l a s k a Sc h o o l B A f o n o i t oa r d ia c o s s As
COMMENTARY
August 2009 Vol. XXXIX No.6
AASB Board Norm Wooten Quality Schools/Quality Students is AASB’s comprehensive school improvement service to assist school districts and their local communities in raising student achievement to meet or exceed state standards by linking a shared vision for education with successful practices. It focuses on the development of leadership, programs and staff, and community and parent engagement, by securing and coordinating a balance of local and statewide expertise and resources.
Let Me Introduce Myself by Norm Wooten QS2 Director As the newest staff member at AASB let me introduce myself, although that is not necessary for most of you. I am Norm Wooten and have been involved with school boards for the last twenty years as a still sitting board member for the Kodiak Island Borough School District. My service with the association began in 1993 when I was first elected to the AASB board where I served until last year. In April I began working for AASB on a project through the Department of Education and Early Development (DEED). My job is evolving into the Director of Quality Schools/Quality Students (QS2). Dr. Bruce Johnson has led our district improvement continued on page 8
Higher Standards
The renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) is igniting new discussions about the need for higher educational standards. And Alaska school boards will be taking part in the debate, via the AASB resolution process. A draft resolution approved by the AASB Board of Directors on July 26 for discussion by local boards reads:
“AASB supports the right of local school boards to raise expectations for students and prepare them for success in the 21st century. Federal support for states and school districts could be in the form of funding for research, and financial assistance in developing and implementing high standards. AASB opposes mandatory compliance with national content standards or assessment and any effort to condition to the receipt of federal aid on the adoption or use of national standards and/or tests by states or local districts.” The draft position statement is part of a 37page packet of resolutions for the AASB Annual Conference in November. School boards are encouraged to review the packet and offer amendments or new resolutions by the
Members of the AASB Board of Directors and staff at the summer quarterly meeting at the Challenger Center in Kenai. deadline of September 25th. (See related story on page 3). Congress may take up the renewal of ESEA later this year. In addition, the U.S. Department of Education is sponsoring a series of meetings with states to draft core educational standards for K-12 students. During the three-day summer meeting in Kenai, the AASB Board also:
District Changes for 2009-2010 AASB would like to welcome the following new and returning superintendents for the 2009-10 school year: Chatham SD Scott Butterfield Craig SD James Thomas Copper River SD Michael Johnson Juneau SD Glenn Gelbrich Kashunamiut SD Doug Conboy Kenai Peninsula SD Steve Atwater Lake & Peninsula SD Ty Mase
Nome City SD John Wehde North Slope Borough SD Peggy Cowan Petersburg City SD Rob Thomason Skagway City SD Les McCormick Yakutat SD Rod Schug Yukon Flats SD Woody Woodford Yupiit SD Howard Diamond
• Reviewed and approved a revised longrange plan for the statewide nonprofit organization, including a set of goals (see story on page 8). • Evaluated Executive Director Carl Rose and gave him high marks, extending his contract another year to 2012. The next quarterly meeting of the board is scheduled for Nov. 9 in Anchorage.
This Issue Education Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 New Superintendents . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 From the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 From the Executive Director . . . . . . . 2 Inside AASB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Call for Nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Revised AASB Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
From the President
Sammy Crawford
The Road to Resolutions Every school board in Alaska approaches AASB core resolutions and belief statements in unique ways. That diversity is a strength of our association. Over the next few months, we can put our own stamp on these important policy statements, providing marching orders for the Board of Directors and the executive director, and a unified position of education issues for the Legislature and the Executive Branch. On the Kenai Peninsula, our board devotes two meetings to reviewing and debating the resolutions packet provided by AASB. Individual board members usually get them four or five days before a regular school board meeting in August. Because the resolutions packet is rather long, we review them by their five categories, including governance, funding, child advocacy, personnel and education programs. Suggestions for
From the executive director
Carl Rose
After debating and amending the packet, our local board returns the changes to AASB with a cover letter from the board president. At least one of our members also takes part in an AASB teleconference on resolutions held in early September. The teleconference is open to all members. In October, AASB staff assembles all the amendments and new resolutions proposed by each district and distributes them in a new document for debate at the Annual Conference in November. This debate is conducted first in the Resolutions Committee and then the full conference. One additional important step for local boards to take is to
appoint a representative to participate in the Resolutions Committee on Thursday, Nov. 5. Here, the hard but important work of turning various amendments and new resolutions into a finished product is done. On Sunday, November 8, the full membership amends and adopts final resolutions drafted by the committee, and the next day, the AASB Board of Directors selects priority resolutions for 2010. Your local board participation in this process is critical. This is the heart of our association work. Look for the first draft in early August, make sure your board discusses, reviews and amends if necessary any part of the resolutions. Make sure that at least one member from your board is appointed to the resolutions committee for work on November 5. Working together we can make a difference for kids in Alaska!
No Dust on This Plan AASB remains a vibrant organization because we ask our members what services they want, try to deliver them in a costeffective manner and afterwards solicit feedback on whether we did our job. Every three years, as part of our long-range planning process, we look internally and ask ourselves the same questions. What are we doing and how are we doing it? The Board of Directors gathered in Kenai last month to get the triennial planning process underway again. In the last 20 years, since AASB adopted its first long-range plan, the Board has performed this essential job of governance seven times. The eighth time was different in that Sharon Young was not
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changes are brought forth, but no action is taken until a board meeting in September.
there to facilitate the process, and most of the Board seats had turned over since 2006. But Joseph Reeves and staff did a good job of seeding the discussion with valuable information about our progress in the past three years. During the course of the day on July 24 the Board reviewed our Mission Statement and current goals and discussed the results of a recent membership survey. The Board then conducted a needs assessment, identified critical issues stemming from the needs assessment and member survey and adopted a revised list of goals. What happens next is probably the most important part of the planning process:
During the coming months, the Board and AASB staff will develop strategies and action plans aligned to the goals. We believe that when the new complete long-range plan is adopted next spring, AASB member districts will see their needs and recommendations reflected. The dust of inattention shall not gather on this plan! I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the school boards around the state that responded to our survey in May and June. Your comments were thoughtful, honest and often flattering. AASB is a first and foremost a member organization, and we’ll do our best to make it the organization you need it to be.
August 2009
2009 Calendar
Inside AASB
Call for Resolutions AASB is soliciting resolutions from local school boards for consideration at the 2009 Annual Conference in Anchorage, November 5-8, at the Hotel Captain Cook. A 37-page draft resolution packet approved by the AASB Board of Directors was mailed electronically to all district offices on July 31. It includes these proposals for directing AASB initiatives in 2010:
the continuation of one resolution, 3.1 Declaring Children the Top Priority of Alaska.
On September 10th, AASB has scheduled a statewide teleconference at noon to answer questions about the resolutions and the process. Look for further information on the teleconference as we get closer to the date.
• A new Belief Statement on the importance of quality teachers and staff • Five new resolutions addressing national standards and testing, school funding, the Alaska Native Education Act, WorkKeys assessments and postsecondary classes for secondary students • And the deletion of one resolution, 4.11 School Performance Incentives, and
Your school board may wish to comment on these proposed changes or submit resolutions of your own. But to do so, AASB requests that your board schedule time to discuss the resolutions at a regular meeting and vote by official board action. The deadline established by our bylaws for AASB to receive your comments and proposals is September 25.
All resolutions received will be compiled and a complete set of resolutions containing submissions from districts will be sent back to your board 30 days before the annual conference, or by October 5, 2009. If you have any questions regarding the resolutions, please contact John Greely at 586-1083 or jgreely@aasb.org Address your district’s proposed resolutions and/or amendments to:
Resolutions Committee Association of Alaska School Boards 1111 W. 9th Street, Juneau, AK. 99801
APEI Adds Eight New Members After a busy renewal seaon in July, Alaska Public Entity Insurance (APEI) added eight new members to its rolls, including the Southwest Region School District.
APEI’s impressive growth in recent years — from 40 to 63 members in just five years — is attributable to its excellent insurance and loss control programs, combined with the lowest premium rates in the market. This year in particular, APEI was able to offer the best rates in Alaska, due primarily to the company’s excellent claims experience. General liability rates
decreased this year an average of 14 percent, auto rates dropped 7 percent, and workers’ compensation rates were down 15 percent, said Jeff Bush, APEI Executive Director.
“APEI remains committed to keeping claims costs low, through strong loss control efforts and aggressive claims management,” Bush said. “Although the international insurance market is showing signs of hardening, meaning higher prices for everyone, APEI’s loss control and claims management practices are designed to ensure continuing competitive, lower rates.”
APEI encourages all Alaska public entities — both members and non-members — to seek competitive quotes for insurance. “Unfortunately many Alaska public entities renew their insurance year in and year out without checking on all their options which could, in many cases, save the entities several thousand dollars annually,” Bush said. APEI was started as the Alaska School Insurance Co. AASB in 1986. It became a separate nonprofit in 1998. AASB retains a seat on the APEI board.
New Immunization Requirements Children entering grades K-6 will need two doses of Varicella vaccine and the medical record to prove it, under new state regulations that took effect July 1. Varicella, or chicken pox, vaccine is available at physician offices, clinics and public health centers throughout the state. For additional information, talk to your doctor or nurse, or call: Alaska Immunization Program 1-888-430-4321 Or visit this website: http://www.epi.alaska.gov/immunize Association of Alaska School Boards Commentary
August TBA
NSBA Presidents’ Retreat – TBD, LA
September 10
Resolutions Teleconference
19-20
AASB Fall Boardsmanship Academy – Anchorage
November 5-8
AASB Annual Conference – Captain Cook, Anchorage
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AASB Board of Directors Meeting – Captain Cook, Anchorage
December 11-13
NSBA Pacific Region Winter Meeting, TBD, AZ
10-11
AASB Secretary Workshop – Anchorage
10-11
AASB Winter Boardsmanship Academy – Anchorage,
AASB OFFICERS Sammy Crawford President
Kenai Penn
283-9271
Tammy Fowler Pound President-Elect
Unalaska
581-1463
Crystal Kennedy Secretary/Treasurer
Anchorage
696-2624
Scott McAdams Past-President
Sitka
747-3376
DIRECTORS Charlene Arneson
Chugach
522-7400
Arnold Brower
North Slope
852-2611
Roseann Demmert
Klawock
209-5412
Duane Edelman
Valdez
834-6567
Lon Garrison
Sitka
738-0798
Sunni Hilts
Kenai Penn
738-0798
Sue Hull
Fairbanks
479-3644
Aana Kinegak
Yupiit
695-6311
Richard Mauer
Delta/Greely
895-4956
Melvin Otton
Bering Strait
963-3491
Choc Schafer
Ketchikan
225-2462
John Steiner
Anchorage
696-2629
STAFF Carl F. N. Rose
Executive Director
Joseph Reeves
Associate Executive Director
Timi Tullis
Director of Membership Services
Bruce Johnson
Director of Consortium for Digital Learning
Norm Wooten
Director of Quality Schools/Quality Students
Sally Rue
Director of Alaska ICE
John Greely
Chief Editor
Diana Miller
Business Manager
For complete staff listing go to our web site under Contacts. http://www.aasb.org/contacts.html Association of Alaska School Boards, 1111 West 9th St., Juneau, Alaska 99801-1510 Tel: (907) 586-1083 FAX: (907) 586-2995. The Association of Alaska School Boards is a not-for-profit organization whose primary mission is to advocate for children and youth by assisting school boards in providing quality public education, focused on student achievement, through effective local governance. AASB represents school boards’ interests before the legislature, state agencies, Congress and other state and national regulatory bodies. Founded in 1954. Commentary is published monthly by the Association of Alaska School Boards, Carl F.N. Rose, Executive Director. Articles or suggestions should be sent to John Greely, Chief Editor, AASB 1111 West 9th St., Juneau, Alaska 99801. For change of address write to AASB or call 907-586-1083.
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Association of Alaska School Boards Commentary
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r u o y k Mar ! r a d n Cale AASB 56th Annual Conference Captain Cook Hotel November 5–8, 2009
Association of Alaska School Boards Commentary
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QS2 Revisited (from page 1)
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Juneau, Alaska Permit No. 97
efforts as the QS2 Director since the inception of this service. His responsibilities as the Director of the Consortium for Digital Learning (CDL) and with superintendent searches began taking so much of his time it was decided to bring on a new director to remove some of his burden. With Dr. Johnson’s assistance the plan is for me to take on more of the QS2 responsibilities until the transition is complete. QS2 is evolving into a greater assistive role in working with school districts – particularly in light of the increasingly stricter standards of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act or as we more commonly refer to as No Child Left Behind. Our plan is to continue to work with districts who invite us into their communities as well as with districts who need assistance in improving student achievement and are in an intervention status with DEED. We are working even more closely with
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WWW.AASB.ORG
Alaska ICE to determine additional ways that involvement from communities can increase
AASB Goals Adopted July 2009
In July, the AASB Board of Directors reviewed and updated the Association’s Long Range Plan. The day-long process included progress reports on current goals and discussion of a membership survey conducted in May and June. During the coming year, the Board and AASB staff will develop strategies and action plans aligned to these goals: Board Development & Standards Provide board development that brings all boards and board members to competence in effective governance under the principles of Board Standards.
student achievement. Alaska ICE and QS2 are looking at ways to involve even more partners in order to be able to offer an even wider array of services to assist districts in educating their students. My focus will be twofold in the coming months: • Working with school boards to serve their districts in ways that best fit their communities individual needs. • Developing a QS2 program that is sustainable into the future to continue to assist
districts in raising student achievement. In the coming school year we will continue to work with the current QS2 districts, those boards in districts who need assistance through the intervention process and will be looking at our capacity to take on additional QS2 partners. I look forward to continuing my work with AASB in this new capacity and look forward to working with you.
Political Influence Strengthen the political influence of AASB and its members at the local, state and national level representing the diversity of interests that exist within AASB, and involving the total membership. Community Engagement Assist local school boards in engaging parents, families and their communities in shaping and enriching the education of Alaska’s children. Student Achievement Expand local school board capacity to ensure the highest potential student achievement and prepare Alaska’s children and youth for the future. Sustainability Sustain the association and its membership by strengthening AASB’s capacity to effectively serve its members. Innovation Inspire innovation to meet the demands of a rapidly changing world and continue public education as the foundation of democracy. 8
PROTECTING ALASKA SCHOOLS SINCE 1986 2233 Jordan Avenue, Juneau Alaska 99801 Phone: 907-523-9400 Fax: 907-586-2008
Toll Free: 1-800-586-2734 Website: www.akpei.com
August 2009