The Insider at Salem Elementary School “We Learn, Grow & Accomplish TOGETHER!”
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The Insider At Salem Elementary School “We Learn, Grow & Accomplish TOGETHER!” DATES TO REMEMBER FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17th— Young Audiences of CT performance “Soro Bindi” 2:00 PM—3:00 PM (Gymnasium) MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20th Presidents’ Day/Winter Break—No School TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21st— Winter Break—No School THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24th— CELEBRATION OF THE ARTS BANQUET United States Coast Guard Band Congratulations to Mae Czuba and Mason Dupuis who were nominated for the CT Association of Schools Brass Quintet—“The Little Cutter (CAS) Outstanding Artists awards. Mae and Mason, along with their families attended a CAS sponsored That Could” recognition dinner at the Aqua Turf Restaurant in Southington on Tuesday, February 7th. Mrs. Ritchie 10:00 AM—10:45 AM (Library) and Mrs. Kohary attended as well and were so proud to honor our two award winners! 3rd & 4th Grade Only REMINDERS... Kindergarten registration for the 2012-2013 school year is beginning now. Preschool lottery for 2012-2013 will be held on 5/31/2012. NEW—February PPS due March 9th. New Year….New Leadership 100th DAY OF SCHOOL Opportunities… First graders enjoyed sharing their collections of 100 items on the 100th day of school on Friday, Feb- Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) ruary 10th. Healthy Heart Challenge (Feb.) ART CONTEST MYSTIC ART CENTER Square One Art Tiles (Winter) Select classes, 1st-4th ,voted on artwork that they felt should be submitted to the Mystic Arts Center’s Attached to this issue… upcoming “Young at Art” show. The winners are: K— John Whittaker 1st— Ethan Len 4th - Grace Leininger Summary of BOE approved Budget nd rd from PTO 2 —Julia Giegel 3 - Eva-Lynn Lincoln Nuts and Bolts of School Budgets More information about the show and how the voting worked will be provided in in March’s parent news- January’s Principal’s Problem Solv- letter. ers! (CONGRATULATIONS!) Dr. Seuss, Grandparents’ & Seniors’ SAVE THE DATE Day Flyer Grandparents’/Senior Citizens’ Day & Dr. Seuss Day - Friday, March 2nd (See Attached Flyer) Science Club flyer and Sign-Up Sheet (NEW!) PROPOSED SCHOOL CALENDAR SY2012-2013 Yearbook Order Forms Please visit our website to review the proposed school calendar for SY2012-2013. We ask that parents PTO Family Dance send any suggestions/comments/concerns/issues to Jennifer Kayser, Executive Assistant to the Super- Salem School Proposed 2012-2013 intendent, at [email protected] by February 29, 2012. All responses will be collected and pre- Calendar sented to the Board of Education prior to their vote scheduled for March 5, 2012. Thank you. The cal- CMT Schedule (3rd & 4th Grade endar is also attached for your review. Only) CMT Letter (3rd & 4th Grade Only)- Electronic Version Only TRANSPORTATION COUNCIL Principal Problem Solver (February)- The Salem School District invites you to participate in our survey assessing the Electronic Version Only overall quality of our Salem Transportation Program. Please visit our website to Box Tops Spring Collection)- participate in our survey. We will keep this survey open for responses through Feb- Electronic Version Only ruary 29, 2012. Thank you very much for your participation. Your input matters. Thank you! Volume 5, Issue 3 Have a wonderful week! February 15, 2012 Cynthia Ritchie Published by the Salem School PTO See the full proposed budget at Summary of BOE Proposed Budget www.salemschools.org/budget Budget Calendar Thurs March 8, Board of Finance Public comment BOE presents proposed budget BOF may approve an initial BOE budget amount Thurs March 22, Board of Finance BOF approves Town and BOE budgets for presentation at Public Hearing Mon April 2, Board of Education Public comment BOE may adjust budget line items to meet BOF-approved amount (if necessary) Wed April 11, Board of Finance Public Hearing Town and BOE budget presentations Public question, answer, and comment Thurs April 12, Board of Finance BOF approves final proposed budget amounts for Town and BOE Wed May 2, Town Meeting All town voters may participate Town Meeting may decrease the budget, and sends budget to referendum Wed May 9, Budget Referendum Citizens vote Highlighted Changes in the Proposed Budget Re-align staffing to support improved student instruction and learning • Full-day Kindergarten • More time for academic and social growth • Reassign current staff • Language Arts curriculum and instruction • Improve curriculum and instruction in reading and writing, align with Common Core State Standards • Reallocate existing staff position to Language Arts teaching specialist • Math curriculum and instruction • Improve curriculum and instruction, align with Common Core State Standards • Better coordinate Middle School math courses with East Lyme • Reallocate existing staff position to Math teaching specialist • Technology instruction • Improve technology curriculum and instruction for students and teachers • Refocus two existing computer teacher positions to Instructional Technology Specialist and Technology Literacy teacher • Library Media Services • Improve library services coordination with both elementary and middle school curriculum units • Increase part-time position from 0.5 to 0.7 • General Education instructional aide support • Use grant funding to increase presence of instructional aides in classrooms for support of all students • Decreased staffing • Based on enrollment decrease and program changes, eliminate 1.2 employee positions • Facility Maintenance • Implement improved long-term planned and cycled maintenance schedule to better care for the Town’s most valuable building From the Office of the Superintendent of Schools The Nuts and Bolts of School Funding* The funding of public education is a subject school operational budget is about 69% of Salem School District continues to receive an that seems to be always in the news - local, the comprehensive town budget. annual ECS grant that is approximately state, and national. However, many people $3,000,000 per year, an amount that has readily admit that they lack a comprehensive In communities where property values are been relatively stable. understanding of how schools are funded. In growing very slowly or declining, paying for Connecticut, a school district's money comes the increasing needs of schools can aggravate Federal Funding from three sources: local tax revenues, state the local property tax burden. This is grant funding, and federal grant funding. especially a challenge in communities that are Additionally, each town approves an annual home to large proportions of low income Federal school funding is determined by the budget through a specific process. residents and/or people living on modest fixed U.S. Congress in the fiscal year before it will be incomes (such as senior citizens). Thus, finding used. For example, in 2004-2005, approximately $536 billion was dedicated to Town Budget Process an acceptable "balance" between the needs of the school district and other groups / agencies education and given to the states. On average, in the town can be challenging. federal funding amounts to roughly 5.4% of The budget process depends on the structure Connecticut school districts’ funding. The of each town or city in Connecticut. Overall, Although there is no direct correlation reason why the Federal government's share of funding for public education is determined by between an age-group and their needs in a education funding is small is because the State's Education Cost Sharing Grant and town's budgeting process, a snapshot of a traditionally school funding was considered then sent to each town to offset the total cost town's demographics can provide insight into the responsibility of the states. Federal of education to their youth. Just because general expectations of its citizenry. Salem's funding by law is intended to supplement education money is received in a town from most recent demographic town profile (2010) state funding, but not to replace state funds. the Education Cost Sharing Grant (ECS, see documents that 66% of the population is That said, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) below) does not mean that the money is comprised of persons between the ages of was passed with the expectation that there required to be spent only on public education. 18-64 and 7% of the population is comprised would be an increase in both federal funding of persons above the age 65+. and the federal role in public education. Town officials are responsible for reviewing, Specifically, NCLB requires more testing of modifying, and approving school budgets The State of Connecticut, in recognition of the students in grades 3-8 and provides new every year. The budget created by the school fact that demographics of a town can create a funding for the federal Title I program, which district's professional educators is sent to the potential gap between the needs of the youth is designed to serve low-income students. Board of Education for review and approval. and the needs of other age groups, developed After the budget is approved by the Board of the Minimum Expenditure Requirement which NCLB is actually a reauthorization of the Education, they send the budget to the town outlined the minimum amount towns needed Elementary and Secondary Education Act finance committee for its review. In Salem, to spend of their own funds towards (ESEA) of 1965, which provided additional approval of the school budget is in the hands education. In 2008, the MER was replaced by funding for elementary and secondary school of the Salem Board of Finance members who the Minimum Budget Requirement (MBR). programs for children from low income decide the specific budget that is sent to a MBR allows towns to divert from 35% to 85% families, as well as school library resources, Town Meeting in which the budget is of their state funding increase for non- textbooks, and other instructional material. presented for review and approval by Salem education to other uses such as property tax These funds also go towards supporting residents.