School Board « SuperSpud

Archive for the ‘School Board’ Category

Moorhead Area Public Schools conducting survey as part of community engagement initiative

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

Parents and community members in the Moorhead Area Public Schools have a chance to share their opinions about the district. Moorhead Area Public Schools is conducting an online survey this month as part of the district’s Community Engagement Initiative.

The survey is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MHDCOMMUNITYSURVEY2013 until 8 a.m. April 8. It includes questions designed to help the district gauge community perceptions related to various aspects of school district performance. Other questions allow for the sharing of opinions about what the school district is doing or should be doing. These survey questions are designed to gather community members’ input to be incorporated into the Community Engagement Initiative process.

The Community Engagement Initiative is gathering community input, and the results will help determine the district’s focus for the future. Between now and April, core planning team members are engaging community members in conversations about key issues. Core planning team members will meet individually and in small groups with approximately 400 district stakeholders to discuss the identified topics of preparation for the future, community partners, facilities, equitable education opportunities and character development.

Community and employee surveys are being used to broaden the input, and separate meetings will take place with selected district employees.

Information gathered through the process will be reviewed by the core planning team and the steering committee. The team will develop preliminary plans for action that the steering committee will refine and develop into a recommendation to bring to the School Board in June. The action plans that emerge from this process will provide a framework for long-range planning for the district.

Tags: Administration, Community Engagement, School Board
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

School Board approves calendar for 2013-14 school year

Thursday, February 28th, 2013

At its meeting on Feb. 25, the Moorhead School Board approved the calendar for the 2013-14 school year. Classes will begin Sept. 3, 2013.

The last day of classes for students is June 4, 2014, unless additional emergency makeup days are needed. If additional days are needed, the calendar will be extended and classes will be scheduled June 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 as needed for makeup days. There is one built-in makeup day in this calendar; if it is unused the school year will be adjusted accordingly.

Other priorities addressed by the district’s calendar committee in establishing the 2013-14 calendar were having all students in school on the same days, conferences that address schedule needs at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and professional development for teachers and staff spread throughout the school year.

Aug. 27 will be a parent communication/student assessment day prior to the start of the school year. Details of that day will be determined this spring and communicated to parents.

Fall parent/teacher conferences will be held the evenings of Oct. 14 and 15 at all schools. On Oct. 16 there will be conferences in the morning for grades 9-12 and conferences all day for grades K-8. There will be no classes for K-12 students on Oct. 16 for conferences, and there will be no school on Oct. 17-18 because of the Education Minnesota conference.

Moorhead High School will have conferences during the second quarter on the evening of Dec. 9 and during the third quarter on the evening of Feb. 10. Moorhead High will have a final evening conference on April 28.

Parent/teacher conferences for the elementary schools and Horizon Middle School will be held the evenings of March 3 and 4. There will be no classes for K-12 students on March 5-7.

There are no classes Nov. 27-29, which falls over the Thanksgiving holiday. Winter break will be Dec. 23 through Jan. 1, 2014. Classes resume Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014.

There will be no classes for students on Jan. 20, which is a professional development day for grades 6-12 teachers. There is no school on Nov. 11, Feb. 17, March 31, April 18 and April 21. There will be no school on May 26 for Memorial Day.

June 4 is the last day of classes for K-12 students unless the calendar is adjusted. There is one built-in makeup day. Other designated emergency makeup days are June 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. School could be scheduled those days if needed. June 5 is the last day for staff unless the end of the year is adjusted. Graduation will be June 8, 2014.

A one-page version of the 2013-14 calendar is available athttps://www.moorhead.k12.mn.us/documents/download/?id=63024.

Tags: K-12 Education, School Board
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

District’s core planning team to engage in community conversations

Tuesday, February 26th, 2013

Core planning team members will engage community members in conversations about key issues as the next step in Moorhead Area Public Schools’ comprehensive Community Engagement Initiative.

The Community Engagement Initiative is gathering community input about programs and facilities, and the results will help determine the district’s focus for the future.

At the initial core planning team meeting in February, the group generated a list of possible issues regarding programs and facilities that might merit additional conversation through community discussions.

Between now and April, core planning team members will hold conversations throughout the community related to the identified topics of preparation for the future, community partners, facilities, equitable education opportunities and character development. Core planning team members will meet individually and in small groups with approximately 400 district stakeholders to discuss these issues.

Community and employee surveys will be used concurrently to broaden the input, and separate meetings will take place with selected district employees.

Tags: Administration, Community Engagement, K-12 Education
Posted in School Board, School Improvement | No Comments »

Leaders speak on progress at intergovernmental retreat

Friday, January 25th, 2013

Mayor Mark Voxland, City of Moorhead; Commissioner Kevin Campbell, Clay County; Superintendent Lynne Kovash, Moorhead Area Public Schools; and Provost Anne Blackhurst, Minnesota State University Moorhead participated in a panel discussion on urban progress during the 44th Annual Clay County Joint Powers Intergovernmental Retreat on Jan. 25. The one-day retreat, with the theme of a bright future, focused on topics of importance to the municipalities, school districts, and other governmental agencies in Clay County. The panelists shared progress and work by their respective organizations. A separate panel presented on rural progress, highlighting other Clay County communities.

Tags: Administration, Clay County Joint Powers, School Board, Superintendent
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

District to engage community in conversations and planning

Friday, December 21st, 2012

Moorhead Area Public Schools is launching its comprehensive Community Engagement Initiative with an invitation to community members to apply for the 40-member core planning team.

The Community Engagement Initiative will gather community input about programs and facilities for Moorhead Area Public Schools. Results of the initiative will help determine the district’s focus for the future. This initial community engagement process will be completed by June 2013.

“This initiative will allow for two-way conversation with community members,” said Superintendent Lynne Kovash. “Community conversations will provide a strong direction for Moorhead Area Public Schools.” The last process with significant stakeholder input was the Chainsaw Planning process used to develop the 2007 strategic plan.

The core planning team will convene in February to identify issues and prepare for community conversations. Core planning team members will meet individually and in small groups with approximately 400 district stakeholders to discuss the issues identified.

Any individuals interested in serving on the core planning team should complete and submit the Core Planning Team Application Form online at https://www.moorhead.k12.mn.us/news/item.aspx?id=1334. Forms must be submitted by Jan. 9, 2013. Members will be selected to serve based on their interest and ability to serve, the perspective they represent, and the experience or expertise they may bring to the process.

The steering committee will name people to the core planning team. Individuals not included in the core planning team will be able to be part of the larger community conversations.

A district survey will be used as a concurrent activity to broaden the input, and separate meetings will take place with district employees.

“Meaningful community input regarding the direction of the school district is essential,” said Assistant Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak. “The action plans that emerge from this process will provide a framework for a long-range facilities plan for the district.”

Tags: Administration, Community Engagement, K-12 Education, School Board, Superintendent
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

District property tax levy decreases for 2013

Wednesday, December 19th, 2012

Moorhead Area Public Schools’ property tax levy will decrease by 2.5 percent for 2013, according to Assistant Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak.

Following a presentation by Kazmierczak at the Dec. 10 School Board meeting, board members approved a resolution to certify the district’s 2012 Payable 2013 Property Tax Levy, which provides revenue for the 2013-14 school year.

The total levy amount is $13.9 million, which is a decrease of $350,493 or 2.5 percent from the 2012 tax levy. Most of the decrease is because a bond has been paid off and is no longer part of the district’s debt service. Other reductions were from a decrease in re-employment costs, an adjustment related to deferred maintenance, and a reduction in the school-age care levy. Increasing enrollment increased some of the levies, which offset some of the reduction, Kazmierczak said.

As a normal course of business, the board approved the maximum for the preliminary levy in September. Certifying the maximum for the preliminary levy allowed the district to make adjustments before the final levy was certified on Dec. 10.

A revised budget for fiscal year 2013 will be brought to the board in January. Next year’s budget will be adopted in June 2013.

Tags: Administration, Budget, K-12 Education, School Board
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

Two incumbents, two new members elected to School Board

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

Incumbents Lisa Erickson and Cindy Fagerlie will be joined on the School Board by new members Scott Steffes and Matt Valan. The four were elected to four-year terms on the School Board following the Nov. 6 election.

Erickson received 8,700 votes to be reelected to a fourth term. Fagerlie with 6,706 votes was reelected to a third term.

Matt Valan received 7,826 votes and Scott Steffes received 6,572 votes to be elected to first terms on the board.

The new board members will take their seats on the board at the first meeting in January 2013.

Other candidates were incumbent Mike Siggerud, who received 5,552 votes, incumbent Trudy Wilmer, who received 5,523 votes, Paul Baker, who received 5,245 votes, and John Rowell, who received 3,901 votes.

Results were canvassed at the School Board meeting on Nov. 13.

Tags: K-12 Education, School Board
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

District’s 2011-12 annual report now available on website

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012

Moorhead Area Public School’s final 2011-12 Annual Report on Curriculum, Instruction and Student Achievement was approved by the School Board at the Sept. 24 meeting. The report highlights test scores and district progress toward improvement goals from the 2011-12 school year.

The school district’s annual report is available on the district website at https://www.moorhead.k12.mn.us/district/departments/sia/. From the District Info menu, select Departments and then choose School Improvement and Accountability. The full report is also available by contacting the Superintendent’s Office at 284-3330. A brief summary of the report is mailed to community members.

State statute requires that the School Board approve the annual report by Oct. 1. The report must be made available to the community in October.

Tags: Administration, K-12 Education, School Board, Student Achievement, Superintendent
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

District property tax levy to decrease for 2013

Thursday, October 4th, 2012

Moorhead Area Public Schools’ property tax levy will decrease by approximately 2.44 percent for 2013, according to Assistant Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak.

At the Sept. 24 School Board meeting, board members approved the district’s preliminary levy with the decrease to the district’s portion of the property tax. The board is required to certify the district’s preliminary 2012 Payable 2013 Property Tax Levy by Oct. 1.

As a normal course of business, the board approved the maximum for the preliminary levy. Certifying the maximum for the preliminary levy allows the district to make adjustments before the final levy is certified on Dec. 10, 2012.

According to Kazmierczak, adjustments may be made for a variety of reasons such as changes to Health and Safety projects or changes to the district’s projected enrollment figures.

At the Dec. 10 board meeting, the budget for 2012-13 and the payable 2013 levy will be discussed. The final levy certification will be approved at this meeting.

Tags: Administration, School Board
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

Governor proclaims Moorhead a Yellow Ribbon Community

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

On Aug. 22, Governor Mark Dayton and Brigadier General Robert Cayton proclaimed Moorhead a Yellow Ribbon Community at a regional Yellow Ribbon Proclamation Ceremony in Detroit Lakes, Minn.

Moorhead Area Public Schools is a collaborative partner supporting the efforts of Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Moorhead, a program to connect service members and their families with community support, training, services and resources. The local Beyond the Yellow Ribbon chapter was formed in the fall of 2011.

The Moorhead chapter directly supports the largest National Guard battalion in the state, the 2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry “Bearcats,” along with B Co, 134th BSTB. However, the chapter serves all veterans and family members in the region.

Tags: Beyond the Yellow RIbbon, K-12 Education, School Board
Posted in School Board | No Comments »

SuperSpud