THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYL VANIA MINUTES Meeting of: September 28,2005 Call of the Meeting: Regular Meeting Members Present: Mr. Brentley, Mrs. Colaizzi, Dr. Dowd, Mrs. Fink, Mr. Isler, Mr. Matthews, Mr. McCrea, Mr. Romaniello, Sr., and Mr. Taylor Present 9 The following matters were received and acted upon. Actions taken are recorded following the reports. THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA 15213 Administration Building 341 South Bellefield Avenue September 28,2005 AGENDA ROLL CALL Approval of the Minutes of the Meeting of August 24,2005 Announcement of Executive Sessions Committee Reports 1. Committee on Education Roll Call 2. Committee on BusinessIFinance Roll Call Personnel Report 3. Personnel Report of the Superintendent of Schools Roll Call Financial Matters Financial Statement and Controller's Report 4. Budget Transfers Roll Call New Business We are an equal rights and opportunity school district. EXECUTIVE SESSIONS Legislative Meeting of September 28, 2005 In addition to executive sessions announced at the legislative meeting of August 24, 2005, the Board met in executive session on September 19 and immediately before this legislative meeting to discuss various personnel matters that may include, but are not limited to: administrative vacancies, travel waivers, disciplinary matters and positions opened and closed. Finally, at the executive session immediately before this legislative meeting, Special Counsel discussed various matters in litigation, and the Board discussed student discipline cases that involved violations of various portions of the Code of Student Conduct. The Board does not vote at executive sessions. COMMllTEE ON EDUCATION September 28,2005 DIRECTORS: The Committee on Education recommends the adoption of the following resolutions, that the proper officers of the Board be authorized to enter into contracts relating to those resolutions and that authority be given to the staff to change account numbers, the periods of performance, and such other details as may be necessary to carry out the intent of the resolution, so long as the total amount of money carried in the resolution is not exceeded. Except that with respect to grants which are received as a direct result of Board action approving the submission of proposals to obtain them, the following procedures shall apply: Where the original grant is $1,000 or less, the staff is authorized to receive and expend any increase over the original grant. Where the original grant is more than $1,000, the staff is authorized to receive and expend any increase over the original grant, so long as the increase does not exceed fifteen percent (15%) of the original grant. Increases in excess of fifteen percent (15%) require additional Board authority. ProposalslGrant Award 1. Acceptance of $10,000 from the PA Department of EducationIOffice of Educational Technology to enable support staff and paraprofessional staff at Pioneer Education Center to acquire the skills necessary to use handheld technologies and to use those skills to integrate a system of IEP assessment into the curriculum that is portable, individualized and truly authentic by utilizing training, practice and project application. The funding period shall be from July 1, 2005 through June 30,2006. Submission of a proposal to the Multicultural Arts Initiative for $20,000 to support an artist residency at Pittsburgh CAPA for the period of October 3 through 9, 2005, with Pittsburgh based organizations Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble and Nego Gato, featuring international artist Nick Cave. By way of Master Dance classes facilitated by Pittsburgh Dance Ensemble and Nego Gato, and lecture demonstrations conducted by Nick Cave, students will participate and observe the development process used to create a multi-dimensional performance piece. Students will have an opportunity to perform and observe the presentation of works in a live performance venue (Carnegie Museum) hosted by Fashion Africana on the last day of the residency-October 9. The funding period shall be from October 3, 2005 through October 9, 2005. 3. Acceptance of $7,000 from the National Science Foundation granted to support costs of substitutes for classroom teachers involved in the GK-12 program. The University of Pittsburgh has received funding from the National Science Foundation for a project entitled the GK-12 Fellows Program. The program, which is in the second year, places Ph.D. students in the natural sciences in the Committee on Education September 28,2005 Page 2 classrooms of our elementary and middle school science teachers for one year. The schools will include: Allegheny Elementary, Arlington, Beechwood, Greenfield, Lemington, Northview, Prospect, Rogers, Schaeffer, Schiller and one more school to be named. The funding period shall be from September 30, 2005 through September 30, 2006. 4. Submission of a proposal to the PA Department of Education for $3,495,014. Non-proficient students in grades K-12 will receive small group instruction and tutoring in Literacy and Mathematics during extended day and week programs in school and community locations. Students will receive up to 2 hours of instruction after-school by PPS teachers and tutoring assistance from qualified college and high school students. The services will be offered weekdays, Saturdays and during the summer. A healthy snack will be provided for the extended day program and students will receive breakfast and lunch at the Saturday and summer sessions. Transportation will be provided. PPS will collaborate with the RAND Corporation to develop a monitoring system to evaluate the effectiveness of these academic support services. This program will be closely coordinated with school-based and SES funded private tutoring services so students are assigned to the program that best meets their needs in the smallest tutorlstudent ratio. The funding period shall be from October 1, 2005 through June 30,2006. Consultant/Contracted Services RESOLVED, That the Board authorizes its proper officers to enter into contracts with the following individuals for the services and fees set forth in subparagraphs 1 through 29, inclusive. Gateway to the Arts Program - To conduct "Arts-in-Early Education" professional development in-service workshops for all Pre-K teachers, education assistants and parents. These workshops will focus on providing training in the areas of music, visual art, dramdcreative play or movement. The dates of operation shall be between October 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. The total cost of this action will not exceed $1,920, which also includes the cost of workshop materials and planning and preparation time between both parties. The cost is payable from Account # 4000-198-2271 -330. 2. Gateway to the Arts Program - To conduct "Arts-in-Early Education" professional development in-service workshops for all Head Start teachers, Education Assistants and parents. These workshops will focus on providing training in the areas of music, visual art, dramdcreative play or movement. The dates of operation are between October 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. The total cost will not exceed $6,080, which also includes the cost of workshop materials and Committee on Education September 28,2005 Page 3 planning and preparation time between both parties. The cost is payable from Account # 4801 -26B-2271-330. 3. HlGH SCOPE, Educational Research Foundation - To provide Child Observation and Record (COR) scoring, analysis and reporting services for Head Start children. Data will be used to gauge individual growth and development of children in order to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses. Services are to be provided sometime between December 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. The total cost of this action shall not exceed $7,880 from Account # 4800-26B-1800- 330. 4. HlGH SCOPE, Educational Research Foundation - To provide Child Observation and Record (COR) scoring, analysis and reporting services for children enrolled in classrooms funded by the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program (HSSAP). Data will be used to gauge individual growth and development of children in order to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses. Services are to be provided sometime between December 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. The total cost of this action shall not exceed $360 from Account # 4800-1 1C-1800- 330. 5. HlGH SCOPE, Educational Research Foundation - To provide Child Observation and Record (COR) scoring, analysis and reporting services for Pre-K children. Data will be used to gauge individual growth and development of children in order to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses. Services are to be provided sometime between December 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006. The total cost of this action shall not exceed $2,450 from Account # 4000-198-1 800-330. 6. Rehabilitation Specialist, Inc. - To expand SpeechILanguage support in Pre- Kindergarten to include pre-kindergarten children who do not meet the criteria for Head Start eligibility and who need special education services. These services may include: screenings, evaluations, direct and indirect therapy services, trainings, transition to kindergarten, and paperwork. The operating period shall be from October 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006. The total cost of this action shall not exceed $20,000 from Account # 51 81 -158-1 281 -323. 7. University of PittsburghIChild Development Center - To provide support to implement an inclusive SPARK (Speech Readiness and Preparation for Kindergarten) program for preschool