NRHEG School Board
By REED WALLER
Staff Writer
After two months in consideration, two proposed new administrative positions came up for approval before the NRHEG School Board at its April meeting Monday.
The Behavior Intervention Specialist would be responsible for coordinating efforts to correct and prevent behavior problems.
The Director of Curriculum and Instruction would supervise the analysis of test data and curriculum management, and oversee the integration of new technology, to bring the school’s academic program up to standards.
These responsibilities, for curriculum, technology, supervision and discipline, have been majorly the burden of school principals. But with government demands increasing, today’s school principals have too much to do.Behavior Intervention Specialist
“This position works under the direction of the building principal and Special Education Director and is responsible for assisting a teacher in providing instruction to individuals or small groups of students with behavior challenges,” states the job description.
Board members were somewhat unsure of what this meant, and just what such a person would do.
“PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) is very important,” said High School Principal David Bunn. PBIS is already an initiative at NRHEG, but Bunn claimed, “Right now we’re missing a segment – kids who need more help.”
The primary impact would be on middle grades where behavior problems develop, and would need to be proactive rather than reactive.
“Kicking them out doesn’t help,” said Supt. Dennis Goodwin. “They’re out for two or three days, and they’ve accumulated three or four ‘F’s.”
“We want to keep them in the classroom,” agreed John Harrington.
“Somebody has a bad day, we intervene to get him to calm down and go back to the classroom,” said Goodwin. “And sometimes kids are all over the place, because they’re on meds, and you ask and they say ‘We can’t afford them,’ or ‘I just don’t have any now.’”
“Are we talking about a counseling, therapeutic approach?” asked Lis Kormann.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” said Bunn. “We should look at the RtI (Response to Intervention) model.”
“School is only a part of a student’s life,” said Lori Routh. “Is this going to help coordinate with non-school services?”
“We’ll have this position in the secondary building and the full-time Family Services Coordinator in the elementary building,” said Elementary Principal Doug Anderson.
Although it may seem like doubling of effort, there is concern that the demands of the government for accountability and results in this area are only going to continue to increase the workload.
“The government is saying moms and dads can’t take care of the kids,” said Goodwin, “so we’re supposed to hire people to be responsible – without funding.
“With anti-bullying legislation going into effect, the rules are going to change. I’m sorry to say we’re going to get more and more of these situations.”
Board member Michele Moxon expressed her opinion that the job was still insufficiently well defined, and moved to table the motion to approve.
“We aren’t saying we disapprove of the job,” said board chair Rick Schultz, “but we want to make sure we address the accuracy of the position.”
Motion was tabled.
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
“We are below the state average. We need some help,” declared Bunn.
Though the district has been implementing Curriculum Mapping and increasing staff development time, evaluating all the test data is simply overwhelming. And now with Common Core Standards being enforced, new technology being implemented, and periodic teacher evaluations being required, staff and administration are falling behind.
“We have done about as much as we need to in terms of data and development, and now we need to get started putting it to use,” Bunn said.
“We need to remain current, and look at our graduation standards.”
The Director of Curriculum and Instruction would work closely with the Data Coordinator to ensure that standards are being met and resources are being used properly. They would work on three levels, district-wide, elementary and secondary.
“Where would you find this person?” asked Kormann.
Anderson answered, “They would be a current teacher on staff, put on Special Assignment. We’d hire a replacement for them.”
“What if we hire this person, and then two years later the numbers haven’t gone up?” asked Kormann. “What do we do then?”
“We’ve done all this work,” said Moxon. “I want to see some results.”
The position was approved.
Other business
Presentations were made by:
Nate Jensen and Michelle Mulder on the progress of the school’s new website, which is now partly operational;
Guidance Officer Tim Stoesz, on online classes now being made available;
Dr. Goodwin represented, Spanish teacher Joanie Olson, who is recommending a class trip to Buenos Aires;
Ms. McNeil’s sixth grade class, on their recycling project; and
Deb Bently, delivering a Memo of Understanding, correcting some perceived inequities in the pay scale of teachers working outside the work year.
The Teacher Development and Evaluation Plan submitted last month by Bently was offered for approval.
“Do you feel satisfied with this plan?” asked Schultz.
“I believe,” replied Bently drily, “that the team has come up with a plan that meets the state requirements while offering the district some latitude.”
Donations approved were:
For FFA, Janesville Tire Service, $127.
For a Community Ed. bus trip, Owatonna VFW, $100.
For the shop and storage shed, WFS, $400.
For Summer Recreation, City of Geneva, $500.
For the Trap Shoot: Custom Fabrication, Owatonna, $200; L&D Ag Service, $500; TRC and Cabinets, $250; Freeborn Construction, Inc., $600; Olson Excavating LLC, $250; Jerry Raetz Masonry, $100; Prairie Dog Supply, $50; Pioneer Seed – Scott Routh, $200; Hart Bros. Weaponry, $150; Central Valley Coop, $100; Southfork Seed, $100; Pioneer Seed – Brian Wayne, $200; Apple Creek Orchard – Faribault, $75; Ron Holte – Waseca, $30 (shells); City of Ellendale, $500; Bill’s Gun Shop, $20; Winegar, Inc., $50; WFS, $400; City of Geneva, $500.
One seven-passenger bus was approved for purchase at a sum not to exceed $21,118 plus tax and license.
Purchase agreement with Gary Peterson was approved for the structures on the property at 364 Ash Avenue South, moving to take place between July 1 and August 1.
The 2013-2014 school calendar was amended so that students attend through June 3, 2014, and June 4, 2014, would be the teacher workshop day, as stated in the original approved calendar. June 5 and 6, 2014, would be used for teacher staff days.