No. 1 on the list each year is always to provide a “level of
compensation and benefit plans that attract and retain the highest
quality staff.”
By By: Dan Barker
Academy School District 20 administration was quick to respond
to the Board of Education’s goals for next school year, as
demonstrated at the Feb. 2 meeting.
No. 1 on the list each year is always to provide a “level of
compensation and benefit plans that attract and retain the highest
quality staff.”
As Deputy Superintendent Ken Turner said, higher education
determined talented teachers are “the ticket” to excellent
instruction and achievement.
Also on the list are ensuring implementation of new graduation
requirements; fiscal soundness sufficient to meet board policies;
prioritizing building and maintenance projects; a safe learning and
transportation environment; a system of accountability; and
providing textbooks and instructional materials needed to advance
achievement.
Among those materials are computers and other technology. A
worry for some time was how to replace outdated hardware and
software, said Chairwoman Vicki Taylor.
Finance Director Wil Hatcher and his staff figured out a
“funding stream” by using military impact aid which is given to the
district to make up for lost property tax due to the presence of
the U.S. Air Force Academy.
This will allow the district to replace equipment and software
on a five-year cycle, he said.
In order for that to work, the district is switching to a single
platform of Windows, eliminating Apple hardware. It will also move
to LTD monitors and laser copy machines instead of laser printers,
Hatcher said.
Many organizations say they have a replacement schedule, but
often only fund it at 50 percent. This plan will have 100 percent
funding, said Tom Gregory, executive director for business
services.
This part of impact aid has never been less than $1.2 million in
a year, and sometimes as high as $1.8 million. The estimated cost
of replacement is $1.23 million each year, Hatcher said.
Turner also presented a report about how to allocate new dollars
to “follow the kids.” The District Accountability Committee agreed
that new money should go to specific problems in schools, rather
than simply being divided among schools, he said.
It would be a priority to help students who need to catch up in
achievement, then for those who are proficient but losing ground,
and then trickle to those already in good academic shape, Turner
said.
This gives more flexibility for how to fund allocations on a
needs-based model, he said.
Much of this was already done in the past, but the dialogue
makes the process more transparent. It would not take away money
already allocated to schools, Turner said.
Taylor said it is a hard balance to make because an argument can
be made regarding resources for kids at any level of
achievement.
Turner agreed, saying, “They’re all our kids.”
Curriculum Director Lynn Kintz presented a report on the
textbooks and materials purchase process.
Part of the policy is that teachers do not have to bring
materials before the board unless they account for more than 25
percent of the class content. Any book or other material can be
authorized by the school principal, she said.
That led to a question by board member Bill Howerton asking if
it were possible to circumvent the board by using all materials
which amounted to less than 25 percent of a class.
Kintz said these are closely tracked and the policy
was
just there to keep the board from being overwhelmed by all the
supplementary material.
Superintendent Ken Vedra used the example of an Internet-use
agreement every student and staff member must sign. It is there to
insure Internet access is not abused, but the district does not
rely on the honor system.
The system is able to track every time anyone signs on to the
Internet as well as block off certain sites and areas, he
said.
“There is no guarantee of privacy,” Vedra added.