Board of Education

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

February 10, 2014

The Executive Board of the Athletic Boosters presented a check to the Board of Education for $118,911.84 and designated it for the track fund. Please thank Greg Lassey, President, Brian Woelmer, Vice-President, Cindy Sisty, Treasurer, Kim Marshall, Secretary and Dan Stotz, Past President. Dan has been the driver of the fundraising project! Total cash on hand is $466,065.84 with an additional $15,000 pledge at the time of groundbreaking. The Board of Education approved the project and accepted bids from the low bidders:  Best Asphalt, Star Trac Enterprises and Justice Fence for a total cost of $426,712. Construction will begin around May 1 and conclude by August 1, 2014. Additional project costs that were not included in the three base bids include:  construction administration fees, press box signage, overhead welcome sign installation, visitor bleacher relocation, sponsor signage, track equipment, soil borings, potential overage costs, rubber mats, and sound system upgrades.

Ida Public Schools’ will serve as a temporary safe haven for long-term care residents of Wellspring Lutheran Services in Monroe, if needed. They have 122 residents in their facility and in the case of an emergency they may evacuate to our school. They do have contracts with other long-term care facilities that have beds for all of their residents. The contract with Ida is just for immediate evacuation until transportation is arranged for more permanent care.

Please welcome the following new employees:          Doug Rauner             Girls Varsity Track

                                                                                    Kelly Huss                  Asst. Varsity Track

                                                                                    Patrick Rutan              MS Track

                                                                                    Kathy DeBuck            Food Service

                                                                                    Cathy Songalewski     Bus Aide

                                                                                    Nancy Rose                Crossing Guard

The Board of Education supported the expansion of the middle school in-school suspension room. The room will be used to support the academic needs of students by providing a quiet place for students to complete assignments and regain focus on academics.

The Board of Education adopted the new Board Policy Manual that was developed through NEOLA. The new book represents 1 ½ years of work of the Board Policy Committee. The new books will be disseminated throughout the district in the next few days. Dale Heil, Tim Janssen and Patty Galloro spent hours upon hours reading policies, discussing updates and determining the appropriate guidelines for Ida Public Schools.

The High School Hearing Impaired classroom teaching position was eliminated due to low student numbers in the program. Hearing Impaired students are still receiving full services through resource rooms, classrooms and Teacher Consultant services.

Once approved, the meeting minutes are posted on the district web-site at www.idaschools.org.

Kindergarten Classes make Stone Soup

The Kindergarten Classes enjoyed making Stone Soup. It it the spot on a cold February day! 

Mrs. Zeichman's 4th Grade Class at the Knabusch Center

On Tuesday, February 4th, Mrs. Zeichman's fourth grade class enjoyed their trip to the Knabusch Center.

Foster Grandparent Day was Thursday, January 30th

Ida Elementary students showed their love and appreciation to Grandma Irene.  She is the schools foster grandparent and is loved by staff and students!  Thank you Grandma for all you do!!

Anti-Bullying Task Force

Anti-Bullying Task Force

 

The next meeting of the Ida Public School’s Anti-Bullying Task Force will be held February 3, 2014 in the High School Media Center at 6:00 pm.

Meeting Agenda:

1.     Review and approve October 21, 2013 meeting minutes.

 

2.     Hear kindness activities update.

 

3.     Discuss update regarding prescription drug and heroin use.

 

4.     Discuss changes to the LINKS program.

 

5.     Begin discussion regarding themes for next year.

 

6.     Here update regarding Monroe County anti-bullying efforts and activities.

 

7.     Hear building updates:

a.      Elementary School (Character Strikes)

b.     Middle School (MTSS /  Anti-Bullying Efforts)

c.      High School (MTSS “Be the One” )

 

8.     Discuss possible in-service training for staff members.

 

9.     Discuss website update and social media issues.

 

10.  Determine next meeting date and time.

Inclement Weather

As of January 17, 2014 Ida Public Schools will not have to make up any instructional time due to inclement weather.

LINKS PJ Day raised $356.53

LINKS PJ day was Thursday, January 16th.  Students donated a $1.00 to wear their PJ's. A total of $356.53 was collected for the LINKS program. 

Happy New Year from Mrs. Peterson and Mrs. Thorne's Book Buddies!

Book buddies from Mrs. Peterson's 2nd grade class and Mrs. Thorne's Kindergarten classes made Happy New Year visors! 

5th grade performs winter musical

The 5th graders in the current general music class made the most of this cold winter weather by performing a winter musical for their parents and other classmates.  They are under the direction of Mr. Dan Nichols.

Education Plus Credit Union Donates $10,000 toward the Ida Track Project

Rich Montcalm, Education Plus Board of Director, and Denise Fox, Education Plus CEO, present a check to the Ida Board of Education at the board meeting on January 13, 2014.

Pictured from left to right:  Chris Horney, Brian Deland, Tim Janssen, Mark Mathis, Rich Montcalm, Denise Fox, Jody Hoffman, Patty Galloro and Dale Heil.

Highlights from the Board of Education Meeting

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

January 13, 2014 

January is school board recognition month. Please let our members of the Board of Education know they are appreciated. They spend a considerable amount of time reading and reviewing recommendations while researching pertinent topics so that they can make informed decisions at the board table. Additionally, they provide an important link to the community while attending athletic events, band concerts and other co-curricular activities.

Education Plus credit union presented a check in the amount of $10,000 to the Board of Education in support of the track construction project. The district is planning to move forward with the project. Currently, we are soliciting bids for the project and the track committee will be convening at the end of the month to review bids and make final recommendations to the Board.

Peggy Behrendt officially retired from her teaching position effective January 31, 2014. She has served the students of Ida Public Schools since 1986.

Lorna Myers officially retired from the In-School Suspension supervisor position effective December 31, 2014. She has served the district since 1992.

The Board of Education authorized Mr. Bennett to begin planning the band trip to Florida in the spring of 2015 while authorizing Mr. Carsten to begin planning the eighth grade trip to Washington D.C. in the spring of 2015.

Ida Public Schools started the 2014 budget year with a fund balance of $4,274,133. However, our updated budget projections include revenue of $12,692,522 while projected expenses are at $13,378,526. Therefore the district is overspending by $686,004. The anticipated fund balance on June 30, 2014 is expected to decline to $3,588,129. The 2015 budget year will be more difficult to manage. Revenue is projected at $12,161,472 while expenses are projected at $13,203,820. That equates to $1,042,348 in overspending which would take our fund equity down to $2,545,781. Please contact your legislative representatives and encourage them to increase funding for education.

Once approved, the meeting minutes are posted on the district web-site at www.idaschools.org.

Ida High School REVISED Exam Schedule

School Board Recognition Month

As citizen leaders, individual school board members face complex and demanding challenges. They are alternately described as having the most important volunteer jobs in the country and facing the toughest challenge in elected American government. Yet school board members are just ordinary citizens with extraordinary dedication to our nation’s public schools. All Michigan citizens should recognize the vital contributions of these men and women and the crucial role they play in the education of our children.

Public education is the backbone of American society, and local school boards are deeply rooted in U.S. tradition. It’s the foundation on which our democracy was built. Today local school boards continue to do the most important work of their communities—that of educating our youth.

Their job is to establish a vision for the education program, design a structure to achieve that vision, ensure schools are accountable to the community and strongly advocate for continuous improvement in student learning. The job of a school board member is tough, the hours long and the thanks few and far between. Too often we’re quick to criticize school board members without really understanding the complex nature of their decisions. Now’s the time to thank them for their untiring efforts.

School board members come from a variety of backgrounds, yet they share a common goal—helping students achieve in school and life. As a state, Michigan has faced many challenges, but the key to a brighter future is a strong public education system.

We often forget about the personal sacrifices school board members make. Board members contribute hundreds and hundreds of hours each year leading their districts. The time spent in board meetings represents just a small fraction of the hours school board members spend leading their districts. Collectively, they spend almost 7,000 hours on professional development to keep abreast of the latest trends in educational leadership, are deeply involved in community activities and spend many hours at extracurricular events. They continually advocate for the children of our state, and in the past year school board members made countless passionate pleas to legislators, speaking out against budget cuts and pushing for smart reforms.

The month of January marks the annual observance of School Board Recognition Month. This is a time to show our appreciation and begin to better understand how local trustees work together to prepare today’s students to be tomorrow’s leaders. In January, join with others from throughout our district and state to salute the men and women who provide grassroots governance of public schools.

IDA PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD OF EDUCATION

Mark Mathis, President                                    Patty Galloro, Trustee

Dale Heil, Vice-President                                  Tim Janssen, Trustee

Jody Hoffman, Secretary                                  Chris Horney, Trustee

Brian DeLand, Treasurer