Present: Clinton Adams, Victoria Armstrong, Nancy Barr, Rhonda Burnett, Cynthia Clegg, Barb Dater, Gwen Grant, Jackie Hall, Harold Hawkins, Joseph Hines, Rosa James, Pat Jordon, Linda Lollis, Cynthia Kupka, Mike McKelley, David Pendergrass, George Postma, Kay Postma, Carol Quinn, Helen Ragsdale, Linda Ransom, Susan Rice, Barbara Schell, Sandra Smith, Brad Taylor, Reginald Taylor, Deborah Zaroor

Ms. Ragsdale, KCMSD Board Member, called the meeting to order. Copies of the minutes of the April 11 Task Force meeting and the Mission of the LCPA Task Force were made available. Dr. Hines, Deputy Superintendent; Ms. Clegg, Human Resources Director; and Ms. Lollis, Executive Director for School Leadership, were introduced. Changes to the agenda were solicited. Items of old business were noted Committee Reports: Academics: Ms. Kupka reported that LCPA has received accolades from for high scores on the Missouri Assessment Program; for being the only secondary school which would receive state accreditation, if schools were accredited individually; and for the highest average ACT scores in the area.. The mentoring program is functioning to decrease the number of academic demissions and approximately 95% of the graduates enter college. The 2000-2001 budget reflects the maintenance of adequate teacher staffing to enable LCPA to offer an entire spectrum of IB courses. The results for the April Stanford Achievement Test, 9th edition (SAT-9), tests have been received. Additional students have scored at or above the 60th range in reading & math needed to qualify for admission to LCPA. SAT-9 results have not been disaggregated by individual schools yet.
Mr. Adams (co-chair) expressed continuing concern regarding the deficiency of technology which has been under-funded at LCPA. A technology plan & request for $233,000 in computer hardware & software has been submitted. It is projected that LCPA will need 150 pieces of new hardware in addition to the two new labs of 25 computers each to be installed in the high & middle schools. LCPA magnet budget funds have been used for personnel costs to offer a complete complement of IB courses. Uncertainty was expressed regarding the time-frame for implementing the district�s Technology Plan. Dr. Hines will investigate the technology situation and report back to the Task Force. Dr. Hines inquired regarding the level of funding for training IB teachers. Mr. Hawkins stated that all teachers who are instructing in IB classes have receive IB training. The current operating budget allows for sending three teachers to one-week IB training sessions during the summer. The teachers do not receive IB certification Some teachers have received the training through 2-day weekend seminars which are designed as supplemental training. Mr. Hawkins relayed past problems with timely payment for registration fees to ensure enrollment for teacher training New co-chairs need to be selected for this committee as Ms. Kupka is leaving the district�s employment and Mr. Adams� daughter is graduating from LCPA.

Historical Buildings: Mr. Taylor reported that two applications are on the docket of the Landmarks Commission. Historic designation is being sought for the high school building. He reported that the Chapter President for the national chapter of the Lincoln High School/R. T. Coles Alumni Association has written a letter of support and encouraged task force members to send letters of support for this designation to the Commission. A Lincoln/R. T. Coles reunion is planned for July 20-23. Community Resources: Ms. Jordan hopes to solicit community support for LCPA technology needs once the district�s has provided as much computer technology as possible. Ms. Jordan has met with Mr. Hawkins to determine priorities and issues for community involvement in ancillary activities.

School Advisory Committee (SAC): Ms. Postma introduced Ms. Hall, the newly elected SAC Chair. She summarized the SAC programs offered to parents including a parent workshop, discussions with district administrators, student performances, recruitment pot luck suppers for middle and high school prospective students, and presentations regarding planning for college admission and expenses. She reported that the middle school has been approved for Title 1 funds with will provide some funding for parent involvement.

Principals� Remarks: Dr. Schell reported that the number of 5th grade students qualifying for LCPA admission has increased from 114 to 298 based upon the most recent SAT-9 test results. Letters of congratulations have been sent to all qualifying students along with an invitation to attend LCPA summer school. Mr. Hawkins reported that 35 students took the ITBS or TAP test to qualify for admission to LCPA. The marketing plan to encourage enrollment has been initiated with 40 billboards, a television commercial which is appearing 30 times each week, radio commercials, and advertisements in local newspapers. A high school enrollment of 550 is being projected with 175 Freshmen. Dr. Schell expressed concern regarding the need for air conditioning in the middle school building and requested that LCPA middle school be given priority consideration for air conditioning this summer. She has call 911 emergency assistance four times this spring for students suffering from asthma attacks. Two more students had asthma attacks this morning, but it was not necessary to call 911. George Postma, M. D., concurred that the situation of excessive heat is a serious medical consideration for students suffering from asthma. Mr. Hawkins reported that the Facilities Division has all major renovations scheduled for 2001 to allow time to bid contract and purchasing arrangements. Needs included in the renovation plan continue to increase. Mr. Hawkins reported that 25 computers have been installed at the high school and an additional 25 are to be installed at the middle school this summer. These new computers will be used during summer school, computer courses will be added to next year's curriculum, students can submit on-line college applications, and use test preparation software. High school graduation will be May 30 at 7:00 p.m. in the RLDS auditorium. Students have been instructed in proper decorum & behavior to be displayed during the ceremony.

Old Business: Dr. Schell, Associate Principal at the middle school, and Mr. Tate & Ms. Gilbert, Vice Principals, are leaving the district�s employment. A committee of teachers, administrators & parents has met with Human Resources personnel to discuss the advertisement and recruitment procedures for these positions. KCMSD Policy No. SCH 4005 sets forth that "SAC representatives shall be included as members of the interview team in selection of the principal at the school and the SAC shall have one vote." In the past teachers have also been involved in the interview team for principals. Ms. Ragsdale decline to have the Task Force involved in the selection procedure for administrators & suggested that the committees continue to work with Ms. Clegg, Human Resources Director. An equivalency analysis was to be conducted to compare test results for SAT-9 and TerraNova to ITBS to determine the correlation of the scores. Ms. Kupka reported that this analysis has been performed and that the results may be obtained from Ms. Mickey Seever, Evaluations & Assessment Director. The early start times, 7:10 a.m. for the middle school & 7:20 a.m. for the high school, have caused concern regarding student safety, academic performance and competitive marketing for LCPA. Dr. Hines reported that the total bell-time configuration and transportation needs for the district are being evaluated with plans to present a proposal for revisions to the Board this summer. He expressed concern regarding adverse effect in student performance. The possibility of advancing the dates for renovations on items that are considered critical by the principals was to be explored. Ms. Ragsdale plans to discuss the renovation time-frame with Mr. Carl VunCannon, Facilities Director.

New Business: Mrs. Ragsdale ask Mr. Adams to form a committee to outline short- and long-range strategic plans for LCPA. Concerns were expressed about replacing quality teachers & administrators, continued adequate staffing to support the college preparatory theme & the IB program, the level of Board & district support and commitment toward LCPA, and LCPA�s ability to compete effectively with charter & private schools. Ms. Clegg reported that the teacher recruiting and retention system as well as compensation philosophies and teacher training techniques are being evaluated. Teacher shortage is a nationwide problem. Ms. Grant, Urban League of GKC Executive Vice President, reported that over 50 LCPA students were inducted into the Thurgood Marshall Achievers Society on May 13 during Achievement Matters 2000 which was co-sponsored by the Urban League & the Congress of National Black Churches. She presented Dr. Schell, Mr. Hawkins, & Mrs. Ragsdale with "Achievement Matters" tee shirts. Mrs. Ragsdale distributed information forms to be completed by new members of the Task Force .

The next Task Force meeting will be:
Tuesday, July 25, at 12:00 noon in the Board of Education Building, 1211 McGee St., Blue Room -- 10th Floor

Submitted by:
Kay Postma