2012 Superintendent Mail

MDE WEEKLY SUPERINTENDENT MAIL

TO: Superintendents

FROM: Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Commissioner

DATE: April 19, 2012


MDE NEWS AND INFORMATION


ANNOUNCEMENT

• April 18th Commissioner’s Monthly Dialogue with Superintendents


In Wednesday’s conference call, Sam Kramer provided an NCLB Waiver update, including the timeline for releasing data to districts and the public, and a summary of key terms. See the attached Multiple Measurement Rating (MMR): Data Release Timeline and Key Terminology document.

A letter, explaining the new accountability model to parents, will be provided to districts, and a meeting is being considered for those districts having Focus and Priority Schools designations.

The next audio conference call with Commissioner Cassellius is scheduled for Wednesday, May 16, 9:30-10:30.


ACTION ITEMS

• School Finance Reports and Spreadsheets on MDE Website

See the attached memorandum from Tom Melcher, director of School Finance Division, regarding the transfer of major recurring School Finance reports and spreadsheets to the website Data Center.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Tom Melcher at (651) 582-8828 or tom.melcher@state.mn.us.

• Technology Plans and Telecommunications/Internet Access Equity Aid

See the attached memorandum from Tom Melcher, director of School Finance Division, regarding the current technology plan requirement (Minn. Stat. §125B.26, subd. 2) to qualify for Telecommunications/Internet Access Equity Aid. To be eligible for this aid, a district, charter school, or intermediate school district is required to file an e-rate application either separately or through its telecommunications access cluster and have a current technology plan on file with the department. Note the June 30 deadline.

For assistance with questions regarding completion of the plan, contact Anne Sheridan at mde.schooltechplan@state.mn.us. For assistance with questions regarding Telecommunications/Internet Access Equity Aid calculations, contact Chris Kubesh at (651) 582-8319 or chris.kubesh@state.mn.us.

• 2011-12 Property Tax Credits

Please see the memorandum from Ann Van Diest, Division of School Finance, regarding 2011-12 Property Tax Credits. Reports of the distribution of School Year 2011-12 school district (Payable 2011) real and manufactured home property tax credits/aids by fund for all school districts are posted to the Minnesota Department of Education website. Questions concerning payment of property tax credits should be directed to Ann Van Diest at (651) 582-8745. Other questions regarding property tax credits may be directed to Jan Carlson at (651) 582-8342.

• Reading Well by Third Grade Initiative – Data Template Now Available

Please see the attached memorandum from Bobbie Burnham, program manager, regarding the above-mentioned matter. Minnesota Statues, section 120B.12, requires all public schools to submit data from locally determined literacy assessments by June 1, 2012, for students enrolled in Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2. Data is to be submitted to MDE using the Excel Template accessible through the Reading Well Web page or the MDE Data Submissions page. For assistance with questions, contact Kari Ross, reading specialist, at (651) 582-8455 or kari.d.ross@state.mn.us.


MISCELLANEOUS

• Special Education Parent and Family Training Grant Opportunity – Due Date Extended to May 4

See the attached memorandum from Assistant Commissioner Elia Bruggeman, and Barbara Troolin, director of the Division of Special Education, regarding the above-mentioned grant opportunity. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to develop and provide training to parents and family members of children birth-grade 5 with identified disabilities and developmental delays who are at risk for poor literacy outcomes.

Applications are now due by Friday, May 4, 2012, Midnight, Central Time. Access the application packet.
For assistance with questions, contact Debra Price-Ellingstad at 651-582-8568.

• Federal Grant Opportunity – McKinney Vento Education for the Homeless Children and Youth

See the attached memorandum from John Moorse, director of Finance Reform and Accountability; and Assistant Commissioner Elia Bruggeman, regarding the above-mentioned grant opportunity. Access the application packet. Signed and submitted applications are due by May 30, 2012, Midnight, Central Time. For assistance with questions, contact Roberto Reyes at roberto.reyes@state.mn.us or (651) 582-8302.


• Federal Grant Opportunity – Mathematics and Science Partnerships

See the attached memorandum from Beth Aune, director of Academic Standards and Instructional Effectiveness; and Assistant Commissioner Rose Chu, regarding the above-mentioned grant opportunity. Access the application packet. Signed and submitted applications are due by May 21, 2012, Midnight, Central Time. For assistance with questions, contact Doug Paulson, STEM specialist, at doug.paulson@state.mn.us, or (651) 582-8471.
• It’s About Time! – Alternative School Calendars Conference – May 7, 2012

Register now for the Minnesota Department of Education’s “It’s About Time! – Alternative School Calendars” Conference. The conference will be held Monday, May 7, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Minnesota Department of Education. Keynoters include:

o City of Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman – Second Shift Commission and Sprockets Out-of-School Time Network;
o Eli Kramer of Hiawatha Academies, a charter school offering 40 percent more learning time than most schools;
o Stillwater Public Schools technology and mathematics faculty – Flipped Classrooms and Flipped Professional Development.

The conference is an excellent chance for Flexible Learning Year programs, charter schools, alternative learning programs and other interested programs and individuals to learn from one another. All welcome. Space limited.

See further details and online registration. (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FD7X878) Remember to print a hard copy of your registration and mail with your $35 registration fee to the Department of Education, 1500 Highway 36 W., Roseville, MN 55113. For more information, contact Cindy Jackson at the Minnesota Department of Education, (651) 582-8572, cindy.s.jackson@state.mn.us.

• Minnesota Board of Teaching Licensure Actions

The Minnesota Board of Teaching has taken the following licensure actions:

Breitenbucher, Daniel (FF# 443907) Pursuant to the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order adopted by the Board of Teaching on April 13, 2012, Mr. Breitenbucher’s renewal application is denied for one year and until he can meet other requirements of the Board.

Fofana, Hamjatta (FF# 336771) On April 13, 2012, the Board of Teaching adopted a Stipulation Agreement suspending Mr. Fofana’s teaching license for a period of three years and until he can meet other requirements of the Board.

Moorlag, Donald (FF# 324038) On April 13, 2012, the Board of Teaching adopted a Stipulation Agreement whereby, Mr. Moorlag agrees not to teach until he can meet requirements imposed by the Board.

Murphy, Thomas (FF# 139628) On April 13, 2012, the Board of Teaching adopted a Stipulation Agreement whereby, Mr. Murphy agrees to surrender his teaching licenses.

Wright, Kenneth (FF# 465413) Pursuant to the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order adopted by the Board of Teaching on April 13, 2012, Mr. Wright’s teacher application is denied.

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