Information, technology literacy standards approved
The goal of the district’s K-12 information and technology literacy curriculum is to provide tools for students as they are learning rather than learning about information and technology. School Board member approved the curriculum for this area after discussion about technology’s importance for young students.
Instructional Services Supervisor Margaret Bauman, Ph.D., said because the standards apply to all content areas, each district curriculum will identify specific standards and suggested activities for addressing the curriculum. Media specialists, writing-technology resource teachers and business eduation teachers will collaborate with teachers to implement the standards.
The curriculum, which is based on the state’s model academic standards and was written to comply with state requirements, include:
- media and technology to access, organize, create and communicate information for solving problems and constructing new knowledge, products and systems;
- information and inquiry to access, evaluate and apply information efficiently and effectively for a variety of sources;
- independent learning to apply information and technology skills to issues of personal and academic interest; and
- the learning community to work collaboratively to use information and technology in a responsible manner, respect intellectual property rights and recognize the importaance of intellectual freedom and access to information in a democratic society.
School Board member Jennifer Rude Klett said she was troubled with the use and teaching of technology at the early grades. She said every minute spent teaching technology skills takes away from instruction in basic skills. She also argued that incorporating technology is extremely expensive.
While she said she agreed with some of Klett’s points, School Board Member Deborah Briggs said that teaching technology and basic skills is not a matter of choosing one or the other. She said it was integrated in many cases. She pointed to the positive impact of teaching keyboarding skills to children at a younger age. She said taking away this instruction would be a disservice to children who will be competing with students from other districts where technology is used.
Fitness education curriculum approved
Bauman also presented recommendations from the district’s K-12 Fitness Education Curriculum Committee. This curriculum, too, was revised to reflect Wisconsin academic standards. The committee changed the name of the program from “physicial” to “fitness” education to emphasize the importance of helping students develop and maintain physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle during school and for a lifetime.
The following state content standards provide the framework for what students will know and do as a result of the fitness education program:
- lead an active lifestyle;
- learn and develop physical skills;
- understand physical activity and well-being;
- acheive and maintain health-enhancing physical fitness level;
- demonstrate responsible personal and social behavior, and respect for differences in physical activity settings.
Original middle and high school equipment replaced
The original dishwasher at Hamilton and boilers at Templeton will be replaced. The district accepted the low bids of $19,685 for the dishwasher and $116,800 for the Templeton boilers. School Board Member Gerald Schmitz noted that the boiler replacement will increase Templeton’s heating efficiency, and the district will recieve a $2,300 rebate from the FOCUS on Energy Program. Annual gas savings from the more efficient system are expected to be about $8,000 per year.
District agrees to affiliations
The district will pay $4,000 to participate in the Southeastern Wisconsin Schools Alliance and the Chapter 220 Program for the 2004-05 school year. The School Board authorized the payment of the fees which are the same as in 2003-04.
Insurance plans approved
Approval of insurance coverage from the following firms was approved:
- property and auto from Local Government Property Insurance Fund;
- boiler and machinery – Snyder Insurance;
- casualty coverage with EMC – through Mortensen, Matzelle & Meldrum; and
- excess liability – Fireman’s Fund.
Compensation for food service staff approved
School Board members approved salary and benefit compensation for food service staff that includes:
- a 39-cent increase in the beginning hourly rate for assistant cooks to $9.89 and a 68-cent increase for associate kitchen employees to $9.63;
- adjustment of the uniform allowance from $140 to $145;
- increased premium for certification from 40 cents per hour to 45 cents in 2005-06 and 50 cents in 2006-07; and
- decreasing the tenure needed to access paid holidays by two to three years. Labor Day would be a paid holiday after two years of service, Christmas Day after five years, Thanksgiving after eight years and New Year’s Day after 10 years.
Volunteer, Templeton students recognized
Seniors & Students Program volunteer Gladys Rolston was recognized for being a dedicated and loyal volunteer. Public Information and Volunteer Program Coordinator Denise Dorn Lindberg and Woodside Writing-Technology teacher Julie Smith said Rolston presented the reasons for Rolston’s nomination. Smith estimated that Rolston volunteered more than 500 hours in the five years that she has been volunteering at Woodside. Lindberg noted that Rolston began volunteering at Maple Avenue Elementary School two years before the Seniors & Students Program began.
Templeton Associate Principal Dale Kuntz highlighted and recognized the accomplishments of the school’s Mathematics and Science Fair. Seventh grade students in the advanced math class and the enriched science class presented their math and science fair research projects May 27 to teams of judges.
The science winners were: Jackie Michl, first place for “The Best White Balance Setting on a Digital Camera”; Andrea Salus second place for “The Force is with You”; and Allie Koelbl, third place for “To Mold or Not to Mold.”
The math winners were: Halley Greeneway, first place for “Identifying Speed and Perception of Ambiguous Figures by Gender and Hand Preference”; Marc Lundquist, second place for “The Angle of Golf”; and Marvin Saccucci, third place for “Soccer Reflexes.”
Personnel matter approved
In personnel matters, the School Board appointed two men to fill openings at Hamilton High School beginning in the 2004-05 school year. Daniel Krill was hired as a mathematics teacher and Alan Simays will teach science.