ACTEM Minutes September 27, 2006
Sites: Augusta, Noble, Bonny Eagle, Presque Isle
President, Vince Vanier opened up the first 2006-07 meeting and welcomed the remote sites.
Introductions were made all around.
Minutes from the May 15, 2006 meeting were acted upon:
John Lunt moved to be accepted as presented / Gary Lanoie seconded / Motion passed
New Business:-
Bill Hurwitch - MEDMS update
Bill reported that data collection is ½ complete for staff 10% for students. We have much better private school response this year. There has been some reporting of slow response times. If you experience this, please let Bill know.
Power School issues:
1. free and reduced lunch codes - please check your data for these numbers
2. Roll-over - grade retained check was held over (verify these)
3. Early Kindergarten (pre-K doesn't work - make them grade level -3)
Have not tested OSX 10.4 completely as they are in the process of a fix
DOE has a 5 member data management team which meets bi-weekly with a goal of non-duplication of data.
MEDMS Phase 3 is successfully being tested using SIF. DOE is looking at the possibility of Zone Integration servers across the state.
They are working on an RFP for a re-make of Phase 1 No timeline was given.
Old Business:
Updates
ACTEM / Microsoft have made a deal for new office release.
ACTEM / Apple have a deal for Tiger reduced pricing.
Memory buy was completed with 16,000+ units and with help of Maine Learning Technology Foundation (Angus King) support, pricing was very low.
Newsletter editor left for the private sector. Replacement information below.
MainEd Conference planning has been going on - information below.
Sharon was the ACTEM representative at NECC. She reported on the formation of a New England Regional Affiliate. Their first meeting will be Oct. 27-28 and will be attended by Crystal, John and Gary.
Betty Manchester introduced Laura Brown, Research Assistant for DOE.
Implementation of MLTI renewal is nearing completion. Upgraded networks are next. Training sessions are going on with Superintendents and Principals. Principals will then select teacher-teams.
MLTI's Goal - technology is not a separate piece, but part of the educational process.
Jeff Mao - deployment update. Equipment is out (38,000). Request check archived messages on mlti list or subscribe RSS. Read the FAQs etc.
Bumper Pool replacement - pool is housed at local Apple depot.
Bags are covered by Brenthaven warranty - working on process for replacement if necessary
Question was posed: Is there internet access through Foundation? The process should be the same as in previous years. Jeff will track this down and send verification to the list.
There is an issue with Adobe products on image. The solution is to launch the program once as admin and then it should work.
MainEd 2006 Gary Lanoie updated
Flyers should be in schools. The programs just came in.
277 paid registrants to date and another 70 complimentary have been documented.
Pre-conference workshops: Jim Moulton - still 6 slots remain; Podcasting - 1 seat; Warlick - 1 seat; banquet Thursday night with Teacher of the Year presentations (45 signed up - 50 seats available)
Vendors income to date - $19,000.
New this year is the Keynote speaker, David Warlick
Good door prizes. Again wireless access will be available.
Membership update - Craig Dickinsen
Districts - 154
Individual - 302
Professional development - Dennis Kunces
$9135 were paid last year
Present year to date - $3185 either paid or pending.
Teacher of the Year - Gary Lanoie
8 nominations, the committee will meet today.
Newsletter editor
Vince opened nominations for newsletter editor
Gary nominated Rachel Guthrie
John seconded
Passed
Membership information - Vince Vanier
Vince suggested a complimentary membership for past presidents with attendance at MainEd following their final year .
John Brandt moved
Dennis Crowe seconded Vote Passed
Financial Summary - Craig Dickinson
All documents are on the website under Meetings
Craig expressed a thank you to Tara Maker, John Lunt and Jeff Mao for all their support in our summer sales.
A question on IRS status of ACTEM was posed. Craig stated that we file everything necessary and are under accountants consultation at all times.
Present Initiatives -
Memory and flash drives - probably bulk buy in Spring
First Class bulk licensing should again occur
Atomic Learning - data will be coming out about $1.25 / student by school.
File Maker - now using email and downloads for purchases
RoundTable
Maine Center for Educational Services - DiscoverME is presently free for any Maine student, but it may close as their funding is gone. They are requesting funding of $5000 to keep program running another year. This was discussed and since there are many other similar situations in Maine, we could be setting a precedent that we cannot follow. The issue was tabled.
MAMLE - Maine Association for Mid-Level Education has requested that we provide a booth at their conference and they will do the same. This was agreed by group concensus.
Web calendaring - FAMUNDO - contacted us about their product. No additional information is available.
Kaiser Consulting contacted us - they do recycling of iBook parts.
Federal Funding - Dennis Kunces
Title IID and Title V were cut this year.
Discussion at the federal level about next year is going on now with decisions after elections.
Dennis gave an update on the state of Maine. We now record 1.97 students / computer.
93% of our 8th graders are deemed technically literate.
Bob McIntire - Title IID competitive grant - eMints
We have 9 trainer/mentors working with 55 classrooms across the state.
A new program is being launched eMints for All This is a series of 8 sessions for teams of teachers (6 - 8) in a school. The focus is on schools not meeting AYP
Summer eMints sampler will be offered in 2007
Statewide organization for Media Production is being formed.
Sylvia Norton - eRate
Not many changes this year. However, a much bigger emphasis on technology plans.
Online BEAR forms will be coming.
Next meeting Jan. 8, 2007
Motion Diana Summers moved; Alan Curtis seconded; motion passed
submitted: Sharon Betts, recording secretary
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