Weekend Update
R-III News from the desk of Superintendent Mark S. Penny
February 26, 2016
NEW DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT
As we embark upon our 1:1 goal, our District Transformation Team has been meeting regularly. During the process, it became evident that we may need to adopt a new District mission statement.
A Mission Vision Committee comprised of educational stakeholders - community, parents, faculty & staff, Board of Education - was established to work on the project. Todd Culbertson led and Mary Ingmire facilitated the process of rewriting the District's mission statement.
We are proud to report the Committee's hard work has resulted in a proposal that we will submit for your review, discussion, and approval at the March Board meeting. We want to give you ample time to consider the proposed mission statement, and we plan to include it in our Weekend Update and other email communications for the next couple of weeks so you can be thinking about it.
The proposed mission statement for the Lincoln County R-III School District is as follows:
"To educate students to achieve excellence through trusting relationships and superior instruction."
Let us know your thoughts.
UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT AT NINTH GRADE CENTER
Our deepest condolences are extended to the family of Ninth Grade Center student Mollie Wood whose beloved father passed away unexpectedly on the evening of February 24, 2016. Sadly, Mollie's father, David Wood, suffered a massive heart attack while attending a FFA ceremony at Ninth Grade Center. An ambulance was called to the scene to assist with the medical emergency, and we have learned, sadly, the medics were unable to stabilize Mr. Wood, and he passed away. Please keep Millie and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time of loss and mourning.
NOTEWORTHY DATES
- Harlem Wizards vs. W.E.S.T. All Stars hosted by the Education Foundation. Two
shows on Sunday, Feb. 28th. Catch the 2 pm or 6:30 pm show! Affordable and
fun! See Peachjar, attached flyer for details, or buy tickets online.
Harlem Wizards on Feb. 28th are still available in advance.
- Available at Central Office OR
- By filling out a form available at your school
- Purchase online
- Prices increase at the door if tickets are still available. See the flyer in Peachjar.
Join TBHS Football for a hearty breakfast on Saturday at TBHS Commons for $5. Check Peachjar for more details.
Volleyball grades 3-6. You can still sign up for $20 through 3/8. Games & practices in Troy. Questions? Email Zac Leonard.
Baseball camp, grades 3-8, for pitching & catching or hitting & fielding with a great line-up of instructors.
Prom assistance through Project Prom. Last year, families in the Midwest spent $515 on prom. Bright Futures Lincoln County can help downsize that number for any family needing to save! Find out more on our website.
Book drive through February. Do you have books no longer age appropriate for your child? We have your solution!
Food drive K-5 is February 29 - March 4.
Spring break is only 21 days away! March 21-28. Students return on Tuesday, March 29.
LINDENWOOD UNIVERSITY CLOSING SATELLITE CAMPUS LOCATIONS
Regrettably, Lindenwood University (LU) notified us last week of their intent to not partner with R3 in the dual credit program for our Troy Buchanan High School students beginning next year. We were told the new LU President wishes to close the LU satellite campus locations and focus on the main campus in St. Charles.
In spite of the unfortunate news, we are excited to inform you Missouri Baptist University has made the decision to offer more dual credit classes to our TBHS students beginning next year.
As you are aware, we are also conversing with St. Charles Community College about a satellite campus in Troy.
Even though LU will no longer offer the dual credit classes in Moscow Mills, our students will still have a variety of dual credit classes to take thanks to MBU and SCCC. We look forward to continuing our relationship with MBU and beginning one with SCCC.
Update on Dr. Brandly from Caring Bridge
By Ron Brandly
Hi Friends and Family
I am at the end of my second three week cycle and start my third cycle on Monday, February 22, 2016. So this week I have very few side effects and they are minimal.
I have even been able to eat ice cream everyday this week. I know God made ice cream and wants us to have it. That will change on Monday with my 4-5 hour infusion of two chemo drugs. As always, I take four chemo pills a day at home.
THE GOOD NEWS is when I complete the three week cycle starting on Monday, I will have six weeks with no chemotherapy to rest my body and cleanse the chemo drugs from my system. I will also have CT scans to determine how effective the chemo has been and to make plans for the surgery after the six week vacation.
My spirits are high and it is because of the many prayers answered by God. What an awesome God we have. Praise Him. I thank all of you prayer warriors out there. You are amazing.
EMERGING ISSUES IN EDUCATION - BILL SUMMARIES
HB1792 (Lauer) adds making a terrorist threat and statutory rape to the list of offenses that school administrators must report. Voted out “do pass.”
HB2238 (Gannon) requires, subject to appropriations, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to subsidize the examination fee for first-time high school equivalency test takers.
HB2388 (P. Fitzwater) requires any municipality, business, or nonprofit organization that organizes a youth athletic activity where an activity fee will be charged to distribute a concussion and brain injury information sheet to each athlete participating in the activity. Each athlete’s parent or guardian must sign the information form and submit it to the athletic activity governing body before the athlete may participate in the activity. It also requires all coaches participating in the activity to complete initial online or in-person training and must receive updated training at least once every three years thereafter.
Elementary and Secondary Education
HB1429 (Sommer) adds a weight of six-tenths for each gifted student who exceeds the school district’s gifted threshold to the calculation of its weighted average daily attendance in the school foundation funding formula.
HB1614 (Swan) allows a taxpayer to claim a tax credit for a contribution to a qualified organization that provides funding for unmet health, hunger, and hygiene needs for children in school. Voted out “do pass” as amended.
HJR59 (Lauer) proposes a constitutional amendment allowing a school district in a first-class charter county to become indebted in an amount exceeding 15 percent but not more than 25 percent of the value of the taxable tangible property in the district if the voters also approve a separate question at the same election authorizing the district to become indebted in an amount specified in the separate question. Voted out “do pass.”
HB1656 (Dunn) requires school districts to adopt a policy on student suicide prevention. The policy must address, at a minimum, procedures relating to suicide prevention, intervention and postvention. The training, or lack thereof, must not be construed as imposing a specific duty of care and no person will have a cause of action for any loss or damage caused by any act or omission resulting from the implementation of these provisions.
HB1750 (Roden) requires the Pledge of Allegiance to be recited at least once per school day in schools supported by public funds. Voted out “do pass.”
HB1871 (Cookson) requires that any time an audit examination of records of a school district is conducted, the following information relating to extracurricular activities within the district shall be separately disclosed: standard rent for facilities used; salaries, benefits and stipends for athletic directors; salary stipends for coaches, sponsors and faculty supervisors; 20 percent of school administrator salaries; equipment and uniform costs; travel expenses and mileage; dues or fees paid to any statewide organization that supervises extracurricular activities; and
costs associated with game officials, scorekeepers, and timekeepers. Voted out “do pass.”
HB1928 (Burlison) establishes the Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia. Voted out “do pass.”
HB2241 (Dohrman) requires introductory courses in American government and American history be given in all public and private Missouri schools, beginning not later than seventh grade and continuing into high school and college. High schools shall also be required to offer in grades nine through 12 courses on the Bill of Rights which include the original intent as well as historical and current interpretations and applications. Voted out “do pass” as amended.
SB2379 (Swan) requires each public school to screen students for dyslexia and related disorders at appropriate times in accordance with rules established by the State Board of Education. The school board of each district and governing board of each charter school must provide for the instruction and accommodation of any student determined to have dyslexia or a related disorder. “Related disorders” are defined as disorders similar to or related to dyslexia, such as developmental auditory imperception, dysphasia, specific developmental dysgraphia, and developmental spelling disability.
HB1888 (Dogan) creates education savings accounts that would divert funds from a school district’s formula funds to an account for a student to use for tuition, fees, required textbooks, tutoring, transportation and other expenses at a private school. MSTA testified in opposition.
Ways and Means
HB2307 (Bahr) creates the “Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program” for qualifying students with disabilities or who are wards of the state. The parent of a qualified student must sign an agreement to enroll the student in a qualified school to receive an education in certain subjects; not enroll the student in a school operated by a district or in a charter school; release the district of residence from the obligation of educating the student; use the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account money for only specified purposes; and not use the funds for computer hardware, transportation, or consumable education supplies. When a student withdraws from the program, the responsibility for providing an education for that student transfers back to the student’s district of residence. MSTA testified in opposition.
Senate
Education
SB586 & SB651 (Wasson & Keaveny) modify the definition of “state adequacy target.” The recalculation of the state adequacy target shall never result in a decrease from the state adequacy target as calculated for fiscal years 2017 and 2018 and any state adequacy target figure calculated subsequent to fiscal year 2018. It also clarifies that charter schools shall receive early childhood education funding at the same time as the district in which the charter school is located. Voted out “do pass” as substituted.
SB827 (Sifton) creates the Legislative Task Force on Dyslexia. Voted out “do pass.”
SB638 (Riddle) requires the subject of American civics to be included in the exam required for graduation from any public or private school, other than private trade schools. Voted out “do pass” as substituted.
- See more at: http://www.msta.org/msta-action-feb-19-2016/#sthash.3FUfzBeT.dpufSTATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
At its meeting this week the State Board of Education heard an update from DESE staff about the progress of new learning standards. When revising learning standards, the State Board of Education is tasked by statute to consider the work that has been done by other states, recognized regional and national experts, other professional education associations, the Department of Higher Education’s curriculum alignment initiative, as well as any work in the public domain. Staff has compiled recommendations from subject-area work groups as well as public comments regarding the proposed standards. The learning standards cover grade-level expectations for English Language Arts, mathematics, science and Social Studies for grades K-12. DESE will provide crosswalks to compare current Missouri Learning Standards to the proposed grade- and course-level expectations. They will also provide supplemental content and assessment materials. The proposed standards are in draft form and can be viewed at http://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/ProposedStandardsFeb2016.pdf. The state board is expected to vote on the final standards at its meeting on March 15.
Budget clears first committee
The House Appropriations-Elementary and Secondary Education Committee passed its version of the 2017 budget. The committee reviewed HB2002 (Flanigan) and made a few changes to the governor’s recommended budget. The governor recommended an increase to the Foundation Formula of $85.6 million. The appropriations committee decreased that amount, making the increase $76.8 million.
Changes to the budget include:
- Adding $537,750 to Parents as Teachers for provisionally accredited or unaccredited school districts
- Restoring $650,000 for school safety programs including active shooter training
- Reinstating $750,000 for scholars and fine arts academies
- Adding $103,000 for early grade literacy program
- Earmarking $2,000,000 from the Missouri Preschool Program for districts that are provisionally accredited or unaccredited
- Adding $200,000 to develop resources for school districts to be trauma informed and address chronic trauma and traumatic stress
- Adding $1,000,000 to create a subsidy to cover the cost of high school equivalency degree testing for first-time test takers
The committee cut $14 million from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education budget and increased it by $6 million, returning $8 million to the bottom line for the entire state budget. The next step for the bill will be review by the House Select Committee on Budget.
- See more at: http://www.msta.org/msta-action-feb-19-2016/#standardsNEWS FROM MISSOURI ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
It Is Time To Speak Up For Public Education
February 26, 2016
From the Missouri Education Roundtable which includes these organizations:
AFT Missouri
Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals
Missouri Association of School Administrators
Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals
Missouri Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA)
Missouri National Education Association
Missouri School Boards’ Association
Missouri State Teachers Association
To: School Board Members, School Administrators, Principals, Teachers, Parents and Public Education Supporters
Earlier this week, the Missouri House Budget Committee was presented with a proposed budget for K-12 education that has the potential to short-change Missouri school students. This budget, as presented for K-12 education, is built, in part, on assumptions for revenue that historically has not met expectations. The House Budget Committee is leading Missouri school districts and residents to believe that an increase in the foundation formula has been made.
An additional $61 million is needed to prevent state funding cuts to many school districts due to changes to the formula the legislature made two years ago that went into effect this year. The committee is proposing utilizing a "Surplus Revenue Fund" to pay for a large portion of the necessary formula increase. Unfortunately, this funding only kicks in after general revenue grows more than 3.1%. It appears that the state will not know if there will be ANY money in this fund until the school year has already ended. Missouri school districts must be able to budget based upon solid information and not risky accounting assumptions.
It is imperative that school board members, administrators, principals, teachers and parents contact their state representative(s) and ask them to provide a solid and significant increase to the foundation formula that will prevent any student from being short-changed by Jefferson City politics.
Contact Superintendent Penny
Email: pennym@troy.k12.mo.us
Website: www.troy.k12.mo.us
Location: 951 West College Street, Troy, MO, United States
Phone: 636.462.5184
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LincolnCountyR3Schools?fref=ts
Twitter: @mpennyR3Sup