The first conversation concerned a decision about whether to allow trustees to review the full set of applications that will eventually be submitted for the superintendent’s job. Trustees did not come to a decision on that question – it was tabled pending input from the consultant hired to assist with the search for a new superintendent.

The second discussion involved the merits and risks of joining the countywide consortium that is creating a local international baccalaureate school. The board decided to join the consortium.

The meeting also included the second part of an update on two of the district’s three comprehensive high schools – Huron and Pioneer. The first half of the update, on Skyline High School, had been presented to the board in June, but the Huron/Pioneer presentation was delayed due to inclement weather that evening. The substance of the update and discussion surrounding the three high schools will be reported in an upcoming article.

Superintendent Search Update

Board president Deb Mexicotte reviewed a discussion from the board’s Oct. 6 study session. At that session, the board had weighed the implications of allowing individual trustees to have access to the full set of applications for the superintendent position. At issue was the question of whether allowing such access would mean that the applicants’ names could be made public early in the search process. The board requested that Dave Comsa, AAPS assistant superintendent of human resources and legal services, look into the legal implications of allowing access. They also asked Comsa to determine whether superintendents in Michigan need to hold an administrator certification.

At last Wednesday’s board meeting, Mexicotte reported on Comsa’s responses to the board to those two questions. First, she said, Comsa had explained that superintendents in the state of Michigan are required to hold a superintendent certification, but that such certification is not required in order for someone to be hired. If the board chooses a superintendent who does not hold a Michigan certification, he or she would need to enroll in a certification program within six months of beginning work at AAPS, and would have three years to complete the program. In Comsa’s experience, Mexicotte said, this kind of requirement should not be seen as an impediment to the board’s selection of superintendent, as this is a typical and reasonable state requirement.

Secondly, Mexicotte reported, Comsa told the board that Michigan law does allow for trustees to look at all of the applications without every name being made public, as long as the search firm retains ownership and possession of the application files. However, Comsa’s explanation that trustees’ access to the applications would be legal within certain parameters did not solve the board’s dilemma about how to proceed.

Christine Stead spoke strongly about believing the board should not review any applications until a list of semi-finalists is brought to them by Ray & Associates, the firm hired to help with the search. She argued that the information would be a burden, and that reviewing applications beyond those presented to them by Ray & Associates would be a sign of distrusting the process. “At some point,” she said, “it brings in the question of why we hired a search firm.”

Andy Thomas concurred, saying, “There are certain things just better off not knowing … only bad things can come of trying to dive into this too deeply.” Irene Patalan agreed as well, saying that with extensive community input on development of the candidate profile, that profile should be able to lead Ray & Associates to the right candidates for the semi-finalist list. “I don’t want say that we’re putting together this process, but then look like we’re second-guessing it,” she stated.

Simone Lightfoot, Susan Baskett and Glenn Nelson rounded out the other side of the debate. Lightfoot stated that her reason for wanting to review all of the applications was not because she didn’t trust Ray & Associates, but because she felt it was her responsibility as a trustee to verify that the candidate profile was applied to the search. Baskett added that trustees should respect each other’s decisions to look at the applications or not, and suggested that the board should have further discussion with Ray & Associates regarding this issue.

Nelson asserted that he was not clear on how it could be harmful to have individual trustees read through the applications. He argued that if – in reviewing the applications – a trustee finds a few more files that warrant review beyond the list of semi-finalists produced by Ray & Associates, the cost of reading 13 instead of 10 applications, for instance, is minimal.

In Nelson’s scenario, Stead countered, if a colleague were able to find three more candidates that he or she thought were viable, Stead would feel compelled to review the entire applicant pool as well. That, she argued, would not be the district’s best use of time, energy, or resources, and would require the timeline for the search process to be extended. “I don’t believe I can conduct a national search better than [Ray & Associates] can,” she concluded.

As the possible tiebreaker of any motion brought before the board regarding the issue, Mexicotte then weighed in. She stated that she would not be comfortable with a motion that would allow trustees to mine the applicant pool and “cherry pick” candidates for board review. However, she said she would support a motion to allow trustees to review the applications if information they gleaned was used to rework the candidate profile, or simply to see how the profile had been applied.

The board then briefly discussed whether they wanted to get input from Ray & Associates on the issue while the consultants are in town from Oct. 25-27 to gather community input for the candidate profile. There is a regular board meeting scheduled for Oct. 27.

Stead and Lightfoot each argued that this decision is part of the district’s internal process and does not require input from the search firm. Thomas suggested that Mexicotte contact Ray & Associates in order to get a sense of their level of comfort with the trustees reviewing the full application set, but Mexicotte declined, saying she believed it would be more efficient for the board to get its questions answered in a group.

Baskett and Nelson pointed out that there might be costs associated with Ray & Associates attending part of the next board meeting, such as missing the opportunity to run a community forum at that time, or having to pay for another night of hotel costs for the firm to stay in town.

Mexicotte noted that Ray was already planning to meet with the board at its first November meeting in order to present an aggregated report of the community input they collected. She requested that Liz Margolis, AAPS director of communications, discuss with Ray & Associates whether it would be efficient for the search firm to meet with the board during the Oct. 27 meeting. Margolis is responsible for setting the schedule of community meetings with the firm.

Outcome: No motion was brought forward about how to proceed, and the issue was tabled pending possible input from Ray & Associates.

International Baccalaureate Consortium

Interim superintendent Robert Allen introduced Naomi Norman, director of assessment, planning, and research for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District (WISD), and Joyce Hunter, AAPS assistant superintendent for middle and high school education, as two members of the international baccalaureate (IB) consortium planning committee. Norman and Hunter said they did not have a formal presentation planned, but were available to answer any remaining questions trustees might have. The IB consortium was presented as a first briefing item at the previous board meeting. Here’s a summary of what the IB program is, from The Chronicle’s report of that meeting:

[Bert Okema, an IB consultant] then gave a brief history of the IB. The heart of the IB, he argued, is holding students to rigorous, high academic standards, while assessing students in a broad variety of ways. The IB was founded in Europe, he said, and has a strong emphasis on “international-mindedness.”

Okema explained how the Washtenaw County IB program would connect to Michigan’s high school content expectations, and outlined the general IB curriculum. IB students are required to take courses in each of six areas – first language, second language, experimental sciences, mathematics/computer science, individuals/societies, and the arts. They are also expected to write an independently researched 4,000-word paper, pass a theory of knowledge class, and complete 150 hours of “activity-based learning.” Stead questioned the relevance of the IB program to the 21st century, and was reassured by Okema and [Naomi Norman, director of assessment, planning, and research for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District] that that program exceeded district goals.

At last week’s meeting, board members stated some concerns with the number of participating districts countrywide, the size of the proposed IB program, contingency plans if enrollment targets are not met, ensuring diversity in the student body and staff, and the hiring process for teachers.

In addition, similar to the board’s discussion at the first briefing on the program, a significant part of the conversation centered on the school’s proposed location in the former East Middle School in Ypsilanti. Andy Thomas argued that while the building itself is nice, he believes that many parents would have a negative impression of the school based on its location. He listed the old Ford plant, abandoned businesses, and open fields of weeds that he passed en route to visit the school, and expressed concern that other county districts would keep “dropping out” of the consortium just like with the transportation consolidation.

Norman took issue with the term “dropping out” as applied to the IB consortium and said that three county districts are simply just not bringing the IB consortium for a vote because they don’t feel they have support in their communities. She asserted that the IB is not a program just for high-income communities, and pointed to successful IB programs in Pontiac and Southfield as examples. Norman also noted that the planning committee had included data in the board packet to show that driving distance has not been an impediment to oversubscribing other IB programs in Michigan.

Deb Mexicotte countered Thomas’ assertions as well, saying that the location suits a number of goals. The building is modern and beautiful, she said, and its location in Ypsilanti centers it in the county in terms of population density. Mexicotte noted that the school is also right off the highway, which would make it easy for commuters from the western side of the county. She also pointed out that there is a huge amount of interest in IB programs east of Washtenaw county, if there was ever a need or interest in allowing out-of-county enrollment. Finally, Mexicotte argued that this program could be used as a catalyst for economic development in the same way that Skyline High School helped the North Maple area to develop.

The proposed IB program anticipates an enrollment of 600 students. Hunter explained that while some schools use their IB program like an Advanced Placement (AP) program, and have fewer than 600 students, those programs are not offering the complete IB program. In order to achieve the full program, a critical mass of 600 students is needed, asserted Norman. A desire to have the Washtenaw County IB program be a complete program is one of the reasons why the planning committee decided not to pilot the program inside one of the county’s existing schools. At the building in Ypsilanti, there is opportunity for program growth.

On the topic of mitigating risk, Hunter said that districts choosing not to participate would forfeit any spaces allocated to them in the program, and those spaces would then be reallocated to other participating districts. If the location does turn out to be an impediment, Hunter continued, that issue would be addressed by the oversight committee of district superintendents, and recommendations would be brought to the board. Norman also pointed out that the consortium agreement allows for the possibility of having multiple sites if the consortium decides to pursue that option. The Oakland County IB program, on which the Washtenaw program is modeled, has three campuses.

Regarding the plan for ensuring diversity among teaching staff, Hunter acknowledged that the IB’s hiring committee would be composed of representation from the participating districts, and that the committee would strive to ensure balance and equity. In terms of the hiring process in general, Norman reiterated that there is currently a team of union leaders developing a fair and equitable way to do hiring. The plan will be to start by hiring only teachers from within the participating districts, and then going outside the consortium, if not enough highly qualified teachers in the correct subject areas want to transfer, Norman explained. She added that district teachers will be allowed to transfer to the IB in proportion to the number of their district’s students who would be admitted to the program.

A motion was made to join the consortium, and trustees offered their final comments.

Andy Thomas and Susan Baskett noted they supported the concept of an IB program with reservations. Thomas said he would honestly prefer that the IB be a district initiative rather than a countywide one, but that he agreed with Hunter that if the consortium does not move forward, a charter school or private school will step in and offer an IB locally.

Baskett maintained her concern “regarding the lack of proactive commitment to diversity.” She also asserted that she wants to be sure “we are not de-facto keeping kids out with the Euro-centric curriculum.” Still, she agreed that joining the IB consortium was worth the risks and would be a good addition to the many paths to high school graduation currently offered by AAPS.

Irene Patalan said simply that she was in support of offering the best education possible in all different forms. She said that she agrees that the location could influence people, but that there is a need for the IB program, and that she believes it will be successful.

Glenn Nelson joked that “since there are different kinds of yes votes for this proposal,” he wanted to be clear that his vote was a “very enthusiastic yes.” He stated that he believes the IB program will consider moving to the county because of this school, and conceded, “Sure there are risks. Life is a sequence of risk analyses, … but I think this is exciting.”

Simone Lightfoot concurred with Nelson, saying that she was also enthusiastic. Regarding the location, she argued, “There has always been a challenge when crossing Carpenter Road, and the economic times are forcing us to think outside the box and make some connections.” [Carpenter Road is typically used to indicate a demarcation line between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti.]

Outcome: Approval of the IB consortium was originally on the board’s consent agenda, but was pulled out for separate consideration by Patalan. In a roll call vote, a motion to join the IB consortium passed unanimously.

Consent Agenda

With the IB consortium approval pulled out for separate consideration from the consent agenda, the only second briefing item left on it was approval of the contract with Pediatric Therapy Associates (PTA) for a portion of the district’s special education services. Robert Allen reported that some information had been added to the meeting’s board packet to clarify why this year’s contract contains some lower costs compared to the previous year. Elaine Brown, AAPS assistant superintendent of student intervention and support services, explained that the decrease in occupational therapy costs was due to the fact that PTA would be servicing AAPS fewer hours over the same number of weeks.

Outcome: In addition to the PTA contract, the consent agenda included a series of minutes approvals and gift offers. It passed unanimously.

Association Reports

At each meeting, the board invites reports from six associations: the Youth Senate, the Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee on Special Education (AAPAC), the Parent-Teacher-Organization Council (PTOC), the Black Parents Student Support Group (BPSSG), the Ann Arbor Administrators Association (AAAA), and the Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA). At Wednesday’s meeting, the board heard reports from the BPSSG, the AAPAC and the PTOC.

Association Reports: Black Parents Student Support Group

Sylvia Nesmith reported for the BPSSG, which met on Sept. 27. Nesmith said they had hosted Mark Thatcher from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who reported on how history affects discipline in our schools, and how that can affect student achievement. She also noted that the BPSSG held a tailgate promotion at the Huron/Pioneer game, and invited parents to sign up. It was a test, she said, and was successful. Lastly, Nesmith noted that the BPSSG will be hosting a superintendent search forum at the Second Baptist Church in fellowship hall in lieu of their next regular meeting. She thanked AAPS for their support, and continued collaboration.

Association Reports: Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee on Special Education

Lauren Roland gave the report for the AAPAC. She said they met on Oct. 4, and heard an update on the superintendent search process. Roland noted that the AAPAC is pleased to hear that Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley, the district’s new deputy superintendent of instruction, will attend Student Intervention and Support Services (SISS) meetings in order to increase collaboration between special education and general education. AAPAC is also interested in expanding adaptive physical education and positive behavior support to all schools, and plans to hold three workshops for parents throughout the year, including one on IEP/5o4 plans, and one on the Practical Assessment Exploration System (PAES). The PAES program simultaneously provides for assessment, training and exploration in basic vocational, money management, and proper work behaviors within the context of a comprehensive curriculum.

Association Reports: Parent-Teacher-Organization Council

Martine Perreault reported for the PTOC. She plugged the association’s third annual launch party, which will take place on Monday, Oct. 18. The launch party is not open to the public, but every PTO and PTSO officer throughout the district is invited to attend. This year’s theme is “What can your administration do for you?” Perreault asked any PTO/PTSO officer who had not already received an invitation to feel free to attend.

Board Committee Reports

The board’s two standing committees were just reconfigured at the last board meeting, and the new chairs gave their first reports to the full board at last week’s meeting. Christine Stead, Susan Baskett, and Irene Patalan sit on the planning committee, and Glenn Nelson, Simone Lightfoot, and Andy Thomas sit on the performance committee. Board president Deb Mexicotte does not sit on either committee.

Performance Committee

Nelson, as the newly appointed chair of the performance committee, reported that they met on Oct. 12. The two main agenda items at their meeting were receiving an update on the AAPS preschool and family center, and upcoming changes to the district’s teacher evaluation system.

The preschool serves over 400 students, Nelson said. Highlighting the wait list of approximately 70 children for the preschool’s Head Start program, he noted that even with the grant support brought in by preschool staff, the program is not able to serve all the children who are eligible and who would benefit from it. Nelson reported that preschool staff is concerned about maintaining sufficient funding, and outgrowing available space.

Regarding the teacher evaluation system, Nelson said the main question is how elements will be added to the system to bring it in line with new legislation requiring that measures of student growth be part of evaluating teachers’ work. Teacher evaluation will be discussed again at the committee’s next meeting on Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. at the Balas administration building.

Planning Committee

Stead began her first report on the planning committee by thanking Patalan for being an excellent role model as committee chair. The two main items they covered at their meeting on Oct. 1, Stead said, were a review of the lab schools program, and agenda planning for the year. She praised the lab school as an excellent opportunity to partner with the University of Michigan, and invited the public to the next planning committee meeting on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Balas administration building.

Superintendent’s Report

Robert Allen began his first report to the board as interim superintendent by thanking the trustees and the school community for their welcome and support of him during his first few days on the job. Allen also thanked former superintendent Todd Roberts for his extraordinary leadership, and wished him success.

Allen remarked on various successes experienced by individual AAPS schools and by the district as a whole. He also announced that AAPS will be performing an emergency management drill on Saturday, Oct. 23, and that 175 volunteers are needed for the event. To volunteer, he said, people can contact AAPS director of communications, Liz Margolis at margolis@aaps.k12.mi.us or 734-994-2236.

Student Reinstatement

In AAPS, a student who has been expelled is able to petition the district’s student discipline committee for reinstatement to the district. The committee holds a reinstatement hearing, and makes a recommendation to the board on whether to allow the student back into the district. Two members of the board – Lightfoot and Stead – sit on this reinstatement panel, along with various district administrators.

At last week’s meeting, the board considered a recommendation from the student discipline committee not to reinstate a student, referred to as “Student A.” Stead moved that the board not reinstate “Student A,” but that it allow an assessment of what programs would best suit the student so that she/he could progress academically.

The only discussion came from Lightfoot, who said she wanted to be certain that the district made it very clear to the student’s family what the student would need to do to return to the district in the future, and that all possible resources are provided to the student to aid his/her learning in the meantime. Mexicotte clarified that “Student A” would be allowed to petition the district for reinstatement again on Aug. 1, 2011.

Outcome: The motion not to reinstate “Student A” passed unanimously.

Agenda Planning

Stead suggested that the board should consider a resolution against charter schools being introduced in areas where high-performing schools already exist. She also advocated for developing a process to review local charter schools.

Items from the Board

Thomas reported that Mitchell elementary will be starting a kindergarten reading club in November. He also noted that this program will be made possible by a grant from the Karen Thomas Memorial Fund, which Thomas started to honor his late wife.

Nelson gave a “shout out” to the Washtenaw Literacy project for the good work they do.

Patalan thanked Slauson Middle School for a chance to address a delegation from Hikone, Japan.  She also noted “how nice it is to see [Robert Allen] at end of the table.”

Baskett announced that the Freedom Fund dinner is coming up, and reminded her colleagues that board members’ attendance will be supported by the district. The Freedom Fund dinner is sponsored by the local branch of the NAACP, and recognizes students who have earned a respectable GPA. Baskett noted that this year’s speaker will be Keith Owens.

Mexicotte offered three items. First, she said she was “trying to model good behavior” by reporting on her attendance at the transportation committee meeting (TSC), and encouraged other board members to report on their participation on community committees during future board meetings. The TSC, Mexicotte said, is looking at ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, changing the lighting in Skyline’s parking lot, and other issues.

Secondly, Mexicotte said she was struck by an idea during Nelson’s earlier update on the district’s preschool. Noting the success of the AAPS preschool, and the prioritization of early childhood education by U.S. Dept. of Education secretary Arne Duncan, Mexicotte mused that perhaps the AAPS preschool would be able to secure additional funding as a model early childhood center if the center were highlighted to state representatives.

Finally, Mexicotte spoke directly to her colleagues on the board of education in Saline regarding their decision not to add a clause to their anti-discrimination policy to add protection for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) students, staff, and parents. Saying that she understood they had wrestled with the issue, Mexicotte called on Saline’s school board to bring the issue back for further review. “There is a heightened risk to students who are LGBTQ students just like there is to female students, minority students, and any other students who have come late to the table of full civil rights. I think if [the Saline school board] brings this forward after some reflection, they will get to a place where their students, staff, and parents can be supported.”

Present: President Deb Mexicotte, vice president Susan Baskett, secretary Andy Thomas, treasurer Irene Patalan, and trustees Glenn Nelson, Simone Lightfoot, and Christine Stead. Also present as a non-voting member was Robert Allen, interim superintendent of AAPS.

Next regular meeting: Oct. 27, 2010, 7 p.m., at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library 4th floor board room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. [confirm date]

From left to right, outgoing AAPS superintendent Todd Roberts, board president Deb Mexicotte, treasurer Irene Patalan, vice-president Susan Baskett, and Robert Allen, who will assume command of AAPS as interim superintendent on Oct. 9. (Photos by the writer.)

AAPS is hosting a public farewell reception for Roberts at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 7, at Skyline High School. Board president Deb Mexicotte quipped that the reception would be an opportunity for everyone to express good wishes or condolences to Roberts “as he moves on to accept a not-as-good position in North Carolina.” At Wednesday’s meeting, the board chose Ray & Associates, an executive search firm from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to help them recruit and select a new superintendent.

The meeting also served as the annual organizational meeting for the board, during which trustees elected three new officers, changed the composition of their standing committees, and set their meeting dates for the remainder of the school year.

The board also heard a first briefing on yet another high school option being developed county-wide – an international baccalaureate program.

Trustee Tributes to Roberts

Trustees shared personal memories and stories about their work with Roberts over the years, and expressed that he would be greatly missed.

Todd Roberts at his last AAPS board meeting.

Andy Thomas praised Roberts for being incredibly engaging and respectful, even toward people with whom he does not agree.

Christine Stead credited Roberts with being inspiring during the strategic planning process, and for always thinking about how schools could be improved. She also noted that his relatable and accessible personality made it easy for the community to engage with him.

Glenn Nelson related a story about a 21-year-old who stopped Roberts on the street to thank him for being the man’s grade school principal, and used that story to stress how strong of an impression Roberts leaves on those with whom he works. Nelson said he will never forget the spirit and humanity that Roberts brought to his work here, and that he hopes to run into him in the future.

Simone Lightfoot thanked Roberts for his help when she was getting acclimated to the board, and for being so understanding. She praised his willingness to respond to the board, and his focus on getting problems fixed.

Susan Baskett thanked Roberts for his years of service. “You will be a name that will always come up,” she said, noting that he had helped the district weather some tough storms. She also thanked him for leaving AAPS “in good hands” and implored him not to forget them.

Irene Patalan said she wished she could lasso North Carolina and bring it here, and that she will miss Roberts terribly. She extolled his “egoless” nature, and affirmed that many people have been inspired by his leadership.

Deb Mexicotte said simply that Roberts had done everything AAPS has needed, and thanked him for being a “servant leader.” She also presented him with a plaque on behalf of the board.

Roberts responded with humility, saying that he hardly deserves all the compliments, and noting that he has learned a lot from a lot of people here about how to be successful. He praised the community, saying: “The person who comes to serve as superintendent will be lucky … I just feel that I’ve been the one to be really fortunate.”

Roberts thanked the board for selecting him four years ago, and giving him the opportunity to serve this district in this capacity. He thanked the board, and AAPS staff – especially his cabinet members, who he praised as “outstanding people and professionals.” He saved his anchor acknowledgment for his executive assistant Joann Emmendorfer and executive secretary to the board, Amy Osinski, saying “Those of us who work in Balas [administration building] know that they are the ones who really run the district.”

Search Firm Selection

Mexicotte reviewed the process the board was using to select a search firm to assist with filling Robert’s superintendent position, which will be handled on an interim basis by current deputy superintendent Robert Allen. Allen has declared that he will not be a candidate for the permanent job.

Mexicotte reported on the reference checks done on the two final firms – Ray & Associates and McPherson & Jacobson. [See previous Chronicle coverage: "AAPS Search Firm Choice: Down to Two"] She reported that references for Ray & Associates were uniformly positive. On the other hand, the references on McPherson & Jacobson had caused enough concern that the reference committee of Mexicotte, Stead, and Baskett recommended only Ray & Associates for the board’s consideration.

Lightfoot asked Mexicotte to elaborate on the concerns regarding McPherson & Jacobson. Mexicotte said that other clients had listed concerns regarding multiple items, including the firm’s attention to detail, its commitment to community engagement, its ability to attract a strong and diverse pool of candidates, and its reference check process. Baskett noted that the second reference for McPherson was so negative that it was truly surprising, and suggested that Mexicotte pass on the feedback to McPherson. Mexicotte agreed to do so.

Outcome: The board approved the selection of Ray & Associates in a roll call vote.

After Ray & Associates was officially chosen, Mexicotte reiterated that Ray’s references were glowingly praising, and gave some examples. In all areas of the rubric the board used for the search firm selection, Ray strongly demonstrated success, she said.

Baskett noted that some of Ray’s references, while extremely pleased with their overall service, did make some suggestions to AAPS about how to have the best experience possible working with them. Mexicotte elaborated that some individuals in the firm came especially recommended, and that the board might want to request they are included on the AAPS team. She also said that based on the references, it seems like Ray might not be as good as AAPS at creating advertising materials, so the district may want to take the lead on that.

Stead added that it’s important to think about the importance of following the search firm’s advice, based on their experience and the outcomes they’ve had. “Ray’s references were phenomenal” she said.

Patalan said she agreed with Stead, and that in their interview, Ray’s representatives emphasized the importance of trusting Ray’s process. Baskett added that she appreciated Ray’s values, and that she likes the average tenure of Ray’s placements – eight years. Lightfoot added that she was impressed with Ray’s focus on the candidates’ well-being as well as the needs of the district. She concluded, “I think we’ve made a wise choice, and I look forward to working with them.”

Mexicotte asked if the board would be amenable to her working with Dave Comsa, AAPS assistant superintendent of human resources and legal services, to finalize the contract with Ray & Associates, and the board agreed.

Baskett asked what the next step will be. Mexicotte said she would request that the selected firm attend the next board meeting.

International Baccalaureate Program

In a memo included in the board’s meeting packet, Roberts reminded the board that one of the goals from Strategy 1 of the district’s strategic plan is to assess the feasibility of starting an International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Due to a high level of interest from other local districts, Roberts invited superintendents from across Washtenaw County to participate in creating an IB school, and the group formed a planning committee.

The board recently approved two additional paths to graduation for the district’s students – Early College Alliance and the WAY Washtenaw program – and creating the IB would add a third additional path.

Three members of the planning committee – Joyce Hunter, AAPS assistant superintendent of middle and high school education; Naomi Norman, director of assessment, planning, and research for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District; and Bert Okema, an IB consultant – introduced the proposed county-wide IB school to the board.

Hunter began by briefly speaking about her work on the IB planning committee.   She noted that the planning committee was very well-organized and explained how its work had been guided by “decision points” regarding the Washtenaw County IB school. These had included decisions about structure, enrollment, school design, site options, governance, personnel, budget, equity, and feeder schools of the new school.

Okema then gave a brief history of the IB. The heart of the IB, he argued, is holding students to rigorous, high academic standards, while assessing students in a broad variety of ways. The IB was founded in Europe, he said, and has a strong emphasis on “international-mindedness.”

Okema explained how the Washtenaw County IB program would connect to Michigan’s high school content expectations, and outlined the general IB curriculum. IB students are required to take courses in each of six areas – first language, second language, experimental sciences, mathematics/computer science, individuals/societies, and the arts. They are also expected to write an independently researched 4,000-word paper, pass a theory of knowledge class, and complete 150 hours of “activity-based learning.” Stead questioned the relevance of the IB program to the 21st century, and was reassured by Okema and Norman that that program exceeded district goals.

In response to questions from Baskett, Okema agreed that some elements of the IB are somewhat Euro-centric, but that it has more recently broadened to include wider influences, such as works of literature in translation from around the world. History in an IB program can be based on European, Asian, or American history, and individual IB schools can choose the focus for their schools. Nelson added that the mathematics element of the IB is not Euro-centric, and math did not develop first in Europe.

Norman then introduced how the IB program would look in Washtenaw County, and reviewed the rationale for its creation. Though there is not currently an IB program in this county, she pointed out, there are currently 33 IB programs in Michigan, including in Oakland and Macomb counties. She noted that over 80% of 800 county families surveyed were interested in a local IB program, including many homeschooling or private school families. Norman also pointed out the economic development opportunity that an IB program would bring the county by attracting international business.

Washtenaw International High School, as it is now being called, would be created as a county-wide consortium, and would grow to serve 600 students. Norman stated that the IB school will have a high commitment to equity, and to supporting students with a wide range of abilities. In similar fashion to the Early College Alliance (ECA) which AAPS just joined, teachers from participating districts would staff the IB.

The IB school would be located at the former East Middle School site in Ypsilanti. Enrollment would be based on lottery, with slots allocated in proportion to the size of each member district. In addition to the 600 county students, Norman explained, up to 80 additional students transferring from other IB schools worldwide could eventually be accommodated. Norman explained that an additional program – the IB Career Certificate program (IBCC), with more of a focus on technical education – could be added in the second year of the program.

Norman reviewed the elements of the consortium agreement. The school would be governed by a board made up of the superintendents of each participating district, as well as the WISD. She explained that the WISD will be the fiscal agent of the IB. The consortium is looking for grants to fund start-up costs, but the WISD is willing to lend the program some of the necessary funds. The program is set to use 100% of the foundation allowance per student, and is planning to be fully enrolled for 150 9th graders in 2011, adding one grade per year year. Baskett asked about the application of the waiting list, and Okema explained that any students on a waiting list will only be able to join the IB during the first two years of high school.

Patalan asked about the support of students with special needs or other difficulties, and Okema assured her the IB would meet their needs. He also mentioned that students are allowed to return to their home schools if they so choose.

Though he expressed general interest and support of the program, Thomas stated multiple concerns. First, he pointed out that it seems like enrolling 600 students might be optimistic. Okema said that a critical mass of roughly 600 students makes the program cost-effective, creates a desirable school climate, and allows more curricular options. Norman added that current student interest from possible member districts confirmed that 600 was a good number.

Thomas also questioned the IB’s proposed location on the very eastern edge of the county. Hunter said the planning committee did consider other sites, but chose the former East Middle School because it was the best fit. Roberts also pointed out that roughly 70% of the population of Washtenaw County is centered around the East Middle School site. Norman confirmed that it is anticipated that students will be transported to and from school by parents, or drive themselves. There is parking available, and the school is on an AATA bus line.

The board had some discussion of what a reasonable driving distance would be to the school, and what enrollment would be expected to be from each participating district. Thomas requested that the planning committee bring more concrete estimates of enrollment to the second briefing.

Baskett asked about how the lottery will work to address equity. Norman answered that the planning committee used guidelines from Los Angeles, which focus on creating anticipation within the county’s middle schools so that all students will feel qualified to apply if interested. Then, in contrast to the ECA, the lottery would not be amended if the diversity of student populations were not proportional to the county populations. Norman also allowed that adjustments can be made by the governing board if the school’s equity goals are not being met.

Baskett also asked about necessary teacher contract adjustments. Norman answered there is a sub-committee of district union representatives meeting to work out those issues, including: the school’s calendar, extracurricular support, structure of the school day, and number of preparation periods. Salary and benefits would be handled by the member districts, but teacher evaluations would be handled by the IB.

Outcome: The district’s participation in a county-wide IB school will come for a second briefing and decision at the next regular board meeting.

Special Needs Service Provision

Elaine Brown, AAPS assistant superintendent for student intervention and support services, presented the board with the first briefing of a renewal contract with Pediatric Therapy Associates (PTA). PTA offers physical, occupational, and speech therapies to complement full-time AAPS special education staff. The total PTA contract would be for $592,592, with AAPS funding roughly 17% of the contract, and the rest supported by federal special education grants.

Thomas asked about the breakdown of AAPS staff versus contracted staff for special education services. Brown’s staff confirmed that all three physical therapists are contracted. Of the occupational therapists, five are contracted, and eight are salaried AAPS employees. All 43 speech therapists are AAPS employees.

Nelson pointed out that there will be a special education renewal millage on the ballot in the spring. While the need for these services does not go away legally or ethically, Nelson pointed out, the failure of this millage would cause a larger proportion of the general fund to be used on special education services.

Trustees asked that additional cost breakdowns comparing last year’s services to this year’s projected service be brought to the second briefing at the next regular meeting.

Outcome: The annual contract with Pediatric Therapy Associates will come before the board for a second briefing its next regular meeting.

Association Reports

As an item of business at the meeting, the board reapproved the slate of associations from which it invites reports at each regular board meeting. Mexicotte noted that other groups could be added later if the board desired. The six groups are: the Youth Senate, the Ann Arbor Parent Advisory Committee on Special Education (AAPAC), the Parent-Teacher-Organization Council (PTOC), the Black Parents Student Support Group (BPSSG), the Ann Arbor Administrators Association (AAAA), and the Ann Arbor Education Association (AAEA). At Wednesday’s meeting, the board heard reports from the Youth Senate, the AAPAC, and the PTOC.

Association Reoprts: Youth Senate

The Youth Senate’s report was focused on lunch at the high schools. Nikila Lakshmanan, a junior senator from Community High School, reported that Community’s 40-minute lunchtime offered off-campus privileges, as well as tutoring and extracurricular activities, and was universally enjoyed by Community students. At Pioneer, she said, lunch also works smoothly, as all students eat together, and seniors are allowed to eat off-campus.

In contrast, Lakshmanan highlighted lunch concerns brought to the Youth Senate from the other two high schools. At Huron High School, she said, some students are upset by the new lunch schedule, which splits freshman from the other students. Finally, Lakshmanan reported that many Skyline High School students feel that their lunch area is already overcrowded, and are concerned about the addition of another grade next year.

AAPAC

Melanie Raubolt thanked outgoing superintendent Todd Roberts for four years of excellent leadership, and welcomed Robert Allen and Lee Ann Dickinson-Kelley to their new roles as interim superintendent and deputy superintendent of instruction, respectively. Raubolt reported that it is Augmentative and Alternative Communication Awareness (AAC) month. AAC technology helps people with communication disorders to connect more effectively with those around them.

Raubolt noted that some buses have been late due to new drivers, and construction – AAPAC hopes these issues will be worked out soon. Lastly, she thanked Haisley Elementary School’s principal for implementing training in positive behavior support for all staff, and encouraged other schools to offer similar training.

PTOC

Amy Pachera reported for the PTOC. She mentioned that the group is seeking a recording secretary, though the rest of the board is set. The PTOC participated in training from the NEW Center regarding legal obligations and management of PT(S)Os, and found it extremely useful. The PTOC will hold its annual launch party on Monday, Oct. 18 at Logan Elementary. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Superintendent’s Report

Roberts gave the final report of his tenure as AAPS superintendent. He praised multiple students, teachers, and community groups for their recent successes.

Students in Transition

In a study session before Wednesday’s meeting, the board was introduced to Azibo Stevens, the district’s new liaison to WISD’s Education Project for Homeless Youth (EPHY). According to the federal McKinney-Vento Act, a student should be considered homeless if they “lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.” This does not necessarily mean homeless students are living on the streets; it could mean that they are “doubled-up” with another family, living in a motel room, or staying at a shelter.

Azibo Stevens, AAPS liaison to WISD's Education Project for Homeless Youth.

Stevens explained to the board that this definition is broader than many school personnel are aware of, and thus, the population of homeless youth attending AAPS is likely much larger than the number of students receiving services from EPHY.

He said it is important to identify homeless youth in order to encourage them to access the support services available to them through AAPS and EPHY, such as help with transportation, advocacy, food, and in some cases, extra academic support.

In response to questions from the board, Stevens suggested that AAPS staff could help to identify and refer students to him by noting those students whose address frequently changes, and posting homeless liaison contact information in the main office of each school. He also pointed out that many families are unlikely to self-identify as homeless, even if they meet the definition, and that in order to reach qualified families, it may help to ask parents if their family is “in transition” rather than “homeless,” which is a more stigmatized term.

Consent Agenda Approved

The consent agenda included minutes approvals, gift offers, and one second briefing item – the utility easement recommendations reviewed by Randy Trent at the board’s Sept. 15 meeting. With no questions on the easements, or any other item, the board unanimously approved its consent agenda.

MASB Delegates Chosen

Mexicotte announced that the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) delegate assembly this year will be held in Grand Rapids, and that it was a good opportunity to be part of shaping the MASB. Lightfoot and Nelson volunteered to attend, and the board approved them.

Organizational Meeting

At its previous meeting, the board had voted to hold its annual organization meeting before the November election, because the five trustees on the November ballot are running unopposed. At Wednesday’s meeting, Mexicotte again noted that should something unforeseen happen, such as a write-in candidate winning a seat, the board could hold another organizational meeting. Trustees then voted to suspend the bylaw that states the organizational meeting should happen after the election, and proceeded to reorganize themselves.

All four officer positions were filled by uncontested self-nomination, and approved by the board. The new configuration of AAPS school board officers is: Deb Mexicotte, president; Susan Baskett, vice president; Andy Thomas, secretary; and Irene Patalan, treasurer. Each officer swore to “abide by the bylaws, rules, and regulations of [their offices] as to the best of [their] knowledge and ability.” Upon Mexicotte’s request, Lightfoot agreed to remain the board’s parliamentarian.

The standing board committees were also reconfigured. The board has two committees: planning, which is proactive in exploring upcoming areas of concern or interest to the board; and performance, which is focused on the assessment and evaluation of current AAPS programs, activities, and initiatives.

Mexicotte noted that the committee representation she was about to suggest was based on trustees’ interests as ascertained in one-on-one discussions with her before Wednesday’s meeting, as well as on the areas in which trustees have shown vigilance and concern. She then requested that Stead, Baskett, and Patalan sit on the planning committee, chaired by Stead; and that Nelson, Lightfoot, and Thomas sit on the performance committee, chaired by Nelson. All of her suggestions were accepted by the board.

While other administrative committee appointments had been made during the previous meeting, Mexicotte explained that a new committee had been formed – the guidance counselor advisory board. She requested that she be able to appoint herself to serve on the new committee, and the board approved that request.

As part of the organizational meeting, the board also sets its calendar. They meet twice monthly, usually on non-consecutive weeks, and the meeting dates for the rest of 2010 have already been posted.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board considered the remaining meetings for this school year. Of the suggested slate of dates, Nelson pointed out that the board was scheduled to meet during the district’s February break, and suggested moving that meeting to the beginning of March, and the other March meetings down a week. The board agreed to take advantage of March 2011′s five Wednesdays, and set the following as its 2011 meeting dates: Jan. 12 and 26, Feb. 9, March 2, 16, and 30, April 13 and 27, May 11 and 25, and June 8 and 22.

Agenda Planning

One amendment was made to the board’s calendar – an executive session for the purpose of attorney-client privileged communication was approved for Wed., Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. [Since the meeting, a study session was also added for 7 p.m. on that day.]

Present: President Deb Mexicotte, vice president Susan Baskett, secretary Andy Thomas, treasurer Irene Patalan, and trustee Glenn Nelson, Simone Lightfoot, and Christine Stead. Also present as a non-voting member was Todd Roberts, superintendent of AAPS.

Next Regular Meeting: Oct. 13, 2010, 7 p.m., at the downtown Ann Arbor District Library, fourth floor board room, 343 S. Fifth Ave. [confirm date]