June 22-24, 2005 Attending: Also in attendance for portions of the meetings: 1. Conversation with John Goodlad John reflected on his health issues over the past year and related that the support he receives is appreciated and needed. He used that observation to comment on the NNER, noting that a self- making organization provides help and support when any one part of the network is in need. He discussed the IEI’s role in conducting research and noted that it was formed as a not-for-profit organization in order to do work that is difficult to do through a university. He also noted that the NNER’s quest to produce research is needed and difficult. University faculty research involvement depends on personal research agendas and cross-institutional collaborative research is not often successfully developed because each researcher has a research agenda that will prevail over collaborative efforts. He noted that the research must be related to that for which there is interest in the settings. He posed the fundamental research question regarding the NNER work as follows: What do we do in the classroom, school, district, and university to promote democratic practices? He noted that the NNER must assess whether we have the people needed to carry out the research in the individual settings. Nick Michelli added that we must be in a position to defend what we do and the difference it makes by providing a blueprint on the work we do that is derived from the principles we hold. In discussions on the exploration of the NNER becoming an independent 501(c) 3, John encouraged the group to proceed with that possibility with careful deliberation and to take steps to ensure that the organization is in a position to be successful as an independent entity and not to seek such a change prematurely. Planning and activity that includes financial independence and stability to employ a full time director, deepen cross-setting work, and provide ongoing leadership development were given as examples necessary to the transition. NNER annual report John Goodlad observed that the most recent annual reports were the most useful he has read and that the NNER should pluck out the evidence of the hard work being done and the progress being made and use the information for a foundation grant to further the work. This is a strategy for the network to become truly self-renewing and self-making. He left us with the following thoughts for the NNER, to ensure that it is a strong self-making network where settings support one another.
2. Budget The executive board asked for more detailed accounting for the NNER budget. The request included cost breakdowns for travel, meetings, initiatives, and support staff. Itemized line items for the income were also requested. The more detailed spread sheet was requested for two yearly meetings, the governing council at AACTE and the governing council at the NNER conference. Action: Ann Foster and Dick Clark will meet with Paula McMannon to determine the level of itemization that is possible, and the board must be clear about what level of detail it needs and why. Add line items to the income that separates sources of income, i.e., McGraw Hill advisory committee contributions. Action: Ann Foster will provide a narrative for budget expenditures that accompany the more specific budget information, i.e., the web page development. Action: In relation to the IEI/NNER discussion and the budget implications for writing foundation and federal grants, the board agreed to explore the costs and benefits of the NNER becoming a 501(c)3 in several states to use as a point of discussion. The reports will be completed for the October 2005 governing council meeting. Carol Wilson will examine CO regulations. The executive board gave preliminary approval of the budget with the following amendment. Increase the operating budget from the proposed $117,500 to $120,000 for the upcoming year. The amended budget follows:
Action: The board also will take a motion to the governing council to use the funds donated to the NNER by the McGraw Hill series advisory committee to be used for support for settings, including travel expenses by NNER colleagues in other settings as requested by settings to renew efforts or strengthen commitment. These funds will be used as determined by the executive director in consultation with the governing council chair. Past Governing Council Chair participation in the executive board Carol Wilson suggested that she and Nick Michelli share the past chair role in the executive board work as she is retiring and might not be able to attend all the meetings. This suggestion was made because the next chair, to be elected in October, 2005, will serve in a time of major transition for the NNER; connecting past work with future vision will require support from the founding members. Action: The executive board agreed that the governance document does not allow for an additional member of the board to be added. Therefore, the group agreed that Nick Michelli will be asked to attend the executive board meetings as a contributing guest rather than a voting member. Funds allocated from the NNER operating budget will be used to finance this, as well as other needs determined by the executive director in consultation with the governing council chair, as she sees the need. 3. 2005 Conference The executive board had a phone conference with Bruce Field to get an update on the 2005 conference. Carol Wilson will be provided time at the beginning and the end of the conference to talk about the NNER and its future. John Goodlad will do a closing conversation session with the conference participants to include questions and discussion on provocative topics related to the AED. The governing council will have one meeting at beginning of the conference scheduled for three hours. This longer meeting is designed to provide continuity and time for interaction in response to feedback regarding last year’s meeting structure that included two shorter meetings, one at the beginning of the conference and one at the end. The governing council will elect a new chair at this meeting. Anyone interested in nominating a current governing council member for the position is encouraged to do so. Nominees are asked to submit a one paragraph biography that includes their skills related to this leadership role, a short description of involvement in the NNER, and their vision for the NNER’s future. This material should be submitted to Carol Wilson, cwilson387@earthlink.net by September 19, 2005. The job description will be in the July NNER newsletter and on the web page. Tripartite Council Meeting at the conference Tripartite Chairs did preliminary planning for the tripartite meeting. The annual reports will be used at the meeting to help participants learn from one another and use the collective results to guide NNER goals. The reports will be 2-5 pages in length using the same template as was used last year. The reports will include updates on the NNER goals related to research, collaboration with other organizations and groups, policy work, and advancements related to the equity report. And settings will have an opportunity to include local initiatives, discussing accomplishments and/or challenges. The tripartite leaders will start the meeting with an overview of the AED and the tripartite council’s role in advancing the work of the NNER. The College of Education tripartite group will elect a new chair at the annual conference. The A&S and school chairs will serve one more year. Sitting tripartite chairs can run for re-election. Governing Council Meeting Materials will be distributed prior to the meeting; the google group will provide opportunities for discussion prior to the meeting. Action: The executive director will give a year-end summary of activities to the governing council. 4. 2006 Conference The 2006 conference will be co hosted by Wright State University and Miami of Ohio to be held on October 19-21, 2006 with the 18th planned for tripartite council and other pre-conference meetings. Greg Bernhardt and Sally Lloyd are co-chairing the planning process. 5. NNER Potential Work Document
6. McGraw Hill Series The series is progressing well. First manuscripts are due a year from December. Nick Michelli noted that proposals for individual texts are still needed. 7. Dispositions in Teacher Education The article in the New York Sun, “‘Disposition’ Emerges as Issue at Brooklyn College” was discussed. The article indicated that the use of dispositions as a measure of teacher candidate performance was under scrutiny. The executive board discussed the need for higher education leaders to have the courage to support social justice and educating teachers who can work effectively with all students. The executive board also discussed the importance of the NNER work related to nurturing pedagogy to ensure that we support teaching and learning in an atmosphere of open discussion that includes multiple points of view, encourages questioning assumptions while including multiple sources of information. 8. Governance Document Update Greg Bernhardt reviewed the NNER governance document, and it was noted that that document is not written as by-laws but rather as a guide for activity, expectations, and structures to support the Network governance. He updated the document to reflect the operation of the Network and include the amendments adopted by the governing council. The updated document is available on the NNER web page. 9. Communications Update At the request of the executive board, Ann Foster examined options for improved electronic communication for the NNER as electronic communication is the NNER’s most widely used link among the settings. The first step in this process is the updated NNER web page that has ongoing support for changes, announcements, and links to sources of information. Action: Ann Foster will explore next steps on possible improvements in the NNER, the data base to allow messages to go to groups, sorting by groups for specific information, and articles and materials to be sent to specific groups. Services that update lists and organize subgroups will be researched. Gay Campbell, the communications officer of Everett School District is providing technical assistance to this process. Other communication activities requested by the executive board include: continue to use and increase the number of email blasts. Send the NNER newsletter electronically to larger groups. Setting contacts must ensure that local communication processes are clearly established, so that setting members know from whom they will receive NNER materials and updates. Action: Carol Wilson will send out two to three questions for the executive board members to use in their contacts with the governing council members. Action: Executive board members will contact governing council members to get input on the agenda, annual report, meeting preparation as a first step on broadening communication responsibilities and connections. 10. Future Meetings The executive board will meet at the NNER conference on Sunday, October 30, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The December executive board meeting is scheduled for December 2, 3, 4, 2005. Meeting Adjourned. |
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