Superintendent’s Report
August 11, 2011
Summer Work:
Once the calendar flipped to August, it has felt like non-stop action in the district office. Elementary building, classroom, and bus assignments have been mailed. MS and HS schedules are getting close to completion as well. We have recently hired a handful of teachers for this coming school year, something we did not expect to be doing. Induction begins on Monday for a full week and the teachers will be back to school on August 23. Sports teams are ready to begin their practice in earnest.
Elementary Supply Packets:
Information has been mailed to parents about the supply packages. The approximate prices for the materials range from $12 in kindergarten to $19.50 for students in higher grades. Families who cannot afford the full package can bring in whatever they are able or nothing at all. Donations of supplies are being given to the Caring Cupboard where families would be able to pick up items for their children to bring to school. Any community members who are interested in donating school supplies are welcomed to bring the items to the Caring Cupboard, to any of our elementary building offices, or to the District Office.
Lingle Avenue Elementary School:
We now have possession of Lingle Elementary and the building is abuzz with teacher activity on the heels of construction activity. This is a reminder that the Dedication Ceremony is being planned for Thursday, August 25. The tentative agenda includes:
o 1:45-2:45 - Regular Open House for Lingle students & parents
o 3:30-5:00 - Public open house with self-guided tours
o 5:00 - Short Dedication Ceremony
o Continued public open house until 6:00 PM.
Energy Curtailment:
Palmyra Schools were called upon for a 100% energy curtailment on July 22, the Friday during that extremely hot string of days. The HS, MS, and Northside, which are our buildings in the program, cooperated with the curtailment. This occurred on the Friday of a three-day weekend shutdown so there was very little disruption to our staff.
Political Communications:
Senator Mike Folmer held his third community group meeting for educators on Tuesday, August 9 at LVC. I joined Lebanon Superintendents as well as IU 13 leadership, some parents, community members, and a few other school staff members for a couple hours to discuss the political situation. Senator Folmer explained the slow process and progress of the many education bills, including the ones he sponsored. He began with the premise that nothing is changing in the current education system and student improvement is not being made. I disagreed with him and pointed out evidence for increased student achievement and a number of highly effective changes that are taking place in public education. Lebanon Superintendents will continue our dialogue with him and other legislators.
Kudos:
Mrs. Melanie Wiscount, HS business-computer teacher, has again been honored for her work. You know that she was one of a hundred teachers selected from thousands of applicants to participate in Microsoft’s Innovative Education Forum (IEF) in Redmond, Washington for her History Video Podcasts & QR Codes. The 100 teachers in WA selected her project as the Educators’ Choice winner. What an amazing honor! She and 10 other winners will represent the U.S. and advance to compete against educators from around the world at the Partners in Learning Global Forum, Nov. 6–11, 2011 in Washington, D.C.
Welcome Back Breakfast:
Board Members are welcomed to join us for our annual welcome-back breakfast on August 23. It will begin at 8 AM in the HS Café.
