We are approved!

The district learned yesterday afternoon that the state has approved our application for a four-day week. You can read the press release here, and also view the letter sent to the district from MDE commissioner Alice Seagren.

I was pleased MDE noticed the great degree to which the district went to involve as many people as possible, and am looking forward to dedicating those "fifth day" dollars to the classroom, which so many have told us needs to be our top priority.

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NBAPS as a business

We have compiled a document entitled "NBAPS as a Business," which gives an overview of the size and scope of district operations. It also shows what the district receives and spends in specific areas relative to the state averages. I hope it will answer many questions people have about the district.

You can review this two-page, easy to read summary by clicking here.

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Good deeds go noticed

MaryHelen Swanson, editor of the Post Review and fellow blogger, tackles Community Service Day in her latest post. I was unaware of this show of appreciation in Sunrise Twsp:

(Joel) Peterson also prepared a certificate of appreciation for each of the students, and later in the day, after the work was done, Sherry Stirling of the Chisago County Historical Society was going to open the Sunrise museum and give the kids a tour so they could learn more about the community of Sunrise. It was certainly going to be a win-win situation for everyone.

Do read the entire post.

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A voice for the have-nots

The ECM editorial board has published its opinion on my letter to Governor Tim Pawlenty and the state of funding in Minnesota. It is entitled "Parents with kids in have-not school districts need to stand up for kids’ equal education" and you can read it here. Here's an excerpt:

Henton pointed out there are have and have-not districts because some receive more dollars from the state, and property-rich districts are able to pass special levy referendums.

The school funding mechanism is inequitable and needs to be fixed, she said, citing her own district where operating funds per student in 2008 was $8,136.

Compare that to Minneapolis which had total operating fund aids and levies per student of $14,324, St. Paul, $12,199; Mounds View, $12,473, Wayzata, $12,047; Lakeville, $9589 and Elk River, $9,572.

In other words, funding for a student in North Branch was $6,198 less than for a student in Minneapolis.

Compared to a student in suburban Mounds View, a North Branch student received $4,337 less total operating fund revenues.

Please read it all and share the link with anyone you know who cares about education and North Branch Area Public Schools.

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More on NBAEF

The North Branch Area Education Foundation has been very busy. They unveiled a Facebook page recently, and now have an official website as well.

Check it out!

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NBAEF at Facebook

The North Branch Area Education Foundation now has a Facebook page. This is a wonderful organization working to create opportunities for generations of students. It's first major fund-raiser is this fall and you can learn more about that event here.

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More good news

NBAHS senior baseball player Sean Graff is the Hardware Hank "nuts and bolts" athlete of the week. MinnesotaSportsOnline has more.

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