REGENTS COMMITTEE ON POLICY INTEGRATION AND INNOVATION

Chancellor Robert Bennett, Chair of the Committee on Policy Integration and Innovation, presented on behalf of the Committee the following written report.

The PII Committee held its scheduled meeting on September 15, 2008.  Vice Chancellor Tisch, and Regents Cohen, Dawson, Bottar, Chapey, Bowman, Tallon and Cofield were present.  Regents Gardner, Phillips, Tilles, Bendit, Rosa and Young also attended.  Commissioner Mills was present.

MATTERS NOT REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Your Committee discussed the Commissioner’s Monthly Report.  The Commissioner highlighted the following:

• SED’s strategy for communications includes a commitment to reach the public, field educators, elected officials and SED staff with a consistent message.  As the Regents and SED prepare to roll out new policy, practice, and capacity to secure still higher achievement, communications will be the major strategy. 
• Graduation rates are improving for most groups of students, and yet too many students still do not graduate from high school.   Results improve in each successive cohort.
• The Board will discuss in their October or November meeting the English Language Arts Standards and a draft of the review of the ELA standards.
• The majority of Contracts for Excellence contract districts substantially implemented the contract provisions as approved.
• Next Steps for the Growth Model involve scheduling for field review, Board evaluation of field comments and presentation to the U.S. Department of Education.
•  Meeting Current and Future Financial Challenges; a spending reduction of $16,677,000 resulted from the combined 3.35 percent and subsequent 7 percent cuts requested by the Executive.  The reduced spending level will be the basis for the 2009-2010 Budget.

Your Committee heard a report from Terry Savo on the 2009-2010 Budget.

• In compliance with DOB budget directives, we have cut $16.6 million from the current year and will leave 69 positions unfilled. There is no need for layoffs.
• DOB’s directive has called for a no growth budget in 2009/20010.

MATTERS REQUIRING BOARD ACTION

Your Committee recommended that the Board convene in Executive Session on Tuesday, September 16 for the purpose of discussing pending litigation and personnel issues.