Positions added, revised to boost literacy progress School Board members approved a request to add 10 part-time literacy interventionists that will be financed through special education and Title I and II funds. In all, the cost of the additional teachers will be $145,000 with $87,000 coming from a special education flow-through grant and the rest […]
April 18, 2016
Budget is down 3.33% Hamilton School Board members took their first official look at the 2016-17 budget at their regular meeting. The budget totals $54.05 million, which is 3.33 percent less than the current budget. The decrease occurred because in 2015-16 the district’s expenses included use of fund balance revenue beyond the operational budget to […]
April 5, 2016
HEF grant funds language lab Hamilton High School world languages teacher Lindsay Klein showed Hamilton School Board members how technology allows her to differentiate instruction for the students in her German classes. Klein demonstrated capabilities of the Robotel Language Lab, provided to the school with a $45,000 Hamilton Education Foundation (HEF) grant. […]
March 21, 2016
Teachers report benefits of instructional coaching Teachers spoke to School Board members about the impact of a pilot to use instructional coaching to help teachers in the classroom. Members of the Coaching Research Team – Templeton teachers Cathy Drago and Patty Sankey, Lannon teacher Sarah Cromos and Hamilton teacher Addie Starrett – described how instructional […]
March 1, 2016
School Board welcomes Mielke as superintendent School Board members took official action March 1 to approve a contract for Paul Mielke, Ph.D., to become superintendent, effective July 1. After voting on his contract, board members congratulated Mielke and his family who attended the meeting with him. […]
February 15, 2016
Forest Kindergarten takes off at Woodside Woodside kindergarten teacher Peter Dargatz described the inaugural year of Forest Kindergarten. Dargatz takes his class of 22 5-year-olds outside each week, using nature as a guide for learning. The curriculum for his class is not different from regular kindergarten classes, he said, but instead of being inside a […]
February 2, 2016
Superintendent applicants selected for interviews School Board members met in closed session Feb. 2 with James Rickabaugh, Ph.D., the consultant who was hired to coach them through the superintendent selection process. Applicants were selected for interviews which will be held Feb. 8 and 10. Personnel matters In personnel action, the School Board: accepted the resignation […]
January 18, 2016
Board determines superintendent candidate profile Jim Rickabaugh, hired by School Board members to coach them through the superintendent search process, presented results of the online survey and focus groups conducted with parents, employees, business and community representatives. Attributes common among groups were: student focus; harnessing financial resources and business acumen; visible, accessible, approachable proactive communicator; […]
January 5, 2016
Rickabaugh to assist with superintendent search The Hamilton School Board chose to contract with James Rickabaugh Clarity Consulting for coaching services during its superintendent search process. Kathleen Cooke, Ph.D., who became Hamilton superintendent in 1993, announced her retirement in December, effective at the end of the school year. […]
December 21, 2015
Superintendent selection process chosen School Board members decided to secure the services of an outside consultant to help them in the superintendent search process. It was one of three options they considered which also included hiring a national search firm which could cost up to $25,000 or conduct the search on their own for little […]