NovusAGENDA

Meetings

AGENDA
STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

November 9, 2009
Arkansas Department of Education
Auditorium, State Education Building
1:00 PM

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Reports

Report-1	Chair's Report

	Presenter: Dr. Naccaman Williams

Report-2	Commissionier's Report

	Presenter: Dr. Tom Kimbrell

Consent Agenda

C-1	Minutes - October 9, 2009

	Presenter: Dr. Charles Watson

C-2	Commitment to Principles of Desegregation Settlement Agreement: Report on the Execution of the Implementation Plan
	By the Court Order of December 1, 1993, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is required to file a monthly Project Management Tool (PMT) to the court and the parties to assure its commitment to the Desegregation Plan. This report describes the progress the ADE has made since March 15, 1994, in complying with the provisions of the Implementation Plan (Plan) and itemizes the ADE's progress against the timelines presented in the Plan. The November report summarizes the PMT for October.
	Presenter: Dr. Charity Smith Willie Morris

C-3	Newly Employed, Promotions, and Separations
	The applicant data from this information is used to compile the Applicant Flow Chart forms for the Affirmative Action Report, which demonstrates the composition of applicants through the selecting, hiring, promoting and terminating process.
	Presenter: Ms. Beverly Williams Ms. Clemetta Hood

C-4	Report on Waivers to School Districts for Teachers Teaching Out of Area for Longer than Thirty (30) Days, Ark. Code Ann. § 6-17-309.
	Act 1623 of 2001 requires local school districts to secure a waiver when classrooms are staffed with unlicensed teachers for longer than 30 days. Waiver requests were received from 99 school districts covering a total of 361 teaching positions and 8 school districts requesting 12 waivers for long-term substitutes. None of these requests were from a district in academic distress. These requests have been reviewed, either approved or denied by Department Staff and are consistent with program guidelines.
	Presenter: Beverly Williams

C-5	Consideration of Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Probation of Teaching License for three (3) years by the State Board of Education on Case with a Fine of $75 on Case # 09-051 – Walter Jenkins.
	The Professional Licensure Standards Board’s Sub-Committee on Ethics is recommending that Walter Jenkins be on probation for three (3) years and be fined $75 by the State Board of Education for violation of the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators, Standard 1: An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom.
	Presenter: Judy Kaye Mason

C-6	Consideration of Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for Probation of Teaching License for one (1) year by the State Board of Education, with a fine of $75 on Case # 09-059 – Kristen Scaggs.
	The Professional Licensure Standards Board’s Sub-Committee on Ethics is recommending that Kristen Scaggs be on probation for one (1) year and fined $75 by the State Board of Education for violation of the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators, Standard 1: An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom.
	Presenter: Judy Kaye Mason

C-7	Consideration of Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for a Written Reprimand by the State Board of Education and a Fine of $50 on Case # 09-076 – Tammy Browne
	The Professional Licensure Standards Board’s Sub-Committee on Ethics is recommending that Tammy Browne be issued a Written Reprimand and fined $50 by the State Board of Education for violation of the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators, Standard 1: An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom.
	Presenter: Judy Kaye Mason

C-8	Consideration of Recommendation of the Professional Licensure Standards Board for a Written Reprimand by the State Board of Education, a Fine of $50 and Testing Procedure Training for Case #T-09-038 – Linda Webb.
	The Professional Licensure Standards Board’s Sub-Committee on Ethics is recommending that Linda Webb be issued a Written Reprimand by the Board of Education, be fined $50 and receive additional training on testing procedures for violation of the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators, Standard 6: An educator keeps in confidence secure standardized test material as well as information about students and colleagues obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a professional purpose or is allowed or required by law.
	Presenter: Judy Kaye Mason

Action Agenda

A-1	Consideration of Request from the Blevins School District for Approval to Close an Isolated School- Emmet K-12 Campus
	Pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. § 6-20-602, on September 14, 2009, the Blevins School District submitted its request for approval of the Blevins School Board’s action and motion to close the isolated Emmet K-12 Campus. As required, the Blevins School District attached copies of a board resolution approving, by majority vote of the local board members, the closure of the Emmet K-12 Campus. In addition, the Department has attached an Attorney General Opinion prepared for the 2004 “Act 60” annexation of the former Emmet School District into the Blevins School District, with the statute, Rules Governing the Closure of Isolated School and Hearing Procedures. A copy of a petition delivered to the Department of Education from residents of the District opposed to the school closure is also attached.
	Presenter: Tripp Walter

A-2	Request Final Approval for Revisions to the Arkansas Department of Education Rules Governing Professional Development
	The purpose of these Rules is to develop a high quality professional development system for all administrators, teachers, and certified instructional support personnel. Professional development is to improve knowledge and skills in order to facilitate individual, school-wide, and district-wide improvements for the purpose of increasing student achievement. The purpose of this request for revisions is to reflect changes required by 2009 legislation enacted as follows: Act 496 of 2009, Act 605 of 2009, and Act 1309 of 2009. The proposed revisions to the Rule were approved for public comment on July 13, 2009, and a public hearing was conducted on August 31, 2009. No comments were made during the public comment period that would necessitate a change in text from the revisions previously approved.
	Presenter: Dr. Dee Cox Deborah Coffman

A-3	Hearing of Open Enrollment License Application and ADE Review: KIPP Blytheville College Preparatory School, Blytheville, Arkansas
	KIPP Blytheville College Preparatory School is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the Blytheville School District in Blytheville, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and license application is KIPP Delta, Inc. Grades 5-8 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 360 students. The proposed site for the school is 1007 South Franklin Street, Blytheville, Arkansas. Affected districts for this proposed public charter school include Blytheville, Armorel, Gosnell, Osceola, and South Mississippi County. Staff members from several units of the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) reviewed the application for the KIPP Blytheville College Preparatory School. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the letter of intent, the license application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment License from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-4	Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: Guap Academy College Preparatory School, West Memphis, Arkansas
	Guap Academy College Preparatory School is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the West Memphis School District in West Memphis, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is Humanitarian Outreach Development Group. Grades 9-12 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 100 students. The proposed site for the school is 504 South 8th Street, West Memphis, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. West Memphis School District has notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of Guap Academy College Preparatory School. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the Guap Academy College Preparatory School. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-5	Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: Little Rock Urban Collegiate Public Charter School for Young Men, Little Rock, Arkansas
	Little Rock Urban Collegiate Public Charter (UCPC) School for Young Men is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the Little Rock School District in Little Rock, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is Little Rock Urban Prep, Inc. Grades K-8 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 696 students. The proposed site for the school is 4601 South University Avenue, Little Rock, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. Little Rock School District and Pulaski County Special School District have notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of Little Rock UCPC School for Young Men. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the Little Rock UCPC School for Young Men. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-6	Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: Dove School of Excellence, Springdale, Arkansas
	Dove School of Excellence is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the Springdale School District in Springdale, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is Sky Foundation. Grades K-12 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 650 students. The proposed site for the school is 901 West Robinson Avenue, Springdale, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. Springdale School District has notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of Dove School of Excellence. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the Dove School of Excellence. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-7	Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: Prism Education Center, Fayetteville, Arkansas
	Prism Education Center is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the Fayetteville School District in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is Prism Education Center. Grades K-8 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 650 students. The proposed site for the school is 3162 West 6th Street, Fayetteville, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. Fayetteville School District has notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of Prism Education Center. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the Prism Education Center. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-8	(Scheduled for Tuesday, November 10) Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: Friends Academy of the Health and Environmental Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
	Friends Academy of Health and Environmental Sciences is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the Little Rock School District in Little Rock, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is Friends of the Environment, Inc. Grades 6-8 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 550 students. The proposed site for the school is 2410 South Battery, Little Rock, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. Little Rock School District and Pulaski County Special School District have notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of Friends Academy of Health and Environmental Sciences. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the Friends Academy of Health and Environmental Sciences. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-9	(Scheduled for Tuesday, November 10) Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: Gillett Heritage Academy, Gillett, Arkansas
	Gillett Heritage Academy is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the DeWitt School District in Gillett, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is Gillett Civic Group, Inc. Grades K-12 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 210 students. The proposed site for the school is East End of Main Street, Gillett, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. DeWitt School District and Dumas School District have notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of Gillett Heritage Academy. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the Gillett Heritage Academy. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown

A-10	(Scheduled for Tuesday, November 10) Hearing of Open Enrollment Charter Application Appeal and ADE Review: e-BLAST Academy, McNeil, Arkansas
	e-BLAST Academy is a proposed open-enrollment public charter school to be located within the Stephens School District in McNeil, Arkansas. The sponsoring entity on the letter of intent and charter application is South Arkansas Foundation on Education (S.A.F.E.). Grades K-8 will be served with a maximum enrollment of 200 students. The proposed site for the school is 306 Walnut, McNeil, Arkansas. The applicant has notified affected districts for this proposed public charter school. Stephens School District, Magnolia School District, and Camden Fairview School District have notified the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) of their opposition to the opening of e-BLAST Academy. Since that time the applicant has given notice of appeal to the State Board of Education in request of a hearing regarding this matter. Staff members from several units of the ADE reviewed the application for the e-BLAST Academy. Evaluation concerns were then mailed to the applicant for response. The applicant responded to the ADE evaluation in writing. Copies of the appeal letter, documentation from the affected district, the letter of intent, the application, the ADE evaluation and the written response by the applicant have been included for review by the Board. The applicant is requesting to be granted an Open-Enrollment Charter from the State Board of Education.
	Presenter: Dr. Mary Ann D. Brown