Maple Avenue Elementary School students, under the direction of music teacher Terry Fojtik, played handchimes and sang holiday songs for the Hamilton School Board. The presentation was a demonstration of Spectrum gifted and talented programming offered at the school. Students meet with Fojtik during lunch, before and after school. School Board members complimented Fojtik and students for their outstanding performance.
In her introductory remarks, Fojtik said she was happy to bring children’s music to the School Board which has been so child-centered.
Annual Strategic Planning Meeting reported
Educational Services and Human Resources Director Dean Schultz updated the School Board on the district’s Dec. 3 Annual Strategic Plan Meeting. The team reviewed the plan, learned about accomplishments, analyzed internal and external factors affecting the plan, identified critical issues and assessed the adequacy of the existing plan.
Schultz presented some accomplishments from three of four strategies.
Strategy #1: Create a staff development plan to implement and support best practices in instructional strategies in every classroom:
- Established Professional Development Advisory Council (PDAC), defined its parameters and membership
- Established measures of effectiveness
Strategy #2: Implement assessment practices that ensure continuous progress of each student
- Complete alignment to state standards
- Develop, share and utilize models
- Monitor implementation
- Develop measures for student progress
- Develop scoring guides
- Staff straining using Reeves model
- Determine goals and tasks for leadership team
- Develop position description
- Recruit teachers to serve on team
- Conduct training
Strategy #3: Communicate the mission, beliefs and accomplishments of the district to our internal and external communities by implementing a publish information plan
- Establish architecture of web site
- Determine content criteria
- Maintain web site
- Create mission statement posters
- Create map/brochures
- Include mission statement in all print media
- Establish community access cable studio
The Strategic Planning Team determined that each of the three strategies should continue with its existing action plans.
The fourth strategy of actively involving family and community members in the learning process of all students has a timeline to begin during the 2000-2001 school year.
The team concluded that an important strength of the district is the caring staff and an emphasis on increasing student expectations is timely.
Community Budget Advisory Committee to form
A Community Budget Advisory Committee will be established for the 2000-2001 school year with the School Board’s approval. The board charged the committee with reviewing the district budget process, discussing the revenue cap and its implications for the district, identifying community priorities for possible future budget consideration and analyzing ways to create efficiencies in identified budget areas.
Representatives of various communities, senior citizens, parents, staff and administration will comprise the committee. Members of last year’s committee will be invited to participate. The committee will complete and present its report to the board no later than March 20, 2000.
Polices, job descriptions clarified
The School Board revised a policy to clarify for parents and students that every credit must be completed before students may participate in commencement ceremonies. It also revised position descriptions for elementary writing resource teacher, library-media specialist, district technology coordinator and secretary to district technology coordinator that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Maple Avenue’s renovation continues
In facilities business, board members learned that the second phase of Maple Avenue’s construction project will begin with work completed based on resources available. Construction companies will submit bids to complete the second phase of renovation.
Auditing firm chosen
Virnig & Associates LLC was given a two-year contract for years ending 2000 and 2001 to provide auditing services. The district has used the firm for the past three years and saved money in doing so.