State’s threatened elimination of 4K program causes lay-off notices The threat from state Legislators to cut funding for 4-year-old kindergarten programming resulted in the School Board’s approval to send layoff notices to three additional teachers. State Legislators have proposed elimination of state aid for 4-year-old kindergarten programs as one measure to reduce the state deficit. […]
May 16, 2005
School Board appoints new Special Services supervisor The Hamilton School Board approved the appointment May 16 of Martha Freeman as the Special Services supervisor, contingent on contract release from her current employer. Freeman replaces Charlene DeGroot who will retire in June. Freeman will begin her position July 1. “We are pleased to be able to […]
May 3, 2005
District to move ahead with MAP assessment After one year of experience under its belt, the district will continue using the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) to determine students’ academic strengths and weaknesses in grades 5-9 and to some extent in grade 3. Instructional Technology & Assessment Coordinator Katherine Little and Instructional Services Supervisor Margaret […]
April 18, 2005
Staffing plan includes fewer positions in 2005-06 Next year’s staffing plan shows a reduction of more than four positions as a result of revenue caps and other state funding issues. Educational Services and Human Resources Assistant Superintendent Dean Schultz presented the plan to School Board members. Templeton Middle School will see the greatest drop in […]
April 5, 2005
Early mathematics program on track Providing timely intervention for elementary school students who struggle with mathematics has been the goal of the Early Mathematics Empowerment (EME) program that was implemented at Lannon Elementary School this year. Nancy Lorenz, a newly hired teacher who works 40 percent of the day, intervenes with 14 second- and third-graders. […]
March 21, 2005
Board adopts new elementary mathematics textbooks Cautioning administrators that adequate staff training must accompany the move, Hamilton School Board members voted 6-1 to approve new mathematics instructional material for grades K-5. The 18-member district Mathematics Committee made its recommendation after meeting since last fall to study best practices in mathematics instruction and review new elementary […]
March 1, 2005
EXPLORE testing to move to ninth grade Implementation of the EXPLORE assessment will move from eighth to ninth grade, following School Board action. As part of a Strategic Plan recommendation implemented years ago, all eighth-graders had been required to take the EXPLORE test, which is the entry point into the ACT’s Educational Planning and Assessment […]
February 21, 2005
Templeton course catalog sees changes The state’s budget deficit will have a direct impact on students at Templeton Middle School in 2005-06. The School Board approved the school’s course catalog that incorporated a seven-period day instead of the current eight-period format. Classes in core academics will be lengthened and the number of allied arts classes […]
February 1, 2005
High school course catalog sees changes Students are likely to notice a number of changes in the 2005-06 Hamilton High School Course Catalog. School Board members approved the modifications that Hamilton Principal David Furrer proposed. Many of the changes fell in one of three categories. Two curricular areas were retitled to reflect their new names. […]
January 17, 2005
Automated lunch payment system on-line for additional schools After a operating an automated lunch program at Lannon and Woodside elementary schools since November, the district will move ahead to bring the LunchBox computerized program to other schools that serve hot lunch. School Board members voted to install LunchBox systems at Marcy and Maple elementary schools […]