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Board Minutes

May 5, 2003

PSC Conference Room, 12th Floor, State Capitol, Bismarck, ND

The Education Standards and Practices Board was then called to order by board chair, Amy Benz. Board members present were Laura Carley, Pam Cronin, Chris Douthit, Kathy Kiedrowski, Dean U. Koppelman, Neil Nordquist, Dan Vainonen and Kirk Welstad. ESPB personnel that attended the meeting were Lou Aronson, Deb Jensen, Loris Marcusen, Diane Weber and Janet Welk. Other who attended the meeting were Bill Peterson from the Attorney General's Office; Leanne Nelson from the North Dakota Education Association; Tanya Lunde-Newmiller from the Title I Unit, Department of the Department of Public Instruction; Dan Pullen from Educational Technology Council and Roman Weiler from the State Association of Nonpublic Schools.

Board member, Marianna Malm, did not attend the meeting.

Board agenda item additions were clinical practice and Mark Carter to the board cases.

A motion was made by Kirk Welstad to approve the April minutes as written. Second by Dan.
Motion carried. Board members who voted in agreement were Amy Benz, Laura Carley, Pam Cronin, Chris Douthit, Kathy Kiedrowski, Dean U. Koppelman, Neil Nordquist, Dan Vainonen and Kirk Welstad.

An April financial report was unavailable due to the early board meeting date.

The board had an opportunity to review the May 28th Governor's Teacher Quality Grant agenda. The target audience for the May 28th meeting will be administrators and principals. Teacher Quality Regional Meetings will also be held and are scheduled starting July 7th thru July16th. Janet welcomed the board members to attend the meetings when the meetings are in their area.

Dan Pullen met with the board. Educational Technology Council is charged with revising the state educational technology plan, in part to align it with requirements for NCLB. Section 2413 of NCLB requires that North Dakota provide a plan to the federal government identifying how the state will ensure ongoing integration of technology into the school curricula and instructional strategies in all schools in the state so that technology will be fully integrated by December 31, 2006. He asked the board to offer suggestions, new ideas and potential directions to pursue in coming to final decisions on this issue by the next school year. Mr. Pullen indicated that one-third of the teachers in the state have completed some sort of an instructional technology course. Deb will assist Dan in an ESPB advisory capacity on licensure issues related to the educational technology plan.

Deb provided a written report on Program Approval activities and provided evaluations from the April Program Approval Team Training.

The Teacher Quality Grant standards alignment seminar will take place June 3-5, 2003 at the Butler Center.

Administrative Cases

Belgarde, Wanda
No response had been received from Ms. Belgarde.

Sondag, Mark
No response had been received from the probation officer.

Titus, Garrett
Another preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 7th. Bill Peterson suggested that the board wait for the conviction before any board action is taken.

Teacher Cases

Lloyd, Brent
The office is waiting for additional evidence of the allegations.

Uggen, Stuart
Amy read the letter from the Fargo Public School District. The Fargo district paid the fine for Mr. Uggen.

Schmidt, William
A request for inquiry had been filed against Mr. Schmidt due to a possible code of ethics issue. A motion was made by Pam to dismiss the request for inquiry. Second by Chris. Motion carried. Board members who voted in agreement were Amy Benz, Laura Carley, Pam Cronin, Chris Douthit, Kathy Kiedrowski, Dean U. Koppelman, Neil Nordquist, Dan Vainonen and Kirk Welstad. Mr. Schmidt is employed with St. Mary's High School in Bismarck as a music instructor.

Zimiga, Andre'
Mr. Zimiga's license application was brought to the board because he checked “yes” to question #3, Part 2. Mr. Andre's background check showed no criminal activity. Pam made a motion to issue a two-year, interim reciprocal license. Second by Kirk. Motion carried. Board members who voted in agreement were Amy Benz, Laura Carley, Pam Cronin, Chris Douthit, Kathy Kiedrowski, Dean U. Koppelman, Neil Nordquist, Dan Vainonen and Kirk Welstad.

Renz, Gwen
Ms. Renz's license was brought before the board to a code of ethics issue. It was suggested that information be obtained from the Emmons County Sheriffs Department. Ms. Renz has been discharged by the Hazelton-Moffitt-Braddock School District due to conduct unbecoming the position as an educator.

Rettinger, Gordon
A request for inquiry will be filed by the board, even though Mr. Rettinger has been found not guilty of the charge of disorderly conduct.

Carter, Mark
Bill Peterson has notified Mr. Carter of denial of his license renewal and the right to request a hearing.

Amy called a recess. The board meeting was continued by conference call on Tuesday, May 6 at 11:00, to continue the discussion of the highly qualified definitions and major equivalency definitions. Board members available via conference call were Amy Benz, Laura Carley, Pam Cronin, Dean U. Koppelman, Kathy Kiedrowski, Neal Nordquist and Marianna Malm. Office staff present was Deb Jensen, Janet Welk and Diane Weber. No board action was taken.

The meeting was then again continued by conference call on Thursday, May 8th at 9:45. Board members were Laura Carley, Pam Cronin, Chris Douthit, Kathy Kiedrowski, Dean U. Koppelman, Neil Nordquist, Dan Vainonen and Kirk Welstad. Office staff present was Deb Jensen, Janet Welk, Lou Aronson and Loris Marcusen.

The board instructed Deb to consolidate the highly qualified draft information into administrative rules format, including the highly qualified definitions by grade level and options for major equivalencies. The draft will be reviewed by the board on May 19th.

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