4/10/08

It has been a while since my last report.  Our website and email service company is going out of business.  This means that when our website and email service started to have problems there was a lack of technical support to get it going again.  I have just got through working with a new company.  In fact, if you see this message then you know that we are underway with the new company.  We have been experiencing trouble updating our website and our email sending and receiving capabilities have been limited.   Anyway, the good news is all that should be over.  The next task will be to train all our staff how to use the new service. 

We had a Board Meeting last Monday.  I was very please to see a good turn out by the staff and the community.  Attending these meetings is a great way to find out what is happening with the administration of the school district. I regularly hear all sorts of gossip about what is allegedly happening.  The reality is that most of it is not true.  The only way to know what is true is get the information first hand from the source.  Normally, if it sounds extreme then it probably did not happen that way you hear.  If you do hear something that concerns you, go to the people directly involved and ask.  If you do that it will improve your quality of information.  

The highlights of the Board Meeting were:

1.  The school Calendar was approved.  It is posted on this website.

2.  A motion was moved to prevent paying some staff in advance at the start of each year. This will take effect 2009.

3.  A discussion and a decision on how to fund the Middle School Additions was conducted.  With student population growth it is just a matter of time until we need to expand the Middle School complex.  In preparation for this we are applying to the State for a grant to help pay for the construction.  The Board looked at various local sources of funding for the school district's share of the costs.  It was approved that the Board would look at a combination of a loan restructuring, second lean bonds and possibly a millage election.  It was noted that this was part of the process of applying for the construction grant. 

4.  The staff sick leave policy was reviewed.

5.  A proposed new classified policy was passed for discussion and decision next meeting.

6.  A proposed policy to require coaches and some sponsors to have a CDL bus license was presented.

7.  A review of our lunch program was conducted.

8.  Bids were opened for new elementary cafeteria lunch tables were opened.  These are to be paid for through fund raising.

9.  A new website and email service company was selected.

10.  Some personnel issues were covered including approving to advertise for the following positions:- two custodians,  teacher aid for the district office and a cafeteria director.  Mrs. Shenep was employed at a special ed. paraprofessional.

11.  The last day of this school year is Tuesday, June 3.

If you have any questions on the above, please give me a call.  I will be happy to help as I can. 

It is a busy time of year.  Please remember that the school focus is education.  It is easy to get side tracked on other issues that can seem very important at the time.  Anything our staff, students, parents and community can do to keep the focus on education will be appreciated.  After all that is what we do here. 

It takes a community to raise a child.

John Gray