May 14, 2003

PDS Governing Board Meeting
Ball State University, Alumni Center
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
10:30 a.m.
Summary

Members present: Libbie Conner, Shephen McColley, Judy Miller, Jo Seidel, Ken Miller, Larry Smith, David Dixon, John Merbler, Tom Schroeder, Roy Weaver, Ruth Swetnam

Members absent: Mikella Lowe, Bill Bower, Chris Landon, Douglass Ann Kindade, Owen Glendening, Terry Thompson, Marlin Creasy, Kimberly Overmyer, Phyllis Land Usher, Judy Briganti, Tom Forkner

Dean Weaver opened the meeting with a welcome and introductions.

Ruth Swetnam reported the highlights of the PDS work during the 2002-2003 school year. This is the sixth year of the Ball State University Professional Development Schools Network. Twenty-three PDS sites began the year as members of the Network and seven sites began as planning partnerships. During the year, Towne Meadow Elementary School, Orchard Park Elementary School, Shortridge Middle School, and Indianapolis Children's Museum became members, bringing the total membership to 27 sites. Burris, Southside High School, and Apple Tree Child Development Center will continue as planning partners. The group agreed that there is a need for criteria to maintain the PDS partnerships.

Thirty percent of the 750 student teacher placements during the year were in professional development schools. Dean Weaver asked that the written summary report from Dr. Hughes be sent to each of the board members. Larry Smith commented on the lack of an inter-rater reliability study of the student teaching rubric. He also suggested that a video be developed so people can see the consistency among the examples demonstrating how to score using the rubric.

Ruth reviewed the professional development opportunities that have been available to PDSs and the grants through Title II that are supporting school-based projects. Larry Smith described the Intentional Reading grant currently supporting projects that integrate technology into the reading program at Cowan and Rhoades Elementary Schools. Libbie Conner commented that evaluating professional development is difficult and PDSs need to look at the university as a resource to assist with assessment and evaluation.

Castleton United Methodist Church Nursery School (CUMNS Kids), Minnetrista Cultural Center/Oakhurst Gardens, Anderson Highland High School, Anderson Senior High School, and Huffer Memorial Children's Center hosted site visits during 2002-2003. The results from the site reviews indicate that we are doing an excellent job with teacher preparation and staff development. Weaknesses are in the area of research. There is a lack of hard data showing the impact on student learning.

Tom Schroeder reported on the many projects that Title II has been sponsoring. These include workshops on the student teaching evaluation instrument, classes on supervision of student teachers, "Good Science, Good Writing," attendance at NSDC and other conferences, planning and implementation of staff development at PDS sites, the Learning Assessment Model (LAM) project, and innovative projects for working with student teachers.

Dean Weaver asked for a discussion about what may happen when the Title II money is gone. He introduced the idea of promoting alumni contributions to a fund that would provide assistance for the professional development schools. His suggestion was supported by the group. David Dixon commented about the inequity of resources when each PDS is given the same financial support regardless of the student and teacher population.

Ruth announced that a group of representatives from the PDS Network will have a work session June 5th to review PDS documents and procedures and make recommendations for revisions.

Jo Seidel questioned whether Ball State has been involved in offering CRUs or CEUs for participation in the Reading First summer workshops. Larry Smith described the agreement with Indianapolis Children's Museum to offer credit for their summer workshops and the options that might be available.

John Merbler announced that Nina Yssel is directing a one-week summer residential camping program for students entering grades six, seven, and eight who are gifted and have learning disabilities. This program will be located at the Academy July 20-25.

Lunch was served following the meeting which adjourned at 12:15 p.m.

Prepared by Ruth Swetnam