Present: Nancy Barr, Harold Hawkins, Rosa James, Bonnie McKelvy, Kay Postma, Helen Ragsdale, Linda Ransom, M. C. Richardson, Corey Scholes, Cheri Shannon, Reginald Taylor

The meeting was called to order at 12:30 p.m. by Mrs. Ragsdale.

Committee Reports:

Academic Achievement: Mrs. Barr, chair, presented enrollment information for LCPA from 1985 through 2000. The schools� student enrollment reflects an increase until 1999 when charter schools opened in Kansas City and the District lost state accreditation. She reported on the committees� November meeting during which data from recent MAP test results was reviewed. Even with an overall trend toward improving test scores, racial and gender gaps persist. The committee is attempting to identify strategies for performance gap intervention. The research on education tends to document the performance gap without offering specific classroom strategies. Some of the solutions used by other schools are counter to KCMSD policy such as the scheduling of class days, having teachers remain with the same students for up to three years, and different styles of testing. Ms. Shannon discussed types of professional development which are to be decided by the school site. She offered to seek proven effective interventions from research, particularly for LCPA students, disseminate educational strategies, and continue to work with the principals on staff development initiatives. Ms. Scholes recommended Mosaic of Thought by Leeve & Zimmerman, which focuses on higher level thinking skills and strategies specifically known to be beneficial to minority students. Another source that was recommend was They cannot teach what they don�t know.

School Advisory Committee: Mrs. Postma, co-chair, reported on the success of the middle school recruitment dinner and relayed plans for a similar recruitment pot-luck dinner to be held on February 1 at 6:30 p.m. for parents of prospective high school students. Several publicity strategies were discussed. Plans are being developed for a meeting which would enlighten parents regarding the various test LCPA students will be taking in the spring, with an emphasis on the MAP tests. A reception for parents is being planned to recognize honor roll students.

Alumni - Historical Designation: Mr. Taylor reported that a hearing date before the Landmarks Commission for the historic designation for the high school building has not been determined. The Landsmarks Commission has increased their staffing in an attempt to eliminate the backlog of applications.

Principals� Reports:
Ms. Scholes provided an update on south campus activities. The middle school students competed in the Knowledge Master Bowl in December. They placed first in Kansas City, second in Missouri, and 68th in the world. Almost 1,000 schools competed. The students will be competing again on February 3. The District�s first "Teaching in Excellence Award" was awarded in November to Gerald Buss as Teacher of the Month and Alicia Glover as Student of the Month. The recent SAT 9 results were reviewed. The median grade equivalent scores for Reading & Math are as follows:

Grade	Reading Score:	Math Score:
6	8.3	8.2
7	9.0	10.6
8	12.7	11.9

Approximately 500 people attended the aforementioned pot-luck recruitment dinner in December. 118 qualifying applications were received that evening and an additional 20 applications were received as of January 3. Any additional students who qualified from their spring SAT-9 scores will be contacted. The admissions test will be administered in February in the middle school cafeteria for any students who wish to attend LCPA but have not qualified on previous standardized tests. The goal is to have 600 students enrolled in the middle school. Ms. Scholes has been granted Adjunct status at UMKC. She will be teaching a Literacy class to the LCPA staff starting January 24. The class will cover the District�s Literacy Initiatives. The objectives for the class are to teach teachers to help students become better readers and writers, and make texts meaningful to students. The teachers will receive graduate credit for the class. Noncertified personnel taking the course will receive undergraduate credit. Ms. Scholes will be teaching a literacy class to the sixth grade students. A Principal�s Literacy Circle will be meeting every Tuesday during seventh hour, beginning January 16. Holes, a book by Louis Sacher, will be utilized to model Literacy strategies for the staff. In an effort to attract new teachers to the District, LCPA has set up a partnership with William Jewel College. Two student teachers in science will be at LCPA next semester.

Mr. Hawkins reported that preparing students for the MAP test is currently the primary focus. Staff are meeting to outline strategies with math and science being the focus since these subjects were weak points in last years MAP test results. Currently 81 seniors qualify for the College Preparatory Certificate based upon their ACT scores and overall cumulative GPA. Class ranking will not be established until two weeks before graduation to encourage students to strive for academic achievements to increase their class ranking. Plans for dispensing honor cords to graduating seniors were outlined.
The location of summer school for both campus was discussed. Approximately 300-400 students in grades 6-12 are expected to enroll in summer school. Both buildings are scheduled to receive extensive renovations over the summer. The summer session provides opportunities for LCPA students to improve study skills, complete foundation classes and complete course work to meet LCPA graduation requirement standards. LCPA�s continuing need for technology was discussed. Concern was express regarding the plans of the Information Technology Division to do more technology assessments when repeated assessments have been performed and LCPA�s technology needs are well documented. The most pressing need is for computer hardware. The high school has one computer lab which has been designated for use by senior students. This lab is being heavily utilized. There is a need for establishing additional computer labs as outlined in the District�s Technology Plan. The demise of the Zapme company leaves a void for Internet access in the libraries. The computer hardware that Zapme had provided does not have hard drives nor CD ROM capabilities. Ms. McKelvy reported that the District is applying for $49 million in E-rate funding for cabling and switches. The Information Technology Division is making plans to repeat the process of seeking bid proposals from vendors for the purchase of hardware following the settlement of the litigation by a vendor. Mr. Hawkins distributed the LCPA portion of a recent evaluation of the district. The report was compiled by education faculty members from Roosevelt University in Chicago, and was requested by Arthur Benson, the plaintiff�s attorney. The report is part of the plaintiffs� efforts to monitor the district and may be used in the March hearing on the desegregation case. Remarks on Superintendent: Mrs. Ragsdale reported that the School Board of Directors will be reviewing Superintendent Demps� contract. She plan to request that the Board begin negotiations on a two year extension of his contract, which expires this summer.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:35 p.m.

The next Task Force meeting will be:
Tuesday, March 13, at 12:00 noon in the Board of Education Building,
1211 McGee St., Blue Room -- 10th Floor

Submitted by:

Kay Postma