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RULES MAY BE WAIVED TO ALLOW SYSTEMS FLEXIBILITY TO INNOVATE

Alabama’s recent charter school debate included a persistent question. Why not give existing school systems the flexibility, offered to potential charters, to innovate in ways that produce college- and career-ready graduates?

In the wake of a charter impasse, that opportunity may come.

At Thursday’s state Board of Education work session for K-12, Deputy State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice proposed a resolution that increases school systems’ flexibility to engage in innovative practices and approaches to transform the persistently lowest achieving schools into high-performing schools within the five-year contract period.

The flexibility comes with a price. Systems will apply for the flexibility and enter a contractual agreement with the state board accepting increased accountability measures. At least two measures would be chosen and could include high school graduation rates, SAT or ACT performance, state standardized test data, teacher and principal effectiveness data and Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate participation/performance.

In return, the state education department could waive rules in such areas as expenditure controls, certification requirements, extended learning times and salary schedule requirements to include monetary rewards above the minimum state salary.
It takes state board and state education department action to waive rules and regulations in a way that frees systems to innovate. Department officials said adjustments or waivers to state law are another matter that would need to be hammered out.

The state board takes up the resolution at its May 13 regular K-12 meeting. If approved, the resolution jumpstarts a process to identify, launch and support Innovative School Systems. Read the presentation online.

Educator effectiveness was also on the work session agenda Thursday. To boost quality in education, state department officials want to ensure effective teachers and principals are in every school. To accomplish that end, the board is considering results from multiple, objective measures of student learning to evaluate teacher and principal effectiveness. The results of those effectiveness measures would inform decisions to recruit, hire, assign, transfer, layoff or dismiss educators.

May 13, the state board will consider a resolution to approve the use of student learning measures as the “predominant measure of teacher and principal effectiveness in educator evaluation systems” effective for the 2011 school year. The resolution would also make teacher effectiveness outcomes the leading factor in making a probationary teacher, non-probationary. School board actions still must comply with state tenure law, however.

If the board approves the educator effectiveness resolution, which drew concern about fairness from member Ella Bell, a committee would be formed to work with the state Department of Education on defining teacher and principal effectiveness. The committee would also determine how to fairly and effectively measure effectiveness and to use those measures to improve teacher and principal quality in a way that improves student learning and achievement. The committee would present its recommendations to the state board in early 2011.  

The state board may finally put its stamp of approval on the oft-discussed 2010 Social Studies Course of Study. The revised document addresses concerns expressed by state board members, including Betty Peters, and public concerns about the sequence of the courses. Though the sequence is in line with the 2004 courses, school systems can request permission from the state education department to realign courses for instructional reasons. Visit www.alsde.edu to see the proposed course of study.

There will be opportunities for feedback on a proposed amendment to rules regarding baccalaureate-level, career-tech teacher certification in health science.  Career and Technical Education Director Sherry Key presented a proposal that would ease experienced allied health professionals’ transition into the classroom. Key says health science careers are in high demand, and the pool of educators from that field could benefit from the proposed change. The state board is expected to announce its intent to make the rule change at its May meeting, to vote in July. If approved, the change would be implemented in August.

BUILD A WINNING TEAM, REGISTER FOR SUMMER CONFERENCE TODAY!

Looking for a guidepost on improving and sustaining the school board’s relationship with its superintendent? During the June 13-15 AASB Summer Conference, two very special sessions will provide you with the tools and information you need to work better as a team. The sessions are “Relationships That Last: Creating Stability in Leadership” and “Relationships That Work: Effectively Evaluating Your Superintendent.” And there’s more. National Football League referee Walt Coleman will inspire you with his presentation, “Leadership Through the Eyes of a Zebra.” Coleman draws on his experience to teach boards how to “throw the flag” on dysfunction and focus instead on how to build an effective team.

North Carolina State University’s associate professor of educational administration, Dr. Thomas Alsbury, draws on his years of experience in K-12 education to “Explore the Connection: Board-Superintendent Relationships & Student Achievement,” as well as “Leadership That Improves Achievement and Avoids Micromanaging.” Alsbury and Dr. Meredith Mountford of the Florida Atlantic University Department of Educational Leadership will also co-present an optional bonus session on “Understanding and Avoiding Conflict on Your Team.”

Another highlight will be a Governor Candidates Forum.
So register online today at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org by June 4 to receive the conference discount. Summer housing at The Perdido Hotel (800/634-8001, mention AASB and group code 5239) is going fast. The deadline to book any remaining rooms at the discounted price is May 18.

At the same conference hotel, the Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys will gather for their June 13-14 Summer Conference. The new board member orientation course – formerly Leadership I and renamed Roles and Responsibilities Orientation – is set for June 12-13. This core School Board Member Academy course is also open to veteran board members interested in a refresher on board basics. Superintendents and fellow board members are encouraged to attend this leadership orientation course with their new board members. Registration brochures have been mailed, but you may also download one online. To learn more about the conference that will help you “Build Winning Teams for a Brighter Future,” contact AASB at 800/562-0601 or dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

SAND CASTLE BATTLE WAGED

On the kick-off date of the AASB Annual Summer Conference, the gauntlet will be dropped, the shovels will be wielded and the sand construction will commence! If your team has what it takes to unseat Perry County, the reigning champs, sign up today for the June 13 Sand Castle Building Contest sponsored by American Fidelity Insurance. This is your chance to show off your family or board’s team-building skills.  If your group wins, your school system wins!  Prizes will be awarded to the school systems of the first-, second- and third-place winners.  Pre-register for this fun-filled event at 7 p.m. Sunday by calling 800/562-0601 or sending a list of your participants to dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR APRIL 28 SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING

Sexual harassment training for personnel is not something you’d like to put on the back burner, neither for the sake of a productive work environment nor for legal reasons. Register online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org today if you’re not sure that your board of education has the proper policies and procedures in place or that your administrators and staff are aware of the legal definition and implications of sexual harassment. Education law expert and attorney JoClaudia Moore of Balch & Bingham LLP will share with you What Every Education Leader & Administrator Should Know About Sexual Harassment on April 28, from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. central time. No travel required. Just dial in and log in. The cost is only $40 per individual caller and $150 per group. The workshop is intended for school board members, human resource personnel, superintendents, principals and board attorneys.

EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE

The 2010 FY budget needs zero or flat growth to avoid further proration this year.  There is cautious optimism that this will occur, though receipts will need to show a slight increase over the remainder of the fiscal year.

The growth rate in Education Trust Fund receipts through March is -1.77 percent. For the upcoming fiscal year, the ETF would need to grow by 1.175 percent to fully fund the enacted 2011 FY budget.  It is still too soon to forecast whether there will be sufficient growth to fund next year’s budget.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK MAY 2-8

The national PTA encourages your participation in Teacher Appreciation Week 2010 May 2-8. Plan to host a teacher appreciation event in your school or community. Teacher Appreciation Day is May 4. Download activity ideas, posters, timelines, and other resources.

ALABAMA TO RECEIVE $58 MILLION GRANT

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced Thursday that Alabama will receive more than $58 million to turn around its persistently lowest achieving schools through the federal School Improvement Grants program. Alabama tapped $58,052,413 of the $3.5 billion that will be made available to states this spring from money set aside in the 2009 budget and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Alabama’s SIG dollars will be distributed by the state on a competitive basis to school systems that apply to the state and have at least one school identified as “persistently lowest achieving” or a Tier III school – meaning a school that isn’t identified as “persistently lowest achieving” but has failed to meet annual yearly progress for two years. Tier III schools receive the SIG dollars left after all of the state's persistently lowest achieving schools have received funds. School systems must apply to the state for the funds this spring for use in the fall.

Read Alabama's application, which includes its list of persistently lowest achieving schools, as defined by the state: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/sif/summary/index.html

FEELING SOCIAL? CONNECT WITH AASB

Stay on top of the latest education news and AASB information by connecting with us via Facebook, Twitter or taking advantage of our free iPhone/Blackberry smart phone application (search for BoardCast at the iTunes store). To find out more, visit www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or send an e-mail to info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org. 

Special thanks to AASB’s business partners, eBOARDsolutions, Inc. and High Ground Solutions, Inc. To learn more or to schedule your free webinar or demonstration, contact AASB at info@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

— Denise L. Berkhalter,
publicrelations@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org

Alabama Association of School Boards:
Developing excellent school board leaders through quality training, advocacy and services.