Vol. 22, No. 5
March 12, 2010
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STATE BOARD EXPECTS FEEDBACK ON
RACE TO THE TOP APPLICATION IN APRIL
Alabama expects feedback in April on its rejected Race to the Top application that would’ve resulted in an estimated $200 million of the $4.35 billion in federal school reform grants.
At Thursday’s state Board of Education meeting for K-12, state Superintendent of Education Dr. Joe Morton said all but one of the 16 finalists vying for the first round of grants have a charter law on the books. Kentucky, he said, has a “quasi-charter law.”
In 1990, Kentucky became the only state in the nation to authorize school-based, decision-making councils that include teachers, parents and administrators. According to Kentucky’s Race to the Top application, the site-based councils create “an environment for all public schools to become innovative and autonomous.”
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has said states don’t have to have a charter school law to successfully compete for Race to the Top. Duncan also said only a few states will be selected among the 16 in April as winners of the first round. The remaining states in the original pool of 41 applicants have until June 1 to refine their applications and reapply. Morton says Alabama will compete in the second round.
Finalists, who go to Washington to present their proposals next week, also include: the District of Columbia, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Morton asked the state to “keep the door open on charter schools.” Whether or not a state had a charter school law was worth 40 of the 500 application points.
The state superintendent also reminded the board that Alabama participated in a joint effort among 51 states, territories and the District of Columbia to develop common core standards for K-12. The Council of Chief State School Officers and the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices recently released the draft standards for public comment. Feedback will be taken through April 2. To read the suggested standards, go to www.corestandards.org.
At Thursday’s meeting, Morton praised the Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative when the board passed resolutions honoring the state’s two mathematics and two science 2009 Presidential Award finalists. He joined state Board Vice President Randy McKinney in asking AMSTI fans to write the Legislature. Morton also said the Alabama Reading Initiative and ACCESS distance learning are “too valuable to cut.”
Public comment continues through April 8 on proposed changes to the administrative rules regarding teacher leaders and instructional leaders. Those who completed out-of-state education administration programs have until Aug. 31 to apply for the Alabama Professional Educator Certificate in educational administration or instructional leadership. To review the proposed rules changes, visit www.alsde.edu, where the new requirement for five Professional Learning Units to renew an Instructional Leadership Certificate, is also posted. The deadline to meet the PLU requirement is Sept. 1, with the application due Dec. 31.
In other business, the board approved later editions of textbooks and nominees for the Alabama School of Fine Arts Board of Trustees. The state board’s work session for K-12 will be March 25.
EDUCATION TRUST FUND UPDATE
Receipts to the Education Trust Fund declined sharply in February compared to February of last year, resulting in a 2.48 percent year-to-date decline. The cumulative numbers are still being influenced by specific one-time events such as excess utility tax deposits to be credited back to utility companies and a reduction in debt to be paid out of sales tax. However, the timing of certain actions, namely income tax refunds, is impacting the analysis of monthly receipts the most by creating volatile monthly swings in net income tax receipts. There is still cautious optimism that total receipts for the current fiscal year will support the 2010 fiscal year budget, though the possibility of additional proration exists.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY CONFERENCE PRE-REGISTRATION CLOSES MARCH 15
Hurry for discounted registration to attend AASB’s School Board Member Academy core course on Leadership for Financial Accountability March 19-20 at The Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham. The conference pre-registration fee is $125 for members and $250 for non-members and includes all conference materials, breaks and breakfast on Saturday. Attend this spring conference to discover the value in funding what matters most and to learn how to create economic hope in this languishing economy. The course earns you six academy hours.
Earn two additional academy hours by attending the March 19 early bird workshop, Governing for Higher Achievement, to learn from board-superintendent teams who participate in Alabama’s Governing for Achievement Project. They’ll help you understand how boards impact student learning. Governing for Achievement is an accredited program. The early bird workshop fee is $65 for members and $130 for non-members.
After March 15, a $10 late fee will be added to onsite registrations. To find out more, contact Debora Hendricks at dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or call 800/562-0601.
SUMMER CONFERENCE 2010: BUILD WINNING TEAMS FOR A BRIGHTER FUTURE
Form winning board-superintendent relationships that impact student achievement! Attend the 2010 AASB Summer Conference to learn how. Discounted summer housing is available, but going fast! Reserve yours now by contacting the host property, The Perdido Hotel in Baldwin County (800/634-8001). Mention AASB to receive the discounted rate. At the annual conference, that runs June 13-15, you’ll connect the dots between board-superintendent relationships and student achievement; develop strong team relationships; and understand how to expand the board’s role in student achievement without micromanaging.
Don’t miss this highly informative and educational conference. Keynote speakers include National Football League referee and motivational speaker Walt Coleman; educational administration expert Dr. Thomas Alsbury; and those vying for Alabama governor in a scheduled Governor Candidates Forum. Other conference highlights include: a Leader to Leader breakfast on Saturday to update legislative and grassroots education budget efforts; a presentation of Alabama’s superintendent turnover data; advice on effectively evaluating superintendents; and an interactive, in-depth bonus session led by Alsbury for full board-superintendent teams and interested individual board members who want to learn root causes of tension and how to avoid conflict.
The Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys conference, June 13-14, will feature a full program on education law and related topics. Plans are under way. ACSBA conference attendees may earn CLE credits which will be applied for by AASB.
Earn up to nine School Board Member Academy hours for attending the main AASB conference and bonus session. Those who attend the June 12-13 Roles and Responsibilities Orientation (formerly Leadership I) for new board members will earn an additional eight credit hours. Watch the mail and the AlabamaSchoolBoards.org website for registration information.
GOT SKILLS? SIGN UP FOR AASB’S SAND CASTLE BUILDING COMPETITION
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 reining 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 sending a list of your participants to Debora Hendricks at dhendricks@AlabamaSchoolBoards.org or calling 800/562-0601.
CALLING ALL NEW BOARD MEMBERS FOR TRAINING
To better reflect the training offered through AASB’s required, two-part leadership orientation for new school board members, AASB has changed the name of Leadership I to Roles and Responsibilities Orientation. Leadership II has been renamed Effective Boards and Relationships Orientation.
If you are brand new to board service and trying to get a better feel for the job and a clearer understanding of the board’s role, sign up for the Roles and Responsibilities Orientation to be held June 12-13 at The Perdido Hotel in Baldwin County. Veterans who want to refresh themselves on the basics are also invited to attend. Attendees will earn eight credit hours. This course is necessary to advance in the School Board Member Academy and covers board basics such as ethics, public relations, legal issues and finance, the board’s role in governing for higher student achievement, as well as other important topics. Pre-registration for AASB members is $120 and includes all materials, meals and coffee breaks. Hotel reservations must be made directly with The Perdido Hotel in Baldwin County (800/634-8001, mention AASB to receive the discounted rate).
FEEDBACK NEEDED, SURVEY ENDS MARCH 31
If you are a board member who hasn’t reached the first level of the School Board Member Academy, AASB needs your feedback. Please take just 10- to 15-minutes of your time to complete the survey online at www.AlabamaSchoolBoards.org/Survey.html by March 31. 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 Norris at 800/562-0601. Your opinion matters!
ETHICS FORMS DUE APRIL 30
It’s time for school board members and superintendents to file annual financial disclosure forms with the state Ethics Commission. The forms, for the 2009 calendar year, must be filed no later than April 30 except for candidates who must file simultaneously with their qualifying forms under Section 36-25-15 of the Code of Alabama. To download the form, visit the Ethics Commission’s web site at http://ethics.alabama.gov/ or, if you have questions, contact the commission at 334/242-2997.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AASB’S EXPANDED GOVERNANCE CONSULTING SERVICES
Using the latest research in governing for student achievement, AASB is expanding its governance consulting services. Consultants are available to help with many issues including:
- Governing for higher student achievement;
- Team building for effective boardmanship;
- Board meetings that matter;
- Understanding school finance; and
- Governance and ethics.
In the face of increasing educational challenges, boards are looking for ways to improve their performance. AASB consultants can also facilitate retreats, workshops and programs designed to meet the unique needs of a school board. To learn more about how school boards can focus their governing on student achievement, contact LuAnn Bird, AASB governance consultant.
FREE WEBINARS & DEMONSTRATIONS
Looking to go paperless? AASB’s strategic partner, eBoardsolutions Inc., offers free webinars and on-demand videos on Paperless Board Meetings, Strategic Planning and More! Learn more at www.eboardsolutions.com.
Is your community not engaged? AASB’s strategic partner, High Ground Solutions Inc., can help you engage your community by keeping them informed. High Ground Solutions’ SchoolCast product provides messaging via multiple communication vehicles – e-mail, text messages, cell or landline voice calls, and PDAs/Blackberries. Learn more at www.highgroundsolutions.com/schoolcast.html.
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.
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