April 26, 2013 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

Description:  We have our agendas set for the 3 teacher in-service days in June.  On Monday and Tuesday our teachers and administrators will be trained on iObservation and peer evaluations.  This will help us meet the state's new requirements with teacher evaluations.  On Wednesday we'll all be trained on a new progress monitoring assessment tool for students.  We haven't decided yet between STAR Math & Reading or AIMS Web.  Also, there may be time on Wednesday afternoon for teachers and principals to look at the Pre-K through grade 12 math curriculum.  Thursday, June 6 will be the teachers last day and check out for them.  

Description:  What's happening at the Capitol

After long hours of debate on the floor, both the House and Senate passed the E-12 education finance omnibus bills.  The Senate bill passed on a straight party line vote.  In the House, ten Republicans joined the Democrats in voting yes.  Today, the Senate is debating the E-12 education policy bill.  The House combined the policy into the finance bill.  
 
Conference committee members from both the House and the Senate will probably be chosen today.  The education bills have significant differences and the conference committee will work to combine the two bills into the one final E - 12 education bill. Information on the education omnibus bills can be found here.  I will also post the names of the conference committee members on the same page when that information is known.   
 
The Senate tax omnibus bill was released, which included education-related provisions.  An Education Advancement Revenue (EAR) categorical is established.  The first $300 per pupil of a district's referendum revenue would be rolled into the EAR.  The levy cap would be reduced by $300 per pupil.  Districts with less than $300 in referendum, would be brought up to $300 through this discretionary levy. The equalization for the EAR is significantly increased.   However, other than for the EAR, equalization was not increased in the Senate tax omnibus for referendums. Now increased equalization, which lowers the cost for a levy dollar, is proposed in both the House education committee and the Senate tax committee.

Deb Griffiths
Director of Communications and Community Outreach
Schools for Equity in Education

Description:  Mary and I have been discussing the need for an audit of payroll and student activities.  She put together background information and a recommendation for the Board.  I intend to move forward with hiring Diane Schneider unless I hear thoughts/concerns/ideas from any board member next week.

Description:  Over 120 applications were submitted on AppliTrack for the HR/Payroll/Supt. Assistant position.  Mary and I interviewed 6 of the candidates and offered the position to Kelsie Herzog.  She lives in Little Falls and her husband works in Brainard.  In 2006, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southwest Minnesota State University.  Her major area of study was speech communications.  More recently in 2012, she earned a Masters degree from Minnesota School of Business.  Human Resources was the major area of study. 

Description:  Please find attached the weekly bills for your approval.