Superintendent's Scoop
July 2019
Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members:
First, August 12th marks the first day of our balanced calendar school year! The response from our families has been great! As a result, we have a waiting list for the balanced calendar classes for K-4th grades. There are limited seats available for 5th and 6th grade - please contact central office at 989-366-2035 if you have a 5th and/or 6th grade student you would like on the balanced calendar schedule. After the Fourth of July holiday, a letter will go home to families with program and transportation information.
Second, the Board of Education approved the Balanced Calendar Instructional Program Grant bid to begin the work of installing air handler units in Collins Elementary. Once the state approves the bid and scope of work, the community will see construction all through Collins Elementary. The goal is to have the work completed by the end of September.
Next, Houghton Lake Junior/Senior High School will house 7th-12th grade students. Through a lot of work and collaboration with families, we are excited about having a "junior high wing" that will allow staff and students to build an enriching junior high experience.
Finally, rumors about programming changes to Houghton Lake High School need to be clarified. Whenever there is change, people ask questions to make sense of the change in their own minds. My hope is not only to provide clarity behind the changes, but to also open dialogue about the vision of education for the Houghton Lake Community School District.
Two courses have been eliminated; Junior Experience and MME Algebra II. When looking at the achievement data over the past three years, there is not evidence that either class is closing learning gaps and improving student achievement. MME Algebra II is taught in one semester, and that does not meet the Michigan Merit Curriculum requirements. Perhaps most importantly, however, is that neither course was approved by the Houghton Lake Community Schools Board of Education (Board Policy 2210 - Curriculum Development and 2220 - Adoption of Courses of Study). No course should run without board approval.
Dual enrollment opportunities are being closely monitored and may result in fewer students completing the Michigan Transfer Agreement. The first responsibility of each public school district in the state of Michigan is to assure all students graduate with the required curriculum. Students who participate in dual enrollment courses need to meet one of two requirements; test out of high school courses (Board of Education policy 5460 - Graduation Requirements) or "exhaust" the high school curriculum. Houghton Lake High School students have been dual enrolled in college courses such as Composition I without completing or testing out of11th grade English. Our high school students have also taken college courses such as psychology which is a course HLHS offers. Students may not dual enroll in courses offered by the local high school [Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act; Eligible Course – 388.513(1)(d)]. Following legislation and Board of Education Policy keeps a school district from making decisions based on personal beliefs.
The vision for the Houghton Lake Community Schools is to "...be an outstanding Pre K-12 school district where all students are provided the tools and skills to reach their full potential." Changes for the 2019-2020 school year will not inhibit students from achieving at a high rate or working toward completing the Michigan Transfer Agreement. The changes for the 2019-2020 school year will continue the already great practices within the schools while providing more experiences to meet the diverse needs of the communities that make up the Houghton Lake Community School district.
Have a very relaxing July! August 12th will be here before we know it!
Sincerely,
Julie A. Brown
Summer Work!
Sumer Work! Continued!
Summer Work...
Thinking About Student Thinking
Teacher Clarity
"Wonders" English Language Arts Program
Have a Fabulous July!
Julie