DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Report on the Transition of Closing Malcolm Price Laboratory School (MPLS) by June 30, 2012 April 20, 2012 This comprehensive report is an update on the progress completed by the Ten Transition Teams appointed March 20, 2012, to complete the transition process needed to close MPLS. Much has been completed in these four weeks. Many efforts are in place to keep all stakeholders informed and continue this successful transition in a timely and efficient manner. Facilitating this transition process is Dwight C. Watson and Brenda Buzynski who are working closely with the Ten Transition Team Leaders. Also providing guidance and direction throughout these changes are Ben Allen, Gloria Gibson, Pat Geadelmann, and Stacey Christensen. Other individuals assisting as needed include Tim McKenna, Christy Twait and Bruce Rieks. Ten Transition Teams & Leaders: Team 1 – K-­‐12 Students, Lyn Countryman Team 2 – MPLS Employees, Ginny Arthur Team 3 – Clinical Field Experiences, Becky Hawbaker, Melissa Heston, Cherin Lee Team 4 – Child Development Center, Michael Hager Team 5 – Communication, Stacey Christensen Team 6 – Facility/Assets, Michael Hager Team 7 – Archive/Record Retention and Transferring, Lyn Countryman Team 8 – MPLS Donors/Nielsen Fund, Bill Calhoun Team 9 – Commemorative/Celebrate MPLS History, Lyn Countryman Team 10 – New R&D Model, Michael Licari, Dwight Watson Transition Teams to Focus on: 1. Transitioning the K-­‐12 students 2. Transitioning the MPLS faculty and staff 3. Collaborating with Cedar Valley Schools and planning for new Level II and III clinical experiences 4. Relocating the Child Development Center 5. Ensuring clear, concise and frequent communication to all constituents 6. Removing equipment and assets, and closing the building 7. Archiving academic records and the transfer all records to the UNI Registrar’s Office 8. Ensuring compliance of all MPLS Foundation accounts and communicate with all MPLS donors and friends 9. Determining appropriate commemorative events to celebrate the history of MPLS 10. Developing and implementing a new statewide Research & Development Model DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 1 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT Updates: February 27, 2012: Board of Regents, State of Iowa approved closing MPLS on June 30, 2012. March 20, 2012: Ten Transition Teams appointed to accomplish the goal of transitioning employees and students and closing MPLS. The guiding principle is to complete actions that are in the best interest of students, faculty and staff. March 20, 2012: One transition leadership team is comprised of the (ongoing) leader(s) of each focused team. This leadership team is led by Dwight C. Watson and Brenda Buzynski and meets every Tuesday, from noon to 1:00 p.m. Thus far, the team has met five times. Team Updates: 1. K-­‐12 Student Transition Team Leader: Lyn Countryman Members: Nadene Davidson, Clare Struck, Jim Stichter, Carrie Dieken, Josh Henriksen, and Brenda Buzynski The goal of this team is to ensure a successful transition for K-­‐12 students and their families. March 1, 2012: Parents officially notified MPLS to close June 30, 2012 and if they do not plan to enroll their child in their home school district, a 45 day extension was granted to complete open enrollment forms. March 1, 2012: (ongoing) Parents are sent emails with a transition update and specific topics are addressed, such as transition/ counseling opportunities, open enrollment and transfer of student records information. March 5, 20, 22, 2012: Student-­‐focused transition events were held for families with Cedar Valley school representatives. MPLS administrative team meets to address actions needed to complete the transition and close the school. March 13, 20, 27 April 3, 10, 17, 23, 2012: DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 2 DRAFT DRAFT March 29, April 4, 9, 10, 2012 DRAFT Cedar Valley schools held open houses, and tours for MPLS students and families. Specifically, Cedar Falls schools reported the following attendance at their April 10 open houses: -­‐ 55+ families attended grades K-­‐6 -­‐ 20+ families attended grades 7-­‐9 -­‐ 15+ families attended grades 10-­‐12 Total K-­‐12 Enrollment at MPLS = 345 -­‐ 246 are in Cedar Falls district -­‐ 66 are in Waterloo district -­‐ 10 are in other districts -­‐ 23 are home schooled or pay tuition, etc. North Iowa Cedar League (NICL) notified to not schedule NU/MPLS in grades 7-­‐12 activities after the conclusion of the 2012 baseball season. April 2, 2012: April 11, 2012: Cedar Falls principals and guidance counselors met with MPLS administrators and counselors to work on transition events/opportunities. April 16, 2012: Open Enrollment applications were due to any receiving school district outside of the students’ “home” school district. April 17, 2012: Cedar Valley schools continue to offer personalized (ongoing) visits, student shadowing opportunities, etc. to any new MPLS students and families. Each school also has an orientation/transition program planned for all new students. MPLS Interim Director and H.S. Principal met with April 18, 2012: the MPLS Parent Advisory Council to provide an update on the transition, transferring of student records and the work completed by the MPLS Donors/Nielsen Fund committee. 2. MPLS Employees Transition Team Leader: Ginny Arthur Members: Gloria Gibson, Dwight C. Watson, Michelle Byers, and Brenda Buzynski Terms of the Faculty Master Contract, AFSCME (Merit) contract and Professional & Scientific (P&S), policies are being followed for all employment decisions. We are working to minimize layoffs through attrition and the Early Separation Incentive Program (ESIP). Group and individual appointments are held with employees as needed and all possible measures are being taken to ensure frequent communication with employees. March 1, 2012: DRAFT Per the Faculty Master Contract, four MPLS probation faculty with less than one year of service DRAFT DRAFT 3 were notified their service would conclude at the end of this MPLS school year. DRAFT 3. DRAFT DRAFT March 8 , 2012: March 2012: (ongoing) March-­‐May 7, 2012: April 11, 2012: April 11, 2012: (ongoing) DRAFT Three separate MPLS employee group meetings held. (21-­‐tenured/10-­‐probationary/16-­‐term = 47) Moreover, there are also 7 temporary faculty, 10 Merit and 7 P&S staff for a total of 71 affected. Human Resource Services staff meet individually with Merit and P&S staff and with faculty as requested. Tenured faculty at MPLS offered ESIP. (They have until April 30 to accept ESIP. They have until May 7 to revoke this option.) AFSCME layoff plan was reviewed by the Department of Administration Services (DAS) and permission was given to proceed with ten layoffs. Per the AFSCME contract, employees are bumping into other UNI positions as permissible. Several Merit employees have bumped into other UNI positions and some MPLS faculty and staff have secured new employment opportunities. Transferring of MPLS faculty to positions in the College of Education (or other colleges on campus) is in process. Clinical Field Experiences Transition Team Leaders: Becky Hawbaker, Melissa Heston, Cherin Lee Members: Dwight C. Watson, Mary Herring, Nadene Davidson, Ben Forsyth, Dianna Briggs, Lynne Ensworth, Chad Christopher, Gary Norris, and David Stoakes There are four levels of clinical experiences completed by students in the UNI Teacher Education program. Level I has been completed throughout the Cedar Valley and surrounding school districts, although the majority of these placements were in Waterloo and Cedar Falls. Beginning with the 2012-­‐2013 academic year, fewer Level I experiences will occur in the Cedar Falls schools. Level II and some Level III experiences were completed at MPLS. The Level II experiences will now be completed in Cedar Falls and nearby Waterloo Schools. For Level III, about 50% of the elementary majors have been completing their Level III experience outside of the Cedar Valley schools. Next year, we will expand the number our Level III placements to occur throughout Iowa and the U.S. Level III secondary DRAFT DRAFT 4 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT education majors will complete this experience throughout Iowa and not in the Cedar Valley schools. The significant change beginning fall 2012 is with Level II and some Level III clinical field experiences. The Team has met frequently, has expanded its membership and is meeting with Cedar Falls and Waterloo education leaders as needed to accomplish goals. The immediate goal for fall 2012 is to implement Level II (and some Level III) clinical field experiences in Cedar Falls and nearby Waterloo schools. Currently, these clinical experiences are being completed at MPLS. The six to twelve month goal is to review all clinical field experiences and expand the successful Professional Development School (PDS) model that consists of resident clinical faculty. March 2 012: Team meets weekly to review two models. The (ongoing) Level II experiences were changed from hourly to blocked sections (2 hrs MWF/2.5 hrs TTh for 8 weeks). March 9, 2012: March 26-­‐27, 2012: March 28, 2012: April 2, 2012: April 3, 2012: (ongoing) April 3-­‐20, 2012: April 2012: (ongoing) DRAFT Teacher Education students receive email from Dean, Dwight C. Watson confirming plans for Level II and III field experiences. Met with CF/W schools’ site coordinators. Met with CF/W Superintendents and personnel involved with clinical experiences. Met with MPLS faculty to gather input and complete an in-­‐depth review of a Level II clinical experience and to define the scope of work/learning experience required by a student and a faculty member in Level II. Students register for fall 2012 Level II and III clinical field experiences. Clinical field experience faculty job descriptions and qualifications are defined. -­‐ Details regarding the objectives and goals of Level II and III clinical experiences for students and teachers are ongoing. -­‐ Specifics regarding the role of site coordinators, mentor teachers and field supervisors continues to be solidified. -­‐ The enlisting of Cedar Falls and Waterloo teachers to serve as mentor teachers for Level II and some level III experiences is ongoing. The goal is to have 65 or more of the 75-­‐80 teachers needed for Level II secured by May 25. DRAFT DRAFT 5 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT The 2012-­‐13 academic year will be a transition year. We will continuously review the changes implemented as the new clinical experience faculty begin their new leadership roles. Also, based on feedback during the first year, the continuing role of and the compensation for teachers who serve as Site Coordinators will be reviewed. Likewise, the role of and the compensation for Level I supervisors will be examined this year as we implement a new clinical field experience model. 4. Child Development Center (CDC) Transition Team Leader: Michael Hager Members: Jill Uhlenberg, Tera Weber and Aimee Klostermann The mission of the CDC is to provide a nurturing and safe environment to support learning for CDC children, families and UNI students. The CDC team is to identify a new location at UNI that is in compliance with all accreditation, fire and safety rules and regulations. The team will assure there will be no interruption in care for families. March 2012: Team met weekly to identify a new site (Hillside Courts) and made a recommendation to Dean, Dwight C. Watson on March 27, 2012. The team also recommended that a future CDC be included in renovation plans for Schindler Education Center (SEC). The Dean approved both recommendations. March 29-­‐April 19, 2012: CDC staff, families and the UNI campus were notified the CDC will relocate to the Hillside Court complex to units located at the top of “F” street. The site provides excellent and safe playground areas, secure access to classrooms and good vehicle flow. April 17, 2012: The CDC will be accredited and accommodate the same number of children. An architect has been hired to design the center to best utilize space. 5. Communication Transition Team Leader: Stacey Christensen Members: Lyn Countryman, Dwight C. Watson and Brenda Buzynski The team’s goal is to ensure timely and accurate information is shared with all MPLS employees, students and their families, and with UNI College of Education and Teacher Education faculty and students. DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 6 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT The team maintains MPLS announcements at http://www.uni.edu/program-­‐
changes/malcolm-­‐price-­‐laboratory-­‐school. All media inquiries and stories are responded to in a timely manner. March 1, 2012: Weekly emails are sent to MPLS parents providing (ongoing) updates on the transition. March 1, 2012: March 7, 2012: March 20, 2012: March 21, 2012: March 23, 2012: (ongoing) March 28, 2012: April 16, 2012: MPLS parents notified by email and paper mail of the Board of Regents’ action to officially close MPLS on June 30, 2012. Dean, Dwight C. Watson emailed COE faculty about change, transition and opportunities. Appointment of Ten Transition Teams announced to campus. Ben Allen and Dwight C. Watson provided an update on the transition and the new Research & Development Model at the Board of Regents meeting in Iowa City. -­‐ Teacher Education students were emailed a letter from Dean, Dwight C. Watson reassuring that the plans for Level II and III clinical experiences are in place. -­‐ Dean, Dwight C. Watson emails COE faculty to clarify all of the changes taking place. -­‐ Transition Team website is operational. All emails, messages, etc. are posted to the site to keep all informed. Dean, Dwight C. Watson provided an update on the transition and on the changes to Level II and III clinical experiences to the University Council, a group comprised of 100+ faculty, staff and student leaders. Dean, Dwight C. Watson emailed all of the COE faculty a message on the hiring process. 6. Facility, removal of equipment and assets Leader: Michael Hager Members: Kelly Flege, Morris Mikkelsen, Lyn Countryman, Ginny Arthur, and Brenda Buzynski The goals of this team are to complete an inventory and plan for the removal of equipment and assets. Also, the Center for Disability Studies in Literacy, Language and Learning (which occupies one MPLS classroom) will need to relocate to campus. The DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 7 DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT team will also determine protocol for the relocation, sale and disposal of items, and the closing of the building. March 13, 2012: Complete walk-­‐through of MPLS occurred as the building was vacant. MPLS students, faculty and staff were on Spring Break. March 22, 2012: Team met to review the inventory process, best practices and recommendations from Department of Education. April 4, 2012: The process began to complete an inventory of MPLS (ongoing) items. All work is occurring after 4 p.m. so there is no interruption to instructional time. April 12, 2012: -­‐ Inventory of musical instruments, library items and (ongoing) any items that belong to any other organization or group is being completed. -­‐ Space in Baker Hall is identified as a new location for the Center for Disability Studies in Literacy, Language and Learning. -­‐ Compliance with Board of Regents asset reallocation policy is followed for MPLS items. 7. Archive/Record Retention and Transferring Leader: Lyn Countryman Members: Gerald Peterson, Brenda Buzynski, Dennis Lindner, Phil Patton, Jennifer Suchan, Mary Baumann, Shelley Matthews, Tim McKenna, and Department of Education Representative The goal of this team is to ensure proper protocol and compliance with all federal and state regulations for archiving, transferring and disposal of all student records. March 20, 2012: Conference call with Department of Education officials to ensure compliance with all regulations pertaining to student records (academic, health, IEP, guidance, etc.) Best practices recommended by the Department of Education to be followed. March 25, 2012: At MPLS, nurses, merit staff, special needs teachers, and administrators met to discuss handling all student records. Nurses will place files in orange folders. IEP’s will be in red folders. Students’ permanent record and cumulative file will be transferred to the UNI Registrar’s Office in June. DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 8 DRAFT DRAFT March 26, April 4, 12, 2012: DRAFT MPLS materials were sent to UNI Library for archiving records. March 27, April 17, 2012: MPLS faculty were reminded to deliver archive records to MPLS Interim Director. April 3, 2012: (ongoing) April 13, 2012: April 17, 2012: (ongoing) All student records will be under the purview of the UNI Registrar’s Office. ITS, Registrar’s Office and staff from MPLS are planning for the transfer of work completed in Power School and Project Easier systems that currently house MPLS student records. MPLS staff communicated with AEA 267 staff about handling student IEP records. -­‐ The physical relocation of student (current and historical) records is being planned. -­‐ All grades and student records to be updated on all computer and paper filing systems by June 5. -­‐ Licensing contracts will be verified for renewal and cost. -­‐ Websites will be updated by the Registrar’s Office staff to: 1) Inform MPLS families of the process to request student records. 2) Inform schools of the process to request MPLS student records. Tentatively, the plan is to have the Registrar’s Office administer all student records effective June 6, 2012. 8. MPLS Donors/Nielsen Fund Leader: Bill Calhoun Members: Dwight C. Watson, Lyn Countryman, Nadene Davidson, and Andrea Elliott Goal of the team is to ensure proper use of the Ross A. Nielsen fund which is housed with the UNI Foundation. Also, to communicate with all MPLS donors about the transition and closure, and continue efforts to foster positive relationships with all MPLS alumni. March 2012: (ongoing) DRAFT -­‐ Reviewed all funds in the UNI Foundation which support MPLS. -­‐ Developed a communication plan for all MPLS donors. -­‐ Reviewed all MPLS gift agreements. DRAFT DRAFT 9 DRAFT DRAFT April 3, 2012: (ongoing) Compiling a cumulative list of all donors, donations and memorials. A plan will be developed to communicate with all donors about the future plans for these gifts/donations. April 4-­‐5, 2012: MPLS Interim Director and Foundation staff completed a review of all named MPLS spaces. Foundation staff will help determine a plan to preserve these designations. Plan to connect with any MPLS clubs and organizations to clarify/identify donations. April 17, 2012: (ongoing) DRAFT 9. Commemorative/Celebrate MPLS History Leader: Lyn Countryman Members: Nadene Davidson, Gerald Peterson and Andrea Elliott The team will determine appropriate commemorative events to celebrate MPLS history. Also, the team will work closely with the UNI Foundation to ensure appropriate MPLS awards and recognition memorabilia are stored and/or displayed at a site on campus. April 5, 2012: Identified MPLS named spaces, plaques, trophies, (ongoing) and various donations. UNI Foundation staff will prepare a comprehensive list of the awards and suggest a location on campus to display the awards. MPLS signage, plaques, historical photos, stories, etc. need to be retained. April 2012: (ongoing) -­‐ A celebration for current MPLS students and parents is being planned around final music concerts and an all school picnic. Class programs and an all school picture are being planned as well. -­‐ An alumni celebration is scheduled for June 23, 2012 in conjunction with the Cedar Falls Sturgis Falls Celebration. MPLS/NU class reunions to convene at the Ross A. Nielsen gymnasium for an alumni picnic. 10. R&D new model/Teacher Education Executive Council Leader: Michael Licari and Dwight C. Watson Members Joel Haack, Farzad Moussavi, Philip Mauceri, Cherin Lee, Melissa Heston, Becky Hawbaker, Tony Gabriele, and Rick Vanderwall DRAFT DRAFT DRAFT 10 DRAFT DRAFT The goal of this team is to develop a plan and strategic direction for a Research & Development Model that is collaborative, interdisciplinary and dynamic. The Model is to focus on completing research needed by the state and PK-­‐12 schools. March 22, 2012: April 2012: (ongoing) DRAFT DRAFT A concept paper with details about developing Iowa’s Research and Development center for Education Innovation was discussed. Deliberations occurred on the vision, strategic planning, and of others to consider to provide input on refining this new R&D model. -­‐ Discussions are ongoing for this new R&D Model that would include University faculty, practicing and pre-­‐service teachers, graduate students, partnership school districts, affiliated UNI centers and departments, and nationally prominent education scholars based on a particular project. -­‐ The center will address a much wider range of issues with more robust results by having flexibility in terms of resources applied to a project. It is envisioned that faculty from several universities and education experts would be engaged as needed based on the project. -­‐ The center would also support professional development, model best practices and showcase transformative research. -­‐ The team continues to meet and will eventually engage other statewide and national education leaders. This comprehensive report provides an update on the work completed since March 20, 2012, by the Ten Transition Teams. Please contact Dean, Dwight C. Watson or Brenda Buzynski if you have any questions. A second update report will be completed by May 22, 2012. Thank you. DRAFT DRAFT 11