INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT 196
Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools
Rosemount, MN 55068
Educating our students to reach their full potential
Curriculum and Instruction Advisory Council Minutes
April 21, 2014
Members Present: MaryAnn Choy, Dana Ellingworth, Renee Ervasti, Lori Hertzberg, Kathy Hilton,
Jenny Huling, Sophia Lai, Corrie Lapinsky, Holly Lofgren, Laura McCrady, Philip Monsen, Mike Otto,
Liz, Palmi, T. J. Reinartz, Rachel Schornak, Emily Severson, Carla, Sinz, Soniya Somani, Steve Troen,
Kristin Wanken
Welcome and Review of Agenda
Lori Hertzberg, CIAC Chair, welcomed the members and reviewed the agenda.
Technology Vision Update
Steve Troen, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Jenny Huling, Elementary Curriculum Specialist,
presented an overview of the District 196 Learning and Technology Vision. Steve discussed the vision
for a Dynamic Student Learning Experience, Enhanced by Technology in addition to the plan to increase
access to mobile technology and the plan for ongoing professional development. Jenny shared
information related to four learning and technology Beta groups, which includes over 170 teachers,
administrators, and support staff. Jenny highlighted additional information regarding the 46 teachers
involved in the 1:1 Beta group. In order to ensure ubiquitous access to technology to support learning, the
secondary level teachers in the 1:1 Beta group will choose one of their classes per term to implement a 1:1
environment in which all students in that class will receive a district-owned mobile device to use to support
learning throughout the day and at home. Fourth and fifth grade students of the elementary teachers in the
Beta group will receive a mobile device also. In addition, mobile devices will be provided to the 1:1 Beta
teachers and selected support staff. A committee is currently working through a process to recommend
specific mobile devices to support the vision.
MN Student Survey Results
Nandi Rieck, State and Federal Program Specialist, shared the results from the Feb, 2013 MN Student
Survey (administered by MDE every 3 years) were shared with the group. Students were surveyed in
grades 5, 8, 9, and 11 in a variety of areas including their feeling about school safety, bullying, general
health, relationship and drug and alcohol use. Overall students report feeling safe at school and data
indicates that bullying and chemical use continues to decline.
Allied Arts Curriculum Program Review
Nandi Rieck provided an Allied Arts Curriculum Program Review Update. Eight departments within the
district high schools including, Family and Consumer Science (FACS), Business, Work Experience
Disadvantage and Handicapped, Visual Art, Technology Education, Mentor and Career Development,
began the curriculum review process this year. They started at a Pre-Year 1 stage identified as
“appreciative inquiry” in which the focus was on identification of the strengths of the programs,
identification of course offerings within and across the high schools in the district and staff development
regarding tools that will be used moving forward that are unique to the world of Career and Technical
Education such as Technical Skills Assessments.
Assessment Calendar for Next Year
Renee Ervasti, K-12 Curriculum and EL Coordinator, and Lori Hertzberg, CIAC Chair, presented an
assessment document prepared by Michelle DeMers, District Assessment Coordinator. Beginning with
the 2014-15 school year American Institutes for Research (AIR) will no longer be the vendor for the
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs). NCS Pearson, Inc. will be the new vendor for the
MCA science tests and the MCA math and reading tests for grades 3 – 7. The vendor for grades 8, 10 and
11 has yet to be determined. Therefore, the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has not made a
testing calendar for the 2014-15 school year, and districts, including District 196, are unable to design a
testing schedule for next school year at this time. Things we do know:
 Modified MCA tests will no longer be available.
 MCA tests in grades 3-7 are required to be online.
 MCA science tests will still occur in grades 5, 8 and high school
 Career and College Assessments, which will include a writing component, for grades 8, 10 and 11
will be administered.
 It has not been decided yet if the Career and College Assessments will be paper/pencil or
online. In addition, the season for this assessment has not been determined.
 MCA math and reading tests may still need to be administered in grades 8, 10 and 11 next year
due to federal requirements. MDE is working hard to make this not happen.
Once the calendar is completed, a copy will be sent to the CIAC members and will be part of the
September agenda.
Membership Update
Lori Hertzberg thanked the outgoing members for servicing on the council: Philip Monsen has served on
the council for six years; Jennifer Hubbs, Carol Meyer and Laurie Papaleo served one term, and Rachel
Schornak, Caroline Berg, Katie McCreary, Liz Palmi, Soniya Somani and Emily Severson all served as
student members on the council.
Renee Ervasti shared the openings on the council. CIAC parent membership is determined, in part, by the
grade level of children attending District 196 schools and geographic representation within the district.
For this reason, the open positions will be filled by applicants who will have a child attending one of the
following schools in the 2014-15 school year:
 Cedar Park, Echo Park, Southview or Westview elementary schools -- one position;
 Diamond Path, Greenleaf, Highland, Oak Ridge or Thomas Lake elementary schools -- one
position;
 Rosemount Middle School -- one position, and
 Eagan High School -- one position.
Interested parents may apply online. The new members are approved by the School Board in July.
2014-15 Proposed CIAC Meeting Dates
September 15, 2014
November 17, 2014
February 2, 2015
April 20, 2015
All meetings are from 5 -6:30 p.m. at the District Office at 3455 153rd Street West in Rosemount.