A special meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Education held at the VanHoose Education Center, 3332 Newburg Road, Louisville, Kentucky, 40218, on Wednesday, February 17, 2010, at 12:30 p.m.

Members of the Jefferson County Board of Education attended a presentation by representatives from the NoVo Foundation and the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

Chairwoman Debbie Wesslund and Mr. Joseph Hardesty were absent. All other board members were present. Superintendent Sheldon Berman was also present.

The following guests were also present: 

• Commissioner Terry Holliday, Kentucky Department of Education;
• Jennifer Buffett, president, NoVo Foundation;
• Pamela McVeagh-Lally, Director of Social and Emotional Learning Program, NoVo Foundation;
• Eric Schaps, president, Developmental Studies Center; and
• Roger Weissberg, president, Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

The New York-based NoVo Foundation seeks to foster a transformation in global society from a culture of domination and exploitation to collaboration and partnership, empowering women and girls as primary agents of change. NoVo places a high priority on educational approaches that foster a clear and compassionate view of the world. They have partnered with the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to work to establish social and emotional learning (SEL) as an essential part of education from preschool through high school. 

Research shows that strong evidence-based SEL programs and approaches result in greater academic performance and significantly decreased behavioral problems in schools. With NoVo’s investment of more than $6 million in SEL through a gift to CASEL, their hope is to bring a version of social and emotional learning to every school in every state. 

NoVo and CASEL are interested in visiting Jefferson County Public Schools, particularly our schools that have implemented the CARE for Kids initiative.

The meeting was adjourned by consensus at 2:10 p.m. No action was taken