Administrative: About our district

Superintendent messages archived

October 15, 2006

December Superintendent Message

On November 2^nd, the district facility committee met with architects from GLPM to discuss possible improvements to district’s buildings. The committee reviewed the areas that the board of education had identified as potential improvements.

The areas identified at the elementary buildings include adding an additional wing to the main elementary school to accommodate students that are currently attending the west elementary building, a multi-purpose facility, heating and air issues, and window replacement in the north wing of the elementary school, entrance security, and administrative space. The areas that were addressed at the junior/senior high school included the vo-ag building, the library, additional classroom space, and entrance security.

After reviewing the board's ideas, the committee broke into small groups to discuss these issues. The consensus of the committee was to have the architects proceed with the board's ideas and arrive at an estimated cost. The committee did give the architects some direction and generated some additional ideas. These included looking at the possibility of converting the current elementary gym into a multi-purpose room due to its location to the elementary kitchen, locating the elementary wing to the east side of the elementary school, addressing drop off and pick up of elementary students, adding an addition to the vo-ag building, converting the current junior/senior high library into classrooms, and possibly locating a new library in the open space behind the high school.

The architects will take these ideas and begin to work on the proposals and ideas generated by both the board and the district facility committee. When there are some plans generated, along with some estimated costs, the facility committee will reconvene to look at these and provide their input into the direction the board should take with this project.

The possibility of a spring bond issue is real, but no decision will be made until the board has some idea on the cost and design plans from the architects. We will make every effort to keep the community updated on this process.

November Superintendent Message

As the school year continues to progress, we are continually looking at issues effecting the school district and attempting to address them, this month is no different. We are looking at the way we currently elect board members, exploring facility needs, addressing student security, and reporting how well were doing in the area of student achievement and meeting the district's long-range plan.

District Voting Method. The Silver Lake School Board is proposing that the district's voting method be changed from its current member district method, to an at-large method. This proposal is being presented to the voters of the district due to law being passed that requires all voting districts must be within 5% population of one another. Currently, the Silver Lake School District's voting districts are out of balance, hence the recommended change. This issue will be on the November election ballot.

Facility Review. The Silver Lake Board of Education has entered into negotiations with the architectural firm of GLPM to conduct a facility study and cost analysis of potential projects. Focus of this study will center on moving the west elementary building (Pre-K students) to the 1-6 elementary building, a grade school multi purpose room, enhancing the vocational building, additional high school classroom space, junior/senior high school library space, and student security.

Student Security. Due to recent national and regional events in the area of student security, the district is reviewing most everything it does in this area. This area of review covers both short and long-term issues. A couple of security companies will be in the district to offer advice and present solutions to some our immediate needs. Through the facility study, we will look at ways in which to make our buildings more secure.

State of the District. The state of the district report will be presented November 1^st in the high school PAC, at 7 pm. The report will address district student achievement, the district’s long-range plan, as well as, address questions you might have. This is a new attempt at communicating the condition of the school district. I hope that many of you can attend.

October 2006 Superintendent Message

There are some issues in the district I would like to bring to the patrons attention. The first involves a proposed change in how board members are elected, the district's long-range plan, and where you can find almost all the information you want about district’s student achievement.

District Voting Method. On the November ballot, you should find the question as to whether or not the Silver Lake Board of Education should change its current voting method. The current method of electing board members utilizes three voting districts with two representatives coming from each of the districts and one member elected at large. The proposed change is to have all members of the board of education elected at large.

A state law was being passed that requires voting districts to be within 5% population of one another and these districts be redrawn every 10 years to insure they are within the 5% threshold. It appears the current voting districts are out of balance. Districts 1 & 4, have 566 registered voters, Districts 2 & 5 have 1,166 registered voters, and Districts 3 & 6 have 479 registered voters. Changing to an at-large method of election would alleviate the need to shift boundary lines every 10 years.

District Long-Range Plan. The board is still addressing its long-range plan that was approved last year. The items being addressed by the board are district facilities, communications, staff technology training, student interventions, curriculum/textbook plan, student access to computers, and full-day kindergarten. The following is a brief description as to where the board is with these items.

District Facilities. The board is in the process of interviewing architects and establishing a district facility committee to study the needs of the district.
Communications. Has upgraded the district newsletter, developed a district information flyer, has added several items to the district web page. A state of the district report will be presented November 1^st in the junior/senior high PAC to review district data and answer patrons' questions.
Staff Technology Training. A survey of district staff identified areas in which the staff wanted additional support. Training dates are being established.
Student Interventions. This will be the focus of the district’s inservice for the remainder of the school year. A student intervention plan for each building will be presented to the board of education for their consideration.
Curriculum/Textbook Plan. In reviewing curriculum changes at the state department, the district will attempt to align its adoption of curriculum and textbooks to the new plan for students.
Student Access to Computers. The district is attempting to provide more technology and technology support for students.
Full-Day Kindergarten. The elementary site council will address the possible need to move from half-day kindergarten to full-day kindergarten.

District Data Profile. In its development of the district's long-range plan, the board also received a data profile which reviews the district’s data for the past five years. The district’s data profile can be found on the district website under the administrative link. I believe you will find the information informative and pleasing.

September 2006 Superintendent Message

As the 2006-2007 school year begins, the Board of Education is considering the future direction of the school district. The board will be asking your opinion on a couple of issues facing the school district. These issues address the district’s voting method and district facilities.

The Board of Education has decided to put before the voters of the school district a ballot question asking if the school district should change its method of selecting school board members. Due to a new law, the board has to evaluate its voting districts and insure that the population of these voting districts is within 5 percent of one another. If not, the districts must be redrawn every 10 years to insure this requirement is maintained.

In looking at the current voter registration of the school district, which should somewhat represent district population, it is very apparent that our voting districts are out of balance. Districts 1 & 4, (west side of Hoch Rd/west side of highway 24 in town) have566 registered voters, Districts 2 & 5 (between Hoch & Humphrey) have 1,166 registered voters, and Districts 3 & 6 (east of Humphrey) have 479 registered voters. Due to this disparity in voting districts, the board is asking if the district patrons would approve a change in the voting method.

The plan the district patrons will be voting on in November is for all school board members to be voted on at-large. Currently, there are three voting districts with two representatives from each district, with one at-large member. Since the Silver Lake School District has only one community within the district, some board members believe it isn’t necessary to have representatives from various voting districts. There is also the belief that a change in the voting method might actually encourage members of the community to consider running for the school board by not having voting districts. Should this change take place, there will not be the need to redraw district boundaries every 10 years.

The other issue facing the Board of Education is district facilities. Through the board's long-range plan, the facilities of the school district were recognized for possible enhancements. In this plan, the board identified the need to move the students (pre-k and kindergarten) from the west building to the elementary school, the need for an elementary multi-purpose room, expansion of the agriculture/shop building and possibly the junior/senior high library, and some additional high school classroom facilities. Along with facilities, the board would like to consider the implementation of full-day kindergarten, but would really like to have larger rooms. This would be addressed with any future facility plan.

Currently, the board is entertaining thoughts of developing a district facility committee, along with contracting with an architect to explore the feasibility of their thoughts. Through the long-range planning process, the school board decided this is a real need of the district and something that can be financed. The board may ask the voters of the district for their input through a bond issue question. This issue still has several steps to go through at this time.