Missoula County Public Schools BOT Minutes 5-9-17
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Missoula County Public Schools Minutes Board of Trustees Tuesday, May 9, 2017 – 6:00 p.m. Business Building Boardroom Note: If you have questions regarding the agenda, please contact the Superintendent’s Office (728-2400, ext. 1023, prior to the meeting). Board of Trustees: Board Chair Marcia Holland, Michael Beers, Korbin Bragstad, Grace M. Decker, Debbie Dupree, Heidi Kendall, Vice Chair Diane Lorenzen, Vicki McDonald, Jennifer Newbold, Mike Smith, Vice Chair Ann Wake Student Trustees: Brianna Canning – BSHS, Adam Zimmer – BSHS, Annika Charlson – HHS, Gabby Flores – HHS, Keaton Johnson – SSHS, Ibby Lorentz – SSHS, Dylan Haggart – SHS, Brandon Anderson – Willard Alt HS Trustees Present: Marcia Holland, Korbin Bragstad, Mike Smith, Debbie Dupree, Diane Lorenzen, Grace Decker, Heidi Kendall, Jennifer Newbold, Ann Wake, Michael Beers; Student Trustees Brandon Anderson, Annika Charlson, Gabby Flores, Brianna Canning, Adam Zimmer, Dylan Haggart; Ibby Lorentz (by phone) Trustees Absent: Vicki McDonald Others Present: Mark Thane, Pat McHugh, Karen Allen, Dave Rott, Hatton Littman, Elise Guest, Julie Robitaille, Bea Kaleva, Burley McWilliams 1. Call to Order, Welcome and Roll Call At 5:58 pm Board Chair Marcia Holland called the meeting to order and welcomed all. Roll call: all Trustees were present except McDonald and Beers; Holland thinks McDonald is travelling. Beers arrived during public comment. 2. Pledge of Allegiance was said by all, led by the Student Trustees. 3. Review, Revise, and Approve Agenda – Action Holland asked to move item 10-C, Recognition of Outgoing Trustee, to item 7-C with other recognitions, in case Debbie wants to leave. Holland noted a correction under 9- A-i, School Day Study Committee, that was found by Kendall in proofreading: in the Administrative Recommendation, the last word of the second line should be later—it is later start times rather than earlier. On page 27 of the attachments to the agenda, Superintendent’s Report: all of the dates should really be 2017, not 2016. In item 7-A, Robotics, a correction to the spelling of the name of Dori Pinkerton. There were no objections; no additional changes. Trustees approved the agenda as amended and corrected. 4. Approval of Minutes A. Regular Board Meeting, April 11, 2017 (page 6) No corrections. Motion by Wake, seconded by Dupree. There was no public comment on the minutes. Trustees present unanimously approved the minutes as presented. 5. Public Comment/Correspondence Public Comment Regarding Non-Agenda Items (3 Minutes each speaker) - Items from Audience Correspondence – Written correspondence is included in the packet. page 23 • Holland explained public comment on non-agenda items: opportunity for the public to bring items to attention of the board. Since items were not noticed publicly, under Open Meetings Act the Board will not be talking about them tonight; they can be put on a later agenda. • Rick Wheeler, custodian at Sentinel, thanked Dylan for being their student trustee for 2 years; he has represented Sentinel very well. He hears they are getting Hailey Gray’s sister as their next student trustee. Almost all the Board members have changed since Hailey Gray’s time. 1 • Rebecca Nasgovitz, parent of 2nd and 5th graders at Rattlesnake. When her kids started at Rattlesnake, they received art instruction once every 5 weeks, a major disappointment to her. Now it is once every 3 weeks; appreciates improvement. However, she understands that last year the Board considered adding another art teacher to K-5 schools, which did not come through. She is here with a group of other parents from other elementary schools, who would love to see more art instruction in the schools. SPARK brings more drama, dance, expanded art exposure—but also interested in having other art teachers come into the schools. Also having supplies stored in the school for example—right now they are mobile art projects and teacher is working out of their car. Not the best conditions; not the kind of projects they could be exposed to. When looking at budget allocations, please consider expanding the arts curriculum. A lot of parents are surprised that students are not getting art once a week—music is twice a week and gym twice a week. She feels fortunate to be part of MCPS. She grew up in a public school in Wisconsin which was an arts school, which kept her going back, kept her interested. [Trustee Beers arrived.] A more well-rounded program could serve our community even more. • Abby Wiggin, parent: MCPS states that the methods change but the principles do not. Its mission is to ensure every student achieves full potential regardless of circumstance and ability. Its vision demands that we communicate, collaborate, think critically and create. This vision thrives in arts education. We live in a visual world beyond textbooks and how we relate. Her husband has had a wide range of careers, currently a train engineer—said in his opinion, the process of art is so real world: create, manage, explore, decide, search, change minds, weigh new options, rationalize and share. Students weigh so many options with art. Communicate, think critically, collaborate and create. Students currently do not experience that to its full potential at elementary level. Due to lack of time and space, students only scratch the surface; increased exposure would increase outcomes to no limit. Art is real world—it asks you to risk it, manage time vs. outcome, explore empathy and understanding when looking at other students’ art. Art asks you to take chances in environment with no correct answer, problem solve, rationalize and find solutions to produce something truly beautiful. Don’t wait till students are in 6th grade to provide opportunity for learning and discovery through art. 6th graders know everything, and they may have determined that they are not artists, and we will have missed it. Elementary school kids need weekly longer art classes. Change methods to meet the principles of the district. • Cindy Marshall, local artist and business owner, has 2 daughters, one in 4th and one in 6th grade in public school. Last weekend she watched a one-year- old pressing a stick into wet dirt. It reminded her of senior citizens she worked with as an art teacher; many had lost fine motor skills but enjoyed colors, art classes. It is called art work—making art takes a lot of work, concentration, focus, creative problem solving; it forces us into present moment, not past or future. Expressing ourselves in ways that words cannot. Lessons in mindfulness, problem solving, spatial awareness, kinesthetic. If encouraged properly, huge confidence builder. In the U.S. schools generally address linguistic and logical intelligences we all possess; making art can nurture at least 5 other intelligences: spatial, naturalistic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, bodily kinesthetic. Most cultures that consider themselves highly civilized 2 have strong art programs for students, but in U.S. there is not automatic allegiance to the arts. In 1999 she did student teaching in Missoula for K-12 art education degree; she was responsible for 90 classrooms in 5 schools. She knows it has improved, but room for more improvement. Learning fine art skills helps us understand ourselves and our world, express ourselves more deeply in ways that cannot be captured in words. Art is what makes our culture rich, and will be passed down. When we have retired from our busy lives, art will still be there if reinforced in growing years. Please offer more art opportunities and help nurture important developmental work, our art work • Jennifer Prinzing, parent at Lewis & Clark, has a daughter in kindergarten, and son starts in a couple years. Art has a value in and of itself: hands-on tactile development, construction, composition and color, pride of creating and having something physical to show for it. Benefits of art strengthen the success of an adult: creative thinking is sought-after in almost every professional discipline. Early consistent exposure to different ways to use our brains correlate to breakthroughs in technology and business—Apple, Google, Tesla. If you ask first graders who can draw a horse, the entire class raises their hands excitedly. By 6th grade or sooner, far fewer hands are raised. Less and less time is spent on art, enthusiasm has dimmed. Einstein: imagination is more important than knowledge. Keep encouraging kids to be creative and expand opportunity across the whole city. Art is not extra or bonus; art is our world. • Kathleen Sevilla has 2nd grader at Cold Springs School. Proud to have her in Missoula school system. Asked parents who are here to support more art, but have nothing specific to say. Her daughter was recently tested for COMPASS. She is learning that art is going to be key in her education in MCPS. Please consider art. She said she had nothing formal to say, but thinks everyone understands what she means. • Taylor Valliant, letter press printer, illustrator and small business owner; she has two children at Paxson. Has always been disappointed in lack of art education in the schools at this age; surprised at what was lacking in 1st grade. She supports increased art education in Missoula in the elementary schools. Early creative education important to those who go on to work in the arts, but also to all children as a tool they can apply to whatever career they pursue. • Minette Glaser, mom of 2 third graders. She has volunteered during the times they have art, has been disappointed at how rarely it occurs and how stressed teachers are because they have to juggle so much. Her school is lucky to have a room where they keep art supplies, but still the teacher is stressed in getting everything in for time available.