Robin Sutliff is the new Webmaster for MDE as of August 1, 2000. Other Business Ms. Pigg distributed information on the Roots and Shoots website that BellSouth has developed to promote environmental awareness. Representative Charlie Smith, member of the House Education Committee, was asked to update the Council on the legislative priorities. Rep. Smith stated that Reading was the top priority. Algebra was also important due to it is being an indicator for success.
Teacher training is also a priority.
Rep. Smith expressed the view that too much money is being spent on remedial work in colleges and the transfer process from Community colleges to IHL is not uniform. In order to educate more people, we must use different avenues of teaching, such as more curriculum based, project based lessons, online classes, etc. Other topics discussed among the members were workforce education, juvenile education, economic development, teaching of character and the importance of continuing to use technology as an educational tool. Dr. Anderson stated that it was time to prepare the Accountability Report for FY 2000. Members agreed to discuss it at the next meeting.