Clayton Ellis

Krysten Ellis
School Board Meeting
What was the finance issue?
On March 13, 2017, the Bloomington School District was asked to approve the new 2017-2020
Achievement and Integration Plan and its budget for the 20172018 school year. The 2017-18
budget was in the amount of $2,007,539.41.

What was the outcome?

The district unanimously approved the 2017-2020 Achievement and Integration Plan and its
budget for the 20172018 school year in the amount of $2,007,539.41.

What was your analysis [agree or disagree]?

In my opinion, I believe this was a move in the right direction. It is my understanding that the
Achievement and Integration Program was established to help close Minnesotas academic
achievement gap and increase integration opportunities for protected class students. This is in
accordance with Minnesota State Statute 124D, sections 861-862. Two Bloomington schools
have been identified, by Andy Kubas, Executive Director of Learning Supports, as being racially
isolated schools.
Mr. Kubas discussed 4 goals tied to this three-year plan:
GOAL # 1: Increased achievement for each student. Provide programming and support that
focuses on promoting career and college readiness for one hundred percent of our underserved
students in grades Pre K-12.

GOAL # 2: Increase professional development opportunities that will reach one hundred percent
of the BPS staff. These activities will be focused on equity, improved achievement, respect and
safety of all students.

GOAL # 3: Decrease opportunity, access and achievement gaps for all traditionally underserved
students in the BPS.

GOAL #4: BPS is committed to implementing practices that recruit, employ, support and retain
racially and linguistically diverse and culturally competent administrative, instructional staff and
support personnel Our goal is a 2% increase each year.

Bloomington is a very diverse district, so the more supports the district can put into place to help
close the racial academic and behavioral gap, the better off the district, its students, families and
staff. Bloomingtons demographics arent going to be changing anytime soon, and from my
perspective, much of the staff needs to begin to examine their own racial identity, racial bias and
racial/cultural awareness. After being immersed in the courageous conversations through
MNSU, it makes me realize how so much of the population needs this training and coaching, but
most of them arent ready for it or willing to start making a change.

What was your key learning?

My key learning is that Bloomington still has a long way to go in its efforts and success in
closing the racials gaps, as do so many other districts. State funded programs, like the
Achievement & Integration Program are stepping stones in closing the gap.