School Board Executive Summary Topic: Board Policy #5220 & Board Regulation #5220R Educational Records Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Alison McGinn Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): Approval of revisions to Board Policy #5220 and Board Regulation #5220R. Purpose: Periodic review and updating of FERPA policy and procedures to reflect requirements of federal law on education records. Background: Revisions include updated information and definitions concerning: -‐ Who constitutes a "school official" to whom records are released; -‐ Notification procedures for records to be released pursuant to subpoena; -‐ Release of records for students in foster care; -‐ Other statutory provisions of when records can be released; -‐ What constitutes "directory information" and limitations on release even if it is directory information; -‐ Parental opt-‐out of disclosure; -‐ Records of students no longer enrolled. Some information previously contained in regulation has been moved to the policy. The regulation now includes procedures for opting-‐out and for requesting copies of records. Attachment: Redline copy of Board Policy #5220 and Board Regulation #5220R. School Board Executive Summary Topic: Board Policy #1000 – Purpose of Board of Education Policies Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Alison McGinn Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): Approval of revisions to Board Policy #1000. Purpose: On-‐going review of Board policies. Background: Policy reviewed and legal reference added. Attachment: Redline copy of Board Policy #1000. School Board Executive Summary Topic: Board Policy #1100 – Legal Basis Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Alison McGinn Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): Approval of revisions to Board Policy #1100. Purpose: On-‐going review of Board policies. Background: Policy reviewed and legal reference added. Attachment: Redline copy of Board Policy #1100. School Board Executive Summary Topic: Board Policy #1110 – Code of Ethics Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Alison McGinn Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): Approval of revisions to Board Policy #1110. Purpose: On-‐going review of Board policies. Background: Policy reviewed. Revisions are based in part on model code of ethics developed by the Nebraska Association of School Boards for the purpose of helping school boards carry out its education decision-‐making role and maintaining effective relationships with school staff, administrators and the community. Additional references to legal standards are also included, and some provisions of the prior policy have been retained. The goal is to have a workable code of ethics with input from the Board and any additional items the Board would like included. Attachment: Redline copy of Board Policy #1110. School Board Executive Summary Topic: Board Policy #1115 (formerly #1450) – Conflicts of Interest Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Alison McGinn Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): Approval of revisions to Board Policy #1115. Purpose: On-‐going review of Board policies. Background: Policy reviewed and amended to set forth specific requirements under Nebraska law applicable to school board members. Attachment: Redline copy of Board Policy #1115. School Board Executive Summary Topic: 1:1 Technology Refresh/Expansion Progress Report Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Dr. Mark Weichel and Dr. Paul Lindgren Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): None at this time. Purpose: The purpose of this presentation is to inform the Board of Education regarding the first semester of the recent 1:1 Technology Refresh/Expansion. Background: Eleven years ago the Westside Community Schools became the first public school in Nebraska to provide laptops for each of its high school students. This year saw our district build on this success by expanding the laptop program down to seventh grade and by initiating a program where each elementary student has the individual use of an iPad. This presentation will describe the preparations that led into the start of the school year, will discuss the challenges that were overcome, and will share some select highlights of the program’s impact. Attachment: 1:1 Refresh/Expansion Keynote Presentation Topic: Date: Prepared by: School Board Executive Summary Fine Arts Academic Content Standards February 2, 2015 Mark Weichel and Jim Sides Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): Adopt Nebraska Fine Arts’ Academic Content Standards Purpose: Request motion to adopt Nebraska Fine Arts’ Academic Content Standards. Background: The Nebraska State Board of Education adopted the first ever set of K-‐12 Nebraska Fine Art Standards on March 4, 2014. In part, this was made possible by a Nebraska Arts Council grant awarded to the Department of Education in the fall of 2012. The goal was to develop a new set of standards reflective of Fine Arts Education in the 21st century. NDE brought together groups of educators and other experts to develop the new standards in the areas of Visual Arts, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Dance. NDE followed the same process used to develop the academic content standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The standards were written in grade bands of K-‐2, 3-‐5, 6-‐8, 9-‐12 using the same format as all Nebraska standards of K-‐12 broad comprehensive standards, grade level standards and curricular indicators. They were written with the idea that cross curricular or integrated lessons could be used to teach the standards outside of a designated dance class, media arts class, etc. The new fine arts standards may be viewed on the NDE-‐ fine arts webpage. With the new standards in place, teams of District 66 teachers from the elementary, middle and high school levels have been working through a process to ensure that these standards are addressed in the District curriculum. The Teaching and Learning team requests a formal motion to adopt Nebraska Fine Arts’ Academic Content Standards as presented by the administration. Attachment: PowerPoint School Board Executive Summary Topic: School Design and AdvancED Accreditation Date: February 2, 2015 Prepared by: Jim Sides, Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning Recommended Action: Information Only Presentation/Discussion Discussion/Action by Board of Education Presentation/Action Next Meeting Recommendation(s): None at this time. Purpose: To provide an overview of the School Design and AdvancED Accreditation process for the Westside Community Schools. Background: Accreditation is a voluntary method of quality assurance conducted by an outside organization. The Westside Community School District is accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA-‐CASI), under a set of unified standards, policies and procedures called AdvancEd. The organization is international, providing accreditation for schools, systems, post-‐secondary institutions and education service agencies, encompassing 30,000 institutions and over 17 million students. As part of accreditation, each building engages in an ongoing continuous growth process designed to improve student learning. This district-‐wide process involves looking at data to determine: strengths and weaknesses; goal setting; how to measure progress on those goals; and designing strategies and activities to meet the goals. As a district, we have redirected our efforts from a traditional school improvement model that focuses on remediation and dependency to a school design model that creates a system that supports student learning. Embedded in the district and building goals are the key strategies of the Westside Community Schools Strategic Plan. Those strategies are: • Providing quality instruction by integrating literacy skills, creative and critical thinking, and authentic problem solving; • Supporting personalized learning with opportunities for students and staff to discover strengths through choice while fostering community and global partnerships; • Enhancing all educational experiences by integrating new and existing technologies in a meaningful way. The AdvancEd Standards for Quality provide the framework for continuous growth. The district and each building must: conduct an internal self-‐ assessment using the standards; set goals based on the data aligned to the district vision; and develop and manage ongoing plans for growth. All of these components are managed in the AdvancED web-‐based system called ASSIST (AdvancEd Adaptive System of School Improvement Support Tools). Attachments: • Powerpoint • School Design Flow Chart • AdvancED Components • AdvancEd Artifacts Supporting Document • AdvancEd Calendar