VSTA Board of Directors Meeting

February16, 2001

VISMT offices, Dillingham Hall, Montpelier VT

Members present: Kathy Renfrew, Judy Corey, Russ Agne, David White, Cassie Major, and Gay Craig.

Guests present: Jen Baer, Martha McBride, Jane DiLena, and Jennifer Kempf.

The VSTA Board meeting was called to order at 5:00 PM by president David White and at his recommendation we began with our guest presenters.

Jen Baer, the Field Educational Coordinator of the NWF for New England, gave an overview of the materials and programs available to teachers. She explained the process for hosting or participating in the workshops that she delivers throughout New England and the journals i.e. National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Big Backyard, and Wild Animal Babies for students. Habitat and Endangered Species, Northern Forests, and Schoolyard Habitats are examples of the workshops and programs highlighted; all are accompanied by curriculum packs aligned to the standards. After our discussion we determined that the VSTA could best support NWF educational programs by helping Jen get the word out about her free workshops to Vermont science teachers and perhaps by sponsoring a workshop.

Vermont Science Fair (April 7,2001 9:00 AM to 12noon at Norwich University)

Martha McBride informed us that there were two hundred participants from fourteen to fifteen schools at the last VT science fair. Most of the participants are from grades seven to ten, the organizers of the fair would like to see an increase in participants in grades eleven and twelve. The VT Principals Association sponsors this event and guidelines are sent to each principal for dissemination to teachers. Workshops are given at local conferences to train teachers to participate and support interested students. After our discussion we decided that we could include information and comments by past participants in our VSTA newsletter and on our VSTA web page.

Vermont Educators’ Best Practices Conference (April 4, 2001, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM at VTC)

Jane DiLena is a consultant in the office of professional development at Vermont Technical College in Randolph. In this capacity she is coordinating the spring best practices conference for VT educators. The goal of this work, which is funded by the Carl D. Perkins Tech Prep Grant, is to better prepare students in the areas of math and science for technical college and careers. Ideas that are being investigated to further the goal are posting lesson plans on the web and creating a course or courses taught by VTC professors for VT high school teachers that would integrate the high level math and science skills needed in technical careers. Jane also informed the board about the VT State Colleges’ Career Academies Project which allows students in our tech centers to take computer science and math college courses. Our discussion centered on ways to get the word about these opportunities to all VT science teachers and on ways to link these various web sites to our VSTA web site. This would enable VT teachers to access all information about learning opportunities through one portal.

The minutes and budget were accepted.

David gave a brief report on the progress of the PASS test thus far.

• Russ Agne reported on the many new additions to the VSTA web site. There are more links and some reviewed science activities in a share — a - thon format..
• Zooey Zullo has declined board membership.

• David congratulated board members Judy Corey and Kathy Renfrew. Judy is the high school and Kathy is the elementary science Presidential Awardee.
• Ronnie Donnenfeld will attend our April meeting.

Cassie Major will share her photos of her Arizona trip. Russ Agne encourages us all to strongly support the technical education initiatives. Judy Corey has a new phone tree ready. David White thanked our presenters.

Next Meeting: March 9, 2001 in Rutland (let Judy know your dinner plans, please.)

Submitted by Gay Craig, Secretary