410 board updates short-term goals

The USD 410 Board of Education approved updated goals for the next one to three years at its regular monthly meeting Oct. 14.

The board had reviewed and revised district goals at its Oct. 9 special meeting. The technology goal was eliminated, Superintendent Steve Noble said, but those strategies were integrated into the following four goals: put people first, meet educational needs of all students; emphasize parent/community collaboration and maintain quality facilities.

Director Autumn Hardy reported on recent enrollment, graduation data, plus highlighted curricular issues for the Marion County Learning Center.

?The main mission is to help adult learners earn their high school diplomas,? Hardy said about MCLC.

Full-time equivalency for student enrollment is 20.9, down from last year, she said. She attributed the decrease to a larger number of graduates as well as losing some English as Second Language learners.

Hardy said she works with career development if requested. At the center, students can work face-to-face or take classes virtually.

Hours have been adjusted to meet perceived needs: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday. The center is no longer open Saturday mornings.

Greg Brown, Hillsboro Middle School principal and district curriculum coordinator, presented the 2012-13 learning report regarding assessment, implementation of the common core curriculum and measurable objectives.

He said the district, in the midst of ongoing changes statewide, has two primary goals: to be fully committed to teaching the new common core standards, referred to as Kansas College and Career Ready Standards, and tying teacher evaluations to student growth by adopting the McREL teacher evaluation system, which helps to standardize the evaluation process and identifies professional development needs.

Brown reported that the updated math curriculum for elementary and middle schools incorporates the new common core standards. Five-year trends for ACT scores indicate that while USD 410 students are above state averages, their scores have declined some.

Noble said using ACT testing as the standard for college readiness, as planned, will increase rigor and expectations for USD 410 students and teachers.

Other business

In other business, the board:

? heard from Brown about a proposal to upgrade the HMS girls? locker room. He said the site council has raised $5,000, half of the money needed based on bids received, which is essentially a $10,000 project. He asked the board to consider paying no more than $5,000 out of capital outlay.

? approved use of a district bus and driver to transport children Oct. 21 to the Rolling Hills Zoo in Salina. The Hillsboro Recreation Commission will reimburse the district for the fuel and driver.

? approved sections A & B of the Kansas Association of School Board updates.

? reviewed section C of the KASB Policy updates, which relates to the superintendent?s evaluation and procedures regarding administrative personnel.

? met in executive session for nearly an hour for matters of personnel.

? approved the resignation of John McMinn, who has retired.

? approved supplemental contracts?contingent on having enough students for the teams?for Adam McCormick as HMS girls assistant basketball coach and Jesse Allen as HMS boys assistant basketball coach.

? approved work agreements for Steven Nicholas Talbott as bus driver and Eldon Funk as midday route bus driver.

? heard from Noble the SO 66 report that is based on last year?s enrollment of 577. Consequently, the budget will be decreased by $103,000. On Sept. 20, enrollment for this year was down to 525.

? heard from Noble that the Kansas Supreme Court heard the school funding lawsuit and is expected to issue a ruling in December or January.

Board member Mark Rooker was absent from the meeting.

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