Vermont Science Teachers Association

Board of Directors Meeting - 3/15/02

Rutland, Vermont

Members Present: Bruce Parks, Kathy Renfrew, Cassie Major, Bob Raskovitz, Gail Hall, David White, and Gay Craig

Item: Vermont Science Initiative (VSI)

The VSI professional development program created for elementary and middle school science teachers did not receive the requested Eisenhower grant. This program is sponsored by the Vermont State Colleges and headed by Liz Dolci. It is a collaboration of the colleges’ education and science departments and received 32 applicants. The hope is that the money will be found and that the VSI will begin this summer as scheduled. The high school standards-based units for inquiry science with Gail Hall were also denied a grant. The board needs to find out how Eisenhower grants are awarded. In the future the college-school district partnership grants will replace the Eisenhower grants for science and math.

Action: Kathy will write a letter to Doug Walker concerning this matter.

Item: VT-NEA Fall Conference Workshops

We have received the description of the new venue and criteria from Roni Donnenfeld, our liaison to Laurie Huse of the VT-NEA. The Essex Exposition facility (fairgrounds) has two large rooms and 2 small rooms available. These rooms seem to accommodate speakers rather than workshops so we are in a quandary as to what we could offer on the Thursday. The VT-NEA has agreed to use our presentation guidelines for science workshops and presentations at their conference. The deadline for presenters and workshops is May 1, 2002.

Action: Gay will notify Roni Donnenfeld, Claudia Vanderborght, David Ely, Judy Allard, Christine Massey, and Shelley Snyder of the new venue.

Action: Bruce will send a presentation proposal to Kathy this week.

Item: Pathways Conference

Pam Quinn of VISMT and Kathy have received requests for presentation proposals for the Fall 2003 conference. The board needs to know if VISMT is willing to continue our co-sponsorship of this event. One idea for a workshop is a how to use the tools that are available from the National Research Council and the American Association for the Advancement of Science to help teachers develop standards-based units and assessments. We need to develop our theme and strands as well as finalize a location in the northwestern quadrant of the state at the next meeting then we can send out the application forms for presentation proposals.

Action: Bruce will collect the presentation proposals. He will send the information he has researched about possible places for the Pathways Conference to Pam Quinn at VISMT.

Item: VT Academy of Arts and Sciences Board

We have a request from the VT Academy of Arts and Sciences for a member from our Board to join their Board. This member would act as a liaison between the two Boards.

Action: Cassie will place a notice in the VSTA Spring newsletter asking for a volunteer from our membership.

Item: Membership Coordinator

Roberta Whitmore has notified the Board of her resignation as membership coordinator. We are very grateful for all of Roberta and Roy’s work in creating a database of members and designing and producing the membership directory. They have given so much to the membership over the years.

Action: Cassie will officially thank Roberta and get the membership database.

Action: David will investigate the use of state Presidential Award monies for publishing labels and the directory.

Action: Gay will do the upkeep on the database.

Item: VSTA Newsletter — Send items for publication to Cassie ASAP for the spring edition.

Next Meeting: 5:00 PM, Friday, April 12, 2002 at the VISMT office in Montpelier.

Submitted by Gay Craig, Secretary