
Motion: It was moved by Jim Billings and seconded by Charlie Edwards to approve the notice of intended action to establish Chapter 35.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously.
Appeal Decision
Carol Greta, the Department’s administrative law judge, presented an overview of the proposed appeal decision In re Jeremy Johnson. Greta indicated that the Appellant was seeking reversal of the decision of the local Board of Directors of the District made between May 17 and May 24, 2004 to uphold the administration’s decision not to expunge an economics course from his transcript. Ms. Greta recommended approval of the proposed decision as written.
Motion: It was moved by Sally Frudden and seconded by Sister Jude Fitzpatrick to approve the proposed decision In re Jeremy Johnson as written.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously.
Program Approval Recommendations for Educational
Leadership Programs
Director Ted Stilwill noted that the recommendation of this item had been changed to read that all programs be proposed for full approval. Stilwill indicated he and Judy Jeffrey, Division Administrator, had visited all three proposed programs and had visited with their faculty. He reported that major changes had been required in these programs and a major commitment had been made by the colleges to achieve these expectations.
Judy Jeffrey said that Dean Cornett, University of Northern Iowa had asked for the privilege to speak on behalf of the universities.
Cornett, Dean of Education, University of Northern Iowa said his first visit in his current position was with Ted Stilwill and in his experience had never found anyone so knowledgeable and passionate about children and their education. Ted will be missed not only for his technical competence and vast knowledge in education but for his outstanding “ethic of care.” He expressed much appreciation for the exemplary service of Director Stilwill.
Judy Jeffrey, Administrator, Division of Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education had each of the institutions introduce the faculty present for the meeting. UNI – Dean Jeffrey Cornett, Greg Reed and Bill Callahan; Drake University – Sally Hinders, Barbara Williams, Janet McMahill, and Eunice M. Meredith; Uof I – Marc Haack.
Hunter Moorman, Director of the Educational Policy Fellowship Program at the Institute for Educational Leadership in Washington, D.C. was present via telephone. Dr. Moorman reviewed the report of the National Panel for Administrator Preparation Programs. He said the panel made several observations and suggestions for strengthening the overall quality of administrator preparation programs per se and of state policy, program implementation, and monitoring. The panel also believed that these merit the continued attention of the Department and Board of Education. Moorman indicated that the panel also offered the following suggested areas for actions the Department of Education could take to support
implementation of the revised, approved programs and promote continued improvement over time:
· Internship
· Program Integration
· Quality Monitoring Assessment
· Institutional Capacity Building
The panel recommends full approval of programs proposed by the University of Iowa, the University of Northern Iowa and Drake University after review of these three programs.
Motion: Sister Jude Fitzpatrick moved and Rosie Hussey seconded that the administrator preparation programs proposed by the University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Drake University be approved.
Vote: A roll call vote was taken: Aye – Frudden, Billings, Fitzpatrick, Hussey, Kobberdahl, McClain, Montgomery and Vincent. Nay – None Abstain – Charles Edwards. Motion passed.
Practitioner Preparation Program Approvals – Coe
College
Administrative Consultant, Jackie Crawford, Practitioner Preparation, presented this agenda item. Crawford reviewed the strengths of the programs identified by the review team. She also identified the areas that had benefited from additional attention by the Coe College administration and staff. She said the Coe College practitioner preparation programs were in compliance with Iowa standards for program approval.
Motion: It was moved by Wayne Kobberdahl and seconded by Rosie Hussey to approve the Coe College practitioner preparation programs through the 2009-2010 academic year.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously.
Practitioner Preparation Program Approval – Drake University
Jackie Crawford, Administrative Consultant, Practitioner Preparation presented the Drake University program review. She indicated the review team conducted a four-day site visit to the Drake campus. Crawford identified the strengths and suggested areas for improvement to the program.
Motion: It was moved by Jim Billings and seconded by Sally Frudden that the Drake University practitioner preparation programs be approved through the 2009-2010 academic year.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously. (Note: Charles Edwards was out of the room.)
Practitioner Preparation Program Approval – Franciscan University
Administrative Consultant, Jackie Crawford, Practitioner Preparation, introduced this agenda item. Crawford indicated the Franciscan University was proposing the addition of three Master’s Degrees to its practitioner preparation programs 1) Teacher Intern Program; 2) Master of Arts in Teaching for Initial Secondary Licensure; 3) Master of Arts in Teaching, for Initial Secondary Licensure, combined with the Teacher Intern Program. The three new online programs are recommended for a one-year conditional approval with a full review to be conducted during the 2005-06 program approval evaluation.
Motion: Mary Jean Montgomery moved and Rosie Hussey seconded that the Franciscan University three new Master’s Degrees be conditionally approved with a follow-up evaluation to be conducted at the end of the 2004-05 academic year and that the three new online programs be approved for a one-year conditional approval with a full review conducted during 2005-06.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously.
Conditional Approval for Out-of-State Educational Leadership Preparation Program – Northwest Missouri State
Judy Jeffrey, Administrator and Jackie Crawford, Division of Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education reviewed the out-of-state educational leadership preparation program for Northwest Missouri State. Crawford indicated that 2004 legislation was passed, requiring that out-of-state practitioner preparation programs that operate in Iowa must be approved by the Iowa State Board of Education. Northwest Missouri State a) has been offering this program in Iowa for several years; b) has students currently enrolled in the program; and c) cannot receive full State Department of Education approval as the program approval rules have not yet been revised to incorporate out-of-state programs. A one-year conditional approval for the Northwest Missouri State educational leadership program to continue operation in Iowa is recommended.
Ms. Jeffrey said that during that time the program would be reviewed and a recommendation made to the State Board by August 2005. Mary Jean Montgomery and Gene Vincent asked several questions for clarification.
Motion: It was moved by Sally Frudden and seconded by Jim Billings that conditional approval for the Northwest Missouri State educational leadership preparation program be granted for a one-year period, August 2004 through July 2005.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously.
Conditional Approval for Out-of-State Educational
Leadership Preparation Program – Viterbo
Administrative Consultant, Jackie Crawford, Practitioner Preparation, reviewed the Viterbo out-of-state educational leadership preparation program approval request. The program had been operating in Iowa for several years and had students currently enrolled in the program. It is recommended that conditional approval be granted since the administrative rules need to be revised prior to full approval. Following rule revision, Viterbo will be reviewed and a recommendation made to the Board no later than August 2005.
Motion: It was moved by Sister Jude Fitzpatrick and seconded by Rosie Hussey to grant conditional approval for the Viterbo educational leadership preparation program for a one-year period, August 2004 through July 2005.
Vote: The motion carried unanimously.
Special Education Finance Study
Lee Tack, Administrator, Division of Financial and Information Services; Lana Michelson, Chief, and Dennis Dykstra, Consultant, Bureau of Children, Family and Community Services presented the Special Education Finance Study Status Report. Dr. Tack said the committee’s work was to review special education finance and make recommendations, as necessary, addressing the distribution of state, local and federal funding for special education services, both instructional (LEA) and support (AEA), which will be predictable and equitable and will maintain the integrity of the current system.
The committee had held four meetings and some of the issues and themes identified were as follows:
· Data
· High Cost Students
· Early Childhood
· Secondary Transition
· Results for Students with Disabilities
· Prevention and At-Risk
· Special Education Funding
Progress Report: “Shaping the Future: A Five-Year Plan for Iowa’s System of Community Colleges”
Janice Friedel, Administrator, Division of Community College and Workforce Preparation, introduced Gene Gardner, President of the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees and Bettsey Barhorst, President of Hawkeye Community College present for this agenda item. Friedel explained that FY04 marked the third year of implementation of the report. Goal 5 had been added dealing with underrepresented populations and participation of women in nontraditional career programs. The report outlines new initiatives and activities undertaken during FY04 by the Department of Education, the Iowa Association of Community College Presidents, the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees and community colleges individually and collectively to accomplish the goals and initiatives of the statewide community college strategic plan. Dr. Friedel discussed many of the activities that were agreed upon for a statewide agenda.
President Gardner also shared with the Board the public policy recommendations for the community colleges. He reviewed the brochure that IACCT had developed for distribution to provide data about funding needs to be met in Iowa’s community college system.
Janice Friedel introduced and acknowledged Jim Fliehler, Consultant, Division of Community College and Workforce Preparation for all of the work and expertise he had provided in putting the five-year plan report together.
Gene Gardner, President, Iowa Association of Community College Trustees asked for the privilege to share the IACCT appreciation for Director Stilwill and the positive spokesperson he had been for community colleges during his tenure at the Department.
Mary Jean Montgomery had questions regarding Goal 5 and the future of the state initiatives. Tom Anderson, Consultant, said that previous work done with mini grants had created and stimulated conversation at the community college level to discuss what attracts diverse students and to retain them. He felt this conversation had created a more systemic intervention rather than a piecemeal approach. Andersen said he planned to evaluate the data and visit the community colleges to observe what is working and what is the best and most effective way for effective intervention.
Iowa Community Colleges Tuition and Fees Report – 2004-2005 Academic Year
Michelle Wendel, Consultant, Division of Community Colleges and Workforce Preparation presented this agenda item. She indicated the community college tuition and fees report was prepared annually and included trends among the fifteen community colleges as well as comparisons to the Iowa regents institutions and national comparisons. Tosel shared a powerpoint presentation of the following topics:
· General Unrestricted Fund Revenues
· Tuition and Fees Revenues as a Percentage of Total Revenues-FY03
· State Average Tuition-FY 2000 to FY2005
· Tuition and Fees Compared to Surrounding States and National Average-FY2002
President Vincent suggested a change for the September Board meeting to September 16-17. Vincent appointed a committee of Jim Billings, Sister Jude Fitzpatrick and himself to work on travel issues for the Board.
Director Ted Stilwill handed out the September State Board meeting topics.
President Gene Vincent adjourned the meeting at 4:15 p.m.
________________________ ________________________
Gene E. Vincent Ted Stilwill, Director and
President Executive Officer