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INNOVATIVE SCHOOLS, EDUCATOR EFFECTIVENESS RESOLUTIONS TABLED UNTIL MAY 27

Interested in knowing the fate of proposals before the state Board of Education for flexibility to innovate in schools and educator evaluations predominantly tied to student progress? Stay tuned.

The educator effectiveness and innovation for school systems resolutions were tabled in a 5-2-1 vote during Thursday’s state board meeting for K-12 until a specially called meeting to follow the May 27 work session.  AASB supports both resolutions.

Debate on the issue Thursday was lengthy and, at times, testy.

Though Dr. Joe Morton, state superintendent, explained the resolutions generally give the state Department of Education a green light to form a committee to outline details and definitions that would address the types of questions raised, some board members were still asking for clarity.  Another concern raised was whether the resolutions were being rushed to satisfy components of Alabama’s Race to the Top application due to the U.S. Department of Education June 1.

 “I have an obligation to thoroughly understand what I’m voting on,” said state board member Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, who moved to table the resolutions. “I don’t want to try hard to get federal money and not have a fair and objective way of evaluating teachers.”
Board members debated the proposals following testimony from the Alabama Education Association’s Dr. Paul Hubbert and three other AEA staffers. The teachers’ association wants a word change in the resolution’s suggestion to use “teacher effectiveness outcomes as the predominant factor in advancing probationary teachers to non-probationary status. They prefer replacing “predominant” for “significant,” though Morton says it waters the resolution down. AEA relayed worries about teachers’ involvement in defining educator effectiveness, as well as certification, evaluation and tenure implications in the resolutions – sparking a few equine analogies.

“Dangle a few federal dollars in front of us, then we’re off to the races,” Hubbert said, pointing to what he thought was a move by assessment companies to nationalize the curriculum. “We always say we believe in local control. … I suggest we’re becoming slave to test makers.”

Morton said the educator effectiveness resolution would recall the Governor’s Commission on Quality Teaching and the Governor’s Congress on School Leadership to help develop definitions for teacher and principal effectiveness and outline how effectiveness measures would be used to improve teacher and principal quality. These groups’ recommendations would come before the state Board of Education in early 2011 for a vote. Morton would like to implement evaluations of educator effectiveness in 2011. To expect those details and definitions before the committees’ work is “getting the cart before the horse,” Morton said.

An appointed committee would also be assembled to help the state education department develop a process to identify, launch, and support Innovation School Systems. These systems would apply to the state superintendent for permission to flex or be exempted from certain state rules, regulations and/or policies to try new approaches to improving student achievement. In return, those systems would be held accountable for certain results.

State board Vice President Randy McKinney and fellow board member David Byers supported both resolutions. McKinney said the resolutions would initiate a process similar to the approval of state courses of study. A committee brings back recommendations to the board for discussion and approval.

“This is something we really need to look at strongly in Alabama … to make sure we have effective teachers and instructional leaders in the classroom. We’re not pre-approving anything, and this stands alone from Race to the Top,” McKinney said. Deputy state Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice and Morton have maintained that these efforts toward reform will continue regardless of Race to the Top.

After several work sessions and reaction to public feedback, the state’s social studies course of study has been unanimously approved. In grades eight and nine, the World History component of the 2004 course of study – a point of contention – was retained in the 2010 course of study (available online at www.alsde.edu).

Also earning the state board’s stamp approval were changes to teacher leader and instructional leadership rules. The state board could vote at its July 13 meeting on planned rules changes to approaches to earning professional educator certificates and to career tech alternative baccalaureate-level certificates. Until then, the board will discuss those in more detail at its May work session.

BOARDS ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW RACE TO THE TOP INFO

The state Department of Education is forging ahead with Alabama’s Race to the Top application due June 1. AASB has been involved in seeking information for and sharing information on behalf of school boards. School board members are encouraged to ask their superintendents for updates on the Memorandum of Understanding process that symbolizes buy-in from local boards of education, as well as any requirements of those MOUs. AASB publicized and participated in a recent SDE webinar on the state’s Race to the Top efforts (download audio at http://www.itybityurl.com/racetothetop/). In addition, AASB District 5 Director Jennifer Parsons has been tapped to serve on the SDE’s Education Reform and Innovation Council, whose work, as well as a draft of Alabama’s phase 2 Race to the Top application, can be found online at http://sites.google.com/site/alabamaracetothetop/ .

BEACH BLAST & WELCOME RECEPTION

During AASB’s 2010 Summer Conference, association President Florence Bellamy and school board members from across Alabama at the Beach Blast and Welcome Reception Sunday, June 13. The event kicks off at 6:15 p.m. on the beach deck. Families are welcome to attend, and the event is FREE! 
Enjoy light refreshments prior to the 7 p.m. Sand Castle Building Contest – a team-building exercise sponsored by American Fidelity and Assurance. If your family or board wins, your school system wins! Monetary prizes will be awarded to the school system of the first-, second- and third-place winners. Whether a spectator or bucket-and-pail aficionado, we hope to see you there! If you haven’t registered your team, there is still time to do so at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or by calling 800/562-0601.

DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR SUMMER CONFERENCE DISCOUNT IS JUNE 4

Many of you have reserved hotel accommodations for the 2010 AASB/ACSBA Summer Conference. Now it’s time to register. Enjoy a pre-registration discount if you complete your registration online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org by June 4. Any registration changes should also be made by that date to avoid penalty.

The Alabama Association of School Boards and Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys conferences offer highly informative sessions. ACSBA gathers for its programming June 13-14. AASB’s Roles and Responsibilities Orientation course for new board members and veterans in need of a refresher on the basics is set for June 12-13.

The main AASB conference offers a variety of speakers and content around its “Build Winning Teams for a Brighter Future” theme from June 13 through June 15. Sessions include Leadership Through the Eyes of a Zebra with NFL referee Walt Coleman; Explore the Connection: Board-Superintendent Relationships & Student Achievement along with Leadership That Improves Achievement and Avoids Micromanaging presented by Dr. Thomas Alsbury of North Carolina State University; and an in-depth look at the board-superintendent relationship and avoiding team conflict.

Discount accommodations remain at The Island House hotel (800/264-2642) with the AASB block rate of $165 (Sunday-Thursday) and $179 (Friday-Saturday) using group number 2296182. Accommodations are also available at Phoenix Condominiums 6, 7, 8 (just west of the Perdido) with group number 1293816 (call 888/358-1698 for reservations). A waiting list is being held for the nearby conference headquarters, the Perdido Hotel. Contact AASB at 800/562-0601 with questions.

FREE WEBINAR FOR BOARD & SUPERINTENDENT SECRETARIES

Calling all school board and superintendent secretaries! AASB and strategic partner eBOARDsolutions will provide a free webinar just for you! Learn how to update your profile and the profiles of your school board members and superintendents within AASB's eMEMBERSHIP database. Discover the tricks and tips for registering your board for AASB events and training with ease. As an added bonus, get the latest information about going paperless with your board meetings. The webinar is 10-11 a.m. central time and is available on two dates for your convenience, June 22 or June 30. Register today! Space is limited.

• Tuesday, June 22: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/665515779
• Wednesday, June 30: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/341059907

Contact AASB with questions, 800/562-0601 or dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org.

AASB SURVEY DEADLINE JUNE 1

The Alabama Association of School Boards needs a few minutes of your time. Please take a moment to complete the membership survey online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/Survey.html by June 1. Those completing the survey by the deadline will be entered into a drawing for FREE REGISTRATION to attend an upcoming AASB Academy Conference. If you would prefer a faxed copy, please contact Donna (dnorris@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org) at 800/562-0601. Your opinion matters!

SUBMIT YOUR AASB CONVENTION CLINIC SESSION PROPOSALS

AASB is searching for the best-kept secrets in Alabama's public schools. If you have an outstanding idea, unique approach or innovative solution to a perplexing problem in education, tell school board members across the state! Submit a proposal online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org to present a clinic session on Dec. 3 during AASB’s Annual Convention at the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. Topics might include programs that have a proven record for improving student achievement, effective board leadership and governance practices, navigating legal issues or using the latest technology to engage students in the classroom. Contact AASB for details at Angela.Ing@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or 800/562-0601. Proposals are due May 29.

AASB’S MEDICAID ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMING PROGRAM
BRINGS IN $100 MILLION FOR SCHOOLS

Since its inception, AASB’s Medicaid Administrative Claiming program has returned more than $100 million to local school boards. Every penny counts in a struggling economy. Participating school systems across the state have received some great news regarding MAC in recent weeks. In the October-December 2009 quarter, MAC checks represented a significant increase in reimbursement compared to recent quarters. The MAC claim increase is due to several factors, including an increase in Medicaid enrollment in the state of Alabama.  AASB and Fairbanks were able to work hand-in-hand with the Alabama Medicaid Agency to obtain approval to apply the Medicaid enrollment on a more frequent and timely basis for MAC claim calculation purposes.  The increase to the October-December 2009 MAC claim is a direct result of these efforts and the Alabama Medicaid Agency’s proactive willingness to work with AASB and Fairbanks to allow these additional monies to be released to school systems at such a critical time. 

The opportunity for reclaiming funding doesn’t stop there. AASB encourages all school systems to participate in the association’s Medicaid Direct Bill program.  Direct bill is simply another largely untapped source of Medicaid revenue for school systems providing reimbursement for direct therapy services.  Given the increase in Medicaid enrollment across the state, AASB would anticipate that Medicaid direct bill reimbursement levels will also increase.  For more information regarding any of AASB’s Medicaid reimbursement programs, please contact Fairbanks at 888/321-1225. 

GRADUATION RATE WEBINAR SET FOR MAY 17 AT 10 A.M.

The state Department of Education is hosting a webinar May 17 at 10 a.m. to discuss the new graduation rate targets. Alabama has been granted permission by the U.S. Department of Education to use a variety of methods to calculate the graduation rate academic indicator for high schools under No Child Left Behind. To participate in the webinar, contact SDE Assessment and Accountability at 334/242-8038.

2010-2011 ALABAMA TEACHER OF THE YEAR NAMED

The 2010-2011 Alabama Teacher of the Year is Phil Rodney Wilson, who teaches music to first-fifth graders at Ogletree Elementary School in the Auburn City School System. Geneva High School’s Cathy Coleman Bennett was named Alternate and Secondary Teacher of the Year. Bennett is a math teacher at Geneva High School. Both were honored at the recent 2010 Alabama Stars in Education Awards, which also celebrated Alabama Public Television’s Young Heroes Award winners Carlissa Brown of Highland Home, Mackenzie Derr of Vestavia Hills, Shawn Dillard of Decatur, Christopher Gray of Birmingham and Stephen Tyree of Berry.

LOOKING FOR YOUR LEGISLATIVE NEWS?

Check your mail for the most recent AASB Leg-Alert newsletter outlining the enacted bills from the 2010 Regular Legislative Session that have become law. For a copy of acts, view government records at www.sos.state.al.us or call AASB at 800/562-0601. Read previous issues of Leg-Alert online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/LegAlert.htm. If you haven’t been receiving your e-newsletter, we may not have your updated e-mail address. Send your preferred e-mail address to Debora Hendricks, AASB Membership Coordinator, at dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or visit AlabamaSchoolBoards.org and log in to eMEMBERSHIP using your assigned username and password to update your profile.

REQUEST YOUR AASB MEMBERSHIP CARD

AASB’s membership cards are now available upon request from current, paid members. In addition to serving as a handy reference on how to contact AASB, the card entitles you (non-transferable) to free admission to any state championship playoff game sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Association. To request your card, contact dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or 800/562-0601.

FEELING SOCIAL? CONNECT WITH AASB

      Stay on top of the latest education news and AASB information by connecting with us via Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/alaschoolboards), Twitter (http://twitter.com/AlaSchoolBoards) 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.