Budgest season officially underway

Last night, Finance Director Randi Johnson gave the school board the forecast for the 2009-2010 budget for the first time. If you haven't heard, the district is facing $1.5 million in adjustments to balance next year's budget.

Here is the budget presentation if you would like to view it, and here is the one page fact sheet you are sure to see more and more of as we move through this difficult process. A page has also been set up at the district web site to allow you an opportunity to provide input by e-mail if you so choose.

I sent a letter to our legislators this week after hearing that the state could consider a 10-13 percent reduction in its education funding for next year, which would be extremely damaging to NBAPS. Senator Rick Olseen responded and I was encouraged by his continued commitment to education.

Still...

The state has some tough choices ahead and those choices could affect NBAPS drastically and in a negative way. I encourage you to contact both Sen. Olseen or Rep. Jeremy Kalin and let them know that cuts to state education funding would be potentially catastrophic to our district, especially since North Branch has been reducing so deeply, for so long.

The $1.5 million shortfall we are projecting is based on receiving no increase in state funding for next year, but it is also based on receiving no cut in state funding for next year. Every dollar the state cuts from education will make our projected deficit grow.

We laid off forty people last year. We are, quite simply, running out of maneuvering space.


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We are listening

I would like to personally invite you to attend the first of three listening sessions next Thursday, March 5, at the Main Street site. The public session will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. on the second floor and will follow the same small group format we used last year.

This is a great chance to talk with board members about ideas, priorities, and concerns you may have as we move through the difficult budgeting process.

If you can't make it don't worry, there will be another opportunity on March 26, same time, same place. A third listening session will be scheduled in April after budget recommendations have been made.

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More on Stimulus

ED.gov has preliminary information now on how stimulus dollars will be allocated to states.

Meanwhile, MDE continues to review the over 1000-page package and offers this additional information:

Under the stimulus package, many of the education dollars will flow to the state from the federal government and be distributed to Minnesota schools using existing federal funding formulas for programs such as special education and Title I. Additional one-time stabilization funding will also be made available.

I'll keep you posted.

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NBAPS joins SCRED

On Thursday, Feb. 13, the North Branch Area School Board voted unanimously to become a member of the St. Croix River Education District (SCRED). This is SCRED's mission statement:

Through the actions of its administrators and governing body, and through collaboration with other service agencies, SCRED will strive for equity of opportunity for all learners by facilitating cooperation, collaboration, communication, and collective excellence among its member districts.

And here is just a brief description of what it does:

SCRED is an organizational structure which manages shared services between its member districts and other governmental service units. SCRED provides management of special education services and consultation to districts on regular education curriculum and instruction.

If you want to learn more, please visit the SCRED homepage.
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Could we face cuts?

Senate DFL leaders are signaling that K-12 education must be subject to cuts, not the slight increases proposed by Gov. Pawlenty:

Pogemiller said putting off the hard budget decisions now would prevent the state from having the money to make strategic investments in such areas as early childhood education when the economy recovers.

To cut spending by $4.85 billion would require a 13.7 percent across-the-board budget reduction, Pogemiller said. That would slash $1.9 billion from K-12 education.

Nobody is going to do that, he said. "But you cannot put 40 percent of the budget offline. Everybody's going to have to tighten their belts and share the sacrifice ... including education."

Here's some thoughts on this latest news:

Pogemiller indicated education needs to be included in cuts because we are 40% of the state's budget but he does not appear to be recommending any cuts be proportional so that is certainly a good thing. What remains to be seen is how much of a cut we can expect, and we can do little but wait and see how this all plays out.

However, I can say that any cuts combined with expected increases in fuel costs, health insurance, declining enrollment, and no operating levy will have a devastating effect on our schools. Large class size will get even larger and struggling students will not get badly needed support.

Lawmakers do need to look at all aspects of the budget. I expect them to take their time, examine the upcoming forecast, gather input, and look to the federal government for support before taking action. We need a thorough examination of all options before deciding to cut education, which is already bare bones in North Branch.

Something for the legislature to keep in mind as they ponder these tough choices: Kids can't redo their education. The decisions made during this budget session will have a life-long and irreversible impact on large numbers of students.
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NBAPS in the news

The Chisago County Press has a great story this week on technology being used in NBAPS classrooms:

Sara Ertl's first graders are getting to meet kids their own age from different parts of North America, and they don't even have to leave their classroom at North Branch Primary School. Last week they interacted with students in Alberta, Canada and earlier this school year they spent time with kids in Dallas Texas.

And that's not all! The Post Review has our hard-working grounds crew on the front page, with a summary of the work and cost associated with snow removal:

To beat back Mother Nature’s average snowfall, crews use up to 14 tons of sand, approximately 1/4 -1/2 ton of salt, and up to 150 gallons of fuel.

For a six-inch snowfall event, that can add up to as much as $1,300, with the expense rising as the snow gets deeper.

In a winter like this, the scenario can be repeated weekly, if not more often as the snow keeps coming and coming.

I hope you enjoy reading these fine examples of what's happening at NBAPS.
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The state discussing math standards

The news today is buzzing with activity surrounding the state math standards. MPR is focusing on support for changing the way we measure progress entirely:

One idea being discussed is to dump the GRAD and instead create so-called, 'end of course' exams. That means instead of needing to pass one test that measures everything you've learned since first grade, students would be tested at the end of certain courses, like Algebra II, on only that subject.

Education Commissioner Alice Seagren likes that idea because it's kind of like a final exam that also lets students know if they're also ready for college.

There are issues with this solution, such as cost, and according to MPR there is likely to be negotiations during the budget session.

The Star Tribune has more, including information on a bill addressing expected difficulties 2010 graduates may have passing the test:

According to a bill introduced Monday in the Minnesota Senate, students who fail the new math and reading graduation tests would have a temporary, alternate path to graduation if they are in seventh through 11th grades this year.

Students who don't pass the first time could still graduate if they meet three conditions: complete all other state and district graduation requirements; participate in the district's remediation program for the subject they failed, and try to pass the test two more times.

I was asked to comment on these issues and I will tell you what I told reporter Emily Johns; I would not be opposed to moving toward an "end of course" system of exams because I think it would be superior than the system we currently have in place. The assessment would be of much greater value to the teacher, and would allow students to take exams while material is fresh.

Expect more on this emerging debate in the months to come.

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Online learning taking off

The Rochester Post-Bulletin has an interesting article today on the growth being experienced in online learning:

Across the nation 1 million students enrolled in online classes in 2007, according to the North American Council for Online Learning. That number has exploded since 2000, when online enrollments were estimated at less than 50,000.

Minnesota currently has 22 certified online schools, coming from 15 school districts or consortiums and seven charter schools. The Minnesota Legislature in 2003 allowed school districts to offer the classes to public and private school students.

In Minnesota, more than 5,000 students take all their classes online.

In other news: Rushford-Peterson District Superintendent Chuck Ehler discusses the pitfalls of weather related closing decisions, and Wilson Elementary in Anoka is one of five schools in the state making a public push to increase the presence of dads in school.

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