VSTA Board of Directors Meeting

June 25,2001

Waterbury, Vermont

9:00 AM

Members present: Dave White, Judy Corey, Russ Agne, Gail Hall, Kathy Renfrew, Claudia Vanderborght, Cassie Major, Gay Craig

Guest: Aimee Stephenson

1. Old Business:
1. David White announced the Presidential Awardees for this year. In the middle school /high school category they are Sandra Barry, Whitcomb M.S. and Jonathan Rice, Woodstock M.S. In the elementary school category they are Patricia Gutierrez, Chester-Andover E.S., Heather Best, Shoreham E.S., and Teri Haines, Bethel E.S.

The board asked David White to investigate having a joint recognition with the math teachers association of Presidential Awardees at the annual banquet held during the NEA fall conference.

2. The VISMT / DOE sponsored list serve for science teachers statewide is working very well in all but a few schools. At this time there are 240 schools participating and approximately 30 schools in the process of joining. This list serve will enable all science teachers in Vermont to receive pertinent information about professional development opportunities and science education in a timely fashion.
3. The new VT-PASS Science Assessment Blueprint is at the printers and will be distributed to Vermont schools and through workshops.
4. We have had no news from Ken Nicholson concerning his work on environmental issues in Bulgaria. It is assumed that he is in the process of getting settled in Bulgaria and developing the program. When he is able to begin he will contact Judy Corey or David White.

5. Cassie plans to send out a VSTA newsletter in July.

2. New Business:
1. The board developed some general criteria for screening standards-based workshops for professional development opportunities directed at science teachers. David White will complete the final draft and individuals will work on specific criteria for possible types of workshops: mentoring, assessment, inquiry learning, current research, experiential knowledge, portfolio development, and technology integration. It was decided that presenters would be asked to draft a brief abstract of their workshop topic, activities, and outcomes to be posted on the VSTA web page as a service to our members.
2. Our lunch break began with the sharing of science books we had recently read. Members shared the following titles. Russ Agne shared One Lonely Sea Horse by Sexton Freymann, Undaunted Courage by Stephen A. Ambrose, A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, and Woebegone Boy by Garrison Keeler. Kathy Renfrew shared Surely You’re Kidding Mr. Feynman, by Richard Feynman and Shipwrecked On the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong. Kathy also recommended a visit to the Ellis Island Park Liberty Science Center. David White shared A Feeling for the Organism by Evelyn Keeler, The End of Science by John Horgan, and Galileo’s Daughter by Dava Sobel. Judy Corey shared Voodoo Science by Robert Park and Chemical Connections by Kerry K. Karukstis. Cassie Major shared the I-Max movie "Amazing Caves" currently playing at the Vieux Montreal I-Max and Science at the Extreme by Peter Lane Taylor. Gail Hall shared the novel Eucalyptus by Murray Bail and A Fly for the Prosecution. Gay Craig shared Origins of Life by Freeman Dyson and Solving Crimes by Ron Fridell.
3. Kathy Renfrew gave board members an introduction and handout explaining the format and functions of the Maine Math and Science Alliance web site. Members will investigate and report their experiences with this web site at our meeting in August.
3. Pathways Conference 2001
1. The board was greatly saddened to learn that our friend and colleague, Aimee Stephenson, will be moving to Colorado at the end of the summer. Aimee has been a strong and extremely capable supporter of standards-based science education in Vermont in her position at VISMT. Aimee will be working with BSCS on standards-based science education. We wish her all the best in her new endeavors and we know that Colorado and BSCS are very fortunate indeed.
2. Sarah Bancroft will be the new partner at VISMT for the Pathways Conference 2001. The conference will be held in Rutland at the Holiday Inn on Route 7 December 3, 2001. Work to be done before school begins in August includes sending a letter with workshop criteria to possible presenters, the brochure for attendees, and engaging a keynote speaker. Dave and Aimee will meet to finalize the details. The complete board will meet with Aimee August 10 at the VISMT offices in Montpelier at 8:30 AM to complete our planning.
4. Next Board Meeting: