Cindy Christe

The meeting addressed several key operational and strategic items. The School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) reviewed the Wellness Policy 507.9RI and selected recommendations for future board approval. SIAC members also reviewed information concerning the statewide 'Promise of Iowa Campaign' to support public education, with many signing a community member support pledge. Progress updates were provided on the development of the new mission, vision statement, and core values. Furthermore, a presentation was given regarding the definition, status, and five-year projection model for unspent budget balances.

Discussions included a recap of brand and marketing strategies, such as Facebook advertisements for enrollment and updates to the district website, alongside the review of draft district brochures created by high school classes. Another primary topic involved procedures for bullying and harassment, where participants compared personal definitions to state definitions, reviewed existing policies, discussed district survey results, and brainstormed methods for better community/family partnership, public education, and stakeholder alignment on the issue.

The board meeting agenda included an overview of the school improvement process for the fall of 2018, focusing on Collaborate Inquiry Questions used for continuous improvement. There was also a presentation detailing the PreK-12 professional development initiatives for the 2018-2019 school year. A significant discussion focused on making band and/or vocal courses a requirement through 8th grade, with the committee suggesting implementation starting with 7th grade in the 2019-2020 school year and extending to 8th grade in the 2020-2021 school year.

The meeting agenda covered several key areas. Under status reports, positive feedback was noted regarding the end of the year, a successful Graduation Ceremony, and spring sports achievements. Discussion on scheduling changes highlighted benefits such as increased class time, though concerns were raised regarding pacing and the impact of increased volume on personalized interactions. Building updates included activity tracking, graduation preparation, and sales reports from NHS and FFA. A significant portion of the meeting involved a data dive on the Portrait of a Graduate initiative, focusing on high skill competencies, the need for robust freshman goal setting, exploring options for onsite learning experiences like Apex learning with the Waukee school district, and ensuring transparent communication with parents.

The meeting included updates from principals regarding Professional Development Initiatives. The secondary building (6-12) focused on Instructional Panorama Shifts and teaching to standards, while the elementary building (PreK-5) concentrated on climate and culture, improving instructional practices, and standards implementation, utilizing the Love and Logic program for struggling learners. Details were provided on the Panorama Teacher Leadership Program, which follows a framework encompassing adult learning, collaborative culture, communication, content/pedagogy/assessment, systems thinking, data, and organizational leadership. District administrators also shared results from Iowa Assessments, Fast Bridge, and ACT assessments.