Attendees: Robin Rodar (SCDS), Theresa Chavez (SFIS: Academics), Clyde Romero (SFIS: ITEST), Yvonne Haven (SCCS), Joe Robledo (IES), James Whitman (SFPES), Brenda Kofahl (LES), Anya Dozier Enos (SFIS: ITEST/NMTC), Pauline Panana (TEMS), Bart Stevens (NMS), Reanna Albert (NMS), Benjamin Atencio (NMN), Pat Kessler (TDS), Pat Sandoval (SFIS: P&E), Dolly Naranjo Neikrug (SIDS), Abby Arquero (TODS). 11:30 AM: four Hungarians; Visitor Coordinator; Edwina Aguilar (SFPES)

9:20 AM (Accident on I-25 caused traffic jam, which delayed start of meeting)

Invocation

• Meeting opened in a traditional manner

Welcome and Introductions

• All know each other.

Agenda Approval

• Add to Items from the floor: Gift for Richard for his return to SCCS. Update on ANA. Battle of the Books. Spelling Bee.
• Motion by Pauline Panana to approve changes above. Second by Robin Rodar. All approved.
• Motion by Brenda Kofahl to approve agenda with changes. Second by Yvonne Haven. All approved.

Host School Showcase

• Joe: Design for new school based on Isleta culture. Boze sound system allows for clarity for communication system. Tribal administration gave input, ideas over several years. We, as principals, want to involve everyone and have everyone's input. Facilities management gave the minimum specifications, but with tribal support, school received maximum -- each classroom designed for 50 kids, school designed for 411, now at 215, more enrolled starting this summer.
• Dr. Mark Condon: I come out every two weeks: literacy coach to support faculty in on-going professional development. Agenda: work together to improve AYP to create culture of reading in school and community. Kids and teachers making books, sending books home with primary and Headstart kids. Assure all kids enter kindergarten with experience with books. Putting 100 books in classrooms for each level. This way everyday every child gets a book read to them; trains the ear to reading; train teachers to read with action and expression. Sending books home, kids writing books and publishing by giving them to someone they care about. Strong faculty getting stronger and supporting culture of community.
• Dolly: How do you teach teachers to read with expression and gestures to engage children?
• Mark: I wrote a book on it, Lively Reading, which is on the Website: http://bie.realelibrary.com . I model for teachers to train here. Demonstration. Watch and give feedback: teacher: me; me: teachers.
• Joe: New facility, don't want it to be just a new coat. It is everyone -- community, teachers -- working to improve the inside. Changing attitudes and how people think -- our challenge as administrators. How do you bring the motivation? These are questions we ask each other as administrators and help each other out. Communication is the bottom line. All staff have bie.edu emails (bus drivers, cooks, everyone). Do email postings. I’m just the coach. Ms. Lesky has done outstanding work for school in technology.
• Maureen: Planning infrastructure and programs for both administration and education. Worked with venders. Have regular network, wireless, and video conferencing for PD with universities; students visit other schools virtually. IT phone system connected with video. 200 brand new HP computers with Office 2007. Getting website up with teachers creating their own web pages. Welcome to come into the lab to see/ experience. I teach all classes twice a week, forty-five minutes for each class. Full access to all programs. We have SmartBoards in the lab and in upper grades.
• JC: Still using Waterford?
• Maureen: Yes.
• Robin: Design your own curriculum, how many classrooms?
• Maureen: There are 15 classrooms: 4 kindergarten and almost every grade has two classrooms. For curriculum I use ISTE standards and collaborate with teachers’ curricula. Some kids just got back from field trip to Mesa Verde, 1500 pictures for kids to share and do PP.
• Joe: Have three channels of Direct TV in every classroom through monitors. Decided which channels to have. Capability to make announcements and then everyone can see me. Free to schools: satellite, receivers, installation -- we paid for other additions. Conference room has all 200+ channels. Sensors automatically control climate, check for carbon dioxide. We invited and are working with Headstart to make books to support literacy. It helps us when the kids enter kindergarten. Nike was sponsor and laid down artificial turf. Biggest challenge: duty coverage in larger space for kids', teachers', parents' safety. Helpful to have video cameras. Contact me for cost of system, etc.
• Robin: What process do we go through to have our school board and tribe visit your school?
• Joe: Just call me and I'll set it up.
• Robin: Nice baseball field, do you use it just for your school?
• Joe: The community has T-ball here, but everyone signs waiver that we aren’t' responsible for accidents, etc. For conservation, two water tanks hold building runoff and irrigate the campus.
• Old school was built in 1932. Tribe will use it for administrative space.
• Mr. Stevens: Tribe must use for ‘638 programs.

Steering Committee's Recommendations

• Isleta Elementary offered to host Rally.
• CENAC needs to set a date and approve the agenda. Recommendations for dates include October 5, 12, and 19.
• Pat K: Isleta is too far away to send staff from Taos.
• Anya: One idea was to send just teaching staff, teachers and aides, and have others do PD on site. Other ideas include having some strands for some non-teaching staff. Bus Drivers training will continute.
• Pauline: Staff pursuing degree, want to see them encouraged to attend Rally.
• JC: In terms of the suggestion for Lourdes to train business techs, there is a difference between grant schools and BIE.
• Anya: Nine out of the 12 CENAC schools are BIE.
• Bart: The Rally is a place to bring together all the different staffs. All or none, is my idea.
• Anya: Given that philosophy, should we also try to include Taos?
• Reanna: Video conferencing could be used to include Taos.
• Pat K: Taos doesn’t have the capabilities.
• Discussion on using UNM-Taos distance learning.
• JC: I have another Perspective on Rally: We have a lot of time reserved for PD at beginning of school year to make AYP. I was disappointed with the Rally this year; it didn't have a whole day of activities. It was two-thirds of a day; kind of a waste of time. I enjoyed the SFA presentation and Lynanne's Special Ed presentation. Thought I would hear more, see more. Was let down when Rally basically ended at 1:00 PM, and I wondered what my teachers got out of it. The time we are blocking out for intensive PD is before August 6. I feel for Taos that they have PD already planned.
• Abby: Have you asked your staff how they felt about the Rally this year?
• JC: Didn't really yet.
• Theresa: The Steering Committee looked at the design of the next Rally so we could get two workshops in, identify better needs and successes by having staff train. Can reinforce earlier training and/or address newly emerging issues. The afternoon session focuses on scope and sequence of transition/articulation. This is more grassroots and feels more solid.
• Dr. Ben: In the past, the Rally participation has been voluntary. Schools shouldn't be required to participate. Budget for schools that do participate.
• Pat K: I have to force my teachers to come. They need an extremely strong agenda with meat. They are already really good; don't know if the Rally can offer the level each school needs.
• Robin: RTI could be a theme to meet the needs of every single child.
• Theresa: Purpose is to identify what we need.
• Robin: Since BIE is encouraging this model and Lynanne is with BIE, they could pay for it. Lynanne is a fantastic trainer, and she is training the BIE nationwide for RTI.
• Abby: Is there an evaluation of the Rally? The agenda addresses vertical articulation, which is especially important since majority of students go into public school systems. How can we go across lines?
• JC: Freddie asked us to pay our fee ahead of time.
• Anya: This year, in an attempt to start paying for some CENAC costs to institutionalize CENAC, the costs were all rolled into the Rally fee. Because schools that paid over $3,000 had to wait until after the event, it did not work well. The Steering Committee, as recommended by Mr. Skenandore, is recommending a proposed budget for CENAC be funded by BIE. If BIE doesn’t provide funding, schools would need to pay for CENAC costs. One idea is for all schools to pay $2,000 CENAC membership fee (except Tesuque and San I, which would pay $1,000 each) to fund the .25 FTE CENAC Coordinator position. This year, the Rally fees were to cover those costs. In terms of planning a Rally for next year, some schools view it as a time to build personal, social, and professional networks, while other schools want high-quality, curriculum focused professional development.
• Pat S: Want the Rally to be something that is worth coming to. A few years ago, when I was a high school teacher, it wasn’t worth it. We have to do something that is going to work. There are other ways to build camaraderie, if that is the intent.
• Theresa: Let's identify your needs for the Rally, then can go for the funds needed.
• JC: Two issues: 1) I was mandated to support the Rally even though staff didn't want to go; 2) We already have our calendar blocked in for next year. Our big need is behavior and discipline. CENAC has to move away from Rally concept. Bringing principals together once a month is useful; I'm interested in what is working with Pueblo children. I think we should continue to meet once a month.
• Clyde : This is the second year principals have discussed not having a Rally. Ball is in your court.
• Robin: We need to discuss it again. Do we want to have the Rally? Or focus CENAC in other areas without a Rally?
• Joe: By listening to everyone, I hear some valid issues. Do we want to table this for a year and re-group? Mr. Skenandore encouraged the Rally to continue. Now we are looking at having HIGH quality professional development and there's the funding side: you get what you pay for. Is this something we want to table?
• Robin: Motion: Table discussion on Rally until May meeting once we know funding. I don't want to table the Rally for a year. Some calendars are already approved, so it won't make much difference to table it for one more month.
• Yvonne: I need it finalized for my board.
• Robin: Let’s pick a date, put the day in for PD and can use it for the Rally if happens or school-based if not. October 5 seems to be the date most schools want.
• Abby: Steering Committee based discussion on the guidance from March meeting.
• Pauline: Get staff input from each school and come back in May. What do we need?
• Theresa: We identify the needs of our own staff.
• Clyde : It's been done and there was little response; we are repeating the cycle again.
• Dolly: I would like to see an actual Professional day. Have 8 hours of training and give college credit for techs or CEUs for teachers. Others could get training at their school site. Many staff need credit.
• JC: Seems like you are circumventing the system with the budget proposed for BIE. Principals would be happy to come to meetings on our own. Could eliminate those costs. Data available through BIE. Making decisions based on data is required. Could eliminate the costs for Minnick.
• Anya: Does the BIE have data disaggregated in ways useful to schools? Can it be easily compared to other CENAC schools to see which schools are doing well on which performance standards so their expertise can be tapped into by other CENAC schools? This is the work the schools have found useful that Minnick and Associates has provided through NMTC for math and science. Now there is no more NMTC funding, schools still want this data, with the inclusion of Reading.
• Brenda: Laguna hired Minnick and Associates to help us this year. Kirk came in to Laguna in September and was able to extract data. Looked at Reading and made decisions that made a difference for the whole year. It was very much worth it.
• Robin: I think the Bureau would be thrilled for us to continue with the data support; it should be the easiest to justify.
• Dr. Ben: He could train you to look at data for yourself through NASIS.
• Brenda: You get a data disk, but don't have the software/ program to disaggregate; Kirk has it and can do it quickly. NASIS can't do it as precisely.
• Theresa: He has the expertise and access to state scores.
• JC: Our counselor pd includes a requirement for the counselor to do this.
• Robin: We had kids on our disk that aren't at our school, Kirk was able to separate out.
• JC: Data show we aren't as bad as we look; we are close to making the scores in all areas.
• Dolly: There is a motion on the table.
• Robin: Do you want me to repeat it?
• Joe: Let's set that October 5 date, first.
• Robin: I’ll include it in my motion.
• Motion by Robin Rodar to set the date of October 5 for a CENAC-wide PD day to be used for Rally, if it happens, or school-based PD if Rally doesn’t happen. Table discussion on Rally for May meeting.
• Motion Seconded by Dolly Naranjo Neikrug.
• Out of the ten schools in attendance, 9 for and one opposed. Motion carries.

ELO Report

• Will be covered through Heads Up for Reports and NMS and NMN Principal Meetings.

Visiting Principals from Hungary

• Bart: Principals will see Isleta as an example of new school, and will also see the old facility to get a clearer understanding of the progress made by BIE.
• 11:30 AM Welcome Guests from Hungary. Introductions.
• Request for brief introduction to why you gather and cooperate.
• Anya: CENAC schools have been coming together for 10 years to support each other. They apply for and receive funds together, support each other informally, sponsor annual events.
• Dolly: What would you say are the major differences between your schools and ours?
• Answer: Don't know your systems so can’t really answer. One reason we came to the US was to study desegregation models. We see SES segregation -- rich and poor schools. Universal problem; Hungary has unintentional segregation.
• Roma = gypsy. They are segregated and poor. Some discrimination, like with African Americans here.
• We saw a lot of programs within the schools to help children. That is something we don't see in Hungary.
• Question for CENAC: I may not be well informed about your history, but believe Native Americans want to preserve their history. We say self-segregation does preserve the history/culture, but does not result in freedom and equality. How does it work in your school: competitive and preserve culture?
• Bart: Because of the history of Native Americans in the US, US now is responsible for services, including education. BIE is an effort on part of government to provide education and services to assure competitive academically AND preserve culture. We are bound by federal regulations to find Native Americans who are highly qualified. This has made schools more successful because they are taught by their own in their own communities. We are moving toward improving for future generations.
• Dolly: High quality teachers are essential and it is important that research-based methods are used. I am an example of a Pueblo person. Our children are educated in the Pueblo environment. Our dilemma is we have to be competitive with the world around us, and yet we also strive in a way that is self-determined. We want to stay and be Indian: maintain tradition, culture, language. Difficult situation. Now we don't teach children English, but have to teach their own language and culture. A definite breakdown we have to look at and then see inherent problems: religion and daily life were the same; educate our children also to be at same level as everyone in US.
• Question: What is the basis for identifying children as special ed and is there a way for them to get back to the regular program?
• Theresa: Identification is long process, including testing by experts. Then there is a meeting with the student, parents, experts, and school to make determination. Students may work their way out of special ed.
• Question: Also have gifted?
• Robin: Yes. Many areas for gifted: academic, intelligence, creativity, leadership, visual and performing arts.
• Bart: BIE is required to follow same criteria and assessments as public schools -- sometimes those assessments are biased.
• Theresa: Community Based Education at SFIS: 19 Pueblo Governors own and operate the school. Bound by criteria set for nation, but also must meet special criteria set by tribes. Both criteria done through interdisciplinary work. More meaningful to the kids, more relevant.
• Anya: Tribal leadership sets academic priorities, which also makes kids more inspired.
• Question: Is there more parental involvement with CBE?
• Theresa: Starting to see a bit more now.
• Bart: Overall, schools have same support/ challenges with parental support as other schools in country.
• Dolly: We've gone through a whole spectrum as Native people in regards to education. What about the Roma in Hungary?
• Answer: It is a very long story. They came from India in Middle Ages. Had their place in society; traveled a lot; their professions were important; served small village needs. In the 18th century, a ruler created Hapsburg Empire and centralized the entire area. She prohibited the Roma language and wandering around was also prohibited. The Roma were required to settle down. They became segregated within a community that lost it's culture. Try to teach culture in school now. Most of the texts are not written or not accepted by ministry of education. Try to motive through art. Approach through culture, such as dance. Teach history of Roma within general history, and also their customs.
• Abby: Have you visited any of the Pueblos? This will give you an idea of the community-oriented way that community supports the school: culture and language. Most important thing is to learn is language, which holds the culture.
• Reanna: Question about funding.
• Answer: Schools are funded from state (government). At about $1200 per student per year and there are extra pockets, like for minority/ disadvantaged children. One must take into account that the standard of living is different, so the $1200 is quite a bit. Average pay is $500 to $600 per month. Teachers earn about $500 per month. Teachers have second and third jobs -- must leave at 1 or 2 PM from school to go to other jobs. Dependent on local government for extra funding, too.
• Hungarians drawn to American Indian culture. “Hobby Indians” in Hungary take the Indian culture more seriously and go to live as Indians for 2 weeks every summer -- based on plains tribes.
• 12:30 PM
• Return from Lunch
• Joe: Picking up on our agenda. . .
• CENAC pitched in for flowers for Richard on April 16 when he returns. Robin will order.
• Anya: To continue with Steering Committee Recommendation, re invitation to Dr. Garcia for Principals Institute: Does everyone want to invite her? Is the procedure appropriate?
• Discussion on how to invite Dr. Garcia and who to send letter. Dr. Ben will ask Nancy Alanzo-Martine, Assistant Secretary on Indian Education, to invite Dr. Garcia to present on what PED has to offer BIE-Funded schools. Then have time to ask questions.
• To address assessment questions CENAC principals have, Anya will invite Dr. Cross Maples to present on assessment.
• Bart: Recommendation to be careful to avoid issues in letters. Also, Hatch Act means the Bingaman letter cannot be signed by principals.
• Joe: In terms of changes to the Steering Committee Recommendations, all principals please review packet. Email Anya changes to packet by the end of this week.

ITEST/NMTC Updates

ITEST

• Clyde : We are recruiting teachers. Emailed initiations, may go to schools to follow up. Recruiting mid school students for e-camp. April 18 Summit at Tamaya. For summit, we are inviting principals, governors, tribal departments of education and environment. It will be a forum on climate issues. This is a way to identify learning priorities of tribes and setting the stage for working with teachers and students during the next school year.
• JC: Science Fair had same old projects. They might focus on home structures for environmentally friendly aspects. Could create model that tribes might embrace.
• Clyde : Many tribes are already addressing that, which is why we chose this topic to explore.
• Dolly: It would be interesting for kids to explore how environmentally friendly old home structure were.
• Clyde : I will be sending out invitations, and I encourage you to come and join the conversation. If you have recommendations for teachers or 6 th – 8 th grade students for the summer programs, please email or call me.

NMTC

• Anya: Funding for NMTC has been exhausted. Deb, Kirk, and I are working on the Final Report. It will include Kirk’s evaluation on what strategies are working in CENAC schools and will help us to see where schools want help to continue to improve education for Pueblo students. Kirk will be contacting some CENAC schools for mini case studies.

Heads Up for Reports and Trainings

• Dr. Ben: GPRA is due in the new format. Two surveys are being sent and the Director encourages you to complete them.
• Pat K: One is on employee health and safety (15 minute online survey -- one per school??). The other is on facilities and toxic waste, safety. April 26 is Facility Safety Day. Schools are to identify one person to complete a paper survey, but it hasn't come yet.
• Dr. Ben: Administrative Inquiry Team (AIT) names are due.
• School profiles of students. Need to have those in place. How do you use school profile to address student needs based on school profile? Will need this information down the line.
• May 15 and 16 Management Training at NMN, NPA 8 AM – 5 PM. Mary Smith, Records Management, will conduct the training.
• There will be a NASIS training on May 10 and 11.

Items from the Floor

ANA Update: Clyde Romero

• SFIS will host the ANA conference June 19 - 21. BIE asked for NASIS and e-Rate to be focus. Give input for other sessions to Pat Sandoval (989-6397) or email Kimball or Pat S. Strands for teachers, administrators, tech people, and business. Kimball will send out an email to you when website is up.

Battle of the Books: Edwina Aguilar

• On April 27, prepare for BOB at SFIS at 10 AM. Every school must pay an activity fee of $2 for each student they send. May 8 is date for event, which is also at SFIS.
• Anya: That date is also when our seniors present their Senior Honors Projects. They are awesome, and at the January CENAC meeting Dr. Gulibert invited CENAC principals to come to the presentations.
• Spelling Bee: It is at SCDS April 27. Schools pay $20 and send two students. 2nd -- 6th grades participate.

Masters Project on School Bullying: Edwina Aguilar

• Fill it out here or mail it back to Edwina.

Agenda for May Meeting

The meeting dates and places for May Meetings have been changed:

• Principals Dinner Meeting is Monday May 7 at 6:00 PM at Pranzo’s in Santa Fe.
• CENAC Meeting is Tuesday May 8 at 9:00 AM at Tesuque Intergenerational Center.

Adjournment

• Motion made by Dolly Naranjo Neikrug to adjourn at 1:45 PM. Seconded by Abby Arquero.