Rockton School District No. 140 Rockton’s Strive for Excellence “Continuous effort is the key to unlocking our potential.” -Winston Churchill- The Rockton students continue to strive for excellence and reach their potential every year. One way we witness this effort is looking at their ISAT scores. The Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) is administered every year in March. These tests measure the achievement of stu- dents in the areas of reading and math for third through eighth grade and science for fourth and seventh grade. Rockton parents can look to those test results as one measure that their children are receiving a quality education. Other measures of this education are evident in the many ways administrators, teachers, paraprofessionals, families, and community members work together to create an environment of knowledge and respect. The results in the table below represent the percentage of students who met or exceeded the state standards for each grade level and subject area. For the complete 2011 Illinois School Report Card, please visit Rockton 140’s website. ISAT 2011 Reading Math Science District - State District - State District - State rd 3 grade 85% - 75% 98% - 87% 4th grade 85% - 75% 98% - 88% 96% - 79% 5th grade 90% - 76% 97% - 84% 6th grade 93% - 84% 93% - 84% 7th grade 93% - 79% 98% - 84% 97% - 82% th 8 grade 97% - 85% 97% - 86% The Rockton School District will continue its strive for excellence on its way to the 2012 ISATs scheduled for the first two weeks in March. Lindy Daniels, Curriculum Coordinator Financial Challenges July to cut our General State Aid funding to 95% of what we had received the previous year. That, combined with a decrease in The Rockton School District, like many other school districts in student enrollment, meant a loss of approximately $321,000 in the State of Illinois, is facing some very difficult financial budgeted revenues. In addition, the state also drastically cut our challenges. As a result of the current economic conditions and the transportation funding for the second straight year. As a result, condition of our state government, the income the school district even with the teachers’ pay freeze, the board ended up having to receives has been greatly reduced, while our expenses have adopt a budget for the 2011-2012 school year with a projected continued to increase. deficit of $1.4 million. The Rockton School District, through sound financial The Board of Education is well aware of the need to find a way management, had built up a healthy surplus over many years, to lower our expenses, but we desire to do so in a way that still which allowed the district to spend more money than it brought in allows us to continue to provide the best possible education for our over the past few years in order to maintain our excellent students. To this end, the board asked for the formation of a educational programming. The Board of Education did make Financial Task Force, made up of staff and community members. some cuts in order to maintain as much of the surplus as possible, During a series of meetings over the course of several weeks this but for the most part we had been able to avoid any major staffing fall, the group discussed the district’s financial condition and the reductions or programming changes and our deficit spending had programming that is currently offered. Through a lot of hard work, been kept to a minimum. the Task Force is developing a list of potential cost saving measures That is until this year… When we started planning for this year for the administration and board to consider for the 2012-2013 back in March, we anticipated having to spend about $900,000 in budget. excess of revenues. That was a frightening number, and so the The Superintendent will then take the committee’s list and board approached the teachers about taking a partial pay freeze, to thoroughly consider the ramifications of each suggestion. He will which they agreed despite having one year left on their contract. then make cost saving recommendations to the Board of Education The board in turn agreed to not make any additional staffing for our approval early in 2012. reductions. Then unexpectedly, the State of Illinois decided in ~continued on page 2~ Financial Challenges—continued from page 1 th Economy Days in 6 Grade – Prepared The Board has always been proud of the level of Students Wanted education that we have been able to provide to the students in the Rockton School District. We know that In the sixth grade hallways at Stephen Mack Middle School, this is a result of caring and talented staff members who employment is at 100% and it appears the economy is on the go above and beyond their duties to provide this high upswing! The sixth grade team annually plans a multi-disciplinary economic unit that lasts the majority of the level of education. We also know that each of the school year. The ultimate goal for the students is to prepare them decisions facing the board will affect people, both for the real world by simulating an economic system. The students and staff members, and we will not take these culminating activity of the unit involves two “market place” days decisions lightly. We hope that by working in our cafeteria. These days entail the production and selling of a collaboratively together we can minimize the effect these homemade good or service to parents, community members, and financial challenges will have on our district and that we the SMMS staff. Students take on the role of a small business will be able to continue to provide a safe, challenging, entrepreneur. and nurturing educational experience for all of the Job applications and cover letters are the first step in the students of Rockton District #140. process. These tasks are completed in English classes. Homeroom teachers are involved in the hiring process. Each Brenda Warren, Board of Education President student is assigned a particular job for the year. A few job examples include locker checker, germ stopper, class pet RGS Students Showing They Care! care-taker, and class banker. Students are also instructed on how to write a check, budget money, and keep a balanced ledger We will be focusing on the character trait of caring for utilizing everyday math skills. Vocabulary is introduced and the months of November and December. In keeping with mastered throughout the year – consumer, product, supply/ that theme, we collected food items for the Old Stone demand, wages, resources, competition, incentive, etc. On a side Church Food Pantry. This food pantry supplies food to note this unit also encourages individual behavior management, families in our district through its “Backpack Program” and organization, and responsibility. also distributes the food they receive to families in the Stop by on December 16th for a little holiday shopping! Rockton community who need assistance. Kindyl Etnyre, SMMS Principal & the 6th Grade Team Again this year, Rockton Grade School students will be collecting money for Wimpy’s Fund. Wimpy's Fund was founded over thirty years ago by, who else but Snow Days and School Closings Wimpy. Wimpy was the affectionate nickname for former Rockton Chief of Police Everett Vaughn. Wimpy and his On days when school may be closed due to snow or ice conditions, we will be working closely with the bus company to determine as soon as possible family enjoyed the experience of giving to others in need whether or not school will be in session. during the holiday season and before long community The school district uses a ‘rapid alert’ system to notify parents of school members and organizations joined his mission to deliver closing due to inclement weather. The following TV and radio stations are joy to families in our community. Wimpy’s Fund has been also notified. providing food baskets and gifts to families in need ever WREX Rockford Channel 13 since. We are asking children to donate some of their own WTVO Rockford Channel 17 money to help purchase a gift for a child who would WIFR Rockford Channel 23 otherwise not receive many gifts for Christmas. If your Radio Stations WGEZ/WROK/WZOK/WXXQ/WKMQ child doesn’t have any of his/her own money, perhaps he/she could do some chores to earn some money. We are not asking for a lot of money; each class will be trying to raise enough to purchase one gift. Gifts will be purchased Family Trivia Night and donated to Wimpy’s Fund here in Rockton, which will Sponsored by: Rockton Elementary Education Foundation in turn deliver the gifts to needy families in our area. February 4, 2012 Please give what you can to model our November/ Doors open at 6:00 p.m. December character trait of Caring. Look for more details and registration information in January. Glenn Terry, RGS Principal Board of Education District 1050 East Union Street, Rockton, Illinois 61072 Brenda Warren, President 815.624.7143 Sarah Praneis, Vice President 815.624.4640 Fax Larry Schubert, Secretary Mike Greenlee, Superintendent Geri LaRosa, Food Service Director James Meason Karen Binger, Admin. Asst./Treasurer Julia Saunders, Business Manager Chanice Michowski Lindy Daniels, Curriculum Coordinator Thomas Shook, Technology Specialist William Midgett Tammi Gaziano, Bookkeeper Dean Snowdon, Maintenance Director Laura Neece Kris Holland, Public Relations/Curriculum RSD District Newsletter Goes Digital! School Board Members Deserve Our Thanks This is the final newsletter that will be printed and mailed to homes. The internet is redefining the nature When it comes to selfless giving, school board members deserve thanks from everyone in the and modality of communication in the 21st century.