October 2015 Meeting Minutes
Bloomington Career and College Academy, Bloomington Public School District
Bloomington, Minnesota
October 7, 2015
11:30 a.m.
Attendees:Mauricio Barrientos (KHS), Tom Bennett (School Board), Roberto Cantu (Principal PB), Brian Cline (Principal WB), Bridget Drummond (OGE), Wayne Haeg (BAA),Rick Kaufman (Community Relations),Gary Kressin (BCCA), Becky Lechner (OE), Betsy Longley (NCC), Molly Lueck (PTSA Council Secretary), Beth Maiwurm (JHS), Wendy Marczak (BFT), Kate Martin (Community Relations),Christina McAndrew (PB), Carissa Meierdierks Wall (NH/Family Center),Eric Melbye (Asst Superintendent), Jill Oldenburg (OM), TheaSheffert (HC),Tiffany Shermak (PTSA Council President), Tamra Sieve (Ex Dir Comm Services), Heather Starks (PTSA Council VP), Dawn Steigauf (School Board), Jodi Syrjamaki (WB), Jason Thiel (WW), Gina Vozka (OGM), Kristi Wesolowski (RV), Charlotte Westby (IM), Andrew Wilkins (Principal WB)
Welcomed by Tiffany Shermak and introductions were made around the room.
A motion to approve the September 2015 minutes was made by Jennifer Hembd, seconded by Kelli Scullen. Minutes approved.
Eric Melbye, presented the Superintendent’s report:
1.City Council and the School Board held a joint meeting on 9/22/15. Three topics were explored:
A. Community Center – moving forward with assessment and study plan of the 55 year old facility. Task force in place and Maureen Bartolotta will represent the School Board.
B. 2015 Business and Resident Surveys – 83% rate Bloomington K-12 schools good or excellent, #4 among our peers. Preschool and childcare rank #1 among our peers and in the top 10% nationwide.
C. Housing and Neighborhood Initiative Program – focus is on affordable housing to attract young families. Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is expanding the existing Neighborhood Loan Program and will offer the new guidelines beginning fall 2015.
Wayne Haeg, presented the BAA update:
1. Bloomington Athletic Association was started in 1954 and now has ten different sports programs for boys and girls. Scholarships are given to high school seniors every year based on a point system of the following criteria: 1. Jefferson or Kennedy senior 2. Student has played and volunteered for BAA during 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grades 3. Student has a minimum 2.5 GPA 4. Participation in school clubs, activities and sports will be factored in also. Last year, four scholarships were awarded.
2. Wayne would like to see and encourage aincreased participation from each school in Bloomington, elementary level in particular, in BAA.Online sign-ups are a top action item for the with questions.
Rick Kaufman and Kate Martin, presented the community relations update:
1. The Target REDcard Take Charge of Education program will be ending May 2016. Last year $32 million was given to school across the country, $45K of that amount to Bloomington schools.
2. Food Service Marketing has been worked on the last half-year. Focused marketing is a needed tool since lunch purchases have declined after the new guidelines were set in 2012. 42% of students in Bloomington qualify for free and/or reduced meals. Revenue from meal purchases is needed to cover costs of Food Services program. This is a community issue to create a sustainable program that kids will buy into. The webpage has been updated and lunch profiles are linked to the student HUB accounts. Email with comments or questions.
3. Bloomington Public Schools is a partner in the winter clothing drive October 3rd-26th. Child and youth sizes only please. School staff members will be point people for assessing need in their building. Visit for drop-off locations and hours.
Roberto Cantu,presented the Principal’s report:
1. School is in full swing and early assessments are in progress or have been done, namely MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) and BEKA (Bloomington Kindergarten Assessment). School safety procedures are in place and drills are happening.
2. October is fire prevention month and all Bloomington fire stations will be having open houses for the public on Saturday, October 10th from 10AM-1PM.
Tiffany Shermak, presented Sheri Brezinka’sPTSA Council Treasurer’sreport:
1. We have accrued 11 cents of interest. Various costs for the Leadership Academy, School Board Forum and other miscellaneous items have been paid.
Tiffany Shermak,presented the PTSA Council President’sreport:
1. No updates.
Heather Starks,presented the PTSA Council VP’s report:
1. The School Board Forum, on October 5th, had 5 candidates present. Each candidate had time for an introduction, answers to questions and a conclusion. Twenty-seven people attended and 8 questions came from the audience. The Forum will be replayed on TBC-14, check listing times. The next forum will be October 3rd, 2016 (first Monday in October going forward).
2. Parents United for Schools has a mission of educating and empowering the public and holding elected officials accountable in regards to public education. Our Council already does much of the work a Legislative Action Committee (LAC) does, making a formal committee very possible if there was interest in the future.
3. Our Parent Speaker Series will be end of January or beginning of February in 2016 with a possible second series soon after spring break. Please watch your inboxes for a topic interest survey to complete. Feel free to forward the survey to interested parents in your school.
Gary KressinTamra Sieve, presented the Bloomington Career and College Academy(BCCA) update:
1. BCCA is a unique program allowing students to explore careers while earning credit for high school and college. Three criteria were used to identify their program mission: 1. In-demand careers 2. Liveable incomes 3. Stackable and transferable credits.
2. By 2020, 74% of all careers will require some post-secondary education. Of the students who currently have a 4-year degree, almost half end up in retail or customer service. Normandale Community College (NCC) and Hennepin Technical College (HTC) are BCCA community partners. The average student age at NCC or HTC is 35 years old. The focus is to change the conversation concerning alternative education and to educate parents and students about options on careers and to start on those careers sooner in life. Statistics show one year of further education increases individual’s incomes by 50%.
3. BCCA is in its first year with 116 students, mostly seniors, 47% or who qualify for free and/or reduced lunch. Jefferson students account for 48% of enrolled students and Kennedy has the other 52%. The initial work on BCCA programming began a year ago and of the target total 10 career areas, BCCA currently has four learning pathways: 1. Building and Construction 2. IT 3. Health Sciences 4. Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice. Walser and United Way are business partners of BCCA, giving a combined $540K in grants and sponsorships to pay for program costs. The next four pathways to be available are: 1. Automotive Technician 2. Cosmetology 3. Massage Therapy 4. Manufacturing Technology.
4. Students in the Building and Construction pathway do as combination of on the job training and classroom instruction as they earn their First Aid, OSHA 10 and CPR certificates. Starting salary after graduation will be $55K/year and $100K/year possible once they become journeypeople. Students in the Health Sciences pathway will earn their First Aid and CPR certificates and upon graduation, can become an emergency medical responder or medical technician earning $30K/year.
5. BCCA is on the same high school trimester schedule as Jefferson and Kennedy. Students travel from their home school to attend BCCA for AM or PM block classes where they will earn 3-6 credits. A total of 18 elective credits can be used at BCCA. More information can be found at bloomingtonschools.org/BCCA. An open house at BCCA will be held on Thursday, November 12th.
Next meeting topic: Technology in the Classroom, November 4th
Next meeting location: ESC Room 610A
Respectfully submitted by Molly Lueck, PTSA Council Secretary