Anita Westerhaus moved, with a second by Jacqueline Wellborn, that in case number 03-11, the Board find probable cause to establish a violation of the following criteria: 13.7(1)(a), 13.7(1)(c), 13.8(3), 13.9(4), 13.12(1), 13.12(3), 13.12(4), and 13.12(5) for professional practices and competent performance established by this Board and order this case set for hearing. Probable cause was not found with regard to the additional rules cited in the complaint. Roll call vote: Aboud - yes; Carter - yes; Chen - yes; Jeffrey - yes; Hathaway - yes; Paulsen - yes; Seeland - yes; Wellborn - yes; and Westerhaus - yes. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Judy Jeffrey moved, with a second by Brian Carter, to approve the October 17, 2003, minutes, as distributed. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Brian Carter moved, with a second by John Aboud, that in PFW 03-22, Nancy L. Roe, the Board deny the Petition for Waiver. Roll call vote: Westerhaus - yes; Wellborn - yes; Seeland - yes; Paulsen - yes; Hathaway - yes; Jeffrey - yes; Chen - yes; Carter - yes; and Aboud - yes. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The morning began with a presentation by Ines Bosworth, Senior Regional Director of the Educational Testing Service, on the results of the two-year Praxis II teacher testing pilot project. Stakeholders received copies of the report for consideration and study.

The Board recessed from 9:32 a.m. to 9:53 a.m., and board members then moved from the seats of the auditorium to the stage at 10:16 a.m. There followed a question-and-answer and comment period with Ms. Bosworth by board members and others in attendance, most of whom were representatives of the Iowa teacher preparation institutions.

The Board recessed for lunch at 11:27 a.m. and reconvened at 12:35 p.m.
Participation in the afternoon deliberation of the outcomes of the Praxis II pilot study was limited to board members only. They discussed the pros and cons of a couple of possible responses to the results of the study. The Board then requested from staff a series of scenarios for consideration on the question of whether to require mandatory testing for Iowa teacher licensure.

John Aboud moved, with a second by Brian Carter, that the Board go into closed session for the purposes of discussing whether to initiate licensee disciplinary proceedings, pursuant to Iowa Code sections 21.5(1)(d). MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

The Board reconvened into open session at 1:45 p.m.

Anita Westerhaus moved, with a second by Jacqueline Wellborn, that in case number 03-11, the Board find probable cause to establish a violation of the following criteria: 13.7(1)(a), 13.7(1)(c), 13.8(3), 13.9(4), 13.12(1), 13.12(3), 13.12(4), and 13.12(5) for professional practices and competent performance established by this Board and order this case set for hearing. Probable cause was not found with regard to the additional rules cited in the complaint. Roll call vote: Aboud - yes; Carter - yes; Chen - yes; Jeffrey - yes; Hathaway - yes; Paulsen - yes; Seeland - yes; Wellborn - yes; and Westerhaus - yes. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Judy Jeffrey moved, with a second by Brian Carter, to approve the October 17, 2003, minutes, as distributed. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Board Member Judy Jeffrey mentioned that Learning Points Associates (formerly North Central Regional Educational Lab), will hold its next policy seminar for Iowa on December 18, 2003, at the University Park Holiday Inn, West Des Moines, on emerging policies for programming and licensure of teachers through alternative routes. Board members will receive an invitation to attend the seminar, which will have speakers from across the United States, including representatives of the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence (ABCTE), with its program for alternative licensure, and the Western Governors University (WGU), with its on-line, competency-based program of study. A large range of invitees will include legislators, institutions of higher education, professional associations and the State Board of Education. The intent is not to establish a directive for the State, but to learn and understand what is in process across the United States, what is and is not working, and what the challenges are that states have faced as they move ahead with alternative pathways. This will help to develop a knowledge base in the Iowa before going into the legislative session so that people understand the pros and cons of moving forward on the issue. Ms. Jeffrey clarified that Learning Points Associates, working with the Iowa Department of Education in this case, does not promote seminar issues, but, rather, hosts a meeting each year on whatever the individual state wants to investigate, using funds to help each state look at current issues that are emerging.

Ms. Jeffrey complimented Licensure Consultant Susan Fischer for her explanation of the middle school endorsement to representatives of the U. S. Department of Education (USDE) on their recent visit. Mention was also made, on that visit, of problems with some of the USDE’s recommendations for Iowa on special education, although Iowa representatives discovered there was more flexibility than originally thought. USDE officials are creating a best practices website on highly qualified teachers, and the visitors said they would take several ideas that are in place in Iowa and cite those on the website.

Board Chair Peter Hathaway asked if there were any public comments. There were none.

Executive Director Dr. Anne Kruse reported briefly on a number of issues:
1) Dr. Kruse and other staff members have been conducting student teacher seminars throughout the state. All have been scheduled, and those conducted have been well received.
2) Dr. Kruse has scheduled presentations to superintendents of 11 of the 12 AEAs. Seven have been completed and have gone very well.
3) Dr. Kruse and Board Chair Peter Hathaway have been served with court papers indicating that two additional complaint cases have been appealed to district court. Dr. Kruse mentioned some of the additional and unanticipated costs inherent in such court action.
4) The investigator is back from extended medical leave, and there are 17 cases under investigation, 41% of which are sexual. Dr. Kruse later gave the Board details about the sizable workload that the investigator faces.
5) The revised ethics rules formerly from Chapters 12 and 13 will shortly be filed under Notice of Intended Action.
6) Dr. Kruse handed out a chart of the number and percentage of license applications received by type from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. In previous years, figures reflected the number of licenses issued, which was not a true indicator of the workload of the licensure bureau staff and the Board. The figures indicate an average of 513 applications a week, and some require a more significant amount of individual attention than others.

Nancy L. Roe requested a waiver of the academic content requirements for obtaining a media specialist endorsement. Ms. Roe holds a standard license with the endorsement for secondary English. She has the following experience: two years as an 8th grade English teacher (1973-75); fourteen years as a librarian at the Mt. Ayr Public Library (1987-2001), including nine years as library director; one year as a monitor of the computer lab at the Mt. Ayr school district junior-senior high school (2001-02); and one year as library aide, keyboard instructor, and CCC lab monitor at the Mt. Ayr district elementary school (2002-03). Although Board rules allow for the issuance of a “conditional” license upon completion of two-thirds of the required coursework for this endorsement, Ms. Roe does not qualify for this exception because she has completed none of the prerequisite coursework. Although her experience as a library director has likely provided her with relevant knowledge and skills, she has limited teaching experience. In the absence of a careful evaluation of her competency by a teacher preparation institution with a media specialist program, the Board cannot find that her knowledge and skills in this area are sufficient to qualify her for this endorsement. The Board believes Ms. Roe should pursue an option of contact with and evaluation by an accredited Iowa institution. Brian Carter moved, with a second by John Aboud, that in PFW 03-22, Nancy L. Roe, the Board deny the Petition for Waiver. Roll call vote: Westerhaus - yes; Wellborn - yes; Seeland - yes; Paulsen - yes; Hathaway - yes; Jeffrey - yes; Chen - yes; Carter - yes; and Aboud - yes. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.

Executive Director Dr. Anne Kruse reviewed budgetary considerations in light of the state’s recent mandate for a 2.5% reduction. She suggested that savings be made through a board retreat of only one day and then various line item cuts of $50 to $100 each to meet the decrease of just under $2000 required for the bureau’s appropriation. There are rumors of yet another reduction to come. The Board agreed to eliminate the first day of the June retreat, and Board Chair Peter Hathaway suggested a compressed meeting schedule on June 25, 2004, in order to carve out time for dealing with a significant topic. Board Member Ying Ying Chen then welcomed the Board to use her new school facility in Cedar Rapids.

Dr. Kruse made a case to the Board of the need to increase its income. She had already spoken with the executive subcommittee, giving it a number of scenarios to effect this. Board Chair Peter Hathaway recommended that effective September 15, 2004, fees for stipulated licenses be raised. Dr. Kruse will return to the December meeting with proposed rules to raise fees under administrative rules.

There being no further business, Board Chair Peter Hathaway adjourned the meeting at 2:41 p.m.