September 12, 2008
The New Year Has Begun!
Summer 2008 passed us by at an alarming rate. Mid-September is now upon us, kids are back in school and the town is settling into our fall/winter/spring routine. We hope the past months were kind to you and your family. The 2008-2009 school year promises to be one of challenges and good times.
Along with many other new and exciting innovations that are greeting students this fall, Marquette Area Public Schools has made significant headway in bring technology-related forces into your children’s classrooms. Like most 21st Century organizations, we have recognized the need to accept that Internet means “change.” The world-wide web has created unlimited new opportunities for school-aged children. We are obligated to leverage as much “teaching power” from technology as possible.
Use of the Internet to assist in teaching Marquette Area Public Schools’ high school-aged students currently takes three different forms. For the 2008-2009 school year, options include:
Hybrid Courses
MSHS now offers at least one hybrid course that utilizes both online and “live” instruction. Our current application of this concept is entitled “Stock Market Investing.” This elective semester-long course meets once weekly (for one period). Students pursue their coursework the other four days weekly on their own, periodically checking in with their teacher. This is a drastic departure from what has previously occurred at MSHS and seems to be progressing well. We’ll pursue more options along these lines in the near future, capitalizing on students’ interests in technology-based instruction.
Michigan Virtual School (MVS) Coursework at MSHS
State School Code law allows Michigan public school students to take as many as two online courses (two out of seven, in our case) each semester. These would be scheduled in lieu of traditional “non-technology” courses. Courses we’ve made available to MSHS students include Michigan Merit core classes as well as an extensive list of Advanced Placement (AP) classes. All are Board-approved. Since we are just starting down this pathway, we are offering MVS options only to those students with scheduling conflicts (e.g. a student who wants to take AP Chemistry, but cannot get that class scheduled due to scheduling conflicts), and students with remedial needs. At present we have enrolled approximately six students in these courses. Greater need is anticipated next semester and in future years.
Marquette Senior High School Virtual Course Program
Working with the Department of Education for nearly one year paid off for Marquette Area Public Schools. The Department recently notified MAPS that our request to initiate an entirely new “all-online” resource for area high school-aged students had been approved. Such approvals are rare and highly-valued. In essence, MAPS is now permitted to enroll (as full or part-time students) up to 61 9th through 12th graders in a newly-launched high school program. What sets this initiative aside from others is one important component: These 61 students will not be required to actually attend the traditional school (MSHS). If they desire and if MAPS can accommodate their wishes, a “totally online” experience can be created and delivered. Reasons behind any student wishing for a 100% online experience are likely to vary (e.g. currently-home schooled, disabled, employed, teenaged parents with children, etc.), but the need is definitely present. Though we do not believe “totally online” is always a healthy choice for today’s students, it must be among a child-focused school district’s “tools.” What this new program really allows is an opportunity for us to customize a high school schedule to meet individual student/family needs. We think it presents an awesome opportunity for many area students currently not enrolled in high school. We’re excited.
MAPS is focused more and more on meeting individual needs of students. If parents or others are aware of students within the community who may be served by our new Virtual High School Program, refer them to Assistant Superintendent Debbie Veiht (jswajanen@mapsnet.org or 225-5320). Debbie can schedule meetings with families to mutually consider options that might be available. This is the most flexibility we’ve ever been awarded by the State – we want to take advantage of our new opportunity.
Once again, welcome to your new school year. As stewards of your school system we are thrilled with opportunities that await this year’s students. Many resources are at our fingertips – resources designed to meet important, individual and specific needs of students and their families. Since we’re here to help, be sure to give us that opportunity. Let us know how we can be of assistance.
August 20, 2008
Welcome Back!
The beginning of our 2008-2009 school year is just around the corner. With curricular and staffing planning nearly complete, maintenance efforts pretty well buttoned up and school buses now readied for a year of travel, we’re ready for the kids! Mid-August is a special time of year around a district that been “at rest” throughout the summer. We’re excited about prospects for wonderful times ahead and hope our students and their families are equally optimistic. Here are a few items of interest to our school community.
Remembering Marianne Evans
Following a long and courageous battle with her health, Bothwell Middle School’s extraordinary Marianne Evans passed on August 6. She left behind an incredible and close family, sincere and trusted friends, extraordinary colleagues and loving students. Words cannot express what those who knew Marianne felt upon hearing the news. While our loss is unexplainable and even impossible to comprehend, we need to acknowledge the gift this person was to all within our special community. Marianne embodied the best we could hope to be. She was missed from the moment she said goodbye last fall, but will forever make us smile when we think of times spent together. Godspeed Marianne Evans. We will always treasure your heart.
New Professionals!
The Board of Education has approved the hiring of 14 new full or part-time teaching staff. The following list provides names and tentative placement of these new colleagues.
· Amanda Erspamer-Berry, GIS, Special Educ. Resource Rm.
· Yvonne Giem, SH/GIS, 50 FTE Physical Education
· Melissa Hewitt, CC/FM, .60 FTE Music
· John King, HS, Industrial Education
· Dawn Kruhak, BMS, Special Education
· Michele L’Huillier, VA, .30 FTE Physical Education
· Jennifer Mons, SH, .70 FTE PE
· Michelle O’Hagan, SK, Special Education ECDD
· Bobbi Sue Ross, VA, .50 FTE Kindergarten
· Jaime Sayen, BMS, Language Arts/Science
· Zach Sedgwick, HS, Math
· Lori Smolinski, BMS, .67 FTE Learning Center
· Damia Toyras, SK, .60 FTE Music
· Kelly Valensky, BMS, 8th Grade Math/Science
Budget Update
With nearly 30 million General Fund dollars spent last year to support MAPS programs, it’s important for all of us to have some grasp of district finances. Our district, like many Michigan public schools, is suffering the impact of declining enrollment. Because revenues are dependent on our number of students, loss of kids means loss of income. The effect can be seen in the following five-year graph of revenues and expenditures.
|
Year
|
2003
|
2004
|
2005
|
2006
|
2007
|
|
Revenues
|
28,560,360
|
27,789,346
|
28,433,209
|
29,506,808
|
28,631,955
|
|
Expenditures
|
26,784,470
|
27,981,817
|
28,427,758
|
28,362,062
|
29,306,691
|
First K-3 Assistant Principal
On August 12 the MAPS Board of Education approved a recommendation to hire MAEA member Tamara Doney as our first-ever K-3 Assistant Principal. Tamara was granted a one-year leave from the MAEA to facilitate her hire. Tamara will serve Cherry Creek / Vandenboom Elementary Principal Donna Koskiniemi throughout 2008-2009 before returning to the classroom for 2009-2010.
Successes throughout the year ahead depend on collective efforts. Students of all ages must respect the value of education and its likely impact on their futures. Parents and other adults within children’s lives have lots to do with creating values for life-long learning. The stewards of Marquette Area Public Schools – those who teach, drive, feed, lead, support, clean and maintain, share great responsibility in helping each and every student find success. Though sometimes awkward and not always in lockstep, we are a team.
Our thanks go out to all within the community for selecting Marquette Area Public Schools as their family’s learning teammate. We are committed to earning and maintaining your trust. Whenever we can be of help, please ask. You should expect timely, sensitive and caring responses to your needs. Have a super 2008-2009 school year, and let us know how we may be of service.
Jon Hartwig, Superintendent of Schools
Marquette Area Public Schools
June 25, 2008
Off to a great summer!
June 10 marked the last day of classes for 2007-2008. We’ve just ended a great school year that created many lasting memories. Our sincere hope is that your school district was supportive of your needs and that we worked hard to accommodate each student’s individual learning styles. With that said, have a great summer and let us know how we can be of service. As summer months rush by, here are a few items that may be of interest to our community:
Student Achievement
Marquette students performed admirably throughout the year as measured by a variety of assessments. For a better understanding of how our students are performing relative to No Child Left Behind goals, please review the charts which accompany this article. In each case, the black bar indicates Federal student achievement goals for a given school year. The colored portion of each chart’s bar indicates MAPS’ achievement level (English Language Arts – blue; Mathematics – red). In general, Marquette’s elementary students exceed Federal standards by considerable margins. Conversely, High School juniors exceed Federal standards by limited margins. For more information on this data, feel free to contact Assistant Superintendent Deborah Veiht (dveiht@mapsnet.org or 225-5324).
High School Reform
Real initiatives are underway to change Marquette’s high school experience. Reform measures began this year with the advent of our Freshman Academy. The intent of this program was to bring our youngest High School students into their secondary level experience with more attention to particular needs of ninth graders through teaming, smaller class sizes, team planning hours for their teachers and other interventions. We are pleased with results of our 2007-2008 Academy and look forward to an improved version next year. Similar teaming plans are also in place for next year’s sophomore students as they undertake the second year of Michigan’s challenging Merit Curriculum.
Final Budget Amendment for 2007-2008
On Monday, June 23, the School Board approved Marquette’s final budget amendment for the 2007-2008 school year. Amendments are completed several times each year as we learn more details regarding anticipated revenue and expenditures. Changes were minimal, resulting in a projection that General Fund revenues will total $28,865,793, total General Fund expenditures will total $29,904,282, and dependence on General Fund Balance will total $1,218,489. This means that projected revenues will fall short of meeting projected expenditures by 4.07% for the year that ends on June 30, 2008. The greatest factor contributing to this year’s budget deficit is declining enrollment.
2008-2009 Budget Planning
Marquette’s School Board also approved the district’s initial 2008-2009 budget on
June 23, 2008. Although their action will be amended several times next year, we are projecting the following: General Fund revenues are planned to total $27,433,810, General Fund expenditures are likely to total $30,779,061, and MAPS’ dependence on General Fund Balance may reach $3,345,251. As was the case this year, declining enrollment and increasing costs are contributing most to our projected deficit. We are forecasting a loss of approximately 130 students. The projected 2008-2009 budget implies significant use of Marquette’s “rainy day fund” at levels which are impossible to sustain. Thus, a major goal throughout the first half of 2008-2009 will be to define means through which our district’s expenditures will match revenues for 2009-2010 and beyond.
K-3 Classroom Consolidation
Following community discussions spanning two June 2008 Board of Education meetings and one Board Work Session on June 23, the Board voted to accept a series of administration recommendations aimed at increasing the efficiency of Marquette’s K-3 instructional program. As a result of their vote, beginning September, 2009, students in kindergarten, first and second grades will attend Superior Hills Elementary, Sandy Knoll Elementary and Cherry Creek Elementary. Vandenboom School will remain a part of Marquette’s overall K-12 program as a site for several new and exciting public education programs. Though the decision was difficult to reach and leaves some community members and staff with feelings of disappointment and dissatisfaction, consolidation of our K-3 program will promote educational efficiency and effectiveness while maintaining high standards for learning. Instead of ceasing operations altogether as often happens in districts facing declining enrollment, through planning and insight, Vandenboom School can house exciting new options for District children.
Consolidation of our K-3 program means that Vandenboom students will be displaced. We have built a one-year time segment into our transition plan so that all student and family needs can be addressed. Parents will have ample opportunities for input as to the school their K-3 children will attend beginning with the 2009-2010 school year. Plans are already being made to intentionally blend some of Vandenboom’s 2008-2009 school year activities with Sandy Knoll Elementary and Superior Hills Elementary so that displaced children and their parents can be a part of their “new” school when the time arrives. Parents with questions or concerns regarding plans to consolidate K-3 classrooms should contact me at their convenience (jhartwig@mapsnet.org or 225-5326).
On behalf of a respectful and willing staff of educational professionals, I wish you and your families a safe and restful summer. Marquette is at its best in the months ahead with so many options for fun and relaxation. Take advantage of what we all share and stay in touch.
Jon Hartwig, Superintendent of Schools
Marquette Area Public Schools
<-Click here to view the Graphs->
April 9, 2008
It’s early spring in Marquette, though our weather sometimes falls short of convincing us that warmer weather is at hand. Encouraging signs abound though, making the case that there is grass under banks of snow and that flowers will eventually push through frozen soil. As confirmation, listen to sounds around schools: MSHS spring sports are underway with softball games and track events already taking place. Welcome to springtime in the Upper Peninsula. Here’s a sampling of important “happenings” across the district:
Strategic Planning
You may recall that MAPS’ initial foray into student achievement-based strategic planning occurred throughout our 2006-2007 school year. After years of study, the Board of Education had endorsed a specific planning model aimed at focusing the district’s energy and resources on programs and approaches most beneficial to our students. As a result, last year’s effort resulted in development and Board adoption of a district mission, beliefs, parameters, objectives and strategies. A sixth component (action plans) is still under development. That aspect of strategic planning should be finalized by fall 2008.
One important aspect of strategic planning includes our hosting of an annual planning retreat. This opportunity allows our 30 to 40 member community-based Planning Team to meet and discuss all aspects of strategic planning. This year’s retreat is scheduled for May 1-2 at Bay Cliff. Becoming a Planning Team member can be a great experience for individuals interested in voicing support for increased student achievement, more effective educational programs and overall improvements within MAPS’ many initiatives. Parents and other community members wishing to learn more about their school district’s strategic planning process, including how to become a member of our planning team, should contact Deborah Veiht, Assistant Superintendent, at 225-5324 or dveiht@mapsnet.org. You may also learn more about our current strategic planning components by accessing information on this website.
High School Reform
Last year’s legislative effort to create extraordinary and new Michigan High School graduation requirements is impacting this year’s freshman class. Those students, and all subsequent classes, are now required to successfully complete expansive credit work in English, mathematics, science, social studies and additional courses. To best support our students, Marquette Senior High School began Freshman Academy this year with plans to continue providing specialized programs for next year’s ninth grade class as well. Reform committees within MSHS are also putting finishing touches on design elements for next year’s sophomore class schedule, thus providing tenth graders with experiences aimed toward success in their challenging curriculum. Suffice it to say that Marquette Senior High School is among a growing list of state schools who are dedicated toward the notion of “failure is not an option.” Considerable resources including additional counselors, smaller class sizes, limited caseloads, teams, closed campus and additional “team planning time” for freshman teachers are in place to assure that each and every high school freshman has ample support and encouragement. To learn more about provisions in place to assist our students, contact MSHS Principal Bob Anthony, banthony@mapsnet.org.
MAPS’ Budget