B Mtka Com Education Adv Bd
CITY OF
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
Todd Gerhardt, City Manager
FROM:
Todd Hoffman, Park & Recreation Director ~
November 17,2004
DATE:
SUBJ:
Appointment to Minnetonka Community Education
Advisory Council
Please find attached a letter addressed to Mayor Furlong from Dr. Dennis
Peterson, Superintendent of Minnetonka Public Schools. Recently Minnetonka
Schools has made some significant changes in the structure and composition of
their Community Education Advisory Council. A copy of their Policy #901
concerning Community Education is also attached. Superintendent Peterson is
requesting that Chanhassen appoint a representative from Chanhassen to the
Advisory Council by December 21 st. The new council will be comprised of 42
individuals representing a large number of stakeholders in the district.
This item is being brought to the attention of the City Council for discussion.
IJeaut'¡ul
The City of Chanhassen · A growlrlg ClIlllITiUll!ty Wlti: clean lakes. quality
WIIHlII'Q
RE(;F~Vt~
Dennis L. Peterson, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
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Minnetonka Public Schools
5621 County Road 10 1
Minnetonka, MN 55345
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(952) 401-5004
(952) 401-5083 fax
dennis.peterson@minnetonka.kI2.mn.us
November 9, 2004
COMMUNITIES OF:
Tom Furlong
City of Chanhassen
P.O. Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317
SERVING THE
MINNETONKA
Dear Tom,
CHANHASSEN
The School Board has adopted the new policy on Community Education and
Services that I had shared with you earlier this fall (copy enclosed). While the
formal agreements with the cities in the District were terminated over 3 Yz years ago,
we are seeking a stronger relationship with the cities and other organizations
throughout the District in order to enhance our quality and improve our entire
community. We would hope to connect the cities into the network being created on
the MCES Advisory Council to strengthen the District and give the City of
Chanhassen more impact.
DEEPHAVEN
EDEN PRAIRIE
EXCELSIOR
GREENWOOD
SHOREWOOD
TONKA BAY
Unfortunately, the previous structure was not serving our community well, and the
Board needed to make major adjustments to meet the evolving expectations of our
citizens. You may hear negative critiques of the process or the new direction by
some individuals who wish to deny the Board's governance responsibility, and I urge
you to contact me if you have questions.
VIGORIA
WOODLAND
Weare hoping to build direct lines of communication regarding Community
Education and Services with the City of Chanhassen. If you believe Becky Olson
has the connections with the City of Chanhassen, we would welcome that
reappointment. If you or someone you might appoint could better represent the
Mayor/Council, we would invite you to consider such an appointment. We want a
representative from the City of Chanhassen who can help the entire Advisory
Council genuinely connect with the community and its needs.
If you could designate your appointee by December 21, it would be appreciated.
Again, if you have questions, please contact me.
..
Dennis L. Peterson, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools
cc: Todd Gerhardt
MINNETONKA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
POLICY #901: COMMUNITY EDUCATION
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to establish the framework for providing community education
programs and services to members of the community within the Vision and Mission of the
School District.
II. VISION
Ownership of the Minnetonka School District resides with each and every citizen who lives
within the ten communities we serve. In recognition of this mutual investment, we commit
ourselves to developing and expanding a robust array of community education services and
programs which will reflect and respond to the needs and desires of all ages, abilities, and
Incomes.
All residents of the Minnetonka School District have a right to benefit from the physical,
human, and financial resources of the school district they support. A responsive and inter-
generational community education program will be the common and unifying element which
will allow us to effectively pursue and attain world-class, child-centered excellence. As much
as our efforts in early childhood and family education are focused on maximizing each
student's potential for success, our community education services and programs will be
focused on serving the needs of all citizens for lifelong learning. Uniting all elements of the
community is a cornerstone of our Community Education program. Frequent needs-
assessments and responsive program development, as well as an organizational structure that
reflects all stakeholders in the community, will enable us to build a Community Education
program that is rich in content, readily accessed, widely used, and ever-evolving as the needs
of both the community and School District change over time.
III. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
The School Board affirms a strong commitment to the Community Education program and
seeks to provide educational opportunities to young children and their parents, as well as
recreational and educational programs for older children, youth and adults in the District by
using the human and financial resources available. The School Board welcomes, and
strongly encourages, use of school buildings and activity areas by the community when not
used for regularly scheduled early education, elementary and secondary programs. The
Administration should strive to accomplish the following objectives:
A. It will be clear in all respects that Minnetonka Community Education and Services
(MCES) is an integral element of the District and functions with the same
responsibilities and opportunities as all other elements.
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B. Maximum use should be made of public school facilities within the District's servIce
area.
C. Educational needs and interests of area residents should be determined periodically in
order to drive program and service decisions.
D. Community resources and expertise of residents should be utilized to develop a vibrant,
well-rounded Community Education program.
E. Area residents, and non-residents as space may be available, should be encouraged to
actively participate in program opportunities.
F. Collaboration with personnel whose primary responsibilities are in the K-12 program and
integration of services with those elements will occur.
G. Build strong community/School District relationships.
H. Assist in developing interagency coordination and cooperation.
I. Involve members of the community in evaluating and creating program and servIce
opportunities.
IV. COMMUNITY EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
A. An Advisory Council will be approved by the School Board with the responsibilities and
duties prescribed by the Board. The Advisory Council will operate within the parameters
described in policy and the further directions of the Board and Superintendent, or
designee.
B. The membership on the Community Education Advisory Council IS made up of the
following representations:
a. One from each of the ten communities in the District: Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden
Prairie, Excelsior, Greenwood, Minnetonka, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Victoria,
Woodland,
b. Two students,
c. Four at-large members appointed by the Board,
d. One representative from Tonka Pride,
e. One representative from the Minnetonka Foundation,
f. One representative from the Minnetonka Boosters Club,
g. One representative from the Minnetonka Arts Council,
h. One representative from the Minnetonka Boys Basketball Association (MBBA),
1. Two School Board members,
J. Two Minnetonka principals,
k. Two representatives from local churches, or ministerial associations,
l. One ECFE Advisory Council member,
m. Two representatives from athletic boosters organizations,
n. Two representatives from community service clubs,
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o. Two representatives from community senior organizations,
p. Two representatives from other youth sports organizations,
q. One LCTS Collaborative committee member,
r. One member from the Committee for Academic Excellence,
s. Two PTO/PT A representati ves,
t. The Director of Teaching and Learning,
u. The Executive Director of MCES will be an ex-officio member.
C. All members will serve at the pleasure of the School Board, and all members must
receive initial approval of the Board. Members' terms will be three years, with a
maximum of two terms; and members will be subject to the sending organization within
those requirements (i.e., the sending organization may reduce the term of its respective
representative at any time).
D. The primary goal of the Council is to advise the Director on the programs and services of
the MCES Department and conduct needs-assessments as necessary to develop
information.
E. The Council will assist in promoting the goals and objectives of the program and will
serve as ambassadors of the District within the general community.
F. The Council will endeavor to connect various organizations throughout our ten
communities as well as organizations represented by the Council's membership to best
serve the entire community.
G. Bylaws of the Community Education and Services Advisory Council will provide the
operating framework for the Council including officers' positions, officers' duties, roles
and responsibilities of members, frequency and structure of meetings and sllch other
matters as deemed necessary and appropriate to the functioning of the Council. The
committee will not dictate membership nor any other matter reserved to the School Board
and Administration. The Bylaws may be created and proposed by the Council, but they
will become effective only upon adoption by the School Board. The School Board may
revise the Bylaws at any time.
H. As the purpose of the Advisory Council is to advise the Executive Director2 the Council
will not meet without the attendance of the Executive Director, or designee.
1. The Council will adopt a policy to reduce and eliminate program duplication in the
District. This expectation will be subject to direction from the Superintendent or School
Board.
v. ADMINISTRATION OF MCES
The School Board delegates necessary and appropriate authority to the Superintendent to
provide general oversight to the MCES operation (management and advisory functions).
There will be an Executive Director employed to provide direct supervision and management
to the various programs and services of the Department. The Execllti ve Director will
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convene the Advisory Council at least four times annually for reccipt of their advice. The
Executive Director will report directly to and be supervised by the Superintendent.
The MCES Department and Advisory Council will operate under all applicable policies and
procedures of the District.
The Advisory Council has no direct budgeting or accounting authority, but it will advise the
Executive Director regarding the programs and services as requested.
The Advisory Council has no authority regarding salary schedules, staff positions, staff
assignments or levy recommendations, except as requested.
The Advisory Council will be non-commercial, non-sectarian and non-political. The Council
will not endorse commercial enterprises or political candidates.
Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 124D.19, Subd. 1 (Community Education Programs;
Advisory Council)
Minn. Stat. § 123B.51 (Schoolhouses and Sites; Access for noncurricular
Purposes)
Minn. Stat. § 124D.20, Subd. 1 (Community Education Revenue)
Cross References:
Policy 902 (Use of School District Facilities and Equipment)
Adopted: October 28, 2004
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