District #518 Staff Development Plan for 2007-2008

 

Prepared by

ISD #518 Staff Development Committee

June 13 & 18, 2007

  

 

District #518 Staff Development  Committee:

 

The District #518 Staff Development Committee will consist of the following voting members:

4 Administration

1 Parent

10 Teachers (Prairie – 4, WHS – 3, WMS – 2, ALC – 1)

1 Paraprofessional

Advisory members: 1 School Board member, 1 technology representative

Other employees or interested individuals are welcome to attend.

A teacher co-chair will meet monthly with the administrative chair and will be responsible for helping create agendas and the completion of the District portion of the state SD report. 

Kathy Craun was voted into this position for the 07-08 school year.

Paul Besel volunteered to take minutes at each meeting.

 

District #518 Staff Development Goals:

 

The District #518 Staff Development Committee will allocate training/support to implement

A.    District #518 Goals

1.      To improve communication with students, staff, parents, and community members

2.      To provide outstanding educational opportunities and direction that promotes a high standard of achievement and success for students

3.      To develop and promote ongoing review of short and long range plans and goals that can assist in a consistent and positive direction for the district

4.      To increase involvement of students, staff, parents, community, businesses and others in the process of building a quality education system

5.      To provide a positive, nurturing and enhanced learning environment

6.      To assess programs, processes, policies, and other items for success and efficacy in the district

 

B.     Staff Development Outcomes from Minnesota Statutes 2006, 122A.60, Subd. 3

1.      To improve student achievement of standards using best practice methods

2.      To meet the needs of a diverse student population

3.      To provide an inclusive curriculum

4.      To improve staff collaboration and develop mentoring and peer coaching programs

5.      To teach and model violence prevention policy and curriculum

6.      To provide site-based teams with appropriate management and financial skills

 

District Staff Development Responsibilities

  1. Best Practice Grants

The District #518 Staff Development Committee will review applications for Best Practices Grants according to Minnesota Statutes 2006.  “The remaining 25 per cent of the revenue must be used to make grants to school sites for best practices methods.  A grant may be used for any purpose authorized under section 120B.22, subdivision 2, 122A.60, or for the costs of curriculum development and programs, other inservice education, teachers’ workshops, teacher conferences, substitute teachers for staff development purposes, and other staff development efforts, and determined by the site professional development team.” 122A.61 RESERVED REVENUE FOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT, Minnesota Statutes 2006.

 

District personnel requesting Best Practice Grants will use the following procedure:

  1. Fill out his or her own request form.
  2. Attach a copy of the staff development conference brochure/information, etc.
  3. Submit the request to a District Staff Development Committee member.
  4. If the request involves travel beyond 300 miles from Worthington, the request must also be submitted to the District #518 School Board for approval.
  5. Fill out and submit the follow-up form after completion of the workshop, training, writing, etc. 

  

Projects receiving Best Practice Grants must be aligned with the District Staff Development Goals, and funds will be allocated using the following guidelines:

  • Best practices for curriculum in active cycle
  • Has potential to be worthy of imitation by other staff members
  • Issue/topic involves more than one building
  • Addresses a need (front-burner issue)
  • Is supported by data
  • Provides a plan for dissemination and implementation and evaluation
  • In cycle allotted up to 28 hours per person.
  • Other out of cycle will be determined based on need and actual funding available (coming into cycle the following year, prior year, etc.)

 

B. District Classes and Catalogs

The District #518 Staff Development Committee will be responsible for approving payment for the teaching of district classes and for the development and publishing of catalogs providing a listing and description of the various offerings.  Pay for the work on the catalogs will be at the summer writing rate.  Current guidelines for course offerings are that at least six staff members must sign up for the classes and pay a $10 deposit for the class.  The deposit will be returned upon completion of the class.  This is required to ensure that the class will be offered to those in attendance and the teacher will be compensated.  If people do not show up, their $10 will be forfeited.  Accepted pay for the teaching of the classes is $60.00 per hour.  If the class is team taught, the $60 will be divided appropriately.

 

C. Mentor Coordinator

            The District #518 Staff Development Committee will be responsible for developing, overseeing and recommending funding of the position of a Mentor Coordinator who will train and work with mentors of teachers new to ISD #518.  This position will most likely be a portion of another position involving coordination of Teaching and Learning within the district which may encompass assessment, grant writing/management and curriculum coordination.