Lannon site plan updated
Principal Dick Ladd highlighted the three strategies of Lannon Elementary School’s site plan. They are to:
- organize a schoolwide writing program;
- communicate with parents using weekly classroom newsletters;
- create and implement staff planning design to enable consistent and collaborative work across the entire staff.
Among the accomplishments are: participation in a writing workshop that provided teachers with new tools to enhance writing instruction; use of rubrics to ensure high quality written work; more frequent writing across the curriculum and all grade levels; increases in longitudinal writing test scores between third and fifth grade; implementation of classroom newsletters focused on curriculum and classroom activities; staff meetings that rotate between classrooms where teachers share what works; additional planning time provided for grade level teachers; and before-school study groups to discuss innovative texts.
Ladd said the second strategy concerning weekly teacher communication with parents is a part of the Lannon culture and no longer needs to be strategic. The writing and staff collaboration strategies should continue, he said. A new planning team will be assemblied next fall to create another site plan.
Community Budget Advisory Committee charge established
The state’s budget crisis is having an impact on the district’s 2002-03 Community Budget Advisory Committee. The School Board established a charge for the committee that is more narrow than in previous years. The district’s tight budget scenario provides less discretion on where dollars could be spent. The School Board identified that the committee will:
- review the state revenue cap formula;
- look at budget parameters including enrollment projections, potential revenue and anticipated expenses;
- review Facilities Advisory Committee recommendations;
- review Legislative proposals for K-12 funding and their implications for the district’s budget;
- identify and implement Legislative advocacy strategies; and
- report their work to the School Board.
In past years, the committee reviewed budget proposals for programs and services and prioritized them.
The committee is composed of community, senior citizen, parent, staff and administrative representatives. The committee will meet Feb. 27 and March 6 with additional meetings if needed. The School Board expects to hear its report by March 18.
Boundaries defined with Arrowhead
Rescinding action from a previous meeting, the School Board approved new district boundaries definitions for the Bonnilyn Acres property in the Town of Lisbon.
Hamilton School Board members took action in November to establish boundaries between Hamilton and Arrowhead school districts on a 41-acre parcel to be developed and sold. Because no historic documents initially could be located revealing district boundaries, the school districts and property owner developed ones that were agreeable to all parties. Since then, the original boundary definition was found. The Arrowhead School Board approved division of property to coincide with the original boundaries. Hamilton’s most recent action did the same.
District’s energy conservation measures reported
Energy conservation has been a top priority for the Maintenance Department so that savings can be used in other areas of the district. The School Board was apprised — through a written report from Facilities Manager Jeff Grove — of the measures taken in the district. Among them are:
- purchasing natural gass through a gas broker for savings of 35-50 percent;
- calibrating thermostats throughout the district to conform to the new energy conservation policy;
- rebuilding Willow Springs steam traps;
- verifying with Wisconsin Electric Company that the district is taking advantage of the best pricing structure;
- studying the feasibility of updating boilers at Templeton and Hamilton;
installing automatic lighting controls;
- communicating to custodians the need to minimize energy use after school hours; and
- investigating organizations that offer strategies to further reduce energy use.
Audit contract approved
Auditing services will be provided by Ed Virnig and Associates for 2002-04. After more than six years, the fee increased $500 for a cost of $5,000 per school year. The increase covers addtional work related to new reporting requirements.
Early graduation requests approved for 2003
Early graduation requests were approved for 16 juniors to graduate in January 2003. The following students met all the requirements and conditions of the district policy: Steven Armstrong, Derek Bonkoski, Karen Carlson, Benjamin Darvish, Laura Erdmann, Daniel Fischer, Tracy Gest, Angela Piel, Jennifer Pinter, Jacob Ruiz, Courtney Rusteika, Jamie Schoettlin, Jennifer Self, Kim Vogel, Matthew Wagner and Lindsay Wright.
Personnel matters approved
In personnel matters, the School Board:
- approved the retirement requests of Hamilton social studies teacher Ken Newman and Woodside kindergarten teacher Alice Fulop, both effective at the end of the 2001-02 school year;
- accepted the resignations of Lannon and Maple Avenue music teacher Sandra Landgren and Marcy teacher Sara King, both effective at the end of the current school year;
- granted leaves of absence to Maple Avenue third grade teacher Debra Grove and Lannon second grade teacher Amy McQuin for the 2002-03 school year; and
- appointed Michael Dahm as a Maple Avenue teacher aide, effective Feb. 11.