For Your Information
Vol. 21, No. 2
January 23, 2009
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
State Board of Education Welcomes
New Member Gary Warren
State Board of Education Vice President Randy McKinney welcomed Gary Warren to his first official state Board of Education work session Thursday.
Warren replaced longtime board member Sandra Ray to represent state Board District 7, which includes Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Marion, Winston, Lamar, Fayette, Walker and Tuscaloosa counties.
Warren and incumbent board members McKinney of District 1, Ella Bell of District 5 and Stephanie Bell of District 3 were all given the oath of office by Gov. Bob Riley at a ceremony following Thursday’s work session.
At age 59, Warren has under his belt two decades of experience as a teacher, school bus driver and a 14-year career as a school administrator.
As he welcomed Warren to Thursday’s work session, McKinney encouraged the new member to ask questions during the reports on the courses of study, proposed special education changes and the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching.
Dr. Mabrey Whetstone, state director of special education services, informed the board that the proposed special education changes he presented simply follow federal regulations effective since December 2008. The following are included among the changes:
- Allows the flexibility to accept out-of-state evaluations to determine initial eligibility for special education services.
- Requires the determination of whether a child has a disability and educational needs to be done within 30 calendar days from the completed initial evaluation.
- Makes clear there is no requirement to amend the child’s education records to remove any references to special education and related services if a parent revokes, in writing, consent for his or her child to receive special ed services.
- Calls for academic goals — in regard to the Individualized Education Program — to be written to general education content standards; or Alabama Extended Standards for students with significant cognitive disabilities; or Developmental Standards for preschool children with disabilities.
- Clarifies the right of any party to a hearing to be accompanied by counsel or individuals with special knowledge/training in problems of children with disabilities (except when otherwise determined under state law).
- Requires school systems to correct any non-compliance identified by the state as soon as possible within one year.
- Requires Gifted Education Plans be developed and signed within 30 days for students initially identified as gifted.
Also at the work session, Dr. Tony Thacker and Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Thomas R. Bice presented Professional Pathways for Alabama Teachers on behalf of the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching. The pathways are a system designed to retain and recognize highly effective teachers, attract new teachers and enhance teaching quality statewide.
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton asked Thacker to investigate funding options for implementing the plan, including any federal dollars that may be available through the new presidential administration’s economic stimulus plan. Morton also suggested the commission outline proposed changes to administrative code related to the “pathways” approach.
In other business, the proposed state course of study for physical education was presented. Recommendations were built around four strands: skill development; cognitive development; social development; and physical activity and health.
The revised health education course of study focused on a “health literacy for life” goal. The strands at the suggested course of study’s foundation are consumer and community health; environmental health; family health; personal health and safety; mental and emotional health; nutrition; prevention and control of disease; and substance use and abuse.
The board’s regular K-12 meeting is Feb. 12, and its next work session is Feb. 26.
GUIDANCE FOR PLACEMENT OF MULTIPLE BIRTH SIBLINGS
Administrators facing the difficult decision of placing twins or multiple birth siblings in the same or separate classrooms now have a new resource guide available online (read the full guide).
Representatives from the state Department of Education, the Alabama Association of School Boards, the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools and the School Superintendents of Alabama met with Rep. Greg Wren in November to discuss alternatives to state legislation to address the issue. The collaborative effort resulted in guidance on this issue that has been disseminated statewide to all principals and superintendents. Because of this joint effort, state legislation that addresses decisions made in each local school should not be necessary.
A survey of school superintendents has shown no school board in Alabama has a policy that automatically separates or places twins or multiples together or apart. That decision is made at the school level. It’s also worth noting that in January 2004, the National Association of Elementary School Principals reported that the National Association of School Psychologists found that research was ambivalent as to whether twins should be separated or not. However, it did urge schools to maintain a flexible perspective and consult with parents to determine what is in the best interest of the children.
SPRING INTO ACTION, REGISTER FOR
MARCH 13-14 LEADERSHIP COURSE
Register now for AASB’s March 13-14 academy course on Leadership for Policy and Planning. Don’t miss your opportunity to work toward another level in AASB’s School Board Member Academy and to discover how policy and planning can be springboards to student success.
Hear the following knowledgeable speakers:
- Jodi Newton of Samford University, Strategic Planning: What’s a Board Member to Do?
- Veteran school board attorney Mark Boardman, Policies That Keep You Out of Trouble;
- Connecticut school boards trainer Nick Caruso, Know the Difference Between Policy & Procedure (So You Won’t Micromanage);
- Educational improvement specialist Susie Olesen, 21st Century Goal Setting along with 21st Century Learning: Student Perspectives.
- Veteran school board attorney Carl Johnson, Polish up your Policy Manual; and
- Dr. Jeff Goodwin of Oxford City Schools, Policymaking that Prepares Graduates for Tomorrow.
Reserve rooms at the Wynfrey Hotel, 800/996-3739 or www.wynfrey.com, enter group code 1AT8KO. Register now. The cost is $125 for members and $250 for non-members. Late registration carries a $10 fee. Call Debora, 800/562-0601.
MARCH 13 EARLY BIRD WORKSHOP
JUMP STARTS SPRING CONFERENCE
The early bird gets the worm, or in this case an introduction to career and technical education, articulation, dual enrollment and the Early College Enrollment Program.
Sherry A. Key, the state Department of Education’s Career and Technical Education Director, will present the early bird workshop Career Technical Education: Spring into 21st Century Careers 1-3 p.m. Friday, March 13, at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. The highly informative session precedes AASB’s spring academy conference and will include discussion of career-tech’s Alabama Success Initiative. Board members who attend can earn academy credit for this workshop.
Reserve rooms at the Wynfrey Hotel, 800/996-3739 or www.wynfrey.com, enter group code 1AT8KO. Register now. The cost is $65 for members and $130 for non-members. Call Debora for details at 800/562-0601.
GET INVOLVED, SERVE ON A COMMITTEE
School board members interested in taking a more active role in AASB are encouraged to volunteer to serve on one of the association’s committees. The standing committees are: Budget and Finance, Nominating, Resolutions and Bylaws. Other committees, such as Multicultural and Academy Advisory, may also be appointed. To volunteer, notify AASB President Sue Helms (928 Highland Circle, Madison, AL 35758; seasah1@knology.net) or contact Executive Director Sally Howell, J.D. (P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123; 800/562-0601; showell@alabamaschoolboards.org). The deadline is Feb. 6.
‘09 SITE VISITS, EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE COMES TO ALABAMA
Presented by the National School Boards Association’s Technology Leadership Network, the 2009 Education Technology Site Visits program showcases the best in high-tech innovation. This year, Alabamians have a home-state advantage and can see innovative strategies in action March 25-27 at Madison City Schools in Madison. Take best practices and apply them in your school system. Experience first-hand the latest technology solutions. Tour schools and ask questions. Register at www.nsba.org/sitevisits. The cost is $375 for Technology Leadership Network members and $435 for non-members. For details, call 800/950-6722.
— Denise L. Berkhalter
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
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