The Board recognized the work of the Heartland Iowa Core Curriculum team including Ms. Julie Hukee, Ms. Teresa Bellinghausen, Ms. Linda Hoobin, Ms. Jennifer Riedemann, Ms. Julie Sypersma, Ms. Lynn McCartney, Dr. Brad Niebling and Ms. Becca Lindahl.
Also recognized was the partnership between the Agency’s Core Curriculum team and Ms. Sarah Wessling, an AP English teacher at Johnston High School. The Core Curriculum team recognized the great teaching that Wessling employs in her class. Her work reflects the type of teaching that the Core Curriculum is supporting. With the help of Julie Sypersma, a DVD has been developed to help others see an example of effective teaching.
For School Board Recognition Week, Dr. Maxine Kilcrease recognized board members with certificates and flowers, and the Heartland Education Association also recognized the Board’s work with a gift. The Board has tripled its work time and has been working with the Lighthouse Project and other statewide projects.
The Iowa Core Curriculum team gave an update of the work its has been doing with the districts. Over 700 leaders have participated in the module trainings. Outcomes and self-studies were also explained.
Dr. Kilcrease reviewed the committee that has been formed for the America’s Reinvestment Recovery Act (ARRA). The committee is made up of stakeholders for every work group within the Agency. The District Services Council and the Operations Support Council provided the framework. The committee has met twice and will meet again on May 18 to produce a final draft of recommendations for the monies.
Dr. Kilcrease reviewed a draft of budget for the monies. Monies will go toward special education and will also be dedicated to maintenance of effort (MOE). MOE funds can be used to support things such as Iowa Core Curriculum, learning supports, math assessment, instructional coaching, instructional decision-making and positive behavior supports.
Dr. Kilcrease’s comments to the board included:
• Negotiations continue with DMACC for the Newton office.
• The 2010 IASB Legislative materials will be reviewed in the future.
• The Agency has started talks with the Science Center of Iowa about ways to use the SEMI in the future.
• The article “Redesigning an Education Service Agency to be Accountable for Student Achievement and Competency: Phase I” will be published this fall in Perspective magazine. It was written by Dr. Maxine Kilcrease, Dr. David Tilly, Dr. Alecia Rahn-Blakeslee and Dr. Brad Niebling.
• Official notification has been received that AEAs 13 and 14 will merge. Districts can now request to be part of AEA 11. We’ve had one request to date.
The Blueprint for Success, part of the Multiple Education Pathways Blueprint project, was completed and provides information on the drop-put rate in Des Moines. On May 13, Dr. Kilcrease, Mr. Wayne Ford and Dr. Rob Denson presented the document at a public forum. Heartland, DMACC and the United Way will work on creating a Workplace Learning Center housed at DMACC as a way of preventing dropouts by offering opportunities in the world of work and internships. Dr. Kilcrease will also work with Mr. Ford on using the AEA system as a hub to form focus groups on drop-put issues and what is needed across the state. An integrated system will also be developed as part of the Iowa Core Curriculum to create a seamless system to connect people in the workforce and school system.
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