Educational Service Unit # 13
SERVING THE PANHANDLE OF NEBRASKA
October, 2016 Newsletter
Scottsbluff Site
Scottsbluff, NE 69361
Phone: (308) 635-3696
FAX: (308) 635-0680
Chadron Site
Crites Hall
Chadron State College
Chadron, NE 69337
Phone: (308) 432-6495
Sidney Site
1114 Toledo Street
Sidney, NE 69162
Phone: (308) 254-4677
FAX: (308) 254-5371
Mission Statement
Educational Service Unit #13...
Striving to achieve educational excellence for all learners
through strong partnerships, service, and leadership.
ADMINISTRATION
ESU 13 to Celebrate 50th Anniversary in the 2016-17 School Year
In recognition of our 50th Anniversary, last month I shared with you some of the history of ESU #13. I want to continue sharing more of that history with readers this month.
In July of 1987, the ESU #13 Board hired Dr. Creda Thompson as Administrator. During her tenure, these services were either added or expanded: preschool services as a result of LB 701-Early Intervention Act, special education supervision and coordination to provide teacher support, media services to include technology advances, and Internet services as a result of LB 452 to provide telecomputing resources and training in the Panhandle (PANESU). ESU #13 also worked cooperatively with NDE to provide services of an HIV/AIDS Health Consultant and continued to oversee several activities funded by state and federal grants (Carl Perkins, Nebraska Science and Math Initiative, Drug-free Schools, Artist-in-Residence).
In July of 1996, Terry Miller was hired as Administrator. It was at this time that ESU #13 took on a very different look as a result of the mergers with ESU #12 in Alliance (effective July, 1998) and ESU #14 in Sidney (effective January, 2005). ESU #13 grew from serving 7,400 students in a two-county area to serving 14,500 students in an eleven-county area (the Panhandle of Nebraska). ESU #13 currently serves 21 Class III school districts and their affiliates and operates two satellite offices—one in the northern Panhandle on the CSC campus and one in the south which was the former ESU #14 facility. During this time, ESU #13 established an alternative high school-VALTS and online classes-NEVA; secured funding for a distance learning pod and a hired a coordinator; and added educators for the deaf and hard of hearing, autism spectrum disorder coordinator, a transition specialist, physical and occupational therapists, and two school nurses. With technology advances becoming more integrated in the day-to-day operations of the ESU and member schools, computer technicians were hired. ESU #13 also assumed the role of providing the education components of both the Juvenile Detention Center (PACES) and the Wildcat Hills Nature Center. ESU #13 continues to serve as fiscal agent for state and federal projects (benefiting both regular and special education) and coordinates numerous consortia efforts.
ESU #13 entered into a lease/purchase agreement to construct a 7,400 square foot addition to the existing facilities to house meeting rooms; a distance learning lab; a computer training lab; and a reception area consisting of a resource library, a kitchen with serving areas, and restrooms. This project was completed in January 2000. Most recently, ESU #13 entered into a partnership with Western Nebraska Community College to construct an addition to the Harms Advanced Technology Center (10,500 square feet) to house alternative education (VALTS), a virtual academy (NEVA), transition services (LifeLink-Nebraska), professional development meeting rooms, and offices. This project was completed in January, 2009. Additional teachers, staff developers and Job Coaches were added to the ESU staff at this time.
With the passage of LB 603 in 2007, changes were inevitable for Nebraska ESUs. Namely, ESU boundaries would now align to the boundaries of its member districts, ESU boardmanship would no longer consist of county representatives and members at large but rather by representatives from election districts as defined by each ESU, and the state aid formula (core service and technology infrastructure dollars) would be restructured.
In next months article I will share with readers what programs and services ESU 13 is currently offering to our 21 member schools as we celebrate “Serving the Panhandle for 50 years.”
Educationally yours,
Jeffrey D. West
SOAR (Sharing Opportunities and Achieving Results)
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR A QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM, TODAY AND TOMORROW
Information retrieved from http://aquestt.com/ Media Briefing on December 4, 2015.
What is AQuESTT? AQuESTT stems from Legislative Bill 438, the Quality Education and Accountability Act, which was adopted by the Legislature in April 2014. The Nebraska Department of Education began the development phase in August2014. Under AQuESTT, public schools and districts are classified and up to three priority schools designated as schools most in need of support to improve. The results are for 245 school districts and 1,130 public schools. Of those 1,130 schools, 110 schools received an adjustment based on their responses to a state wide survey called the Evidence-Based Analysis or EBA.
Here's how it works: Under AQuESTT, school buildings and districts are classified into one of four
classification levels. Here they are as well as the points earned for each classification level:
· 4 Classification is considered Excellent
· 3 Classification is Great
· 2 Classification is Good
· 1 Classification is needs support for improvement
How were schools classified? A classification is set by adjusting a school or districts initial Status points by certain factors and also considering limitations placed on how many points may be earned by analyzing:
o Raw Classification Data
o Evidence-based Analysis Responses
o Demographic Characteristics
o School Improvement Plans
o Existing Systems of Support
The Nebraska Department of Education conducted a comprehensive study of 110 schools designated in need of support. That list of schools was narrowed to 52 for additional in-depth review that involved teams of Nebraska Department of Education staff who, in general, are most informed about the schools’ challenges. From those reviews, 10 schools were analyzed by looking at a more detailed report on their Evidence-Based Analysis responses and an expanded profile, identifying differences and similarities that created patterns of needs with the goal of selecting schools that reflect different Nebraska communities and different needs that could be supported by state and local communities, Department of Education
staff, Education Service Units and other state education organizations. ESU13 results: Information retrieved from www.esu13.org Google Slides Presentation to Superintendents.
Special Education Department
Observed each October, NDEAM celebrates the contributions of workers with disabilities and educates about the value of a diverse workforce inclusive of their skills and talents. Reflecting the important role disability plays in workforce diversity, this year’s NDEAM theme is “#InclusionWorks.”
Job Placements
Thanks to the following businesses for hiring Meridian and LifeLink students this year:
The Residency
Dominos
The Scottsbluff Volunteer Center
Panhandle Independent Living Services
ESU 13 Job Stations
Main Street MarketBytes Computers
Twin Cities Development
Crossroads Corner
Turtle Moon
Ken the Car Doctor
JG Elliot
NebraskaLand Tire
Carpenter Center
JD Skiles
Northfield Villa
WNCC
Blossom Shop
Scottsbluff Airport
Bumper to Bumper
MC Shaff
Head Start/Early Head Start
Head Start has been very busy during the month of October. First we would like to welcome Krystie Hohnstein - Education Manager, Kelsey Sylvester - Kimball preschool teacher and Jessica Bellew - assistant teacher in Sidney.
Mass vision screening was held with 113 preschool children and 17% were referred for follow up. Last year five preschool children began wearing glasses due to attending the vision screening. We are actively completing dental screenings at all Head Start and Early Head Start locations during the month of November.
Teaching staff have completed the first school readiness check and will be conducting parent teacher conferences. During parent teacher conferences parents will be reviewing school readiness goals they set for their children at the beginning of the year and updating them as needed.
Head Start would like to share the Vision for Parent Engagement:
To create and sustain a partnership and collaboration with all Head Start Parents with goals to: Support parents as primary educators, nurturers and advocates for their children; provide every parent with opportunities for a significant experience in Head Start; and ensure that parents are involved in making policy and program decisions for their Head Start Program.
Each Head Start program reflects this vision through efforts to carry out the following principles: All aspects of the program support the cultures of the families and the community in which the program operates; parents have opportunities for participation and shared decision making in every area of the program; the staff and program meets the expressed interests and needs of each parent, through an ongoing process of personal and family goal setting and partnering of activities to meet these goals; all aspects of the program respond to and support children with disabilities and their families; families build the confidence, skill and knowledge they need to access community resources on their own behalf; involve family members and male caregivers in their parent involvement activities, especially those involving the development of their children; parents, staff and Policy Council work together to strengthen their community, to communicate with their communities about the gifts, interests and needs of Head Start families, and to assist in improving existing services or bringing in new services that are needed.
*Applications are being accepted for prenatal to five years of age for center base and home base services. The management team is actively working on the continuation grant for next year.
Alternative Education
Enjoy the VALTS 1st Quarter Newsletter!
http://pub.lucidpress.com/4861eedd-ecce-4597-8317-71b6afe6c47c/