I attended a session at the Rural School Conference on changes in FERPA, presented by the school attorneys James Gessford and Gregory Perry. Now is a good time to review the FERPA Law and its regulations.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents rights to:
- inspect and review their children's education records
- request amendment of the records
- prohibit disclosure- "The parent or eligible student shall provide a signed and dated written consent before a school discloses personally identifiable information from the student's educational records" with various exceptions.
- receive annual notice of their rights under FERPA.
Parent includes a natural parent, a guardian or an individual acting as a parent in the absence of a parent or guardian.
Non-custodial parents have a right to access educational records unless the court has entered a specific order to the contrary.
Step-parents have rights under FERPA if they are present on a day-to-day basis with the natural parent and child and the other parent is absent from that home.
An exception to prior consent is information that the school designates as directory information. The purpose of directory information is to allow the school to publish some types of information in school publications, such as an honr roll list, a sports program or a yearbook. Bancroft-Rosalie School has designated the following as directory information:
- Students name
- Grade level
- Photograph
- participation in officially recognized activities or sports
- Date and place of birth
- Address
- Weight and height of members of athletic teams
- Major field of study
- Telephone listing
- Degrees, honors and awards received
- Dates of attendance
- Electronic mailing listing the most recent educational agency or institution attended.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
School External Visit Report
Here are the Commendations and Suggestions from the external visitation team.
Commendations-
1. Administrators are instructional leaders.
2. Leadership opportunities across all levels within the district.
3. Students report being happy here; there’s pride for the district.
4. Steps toward “Mastery Learning” have begun (Adopting a “No Zero” policy)
5. People demonstrate a willingness to go above and beyond their duties (PBIS meets on Sunday evening
6. Students have been placed at the correct level of difficulty for Language Arts and Math in Elementary and beginning in Junior High.
7. Staff have been trained in the adopted programs.
8. Preschool trained and supports the elementary reading program—Language for Learning--
9. Paraprofessionals are also included in staff development, evidence that students that attended Preschool are transitioning well.
10. Data is used in the elementary for grouping and reteaching
11. Allocation of Time throughout the week for teachers to collaborate on student learning.
12. Celebrate your Commendations.
Suggestions
1. Develop a systemic-wide protocol for school improvement (K-12 involvement;non-certified staff; Board of Education)
2. Professional development that is specific to school improvement goals
3. Student-centered data team meetings expanded to Secondary.
Commendations-
1. Administrators are instructional leaders.
2. Leadership opportunities across all levels within the district.
3. Students report being happy here; there’s pride for the district.
4. Steps toward “Mastery Learning” have begun (Adopting a “No Zero” policy)
5. People demonstrate a willingness to go above and beyond their duties (PBIS meets on Sunday evening
6. Students have been placed at the correct level of difficulty for Language Arts and Math in Elementary and beginning in Junior High.
7. Staff have been trained in the adopted programs.
8. Preschool trained and supports the elementary reading program—Language for Learning--
9. Paraprofessionals are also included in staff development, evidence that students that attended Preschool are transitioning well.
10. Data is used in the elementary for grouping and reteaching
11. Allocation of Time throughout the week for teachers to collaborate on student learning.
12. Celebrate your Commendations.
Suggestions
1. Develop a systemic-wide protocol for school improvement (K-12 involvement;non-certified staff; Board of Education)
2. Professional development that is specific to school improvement goals
3. Student-centered data team meetings expanded to Secondary.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Hunger Games
The book "Hunger Games" is one of the most popular adolescent books right now. The movie follows the book closely, including scenes with graphic violence. In post-apocalyptic North America, Katniss Everdeen finds herself chosen by lottery to fight 23 other adolescents to the death in the Hunger Games. The winner becomes wealthy. I highly recommend the movie, but it may not be suitable for younger children.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Agenda March 27, 2012 Bancroft-Rosalie External Visit
7:45- 8:00 External Team members arrive at Bancroft-Rosalie School.
8:00- 8:15 External Team Organizational Meeting
8:15 – 8:45 SIP Leadership Team (10 minute presentation with time to ask questions)
Mrs. English, Mrs. Wegner, Mrs. Elsasser, Mrs. Slaughter and Mrs. Vogt
8:45- 9:30 Visit elementary classrooms
9:30-10:00 Meet with Administrators
10:00- 10:30 Meet with Reading Leadership Team. Mrs. Wangler, Mrs. Wegner and Mrs. Vogt
10:30- 11:00 Meet with P-12 Teachers
Group 1- Mrs. Schuttler, Mrs. Zwygart, Mr. Grinvalds, Mrs. Hermelbracht
Group 2- Mrs. James, Mrs. Brummond, Mr. Hulstein, Mrs. Bray
11:00-11:15 High School students and Elementary Students
Matthew Wegner, Blair Nelson
Jacob Zuhlke, Lauren Ahlers
11:15-11:30 Support staff
Mrs. Suhr, Mrs. Bacon,
11:30 - Noon Lunch
Noon- 1:00 pm Visit elementary reading classrooms or visit with teachers
1:00- 2:30 pm Visitation Team Meeting and Report Writing
2:30- 3:00 External Chair meet with administrators
3:00- 3:30 pm Oral Report to Bancroft-Rosalie Staff
3:30 pm Adjourn
8:00- 8:15 External Team Organizational Meeting
8:15 – 8:45 SIP Leadership Team (10 minute presentation with time to ask questions)
Mrs. English, Mrs. Wegner, Mrs. Elsasser, Mrs. Slaughter and Mrs. Vogt
8:45- 9:30 Visit elementary classrooms
9:30-10:00 Meet with Administrators
10:00- 10:30 Meet with Reading Leadership Team. Mrs. Wangler, Mrs. Wegner and Mrs. Vogt
10:30- 11:00 Meet with P-12 Teachers
Group 1- Mrs. Schuttler, Mrs. Zwygart, Mr. Grinvalds, Mrs. Hermelbracht
Group 2- Mrs. James, Mrs. Brummond, Mr. Hulstein, Mrs. Bray
11:00-11:15 High School students and Elementary Students
Matthew Wegner, Blair Nelson
Jacob Zuhlke, Lauren Ahlers
11:15-11:30 Support staff
Mrs. Suhr, Mrs. Bacon,
11:30 - Noon Lunch
Noon- 1:00 pm Visit elementary reading classrooms or visit with teachers
1:00- 2:30 pm Visitation Team Meeting and Report Writing
2:30- 3:00 External Chair meet with administrators
3:00- 3:30 pm Oral Report to Bancroft-Rosalie Staff
3:30 pm Adjourn
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Speech team has two state champions and a 3rd place finish
The Bancroft-Rosalie speech team had a very successful day at the state meet in Kearney Friday. The team finished in Third place in class D-1.
Olivia Nottlemann was the class D-1 state champion in Extemporaneous speaking and Brianna Wegner was the champion in Persuasive.
Other finalists were Molly Hermelbracht- 4th place in Informative, Blair Nelson- 6th place in Persuasive, and Whitney Larsen- 4th place in poetry.
Olivia Nottlemann was the class D-1 state champion in Extemporaneous speaking and Brianna Wegner was the champion in Persuasive.
Other finalists were Molly Hermelbracht- 4th place in Informative, Blair Nelson- 6th place in Persuasive, and Whitney Larsen- 4th place in poetry.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Parking lot work to begin next week
Construction work for the new addition will begin next week. The date has been moved up because there is a gas line that lies under the proposed addition. Black Hills Energy will be able to move the line on 4-9-12. Crafts will begin dirt work and redirect the storm sewer the week prior to the installation of the gas line.
The North doors must accessible to exit during this process. They will be used for emergency exit only. The parking lot will be open and accessible except for the construction area.
The North doors must accessible to exit during this process. They will be used for emergency exit only. The parking lot will be open and accessible except for the construction area.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Head custodian needed
Bancroft-Rosalie School is seeking applications for a head custodian/bus driver. This position will be approximately 50 hours per week, 52 weeks a year, no evenings. Annual wages approximately $38,000. Benefits include single insurance, sick leave, and two weeks paid vacation. Starting date April 9 or as soon as individual hired is available.
Duties will include maintenance/cleaning of the school building/grounds and driving the school bus route between Bancroft and Rosalie. A CDL and a level I bus driver license will be needed.
Interested persons can apply at the Bancroft-Rosalie School office in Bancroft, NE.
403-648-3336 or contact Jon Cerny at jcerny@esu2.org.
Duties will include maintenance/cleaning of the school building/grounds and driving the school bus route between Bancroft and Rosalie. A CDL and a level I bus driver license will be needed.
Interested persons can apply at the Bancroft-Rosalie School office in Bancroft, NE.
403-648-3336 or contact Jon Cerny at jcerny@esu2.org.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Nebraska senators give first round approval to LB870
I like what Senator Adams has to say about LB 870. Schools should get credit for student growth, even if those students are not yet performing at grade level (proficient). I also support the need for Career Academies in Nebraska. But not specifically for the reason given by Senator Ashford. I have found that high school students who have a career goal are better students because they understand how what they are learning in their classes will help them later on.
Reprinted from the Nebraska Association of School Boards March newsletter
"Senators gave first-round approval to a bill that would provide a measure of student progress for schools rather than basing performance measures solely on universal benchmarks. LB 870, introduced by Sen. Greg Adams, would broaden the criteria used to assess a school’s effectiveness. Adams said the bill attempts to provide a more accurate picture of how a school is performing. Schools currently are held accountable for students’ results on content area assessments. LB 870 would add additional measures of performance beginning in the 2012-13 school year, including student growth and improvement on statewide assessments and graduation rates. Schools would be required to report the data annually.
“We may not like the method (proposed by No Child Left Behind), but there has to be accountability,” Adams said. “We can either sit back and complain, or we can take steps to make the Nebraska system better. We'd just as well make our system more reflective of the way we believe we ought to evaluate and assess school districts in this state.”
Adams said this approach broadens the picture of schools, because there's more to a school, or a school district, than test scores. “Some Nebraska schools -- mostly because of demographics -- may struggle to show the kind of proficiency on reading, math and writing tests that is expected of them,” he said. “But they should get credit for improvement.”
An Education Committee amendment, adopted 38-0, incorporated provisions of several other bills heard by the Committee. The amendment would:
• add language that would make data collected by the statewide accountability system available to all citizens;
• require that all probationary teachers — regardless of school classification — be evaluated once per semester (this is currently the standard in all but Class IV and V districts); and
• provide stronger authorization to the state Department of Education to create and support career academies.
Sen. Brad Ashford spoke in support of the amendment, saying the creation of career academies would benefit students who may not follow a traditional educational pathway. The provisions originated from LB 1144, a bill he introduced.
“I’m thoroughly convinced that if we can move forward with career academies, we’ll increase the confidence of kids that feel the system has given up on them,” Ashford said.
Senators advanced LB 870 to Select File on a 36-0 vote.
Reprinted from the Nebraska Association of School Boards March newsletter
"Senators gave first-round approval to a bill that would provide a measure of student progress for schools rather than basing performance measures solely on universal benchmarks. LB 870, introduced by Sen. Greg Adams, would broaden the criteria used to assess a school’s effectiveness. Adams said the bill attempts to provide a more accurate picture of how a school is performing. Schools currently are held accountable for students’ results on content area assessments. LB 870 would add additional measures of performance beginning in the 2012-13 school year, including student growth and improvement on statewide assessments and graduation rates. Schools would be required to report the data annually.
“We may not like the method (proposed by No Child Left Behind), but there has to be accountability,” Adams said. “We can either sit back and complain, or we can take steps to make the Nebraska system better. We'd just as well make our system more reflective of the way we believe we ought to evaluate and assess school districts in this state.”
Adams said this approach broadens the picture of schools, because there's more to a school, or a school district, than test scores. “Some Nebraska schools -- mostly because of demographics -- may struggle to show the kind of proficiency on reading, math and writing tests that is expected of them,” he said. “But they should get credit for improvement.”
An Education Committee amendment, adopted 38-0, incorporated provisions of several other bills heard by the Committee. The amendment would:
• add language that would make data collected by the statewide accountability system available to all citizens;
• require that all probationary teachers — regardless of school classification — be evaluated once per semester (this is currently the standard in all but Class IV and V districts); and
• provide stronger authorization to the state Department of Education to create and support career academies.
Sen. Brad Ashford spoke in support of the amendment, saying the creation of career academies would benefit students who may not follow a traditional educational pathway. The provisions originated from LB 1144, a bill he introduced.
“I’m thoroughly convinced that if we can move forward with career academies, we’ll increase the confidence of kids that feel the system has given up on them,” Ashford said.
Senators advanced LB 870 to Select File on a 36-0 vote.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tracking FAFSA completions now possible
FAFSA is the application form that students and parents must complete in order for college students to receive financial aid. It is now possible for our school to track student FAFSA application submittals so we can ensure that all college bound students are receiving the financial aid they are eligible for. My goal for our school is for all graduates to go on to some type of post-high school training or education.
Here is the News Release from the Nebraska Department of Education-
The U.S. Department of Education has released a new tool that will help high school counselors and school leaders by giving them a resource to monitor FAFSA completions and better help students access higher education. School officials can now track FAFSA submission and completion statistics at individual high schools on the FAFSA Completion website, which will help them ensure that their students are filling out the FAFSA and therefore are able to determine their eligibility for federal student aid – a key factor in families’ college decisions.
“We know that completing a FAFSA is a critical component of accessing higher education, and this data will be a key tool for high school guidance counselors and local officials,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “We hope that by providing this resource in the heart of FAFSA filing season we can empower school leaders as they assist students and families in preparing for college.”
Making the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) easier to use has been a key part of the Administration’s effort to increase access to college and help the nation reach President Obama’s goal to lead the world in college graduates by 2020. In addition to determining eligibility for federal student aid, which includes Pell grants, federal student loans and work study opportunities, many states, institutions and private organizations rely on the FAFSA to determine eligibility for non-federal sources of aid, so filing a FAFSA has become the gateway to accessing funds for college. Key studies have indicated that FAFSA completion correlates strongly with college enrollment, particularly among low-income populations.
Here is the News Release from the Nebraska Department of Education-
The U.S. Department of Education has released a new tool that will help high school counselors and school leaders by giving them a resource to monitor FAFSA completions and better help students access higher education. School officials can now track FAFSA submission and completion statistics at individual high schools on the FAFSA Completion website
“We know that completing a FAFSA is a critical component of accessing higher education, and this data will be a key tool for high school guidance counselors and local officials,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “We hope that by providing this resource in the heart of FAFSA filing season we can empower school leaders as they assist students and families in preparing for college.”
Making the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) easier to use has been a key part of the Administration’s effort to increase access to college and help the nation reach President Obama’s goal to lead the world in college graduates by 2020. In addition to determining eligibility for federal student aid, which includes Pell grants, federal student loans and work study opportunities, many states, institutions and private organizations rely on the FAFSA to determine eligibility for non-federal sources of aid, so filing a FAFSA has become the gateway to accessing funds for college. Key studies have indicated that FAFSA completion correlates strongly with college enrollment, particularly among low-income populations.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
New law in South Dakota on teacher pay and employment.
From KTIV channel 4 website
"On Tuesday, South Dakota governor Daugaard signed a bill into law that gives bonuses to top teachers and phases out tenure.
The bill includes the governor's original plan to give 5,000 annual bonuses to the top 20 percent of teachers, but school districts could create their own reward plans or opt out of the program altogether. The bill also gives math and science teachers yearly bonuses.
The bill makes it possible to remove teachers, even tenured ones, starting in 2016. Some are worried that will affect job security."
Personally I am a proponent of Merit (Bonus) Pay to top teachers. But I have not found a Merit Pay system that I can agree with. It is difficult to use the same criteria for all teaching areas. For example, it is possible to measure the effectiveness of elementary teachers by looking at the academic growth of their students during the school year. But you cannot use that same process for art or physical education teachers. And if academic growth is the criteria, then the issue becomes the method that students are assigned to classrooms. Obviously teachers would want to teach students that have a high potential for academic growth, increasing their chances for earning the Merit Pay. Those teachers that can achieve large academic growth gains in students that have been low achievers are the ones I would like to see rewarded first.
The tenure law in Nebraska is a good one. Teachers are given three years of probationary status in which their contract can be "non-renewed" if their performance is unsatisfactory. After three years teachers have the right to an opportunity to improve their performance before their employment can be terminated. This process is fair.
"On Tuesday, South Dakota governor Daugaard signed a bill into law that gives bonuses to top teachers and phases out tenure.
The bill includes the governor's original plan to give 5,000 annual bonuses to the top 20 percent of teachers, but school districts could create their own reward plans or opt out of the program altogether. The bill also gives math and science teachers yearly bonuses.
The bill makes it possible to remove teachers, even tenured ones, starting in 2016. Some are worried that will affect job security."
Personally I am a proponent of Merit (Bonus) Pay to top teachers. But I have not found a Merit Pay system that I can agree with. It is difficult to use the same criteria for all teaching areas. For example, it is possible to measure the effectiveness of elementary teachers by looking at the academic growth of their students during the school year. But you cannot use that same process for art or physical education teachers. And if academic growth is the criteria, then the issue becomes the method that students are assigned to classrooms. Obviously teachers would want to teach students that have a high potential for academic growth, increasing their chances for earning the Merit Pay. Those teachers that can achieve large academic growth gains in students that have been low achievers are the ones I would like to see rewarded first.
The tenure law in Nebraska is a good one. Teachers are given three years of probationary status in which their contract can be "non-renewed" if their performance is unsatisfactory. After three years teachers have the right to an opportunity to improve their performance before their employment can be terminated. This process is fair.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Bancroft School Board News
The Bancroft-Rosalie Board of Education met Monday, March 12, 2012 at 7:30 pm in Bancroft.
Superintendent Cerny presented the February transportation report, the NRCSA Spring Conference, the External Team Accreditation Visit on March 27 with a 2:50 pm dismissal, and obtaining bids for a new 65 passenger bus. Principal Sjuts reported on PBIS training with a 2:00 pm dismissal April 18, a winter and spring activities summary, Senior Sneak trip and basketball uniforms. The Board approved a 36 hour Senior Sneak trip to Kansas City.
In old business the Board reviewed Buildings and Grounds needs for 2012-13 and approved a proposal from Suter Services for Heating Loop Freeze Protection.
In new business the board adopted the 2012-13 school calendar. The board also named Superintendent Cerny authorized representative for federal, state and local programs, approved a contract with Peters Lawn Service, approved Roxanne Raasch for driver education, amended board policy 0590 Internet Use Policy, approving loaning a school bus to the Village of Bancroft for a swim bus, and accepted the resignation of Brad Slaughter.
The board went into executive session to discuss the evaluation and hiring of teachers. Following executive session, the board voted to offer contracts to the teaching staff based on the recommendations of the administration.
Superintendent Cerny presented the February transportation report, the NRCSA Spring Conference, the External Team Accreditation Visit on March 27 with a 2:50 pm dismissal, and obtaining bids for a new 65 passenger bus. Principal Sjuts reported on PBIS training with a 2:00 pm dismissal April 18, a winter and spring activities summary, Senior Sneak trip and basketball uniforms. The Board approved a 36 hour Senior Sneak trip to Kansas City.
In old business the Board reviewed Buildings and Grounds needs for 2012-13 and approved a proposal from Suter Services for Heating Loop Freeze Protection.
In new business the board adopted the 2012-13 school calendar. The board also named Superintendent Cerny authorized representative for federal, state and local programs, approved a contract with Peters Lawn Service, approved Roxanne Raasch for driver education, amended board policy 0590 Internet Use Policy, approving loaning a school bus to the Village of Bancroft for a swim bus, and accepted the resignation of Brad Slaughter.
The board went into executive session to discuss the evaluation and hiring of teachers. Following executive session, the board voted to offer contracts to the teaching staff based on the recommendations of the administration.
Monday, March 12, 2012
B-R Speech team qualifies 11 events for state
Bancroft-Rosalie won the District Speech Championship with 135 points. Eleven events qualified for state with 13 students making the trip to Kearney. Four B-R students claimed individual championships. Here are the B-R Finals results (The top three qualify for state).
Extemporaneous: Olivia Nottlemann- District Champion
Serious Prose: Cameron Smyth- District Champion
Persuasive: Brianna Wegner- District Champion; Blair Nelson- Second place
Entertainment: Suzanne Ras- District Champion; Tim Browning- 4th place
Humorous: Amanda Brummond- second place
Informative: Molly Hermelbracht- second place; Jasmine Greenfield- third place.
Poetry: Whitney Larsen- Second place; Olivia Nottlemann- Third place.
OID: Ryan Wellman, Kylita Gomez, Suzanne Ras, Tim Browning, and Ryan Wellman- Second place.
Blair Nelson, Shelby Ostrand, Whitney Larsen, and Molly Hermelbracht- 5th place
Duet Acting: Cameron Smyth and Amanda Brummond- 4th place.
Howells was runner-up with 127 points.
Bancroft-Rosalie qualified 14 of 18 events for finals at the District speech meet held at Bancroft-Rosalie School today. Entering Finals, Bancroft-Rosalie was tied with Howells for First place with 70 points. Scribner-Snyder is third with 57 points.
Extemporaneous: Olivia Nottlemann- District Champion
Serious Prose: Cameron Smyth- District Champion
Persuasive: Brianna Wegner- District Champion; Blair Nelson- Second place
Entertainment: Suzanne Ras- District Champion; Tim Browning- 4th place
Humorous: Amanda Brummond- second place
Informative: Molly Hermelbracht- second place; Jasmine Greenfield- third place.
Poetry: Whitney Larsen- Second place; Olivia Nottlemann- Third place.
OID: Ryan Wellman, Kylita Gomez, Suzanne Ras, Tim Browning, and Ryan Wellman- Second place.
Blair Nelson, Shelby Ostrand, Whitney Larsen, and Molly Hermelbracht- 5th place
Duet Acting: Cameron Smyth and Amanda Brummond- 4th place.
Howells was runner-up with 127 points.
Bancroft-Rosalie qualified 14 of 18 events for finals at the District speech meet held at Bancroft-Rosalie School today. Entering Finals, Bancroft-Rosalie was tied with Howells for First place with 70 points. Scribner-Snyder is third with 57 points.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Bancroft-Rosalie Community School
Regular Board of Education Meeting Agenda
Monday, March 12, 2012 --- 7:30 p.m. in Bancroft
1. Call to Order
2. Open Meetings Act
3. Roll Call
4. Read and approve the minutes of the February 13, 2012 Regular Board Meeting.
5. Treasurer’s Report
A. Approve the Bills
B. Financial Review
6. Review Agenda
7. Public Hearing
8. Administrator’s Reports:
A. Superintendent’s Report
B. Principal’s Report
C. Athletic Director’s Report
9. Old Business:
A. Annul Review of Buildings and Grounds
B. Suter proposal for Heating loop freeze protection.
10. New Business:
A. Adopt school calendar for 2012-13.
B. Name Supt. Cerny authorized representative for Federal, State, and Local programs, including Title programs, Special Education, Food Services, NSAA, and Lewis and Clark Conference.
C. Offer driver education contract
D. Evaluation and hiring of teachers
E. Peters Lawn Service contract
F. Amend policy 0590 Internet Use Policy
G. Approve loan of school bus to Village for swim bus.
11. Discussion Items:
A.
12. Executive Session- Evaluation and hiring of teachers.
13. Future Planning- Next scheduled meeting- April 9, 2012 in Bancroft.
14. Adjournment.
Regular Board of Education Meeting Agenda
Monday, March 12, 2012 --- 7:30 p.m. in Bancroft
1. Call to Order
2. Open Meetings Act
3. Roll Call
4. Read and approve the minutes of the February 13, 2012 Regular Board Meeting.
5. Treasurer’s Report
A. Approve the Bills
B. Financial Review
6. Review Agenda
7. Public Hearing
8. Administrator’s Reports:
A. Superintendent’s Report
B. Principal’s Report
C. Athletic Director’s Report
9. Old Business:
A. Annul Review of Buildings and Grounds
B. Suter proposal for Heating loop freeze protection.
10. New Business:
A. Adopt school calendar for 2012-13.
B. Name Supt. Cerny authorized representative for Federal, State, and Local programs, including Title programs, Special Education, Food Services, NSAA, and Lewis and Clark Conference.
C. Offer driver education contract
D. Evaluation and hiring of teachers
E. Peters Lawn Service contract
F. Amend policy 0590 Internet Use Policy
G. Approve loan of school bus to Village for swim bus.
11. Discussion Items:
A.
12. Executive Session- Evaluation and hiring of teachers.
13. Future Planning- Next scheduled meeting- April 9, 2012 in Bancroft.
14. Adjournment.
Bancroft Fire and Rescue Soup Dinner Sunday
Bancroft Fire will be holding a soup dinner Sunday March 11 at the Bancroft Community Building. The Soup Dinner is a fund-raiser to purchase equipment for the volunteer Fire Department.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Power outage disrupts school day
Right in the middle of our ILCD review by the Nebraska Department of Education the electricity went off for an hour and 10 minutes. During the blackout, the Fire Marshal made a scheduled visit to answer some questions concerning the upcoming classroom addition. The good news is that the Fire Marshal commented that the emergency lighting system was working fine.
The student energy level rose quickly once the lights went out, and the staff had to adapt their lesson plans. Everyone did their best to make the best of a bad situation. Some teachers moved their classes into the hall to take advantage of better lighting. The electricity came on just in time for the cooks to prepare the lunch and serve it on schedule.
The ILCD review showed that B-R is in compliance with special education rules and regulations and the school will not need to write a plan of improvement. And the Fire Marshal gave the okay for the design of the classroom addition.
The student energy level rose quickly once the lights went out, and the staff had to adapt their lesson plans. Everyone did their best to make the best of a bad situation. Some teachers moved their classes into the hall to take advantage of better lighting. The electricity came on just in time for the cooks to prepare the lunch and serve it on schedule.
The ILCD review showed that B-R is in compliance with special education rules and regulations and the school will not need to write a plan of improvement. And the Fire Marshal gave the okay for the design of the classroom addition.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Athletic Banquet
The Monday after Prom there is a baseball doubleheader at Douglas County West starting at 4:30 pm. That conflicts with the traditional date for Athletic Banquet. We don't want anyone missing the banquet because of conflicts with school activities. We are looking at moving Athletic Banquet to Monday, April 23.
I would like some feedback from students and parents prior to setting the date for Athletic Banquet. If anyone objects to moving from the traditional date, please contact Mr. Sjuts or myself sometime this week. I want the date finalized at Monday's school board meeting.
I would like some feedback from students and parents prior to setting the date for Athletic Banquet. If anyone objects to moving from the traditional date, please contact Mr. Sjuts or myself sometime this week. I want the date finalized at Monday's school board meeting.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
B-R Band receives award
The Nebraska State Bandmasters Association awarded the Bancroft-Rosalie School Band and Director Jason Smith the Excellence in Academic Achievement Award for 2012.
The award recognizes Bands that have a cumulative grade point average above 3.5.
Congratulations Band and keep up the hard work.
The award recognizes Bands that have a cumulative grade point average above 3.5.
Congratulations Band and keep up the hard work.
Newcastle and Ponca to co-op sports next year
B-R will have to find opponents to fill the openings in the schedule due to Newcastle playing sports with Ponca next year. That will leave the division with only four teams (B-R, Winside, Allen and Walthill) and the conference with 14 teams until Randolph and possibly three other schools join the conference in 2013-14.
Monday, March 5, 2012
B-R girls basketball rated #3 and #7
Congratulations to the B-R girls basketball team and coaches for finishing the season as the #3 team in class D-1. The #3 rating came from the Lincoln Journal-Star. The World Herald had the B-R girls #7. Obviously the Journal-Star showed great judgment is recognizing B-R for their outstanding play versus several highly rated teams (GACC, Homer, and Howells).
Facing the Blank Page The essays and poetry of David Martin Sunday at the Neihardt Site
On Sunday, March 11th at 2 p.m., author/educator David Martin will make a presentation based on his newest collection of essays and poems entitled Facing the Blank Page. Martin is the creator and editor of Fine Lines, a literary journal he began in 1992 with a mission to, as he puts it, “provide a beacon of hope for the misunderstood, share a global vision of improved literacy, embrace the passion of human diversity, understand the need for clarity in all communication, and create the lives we desire through the written word.” Surely a set of sentiments Neihardt would have readily shared. The literary journal is a nonprofit, nationally read quarterly publication highlighting the work of writers and artists and photographers of all ages and interests.
The endeavor began in 1990 when Martin was teaching an English class to “at-risk” inner-city high school students. His most difficult task, he thought, was how to teach them to write essays, read literature, and learn poetry. Using The Song of Hugh Glass from Neihardt’s A Cycle of the West, he brought out the themes of “defeat and victory, rejection and acceptance, revenge, and forgiveness.” The students responded and began to enjoy writing, leading to a class newsletter, and later to a chapbook style magazine, and on to this larger publication. As Martin shared, “What began as a classroom motivator to encourage marginal students has become a publication used today in all grade levels in schools across Nebraska and beyond.” The Neihardt Site library subscribes to Fine Lines.
The endeavor began in 1990 when Martin was teaching an English class to “at-risk” inner-city high school students. His most difficult task, he thought, was how to teach them to write essays, read literature, and learn poetry. Using The Song of Hugh Glass from Neihardt’s A Cycle of the West, he brought out the themes of “defeat and victory, rejection and acceptance, revenge, and forgiveness.” The students responded and began to enjoy writing, leading to a class newsletter, and later to a chapbook style magazine, and on to this larger publication. As Martin shared, “What began as a classroom motivator to encourage marginal students has become a publication used today in all grade levels in schools across Nebraska and beyond.” The Neihardt Site library subscribes to Fine Lines.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Truancy Law to change
Reprinted from Nebraska Council of School Administrator legislative update.
LB 933 advanced to select file by a 35-3 vote. The bill would change the law on truancy to provide that:
-- If the child is absent more than 20 days per year or the hourly
equivalent and all of the absences are due to documented illness that
makes attendance impossible or impracticable or are otherwise excused by
school authorities, the attendance officer may report the information to
the county attorney of the county in which the person resides.
-- If the child is absent more than 20 days per year or the hourly
equivalent and any of the absences are not excused, the attendance officer
must file a report with the county attorney of the county in which the
person resides on a form which includes the following two statements, one
of which must be designated by the school representative signing the
report:
(a) The school representative requests additional time to work with the
student prior to intervention by the county attorney; and
(b) the school representative believes that the school has used all
reasonable efforts to resolve the student’s excessive absenteeism without
success and recommends county attorney intervention.
If further action is necessary to address the child's attendance, the
initial meeting between the parent/guardian of the child, the school, and
the county attorney or his/her designee must be at a location determined
by the school.
LB 933 advanced to select file by a 35-3 vote. The bill would change the law on truancy to provide that:
-- If the child is absent more than 20 days per year or the hourly
equivalent and all of the absences are due to documented illness that
makes attendance impossible or impracticable or are otherwise excused by
school authorities, the attendance officer may report the information to
the county attorney of the county in which the person resides.
-- If the child is absent more than 20 days per year or the hourly
equivalent and any of the absences are not excused, the attendance officer
must file a report with the county attorney of the county in which the
person resides on a form which includes the following two statements, one
of which must be designated by the school representative signing the
report:
(a) The school representative requests additional time to work with the
student prior to intervention by the county attorney; and
(b) the school representative believes that the school has used all
reasonable efforts to resolve the student’s excessive absenteeism without
success and recommends county attorney intervention.
If further action is necessary to address the child's attendance, the
initial meeting between the parent/guardian of the child, the school, and
the county attorney or his/her designee must be at a location determined
by the school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)