Minutes of the State Board of Education s2

MINUTES OF THE ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

THE STATE OF ALABAMA

THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA

The Alabama State Board of Education met for its regular meeting of Elementary/Secondary Education matters on Thursday, March 11, 2010, at 9:34 a.m., in the auditorium of the Gordon Persons Building, Montgomery, Alabama. The meeting was called by the Vice President of the Board in accordance with Alabama Code (1975), §16-3-7, as amended.

PRESIDING: MR. RANDY MCKINNEY, VICE PRESIDENT

ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

The invocation and Pledge of Allegiance were held. On roll call, the following members were present:

Mrs. Ella B. Bell

Mrs. Stephanie Bell

Mr. David F. Byers, Jr.

Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, President Pro Tem

Dr. Ethel H. Hall, Vice President Emerita

Mr. Randy McKinney, Vice President

Mrs. Betty Peters

Mr. Gary Warren

Absent

Governor Bob Riley

Dr. Joseph B. Morton, State Superintendent of Education and Secretary and Executive Officer of the Board, was present at the meeting.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 11, 2010

On motion by Mrs. Ella B. Bell and seconded by Mr. Gary Warren, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2010, meeting.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

On motion by Mrs. Ella B. Bell and seconded by Mrs. Stephanie Bell, the Board voted unanimously to approve the agenda.

On motion by Dr. Ethel H. Hall and seconded by Mrs. Stephanie Bell, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following:

ANNOUNCE INTENT TO ADOPT NEW ALABAMA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, RULE 290-3-3-52.01, TEACHER LEADER

On motion by Mrs. Stephanie Bell and seconded by Dr. Ethel H. Hall, the Board voted unanimously to approve the following:

ANNOUNCE INTENT TO ADOPT NEW ALABAMA ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, RULE 290-3-3-53.01, INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP

On motion by Mr. Randy McKinney and seconded by Dr. Ethel H. Hall, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF MEGAN O’NEILL, FAIRHOPE HIGH SCHOOL, BALDWIN COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS A 2009 SCIENCE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FINALIST

WHEREAS, now that we have entered the 21ST Century, proficiency in mathematics and science is more important than ever; and

WHEREAS, the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, established in 1983 by the White House, are the nation’s highest honor bestowed upon K-12 mathematics and science teachers; and

WHEREAS, fewer than two hundred science teachers throughout the nation, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, schools of the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the United States territories, are selected each year as state finalists; and

WHEREAS, through the state selection committee, two 2009 state science finalists were chosen from a number of applications in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Megan O’Neill has demonstrated excellence in the Alabama science classroom for seven years; and

WHEREAS, Megan O’Neill of Fairhope High School, Baldwin County School System, was chosen as a 2009 finalist in Alabama to receive an award for excellence in science teaching:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend and congratulate Megan O’Neill upon the honor of being selected as one of Alabama’s truly outstanding teachers of science.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

On motion by Mrs. Betty Peters and seconded by Mrs. Stephanie Bell, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF CATHY L. BENNETT, GENEVA HIGH SCHOOL, GENEVA CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS A
2009 MATHEMATICS PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FINALIST

WHEREAS, now that we have entered the 21st Century, proficiency in mathematics and science is more important than ever; and

WHEREAS, fewer than two hundred mathematics teachers throughout the nation, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, schools of the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the United States territories, are selected each year as state finalists; and

WHEREAS, through the state selection committee, two 2009 state mathematics finalists were chosen from a number of applications in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Cathy L. Bennett has demonstrated excellence in the Alabama mathematics classroom for twenty-eight years; and

WHEREAS, Cathy L. Bennett of Geneva High School, Geneva City School System, was chosen as a 2009 finalist in Alabama to receive an award for excellence in mathematics teaching:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend and congratulate Cathy L. Bennett upon the honor of being selected as one of Alabama’s truly outstanding teachers of mathematics.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

On motion by Mrs. Stephanie Bell and seconded by Dr. Mary Jane Caylor, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF SONDRA OSWALT, OXFORD HIGH SCHOOL, OXFORD CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS A
2009 MATHEMATICS PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FINALIST

WHEREAS, now that we have entered the 21ST Century, proficiency in mathematics and science is more important than ever; and

WHEREAS, through the state selection committee, two 2009 state mathematics finalists were chosen from a number of applications in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Sondra Oswalt has demonstrated excellence in the Alabama mathematics classroom for twenty-three years; and

WHEREAS, Sondra Oswalt of Oxford High School, Oxford City School System, was chosen as a 2009 finalist in Alabama to receive an award for excellence in mathematics teaching:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend and congratulate Sondra Oswalt upon the honor of being selected as one of Alabama’s truly outstanding teachers of mathematics.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

On motion by Dr. Mary Jane Caylor and seconded by Mrs. Stephanie Bell, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF CHERYL L. ADAMS, LIBERTY MIDDLE SCHOOL, MADISON CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM, AS A 2009 SCIENCE PRESIDENTIAL AWARD FINALIST

WHEREAS, now that we have entered the 21ST Century, proficiency in mathematics and science is more important than ever; and

WHEREAS, through the state selection committee, two 2009 state science finalists were chosen from a number of applications in Alabama; and

WHEREAS, Cheryl L. Adams has demonstrated excellence in the Alabama science classroom for eleven years; and

WHEREAS, Cheryl L. Adams of Liberty Middle School, Madison City School System, was chosen as a 2009 finalist in Alabama to receive an award for excellence in science teaching:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend and congratulate Cheryl L. Adams upon the honor of being selected as one of Alabama’s truly outstanding teachers of science.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

On motion by Dr. Ethel H. Hall and seconded by Mrs. Ella B. Bell, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION IN RECOGNITION OF JEFF JOHNSON, HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL, HOOVER CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

2010 SIEMENS NATIONAL ADVANCED PLACEMENT (AP)

TEACHER OF THE YEAR

WHEREAS, the 2010 Siemens National Advanced Placement (AP) Teacher of the Year is Jeff Johnson, an AP Physics B teacher from Hoover High School in the Hoover City School System; and

WHEREAS, the Siemens Foundation and the College Board honor the top science and math teachers in the nation with the Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement; and

WHEREAS, teachers with a minimum of five years of teaching experience in math, science or technology AP courses are selected for their exemplary teaching and enthusiastic dedication to students and the AP Program; and

WHEREAS, the Siemens Foundation provides more than $7 million annually in support of educational initiatives in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Jeff Johnson was featured in the February 22, 2010, edition of USA Today; and

WHEREAS, Hoover High School will receive a $5,000 grant to support science and mathematics education:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend Jeff Johnson for his selection as National Teacher of the Year in the prestigious 2010 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

On motion by Mrs. Stephanie Bell and seconded by Dr. Ethel H. Hall, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the following:

RESOLUTION COMMENDING DISTINGUISHED FINALIST KANISE WIGGINS

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, PHENIX CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

2010 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS

WHEREAS, Distinguished Finalist Kanise Wiggins, a senior at Central High School in the Phenix City School System, is among a select group of young Americans recognized as the nation’s top youth volunteers for 2010 in the 15th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; and

WHEREAS, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created in 1995 in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to emphasize the importance our nation places on service to others, and to encourage young Americans of all backgrounds to contribute to their communities; and

WHEREAS, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are America’s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, 18-year-old Kanise Wiggins founded G. I. F. T. S. – “Girls Inspired for Talent and Services” – a mentoring program that encourages young girls to excel in school and give back to the community; and

WHEREAS, as a Distinguished Finalist, Kanise Wiggins receives an engraved bronze medallion:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend Distinguished Finalist Kanise Wiggins for earning the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Award recognizing initiative and community service.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

RESOLUTION COMMENDING DISTINGUISHED FINALIST HANNA CREE

CHELSEA HIGH SCHOOL, SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM

2010 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS

WHEREAS, Distinguished Finalist Hanna Cree, a senior at Chelsea High School in the Shelby County School System, is among a select group of young Americans recognized as the nation’s top youth volunteers for 2010 in the 15th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; and

WHEREAS, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are America’s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, 18-year-old Hanna Cree, who was nominated by the Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama, wrote an online book about her struggles with dyslexia to help parents recognize the symptoms of the developmental reading disorder; and

WHEREAS, as a Distinguished Finalist, Hanna Cree receives an engraved bronze medallion:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend Distinguished Finalist Hanna Cree for earning the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Award recognizing initiative and community service.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

RESOLUTION COMMENDING STATE HONOREE RACHEL STOVES
HUFFMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL, BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

2010 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS

WHEREAS, State Honoree Rachel Stoves, an eighth-grader at Huffman Middle School in the Birmingham City School System, is among a select group of young Americans recognized as the nation’s top youth volunteers for 2010 in the 15th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; and

WHEREAS, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are America’s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, 14-year-old Rachel Stoves spent the summer of 2009 performing a variety of volunteer jobs at her church as a key participant in a new youth volunteer program; and

WHEREAS, as a State Honoree, Rachel Stoves receives a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in May for national recognition events:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Alabama State Board of Education does hereby commend State Honoree Rachel Stoves for earning the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Award recognizing initiative and community service.

Done this 11th day of March 2010

RESOLUTION COMMENDING STATE HONOREE ALISON GORRIE

MOUNTAIN BROOK HIGH SCHOOL, MOUNTAIN BROOK CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM

2010 PRUDENTIAL SPIRIT OF COMMUNITY AWARDS

WHEREAS, State Honoree Alison Gorrie, a junior at Mountain Brook High School in the Mountain Brook City School System, is among a select group of young Americans recognized as the nation’s top youth volunteers for 2010 in the 15th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards; and

WHEREAS, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards are America’s largest youth recognition program based exclusively on volunteerism; and

WHEREAS, 17-year-old Alison Gorrie organized a benefit concert that raised over $420,000 to support low-vision research and rehabilitation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and

WHEREAS, as a State Honoree, Alison Gorrie receives a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in May for national recognition events: