Professional Development Schools Network

November 4, 2003

Ball State University
Professional Development Schools Network
Institute for Community Education Development and School Improvement
Meeting #15
November 4, 2003
9:00 - 12:30
Minnetrista
Summary

Dean Weaver opened the meeting with a welcome to all members and guests. He thanked everyone for the great work they are doing to strengthen the professional development schools partnerships.

Ruth Swetnam welcomed guests, including Dr. Susan Tucker, the evaluator for the Title II grant, and Jackie Siefker, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Muncie. She asked everyone at each table to introduce themselves and tell others how they are involved in the PDS Network.

Ruth announced that during last summer a group of representatives from pre-K, elementary, middle and high school PDSs, liaisons from each level, Larry Smith, and David Dixon had met to review the PDS Network procedures and handbook. They recommended that the Institute meeting in the fall include all representatives, occur the first part of November, and take place from 9:00 to 12:30. The spring meeting will be divided into two groups. The pre-K and elementary representatives will meet at the Indianapolis Children's Museum on April 20, and the secondary representatives will meet April 7 at Tanglewood of Anderson Community School Corporation.

Diane Bottomley announced that the Annual Reading Conference is Friday, November 14 at the Ball State Student Center. Individuals from the professional development schools may attend for the reduced registration fee of $20.

A copy of the 2003-2004 PDS Directory was given to each person and they were asked to review it for any changes. Business cards for new school representatives have been delivered. Another order is being placed and should arrive before the holidays. Ruth thanked Lynn Siler in the Dean's Office for her assistance in editing the Directory and other documents for the PDS Network.

Tom Schroeder, representing the Network Executive Committee, recommended approval of the PDS proposal from Southside High School. The Institute representatives voted to accept Southside as the new PDS. Alba Rosenman, liaison; John Robbins, principal; and teacher representatives Dale Basham and Linda Ayers were introduced and thanked for their efforts in developing Southside's proposal.

With the addition of Southside High School, there are 25 PDS sites this year. By mutual agreement, the secondary schools of Carmel Community Schools withdrew from the Network. After a year of conversation, and by mutual agreement, Burris has decided not to continue as a planning partner. Apple Tree Child Development Center will continue as a planning partner and Muncie Boys and Girls Club is the new planning partner.

Site Reviews for 2003-2004 are being scheduled. The review of St. Mary School will take place on November 18. Morrison-Mock and Washington Carver will host review teams in the spring. Lennon Brown, principal of Anderson Highland High School, was asked to describe for the group the site review experience they had last year. He shared how they realized through the process how much they were doing and how much they had benefited from the partnership. He shared the two newsletters that have been developed by the Site Council describing the PDS activities.

Each table was given the opportunity to review the changes recommended for the PDS Network Handbook and offer comments and suggestions. Some of the major changes that were highlighted are:

  • Institute for Community Education and School Improvement will be changed to PDS Network Advisory Council.
  • The PDS Site Councils will meet at least twice per semester and a summary of the meetings will be sent to the director.
  • The inclusion of parents on the site council is optional.
  • The PDS Executive Committee will be approved by the PDS Network Advisory Council.
  • A reference to action research is part of each job responsibility.

The group was also asked to discuss the process of dissolving a partnership site review—How should this be done? Should PDSs be allowed to take a year off? Should we have a rotation system? No decisions have been reached.

The revised Handbook will be on the BSU PDS website. Each PDS will be given a revised copy for their site council.

Dr. Susan Tucker explained the necessity for evaluating the many initiatives sponsored by Title II. She also stressed the importance of gathering data to use in developing another Title II grant proposal.

Each table was given copies of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Standards to guide the discussion of evidence throughout the Network to support progress on each of the standards. This process of identifying evidence and determining the level of development is the process that will be used by site review teams during their site visits. The process also gave representatives the opportunity to share what is going on in the various sites. In all areas the Network is at least considered to be at standard.

Jackie Stillisano, Project Manager for Title II, met with the representatives who are attending the National Staff Development Council annual conference in December. Susan Tucker explained the documentation that would be requested following the conference.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:30 p.m.