Letter from Superintendent Troy Gunderson
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December 2016 Newsletter School District of West Salem Contents • Letter from Superintendent Troy Gunderson ........................................1-2 • Announcements .............................3-5 • Calendar of Events ............................6 • School Board Minutes ................7-10 • School Board Election/District Communication................................11 Letter from Superintendent Troy Gunderson Thanks, Praise, and Progress On November 8th, school district voters approved of two value. More succinctly, top 12% in performance combined school district referenda questions requesting permission with bottom 10% in cost equals great value for students, to borrow money in order to finance a series of repairs parents, and taxpayers. Praise! and improvements to our campus. On behalf of the entire school district community, I offer our appreciation to the Your 2016 property tax bill will arrive from your munici- more than 5,470 residents who voted in the election on pality in December. Please look closely at the comparison November 8th. We offer our promise to work tirelessly to between the 2015 net school tax and the 2016 net school create the very best facilities for our kids and to ensure the tax. You should notice an approximate decrease of 7.5%. very best value for our community. Thanks! As noted in the recent referendum-related communication, the tax levy decrease is primarily the result of state-im- Speaking of value, the recently released state report card posed revenue limits and our expanding tax base. Praise! revealed the School District of West Salem to be the top performing school district in CESA#4. We were the only In other news, the project at our transportation facility school district in CESA #4 to achieve the lofty status of is nearly finished. With final touches to be wrapped up “Significantly Exceeds Expectations.” Further examination by December 1st, this facility is set to serve our drivers of the data reveals our district to be in the top 54 out of 431 and their buses just in time for another Wisconsin winter. school districts in Wisconsin with respect to academic per- Work continues on the swimming pool facility with general formance. When combined with the Wisconsin Tax Payers construction of the pool house currently underway. Grand Alliance report indicating our school district is the opening is set for early June. Progress! third lowest spending district in CESA #4 and in the bot- tom 45 out of 431 school districts in Wisconsin in per pupil November of 2016 will be remembered as a expenditures, it appears our school district offers a great milestone month for the School District of West Salem. December Newsletter 1 School District of West Salem School District of West Salem We reached consensus regarding our facility issues with On behalf of the entire school district, I offer our two successful referenda questions, outperformed all appreciation and congratulations to the many other school districts in CESA #4 on the recently released wonderful employees who “Serve with Passion…” state report card, sent out lower property tax bills than everyday in our school district. They are the heroes who were issued the previous year, completed renovations to get the job done. I also offer our gratitude to the residents our transportation facility, and started work on the new of our school district for your generous support of public pool house. Progress! education. You are the supporters who make it happen. Thanks and Praise! FINAL - PUBLIC REPORT - FOR PUBLIC RELEASE West Salem District Report Card | 2015-16 | Summary Overall Score District Max State Max Priority Areas Score Score Score Score Student Achievement 76.5/100 67.5/100 English Language Arts (ELA) Achievement 38.4/50 33.6/50 83.9 Mathematics Achievement 38.2/50 33.9/50 Student Growth 99.2/100 66.0/100 English Language Arts (ELA) Growth 49.2/50 33.0/50 Mathematics Growth 50.0/50 33.0/50 Closing Gaps 75.9/100 60.8/100 Significantly Exceeds English Language Arts (ELA) Achievement Gaps 37.0/50 16.7/25 Expectations Mathematics Achievement Gaps 38.9/50 16.2/25 Graduation Rate Gaps NA/NA 27.9/50 Overall Accountability Ratings Score Significantly Exceeds 83-100 On-Track and Postsecondary Readiness 91.4/100 86.6/100 Graduation Rate 37.8/40 36.4/40 Expectations ★★★★★ Attendance Rate 38.4/40 37.0/40 Exceeds 73-82.9 3rd Grade English Language Arts (ELA) Achievement 8.0/10 6.8/10 Expectations ★★★★☆ 8th Grade Mathematics Achievement 7.2/10 6.4/10 Meets 63-72.9 Expectations ★★★☆☆ Meets Few 53-62.9 Student Engagement Indicators Total Deductions: 0 Expectations ★★☆☆☆ Test Participation Lowest Group Rate (goal ≥95%) NA Fails to Meet 0-52.9 Absenteeism Rate (goal <13%) Goal met: no deduction Expectations ★☆☆☆☆ Dropout Rate (goal <6%) Goal met: no deduction District Information Wisconsin Student Assessment System Percent Proficient and Advanced Grades K4-12 Includes Forward Exam (grades 3-8), ACT (grade 11) and Dynamic Learning Maps (grades 3-8 and 11). Enrollment 1,783 Within District Mobility 0.0% State proficiency rate is for all tested grades: 3-8 and 11 Between District Mobility 1.2% 100% Race/Ethnicity 55.8% American Indian or Alaskan Native 0.7% 75% 54.0% 42.4% Asian 1.2% 41.0% Black or African American 1.0% 50% Hispanic/Latino 2.8% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0.0% White 92.5% 25% Two or More Races 1.9% Student Groups 0% Students with Disabilities 10.8% 2015-16 Economically Disadvantaged 22.6% Limited English Proficient 0.4% District: ELA State: ELA District: Mathematics State: Mathematics Notes: Overall Accountability Score is an average of Priority Area Scores, minus Student Engagement Indicator deductions. The average is weighted differently for districts that cannot be measured with all Priority Area Scores, to ensure that the Overall Accountability Score can be compared fairly for all districts. Accountability Ratings do not apply to Priority Area Scores. Details can be found at http://dpi.wi.gov/accountability/report-cards . Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction | dpi.wi.gov Page Report cards for different types of schools or districts should not be directly compared. 1 December Newsletter 2 School District of West Salem District Announcements Heider Center Art Gallery: West Salem Community Art Show, December 1-29, 2016 Reception: Thursday, December 8th 6pm - 7:30pm Next Performance: Lawn and Disorder - Comedy “Life is mess. Laughed about it.” is your house a disaster? Is your yard a disgrace? Is your family crazy? Great! Join comedians Karen Morgan and Jim Colliton for a hilarious show about life as we know it. This show is full of clean comedy for adults. Thursday, January 26, 2017 7:30pm Tickets: $24/$22 West Salem Community Care and Share Food Pantry Hours: Saturday 10 a.m. to noon Location: Our Saviors Lutheran Church Serving: Communities of West Salem, Bangor, Rockland, and Mindoro High School Art Student of the Month: Sabrina MacRogers The West Salem Art Department is proud to announce that Sabrina MacRogers is the Art Student of the Month for November. Sabrina is a Fun Fact: Carrots were originally grown talented artist who explores with many as medicine and not food. different types of media, creating art that is fresh, new and unique. Her work will be in the Heider Center Donations for Veterans throughout the month of December, West Salem High School Senior Janna Seeger has organized a Senior along with the West Salem Exit Project that benefits the Tomah VA Hospital. Along with volun- Community Art Show. There will be teering her time at the VA Hospital, Janna has organized a donation a public reception for all artwork on drive. The drive started November 1st and will continue through De- Thursday, December 8th from 6-7:30 cember 7th. Items that are needed are: shampoo, body wash (no bar p.m. Refreshments will be provided by the West Salem Fine Arts Board. soap), shaving cream (alcohol free), coffee, and hot chocolate mix. These items can be dropped off at the West Salem High School in the commons area, West Salem American Legion Post 51, and West December Newsletter 3 Salem’s Hansen’s IGA. School District of West Salem Kindergarten District Announcements Registration/ Spanish II Dinner Screening The Spanish II Students will be hosting their annual Spanish dinner for their parent(s) or guardian(s) on Monday December 19, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. in the 4K registration will take place on high school commons. Tuesday, February 2nd (for last names that start with A-L) Students are required to bring a parent or guardian to the dinner to and Thursday, February 7th demonstrate what they have been learning about the foods, table settings, (for last names that start with and dining etiquette in countries where Spanish is spoken. M-Z) from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the elementary school. Expect the dinner to last about two hours (set-up, meal, and clean-up). Our guests (parents and guardians) will be able to enjoy their meal while the stu- If you have a student who will be four-years-old by September 1, dents set-up, serve their prepared dishes, and clean-up. If you drive 2017, please join us. separately from your student, you may leave after eating your meal, but please understand that students are required to stay until their area is clean. Contact the elementary office at Please note that this event is not open to the general public. It is for Spanish II students and invited guests only. 786-1662 to pre-register. Ad for Grads/Friendship Ads The Neshonoc Yearbook Ads for Grads program is a wonderful way to congratulate seniors on their accomplishments.