Board Action Update
Saint Paul Public Schools
Regular Board of Education Meeting
March 16, 2010
In tonight's update:
  • Ending The New Teacher Project in Saint Paul Public Schools
  • GRAD update
  • Budget update
  • Charter school sponsorships
  • Interim position announcements
Ending The New Teacher Project in Saint Paul Public Schools
The Board of Education voted to end The Twin Cities Teaching Fellows Program effective March 16, 2010. Since 2007, the program has recruited, selected and trained 67 teachers. They have worked in critical areas of math, science, elementary bilingual education and special education. Given Saint Paul Public Schools' current economic condition and limited projected teaching vacancies, the District's human capital strategy will now focus on filling vacancies with teachers who currently hold licensure rather than recruiting and hiring new teachers through alternative pathways, such as the Twin Cities Teaching Fellows.


GRAD update
Board members were presented information regarding the District's work to support students as they work to fulfill requirements to pass state requirements in relation to the GRAD examination, which is embedded in the MCA-II series tests. Upcoming Saturday sessions to help students improve reading strategies and test skills run from 9 a.m. to noon on the following dates:
  • March 13
  • March 20
  • Daily March 29 - April 1
  • April 10


Budget update
Board members were presented with information regarding the updated timeline for budget recommendations. There will be opportunities for staff and community members to provide input through surveys beginning later this month. The timeline is:
  • March 23 -Preliminary 2010 - 2011 budget recommendations presented to the Committee of the Board of Education
  • Early April - Schools and programs will receive budget allocations
  • May 4 - Organizational structure presented to the Committee of the Board of Education


Charter school sponsorships
The Board of Education approved the renewal of two charter school sponsorships for Community of Peace Academy and New Spirit School.



Interim position appointments
The Board of Education approved several interim appointments to fill vacancies left by staff who have announced their departure from the District:
  • Effective Wednesday, March 17, Bill Larson will serve as interim chief operations officer
  • Effective Thursday, March 18, Laura Olson will serve as interim administrator of Security and Emergency Management
  • Effective Monday, March 29, Howie Padilla will serve as interim director of communications
 
This update is a service of the Office of Community Relations of Saint Paul Public Schools. Please direct questions or comments to community.relations@spps.org or by phone to 651-767-8110.