Nichols School – District Office Board Room

Committee Members Present: Kathy Bultman, Sue Carr, Phil McDade, Tim O’Connor

Committee Member Absent: Mike DuPlayee

Also Present: Bill Breisch, Val Edwards, Bev Fuller, Bill Herman, John Kitslaar, Gary Schumacher, John Weinberger

I. Call to Order –Kathy Bultman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

II. Declaration of Public Notice – Gary Schumacher confirmed that public notice had been declared for the meeting.

III. Public Appearances – There were no public appearances.

IV. Approval of the Minutes from the June 16, 2004 Committee Meeting – Phil McDade moved to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2004 meeting. Sue Carr seconded. The minutes were approved as distributed.

V. Discussion and Possible Approval of Spanish Club Trip – Bev Fuller was present to discuss the plans of the High School Spanish Club to travel to Costa Rica in the Summer of 2005. A written summary of the trip was provided to committee members. Discussion was held. Kathy Bultman moved to forward the approval of the trip to the Board for their approval. Phil McDade seconded. Motion passed.

VI. Monona Grove School District Targeted Growth Course – Val Edwards and Bill Herman were present to discuss the course offered to K-12 staff this summer. The course was designed to learn ways to help students use contemporary information resources to gain inquiry power. Val Edwards distributed a course syllabus to committee members. They anticipate offering the course again in the Spring of 2005. Bill Breisch reported that this course offering was a springboard to the distribution of a K-12 Research Guide, developed by the media specialists that will be distributed to all teachers; and, a staff development offering being held August 31, 2004, “Reading in the Content Areas”.

VII. Introduction to Monona Grove School District Data Retreat – Bill Breisch reported that administrators and teachers from each school attended a Data Retreat on August 10, 2004. One of the day’s activities included a discussion of reading Chapter 2, “Measurable Goals”, from Results: The Key to Continuous School Improvement by Mike Schmoker. Committee members then discussed the article in a round-robin, final word exercise. Bill Breisch added that this exercise was helpful to participants in the Data Retreat to set the tone for the day’s deliberations.

VIII. Director of Instruction Report – Bill Breisch reported on two items: 1) MGSD Administrators who supervise will join staff from Waunakee and Mt. Horeb at the Coaching and Observation Workshop at Waunakee on August 19, 2004; 2) A workshop on Everyday Math for elementary teachers will be held August 23, 2004 at the MG High School for new hires and as a refresher for teachers who have taught the program for one year.

IX. Other Agenda Items – Kathy Bultman reported that correspondence has been received from a parent who is requesting that her child receive physical education credit for dance classes she takes (2^nd request). Kathy Bultman asked Gary Schumacher to draft a letter on behalf of the committee stating that if this request were approved, many other types of requests would be submitted for the consideration of granting high school credit. At this time, only those courses offered at the high school will be granted credit.

X. Set Date and Time for Next Meeting – The next Curriculum Committee meeting will be held Wednesday, September 15, 2004 – 6:00 p.m. – Nichol School – District Office Board Room. The following meeting will be held October 20, 2004 – same time and location.

XI. Adjournment – Kathy Bultman moved to adjourn the meeting. Phil McDade seconded. Motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.

Recorded by, Kim Hallock