Dickinson Public Schools Unapproved Scho

Dickinson Public Schools Unapproved School Board Workshop Minutes Tuesday, February 7, 2023; Noon Professional Learning Lab The Dickinson Public School Board held a workshop on February 7, 2023, at the Professional Learning Lab. Board members present were President Michelle Orton, Vice President Kim Schwartz, Board Member David Wilkie, Board Member Jason Rodakowski, and Board Member Brent Seaks (via conference call). Also present were Superintendent Dr. Marcus Lewton, Business Manager Stephanie Hunter, CTE Director Aaron Anderson, Assistant Superintendent Keith Harris, Director of Communications Sarah Trustem, Director of Instruction Melanie Kathrein, Dickinson High School Principal Jeffrey Brandt, and School Board Secretary Twila Petersen. Call to Order - Board President Orton called the workshop to order at noon. Discussion Topics Build the February 13, 2023, School Board Meeting Agenda – Superintendent Dr. Lewton addressed the Board. Dr. Lewton explained Southwest Night with the Legislators was scheduled for Monday, February 13. Two of the Board members would like to attend this event on Monday in Bismarck. After discussion, Board members considered moving the meeting to Tuesday, February 14. Dr. Lewton reported Dickinson High School Social Studies Instructor Trevor Conrad was selected as the 2022-2023 Dickinson Public Schools Educator of the Year and Early Childhood Program Paraprofessional Dana Turcotte was selected as the 2022-2023 Dickinson Public Schools Classified Staff of the Year. Superintendent Lewton explained the Board goals this month will be reviewing the data from the winter testing on the Dibels Reading Fluency. Dickinson High School Principal Jeff Brandt will present information on the schedule for students at the high school for the 2023-2024 school year. A survey was sent out to the faculty and students requesting input on the A/B schedule. Of the 74 responses, 75% would like the A/B schedule to be more consistent. One option would be for the students to have the same classes on Mondays/Tuesdays and the same classes on Thursdays/Fridays with the Wednesday schedule being a condensed traditional schedule of all eight classes. The Wednesday classes would be approximately 40 minutes each class. Board Member Seaks inquired regarding the 25% that did not want a change. Principal Brandt shared there has been a lot of change over the years such as the 4x4 block schedule and COVID. Potentially, the 25% would like more stability. More information from the survey will be shared with the Board at the Tuesday meeting. Board Member Wilkie recalled the initial conversation for the A/B schedule was due to conflicts with the Dickinson State University schedule. Superintendent Lewton remembered one reason was that students were not receiving mathematics instruction over a large time frame. Sometimes the time frame was a year or 1.5 years. The A/B schedule provides the opportunity for a course to extend out the entire school year. The A/B schedule is also beneficial for the academies. Information was shared on the benefits of the new A/B schedule proposal in assisting those students in athletics. Board members requested more information be shared at Tuesday’s meeting on this topic. Superintendent Lewton referenced the District receiving a Mental Health Grant. This grant will provide the District with funds to create five additional positions. The positions would be one Behavioral Health Coordinator and four Behavioral Health Specialists. These positions would need to be approved by the school board. The 2023-2024 school calendar is proposed to be on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. Other topics proposed for Tuesday’s agenda are the Board considering the submission of recognitions of negotiating units from the Dickinson Education Association and the Dickinson Administrative Council. The District has received two resignations that qualify for the early resignation incentive for the Board to consider. Dr. Lewton noted there are several policies proposed to be on the agenda for the Board’s consideration. There were topics that Dr. Lewton shared information on for the Board to consider to be added to the agenda. One topic referenced House Bill 1199. This Bill provides $3.3 million to the Southwest Area Career and Technical Education Academy towards the renovation of building C, alternate 1, and alternate 2. The completion of the Southwest Area Career and Technical Education Academy will create courses that will require one introduction to agriculture instructor, one culinary arts instructor, and one heavy equipment operator instructor. CTE Director Aaron Anderson noted two of the three positions have donors. Board members suggested adding a topic to the agenda for the Board to consider these three new positions for the 2023-2024 school year. Another topic for the Board to consider was attendance boundaries for elementary students. The enrollment at Berg Elementary is landlocked with the building currently serving approximately 175 students. Berg Elementary has a student capacity of 270. Assistant Superintendent Keith Harris had research with Mrs. Myran and there are approximately 38-40 students that could transfer from Jefferson and Lincoln elementary schools to Berg Elementary if the attendance boundaries were modified. Jefferson and Lincoln elementary schools are currently at full student capacity. Another option for the attendance areas was to consider transitioning the rural route elementary boundary students to Berg Elementary. This could affect over 100 students. It was noted if this topic was on the agenda, this would be the initial conversation before potential public forums. After discussion, the topic will be placed on Tuesday’s agenda to receive preliminary information. Adjournment – At 12:47 p.m., President Orton declared the workshop adjourned. Michelle Orton, Board President Stephanie Hunter, Business Manager Twila Petersen, Board Secretary (Feb. 15, 2023) 194005