Improvement and strategic plan discussed at school board meeting
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By Steven Spencer
Staff from the elementary and high school discussed the school improvement and strategic plans at the Calhoun District 40 school board meeting last Monday, Nov. 21.
The focus areas of the strategic plan include student success, student well-being, engaging workforce, operations and partnerships.
The plan involves utilizing best practices when planning and instructing students, implementing the Capturing Kids Hearts program, creating a social contract with students as well as staff, developing a three to five year facilities improvement plan, and creating strong relationships between the community and schools.
At the elementary school the students seem to be responding well to the Capturing Kids Hearts program, embracing the Warrior Way and will be putting up an Affirmations at the Station board at the gas station for people to take and leave positive affirmations for others.
One highlight of the improvement and strategic plan at the high school is a work based learning program that would connect students with local business for job shadowing. After reaching out to local businesses, the principal said about 18 different businesses responded with interest in partcipating in a work based learning program.
District finances were also discussed during last week’s meeting with the board being presented information from the audit report.
The report showed only the education fund was over budget, which just missed budgeting for the activity funds. An improvement from last year with debt service, transportation and the education funds over budget.
A four year comparison was also discussed which showed average daily attendance increased within the district, total revenue was up, state and federal funding was up and debt services was down. The education fund, salaries, supplies and materials had increased during the four year span as well. Overall during the last four years, the district has gone from warning to watch to review and is now at recognition.
In other business the board discussed the preliminary tax levy, which is not officially approved until next month. The next school board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m.
