Special Meeting - Open Session - April 16, 2007

Madison Metropolitan School District Madison, Wisconsin Art Rainwater, Superintendent
BOARD OF EDUCATION Minutes for Special Meeting - Open Session April 16, 2007		Educational Sciences Building 1025 West Johnson Street, Room 253 Madison, Wisconsin

Special Meeting of the Board of Education began at 10:30 a.m.

MEMBERS PRESENT: Carol Carstensen, Lucy Mathiak, Arlene Silveira,

STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES PRESENT: None

MEMBERS ABSENT: Lawrie Kobza, Ruth Robarts, Shwaw Vang, Johnny Winston, Jr.

MMSD STAFF PRESENT: Grant Goettl, Mazie Jenkins, Steve Jernegan, Art Rainwater, Brian Sniff, Lisa Wachtel, Ann Wilson-Recording Secretary

Proposed TASK FORCE MEMBERS Present: Martha Alibali, David Griffeath, Eric Knuth, Jim Lewis, Mitchell Nathan, Merle Price, Norman Webb, Ken Zeichner

UW STAFF PRESENT: Sarah Mason, Terry Millar, Chris Thorn, Julie Underwood (arrived 10:55 a.m.), Paula White

OTHERS PRESENT: Dick Askey, Board of Education Member-elect Maya Cole (arrived 10:50 a.m.)

Written materials provided in advance of the meeting: Memorandum from Art Rainwater re: Mathematics Task Force dated 3/29/07; Memorandum from Art Rainwater re: April 16 Math Task Force dated 4/12/07 with attached proposal for funding to the National Science Foundation - all attached to the original copy of these minutes.)

1. Introduction of Math Task Force Members

All persons in attendance introduced themselves. Art Rainwater noted this meeting takes advantage of the opportunity for the Task Force members to meet each other and to meet the co-chairs while they are in the city for the purpose of attending the Board meeting this evening. Board of Education members were also invited.

2. Charge to the Math Task Force

3. Expertise of Math Task Force Members and Relevance to the Charge

Art Rainwater reviewed the starting assumptions, conceptual framework and scope of work for the Task Force as described in the written materials.

He noted the steps that led to the work of securing a National Science Foundation grant to support the work of the Task Force to meet the goal established by the Board of Education for the Superintendent's performance evaluation and to answer the questions of the Board of Education regarding the mathematics curriculum. All efforts are being made to assure the evaluation is neutral and that math education is reviewed from a variety of perspectives, including the entire instructional support system. Realizing that there was potential for significant study, he outlined the steps that led to the submission of the grant to the National Science Foundation to help support the work of the Task Force. Lisa Wachtel and Brian Sniff indicated that the role of the District and District staff will be to provide information and support/assistance wherever needed. District staff, other than a K-12 teacher not yet identified, are not members of the Task Force.

Co-chairs Jim Lewis and Merle Price commented that the meeting with the Board this evening will provide an opportunity to meet and get an impression of the Task Force members, begin the process of finding out and refining what the questions might be, and getting some citizen input. They do not see the proposal as prescriptive or limiting, but rather interactive. They would like to know what the interest is in broader issues beyond curriculum, like staff development, that are related to student success.

COMMENTS/DISCUSSION:

· Changes in the state tests, history, examples of data that are available and may answer some questions.

· Dynamic process; reasons for further analysis may arise.

· Issues of importance to the Board should drive the process. "Branch points" at which the Board would make decisions about future direction.

· Charge is K-12 in scope. Board is interested in how all students learn.

· A variety of questions could be asked. Data has to be driven by more specific questions.

· Want to know if students are succeeding. Will NSF proposal provide the answers the Board is looking for? Not looking for information about how SCALE is working.

· NSF proposal does not identify questions; the work of the Task Force will do that.

· It is intended there be discussion of specific research questions at the time the approval is received and the Task Force appointed and that the Board will approve those specific questions. Will be a dynamic process that will develop.

· Would like to see members who represent mathematics teachers and post-secondary education (e.g., MATC).

· Need to look at how students are succeeding when they reach higher education.

· Charge was to be neutral; not to prescribe direction. Task Force and Board need flexibility to pursue their needs. Issue is about learning. Study has potential to inform about how children learn; provides a tremendous lab for that.

· Look at other assessment data available in addition to WKCE - like SAT, ACT, UW placement test.

· Needs to be a cycle of discussion between Task Force and Board - sharpening what is of most interest, elaboration so all information is received. Proposal sets in motion the cycle of discussion.

· Need feedback about how realistic it will be to answer the questions as posed.

· Goal responds to questions raised in the community. Appreciate that the Board input will be sought at "branch points."

4. Tools the Task Force May Use to Reply to its Charge

COMMENTS/DISCUSSION:

· Resources available at WCER; UW work on teacher education; requirements for Masters Degrees.

· Need to assure that responses will be confidential.

5. Adjournment

The meeting ended at 11:42 a.m.

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