SEPTEMBER MINUTES
Curriculum Coordination Committee
Minutes of the September 2009 Meeting
The meeting of the CCC was called to order by chairperson Brenda Siems at 4:00 P.M. on Wednesday, September 9, 2009 in the ITV room. Members present were Jimmy Feeney, Steve Dennis, Steve Heithoff, Brenda Siems, Melissa Heithoff, Lori Widger, Stacy Shumake-Henn, Linda Grosserode, Deb Jones and Barb Bode.
The minutes of the May meeting were read. Mrs. Bode made a motion to approve, seconded by Deb Jones. Motion passed.
Old Business
In old business, Mrs. Schumake-Henn reported on the
approval of the local language arts standards. The SAC committee
met in June to get familiar with the new draft of state standards.
Their task is to align our standards with the state standards with
ours being more rigorous. The language arts teachers adopted the
state standards as Elgin Public Schools standards and revised the
sections that the state didn’t cover that the teachers felt were
important to include. They are still in the process of revising.
When they finish, copies will be given to the CCC for approval and
then sent to the Elgin school board to adopt.
The ACT test score results were reviewed by the committee. They
were positive scores and compare well with the state overall
averages. Math was the highest scoring area for our students. We
wondered how our scores would compare with the rest or the Northern
Tier schools. Mrs. Bode could possibly find the answers.
The report of the external visitation team to all the Northern Tier Schools was distributed to the CCC. After discussion, it was decided that the report was a positive for the schools involved. There are always issues which can be improved and areas that are going very well.
Ms. Siems and Mrs. Shumake-Henn brought the SA grading system by
Paul Ekberg to our attention. Both teachers had used the system in
the spring to grade essays as a practice session for the state
writing tests. There were 3 prompts that could be used as a
practice essay, but only one really aligned with the actual test.
There are still some glitches in the grading system of the practice
essays and Mrs. Shumake-Henn brought those to Paul’s’ attention. It
is a beneficial system and will probably be used again as practice
before state tests begin.
New Business
We will be using the Terra Nova test as our achievement
tests again this year. However, the tests will be given in the fall
sometime during the window between October 19 and November 13,
2009. The superintendents will decide within the Northern Tier what
grades will be tested. At this time, no decision has been made.
Mrs. Bode said the Northern Tier schools will share the test
booklets. ESU 8 has a diagnostic to help prepare students for the
state tests which will be administered in the spring of 2010.
Mrs. Bode informed us about a prep test for the ACT exam. It is
the John Baylor ACT test prep which gives students the mind set and
mechanics needed to take the ACT their junior-senior years. This
would be a good preparation tool for the students; however it is
expensive to purchase the program. ESU 8 can get a reduced rate and
we could possibly share the prep test within the service unit.
Also in new business, the state department initiative for electronic transcripts is in place. Mrs. Bode has registered Elgin Public Schools for this new program and is ready to do the next step. Schools can now electronically send transcripts to colleges and universities.
There is a new program that will be presented to schools through
the NE Dept. of Education called PBS (Positive Behavior System).
There could be a grant through the Dept. of Ed to fund the program
and present the program to the teaching staff. It is a program that
“catches the child being good”. There are simple rules which are
taught to the students and they are meant to give positive
reinforcement back for doing rules correctly. Elgin could use a
late start for training the faculty to use this program in the
future.
Also a program new to schools through the state department will be RTI (Response To Intervention). This would be incorporated as a pre-SPED program and is a long process in which the school psychologist would be involved. Students would receive help with problem solving to improve in areas of education.
P3R was also discussed. It is a middle school bullying program.
The discussion from the CCC was would it be possible for the
guidance counselor to handle discussions of this topic in guidance
classes.
The last item discussed was the CCC officers for the 2009-2010
school year. Secretary will be Krista Eisenhauer, Vice chairperson
is Deb Jones and Chairperson is Stacy Shumake-Henn.
The next meeting was set for October 7, 2009 in the ITV room at
4:00 P.M. Supper will be served by Lori Widger and Melissa Heithoff
after the meeting. The CCC meeting was adjourned.
Submitted by Deb Jones, Secretary
