Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
11/19/2020 - 6:30 PM  
Category:
Report of the Committee on Accountability, Finance, and Personnel  
Type:
Action  
Subject:
12. Report with Possible Action Regarding the Task Force on Strategies and Guidelines to Develop Capacity in Attracting, Retaining, and Developing Bilingual Teachers and Support Staff  
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
 
Policy:
Admin Policy 6.23 - Recruitment and Hiring: Staff  
Attachments:
 
File Attachment:
 
Background:
At its December 2019 meeting, the Board took action to direct the Administration to establish a special task force to develop capacity in attracting, retaining and developing bilingual teachers and support staff. Since December 2019, there have been four meetings of the task force: January 16, February 11, March 4, and November 11, 2020.

At the March 4, 2020, meeting, the Administration presented information in regards to programs that exist through MPSU to assist in the development of a pathway leading towards bilingual certification. There was then an opportunity for the audience members to ask questions. The audience was also engaged in a sharing activity to highlight any barriers that they had encountered, or could foresee, in this pathway process. The task force will examine those responses and plans to use that information to create solutions or opportunities that will be presented to the Board.

Due to the pandemic, meetings of the task force were suspended for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. There was a written update sent to task force members in July 2020. This written update provided answers to some of the questions that were asked by members in earlier meetings. Also included in that communication was information taken from the 2019 Milwaukee Public Schools Education Pathways document.

The November 11 meeting started with a brief segment on virtual meeting norms and an overview of the purpose of the Bilingual Task Force. The main focus of the meeting was an MPSU program update and information regarding student program offerings. The meeting concluded with a discussion on steering committee roles and responsibilities, a call for volunteers, and setting the date for the next meeting, which will take place on December 9, 2020.
 
Fiscal Impact Statement:
N/A  
Implementation and Assessment Plan:
 
Recommendation
Your Committee reports having received the foregoing report from the Administration. Although this item has been noticed for possible action, no action is required.  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer