USD #373 Board of Education Date: Monday, June 10, 2013 Place: McKinley Administrative Center Time: 7:00 p.m. Regular Session 2012-2013 USD 373 Mission The mission of the Newton school community is to prepare our students to be capable, contributing participants in a changing world. USD 373 District Belief Statements We believe that: • the educational needs of each student must be met. • the needs of students must drive decision-making. • education is an active partnership involving students, families, schools & community. • motivation, opportunity and effort are critical to success. • high expectations foster quality performance. • the right to education conveys both privilege and responsibility. USD 373 District Goals . Student Learning: USD 373 will provide all staff with the resources necessary to assist all students in acquiring essential social and academic skills for success. Human Resources: USD 373 will recruit, support and retain quality personnel in every staff position in the school district. Technology Utilization: USD 373 will support appropriate technologies as both a means of managing data and expanding student learning. Funding: USD 373 will advocate for adequate and equitable school funding both within the school district and throughout the state of Kansas. Parent and Community Relationships: USD 373 will build positive parent and community relationships to increase educational opportunities for all students and promote vital economic development throughout the school district. Specific indicators will be identified for each district goal and progress reports will be submitted during the school year with a summary report at the end of the year. Approved April 18, 2011 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING Public notice is given that a meeting of the Board of Education of Newton USD 373 of Newton, Kansas will be held in the Board of Education Meeting Room at the McKinley Administrative Center, Newton, Kansas on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. to consider and act upon the matters on the following tentative agenda and such other matters as may be presented at the meeting and determined to be appropriate for discussion at that time. Regular Meeting 7:00 p.m. CALL TO ORDER PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ADOPTION OF AGENDA COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC – Comments relative to specific personnel or students will be treated confidentially by the Board of Education and will be heard in Executive Session only. Comments will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. REPORTS 1. Trane ITEMS FOR DECISION 1. Consent Agenda a) Approval of May 13 and May 16, 2013 Minutes b) Approval of Personnel Report c) Approval of Treasurer’s Report d) Approval of the Sale/Disposal of Surplus Equipment 2. Approval of Bills 3. Approval of Building Handbooks 4. Approval of Lease Agreement for Health Sciences Academy 5. Approval of KCCRS – Kansas College Career Readiness Standards in ELA & Math 6. Approval of the ELA Information 7. Approval of Requested Changes to District’s Qualified Pension Plan 8. Approval of Health Insurance Recommendation for 2013-14 9. Approval of Pay to Play Fees 10. Ratify the 2013-2014 Negotiated Agreement 11. Approval of Gift Request for Newton High School ITEMS OF INFORMATION 1. Budget Information 2. Next Meeting: June 24, 2013, 7:00 p.m. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS and BOARD COMMENTS ADJOURNMENT Newton USD 373 McKinley Administrative Center Office of Business Services 308 East 1st Street Newton, KS 67114-3846 316.284.6200 ▪ FAX 316.284.6207 www.newton.k12.ks.us BUDGETING • PAYROLL • ACCOUNTING • PURCHASING • OPERATIONS • MAINTENANCE • TRANSPORTATION • FOOD SERVICE Business Services Report – June 10, 2013 Following is a brief summary of some of the many activities that occurred in the Business office during the month of May, 2013. Budget Planning. With the extended legislative session and a number of bills that were left hanging until the final hour, it has been difficult to nail down final recommendations for the upcoming budget year. The Budget Advisory Council has provided significant input, and having the eyes and voices of a variety of constituents has been very helpful. As we move into mid-June, final tax revenues will be receipted, estimated assessed valuation will be closer to being nailed down, and potential ending balances that will lessen the impact of reductions will be finalized. A great deal of work lies ahead over the next several weeks. Health Insurance. Over the course of the last couple of months, we have been working with multiple brokers and insurance companies as we plan for the plan year that begins October 1. While many months away, these decisions are critical in order to plan appropriately for the coming year. We are very pleased with the recommendation being shared with the board to move to a self-funded plan in the coming year. In addition to the many benefits of moving this direction, the commitment of Newton Medical Center to partner with us in a number of ways (discounts, wellness opportunities, etc.) which will be a great asset to our employees and our community. Additionally, moving to a plan that doesn’t require a referral process will allow our employees and their families to have more control and choice in their health insurance program. High School Restroom Project. Final preparation meetings were held with the architect, contractor, and sub-contractors as we approached the final days of school. Following the Memorial Day holiday the remodeling project began with demolition. Substantial completion is scheduled by the first of August. Aesop – Finally! After several months of intense preparation, the Aesop Substitute Placement & Absence Management web application was implemented in late April with final training for sites, final communication with substitutes, and we went live on May 6. While we had a few bumps along the way, the implementation was highly successful and our employees and subs very quickly are learning to utilize all the various tools available. Aesop also gives us a new layer of data analysis that we have not previously had at our disposal. Following are some examples of the type of information we now have at our fingertips in terms of absence management. June 2013 VOL 1 ISSUE 11 Instructional Services Sheila Wendling, Director District Level Mentor Teacher and New PDC committee Teacher Support The Professional Development Council met • During the month of May, Jean, Gail, on Thursday, May 9. We reminded staff that Rochelle and I met several times to plan there will be summer workshops available: for next year and reflect on this year. LETRS on June 19-20, Kagan Cooperative KSDE provided survey questions for our Learning on June 27-28 and Technology for new teacher program and results will be laptops on June 25-27. Then we had a work analyzed. Our district will be session to begin the discussion of creating a participating in the pilot program again Quick Start Page for each building PDC next year for new teacher mentoring representative to follow as they assist staff through KSDE and New Teacher Center. with using My Learning Plan. We also decided that each building representative • Jean and Gail have moved to ETC. They needs to have 30 minutes of time at the are excited to be in the same building as beginning of the year to show staff MLP and Rochelle. This will allow for more discuss processes and procedures. We will collaboration among the three of them. need to have another work session at the st Their new teacher training for 1 year beginning of the year to complete our Quick nd and 2 year teachers will be provided in Start Guide as well as discuss the role of PDC the large group at ETC next year. for the 2013-2014 school year. • As we provide building support for new teachers, building principals will ask for Curriculum and Instruction volunteers to be a building advisor/guide. Previously this has been a paid position; On May 15, PreK-4 had their district however, due to the lack of funding the collaboration. Grades K-2 met to discuss last few years, we will no longer be able vocabulary and sight word lists. They to provide those stipends. continued their ongoing conversations based on the ELA curriculum map and what words • Currently, Gail will be assisting seven 2nd would be used by each teacher in the grade year teachers and two new teachers. Jean level across the district. They made a will be assisting seven 2nd year teachers recommendation for a student resource for and four new teachers. Rochelle has a use in their daily learning called My Writing case load of six 2nd year teachers and five Words Journal. Grades 3-4 also discussed new teachers. These numbers will vocabulary and how to best work with “I change as hiring is still occurring Can” statements in their teaching and throughout the district. learning for next year. They also talked about how the Four Blocks books will be utilized for planning instruction in the 90-minute ELA block next year. ELL Northridge. Interviews have been occurring at NHS for the position there. We hope to I met with the K-12 ELL teachers on May 15 have this finalized soon. The monthly during district collaboration. We discussed meetings with media specialists will the type of model for instruction for students continue next year with an emphasis on how whether it was a push-in model or pull-out. the media center can be a resource for Documentation of services was also teachers and students. Media specialists will discussed along with how to utilize para have a more involved role in technology and support for students. Assessment of students integrating that with instruction along with is a need and we will be exploring options still providing instructional resources to for the upper grades in finding a tool to students and staff.