From the Super
April 15, 2008
By Dave Rokusek
April 15, 2008
The importance of students feeling connected to school is gaining interest in recent school articles. School connection is when students know that adults in the school care about their learning and about them as individuals. It begins in the elementary when students develop a sense that they are a part of a larger community of learners all working to be better. They come to value learning and believe that learning is important and the thing to do. This attitude influences students throughout their school career.
The latest research on school/student connectedness identifies seven qualities that seem to influence student’s positive attachment to their school.1) Having a sense of belonging and being a part of a school.2) Generally liking school. 3) Perceiving that teachers are supportive and caring.4) Having good friends within the school. 5) Being engaged in their own current and future academic progress. 6) Believing that discipline is fair and effective.7) Participating in extracurricular activities.
Teachers, parents, extended family, neighbors and friends are all a big part of creating student connectedness with our school by their support and interest. It is very clear it makes a difference in the lives of our youth, so all of you keep it up.
In other news the school foundation directors will be meeting next week to decide on senior scholarships. The foundation will be offering some $57,635 in scholarships through 36 individual scholarships ranging from$155 to $20,782. The total amount is the interest gained on the many large donations given to the foundation over the years. The foundation reached the million dollar amount last year and is now at a total of $1,317,595. Thanks to all who made this possible. It is an exceptional large foundation for a school of our size.
In other school financial news, it appears the district will gain in state aide for next year. After much legislative discussion and the passing of a new state aide formula, the district will gain $198,915 in state aide for next year. This arrives as good news as the past two years our state aide declined by a total of $204,804. The aide will be used to replace some of the prior year’s loss of cash balance and to fund some of the expenses for the upcoming budget year. The long term effect of the new state formula for our district is yet to be determined. The new formula rewards those schools having large poverty and ELL programs. It also discontinues compensating for population scarcity used by many rural western districts. Our student enrollments have been somewhat stable over the past years so that helps our school. The new formula also rewards schools having teachers with Master degrees so with our experienced staff we also get some help. Overall the news is good but I say it cautiously as the formula over the next few years will direct more of the state allocation to the metro schools addressing poverty and cultural issues.
“Trust everyone, but cut the cards”-Finley Peter Dune. Take care and stay in touch!
