SAM Update 1-8-16

Hi SAM Members,
I hope all goes well for you in the new year! Next week is a big week for the
advocacy of education issues here in Helena with the School Funding Interim
Commission, Education and Local Government Interim Committee, and Board
of Public Education holding meetings. We will be in attendance at those
meetings to represent the SAM advocacy positions. Here are a couple of
items for your interest...
School Funding Interim Commission (SFIC)
The SFIC is meeting on January 11-13. Click HERE to go to the SFIC web page and HERE to review the
agenda for the meeting. SAM is planning to be an active participants in the discussions around the key areas
identified for brainstorming sessions during the meeting:
School Facilities
Recruitment and Retention of Quality Educators
District Structure and Boundaries
Special Education Funding
Please let me know if there are thoughts that you would like to have the Commission consider in these 4 areas
so those thoughts can be inserted into the initial discussions on these topics. Thanks.
Education and Local Government (ELG) Interim Committee
The ELG is meeting on Thursday, January 14. Click HERE to go to the ELG Committee web page
and HERE to see the Agenda for the meeting. Key discussion items are:
OPI Monitoring of smarter balanced assessments and the negotiated rule making process
Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) summary
SFIC update
Contact me if you have any questions or comments about any of these items that will be under consideration of
the Committee.
Board of Public Education (BPE)
The BPE is holding a conference call meeting on Friday, January 15. Click HERE to go to the BPE web
page. The agenda items will be posted next week on their website. Contact me if you have any questions of
comments.
SAM Needs Assessment 2016 - Last Chance
If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to complete the SAM Needs Assessment Survey
2016. The survey will close atnoon on Saturday, January 9 to give you a last chance to join the hundreds who
have provided input.
To complete the SAM Needs Assessment Survey 2016 click HERE.
The purpose of the SAM Needs Assessment Survey is to learn more about our members' needs for Services,
Professional Learning, and Advocacy (Goals of the SAM Strategic Plan). Information obtained will be used to
develop enhanced benefits to serve Montana's education leaders.
Completion time required for survey is 5-10 minutes. All questions displaying an asterisk (*) before the question
number require an answer in order to advance to the next section. We have found that using a browser
other than Internet Explorer works better for seamless completion of the survey.

Your SAM office team and Board of Directors thank for your input by participating in the Survey so we can
enhance our ability to serve you as a member of SAM!
SAM Board Meeting
The SAM Board of Directors will meet on Friday, January 15 to discuss the 2nd Quarter Business of our
association. Click HERE to see the agenda. Following the meeting, you can expect to see the Call for
Delegate Assembly Resolutions via email the following week. Thank you SAM Board members for your great
commitment to our professional association.
We hope you have a great weekend!