State Board Update- May 23, 2013

The State Board of Education met in a work session today in Montgomery with all regular board members in attendance with the exception of Betty Peters. Items on the meeting agenda included the following: 

Introduction and update – Dr. Tommy Bice introduced Dr. John Augenblick, consulting firm of Augenblick, Palaich and Associates, Inc. (APA), from Denver, Colorado, who gave information and an overview of the process that will be used to review the equity and adequacy of Alabama’s finance system. The firm has 30 years experience in school finance issues and has conducted financial studies in all 50 states. Dr. Augenblick indicated, although some information will be available in several months, the entire process could take approximately 1½ years.

Financial Information / Rationale from Previous Work Session

Legislative Recap – State Superintendent Dr. Tommy Bice discussed and reviewed the process for developing PLAN2020 which was used to guide and develop the SBE/SDE 2014 budget request.  He indicated that the budget request submitted by the SBE was based on realistic actual needs without requesting any new funding.  According to Dr. Bice, in the final version passed the legislature, only one budget priority was accepted and monies were actually reduced.  He suggested that he, along with the department’s staff, spent the majority of the legislative session defending their work, addressing issues related to the mission of data collection, standards, and the false accusations specific to a misappropriation of funds. Dr. Bice regretfully reported this was a huge distraction although he challenged the SDE staff not to lose sight of the SBE’s plan to move education forward. Dr. Craig Pouncey, Chief of Staff, gave a comparison/overview of the SBE’s request and the final budget as passed by the Legislature.        

    Final 2014 Budget Information / Comparison

Resolution to Approve Nominations for Two Open Positions on the Alabama School of Fine Arts Board of Trustees

Click here to Review Rationale for Intent to Amend Listed Below

Announce Intent to Amend Alabama Administrative Code, Rule No. 290-3-2-.12, Pertaining to Career and Technical Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Certificate (CT-ABC) Approach for Individuals Issued a First CT ABC Beginning with the 2011-2012 Scholastic Year and Thereafter

Announce Intent to Amend Alabama Administrative Code, Rule No. 290-3-2-.23, Pertaining to Specialty Area Career and Technical Certificate in a Technical Education Program Area Approach

Announce Intent to Amend Alabama Administrative Code, Rule No. 290-3-2-.24, Pertaining to Specialty Area Career and Technical Certificate in Health Science Approach

Announce Intent to Amend Alabama Administrative Code, Rule No. 290-3-2-.26, Pertaining to Career and Technical Education Temporary Certificate (CTE T).

Resolution Commending Gail Blankenship Upon the Occasion of Her Retirement

Resolution Commending 2013 National Excellence in Urban Education Award Winner  Morris Slingluff Elementary School, Dothan City Schools

Resolution Commending 2013 National Excellence in Urban Education Award Winner  Glen Iris Elementary School, Birmingham City Schools

Resolution Commending 2013 American Association of Family and Consumer Services (AAFCS) National Teacher of the Year Marsha Carter, Florence High School, Florence City Schools

Resolution Commending Bob Jones High School Senior Martin A. Wang on His Selection as a 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholar

Resolution Commending Bob Jones High School Senior David M. Hergenroeder on His Selection as a 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholar

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama

The next State Board meeting is scheduled for June 13, 2013, while the next Board work session will be held June 27, 2013, both at the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery, Alabama.

L. Earl Franks, CAE
Executive Director
(800) 239-3616
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www.clasleaders.org

State Board Update- April 25, 2013

The State Board of Education met in a work session today in Montgomery with all regular board members in attendance.

The meeting began with a very lengthy discussion on boardsmanship protocol, specific to individual board members speaking publically in opposition of prior board adopted policies and programs such as the common core standards. Mary Scott Hunter asked Dr. Bice to present a code of conduct for the board to consider. Stephanie Bell suggested this document was not needed and that the board should be very careful in going in this direction as misconduct actions can potentially be used in political campaigns against board members. Additional discussion focused on the need, or lack thereof, to enter in executive session to discuss the good name and character of Dr. Tommy Bice and the alleged accusations from unnamed sources that he misappropriated funds from ARI, etc. After a majority vote to go into executive session, and the apparent neglect of parliamentary procedure, dialogue began about an email which contained these allegations. Stephanie Bell indicated that she did not send the email and that her name was used as a tag line at the bottom. After lengthy debate about the purposes and legalities by SDE general counsel, the Board decided not to adjourn to executive session but discussed it in open session. Dr. Bice reiterated, as he has in the past, how department funds were appropriated and dispersed and that these accusations have publically been circulated during the common core debate. The board then continued with the printed agenda. Items on the meeting agenda included the following: 

A Preliminary Review of the Equity and Adequacy of Alabama’s School Finance – Dr. Craig Pouncey stated that this review of the funding scheme was part of PLAN2020 and could take 12-14 months to conduct. Click on the presentation below for recommendations for the proposed process.

Click here to view presentation

Data Security – Dr. Bice gave an overview of the student data that was collected by the department and procedures for safeguarding this information. Dr. Bice stated that the next step in educating board members in this area was to show them this data collection area at the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery.

CTE Teacher Certification/Options – Dr. Phillip Cleveland explained the proposed plan for new specialty area certification for career and technical education

Click here to view documents

Resolution Commending the 2013-2014 District Teachers of the Year

Resolution Commending Angela (Angie) Hicks Whittington, Appalachian School, Blount County School System, Recipient of the Outstanding Local School Business Official Award

Resolution Commending Sherri Hill, Albertville City School System, Recipient of the Outstanding School Business Official Award

Resolution Commending Avery Embry, Talladega County School System, Recipient of the Robert L. Morton Award

Resolution Celebrating National Distinguished Principals, Alabama Award  Winner, Hope Zeanah

Resolution Commending Fayetteville High School, Talladega County School System, as State Nominee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award

Resolution Commending Harriett W. Gwin Elementary School, Hoover City School System, as State Nominee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award

Resolution Commending Talladega County School System as District State Nominee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award

Resolution Commending Munford Middle School and Munford High School, Talladega County School System, as State Nominees for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award

Resolution Recognizing Alabama Forever and the Jeremiah Castille Foundation for Providing 600 “Bags of Hope” to Tuscaloosa and Birmingham Elementary School Students

Resolution Commending Schools Receiving the Healthier US School Challenge Gold Award of Distinction, U. S. Department of Education, for Promoting a Healthy School Environment

Resolution Commending Kate Shepard Elementary School, Mobile County School System, U. S. Department of Agriculture Healthier US School Challenge Silver Award for Promoting a Healthy School Environment

Resolution Commending Schools Receiving the Healthier US School  Challenge Bronze Award, U. S. Department of Education for Promoting a Healthy School Environment

Resolution in Appreciation of State Department of Education Employees

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama

The next State Board meeting is scheduled for May 9, 2013, while the next Board work session will be held May 23, 2013, both at the Gordon Persons Building in Montgomery, Alabama.

L. Earl Franks
Executive Director
(800) 239-3616
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.clasleaders.org

State Board Update- May 9, 2013

The State Board of Education met today in Montgomery with all regular board members in attendance, with the exception of Ella Bell and Yvette Richardson. Items on the meeting agenda included the following:

Action Items- the following resolutions were unanimously approved.

Resolution Commending the 2013-2014 District Teachers of the Year 

Resolution Commending the 2013-2014 Alternate Alabama Teacher of the Year 

Resolution Commending the 2013-2014 Alabama Teacher of the Year

Resolution Commending Angela (Angie) Hicks Whittington, Appalachian School, Blount County School System, Recipient of the Outstanding Local School Business Official Award 

Click Here to View Resolution

Resolution Commending Sherri Hill, Albertville City School System, Recipient of the Outstanding School Business Official Award 

Resolution Commending Avery Embry, Talladega County School System, Recipient of the Robert L. Morton Award 

Resolution Recognizing Mary Nell Driggers for Years of Service as a Chief School Financial Officer 

Resolution Celebrating National Distinguished Principals, Alabama Award Winner, Hope Zeanah, Elberta Elementary School, Baldwin County School System 

Click Here to View Resolution

Resolution Commending Fayetteville High School, Talladega County School System, as State Nominee and National Awardee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award 

Resolution Commending Munford Middle School and Munford High School, Talladega County School System, as State Nominee and National Awardee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award 

Resolution Commending Talladega County School System as District State Nominee and National Awardee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award 

Click Here to View Resolution

Resolution Commending Harriet W. Gwin Elementary School, Hoover City School System, as State Nominee and National Awardee for the United States Department of Education Green Ribbon School 2013 Award 

Resolution Commending Schools Receiving the HealthierUS School Challenge Gold Award of Distinction, U. S. Department of Agriculture, for Promoting a Healthy School Environment

Resolution Commending Kate Shepard Elementary School, Mobile County School System, U. S. Department of Agriculture HealthierUS School Challenge Silver Award for Promoting a Healthy School Environment 

Resolution Commending Schools Receiving the HealthierUS School Challenge Bronze Award, U. S. Department of Agriculture, for Promoting a Healthy School Environment 

Resolution Recognizing Alabama Forever and the Jeremiah Castille Foundation for Providing 600 “Bags of Hope” to Tuscaloosa and Birmingham Elementary School Students 

Resolution in Appreciation of Alabama State Department of Education Employees 

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama 

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama 

Resolution for Approval of Teacher Education Programs, Huntingdon College, Montgomery, Alabama 

Resolution to Add Substitute Member to the Social Studies Textbook Selection Committee 

Click Here to View Resolution

In his Superintendent's Report, Dr. Tommy Bice was very brief. He stated that the Alabama State Department of Education will continue to work on the issues of the tentative education budget and Alabama Accountability Act until May 20^th, the last day of the Legislative Session.  

The next State Board work session is scheduled for May 23, 2013, 10:30 a.m., while the next Board meeting will be held June 13, 2013, 9:30 a.m., both at the Gordon Persons Building, Montgomery, Alabama.

Susie Ellison
Communications Coordinator
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(800)239-3616
www.clasleaders.org

State Board Update- April 11, 2013

The State Board of Education met today in Montgomery with all regular board members in attendance. Items on the meeting agenda included the following:

Action Items

Unanimously approved a Resolution Commending Kimberly Townsend, “Barbara Fannin Memorial Employee of the Quarter” April – June 2013.

Approved, on a 6-2 vote (Betty Peters and Stephanie Bell opposing), a Resolution to Approve the Assessment and Accountability Task Force Recommendation of ACT Aspire as Alabama’s 3-8 Summative Assessment – Dr. Bice addressed over 10 questions/concerns that had been brought to his attention specific to this assessment dealing with pilot programs, assessment costs, privacy issues, data control issues, content responsibility, differences with PARCC and Smarter Balanced, next steps, accountability issues, etc. He indicated that this assessment recommendation came from a very diverse group of educators who have been meeting for over a 1 ½ year period. The Task Force’s original charge was to develop a plan which was aligned, balanced, and meaningful. Additionally, Dr. Bice discussed ACT, the company’s 50+ year history of providing assessments that are researched based, valid, and reliable. Dr. Bice also mentioned that for the first time, Alabama would have an assessment system which is aligned to K-12, Post Secondary, and business industry standards. 

Click Here to View Aspire Resolution

Superintendent's Report- Dr. Bice recognized Dr. Craig Pouncey, Chief of Staff, who gave a brief overview of the ETF Budget, which was passed late last night by the Alabama House of Representatives. Dr. Pouncey indicated that most of the work in advocating for programmatic funding requests that the Board approved in their budget has just begun now that the budget has moved to the State Senate. Dr. Bice also recognized a representative from Delta Sigma Theta Sorority who read a position statement of support for PLAN 2020 and the new assessment plan.

The next State Board work session is scheduled for April 25, 2013, 10:30 a.m., while the next Board meeting will be held May 9, 2013, 9:30 a.m., both at the Gordon Persons Building, Montgomery, Alabama.

This document can be viewed by visiting SBE Update section under the Communications menu at www.clasleaders.org.

L. Earl Franks
Executive Director
(800) 239-3616
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.clasleaders.org