August+12,+2013

Agenda for August 12th, 9:00 – 11:00 This is our wiki which will be used as a communication tool for the administrators, coordinators, and facilitators. It will also be used to share important information with our teams. Wiki: http://buhlerlearningteam.wikispaces.com/
 * Review Norms: **
 * Stay focused
 * Be positive
 * Listen
 * Be open to new ideas
 * Trust each other
 * Communicate effectively and openly
 * Stop on time


 * Calendar for the 2013/2014 school year **
 * Review the dates for Learning Team, Learning Team +, and Facilitators to meet.
 * Professional Learning Days
 * Nov. 1st
 * Jan. 20
 * May 5 - 9
 * What's in the News with Common Core? **
 * [[file:Common Core 'opt out' won't be answer — www.hutchnews.com — Readability.pdf]]

**Start Doing, Stop Doing, Continue Doing**


 * Briefly discuss this list that we generated during the Summer Advance. Were any of these items discussed at our strategic planning? Have some of these been addressed since we last met? Should we prioritize the Start Doing list?


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">High Expectations for Teams **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">What could/should/would true collaboration do for your team?


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Professional Learning Days: August 21-23, 27, 28 **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Please look over the schedule for your team carefully. Did we get your information correctly? Did we allow enough team time? Too much?

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">**Products from the 5 Professional Learning Days**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Each educator must reflect on the DMS for each day they attend.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">By the end of the 4th day each team should have a team goal. Each educator should have a personal goal. During building meetings you'll establish a building goal.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">By completing the DMS you will be more prepared for recertifying.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Notes from August 12th, 2013

A meeting of the full USD 313 Learning Team – all CCR coordinators, grade-level/content facilitators, building administrators and district-level administrators – was held at the BAC from 9-11 a.m. to finalize plans for the back-to-school professional learning days, and the building and district meetings scheduled Aug. 21-Aug. 28.

The list of all members of the Learning team and their responsibilities can be found on the wiki mentioned below in these minutes. Attending: Lynette McLean, Peggy Neufeld, Krista Fredrick, Dana Burkhart, Jennifer Keller, Diane Mears, Lynn Wimer, Letha Warner, Bev Lund, Kim Fredrickson, Jack Conkling, Jason Kohls, Jana Moler, Trish Unruh, Dave Schroeder, Brennan Torgerson, Bev Mauk, Marian Cordill, Matt Babcock, Sarah Berblinger, Eric Stambaugh, Trisha Burgey, Kathy Clark, Lori Zachary, Shirleen Augustine, Sheryl Smith, John Clark, Mike Berblinger, Mike Ellegood, Stefani Dreiling, Todd Fredrickson, Mike Bryan, Randy Doerksen, Mary Frazier Unable to Attend: Teresa Poulseen, Cindy Couchman, Linda Law, Randy Roberts, Mike Browne

Superintendent Mike Berblinger opened the meeting with some updates and levity. 1) Rumors Squelched: __ BGS lunch rumors addressed __ -- We will NOT be walking children to BHS to get their lunches and teachers will NOT be giving up their duty-free lunches The truth – Students will be eating in the gym with food transported from BHS while construction continues on the BGS kitchen and cafeteria. The work on the front of BGS is actually Phase 2 work that has already begun ahead of schedule. __ Sept. 16 starting date rumor addressed __ – We WILL be starting school as planned on Sept. 3  Construction managers say we will be in on time although everything may not be beautiful by then – There is no “Plan B” to start later; our already shortened district calendar cannot be modified further.

2) KSDE has submitted paperwork for an extension related to the federal mandate waiver. Student growth data will NOT be added to the state’s evaluation piece officially until 2016-17 if this extension is approved. New Kansas College and Career Ready (CCR) assessments are planned to begin next year. We will take transitional assessments this year and do a trial run on collecting student growth data since more than one year is necessary to chart growth.

3) The “ObamaCore” Common Core controversy has been getting media attention and at the end of the 2013 legislative session some legislators claimed that the Common Core was part of a government conspiracy – a federal attempt to control curriculum. This is NOT accurate. See recent article about “Parent Opt Out” that appeared in __The Hutchinson News__ found on the wiki. Additional information is also available. If you hear of grumblings against CCR standards among parents/patrons who may not know all the facts, please let Mike Berb know.

4) Some district needs have been identified based on feedback at the Summer Advance and the Board of Ed’s Strategic Planning Retreat. • We need to have an Assistant Superintendent in charge of curriculum again. Board is looking at a variety of ways to fill this position.  • We need to allow our DITS to get back to her original focus helping teachers with technology integration. Mike thanked Mary for stepping in to fill a role when asked to do so.  • We need clarity and good communication.

Mary explained that a new wiki has been created to try and help with this need: buhlerlearningteam.wikispaces.com will be a place where everyone can get correct information about meeting dates, PLC schedules, and more. Information about all meetings can be accessed by date by looking along the right hand menu of the wiki.

We reviewed the established norms for the Learning Team listed on the wiki and affirmed them with no changes.

As team leaders we need to have looked ahead to see what is coming next and be asking “What is my team needing?”

We revisited the “Start Doing, Stop Doing, Continue Doing” list that we started at Summer Advance. A copy of this document can be found on the wiki Groups of 3-4 dialogued about what they saw on the list. What ideas could be combined?

Here’s a literal snapshot of what that conversation looked like as recorded by Kathy Clark:

Some details of the conversation: • Big people (staff) and Little People (students) issues – PD and KEEP are teacher issues • Communication to all stakeholders – will make wiki open to all • Building construction progress to come from principals, also updates available on district website from Dr. McCabe • We – team leaders – need to be the conduit of information to their teams • Flexibility of schedule at elementary level – as we move to new buildings this would be a good time to look at schedules • We must remember WHAT’s BEST for the DISTRICT? See the bigger picture rather than just focus on own team/issues •Technology is badly needed at the high school – this information to help inform the tech team

• What are the PD needs for non-core groups – what does everyone need? Especially for the singletons • Must think about equity

Mike gave the team leaders some clear immediate action steps for PLC groups. During the team time prior to the start of school, the following work must be done: soon. **By Sept 15** – team goals need to be completed **All professional learning opportunities must be directly tied to goals because of limited funds**
 * 1) ** Norms solidified ** – send to Mike and Mary when done by e-mail
 * 2) ** Individual professional goals ** – on the DMS
 * 3) ** Team goal(s) ** -- 2 or 3 max – on the DMS Each facilitator puts in the team goals – they must be SMART goals. Information about SMART goal development will be included on the wiki
 * 1) *Building goals – all administrators and teachers will develop together
 * 5. **Begin establishing essential outcomes for the first quarter **– aligned to CCR standards; KSDE has these standards -- Contact District Printer Sherry Cunningham if you’d like bound copies of KCCR standards for your team.**
 * This work must be documented – Mike and Mary will send out a template for doing this work. This will be an on-going process. We want sequencing of outcomes to be pretty close from building to building, especially at elementary level. **
 * Media Specialists want access to these plans so they can support learning. **
 * 6. **Reflect on the DMS** daily to show attendance and to record learning

Other information that needs to be communicated to team members: On Monday, Aug. 26 we will be having a potluck lunch. Teams have been assigned what to bring – see the end of the PL schedule on the wiki for assignments; Stef Dreiling reminded everyone to bring utensils for serving. Food can be brought to the BHS cafeteria before meetings begin for refrigeration and heating.

Curtis Chandler – 2011 KTOY – will be the keynote speaker on Aug. 28

Meetings to be held on Aug. 21-28 will run from 8-11 and 12:30-3:30 each day

Joint meeting was adjourned so teams could finish finalizing their plans for the upcoming PL days. Updated plans need to be put on the wiki and communicated to all team members.