April 15, 2016 at 4:00 PM - Superintendent's Weekly Update to the Board of Education

Description: 
In our construction budget we have $454,500 available for the elementary secure front entrance/office, lunchroom, and bathrooms.  I am very pleased to share we are within our budget.  Please see attached Winkelman's budgeted costs.  The elementary bids will be approved on Monday.  And then we're set to go when students are done in May. 

Description: 
Mary and I decided to wait until the May board meeting to present a recommendation for bonding $2 dollars.  Remember it's the Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) funds that'll repay the debt.  We just couldn't get all of the data back in time for this month (e.g., elementary roofs).

Please see attached a very rough draft of the ideas we're generating.  These LTFM dollars will help us primarily with roofs, flooring and lights.  I've asked Tony to further consider what else our needs are at both schools. 

Description: 
Please see attached a summary of 2016 E12 budget provisions sent to me by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators (MASA).  The one I've been watching most closely is the funding for prekindergarten.

Voluntary Prekindergarten

Governor:  Recommends a voluntary prekindergarten program with a capped funding level. Appropriates $25 million in FY17, $40 million in FY18 and $60 million in FY19.

*  Programs would be required to provide at least 350 hours of instruction each school year.
*  Average Daily Membership (ADM) would be capped at 0.6. School districts would only receive .412 per ADM in funding if the program is 350 hours. As programs increase their hours, they would receive more per ADM and up to .6 ADM for 850 hours of programming.
*  Funding would be split between urban, suburban and greater Minnesota school districts, and charter schools.
*  Funding would be awarded based on poverty rates and the lack of three- and four-star Parent Aware rated programs in the area.
*  Provides that other funding streams would be increased because of the addition of per pupil funding (compensatory, ELL, declining enrollment revenue, etc.).

House: No change to current law.
Senate: Same as Governor.

Description: 
I planted the idea in Sue's head a couple years back Wi-Fi hotspots is something we may do on our route buses when our 1:1 technology devices is fully implemented in all grades.  Next school year every student will have a personal learning device.  Students will have new Chromebooks in grades 9-12 and iPads in grades K-8.  We'll have to watch what the state does with funding Wi-Fi hotspots.

Description: 
I want to give you a quick update on how we're working on the ACT scores for our students.  Joel has received back pricing for the John Baylor Prep online materials (see attachment).  I also told Mary to expect us spending dollars on ACT related items.  I told her and Joel the board agrees with us ACT scores are one of the school district's top priorities.  

JBP's ACT® Prep Course improves ACT scores an average of more than two points above a student's previous high score on the first ACT following the course- more on subsequent ACTs.  If this is true, and it appears it is, our students will achieve the Royalton School District goal of being above state average.

Jim and I visited with Dr. Julia Espe about the Marzano model for superintendent evals.  One of the things she shared with us was her students' ACT scores after implementing the JBP program.  You can find in the attached document her testimony is on the JBP website.

Using the JBP Program changed the culture of our school! The results are even better than I believed possible!  Dr. Julia Espe - Superintendent Princeton Public Schools

Description: 
Joel has offered the English position to Sheri Menden.  I believe all of you know her.  She had been a Royalton teacher for several years before leaving to Pierz School District.

I believe Pierz had recruited her fairly aggressive two years ago.  They offered her top pay to get her in the doors.  Sheri's front house door is only a few blocks from the school doors.  She's lived in Pierz for a number of years.

Similar to what we did with Randy Voyles a few years back I'm recommending we do a memo of understanding with Sheri to return her to the top step of the salary schedule.  The REM contract says anything over 8 years requires both board and REM approval.  Sheri is worth every dollar of step 15 plus her master's degree.

Sara Schreifels had entertained the idea of accepting a teaching job at Sartell School District.  Her younger children attend school there.  She turned down the position in large part because she knew we were able to hire Sheri Menden back in the MS-HS English department.  

Please don't tell others about Sara's decision to possibly leave.  It is understandable when you live in Sartell and your children go to school there.  It says a lot about Royalton Schools that she decided to stay!

On a side note, letting an under performing employee go allows us to further strengthen the employee team with a new hire and thus opportunities for our children.   

Description: 
Please see attached Brent's recommendation to non-renew Terry Gorecki as head wrestling coach.

Description: 
Please find attached Brent's written responses to numbers 7 & 8 in the MSHSL Eligibility Committee Minutes.  I know Terry has been calling board members misstating he has one (1) violation and the school district has nine (9).  This just is not true...what's new?

Terry received a censure by the MSHSL for his misconduct and violating their Bylaw 307 Undue Influence on Students.  The nine (9) recommendations for the school district were mostly affirmation by the League about what we were already doing and showing support for the additional items we were implementing.

Craig Perry and other eligibility committee members are learning more and more about Terry Gorecki.  Let's just say Craig is not pleased with Terry calling board members and misrepresenting the censure and nine (9) recommendations for the school district.  Everyone's true colors show eventually.  It's just more obvious to some of us earlier on.

Description: 
Kevin's reminder of steps for nonrenewing the head coach contract are as follows:

• The Board takes action to nonrenew the coaching contract. The contract can be nonrenewed “as the board sees fit.” However, parent complaints cannot be the “sole” reason for the action.
• The District has 14 calendar days to notify the coach that the contract has been nonrenewed.
• The coach can request the reasons for the decision. There is no time line for this request.
• If the reasons are requested, the Board has 10 calendar days to provide them.
• The teacher, if requested, has the right to respond to the reasons at a Board meeting. Again, there is no time line on the coach to make the request. And, there is no specific timeline for the Board to hold this meeting.

Minn. Stat. 122A.33, subds. 2 and 3.

Please know Kevin guides us through any of the above steps, if necessary.

Description: 
I am going to ask Michelle to include policies in the May board agenda.  One of the policies the board committee needs to review and consider is a public participation at board meeting policy.  Two things I think would help the board have productive meetings are to listen only during public comments and required sign-in to address the board.  This can be discussed in the board policy committee in the coming months.

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