|
Snapshots
August 2008
The United Parent
Council brings parents from across the district together to stay
informed,
have a voice and stand for children. Plug in via our monthly meetings,
e-bulletins or web site. To
connect with
UPC, contact your school representative or Julie
Bacon, UPC President.
Featured Speakers: Dr. John Kriekard,
Superintendent, and PVUSD Administrators
Program
Highlights: Dr.
Kriekard The
focus for this
year is change. Change in what we teach: We
need to focus on
what 21st century students need from their education. 1
-- Science has to
play a bigger role in the elementary schools •
No Child Left
Behind -- This federal legislation has focused on increasing test
scores and academic
achievement in reading, writing and math. However, this has
been detrimental to the sciences, social studies and the arts. 2
-- The addition of
an extra half hour to the elementary day will provide more time for
instruction in these areas. •
Collaborative
Problem Solving Skills -- the workplace is demanding it, schools have
to teach it. INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS, COMMUNICATION, CULTURAL COMPETENCE A
basic
understanding of reading, writing, and computation is necessary, but
students
also need a global understanding of the world around us. A change in how we teach: PVUSD
is a leader
in the state -- not in “technology schools,” but in schools that
incorporate
technology for learning. Technology used to
enhance achievement, not just to have it. Announcement
from
Dr. Kriekard: He will retire at the end of this academic year, after 37
years in
education. The transition in
leadership will be smooth.
Energy
Conservation Plan -- goal is to conserve resources and save money •
Adjusting
temperatures in all school buildings slightly upwards, yet still at a
comfortable 72-75 degrees •
Upgrade energy
management system, with the goal of having complete remote control over
every classroom •
All
stakeholders
will look at all possible ways to save energy in the district;
committee to be
formed, parents and high school students to be involved.
Result
from the AZ
Legislature -- "Didn't expect much, didn't get much." Improvements
are
invisible to parents, yet critical, new financial software package
affects
payroll and human resources. Results
of November
election will clearly dictate budget allocations- District voters will be asked to
approve the
renewal of two
overrides: 10%
M & O
override 5%
K-3 Override $
is used for
competitive salaries, prevention programs for at-risk students, and
reading specialists. If the overrides
fail, district's budget could be reduced by $7 million. Projected tax
impact will be minimal and passage of
overrides would keep funding about the same.
Note: United Parent
Council, as a 501c3 organization, is prohibited from advocating a
position on any
pending legislation or candidates. Parent groups and
school district employees are also prohibited from disseminating
election material
via backpack, newsletters, etc. Factual
information
on the upcoming November election may be distributed at the front
office if
parents request it. A political action committee has been formed.
Contact Julia
Zandler for more information. Dr.
Karen Gasket, Asst. Superintendent for Human Resources Vacancy
Factor --
The number of certified positions (30) open at the beginning of the
school year was cut
in half from last year. Ongoing
strategies to attract and retain exemplary educators to PVUSD: 1
-- “Growing our
own” by establishing partnerships with higher education •
Beacon Program
-- 88
Paradise Valley C.C. students interested in teaching, intern through
the
semester with master teachers. School sites are at
Palomino and Greenway Middle, 2 days a week for 7 weeks. •
ASU New
Professional Development School -- ASU student teachers take
coursework, internships, and clinicals at selected PVUSD Title 1
schools. An authentic
experience with master teachers and an excellent
opportunity to hire excellent teachers 2
-- Fulbright
Exchange
Program- international teacher exchange, educators from India, Mexico,
Hungary. 3
-- STEP program
(this semester) 3 student teachers from Ohio, markets PVUSD district to
out-of-state teacher colleges. 4
-- Promote and
support national board certification for PVUSD teachers.
Dr.
Lil Baribault, Asst. Superintendent for Instructional Support --
Elementary • “HOSC” Hands on
Science Center -- 5000 square feet space, 860
science kits
across the district; integrated skills
across the curriculum • “Making the
Grade” -- Teachers to look at: 1)
Assessment- both
in and out of the classroom 2-
Homework should
be valuable, not just “busywork”. • Sun Kids Preschool Peer Pals --
Typically
developing 3-5 year olds selected for placement as a “peer pal” in the
Paradise
Valley Special Needs Preschool Program. Dr.
John Weimer, Asst. Superintendent for Instructional Support -- Secondary Technology
Improvements, Innovations and
Training in PVUSD: 1
-- UPC meetings
will be recorded and available via pod cast so teachers, working
parents, and community members will
be able to access program info. 2
-- Phone numbers
have changed throughout the district; all numbers now in the 602 area
code. 3
-- Roll out of 3,500
new Mac laptops with Leopard software to every teacher in PVUSD's "Big
Cats " program. Three district-wide
in-service trainings scheduled on three early release days. All
teachers have
been identified as to their technology “expertise” so that training
will be
individualized to their current comfort level •
utilization of
Pdat •
developing
instruction from Pdat •
developing
podcast lessons 4
-- PVUSD is the first district the state to use iTunes University,
where we receive free storage space for lessons STEM
Center in the CREST high school will open on the grounds of Paradise
Valley High
School. PVUSD received more than $3 million in
funding from the city to help build this center for research and
science that will focus on engineering and biotechnology. Fresh
look at middle schools, with an increased focus on
science and engineering. Changes
to the high school day: •
15 minutes longer •
Lunch hour
shortened to 37 minutes •
Closed campus at
all sites Changes
were made in response to a ruling from the Arizona Department of
Education that high school students must attend school for four hours
(rather than four periods) to be counted as a full-time student
BUSINESS MEETING HIGHLIGHTS Legislative Report -- Anne
Greenberg AZ
State
Legislature --166-day session; took 165 days to get a budget; education
funding was not severely impacted in the budget, which allowed for a 2%
inflation adjustment. In
legislative
news: • With the passage of
HB2008,
seniors who had consistently taken but been unable to pass all three
AIMS sections
can augment with classroom grades to get high school diploma. •
English
Language Learners: ALL Arizona school districts are required to put
state model into effect, which includes four hours of
instruction in English for those students who do not test
proficient. Many
districts have protested this “one size fits all” approach; three
alternate models
were approved, but all still revolve around the four-hour model. School
superintendents were among several groups who estimated the cost of
implementing this state model at around $300 million. The legislature
has
allotted around $40 million, to be allocated for additional staff. No
allocation
for class facilities or ELL instructional materials. Special Education -- Allison
Cahill Continue
parent
support group and get resources out
to parents -- both in and outside school. Planning “family
nights.” Holding a parent meeting on August 28.
LINC -- Tami Taylor The
first UPC LINC Parent Group Training of the year for PTAs, PTOs,
Booster Clubs, and other Parent Groups on Monday, September 15, 2008,
6:30-8 p.m. at the District Administrative Center. Workshop
Topics: Volunteer
Recruitment, Working with Parent/Staff Volunteers Presidents’
Exchange (Elementary and M.S./H.S. breakouts) Effective
Communication for your School Community
September Program: Marketing Our Schools
Copyright
2008-2009 United Parent Council of PVUSD #69. All rights reserved.
|