Curriculum & Instruction: NCC & SAC Info

NCC Minutes...

...November 3, 2006

January 30, 2007

The Northeast Curriculum Council had it's first meeting of the 2006-2007 school year on Friday, November 3, 2006, at 8:10 A.M. The meeting was held at the Franklin Community Center in Franklin, Kansas. The NCC meeting had 18 council members present. They were: Coordinator and Co-Chairperson, Nikki Traul, Curriculum Leadership Institute (CLI) consultant and Co-Chair, Kelly Gentry, and members Cindy Bedene, Ken Cleland, Barbara Crim, Larry Hill, Katy Horn, Lacey Likely, Patricia McKee, Kathryn Richard, Kristy Rivers, Randy Rivers, Alan Roberts, Linda Roberts, Deborah Schaub, Craig Stokes, Stephanie Underwood, and Mario Valenzula. Member, Roger Horn was absent.

Co-Chair Kelly Gentry introduced the members of the council to the process of starting a curriculum council and also to what their responsibilities will be. Each member received a NCC binder and a resource (CLI) notebook. Following, each member introduced themselves and their position of either district personnel or community member. Co-Chair, Kelly Gentry then explained each section of the NCC binder and how it would be used. Following was a brief overview of the CLI notebook. Section II, Subject Area Committee (SAC), to be established at the next meeting.

Background was given on CLI. It was started at Emporia State University in the 1980's as part of the Jones Institute. Research was done on how curriculums were put together and what works. CLI is still based on research, the same research that professional learning committees use, however, it is now a non-profit organization separate from Emporia State, but still based there.

The CLI model: Pathways to School Improvement document was explained to give an overview of the process to be followed in establishing a school curriculum.

Break from 9:00 A.M. to 9:15 A.M.

Highlights of policy found in NCC notebook were reviewed more in-depth. In order to have a quorum, found in Appendix B in Policy of NCC binder, a council of 18 members must have at least 10 members present in order to conduct a meeting.

Alan Roberts was appointed by consensus to be the Vice-Chairperson of the NCC. Discussion took place as to the length of term each member would serve. Terms for the first year, will be divided into thirds, with one third serving one year, one-third serving two years, and one third serving three years. All terms will be three years after that. Linda Roberts will a serve one year term, Deborah Schaub and Stephanie Underwood will each serve three year terms. Co-Chair, Nikki Traul, will decide the remaining terms by lot, to be determined before the next meeting.

After lengthy discussion, a long range plan for core classes in the Northeast Curriculum was implemented by consensus. Beginning with the math curriculum, this plan is to be developed during the 2006-2007 school year and will be on a five year cycle.

Break from 10:45 A.M. to 11:00 A.M.

After more discussion, all non-core classes were added to the long range plan with Spanish curriculum also set to begin in the 2006-2007 school year.

Co-Chair, Kelly Gentry will deliver an official copy of the Long-Range plan to Co-Chair, Nikki Traul by the next meeting.

Following a review of Section I, in the CLI notebook, math SAC members were chosen by consensus to be: Debbie Vanderpool, Sandy Taylor, Deborah Schaub, Jeanna Kotzman, Susan Herrell, Stephanie Underwood, Terry Cleland, Dale Sanders, Katy Horn and Alan Pommier.

Council decided there would not be a meeting in December in order to allow the math SAC to meet and create a questionnaire. Next NCC meeting will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2007, at the Franklin Community Center at 12:00 P.M. A tentative agenda for the next meeting was passed out to members. The format and the agenda were approved by consensus.

Superintendent, Randy Rivers distributed a copy of the book, Results Now, by Mike Schmoker, to each member present.

Meeting adjourned at 11:45

Submitted by Debbie Hencey, Secretary