DATE: October 20, 1999
TO: Members, Indiana Professional Standards Board
FROM: Joe Weaver, Chair, Executive Committee
SUBJECT: Minutes of August 24, 1999, Executive Committee
Committee members present: Judy Briganti, Lewis Ciminillo, Philip Metcalf, Steve Yager, and Joseph Weaver. Members absent: Dan Miller and Ena Shelley.
Others in attendance: Richard Frisbie, Thomas Hansen, David Kinman, T. J. Oakes, and Nancy Taylor.
The Executive Committee was convened by Joseph Weaver, Chair, on August 24, 1999 at 9:00 a.m. in the Indiana Government Center South, Training Room 11.
I. Consultations with representatives of education stakeholder groups: None
II. Materials reviewed related to the group's charge: None
III. Issues/questions examined as related to the group's charge:
A. The Chair welcomed the members of the Executive Committee to the first meeting of the Committee for the 1999 - 00 school year.
B. Minutes from the June 16th meeting were distributed to the members and approved with corrections.
C. Chair Announcements, Issues and Discussion
1. New Board Member Update and Mentor Assignments
a. Jane Boultinghouse - Ena Shelley
b. Sandra Kelley - Steve Yager
c. Roy Weaver - Phil Metcalf
Note: The Committee requested that an updated list of members be sent to all executive committee members.
2. Executive Committee Future Meeting Dates: September 19, October 20, December 15, February 16, May 24 and August 23. All meetings will be held in the Indiana Government Center with the location to be announced. The scheduled time for each meeting will be from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
3. Board Member Attendance Report.
The attendance report of Board members was shared with the Committee. As per policy, concern was expressed that a member had missed numerous meetings. A letter was sent requesting that she respond to the issue of non-participation. No response has been received as of this meeting. An update of this situation will be shared with Mr. Larry Grau, the Governor's Executive Assistant
4. Hospitality Fund.
Joe suggested that each Board Member be offered the opportunity to contribute to a Hospitality Fund for use as needed during the year. A donation of $20.00 was suggested. Joe agreed to send a memo to the Board to invite participation in the Fund.
Motion: Mr. Metcalf moved, Dr. Yager seconded and the Committee voted unanimously to approve the creation of the fund.
5. Board/Agency Priorities.
The Committee discussed priorities for the coming year. It was noted that the Board and Agency were moving from a "design phase" and to one of "implementation phase". It was noted that there are numerous issues yet to be discussed by the Board and that such topics will be discussed by the Committee and Board throughout this year. The Committee renewed its emphasis on timely processing of licenses.
D. Agency Issues.
1. Executive Director Search.
Dr. Kinman presented a brief outline of the process which will be employed in the search process. Additionally, he presented a tentative outline which may result in an appointment being made in January, 2000. Further, the present Position Description for the Executive Director was circulated with the request that members submit changes to Dr. Kinman within one week. Finally, the Board policy for the selection of a new Executive Director was shared with the Committee.
The screening committee will consist of seven voting members who will be joined by non-voting members of the senior staff. Four Board members were appointed to the Committee: Judy Briganti, Lewis Ciminillo, Michael Horvath (Chair), and Joseph Weaver. Names of the voting staff members will be announced later.
2. Title II Grant Update.
Dr. Kinman reported on the progress toward receipt of Federal Funds for a number of Agency and Board initiatives. Thanks to the work of Dr. Marilyn Scannell, the U.S. Department of Education has indicated its intention to provide $1.3 million for various agency initiatives. Additional support in the form of a State cost share will bring the total funding to just over $3 million during the first of the three years of the project. No information has been received regarding the availability of funds for the State cost share. Provided that the State funds become available within the established timeline, the project is scheduled to begin on October 1.
3. Retreat Update.
Mr. Weaver and Dr. Kinman discussed details of the Board Retreat scheduled for September 19 - 21, 1999 at the French Lick Springs Resort Hotel. The Executive Committee will meet for one hour on September 19 at 5:00 p.m.
4. Title II Report Card.
Dr. Kinman reported that Dr. Bet Kotowski will travel to Washington, D.C. on September 22 to attend an update briefing for States regarding the most recent policy issues and decisions of the US Department of Education. At this time, each institution must complete its report and submit it to the IPSB on or before April 1, 2000. Then, the IPSB staff must submit its report to the Department of Education on October 1, 2000. The first draft of an implementation manual has been distributed with a comment period from stakeholders scheduled.
E. Board Committees.
T. J. Oakes and Joe Weaver discussed the composition of the 1999 - 00 Board Committees. Suggestions for additional members were provided and a revised Committee List will be distributed at the September Board meeting. Staff are preparing recommendations for outside stakeholder representation. Board appointments will be made at the September meeting except for members of the Standards Committee which will be appointed in November.
F. Continuing Education Pilots.
Dr. Frisbie discussed the next round of pilots for continuing education programs. There will be an opportunity for local schools to respond to a call for participation in the pilot program. Successful bidders will be announced in January, 2000. Additionally, Dr. Frisbie presented a series of professional growth design questions for consideration by the Board. Finally, he indicated that a list of suggested members for the Continuing Education Committee be approved by the Executive Committee. Action on this request was deferred until the September meeting.
G. Preservice Testing Issues.
Mrs. Nancy Taylor presented an update on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the American College Testing (ACT) program studies for exempting certain candidates from the requirement of taking the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), soon to be required for all candidates for licensure, based upon a candidate attaining SAT or ACT scores deemed to be equivalent to the Board established score.
Motion: Dr. Ciminillo moved, Mr. Metcalf seconded, and the Committee unanimously voted to request that the Indiana Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (IACTE) create a task force to review the information from both ETS and the ACT Program and recommend SAT and ACT scores which would exempt candidates from selected PPST Exams. It is expected that the task force will provide staff its recommendation in time for the October Executive Committee Meeting. Additionally, staff will survey other states to investigate their processes to exempt candidates from the PPST when it is used as a licensing exam.
H. Legal and External Affairs.
1. Mr. Hansen announced that the Agency was attempting to coordinate requests for presentations from outside groups and agencies so that a record would be available regarding such contacts. Board members were asked to let Mr. Hansen know if they were giving presentations regarding the Board's work.
2. Mr. Hansen provided the Committee an update of the Interim Legislative Committee which will hold its organizational meeting on August 25. This Interim Committee will study the teaching of reading in the elementary school and school violence. Meetings of the committee will be completed by the end of October. A presentation regarding IPSB initiatives in reading will be presented by Mr. Hansen.
3. Mr. Hansen reported on the status of a draft of possible legislation pertaining to the Beginning Teacher Induction Program and Continuing Education. This legislation is expected to be introduced during the short session of the General Assembly.
4. Mr. Hansen presented an information report from the Policy and Ethics Committee of the Board and indicated a revision to the Board's ethical principles policy would be presented at the September Board meeting for action.
IV. Adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.