For Your Information
Vol. 20, No. 15
July 9, 2008
Click here for past issues of the For Your Information newsletter.
STATE BOARD ELECTS NEW OFFICERS
State Board of Education member Randy McKinney started his first term as vice president at the board’s annual K-12 meeting Tuesday.
McKinney was elected by his peers and presides in the absence of Gov. Bob Riley, who is the ex-officio board president. He represents District 1 and has served as a board member since 2003. McKinney succeeds David Byers.
The board also elected Dr. Mary Jane Caylor president pro tem. The district 8 board member will preside in the governor’s and McKinney’s absences.
In other business, the board recognized Dr. John Draper, retiring executive director of the Council for Leaders in Alabama Schools. Dr. Draper has accepted a position with Educational Research Services in Alexandria, Va., as its chief executive officer.
Also on Tuesday, the board authorized the review of teacher education programs at Jacksonville State University and the University of South Alabama and approved the teacher education programs at Spring Hill College.
Resolutions during the meeting included praises to:
- Ann Allison for receiving the “Barbara Fannin Memorial Employee of the Quarter,” July – September 2008;
- Shaneadra Graham from B.B. Comer High School in Talladega County for being named the 2008 Semifinalist for the Royal Bank of Scotland Achievers of the Year; and
- Melissa Hughley for receiving the Gold Apple Teacher Award in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2008.
School accountability reports related to progress made under No Child Left Behind are expected to be announced and released to the public at the board’s Aug. 4 meeting in Montgomery. The board’s next K-12 work session is Aug. 28.
ACCESS Distance Learning Reaches Every High School
Following the K-12 state Board meeting, a press conference was held where the Governor, the state Superintendent of Education Joe Morton and the state Board of Education announced that the $11 million from the 2007 education bond issue would be utilized for ACCESS Distance Learning. ACCESS is an education initiative that will provide opportunities for Alabama High School students to engage in coursework, AP and other electives, which would not ordinarily be available to them through online and interactive video conferencing. Students from any part of the state may be able to learn in a virtual classroom. The expansion will happen in three waves. The first wave has already begun in 63 schools according to Dr. Melinda Maddox, director of technology initiatives. The second wave will start in fall 2008 and the third wave will begin in spring 2009.
JULY 18 LAST DAY FOR DISCOUNT CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
Register by July 18 to take advantage of the discounted pre-registration rate for the July 27-30 Alabama Association of School Boards and Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys Summer Conference at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach. On-site registration will still be available. We’ll “Surf the Wave of Success” we’ve enjoyed in K-12 public schools and continue the effort to improve student success for every child.
What can you expect? Sessions led by change expert Bud Taylor (based on John Kotter’s book Our Iceberg is Melting); AASB Board Development Director LuAnn Bird on the board’s role in creating success for all students; and to discuss public education as Alabama’s wave of the future; Roy Hudson, 2008-09 Alabama Teacher of the Year; Dr. Tommy Bice, state deputy superintendent of education-instructional services; and Craig Pouncey, state assistant superintendent of education-finance.
Other highlights include Monday’s Sand Castle Building Contest for a unique lesson in team building; Tuesday’s Board Presidents Roundtable on “Leadership for Improved Student Achievement;” and Sunday’s Alabama Caucus of Black School Board Members open invitation to all members to discuss “Achievement for All Students.” Click here to register.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR FALL 2008 DISTRICT MEETINGS; “CYBER SPACE IN OUR SCHOOLS : STUDENT ISSUES IN A DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT”
AASB’s fall 2008 district meetings are a valuable training and networking opportunity for our members to learn. So mark your calendar. The meetings will be:
- District 2 – Sept. 15
- District 1 – Sept. 16
- District 5 – Sept. 18
- District 8 – Sept. 22
- District 9 – Sept. 23
- District 7 – Sept. 25
- District 3 – Sept. 29
- District 6 – Sept. 30
- District 4 – Oct. 2
Attendees earn one hour of School Board Member Academy credit. For more information, contact AASB at 334/277-9700.
AASB DISTRICT DIRECTOR ELECTIONS
Check your mail in August for details on AASB’s new procedure for district director elections. The association’s revised bylaws state any active member can self-nominate or nominate another active member for district director by writing the executive director by Sept. 1. AASB will inform the district membership of nominees. Ballots listing the eligible nominees will be mailed to the district members by Oct. 1. Each board within a district gets one vote. The board president will certify that action was taken at a board meeting to choose a nominee, and the ballot must be returned to AASB by Oct. 31. If only one person is nominated, he or she automatically becomes district director. The district will be notified of the election results as soon as they are calculated. This year’s elections will be in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. The current district directors Patsy Black, district 1; Jeff Bailey, district 3; Susan Harris, district 7; and Laura Casey, district 9, are ineligible for reelection because they have served their two term limit under AASB bylaws. District 5, Jennifer Parsons, is eligible for reelection.
T-SHIRTS FOR SALE
AASB still has a few “No Spouse Left Behind” T-shirts left in its inventory. Get yours now by contacting AASB. The shirts will sell for $7 each at summer conference.
SUBMIT PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS FOR DELEGATE ASSEMBLY BY AUG. 15
School board members who wish to propose a resolution for consideration by AASB's Delegate Assembly in December should submit their proposals in writing by Friday, Aug. 15. Send submissions to AASB at 334/270-0000, fax; P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488; or e-mail Sally Howell. Resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly at AASB's annual convention set the association's goals and positions on major education issues.
— Denise L. Berkhalter & Shannon Hendricks,
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
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