Laserfiche WebLink
Mounds View City Council February 8, 2010 <br />Regular Meeting Page 2 <br /> <br /> 1 <br />Mr. Hoverman indicated a goal for the year was to increase the level of personalization within 2 <br />the school system. He explained staff has put in motion processes to monitor more closely how 3 <br />all students are performing and not just those at risk. The system has created individualized 4 <br />goals for each student as they proceed through high school. 5 <br /> 6 <br />Ms. Sager noted the calendar has been restructured to provide for less breaks in the school 7 <br />schedule. In the 2010-11 school year there will be no half days that will save the district over 8 <br />$130,000 in transportation costs. Mr. Hoverman added that instructional time was not reduced 9 <br />with the change in the calendar. 10 <br /> 11 <br />Mr. Hoverman indicated another initiative has begun to create connections with the students. He 12 <br />explained that school sponsored activities engage students and provides opportunities to students 13 <br />not involved in extra-curricular sports. Students perform better academically when engaged and 14 <br />involved in school. 15 <br /> 16 <br />Ms. Sager indicated the district was seeking creative and innovative ways to assist students to 17 <br />avoid cuts and increase revenues in light of the current economic situation. Energy savings has 18 <br />been a major source of improvements. 19 <br /> 20 <br />Council Member Mueller questioned the expense of educating one high school student for the 21 <br />entire school year. 22 <br /> 23 <br />Mr. Hoverman stated this would be difficult to estimate due to the wide range of services 24 <br />provided to students, such as special needs or post secondary options. He indicated he would 25 <br />report back to the Council with a range. 26 <br /> 27 <br />Council Member Mueller asked for further information on the hybrid online courses. 28 <br /> 29 <br />Mr. Hoverman explained the district offered 19 hybrid courses at this time between both high 30 <br />schools. This allows the students to take a course without meeting in class with a teacher on a 31 <br />daily basis. Courses will continue based on student interest. 32 <br /> 33 <br />Mayor Flaherty felt the online hybrid courses were going to set the district apart and would 34 <br />benefit the self-starter students. He then asked if class sizes could be discussed and suggested 35 <br />offering the honors classes in an auditorium setting. 36 <br /> 37 <br />Mr. Hoverman indicated this has been discussed and he would be more interested in offering the 38 <br />online courses versus the large group. The flexibility provided in the online courses allows for 39 <br />enough engagement while avoiding the large classes. 40 <br /> 41 <br />Council Member Gunn noted she was thrilled to see the school district has taken on the dean 42 <br />model. This would serve the students well through their high school years. 43 <br /> 44 <br />Mayor Flaherty thanked the representatives for the information presented to the Council. 45