Superintendent Board Report May 2020

General Comments:  Our staff are all in the process of closing out the year. Maintenance, Custodial and Teaching Staff are all figuring out how to so a bit differently due to the school closure. School work is being collected and grades being annotated under the recommendation of NDE to “Hold Harmless” our students as much as possible. To some extent our staff are reorganizing for next year. All of us are hoping for a more normal return. Concurrent with closing out the year we are collectively transitioning to next year (budget, calendar, training etc.). Busy, busy, busy.

Teachers/Students: The school and district leadership will present on budget and the Academic Summary next Tuesday. The plan:

a.     Open the budget Hearing at 3:30 PM.

b.    Formally review the recommended budget (Power Point). Anabel is attaching support documents and Jeff Higgins a K12. Inc (Virtual Curriculum) Power Point. Neither of the latter two will be formally presented. They are attached for the Board should they wish more in-depth information on the budget. Feel free to call, email, comment and/or question before or during the budget hearing.

c.     Complete the budget hearing by 4:15 PM.

d.    Conduct the May board meeting and district business. Of significance is the end of year Academic Summary and approval of the budget.

The monthly District PLC/Safety meeting was conducted at its usual date/time the Tuesday prior to the board meeting. The following agenda items were:

1. Board Agenda

2. ASO/Principal updates (Virtual Closeouts, Graduation, Awards, Training, Calendar and so forth).

3. Safety Issues

   a. State Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Funds request

  b. Review the COOP and Pandemic Annexes

4. Other (Safe Voice Template, Incident Command Webinars, Restorative Justice integration to the Behavior Plan and three Summer School plans)

The state has determined that Summative (SBAC) and Spring MAP is not required this year. Because of this the District Leadership Academic Summary will be based on the MAP results Winter Assessment to Winter Assessment for the last three years, rather that Spring to Spring.

The district will adjust the PLC structure for next year. Mr. Fossett will facilitate a district 6-8 PLC once a month and Ms. Sandra Miramontes will facilitate a district PK-5 PLC concurrently and separately. The normal Building level PLC will be held once a month as well. The advantage for kiddos will be discernable as we present the Academic Summary to the board.

We are still waiting to hear from the state on our grad request. We are poised with a plan at each site should it be approved. I am hoping that the trustees will remain flexible as we wait. There was slight delay in that Dr. Ebert requested an endorsement by our County Health person. We got it and it is in their lap now.

District Facilities Update.

Painting, repairing and cleaning at all sites.

Safe and Orderly school environment.  

The Board Agenda will include a resolution to approve a Pandemic Annex document as part of our Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). It will not be a part of the board packet for confidential reasons.

Still waiting for ACE to bring in the last battery upgrade and for the State Fire Marshall to offer final review. No date yet. The Fire alarms are working OK for drills.

Real Estate: As previously reported, there is a small parcel of land that adjoins the new gas station construction in GF. The owner would like to have it. I have a survey company standing by. Mike has formally contacted the County for proof of school ownership but is still waiting for the opening of County offices.

Superintendent/Board:  

We have been inundated with information regarding operating schools during the Pandemic (Federal, State, NDE, NASB, NASS, POOL/PACT, Safety Office, State and County Health, Vendors, Sheriff’s office ….).  Please know that we have not had a shortage of help.

Letters of intent were signed by me and sent out to staff. All have said they are returning. Our Counselor, Jeffrey Higgins, has announced at our PLC meetings that he has opted to leave although he signed a contract.  Many will miss him. He made a positive difference.  Melinda Melendrez has submitted her resignation, effective October 31^st, 2020, but has offered to stay on part-time thereafter to provide Administrative Support and assist as Safety Program Coordinator on an as needed basis.  Her years of dedication have improved our district in so many ways. She will be greatly missed.

Anabel, Wendy and Bill Kirby have worked diligently with what little information we have, to place an appropriate budget proposal before the board. They are truly deserving of your accolades.

All the good that we do is a result of a strong and united team effort. I am loathe to mention any one person but will say that Mr. Fossett has really added to our academic initiatives and successes this year. Those who have been closely involved will attest to this.

Theresa and I have moved to the NE Teacherage in Dyer, the Fossett’s are moving to the one that we are vacating and Elizabeth to his. Terry Jacobs is back in her RV in GF as was originally planned.

Our site leaders for next year are: Jasmine in Dyer, Mr. Fossett Principal in GF and Josh in SPE. The District Incident Command Structure is the Superintendent, then Mr. Fossett, and then Ms. Kile.

Thanks for who you are and for your support of the district. Stay Safe. 😊