The district curriculum committee of Albert Lea Area Schools is seeking interested community members to fill vacancies on the district committee for 2010-2011.

The committee provides community members a place to discuss the educational programs of the schools as they are being developed or reviewed. The committee works directly with the school district staff to review existing curriculum and makes recommendations for curriculum additions, deletions, or changes to the school board for their consideration and action.

The committee meets for two hours once a month, usually on the fourth Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. This schedule is reviewed each fall. People interested in becoming a member of this committee may call the District Office 379-4800. Judy Knudtson, director of curriculum, or Heidi Skophammer, administrative assistant to the committee, can answer any questions about the committee and send out membership questionnaires upon request. Committee membership begins with an orientation in late August.

There are no special educational requirements for committee membership. Orientation and training will be provided for committee members, as needed, in areas such as state requirements and student achievement.

In addition to representing various categories within the community, the primary requirements for membership include:

 A resident of Independent School District 241 and able to represent one of the many groups which make up the school district.

A willingness to attend the monthly meetings to learn about the educational programs in District 241.

An openness to the challenge of maintaining an appropriate curriculum for the future needs of students in the Albert Lea Area Schools.

A perspective which transcends single issues and takes into account the complexity of education in the world today.

A respect for the opinions of others.

The director of curriculum, a secondary principal, an elementary principal and three teachers are the only district representatives on the committee. The rest of the 30 members are community members and one student from each high school grade. Committee members are appointed for a term of three years by the school board. Members may serve additional terms.