Friday, October 30, 2009

SCHOOL CALENDAR – 2010-2011 and 2011-2012

Discussion was held whether or not to incorporate a spring break in upcoming school calendars. A survey of other districts outside of the metro area that have four-year institutes varied in responses with regard to whether or not they have a spring break and if they coincide with their area college/university. The after Labor Day start was also a determining factor for some districts.

Spring break is a time when we could be doing a lot of academic programming. Families seem to take vacations at various times of year, not necessarily when spring break is scheduled. Students of poverty are sometimes home alone during spring break. With discretionary days available for staff, spring break seems to have become less valuable.

I would like to pursue, with the Legislature, a before-Labor Day start. A District would have to give a specific reason to start before Labor Day. It was noted that MnSCU Colleges/Universities all have the same start date, as well as break dates. Perhaps communities located in greater Minnesota next to MnSCU institutions and other post high school institutions could benefit in their partnerships if we maintained similar calendars.

Members will be invited to draft calendars for the upcoming two years. A meeting will be scheduled soon, with a goal of having calendars completed by January/February.

Please complete the polls on the right.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

ST. CLOUD AREA SCHOOLS, GRIP & THE KIRWAN INSTITUTE

There's a partnership between District 742 and GRIP that includes the Kirwan Institute. The goals for the partners are to provide information about GRIP’s work with the Institute and to talk specifically about the opportunity to work together on goals that both the District and GRIP have in common (directly from our Equity VisionCard) by beginning with a focus group with the Kirwan Institute.

GRIP’s work with the Kirwan Institute includes Opportunity Mapping, a tool that analyzes underlying causes relating to accessing opportunities within the community. The tool can show community based disadvantages and inequities that affect quality of life, etc., as well as ways to unite community stakeholders. Another opportunity with Kirwan is the development of a communication strategy that would help to focus efforts to increase opportunities for families; it would also focus efforts on increasing student achievement and would help us to collaborate on agreed upon goals and solutions.

A first step in terms of communications strategies is to agree on some goals for dialogue. It was stated that focus dialogue groups in our community would assist in developing a communication strategy. A focus group could be organized to learn about perceptions and beliefs, as well as develop formative language based on common ground. Information would be gathered that allow policy makers to make informed decisions and create public service messages to transform community member perceptions. Groups could initially be separated, and then brought together to talk about common barriers, values, and themes they share, as well as a common understanding. Additional goals would include an inclusive curriculum that honors cultures and history of students.

The direction of the focus groups would need to be worked out. The Kirwan Institute is working with a number of school districts across the nation. St. Cloud is much like other regional centers that are becoming more diverse, and other smaller districts could benefit from the work St. Cloud is doing.

We believe we have some of the finest programs in the country for our students, and that anything we can do to reach more families in the community to build those bridges and partnerships, and to gain an understanding that this District is about moving forward with all students (not just those in poverty situations) would be beneficial.

We are recommending that focus groups be centered on the integration/equity VisionCard and how it aligns with GRIP goals, and then problem solve on how to make movement on that VisionCard. The Kirwan Institute would help us identify deeper issues surrounding the goals and allow us to ask complex research questions.

There’s a report going back to the Kirwan Institute that the District is on board with this (no cost to the school district). Equity Services staff will be involved in the equity VisionCard. We will add an area about equitable curriculum as an additional line in the VisionCard. All players will determine research questions to be addressed with the opportunity mapping provided by the Kirwan Institute.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Oak Hill Community School 6th grade to South

The administration and I made the recommendation to move the Oak Hill Community School 6th grade to South Junior High School effective with the 2010-2011 school year, and the school board voted in favor of doing this. After several months of studying this with parents, staff members and community members, we were able to arrive at this recommendation.

This move will alleviate the space pressures at Oak Hill, and it is also the first step in creating a better program for 6th-8th graders. We recognize the value of students being in one building for three years rather than two. The 6th graders will be able to experience more opportunities at South, including the Media Center, better technology geared toward their age level, advancements in Math, etc. The move will also result in lower class sizes for the 6th grade at South vs. Oak Hill.

I also recommend a Phase 2 plan be brought forth at a future time, and would involve adding all 6th grade students from Talahi, Clearview, and Lincoln Schools to South Junior High in 2011-2012. This Phase 2 proposal would go through the same decision making process as was used for Phase 1, and that this is the District’s vision, however, budget constraints would need to be considered before making a commitment. There are no increased costs for the Phase 1 transition. For Phase 2, South would need to remodel existing space to add additional classrooms.

St. Cloud Area College Bound Program

St. Cloud Area College Bound Program is a program that fits with our District’s mission and would not be possible without community partnerships. The College Bound Program is a collaborative initiative between St. Cloud Area School District 742 and the St. Cloud Technical College. The program provides a plethora of career and post-secondary education awareness, exploration, and development opportunities for students in grades 3 - 12 and their parents. It is designed to produce successful college students, especially from underrepresented populations.

The program began in July, 2000, through a Minnesota Office of Higher Education Intervention for College Attendance Program grant to serve underrepresented students in grades 7-9. The College Bound Program has a very dedicated staff, which also involves other districts. We have the Readiness Pipeline Model that allows us to partner with the Upward Bound and the Fast Forward Programs at St. John’s University/College of St. Benedict, as well as Multicultural Student Services and the Volunteer Connection at St. Cloud State University. Family events are held to talk about planning, college preparation, making parents feel they are a part of the decision making process.

In 2008, the program was expanded to include 10th -12th grade students, which became possible due to a new funding stream. This resulted in long-term relationships with both students and families. In 2005, a health care component was added; in 2009, a ‘duplicate’ health care program was started for students with disabilities; in 2007, a Career & Technical Education component for the ELL Program was added.

Students selected for the College Bound Program are recommended by teachers or counseling staff. The numbers of students served in the College Bound Program during the 2008-2009 year include the areas of After School Program, Academic Achievement Academy Summer Program, Summer Super Success Skills Seminar, CTE for ELL Summer Program, C2C Camps to Careers Health Program, and the Health Career Service Academy. Future plans include continuation and/or expansion of the current program areas.

Monday, October 26, 2009

JA Biz Town

Have you ever dreamed about being a police officer? Or perhaps an IRS agent? Maybe even a fitness consultant? Students participating in the Junior Achievement (JA) Biz Town program have the chance to experience one of more than 50 different careers for a day. Not only do they role play a career of interest to them, they also get paid twice during the experience and must learn to open a bank account, pay bills, and make purchases.

Curriculum taught prior to the Biz Town visit focuses on free enterprise, work skills, basic business practices, and money management skills. After their day at Biz Town in Maplewood, the participants debrief on what they have learned and how they can implement their new skills into their current life and future careers.

Through the generosity of the St. Cloud Area Junior Achievement Board of Directors and the many volunteers and partners they recruit, many upper elementary students in our community have been given this opportunity. Last year students in over 200 K – 12 St. Cloud Area classrooms participated in one of the many JA programs. For more information, go to www.jaum.org or contact Ileana Merten at ileana@jaum.org.

Please enjoy the JA video below.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

District 742 Strategic Plan

The District 742 Strategic Plan is now on the front page of our website. We have also changed this to say District Strategic Plan instead of TeamWorks. I also included the VisionCards but only the District VisionCards and not the elementary and secondary. Those will remain in the StaffNet section only. Enjoy the reading while realizing that the VisionCards are still a draft that has not been officially approved by the board, but I do feel that we need to create this page because we are printing reams of paper every time we create a new draft. Therefore, we will now be making our revisions to the website to work toward being paperless.

The Measures of Academic Progress data retreat yesterday was the highlight of my day. Andrea, Brenda, Beth and Julia...GREAT JOB! I was on fire watching the teams with their laptops and the use of the white board to jump into our data warehouse Viewpoint. Hearing how buildings use this to set goals to drive instruction is something beyond what I've seen in my career. WOW!

Just think of the accomplishments this past year (and I'm sure I've forgotten somethings):
  • Expanding our Middle Level Programming
  • The RoadMap being adopted
  • Decision-Making framework shaping the process to finalize a budget for next year
  • Meetings driven by strategic agendas
  • Administrative professional development with continuous improvement
  • Professional growth plans and evaluation of ALL administrators
  • Adopting frameworks to guide our work
  • Setting the goal of 5000+ Learning Walks
  • Creating a master calendar
  • Creating an aligned district operational plan
  • Implementing Skyward
  • Building a parent portal
  • Implementing a mass communications system for instant alerts and messaging
  • SCSU partnership enhancements with SCSU
  • Technology business partnerships with Bush Foundation, E2T2 and others
  • Data teams working diligently with our data warehouse
  • Learning cohorts operating to impact achievement
  • RTI coaches and AYP lead teachers assisting teachers in the classroom
  • Implementing finance and HR software...Skyward
  • AmeriCore and MathCore impacting achievement
  • Cultural Navigators meeting the needs of students and families
  • ELL Coordination
  • Access and Opportunity Grant making great growth gains
I just keep coming up with more and more, and I cannot help but be amazed at all the work we have been able to accomplish in just over a year.

Keep it up everyone!

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -R.W. Emerson

Friday, October 23, 2009

Interactive/Virutual Learning

This current generation of learners trend toward active and collaborative learning. This challenges our IT people of the need to tackle this in a virtual way. Irrespective of age, virtually all today’s learners use the Web extensively for information, communication, collaboration, and socializing. Students expect to interact with information and receive near-instantaneous responses.


Educators know that being successful means building maximum learning time to develop rigor, relevance, relationships and results. Teachers need to have the opportunity to tell students about the topic, to state the standards, engage them in active learning and time for collaboration. We can do this by enhancing the tools of technology.


If we are going to use the tools of a profession that allows students to engage in "first-person" learning, we have to be prepared to provide the staff development necessary to keep teachers up-to-speed with the latest technology.


In order to build maximum understanding, we have to provide a learning environment where students are pressed to ask great question, engage in meaningful dialog and be creative and critical learners. Now, imagine doing this with a virtual classroom, and then you'll see the challenges that we face in technology.


Watch the video below to see a sample of the "newest" virtual learning opportunities.

Junior Achievement

I'm working on an article about Junior Achievement (JA) and how this program impacts students of the St. Cloud Area School District.

Watch the video below about JA to learn why this is so important to the future of our children.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Watch the Video Below

As we think about our own health during this flu season, and with the wellness event coming up at Discovery, please view the video below as a reminder of how careful we need to be.

WELLNESS FAIR: FOR ALL EMPLOYEES OF 742

TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
RE: WELLNESS FAIR
FROM: YOUR WELLNESS COMMITTEE

We will once again be hosting a Wellness Fair for all District employees and their spouses and dependents ages 18 and older. It will be Thursday, October 22nd at Discovery from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. We will be offering seasonal flu shots again; please bring your insurance card to help with the process. We will also have many health related vendors, and employees can register to win prizes.

We will see you at the fair!

The Wellness Fair is sponsored by Resource Training and Solutions.

Monday, October 19, 2009

H1N1 UPDATE

District 742 continues to report the students absent with flu-like illness. We are seeing pockets of problems associated with field trips/buses; we may have to look at discontinuing some field trip opportunities if there continues to be increases in illness. We are ready to go with the county and school-based clinics. Vaccinations will begin on November 9th. Parents are being asked to return the consent forms from packets being sent out by October 26th. That will allow district staff ample time to review the consent forms for completeness and determine whether a child can get the flumist or injection; there may need to be followup with parents.

Cultural Navigators will be receiving training on the vaccination information sheets and frequently asked questions. Information nights are being planned at LaCruz, the Boys & Girls Club, and Bel Clare; translators will be available at these sessions. There may be some confusion because Talahi and Clearview will not be receiving the information packets as they will have community-based clinics through Sherburne County, while siblings at South and Tech will be receiving the packets. The information nights should help to alleviate confusion.

We have E mailed information to all administrators asking that they emphasize, with students, the importance of “social distancing,” as well as not sharing phones, etc. Hand sanitizers are in media and computer labs.

We ask for daily school attendance data. The MDH now is asking that we report only once when we have reached the threshold for number of absences. If absences go down and then back up, we are asked to report again.

Steps taken:

a) I sent an email to administrators indicating that if the media contacts them about absences due to influenza-like illnesses and the academic challenges that we would face, the response should be:
a. We are sensitive to the needs of our students to do their make-up work; we are flexible with this.
b. We will always continue with the academic programming at school.
c. We will make every effort to support the students when they return to school.
b) We remind parents on our website to provide accurate contact information for their family including emergency contact numbers.
c) We are looking at the possibility of providing individual hand sanitizers for students.
d) Administrators told lunchroom monitors to make sure they are changing water as they clean cafeteria tables. Students will be asked not to share items such as phones, etc.
e) We are using a different protocol for serving lunch items, i.e., individual cups vs. children using tongs to pick up food items.
f) District Student Services has been keeping us posted on the status of the vaccinations clinics. All questions regarding clinics, consents, and vaccines can be forwarded to Dr. Elisabeth Rogers.
g) KIDSTOP may have an in-service done with their staff.
h) We also gather information on the number of staff absences. It was noted that some staff members may be absent because their children are home ill.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

My Goals: 2009-2010

These goals have also been reviewed and discussed by the Board Personnel and Negotiations Committee and presented to the school board for a first read. All administrators are using the same format for goal setting this year and aligning their goals with the District’s Strategic Plan. My three identified goals for the year are listed below. The goals are as follows:

1. Collect evidence of teacher instruction for the purpose of enhancing instructional leadership by implementing Learning Walks.
2. Improve District capacity for parent communications while enhancing District research and analysis to continually improve programming, facilities and parent involvement.
3. Engage in continuous improvement through the implementation of the success system.

The Superintendent’s Goals will be on the Consent agenda for approval at the October 22nd Board of Education meeting.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

MIDDLE LEVEL PLANNING UPDATE

We met with 5th grade parents from Oak Hill Community School on October 6th and discussed the timeline and activities/meetings to date of the Middle Level Task Force. We reviewed the opportunities/program their children will experience if they attend South Junior High as 6th graders, as well as the many activities that will be available to them. We highlighted the fact that average class sizes will be 27 at South versus 32 currently at Oak Hill. Parent concerns that were elicited from a questionnaire were also addressed at the October 6th meeting. Principal Williams indicated that most people felt comfortable with the proposed plan to move the Oak Hill 6th grade to South for the 2010-2011 year. He indicated he will continue to listen, take questions, and respond to concerns of parents. For the Oak Hill transition (Phase I - 2010-2011), South will be able to accommodate the students with minimal structural adjustment. A second phase of the middle level plan would involve adding all 6th grade students from Talahi, Clearview, Lincoln and the private schools in 2011-2012; for this phase, South would need to remodel existing space to add additional classrooms.

There will now be a couple of additional weeks of discussion, with a formal recommendation to move the Oak Hill 6th grade to South for 2010-2011 being presented to the Board of Education at the October 22nd meeting.

The recommendation to move the Oak Hill 6th grade to South for 2010-2011 will be on the agenda for the October 22nd Board of Education meeting with a request for approval.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

BUILDING ACCESS

For safety/security reasons, all doors should be locked in District 742 with the exception of designated student entrances, i.e., during times when buses are bringing students to school. Staff have access cards to enter other doors. All others should come to the front door and be buzzed in. The expectation is that the only door(s) to be left open in the morning are those for student access, and those doors are to be monitored for a specific timeframe, and then locked. Monitoring can either be by a person or with a screen/buzzer. A monitoring system is to also be in place for KIDSTOP programs. Our first premise is for students to feel safe and secure. Every building now has the technology for mandatory security procedures to be in place. I did send out information to administrators and staff regarding (mandatory) expectations for building access/security as follows:

a) Doors are to remain locked at all times, with only certain doors unlocked for student access until all students have entered the building.
b) All staff members are to carry their keycards and identification cards. (This is an expectation of the District, as well as First Responders.)
c) Doors designated for public access are to be monitored either by a person or screen/buzzer system throughout the school day.
d) Administrators are to review this information with their custodial staff.

...AND

Don't forget to BAIL ME OUT!

I NEED YOUR HELP! I'm running out of town.

https://www.joinmda.org/MyLockup/MyHomepage/tabid/99840/Participant/stevenjordahl/Default.aspxI'm going behind bars for "GOOD" PLEASE HELP BAIL ME OUT! Your donation is my key to freedom! Be proud of the fact that together we're providing help and hope to kids and adults served by MDA in our community.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Negotiation Process and Updates

In the spirit of transparency and effective communication, the District 742 Board of Education will publish informational updates of the 2009-2011 Negotiations Meetings for all employee groups following each negotiation session. Click here for the latest information.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION AWARDS

The Board of Education of St. Cloud Area School District 742 is announcing the first annual Partners In Education Awards to be given to organizations and individuals from the community during American Education Week. The publicly televised event (Charter TV - Channel 6) will take place from City Hall on the evening of November 19th starting at 7:00 p.m., immediately preceding the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting.

Up to six community members will be honored, two from each of the following three categories: Community Organizations, Community Volunteers, School Volunteers. An established set of criteria, a nomination process and a timeline were developed by the Community Linkages Committee, with input and overview provided by the Board of Education. Current School District employees are not eligible for consideration. A recommended list of honorees will be determined by the Community Linkages Committee and forwarded to the Board of Education for their consideration and action.

A testimonial for each honoree will be read and an engraved award will be presented to the honoree. Additionally, a plaque of recognition with the engraved names of each honoree will be placed in the Board Room at the District Administration Office.

According to Bruce Mohs, Board Member and Chairperson of the Community Linkages Committee, "District 742 depends upon the partnership, goodwill and public support of individuals and organizations throughout the community in order for the District to successfully fulfill its educational mission. A public, prestigious recognition of individuals and organizations who are partners of public school education is a strategic and timely way to acknowledge our partners in education. When we ‘showcase’ our partners in education, we are displaying the breadth and depth of our public support. And when we ‘spotlight’ those individuals and organizations who have been selected to receive this prestigious award, we are ‘illuminating’ all of our partners throughout the community."

Please go to the District 742 website at http://www.isd742.org/ to read the full story and download the criteria/nominations form. All nominations must be submitted by November 3rd to:

PARTNERS IN EDUCATION AWARDS
District 742 Administration Office
1000 North 44th Avenue, Suite 100
St. Cloud, MN 56303

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

BAIL ME OUT!

I NEED YOUR HELP!

https://www.joinmda.org/MyLockup/MyHomepage/tabid/99840/Participant/stevenjordahl/Default.aspx

I'm going behind bars for "GOOD" PLEASE HELP BAIL ME OUT! Your donation is my key to freedom! Be proud of the fact that together we're providing help and hope to kids and adults served by MDA in our community.

Thanks for making a difference!

Monday, October 5, 2009

New 2009 Did You Know Video 4.0 (September update)

If you enjoy the "Did You Know" video and "Shift Happens" video, you need to see the latest at YOU TUBE. It really sets the stage about how technology has changed us and how we should be looking at the future. The latest is called "Did You Know 4.0" and can be viewed at the bottom of this blog. Enjoy and then feel free to pass this blog site on so that friends can watch. I believe it's the best one yet.

The creators of the infamous “Shift Happens” presentation have just released their latest updated version. The people behind it are Laura Bestler, karl Finch and Scott McLeod. This latest update was development by XPLANE for the The Economist Magazine who are hosting their third annual Media Convergence Forum in New York City on October 20th and 21st 2009. For more information, or to join the conversation, visit:http://mediaconvergence.economist.com/ and http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/.

So, go to DID YOU KNOW 4.0!

Friday, October 2, 2009

FOR THIS GENERATION TIME IS RUNNING OUT

The economic crisis has me thinking about the future of our children. Will the next generation be better off than the one today, or have we begun a slide that will bring down the standard of living for all Americans?

No one can assure prosperity, but our schools do have a key role in engaging in community partnerships that will positively impact how children learn and develop, especially as public schools continue to seek resourceful ways to meet the incredible challenges facing our country.
Together, every institution, stakeholder group and community, as well as every citizen, must understand the critical need to do much more for all of our children.

The C.S. Mott Foundation, with a central belief in the partnership of humanity, describes “a new day for learning” that redefines student success, integrates many approaches to acquiring and reinforcing knowledge, promotes intentional collaboration across local, state and national sectors, and strengthens leadership through professional development.

I strongly believe that this journey must start with our youngest learners.

It should be impossible for any American citizen to deny the fact that every child age 5 and younger today will have to be an incredibly productive member of America’s future work force to sustain the prosperity our nation has enjoyed. It is hard to remember this fact when the outcome of the investment in early education only becomes fully realized after about 30 years.

Economist Art Rolnick points to the Perry Study, where children who were enrolled in preschool programs, have been tracked for 40 years. For every $1 initially invested by taxpayers into early education, the study documents that children provide a $12 return.

What will it take to implement strategies that can actually improve outcomes for children at risk? Neurologists, molecular biologists, geneticists and child development experts — combined with four decades of rigorous program evaluation — define the common ground in a 2007 Harvard University study completed by the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child.

It is clearly evident that policymakers, business executives, civic leaders and practitioners must work together to design effective policies and practices in the first five years of life and provide the resources that recognize the following:

Early experiences determine whether a child’s brain architecture will provide a strong or weak foundation for all future learning, behavior and health.

Young children need positive relationships, rich learning opportunities and safe environments, not quick fixes or magic bullets.

Four decades of a program evaluation research point to “effectiveness factors” that can enhance development in the first five years of life. These factors include access to medical care, the reduction of neurotoxins in the environment, highly skilled staff with age-appropriate curricula, and stimulating materials in a language-rich environment with warm, responsive interactions between staff and parents.

Intervention strategies that are effective for children and families who are at risk for poor outcomes are beneficial for all.

Effective programs that are implemented well, evaluated regularly and improved continuously result in significant gains for all children.

Positive experiences before entering school are likely to lead to better outcomes than remediation programs at a later age, generating a strong return on investment.

It’s a tall order, but the St. Cloud school board took a dramatic step in early September by listening to a “community linkage” session with local early childhood experts. Board members expressed commitment to the idea of exploring ways to work with community partners to plan strategically for a “new day for learning” for our young learners.

School districts throughout Central Minnesota and the United States are exploring policies and programs that ensure the well-being and “school readiness” for all children. Their commitment underscores the belief that we all share responsibility for making sure America’s children have a chance to succeed in our complex and ever-changing world.

For this generation, time is running out.

7 SKILLS STUDENTS NEED FOR THEIR FUTURE - TONY WAGNER