I will send out an Entourage invite for the meeting, for those of you who have compatible email calendars.

Paul

(sent out 11/28/11)
A big THANK YOU to everyone who found time to attend the first North Suburban Division meeting on Friday, November 18th.  We heard from Representatives Brandon Petersen and Sandra Peterson, Senator Pam Wolf, and Education Field Representative - Dan Solomon, from US Senator Al Franken’s office.  Topics included teacher evaluation, principal evaluation, school funding, the behavior rule (restraint/seclusion), integration dollars, all-day, every-day kindergarten for all, and the priorities for the upcoming legislative session.  A special thanks to P. Fred Storti for attending and being a part of the panel, to Mark Hansen for arranging the panel of legislators, and to Roger Aronson for facilitating this valuable dialogue with lawmakers.

Our next meeting is January 26th, from 2-4pm at the Staff Development Center in Anoka.  Our division will hear a presentation about the new Minnesota Literacy Plan.  Representatives from the Department of Education will be with us to explain the impact of this new legislation.  Principals from other divisions have reported that this presentation is very valuable, so please make plans to attend.  I will send an updated reminder in early January.

The North Suburban Division is looking for new leaders to serve in two different capacities, starting in the Fall of 2012.

EPAC Representative – to replace Diane Henning (Thank you Diane, for serving in this role over the last several years.)
President Elect – to replace Mark Hansen (Mark will be the President for the next two years.)

Please reply by email or call me if you’re interested.

Those who attended received an EPAC letter from Diane Henning.  Those who didn’t will receive theirs in the mail.  PLEASE consider donating $35 to EPAC, prior to the holidays.  Contributions to the Elementary Principal’s Action Committee Fund support MESPA’s Legislative Advocacy.  The top five priorities in the 2011 Legislative Platform are:

  1.  High quality early childhood education programs and all-day every day kindergarten available for all.
  2.  Principal as instructional leader.
  3.  Blended assessments, integrating diagnostic and summative data.
  4.  Adequate sustainable funding.
  5.  Minnesota Principals' Academy.

To learn more about how those funds have specifically been used, or to donate online, go to: /members.mespa.net/Donate_to_EPAC.html

I wish everyone a wonderful four weeks leading up to the holidays.

Paul Anderson
President, North Suburban