Bancroft Community Attitude and Income Survey

Residents of Bancroft should have received their Bancroft Community Attitude and Income Surveys in the mail Thursday. It is very important that you complete and return these surveys. The community needs 100% of the income surveys returned in order to qualify to apply for federal grant assistance to help the community make improvements.

I strongly recommend that community members complete the on-line attitude survey if you have computer access. It is more detailed than the paper survey and will provide the community better information than the paper survey.

Please be honest in your responses. There are many in the community concerned about housing and we need to know what the priorities need to be (maybe we have several housing priorities). Economic development is also a concern so feel free to offer some comments or suggestions.

When you see your friends and neighbors, encourage them to complete and return their income survey. We all need to support the community improvement efforts taking place in Bancroft.

Special School Board meeting Friday at 1:30 pm

The School Board has scheduled a special meeting Friday, March 25 at 1:30 pm in the school library. The purpose of the meeting is to adopt the Resolution to authorize the issuance of the Schools General Obligation Refunding Bonds and to have the Bond Purchase Agreement executed in order to lock in the interest rates. D.A. Davidson, the bond company handling the school bonds, was able to negotiate interest rates that generate present value savings of $40,655.70.

The school has five more years of bond payments on the 1997 bond issue.

Advertisement for COPA program this Saturday

COPA this Saturday in the old gym. View the video advertisement Mr. Smith put together at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SurQYVCc0s4.

Bancroft Fire and Rescue Soup dinner Sunday

Chili, chicken noodle, and Arlan's Bean soup (with or without the bone) are on the menu for the annual Bancroft Fire and Rescue Soup dinner this Sunday in the Community Building. The free will offering will go toward keeping the Department's supplies and equipment up-to-date.

I am planning on baking a peach pie as one of the desserts so try a piece and support the department.

And afterward stop in at the Neihardt Center for some Celtic music.

Troubadour to perform at Neihardt Center

On Sunday, March 20 at 2:00 PM, the musical ensemble TROUBADOUR will present a program of music “From Celtic to Contemporary” as the next Neihardt Sunday Afternoon at the Museum. Duane Miller, Jeffry Bunce, and Jan Cline-Zimmerman bring a variety of backgrounds and experiences in the music field, and create a blend of different instruments and musical styles crossing genre definitions.

In music ranging from the 15th century to the present they have found many lyrics and melodies which weave the times together. Miller, from Fremont, plays fiddle, guitar, Irish drum, banjo and mandolin and has played at Civil War reenactments. Bunce is an Iowa native who composes as well as plays. Involvement with Renaissance Faires led to the lute and the Hurdy Gurdy as well as the penny whistle. Cline-Zimmerman is a folk and Contemporary Christian music singer, both writing and performing. Her new album, “Verily/Abide” was nominated for folk gospel CD of the year by the National Traditional Country Music Association.

The group’s performance at the Neihardt Site will focus on Celtic music but with a few more contemporary pieces included. They have been heard at John C. Fremont Days, the Oakland Swedish Fest, the Decatur Museum House, and West Point Community Theater. The program is free and open to the public.

Graduate Data

Here is some data I put together on what Bancroft-Rosalie students do after graduation.

Graduation data for Bancroft-Rosalie students 2001-2011

Number of Graduates- 250
Number that attended 4 year school- 125
Number that attended other postsecondary school- 82
Number that joined the armed forces- 4
Number that went into the work force- 39

Graduate Location data from 2001-06

Number of Graduates- 150
Number that stayed local- 52
Number that left the community- 98

Results of October parent survey

Parents were given a survey during Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences. Here are the survey results.

Safe and orderly environment
Teachers at this school really care about the students
Strongly agree 31
Agree 18
Undecided 6
Disagree 0
Strongly Disagree 1

High expectations for success
This school has high academic standards for all students
Strongly agree 27
Agree 23
Undecided 3
Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 0

Instructional leadership
The administration communicates well with parents about the School's instructional program.
Strongly agree 19
Agree 22
Undecided 9
Disagree 6
Strongly Disagree 0

Home-school relations
The school is inviting to all parents
Strongly agree 24
Agree 23
Undecided 8
Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 1

Clear and focused mission
The subjects taught to my child in school are important ones for their future.
Strongly agree 30
Agree 22
Undecided 3
Disagree 1
Strongly Disagree 0

Opportunity to learn/Time on task
Teachers in the school use their classroom time very effectively with little wasted time.
Strongly agree 20
Agree 22
Undecided 8
Disagree 2
Strongly Disagree 0

Frequent monitoring of student progress.
Teachers give my child prompt and immediate feedback on the quality of their classroom work.
Strongly agree 19
Agree 22
Undecided 12
Disagree 3
Strongly Disagree 0

Highest marks were for caring about students and subjects taught are important. Lowest marks were administrator communication with parents about the instructional program.

I guess I need to do something to increase the number of parents that read this blog, because this is my avenue for sharing information about the instructional program. Please help spread the word.