Working to preserve the integrity of our public schools
"Information cannot replace education."
- Earl Kiole
In this edition:
1. May 19 board meeting - Mr.
Wenmark has second thoughts
2. June 2 board meeting - Which
high school credits?
3. On the agenda for June 16
1. May 19 school board
meeting summary
All members present.
Barbara Ashley spoke during public comments
to note that International Baccalaureate at MHS was regarded
very favorably as evidence of academic excellence by admissions officers
when her daughter visited U of Michigan, Northwestern, Madison, USC and
other schools.
Before the board voted 5-2 (with Mr. Eaton and
Mr. Wenmark voting against) to approve textbooks for IB, Mr. Wenmark
apologized to the public for not doing his job when he voted for IB in
November 2003. He explained that he was excited about Dr. Ann Swanson's
description of the new ideas possible with IB and thought it was "absolutely
what we want" but now he sees that IB requires us to "internationalize" our
curriculum so he regrets he agreed and now feels that IB differs from
the district's vision statement.
http://www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/district/vision/index.htm
Mr. Wenmark noted that he and his fellow board
members need to hear from the public. Care to share your opinion? E-mail
the entire board and Dr. Peterson at
schoolboard@minnetonka.k12.mn.us
In a related matter, the district has revised
its textbook review policy, after the IB textbooks were removed by Mr. Eaton
for an extended time from the District Service Center, where they were to
be available for public review. Review periods are generally two weeks
before the board votes on the texts. Now, the first 10 days or so the
books should be available during normal business hours at the DSC to anyone
who'd like to see them. The last 3-4 days of the review period, board
members may check out materials at 4:30 p.m. for return the next day.
2. June 2 board meeting
summary
The board met June 1 from 8:00 - 3:30 in a work
session; among things discussed were their Operating Principles. Chair Erin
Adams thanked members for their time and commitment to working more on this
over the summer.
All members present; no public comments. Before
the meeting, the board recognized many students and groups for
achievements. Good photos at:
Tim Litfin, new Director of Minnetonka Community
Education and Services, gave an overview of MCES's progress and future,
emphasizing the role of volunteers and greater involvement by students in
leadership roles. Their new Advisory Council meets regularly and is chaired
by Darel Gustafson, with Lee Aragon, vice chair, and representatives from
many parts of our community.
The board had a lengthy and somewhat
confusing discussion about the new graduation credit requirements, under
review because of the change at MHS from 7 periods per day to 6,
necessitated by budget cuts. This has been under discussion for several
weeks, and the board and administration didn't get as much public feedback
as they would have liked. Some board members thought the changes would
affect students in the next school year, others were looking a year or two
later; Dr. Peterson thought he'd been clear that his recommendation was to
affect students graduating MHS in 2010 - students who were in 7th grade this
year. Bob Quam wondered why a vote was needed if there was to be no
immediate effect for students in the next school year.
The board seemed to agree on 22.5 credits and
the need to allow some flexibility in how students would accumulate these.
Carol Eastlund, Peggy Stefan and Judy Erdahl all said they'd heard from
parents asking for flexibility so their students could fit in music, art and
foreign language.
Dr. Peterson recommended 4 Social Studies
credits, 1 Phy Ed credit and 1/2 Health credit. (1 credit = 1 year; 1/2
credit = 1 semester) Carol Eastlund asked the board to consider requiring 4
Social Studies credits, but only 1/2 Phy Ed credit, allowing another 1/2
credit for electives. Peggy Stefan favored Dr. Peterson's idea and said kids
need to blow off steam and be active in Phy Ed; Judy Erdahl noted that many
kids might prefer to blow off steam in an art or music class; Dave Eaton
said his boys participate in sports but he favors the instruction of
licensed Phy Ed teachers, so he wanted 3.5 credits Social Studies, 1/2
credit Health, 1 credit Phy Ed. Eventually, the board voted 6-1 (Ms. Stefan
opposed) to adopt 22.5 credits arranged per Mr. Eaton's suggestion. Use the
link mentioned above to see more information from the school district. (Editor's
note: If you're following this issue, you might want to read the official
minutes and/or speak to individual board members.) Several Phy Ed
teachers observed the meeting; there didn't appear to be other teachers
present.
The board reviewed the new district-wide
student/parent handbook, with Asst. Superintendent Craig Hintz, World
Language Level I materials for 8th grade with Jeff Erickson (materials on
view at DSC until June 16) and unanimously adopted texts for Social Studies
grades 6-12 and grammar grades 9-12; they also adopted a new report card
format for elementary level.
3. On the agenda for
Thursday, June 16
The public is welcome to observe study sessions
and board meetings!
4:00 p.m. Study Session at the District
Service Center
Agenda items listed in order, with approx. 1/2
hour for each: progress on 2004-05 goals; review of mini school issues;
review of college entrance data; facilities projects; MN student survey
results; community ed issues.
7:00 Community Comments - members of the
public may address the board Special Meeting of the School Board
follows
Some agenda items: Adoption of FY06 budget;
decision on facilities bids; 2nd reading on policies: Civility of Students
and Unsafe Behavior of Students; presentation of texts for Grade 6 Science
and Grade 9 Physical Science (accelerated).
TONKA FOCUS