jcps board update, april 20, 2011

8/6/2019 JCPS Board update, April 20, 2011

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Administrative OfficesVanHoose Education CenterPO Box 34020Louisville, KY 40232-4020(502) 485-3011

To: Jefferson County Board of Education Members

From: Sheldon H. Berman, Ed.D.SuperintendentSubject: Board UpdateDate: April 20, 2011I'm sure all of us were happy that our students and their families were granted almost a full week of terrificweather during Spring Break. Over the past four weeks, I have focused on a number of priority issues andactivities, some of which are especially deserving of your attention and input.Included with this memo are three separate important memos for you to review. The Core Planning Team and I have provided a very detailed summary of the plans we've put in placeto prepare for the smooth opening of school next year.

Jonathan and Cordelia have assessed the impact of the federal budget agreement on funding to JCPS. Cordelia has prepared a memo on a developing issue with KDE around MUNIS implementation.As you can see, Spring Break notwithstanding, we continue to be very busy working on many important issues.Please take the time to review these memos and I would be happy to receive your feedback.As our teachers and students focus on the state assessments this week and next, I think it is advisable for all ofus to do our part to shield the schools from any distractions to the teaching-learning process. Here's my update.IDENTIFICATION OF PLA SCHOOLS


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JCPS Board of Education-April 20, 2011 Page 2does not. It requires that all schools identified as PLAs select one of the models whether or not the schoolforegoes SIG funding. Therefore, there is no flexibility at either the federal or state level and Knight will have to gothrough the audit and turnaround process.I have continued communicating with Sandy about these developments and met with Knight's ILT this week todiscuss with them how they could best proceed. I encouraged them to do their best in their current testadministration and then through the audit process. The audit will begin on May 8, and we won't know the resultsuntil late Mayor early June. At our June 13 meeting, the Board will have to make a decision on which turnaroundoption to select for Knight.In addition to this issue, I believe all of you received a copy of the letter from Tom Price regarding theCommissioner's concerns about our SIG application. Dena Dossett and Bill Eckels are meeting with Tom Pricethis week to address those concerns and revise the application accordingly. It will be resubmitted on Friday. BothDena and Bill will be available to discuss these concerns and our response at the Board meeting on Monday.STUDENT ASSIGNMENT PLANMuch has been accomplished over the past several months in preparing for next school year's opening daysand in developing further recommendations to improve the student assignment plan. Craig Garrison hascontinued to facilitate a group from the Core Planning team working on operational issues. He has also workedwith Transportation and our IT staff to ensure our technology best supports student assignment and routing.Amy Dennes has worked with her principals, Transportation, and others to further refine the tagging andcommunication processes for next year. Sandy has similarly worked with middle school principals, focusing onthe new boundaries, and Jack has continued to refine operations in his department to support all aspects ofstudent assignment. I have enclosed a separate memo that details all of this work for your review, along with acopy of the packet that was given to elementary principals. Next year's first-day operations will assuredly besmoother and more efficient than ever before.With regard to the student assignment plan itself, I asked Dena to work on some further analyses of the A withinBand B within A scenario. So that I can refer to this more succinctly, I 'd like to simply call it the "new AlBscenario.n Although the memo I sent to Gary Orfield in December and distributed to you in February discussedthis scenario at length, we did not have time to assess its potential impact on reducing the number of studentswho would need to be transported. I thought it would be helpful both to Gary and to the Board to have thisinformation. Using the data on the resides population from each school, I asked Dena to create tables that show


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JCPS Board of Education-April 20, 2011 Page 3transported, we would actually maintain the same level of diversity in our schools because we are simplyacknowledging and incorporating the diversity that already exists within many of our resides areas.I have shared this information with Gary Orfield. I realize that he would like to wait until he has the latest U.S.Census Bureau data from the American Community Survey, which may not be released until fall 2011. So thatthis matter doesn't become a contentious issue in either the gubernatorial election or the next board election, Iwould suggest that (if Orfield agrees with this analysis) the Board vote to implement this change "in concept" sothat people can be made aware that the numbers requiring transportation could be reduced by as much as 38percent in the 2012-13 school year. Then in the fall, once the demographic information is available that enablesthe district to clearly determine which areas are identified as A within Band B within A, the actual proposal forthe subareas can be approved. In that way, the Board can clearly indicate that you have heard the public'sconcern and developed a way to address the problem while retaining diversity in our schools. Althougheveryone may still not get the school they want, many will be far more likely to get their resides school.Over the coming months and years, as the Board continues to discuss the ramifications of our studentassignment plan, and to consider modifications in line with district and community needs, it would be well for allof us to remember that JCPS is still being watched and studied by many observers nationwide. The actionstaken here have social and educational implications that reach far beyond the boundaries of Jefferson County.As you know, I was asked by Secretary Duncan to discuss our plan with him and his senior staff several weeksago as the USED attempts to find its path in supporting school integration. I have enclosed an article thatappeared in the May 2010 issue of the Fordham Law Review in which the author concludes that through ourcurrent student assignment plan, "JCPS has helped define the future of integration for any district seeking topursue it." JCPS will continue to be at the national center of the student assignment and integration debate. Ihope you will be able to chart a path that provides hope for other communities around the country.SMALLER LEARNING COMMUNITIESLast October, we were awarded a two-year federal grant of nearly $3.8 million under the Smaller LearningCommunities (SLC) program, with the potential of an eventual five years of funding. The project is beingimplemented in five high schools-Eastern, Jeffersontown, Pleasure Ridge Park, Seneca, and Southern-with agoal of improving student achievement by fully developing the career-themed Schools of Study. Last week, wewere notified by the USED that the budget deal agreed upon by the President and Congress does not include anyfunding for the third year of the SLC program. However, any funds not expended by the end of the second year(Le., by September 30,2012) can be extended into the 2012-13 school year to complete any unfinished activities.


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JCPS Board of Education-April 20, 2011 Page 4ADVANCED PLACEMENT

Our Research Department has completed a review of outcomes from our Advanced Placement (AP) program interms of number of students enrolled, number tested, and number attaining a qualifying score on the AP exams. Ihave enclosed this report for your information. Also included is a comparison of outcomes for JCPS vs. the 44schools throughout the state that are part of the AdvanceKentucky initiative to increase course rigor and preparestudents for AP exams. While these two approaches (JCPS AP and AdvanceKentucky) differ in scope andlongevity, both have produced significant results. These results suggest that we have done approximately as wellas AdvanceKentucky, even without the incentives provided by that program.NURSES IN SCHOOLSGiven the impact that our existing nurses have had on student/staff health and attendance, other elementaryschools have expressed an interest in adding a nurse to their staff. We developed a possible scenario in whichthe district and the school would split the average $28,500 annual cost of a school-based nurse (LPN) on a 50-50 basis, beginning as early as next year. We are now surveying the elementary principals to determine theirlevel of interest. Thus far, 20 elementary schools have responded affirmatively. The deadline to reply is thisFriday, at which time we will share the final tabulation.FYI DOCUMENTS

The following documents are included in your packet for informational purposes. Two tables on new AlB scenario applying 15-50 guideline vs.15-55 guideline Student Assignment and Transportation Improvements Bus Information packet for elementary principals Impact of federal budget reductions Cloud computing and MUNIS Fordham Law Review article about JCPS student assignment plan Analysis of student outcomes in Advanced Placement courses

MEETINGS AND EVENTSIn terms of leadership activities with staff, I met with the Cabinet subgroups for External Relations (Stephanie,DeVone, Jack, and Bemard), Schools (Amy, Sandy, Joe, Farryll, Jack, Bob, and Lynne), and Operations (Bill,


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JCPS Board of Education-April 20, 2011 Page 5to see how collaboration and planning are translated into action in the form of intervention, remediation, and reteaching.My professional leadership activities included an in-depth meeting with Dr. Carol Johnson, superintendent ofBoston Public Schools, about student assignment issues and approaches in her district. I had a conference callwith lyle Kirtman, the president and senior management consultant for Future Management Systems, Inc. Iparticipated in a meeting of lSAC and in CASEl's 2011 Forum on Expanding Social and Emotional learningNatiowwide, which included a reception hosted by Jennifer and Peter Buffett of the NoVo Foundation.As for community activities, I met with Jonathan Blum of YUM! Brands about program recommendations to bemade to the Muhammad Ali Center Board and participated in a Center board meeting. I also participated in boardmeetings for 55,000 Degrees and GU. I met with the WDRB Fox 41 Editorial Advisory Board, and I was honoredto offer remarks at the annual Vogt Achievement Scholarship luncheon. I met with Jerry Abramson and thenaddressed his class at Bellarmine University. I was pleased to meet with Mayor Greg Fischer and Policy DirectorTony Peyton to discuss our various JCPS- louisvil le Metro collaborations and other projects that involve sharedbudgets. I met with Mary Gwen Wheeler, who later joined Arthur, Audwin Helton, and me to tape a program forInside JCPS on the 55,000 Degrees initiative. I offered a welcome to Dr. Toyoda and numerous members of theleadership of the Toyota Motor Company who were in louisville to visit the Toyota Family Literacy Program. Ijoined Greg Fischer for an enjoyable evening at the annual Mayor's Banquet recognizing Outstanding Seniors.Finally, this past weekend I participated in a two-day retreat with the Board and senior staff in Eugene. At theretreat, the Board reviewed a document they've relied upon for many years to guide their board-superintendentrelationship. I thought the document might be of interest to you and have shared it with Steve.I look forward to seeing you on Monday evening.SHB:jbEnclosures


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RJR.dd.rmc

JEFFERSON C O U ~ ( JBLlC SCHOOLS10-11 Elementary Resides School by Track/Bloc k AB USing District Minority and Income (Excludes ECE-SC/K)

15-50 Guideline

4/13/11


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RJR.dd.rmc

JEFFERSON COUN( JBLlC SCHOOLS10-11 Elementary Resides School by Track/Block AB USing District Minority and Income (Excludes ECE-SC/K)

15-50 Guideline

4/13/11


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RJR.dd.rmc

JEFFERSON COUN( JBLlC SCHOOLS10-11 Elementar y Resides School by Track/Block AB Using District Minority and Income (Excludes ECE-SC/K)

15-50 Guideline

AinAAi n B

96933482

1626 B n A21985 Bin B

32%

4/13/11


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RJR.dd.rmc

JEFFERSON coJ' PUBLIC SCHOOLS10-11 Elementary Resides School by Track/Block AB Using District Minority and Income (Excludes ECE-SC/K)

15-55 Guideline

4/19/11


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RJR.dd.rmc

JEFFERSON C O ~ PUBLIC SCHOOLS10-11 Elementary Resides School by Track/Block AB using District Minority and Income (Excludes ECE-SC/K)

15-55 Guideline

4/19/11


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RJR.dd.rmc

JEFFERSON CO( PUBLIC SCHOOLS10-11 Elementar y Resides School by Track/Block AB Using District Minority and Incom e (Excludes ECE-SC/K)

15-55 Guideline

AinAAi n B

96933482

1626 B in A21985 Bin B 38%

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jcps board update, april 20, 2011

Documents