Steering Committee Minutes
12/19/06

The Laurel-Concord Steering Committee met in a joint meeting with the Coleridge Steering Committee at Coleridge. Present were Terry Beair, Sharon Boeckenhauer, Ed Brogie, Mary Hansen, Paul Timm, Doris Troyer, Diane Baker, Matt Carley, Amy Hall, Mary Jo Hansen, Jean Hoesing, Joe York, Stephanie Petersen, Les Owen, Craig Frerichs, and Dr. Hoesing.

Dr. Hoesing outlined the two objectives for today’s meeting as the following:

1) To set an activity for second semester that will improve student learning. This activity would come from something teachers have already received training on.

2) To plan a half-day (3 hour) workshop for the teacher workday scheduled on January 3, 2007.

Through a variety of activities and articles, Dr. Hoesing led a discussion about the changes which have occurred in the last five to seven years, and how that change is exponential in nature. The group also viewed the video “212--the extra degree”.

Following these activities, the committee decided to use a similar format for the January 3 staff meetings at Coleridge (in the morning) and Laurel (in the afternoon). Committee members agreed that from this process goals for the School Improvement Process could be prioritized.

Dr. Hoesing informed the Steering Committee members that the school boards of Laurel-Concord, Coleridge, Newcastle, and Wynot have all stated the following three goals:

1) To provide quality programs;

2) Programs/Schools must be effective/cost efficient; and

3) To maintain a school in every community.

“Innovative Labs”, an independent consulting group, will be brought in by the four schools in late February to facilitate planning for the future.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Steering Committee members reviewed information shared during today’s meeting and affirmed plans for both the January 3 staff meetings and the facilitation process led by Innovative Labs.

Respectfully submitted,
Sharon Boeckenhauer, recorder