Dragon Update
July 22, 2019
The race is on.....
PLC Institute
Gaining Deep Learning About PLC Work
What is a PLC?
In a PLC the entire staff engages in an ongoing collaborative process of collective inquiry with action research to achieve better results for their students. That means the district and the schools ensure time in the day for teachers to work in teams to answer the four questions of PLC:
- What do they need to learn?
- How will we know when they've learned it?
- How will we respond when they don't?
- How will we respond when they do?
Our mission, our fundamental purpose to exist, is to ensure all students learn at high levels. We must align all practices, procedures, and policies in light of that fundamental purpose.
Arkansas Department of Education is continuing to support PLC work in the state. Teams of ADE staff were in attendance at the PLC Institute and Secretary Key (formerly known as Commissioner) opened the session.
Solution Tree is bringing a PLC Institute to Little Rock in the summer of July 8-10, 2020. I have reserved seats. I will be inviting team members to attend, especially if you have not yet attended a PLC Institute. This event will likely sell out in advance, so we will register in advance. Check your dates.
Charting Our Progress
Progress to Date
In the 2019-2020 school year we introduced the concept of PLC work to the district. Our faculty, although not always sure of how to do the work, embraced the concept and worked in teams to start identifying essential standards, create assessments, and look at results. We spent the fall building shared knowledge about this level of work, our mission, vision, and what we mean by terms such as essential standards, learning targets, I Can statements, common assessments, etc. We formed Behavior Intervention Teams to monitor grades, attendance, and behavior data. We spent the spring looking at structural changes, like the bell schedules, master schedule, team structures for revisions to improve our ability to meet and do the work. We restructured use of staff using current resources to provide support with a principal for Teaching and Learning, a Student Performance Specialist, and an instructional facilitator. The result of that work will be largely technical changes, with which we will begin the school year. This is all important work and it sets the stage for our next phase.
Looking Forward
In 2019-2020 our work will be to get real with the commitment to this level of work. In other words, the rubber hits the road. Tim Kight describes elite leadership systems using this formula:
- Leaders drive culture
- Culture drive behavior
- Behavior drives results
With technical updates ready, we will extend our focus into the culture of our organization. Leaders of the organization must be insanely clear about our values, behaviors, and desired outcomes. Our leaders and teachers will work in teams to build three systems:
#1 - Deliver the guaranteed and viable curriculum
#2 - Provide time and support
#3 - Install a culture that trains and motivates all
Our schedules, professional development, school improvement and use of district resources are aligning to support this work.Our school improvement planning is integrated into the PLC planning, as is is the real work of improvement.
The challenge this year will be to maintain the focus, avoid distractions, and respond effectively when barriers and resistance present.
As always, if you have any questions about this work, please shoot me a text or give me a call. My door is always open!
Saturday Volunteers
Goodbye Rock pit, Hello GaGa pit!
Middle School Gym Bleachers
Project Updates
We were awarded a $30,000 grant in a Joint Usage Agreement project, and we are on GO. The main project for this grant is to provide walking trails to connect the city park trails to the playground and provide more access to recreation for both the school and the community. Additional projects were to repair the court, revamp the swing areas, add fencing on the north east MS campus, and add signage about the trails. We will spot repair and level, reseal, and repaint the court. Trails will be 8' wide. Installation is scheduled for Aug 12.
More Playground Work
MS volunteers have been working to add activities to the MS playground, replacing the rock pit with a GaGa Pit, adding shade canopies, a whiffle ball diamond, and team challenges.
The Community Recycle Program
The Mountainburg/Chester Recycle Program started a couple of years ago the first pick up was about 6 months after bins were placed. As the community started using the bins the pick ups were about once every 3-4 months. When the school started actively recycling, bins are filling monthly. I applaud the faculty and staff for taking our position that recycling is better for the community, the environment, and we should teach and model this environmentally responsible practice.
To assist with the MES recycle efforts, we've moved one co-mingle bin to MES. It is in the middle of the bus parking lot right now while gravel work is being done but will be placed at the east end of the building.
Abby Showl donated 4 water totes. We will use those frames to collect cardboard for Abilities Unlimited. They send a truck to Mountainburg Tuesdays and Fridays to collect cardboard from our cafeterias, Simmons, Neon Moon, City Hall, and The Pizza Den. If we can gain community assistance in putting broken down cardboard in the totes, we can help Abilities Unlimited, save space in the co-mingle bins for paper, plastic, and cans, and reduce recycle costs.
The Furniture Project
A school in NWA was undergoing renovations and we were able to gather used furniture for our district and community. We rented two 26' U-Hauls, gathered up volunteers and employees, and in 2 days hauled 14 loads of furniture! The furniture is used but has worn well, and it enabled us to replace some really worn furniture, make matched sets of student desks in almost every classroom at MMS and MHS, and improve some shared spaces such as the commons and the cafeteria. Hats off to our maintenance and custodial crew, who graciously hauled and received 770 piece of furniture at the same time they were hauling trash, moving classrooms, painting, and waxing floors. They are a truly amazing team!
The Middle School gym bleachers have been repaired and painted. Mary Curd has deep cleaned the appliances in the FACS lab, stained the cabinets, and redecorated. It's going to look really nice. Here's a listing of the summer projects to date:
MHS
- Interior hallways repainted from Old Main down to Agri
- Spirit quotes painted on walls
- Replace Sports Hall of Fame Display with more secure shelving
- Lab tables for science lab - Merritt
- Matched student desks for classroom - Burnett
- Matched student desks for classroom - McDonald
- FACS lab remodel - Curd
- Tables for Agri classroom - Hall
- Matched student desks for classroom - Harrell
- Tables and chairs for MHS Commons
- Distance Learning Computer Lab upgrade - wall mounted shelves, rewiring and new computers
- New carpet and countertop refinish for MHS Library
- Bookshelves installed in MHS Library (bought for $50 each from store closing fixture sale)
- Matched student desks for classroom - Pense
- Matched student desks for classroom - Blakney
- Matched student desks for classroom - Kannett
- Matched student desks for classroom - Dean
- Tables and chairs for teacher workroom
- Tables and chairs for MHS Team Room
- Matched student desks for classroom - ISD
- Tables for Lockhart
- Matched chairs for ALE
- Awesome blue chairs for the Band Room
Cafeteria
- Tables with Stools for student seating in cafeteria
- Round tables and chairs for banquet seating in cafeteria
MS
- Playground walking trails added
- Court repair, reseal, and repainted
- Swing set safe zone with mulched
- Fencing on North East MS campus installed
- Playground rock retaining wall/pit removed
- Gaga Pit added
- Shade areas added
- Team challenge obstacles added
- Whiffle ball diamond added
- Matched student desks for classroom - Clark
- Matched student desks for classroom - Wasko
- Matched student desks for classroom - Shepherd
- Matched student desks for classroom - Graves
- Tables for Hamilton
- Tables for Sorensen
- Tables and chairs for MS Team Room
- Storage rooms cleared for learning centers
- Fitness and sensory activities for floors in 5th & 6th
- Bookshelves installed in MHS Library (bought for $50 each from store closing fixture sale)
- Cool blue matching chairs for the Band Program
MES
- Parking lot striping repainted
- Bus lot drainage and gravel work
Other projects:
We are working on routine repairs and equipment failure issues. A lightening strike took out some cameras at MES. 10 intercoms failed and have to be replaced. We still can't get the storm sirens to consistently unlock the SafeRoom, however we have two remote radios and a base radio that do unlock the SafeRoom. Following the one year walk through inspection of the SafeRoom several items were repaired, including seal on flooring, some door locks, and the drains on the fields. The AC unit had to be replaced in the MS Counseling Office.
LED Lights
We should learn if OG&E is approved for the rebate program this month or next and proceed with the LED bulb conversions to improve lighting quality and save electric costs.
SAFETY
The Commissioned School Safety Team (CSSO) team completed training and is prepared. Signage has been placed on each campus reminding visitors to check in at the offices, armed security is on guard, and to not use cell phones in the parking lots and school zones.
The CSSO team will meet with the Crawford County SWOT team, and the SWOT team has also set an evening time for their team to drill in our buildings before school begins.
We have applied for federal funds to add cameras and recorders at MMS and MHS to extend the buzzer doors security systems and that is still pending.
After School Program
We are Dragon Strong
Email: debbie.atwell@mountainburg.org
Website: www.mountainburg.org
Location: 129 Hwy 71 SW Mountainburg
Phone: (479)369-2121
Facebook: facebook.com/mountainburgps