K-12 to get new reading curriculum

Emphasizing the importance of quality reading materials, the Holyoke School Board approved a nearly $119,000 purchase of five reading programs for use starting in the 2017-18 school year.
    The entire reading curriculum proposed by the reading resource committee at the April 19 board meeting was approved last week at the board’s June 6 meeting. It was cited that this is the first reading program to be purchased in the district in over 15 years.
    Close to two-thirds of the reading materials cost will go to McGraw-Hill Education for the K-6 Wonders programs.
    Purchases were also approved for Cengage Learning for grades 6-12, Edmark Reading Program for elementary high-needs special education classroom and life skills classroom, Overdrive for grades 7-12 and No Red Ink for grades 7-12.
    
    Personnel hires noted
    Zach Kubik was hired for the JR/SR high P.E. position for the upcoming school year. He graduated this spring from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, with a double major in sports exercise health and wellness, and sports management.
    He played football for five years at Dakota Wesleyan. Kubik will take part in the alternative licensure program to earn his teaching license.
    Additionally, Katie Frazier was approved as head coach for the HS spiritleaders at a stipend of $1,861, and for the JH spiritleaders at a stipend of $1,241.
    Elementary school counselor Nicole League’s resignation was accepted and was effective June 6, the end of her current extended contract.
    In further personnel action last week, contracts were signed for the superintendent and two principals.
    Approval was given Feb. 22 for two-year contracts for Superintendent John McCleary, JR/SR High Principal Susan Ortner and Elementary Principal Kyle Stumpf.
    Ortner later announced her June 30, 2017, retirement at the March 7 meeting. She will be serving two 110-day contracts in the 2017-18 school year, finishing up as JR/SR high principal June 30, 2018. Her total salary for the two 110-day contracts was approved at $75,003.
    McCleary’s salary for the first year (2017-18) of his two-year contract was approved at $99,807. Stumpf’s salary for his 10-month contract for 2017-18 was set at $74,462.
    
    Insurance approved for paraprofessionals
    A new Anthem Bronze Pathway HMO health care plan will now be offered to paraprofessionals employed by the district.
    In this insurance program offered, the district’s share will be 75 percent, while the employee will be responsible for 25 percent.
    Per employee, this will amount to approximately $338.50 per month for the district and $112.89 per month for the employee.
    
    June budget hearing set for next meeting
    The June budget hearing for the 2017-18 budget will be held at 7:45 p.m., just prior to the regular school board meeting Tuesday, June 20, in the school board meeting room at HJHS room 218.
    Reviewing the rough draft budget at a work session prior to last week’s board meeting, McCleary noted that the budget was built on an estimated October count of 585, which is a decrease of 10 from the previous year.
    Based on preliminary estimates, McCleary added that the district will be employing student averaging over the past four years to determine the funded student count.
    Total program funding is projected at $5,561,877, an increase of $444,415 over last year. McCleary said this small increase is due to the fact that the state legislature voted to provide one-time funding for rural schools, to increase pupil funding and not to increase the district negative factoring for the 2017-18 school year.
    The district’s negative factor (amount the state has withheld due to other funding obligations and TABOR restrictions) is set at $596,247 for the upcoming fiscal year, said McCleary.
    For 2017-18, the district will start with a beginning fund balance estimated at $1,459,080, an increase of $100,000 from the previous year’s beginning fund.
    This budget does not deficit spend but will have a surplus which will be used to create a district reserve as suggested by the Budget and Facilities Committee. McCleary said the district will identify no less than $60,000 to begin building a reserve.
    
    Second-semester audit completed for random drug testing
    McCleary met with Ortner, who serves as the random drug testing coordinator, to complete the second-semester audit for the testing program June 5.
    He reported at last week’s board meeting that there were no variances from procedures. Follow-up documentation regarding results of one test will be confirmed, with paperwork placed on file.
    Ortner reported that 233 students were enrolled in random drug testing as of May 22. During the second semester, 116 tests by urinary analysis/EtG were conducted. Four positive tests for marijuana and one positive EtG which detects alcohol were reported.
    The semester report indicated that 82 students were tested once, 14 were tested twice, and two were tested three times.
    
    Year-end reports given
    End-of-year principal reports were given by Stumpf and Ortner, and a spring sports summary was presented by athletic director Sandra Rahe.
    Among the goals cited by Rahe was a revival of the Dragon Booster Club. She indicated a meeting was scheduled for June 7 with leaders from the Hoopsters and Dragon Fan Club to discuss forming one booster club for all sports.
    Only two athletes completed dual sports during 2016-17, with both competing in baseball and track in the spring, noted Rahe. She pointed out that there was a total of 11 out-of-town athletes competing on HHS teams during the school year, including six in softball, four in boys golf and one in girls swimming.
    Stumpf cited the K-6 average daily attendance was 94.5 percent. He shared discipline statistics for the year, as well as reading results with reference to benchmarks from beginning-of-year, middle-of-year and end-of-year testing.
    The addition of  a second English Language Learner teacher was mentioned as a positive highlight for the year. Chromebook use expanded to 1:1 for all fourth-graders and 1:2 for all third-graders.
    Stumpf also noted that due to the use of Chromebooks, only eight days were allocated for PARCC/CMAS testing. In another highlight, only eight READ plans were identified, the fewest needed in four years.
    Additionally, Stumpf said he observed an increase regarding student effort and work ethic given pertaining to PARCC/CMAS testing.
    For 2017-18, Stumpf cited numerous target goals. Included in that is 1:1 Chromebook usage for third- and second-graders and 1:2 Chromebooks for first-graders and kindergartners.
    Ortner reported a 93.94 percent attendance average for Holyoke JR/SR High. She said there were more absences for more total students. However, fewer students had 11 absences and therefore fewer hours of time to be made up. There were significantly fewer tardies overall. Two students didn’t earn any second-semester credit because of excessive absences.
    With regard to discipline data, Ortner noted that students fell within the percentage targeted for red zone (six-plus write-ups), yellow zone (4-5 write-ups) and green zone (3 or fewer write-ups) norms. Ninety-one percent of students fell within the green zone, and 173 out of 250 students had no write-ups at all. Ortner also pointed out that refusals to serve in the Academic Opportunity Center were down significantly.
    The end-of-year damage report for Chromebooks at the JR/SR high noted that there were 50 Chromebooks with a damage fee paid, representing 5.5 percent overall of the Chromebooks checked out.
    Ortner also cited the summer plans for FFA State Convention, as well as FBLA and FCCLA national conferences.
    
    Other business
    In other business June 6, the school board:
    —Reviewed a proposed athletic fan policy citing district expectations of parents. The proposal includes consequences for both minor and major offenses. However, the policy was touted as being proactive and helpful as opposed to punitive. Banners promoting sportsmanship will be hung in both gyms.
    —Approved second reading on five policies, including school nutrition program, civil rights complaint procedure for school nutrition program, free and reduced-price food service, nutritious food choices and healthy beverages standards for schools.