| Michigan
ASCD Board of Directors Meeting
September 24, 2004
Members Present: Ilene MacDonald, Linda
VanderJagt, Pat McNeill, Olga Moir, Carol Swingle, Dave Buell,
Shannon Griffin, Karen Hart, Patti McLaughlin, Narda Murphy,
James Reese, Marie Neil, James Perry, Kathy Griffey, Tim Bennett,
Betty Underwood, Shawn Lewis Lakin
President Ilene MacDonald called the meeting to order at
9:10. Many Board members were unable to be here today due
to the change in meeting date.
Special Guest: Betty Underwood,
• Betty distributed CDs of the Grade Level Expectations.
All the companion documents are on the MDE web site and a
professional development document is in the works. Cross-walk
documents are being developed to pull out the GLCEs by grade
level rather than searching through each Standard and Benchmark.
• The Science Advisory Committee is meeting to look
at grade span rather than grade level content expectations
and plan to have a draft done by June.
• The Social Studies Advisory Committee has been meeting
and have a draft of the Social Studies Grade Level Content
Expectations. They will be put up on the MDE website for review
in October.
• MDE is working with Learnport to put promising ideas
for GLCE alignments to specific textbooks up on their website
as local districts complete their review, so districts have
an easy way to network and share their work..
• MI Map was distributed in all the packets at the Governor’s
Education Summit. 1000 boxes are being printed. While originally
intended for use at high priority schools, it’s a wonderful
tool for school improvement. Order forms are also available
on the MDE website under “What’s New.” The
kit will cost under $100.
• There is a committee working on the Education YES!
Indicators. Plans include the addition of a leadership component
and an instructional quality component for a total of 13 indicators.
• Ilene MacDonald updated the Board on MI Plan. As soon
as the MEAP data is put in, St. Clair ISD will run a training.
Approval of Minutes
Motion by Carol Swingle, seconded by Narda Murphy, to approve
the minutes of the June retreat. Motion carried.
Treasurer’s Report
Pat McNeill reviewed copies of the Final Budget for 2003-04.
Expenses from the Walnut Group were not billed as of June
30, so will show as an adjustment in the October budget. Marie
Neil asked about the $4000 ASCD grant. Pat plans to show this
as a budget adjustment next meeting as well. She also reviewed
the 2004-05 budget. The computer being used in the MASCD office
is six years old and in need of replacement. Motion by Carol
Swingle, seconded by Jim Reese, to purchase a new computer
package for the MASCD office. Motion carried. Olga Moir shared
that the audit has been completed, and paperwork submitted.
Jim Perry asked if we had a letter to that effect.
Pat discussed the possibility of securing a VISA account
to take credit card orders, which would help us increase book
sales at our events and would allow members to register for
conferences or join MASCD on-line. Then encryption security
is already taken care of through our arrangement with MASA.
Motion by Carol Swingle, seconded by Marie Neil, to pursue
having MASCD open a VISA credit account. Motion carried.
President’s Report
The ASCD Regional meeting will be held in Chicago on October
22 and 23. MASCD is the host affiliate. We’ll be taking
products representing Michigan. Board members who have suggestions
or have any contacts to help with donated items were asked
to let Ilene know. The Board meeting originally planned for
the 22nd needs to be rescheduled. Shannon Griffin suggested
meeting on October 29th instead.
At our June Retreat, Board members were provided copies of
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. We’ll be discussing
Chapter One at our next Board meeting.
MASCD is entitled to give out two free one-year memberships
to ASCD. In the past, we have given these to State Board members,
MDE representatives and legislative liaisons. Ilene asked
Board members for suggestions. Dave Buell suggested we give
one to the State Teacher of the Year. Karen Hart suggested
making them part of an award package for one of our annual
awards. Jim Reese suggested giving them to one of our student
chapter leaders. Tim Bennett suggested giving them to legislators
who are friends of education. Linda VanderJagt suggested giving
one to the new legislative liaison for MASA. Shannon Griffin
suggested giving one to a new Teacher of the Year. Ilene and
Olga Moir will take the suggestions under advisement and come
back to the Board with a recommendation.
Ilene discussed the change in MASCD meeting dates due to
lack of space at the MELG building on the third Friday of
the month. If we move meetings back to those dates, we would
need to move our meeting location. Consensus of the group
was to remain at the MELG building and keep the meeting schedule
as planned for this year.
Ilene distributed a spreadsheet developed by the Executive
Board, to use in compiling information on other organizations
of similar size to MASCD, along with other ASCD affiliates.
We need this information in order to have short and long-range
plans for our expenditures. Currently, our rent for office
space and services in the MASA office, including all equipment
(excluding a computer), one day of secretarial/technical support,
bookkeeping support and copying is $21,600. Compensation for
services provided by the Walnut Group is $28,840. Board members
who have access to similar information about other professional
organizations were asked to share it with Ilene.
Ilene MacDonald mentioned that membership appears to be at
about 600 so far, which is much lower than we should be. She
suggested we consider folding the membership fee into future
conference and workshop costs for new members. Dave Buell
offered to compare our MASCD database with the GIS system
to identify our members by region, so Board members can make
plans for membership recruitment. Katy Griffey mentioned prior
experience in another state with folding membership fees into
workshop costs, which turned out to be more cumbersome than
it was worth. Ilene shared her experience with MAS/FPS which
encourages registering on-line by adding a $25 fee for not
doing so. The on-line registration allows an immediate check
on membership status and adjusts the costs appropriately.
Jim Reese suggested we consider a more systematic approach
to invite people to be members of MASCD. We need a mailing
or contact strategy that helps them understand why they want
to be a member. Other organizations seem to be much more aggressive
in recruiting members that we are. Kathy Griffey emphasized
the importance of collecting email addresses. Ilene mentioned
that our move away from an annual conference may have had
a negative impact on our membership renewals. Narda Murphy
suggested a fall event with critical information people could
use immediately would be of service to our constituents and
would help in publicizing MASCD. Olga Moir shared her concern
about conflicting with the fall MASA conference and the fact
that no staff would be available to help. Dave Buell suggested
smaller, targeted workshops based on the needs of our members
and potential members. We could work together in regions to
plan them. Jim Reese referenced The Tipping Point by Malcom
Gladwell, and the “connector people” who can help
us stay ahead of or abreast of trends. Marie Neil suggested
that we are missing opportunities by not having the leaders
of local or area curriculum committees as members of our MASCD
Board (as referenced in our MASCD constitution). They would
be great resource people. Olga Moir suggested MASCD Board
members could also report out about MASCD activities at local
or area curriculum committees. Jim Reese asked how our regions
were determined. Olga will duplicate maps and address this
at our next meeting.
Executive Director’s Report
Olga Moir reported on the successful collaboration with Deborah
Wahlstrom for sold-out workshop on assessment earlier this
week. Over 200 people attended and we have been asked to repeat
it. Deb has dates available in early January or late February.
By helping to publicize it, MASCD receives $50 per person.
Shannon Griffin suggested we consider planning one on the
east side of the state and one on the west side of the state.
Patti McLaughlin asked about offering SB ECUs and whether
or not there might be a way to deliver this workshop to the
U.P. via distance learning. Olga said we are also working
with Deb for an online course through MDE/MVU, for which MASCD
will receive a portion of a $100,000 grant. Karen Hart talked
positively about the strong teacher component of Deb’s
workshop, and the MI Tracker data component, which is her
solution to annual reports and data analysis.
Patti McLaughlin suggested we offer a general workshop focused
on data-warehouse solutions, without endorsing any one system.
Dave Buell agreed. A theme could be “What Works in Data-Warehousing”
and a number of vendors could be invited to show their products
following a general presentation helping attendees understand
what they should be looking for. The participating vendors
could underwrite the costs of the workshop. Olga mentioned
that we’ve already agreed to partner with MIEM to do
a workshop in this topic, so the ideas are appreciated.
Narda Murphy suggested we work with MDE, using their web
site to focus on best practices and offer workshops around
hot topics. Carol Swingle reminded Board members of the need
for workshops and conferences in the U.P. Coming down-state
is cost prohibitive for most educators. It’s an equity
issue, and very little is available through video-conferencing.
Grand Valley State University has asked us to co-host a five-day
conference this summer. Marie Neil said Rick DuFour is coming
to KISD for a week and hopefully the two won’t conflict
timewise. Linda VanderJagt and Olga will be meeting with GVSU
and will include Marie and Dave Buell.
The Cherry Commission is holding hearings around the state.
Olga was originally called to represent MASCD on the MEAP
versus ACT issue. A second call came in asking her to address
instead how MASCD feels about whether or not higher standards
and expectations for high school students will lead to a stronger
economy. Jim Reese mentioned the book As Knowledge Catches
You would be a good resource. Even students with college degrees
aren’t entering the workforce with knowledge that helps
them get a job or help the economy. Moving young people into
adult roles sooner might help in this effort. Ilene MacDonald
mentioned that the charge of the Cherry Commission is very
aligned with what Bill Daggett has advocated for years. Linda
VanderJagt asked if we should consider responding via a letter.
Board members agreed. Dave Buell suggested we have each Board
member share thoughts so that a small group could draft a
response. Shannon Griffin suggested we let the Cherry Commission
know we need continued support for efforts like Career Pathways,
EDPs and other efforts resulting from Career Prep funding,
which has since disappeared.
Board members also discussed whether or not MASCD should
take stands on controversial issues such as the ACT versus
MEAP controversy. We’re housed in a building where other
professional organizations regularly take a stand on issues.
Tim Bennett suggested we take a position based on facts. Narda
Murphy concurred. Jim Reese liked the Editorial analogy suggested
by Karen Hart – a letter on MASCD stationery could say
this is the opinion of the Board, but does not necessarily
represent the feeling of all members of our organization.
Carol Swingle suggested we could use an approach like the
Supreme Court and offer a majority and minority opinion. Linda
VanderJagt suggested we utilize our listserv to survey our
membership about their views on controversial issues before
deciding on a Board position.
Olga clarified the process for ordering books through MASCD.
If MASCD orders books for workshops or conferences, we pay
the shipping, but receive 20% profit on the order or 40% for
non-ASCD members. This is another benefit of MASCD membership
and a reason districts and regions benefit by working through
MASCD.
Olga has been approached by the statewide Assessment Group
about their possible interest in affiliating with MASCD. Since
assessment is also part of our mission/vision, it would make
sense. Olga will be meeting with them later in October and
will provide an update at our next meeting.
We have already collected $1500 towards a Michigan Reception
at ASCD in April. We also received a request from Idaho for
$50 toward a Midwest Region Reception. Motion by Karen Hart,
seconded by Tim Bennett, to approve $50 to Idaho ASCD. Board
members discussed concerns for the timing of the ASCD conference
in Orlando this year, as it falls on spring break for most
Michigan schools. Linda VanderJagt suggested we send out a
query on the list-serve to see how many Michigan ASCD members
are planning to attend. If we don’t have enough attendance
to host a Michigan Reception, perhaps there is another use
for it.
President-Elect Report
Linda VanderJagt reviewed hard copies of the MASCD Constitution
and Bylaws, and the MASCD Board Handbook. Both had been emailed
to Board members previously, along with a second copy with
1st draft edits. Both documents are overdue for revision.
Board members were asked to review them and get any suggestions
to Linda or Jan VanGasse. We’ll continue to discuss
concerns and suggested revisions at the next Board meeting.
Liaison Reports
Student Chapters Tim Bennett mentioned our Student Chapters
will probably be asking us for help with funding for their
annual tri-conference. Money that had been collected and saved
had been “re-purposed” by one college student
senate. Efforts are underway to reclaim the funds, but if
they are not successful, MASCD financial help will be needed.
He also reviewed the topics for their upcoming “Way
Cool” series.
During lunch, Board members discussed ideas to include in
a response to the Cherry Commission request for our thoughts
about whether or not the high school standards are rigorous
enough to lead to a better economy and stronger work force.
Comments included:
• The question assumes there is a direct connection
• The standards are rigorous enough; it’s all
the other stuff that gets in the way
• It’s not a questions of rigor, but a question
of relevance
• Are the standards aligned with those outcomes (a better
economy and stronger workforce) and should they be? It’s
about alignment, not rigor.
• HS kids need to get out in the real world instead
of just in the classroom to see the relevance and how they
can apply what they’re learning
• There needs to be an assumption that HS can’t
be like it’s always been. How do we change the HS model
to better fit the needs to today?
• What about our teacher education institutions? Are
they connected to the real world?
• Washtenaw has a middle college for 11th and 12th grade
students with an Associate degree. It can’t be the same
old HS.
• We’re losing too many kids. Some of them already
have their own companies in HS
• It’s about the three R’s – rigor,
relevance and reality (or real world)
• There’s a fourth R – resources
• We’re losing jobs to third world countries because
we don’t have the brainpower here harnessed to compete.
The competition for our workforce is global.
• When we take teachers out to today’s high tech
workplace, most don’t feel qualified to work in that
setting
• We need to blend in the funding piece – support
for helping teachers connect what they’re doing to the
real world through staff development funding
• To achieve the outcome of a better economy and a stronger
workforce, we need a valid assessment of the standards in
place. In a real world context, you can’t assess many
of these attributes using pencil/paper tests. The traditional
forms of assessment used in HS and college have to change.
• There is an intrinsic value to education, even when
it may appear to be irrelevant – e.g., the arts. We’d
lose the richness of education/life without these.
• We’re graduating kids who aren’t finding
their place in this economy because we aren’t aligned/relevant
as well now as we were in the past.
President Ilene MacDonald volunteered to take these comments
and compose a draft response to the Cherry Commission, which
she will share with Board members. Committee work was postponed
until the next meeting.
Meeting adjourned following lunch.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda VanderJagt
President-elect
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