Superintendent Update
May 9, 2003
It is hard to believe, but we are in the process of winding down the school year. Our staff and students are very busy in completing Terra Nova testing, completing curriculum requirements, and taking field trips. It has been a very good year, but everyone is ready for a break.
The glass-hallway project in the high school is in the final stages of painting and finish work. This project has run very smoothly, and the construction crew has done an excellent job. I have received many compliments about the new look and the economic benefits that are sure to come in the future.
Grade-level expectations have been completed and the staff is busy in documenting assessments. By the beginning of next school year, parents and students will know ahead of time what the curriculum and expectations will be for each subject and grade level. They will also be able to find out the types of assessments used to test each objective. This approach will allow parents and students to get a clear picture of the student’s performance. The classroom teachers will also be able to track student performance and make adjustments to their instruction based on data.
We are in the process of planning for the Great Outdoor Colorado (GO-CO) grant to replace the lighting system on the baseball/football field, tennis courts, and to renovate the track. The surveys are complete and we are waiting for the recommendations on where to locate the lighting poles, tennis courts, and how to reset the track.
The planning stages have begun on the high school air conditioning project. We are currently getting bids and proposals on what type of system would best meet our needs. Keep in mind that both the GO-CO and air conditioning projects are fully funded by grants and that it will not cost our school district any money.
Kiowa County School District Re-1 passed a resolution to fill the vacated school board position in District D. The opening will be advertised and applicants that are interested need to submit a letter of interest to be considered. The school board will appoint the new member at the regularly scheduled session May 27, 2003. The term will run to the November, 2003, election, at which time the appointed board member would need to seek re-election in order to continue serving.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that served on the Accountability Committee this year. This committee was very active in obtaining input from all stakeholders in the community, as well as students. The committee is in the process of making recommendations to the board concerning valedictorian/salutatorian requirements, attendance, and policy modifications.
We recently received the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) results for third grade reading. Our class had 93 percent of its students scoring at or above proficient on this assessment. This was an excellent performance, and our staff and students should be commended for their accomplishment.