OPI Summary of Activities
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Summary of OPI Activities for July
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Document Location: http://opi.mt.gov/OPISummary/Index.html
Last Modified: 6/29/09
RSS of OPI Activities

Highlights of State Superintendent Denise Juneau's Activities

Important Dates

Office of the State Superintendent


Superintendent Juneau signs application for State Fiscal Stabilization Funds

Submitted by Linda Kaiser on 6/29/09.
On Friday, June 26, 2009, Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau joined Governor Brian Schweitzer in submitting Montana's application for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds known as State Fiscal Stabilization Funds to U.S. Secretary of Education Duncan. Montana Commissioner of Higher Education Sheila Stearns submitted a letter in support of the application.

The 2009 Montana Legislature appropriated approximately $62.1 million in HB645 to be used, in part, to fund a portion of the 3% increase in K-12 BASE aid related to the Basic and per- ANB entitlements for the next two school-years

"We welcome the opportunity to apply for State Fiscal Stabilization Funds of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These funds will help schools make it through these tough economic times in order to maintain quality education services for students.
We are committed to rapidly distributing the funds once the state's application is approved by the Secretary" said Superintendent Juneau.

The 2009 Montana Legislature appropriated approximately $60 million in Education Stabilization funding to the Montana University System. These funds enabled the Board of Regents to bolster their commitment to access and affordability by allowing a tuition freeze to continue on all two-year campuses and at smaller four-year colleges.

Commissioner Stearns stated, “Education Stabilization funding comprised a considerable portion of our budget and essentially laid the foundation for general and educational operations to be delivered at the high level Montanans have come to expect.”

Visit the Office of Public Instruction's website at www.opi.mt.gov for additional information regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

 

For more information, contact Linda Kaiser, 444-3160. Return to the Top of the Page


OPI American Recovery and Reinvestment Act website

Submitted by Faith Moldan on 6/29/09.
In recent weeks, the Office of Public Instruction launched its new American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) webpage - http://recovery.mt.gov/opi/default.mcpx - in cooperation with Governor Schweitzer's office. The page provides information on major ARRA provisions for prekindergarten through grade 12. A link to this page is found on the OPI homepage - http://www.opi.mt.gov - under Recovery Act News.

OPI encourages you to learn more about the ARRA by visiting www.opi.mt.gov/RecoveryAct/. This OPI-specific page includes links, documents for download and access to recordings of OPI's ARRA web conferences held earlier this spring, as well as conference materials.

These pages also link to the official Montana state ARRA page - http://recovery.mt.gov/default.mcpx - and the federal site - http://www.recovery.gov/

For more information, contact Faith Moldan, 444-5643. Return to the Top of the Page


Early Grades Conference cancelled

Submitted by Faith Moldan on 6/29/09.
The Early Grades - Ready to Learn Conference scheduled August 5-6 has been cancelled due to scheduling conflicts. Thank you for your interest in the conference.
OPI hopes to reconvene its Early Grades (Kindergarten) Conference next year. In the meantime, please consider attending the 2009 Montana Reading Institute https://toto.msu.montana.edu/cs/mri/registration. Other OPI conferences and events are posted on the OPI calendar at http://www.opi.mt.gov under the calendar link.

For more information, contact Faith Moldan, 444-5643. Return to the Top of the Page

Superintendent Juneau seeks Talent Pool recommendations

Submitted by Faith Moldan on 6/29/09.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau is seeking recommendations of outstanding educators for the Superintendent's Talent Pool.

The Superintendent's Talent Pool is a list of K-12 Montana educators recommended to the Office of Public Instruction as outstanding teachers, who have demonstrated exceptional instructional ability, have an inspiring presence, and exhibit professional leadership.

Nominations must be confidential and the person being nominated must not know they are being considered.

Recommendations should be made using the Talent Pool Recommendation Form, which allows for on-line entry. Forms can also be printed and sent to Faith Moldan, Superintendent’s Office, Office of Public Instruction, PO Box 202501, Helena, MT 59620-2501 or faxed to 444-2893. The deadline for recommendations is July 10, 2009.

To fill out a form, visit http://www.opi.mt.gov/superintendent/talentpool.html or for more information, call 444-5643.

For more information, contact Faith Moldan, 444-5643. Return to the Top of the Page


Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Winners for 2009-10

Submitted by Carol Gneckow on 6/29/09.
Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Winners for 2009-10
The Office of Public Instruction is proud to announce that there have been 26 exemplary winners selected from a field of over 200 Montana high school applicants as Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship winners for the school year 2009-10! There were 82 high schools represented this year. Based upon the availability of federal funds Montana receives from the U.S. Department of Education, the individual award for 2009-10 is $1,500.

When each scholarship winner has completed their freshman year of college and have met the college’s eligibility requirements, the Byrd Scholar may renew the scholarship for up to three more years, undergraduate study only.

The 2009-10 winners are:
John Ausick, Ausick Home School
Matthew Bean, Augusta High School
Matthew Belleville, Flathead High School
Elizabeth Bierer, Corvallis High School
Julie Campbell, Bozeman High School
Grant Getts, Columbia High School
Beau Gibbs, Dawson High School
Lena Heuscher, Choteau High School
Alyssa Hjelvik, Melstone High School
Brittany Irion, Billings Skyview High School
Elisabeth Kilsdonk, Baker High School
Jace Meng, Sentinel High School
Claire Mikeson, Stanford High School
Christopher Peck, Great Falls High School
Victoria Pennell, Pennell Home School
Sydney Reichhardt, Butte High School
Steven Reistroffer, Plains High School
Dustin Satterfield, Roundup High School
Chelsea Seddon, Park High School
Charles Shafaieh, Beaverhead Co High School
Kristina Smith, Butte High School
Edward Stevenson, Bridger High School
Lara Strickland, Columbus High School
Allison Stringer, Sentinel High School
Kyle Tusler, Terry High School
Jeremy Warner, Sidney High School

We join their families, friends and teachers in congratulating all 26 of these outstanding high school students on this achievement!

Please visit the Office of Public Instruction Web page for scholarship information http://www.opi.mt.gov/Scholarships.Index.html about the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship. Contact Carol Gneckow, (406) 444-2417, or e-mail, cgneckow@mt.gov for questions.


For more information, contact Carol Gneckow, (406) 444-2417. Return to the Top of the Page

Accreditation


Key Points to Fulfill the HQT Requirements

Submitted by Linda Vrooman Peterson on 6/29/09.
The Office of Public Instruction (OPI)continues to work with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and with Montana's districts to ensure that all teachers meet the federal highly qualified teacher (HQT)requirements.

To fulfill these federal HQT requirements, districts must: ensure all teachers newly hired meet the HQ requirements; ensure all experienced teachers teaching core academic classes complete the HOUSSE to determine HQ status and fulfill HQT requirements as soon as possible; and assure that the district complies with the HQT requirements of NCLB/ESEA Title II, Part A, Section 2141 (a) and (c).

Beginning in the fall of 2009, the HQT information will be collected electronically as part of the Annual Data Collection. This process provides to the OPI the data needed to report HQT information to the ED.

For more detailed information regarding the HQT requirements, please refer to the Official E-Mail titled, "Key Points to Fulfill the HQT Requirements" posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009. In addition go to the HQT Frequently Asked Questions and the "Montana NCLB HQT Data Collection Manual for School Year 2008-09" located on the OPI Web page at www.opi.mt.gov/federalprograms. The Manual includes the High Objective Uniform State Standard of Evaluation (HOUSSE).

OPI contact person: Linda Vrooman Peterson, telephone, (406) 444-5726, and e-mail, lvpeterson@mt.gov.


For more information, contact Linda Vrooman Peterson, (406) 444-5726. Return to the Top of the Page

Assessment


January 2010 OPI Statewide Assessment Conference

Submitted by Karen Richem on 6/29/09.
SAVE THE DATE!
The 2010 Statewide Assessment Conference has been scheduled for January 28-29 at the Red Lion Colonial Hotel in Helena, MT. More details about registration later this summer and fall.

For more information, contact Judy Snow, 406-444-3656. Return to the Top of the Page

MontCAS Presents Online Professional Development

Submitted by Karen Richem on 6/29/09.
The Office of Public Instruction is pleased to present online professional development courses, workshops, and events. The courses and events will be presented through Connect Pro and require each participant's computer to have speakers and Adobe Flash Player, software that is preinstalled on 98% of computers today.
Participants will be able to type questions in a confidential Question and Answer (Q&A) Pod and the presenter(s) will be able answer the questions during the session.
Presentations will be posted to the OPI Assessment MontCAS Presents web page a few days after the live performance.
If you have never attended a Connect Pro meeting before, it is suggested that you test your connection and get a quick overview ahead of time.
Test your connection: http://connect.opi.mt.gov/common/help/en/support/meeting_test.htm
Quick overview: http://www.adobe.com/go/connectpro_overview
(Adobe, the Adobe logo, Acrobat and Acrobat Connect are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and/or other countries.)

MontCAS Presents:
Formative Assessment Semester Course, designed and presented by Margaret Heritage of UCLA CRESST. Speakers include W. Jim Popham and Ellen Osmundson of UCLA CRESST, Caroline Wylie and Richard Stiggins of ETS, and Montana educators.
More information, including registration and connection details, will be posted at a later date on the MontCAS Presents website.

Fall 2009 Standards Based IEPS
Details will be posted at a later date on the MontCAS Presents website.
September 2009 CRT-Alternate Eligibility and Registration
Details will be posted at a later date on the MontCAS Presents website.
September 2009 English Language Proficiency (ELP) Assessment Administration Training
Details will be posted at a later date on the MontCAS Presents website.

Please check the MontCAS Presents website for up-to-date information.
www.opi.mt.gov/assessment/mcpresents.html

We look forward to your participation in these events.
If you need assistance or have questions, please contact the OPI assessment staff.

 

For more information, contact Judy Snow, 406-444-3656. Return to the Top of the Page


2009-2010 English Language Proficiency Schedule

Submitted by Karen Richem on 6/29/09.
July 14, 2009 OPI sends Questar the list of districts with LEP students reported in AIM. Any district with LEP students in AIM will receive ELP materials.

July 31, 2009 Questar emails System Test Coordinators information about ordering Level 1 (beginner forms), Braille, and Large Print (LP) test forms through a secure online system.

August 3 - 21, 2009 Level 1 (beginner), Braille, and Large Print (LP) forms must be requested by August 21. Systems order them through the secure online system.

September 4, 2009 OPI sends Questar the number of LEP students in each grade based on what is reported in AIM. This number will help Questar determine how many test booklets to send to each system.

September 14 - October 16, 2009 System Test Coordinators provide training for test administrators.

October 5, 2009 Questar ships testing materials to System Test Coordinators.

October 19-November 20, 2009 English Language Proficiency (ELP)Testing Window

October 30, 2009 OPI sends Questar the list of students identified as LEP in AIM, so that Questar can print barcode labels for the students. AIM must be updated no later than October 29, 2009 in order to receive barcode labels for students.

November 9, 2009 Questar mails barcode labels to systems (2nd day delivery).

December 4, 2009 Deadline for systems to ship testing materials to Questar.

February 2010 Questar ships reports to System Test Coordinators



For more information, contact Karen Richem, 406-444-0748. Return to the Top of the Page

Career Technical & Adult Education


Culinary Tips for Teachers

Submitted by Megan Anderson, OPI on 6/29/09.
The 'Culinary Tips for Teachers' workshop will be held on July 27-31, 2009, at the University of Montana--College of Technology in Missoula. For more information, please contact Megan Anderson, FCS Education Specialist at manderson2@mt.gov.
 

For more information, contact Diana Fiedler, OPI, 406 444-9019. Return to the Top of the Page

FCCLA National Leadership Conference

Submitted by Megan Anderson, OPI on 6/29/09.
The FCCLA National Leadership meeting will be held July 12-16, 2009, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. For more details, contact Megan Anderson, FCCLA State Adviser at manderson2@mt.gov or visit http://www.fcclainc.org
 

For more information, contact Diana Fiedler, OPI, 406 444-9019. Return to the Top of the Page

Family & Consumer Sciences Professional Development

Submitted by Bernie Mason, FCS Extension Agent on 6/29/09.
A 'Getting Our FCS House in Order' two-day teacher workshop will be taking place June 30 & July 1, 2009, at Lockwood Middle School, in Billings. At the present time this workshop is full. For more information, please contact Bernie Mason, Committee Chair at 406 256-2828 or by e-mail at: bmason@montana.edu.
 

For more information, contact Diana Fiedler, OPI, 406 444-9019. Return to the Top of the Page

OSHA Safety Training for Teachers

Submitted by Don Michalsky, OPI on 6/29/09.
An OSHA Safety Training for Teachers two-day course will be held July 13-14, 2009, in Lewistown and repeated on July 27-28 at Miles City Community College. This course is for personnel from all types of industries and education. It is designed to present an overview of how the provisions of the OSH Act may be implemented in the workplace--including the classroom. Staff from the Dept. of Labor and Industry Safety and Health Bureau will conduct the workshop. Information regarding the content of the workshop, college credit and renewal units were sent out to all Agriculture and Industrial Technology instructors. OSHA 10 certifications will be issued to participants completing the requirements. There is no cost for attendance and completion of the course. Costs will be covered by sponsors. To register, please contact Cherry Beatty, University of MT-Helena at 406-444-6858 or by e-mail at cherry.beatty@umhelena.edu. For more information, contact Don Michalsky at 406 444-4452 or Jim Burns at 406 465-0442.

For more information, contact Diana Fiedler, 406 444-9019. Return to the Top of the Page

Centralized Services

Educator Licensure

Educational Opportunity & Equity Division


Register Online for this Year's Montana Reading Institute

Submitted by Debbie Hunsaker on 6/29/09.
The Montana Reading Institute 2009 will be at the Best Western Heritage Inn in Great Falls, August 10-12th. This year's institute will feature Anita Archer and Kevin Feldman as keynote speakers on Monday, and there will be a selection of courses in K-9 strands open to teachers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Additionally, an RTI strand of courses will be offered this year as well. For more information please refer to following url where you can register and view the informational brochure: https://toto.msu.montana.edu/cs/mri
 


For more information, contact Debbie Hunsaker, 444-0733. Return to the Top of the Page

Teacher Mentor Trainer Institute

Submitted by BJ Granbery on 6/29/09.
The Teacher Mentor Trainer Institute, is an Institute that will provide professional development to teacher leaders and other education personnel interested in providing professional development to districts or schools that are in the process of developing or have developed a teacher mentor program. Districts that have developed teacher mentor programs in Montana consistently report that providing high-quality training to the mentors is a challenge. NOTE: Districts with one or more Title I schools identified for improvement are required to implement a teacher mentoring program.

Learning outcomes for the institute include:

Greater understanding of teacher mentoring concepts;
Ability to extend and consolidate the tools and techniques of skillful mentoring;
Expanding the learner's repertoire of strategies for navigating between coaching, consulting and collaborating with protégés – an essential part of a good mentoring relationship; and
Ability to provide training to other teacher mentors.

This institute will provide a curriculum model for mentor training that can also be used in working with curriculum coaches. The institute is sponsored by: OPI ESEA, Title I-Part A Program; Montana's State Personnel Development Grant; OPI ESEA Title II-Part A Program; and MEA-MFT.

More information and registration can be found at the following link:

http://www.opi.mt.gov/pdf/speced/link/09JulyMentorTrainFlyer.pdf


Nikki Sandve

Coordinator - State Personnel Development Grant (SPDG)

PO Box 202501, Helena, MT 59620-2501

406-444-0299; fax: 406-444-3924

www.opi.mt.gov


 


For more information, contact Nikki Sandve, 406-444-0299. Return to the Top of the Page


Title I Supplemental Services and Public School Choice

Submitted by Jack O'Connor on 6/29/09.
Alert! NEW! Parents with students in Title I schools identified for improvement, corrective action, or restructuring must be notified and informed of public school choice options no later than 14 days prior to the beginning of the school year. This can be done on the basis of the current identification if the school will likely not exit improvement status, which takes two years of making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) or it must be done on the basis of proposed AYP and improvement status determinations that will be issued at the end of July/early August.

The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) has produced an online video about Supplemental Educational Services and Public School Choice in Title I. This presentation contains regulatory guidance about existing rules, gives an overview of the new Title I regulations established in 2009, and lists several proposed changes to those new regs under consideration by the United States Department of Education. District superintendents and principals should view this video if they have districts or schools receiving Title I that are in improvement, corrective action, or restructuring.

Please click on the following link or type it into your browser.

http://www.opi.mt.gov/streamer/ses/

You can also find the online video by going to the OPI Web site at www.opi.mt.gov under the Programs and Services pull down menu. Locate Title I Part A Improving Basic Programs in the list under Federal Programs. Once on that web page, click on Supplemental Educational Services and School Choice. The video is the first item.

 

For more information, contact Jack O'Connor, 406-444-3083. Return to the Top of the Page


Title I Statewide System of Support Training

Submitted by Jack O'Connor on 6/29/09.
The Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) will be hosting a three day workshop August 5-7, 2009 to work on school improvement plans and present training on a successful classroom observation tool.

All schools in improvement year 2 status and beyond are invited to attend. A selected number of schools in Restructuring are required to send a team as a condition of pending school improvement grant awards.

The first day of the workshop (August 5) will be spent working with the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL), the OPI staff, and the OPI school coach in writing and developing district and school action plans for the upcoming school year. While some schools may have already written goals for the year by the time of the training, this training will assist the school in implementing and monitoring those plans. Time will be given to work on Title I school and district improvement plans that will be contained in the new Five-Year Comprehensive Education Plan online format.

The second and third days of the workshop (August 6 and 7) will be set aside for iWalkthrough training. OPI Scholastic Review Teams have been using iWalkthrough as part of the follow up visits to schools conducted this past year. Some districts have expressed an interest in using this tool with one or more schools. Districts that would like to have a team of administrators attend this training, will need to purchase the iWalkthrough license and iPod Touches for every team member before the training. (Ten selected districts are required to do so and have been notified along with their application forms for new school improvement grants.)

The iWalkthrough program was developed by the Great Schools Partnership of Portland, Maine. It has proven to be an effective tool for our SRT teams to gain insights into classroom instruction that can be shared with school administrators and staff. It is an observation, monitoring, and evaluative tool that can be used by school administrators to improve teaching and learning, but is not for individual teacher evaluations. The program uses the iPod Touch on which classroom data is gathered and then uplinked to the Internet. This data can then be used to improve the academic program at your schools. More information about the program can be found at
www.iwalkthrough.org.

 

For more information, contact Jack O'Connor, 406-444-3083. Return to the Top of the Page

Health Enhancement and Safety


School Lunch Prices

Submitted by Teresa Motlas on 6/29/09.
School Nutrition Programs calculated the average lunch and breakfast prices for K-12 schools in 2008-09 as $1.83 and $1.14. Schools varied with respect to price. The range for lunch prices was $.60 - $3.60, while the range for breakfast prices was $.30- $2.00. The variance in price reflects factors at the local level. When considering changes to your price structure, please consider adapting your old policy or adopting a new school policy for charging meals. For more information, go to the School Nutrition Association's policy packet on the School Nutrition Program page under School Programs Forms and Guidance, meal counting and claiming or click on http://www.opi.mt.gov/PUB/PDF/SchoolFood/Forms/SchlDistChargePolicy.pdf


School Nutrition Programs
406-444-2501


For more information, contact Teresa Motlas, 444-2501. Return to the Top of the Page


Summer Food Service Program

Submitted by Teresa Motlas on 6/29/09.
Many locations are providing meals to children this summer through the Summer Food Service Program. Children from 2 to 18 may attend open enrollment sites across the state. For a list of sites and serving times go to the OPI website, School Nutrition Homepage, Summer Food Service Program, and select Summer Food Service Program Feeding Sites or click here http://www.opi.mt.gov/PUB/PDF/SchoolFood/Summer/08OpenSites.pdf .

School Nutrition Programs
406-444-2501


For more information, contact Teresa Motlas, 444-2501. Return to the Top of the Page


Commodity Bonus Items

Submitted by Teresa Motlas on 6/29/09.
If you're looking to stock your pantry with a few more items for the 2009-10 school year, consider ordering commodity bonus items! Bonus Wild Blueberries from Maine, Turkey Breast Deli Meat, UHT (Ultra High Temperature) Milk, and Walnuts are still available. Place your orders online at www.opi.mt.gov/schoolfood/foodDistNEW.html

Judy Wilson
406-444-4415
juwilson@mt.gov


For more information, contact Judy Wilson, 444-4415. Return to the Top of the Page


2009-2010 School Nutrition Forms

Submitted by Teresa Motlas on 6/29/09.
Schools can find the School Nutrition Program free and reduced price eligibility forms for the 2010 school year on the School Nutrition Programs website under School Programs Forms and Guidance. Residential facilities must update their Sponsor and Site sheets at http://data.opi.mt.gov/CNP/Login.asp by August 10 and schools should update their Sponsor and Site sheets by September 30.

School Nutrition Programs
406-444-2501

For more information, contact Teresa Motlas, 444-2501. Return to the Top of the Page


Traffic Education TE06 Year End Reports Due July 10 for August Reimbursement

Submitted by Fran Penner-Ray on 6/29/09.
Reimbursement for 2008 - 2009 Traffic Education (TE) Programs will be made in August. We anticipate payment to be approximately $75 - $90 per TE student.

Throughout the year, you should have been sending the white copies of both the TE03 Certification with the TE04 Student List for all your traffic education classes completed between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. Your TE06 Year End Report is due July 10 and it can be filed online through IRIS, mailed or faxed to (406) 444-2955.

Traffic Education TE01 Program Applications must be submitted before your traffic education class begins. Program Applications are due August 1 for the 2009 - 2010 school year and the 2010 summer programs. The schedule of approved TE programs and copies of the TE forms are available on the OPI Driver Education Web Page http://www.opi.mt.gov/DriverEd .

 

For more information, contact Fran Penner-Ray, 406-444-4432. Return to the Top of the Page


Montana DR.I.V.E. Summer One Day Workshops in Lewistown

Submitted by Fran Penner-Ray on 6/29/09.
Encourage drivers of cars, trucks, buses and ambulances to register soon for one of the Montana DR.I.V.E. Summer workshops. Advanced driver training workshops have been on track in Lewistown, Montana since 1979. Professional driving instructors take drivers through off-road recovery, skid control and evasive maneuvers. The behind-the-wheel training increases risk awareness and teaches skills to respond safely to driving risks.

One day workshops cost $275 and include two hours of classroom and seven hours in vehicles. The fleet includes sedans, a suburban, an ambulance, a dump truck, several school buses and a fire truck. Summer workshops are limited to 12 participants each day and we encourage you to call early to schedule (406) 444-4432. E-mail registration requests to montanadrive@mt.gov.
The workshop schedule, registration and additional information are available through our web site: http://www.montanadrive.mt.gov .

 

For more information, contact Fran Penner-Ray, 406-444-4432. Return to the Top of the Page

Indian Education

Information Technology Services

Measurement and Accountability

School Finance


OPI 2009 Summer Workshops Registration Now Open

Submitted by Denise Ulberg on 6/29/09.
OPI will host free regional workshops on school finance, budgeting and accounting. The workshops will focus on 2009 legislative changes, new funding and regulations as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), and miscellaneous school finance topics. Workshops are open to those interested in school finance, budgets and school expenditure/revenue reporting.

On-line registration is available at this link: http://www.opi.mt.gov/regforms/sbaw/

NOTE: There are three tabs at the top of the registration page. The Overview tab gives you the dates and locations for each workshop. Click on the Registration tab to register for a workshop. The Agenda tab shows the workshop agenda for the day.

Please make sure you register completely and click on SUBMIT when you are finished, otherwise your registration will not be processed.



For more information, contact Donell Rosenthal, (406) 444-3024. Return to the Top of the Page

Special Education

Other Education News

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