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Ionia Public Schools
BOARD BRIEFS
250 E. Tuttle Road • Ionia, MI 48846
Approval of Bills
Board Meeting: Oct. 15, 2007
Present: President Dr. C.J. Basler, secretary Cathy Hoppough, treasurer Dave O'Mara, and trustees Tim Hemenway, Lisa Coe and Karen Balice-Gregory. Absent: Vice President Gale Yeomans Approved minutes and ordered paid general fund vouchers in the amount of $2,067,794.40 which includes accounts payable in the amount of $233,710.93 and payrolls in the amount of $1,834,083.47. The Board also approved expenditures of $890,725,36 from the 2006 Capital Projects Fund, increasing expenditures to date to $10,494,353.90. The Board unanimously approved the Audit Report for 2006-07 as presented by the independent audit firm, BDO Seidman Accountants and Consultants of Grand Rapids. BDO Seidman issued an unqualified or "clean" opinion, meaning the district's financial statements present fairly the financial position of Ionia Public Schools. The Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances reflects total revenues of $28,363,838, a slight increase from the previous year. Due to significant budget reductions, total expenditures decreased slightly to $28,717,809, resulting in a deficit of $353,971. As anticipated, fund balance decreased from $4,844,826 to $4,490,855. This fund balance is reasonably close to the recommended 15-20% and praiseworthy considering the financial difficulties schools are facing. Ms. Duperron noted the Food Service Fund posted $10,679 excess revenue over expenditures for the first time in several years and the Scholarship Foundation increased its assets by $163,001 to a new net assets total of $757,076. (The one time gift of $100,000 by the DDA is significant in this.) Ms. Duperron thanked Director of Finance Don Wilcox and his staff, Robin Beyer, Sybil Laird, Carol Francisco and Shoni Mayle, for their excellent organization and assistance during the audit procedure. The board approved the following actions by 6-0 vote: -- revisions to the Elementary Student Handbook section on communicable diseases and the conditions and timeframes for attending school. The updated guidelines will be disseminated to staff and administrators and updated with the next printing of the handbook. -- passed a resolution to participate in the 2007-2008 MSBO/MAPT School Bus Purchasing program. -- approved the purchase of one 77 passenger conventional bus from Capital City Bus Sales with bond issue funds for the low bid of $81,945. This is the 7th bus purchased with 2006 bond funds. Rather Elementary School presented its Curriculum Showcase on Gracie, a Registered Therapy Dog, who was central to two programs at Rather last year. Under the direction of owner Penny Beeman, who was an Americorps member last year, Tales to Tails and Pet Pals Mentoring were a wonderful success. Gracie and several Rather students demonstrated Gracie's command abilities. "Tales to Tails" allowed struggling or at-risk students to practice their oral reading fluency by reading outloud in a one-on-one setting to Gracie. "Pet Pals Mentoring" involved students needing additional positive, accepting, supportive, motivating influences in their lives. These students met regularly with Gracie (and Penny) to share, interact, and have fun together. Penny noted the confidence levels as well as reading abilities of students improved measurably. Associate Superintendent Ben Kirby shared detailed information on the MME scores attained by IHS students last year as well as district AYP progress. With the increased rigor of the Michigan Merit Exam, the IHS staff has initiated many steps to provide students with more core curriculum and more math classes, including more exposure to algebra in 8th grade. The staff is also looking at the rigor of the classes being taught and ways to increase access to more demanding classes to all students.
Approval of Audit Report for 2006-07
Board Actions
Curriculum Showcase
Report on high school MME and district AYP
A Publication of the District Communication Team • 527-9280
Report on MME, AYP continued
Actions to improve student preparation and success include the focus on core curriculum in the Trimester, initiation of a junior level CAP class, Assessment for Learning and reteaching, Lenses for Learning focusing on math leadership training, increased exposure for special education students, course content changes and a curriculum survey. Mr. Kirby noted the 2007 scores indicate IHS students performed below the state average in the core areas on the MME as well as on the college readiness test, the ACT. The requirements for testing all students with minimal alternate assessments changed this year at the same time the level of testing was heightened. Regarding AYP, the elementaries and middle school all achieved AYP and grades of A or B; the high school and alternative education did not make AYP and their grades are to be determined. Superintendent Patricia Batista gave the following report to the board: -- We are sad to report our 7th grade student Timothy Baker passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Oct. 12. The Crisis Team met with students and staff. We extend our sympathy to Errick and Janet Baker of Muir and their family. -- Our un-audited student count showed an increase of 1.36 students over last year’s September count. Considering the economy in Michigan and following several years of declining enrollment, this is wonderful news for our district. As a district, we will continue with our “customer service” emphasis along with our advertising efforts to continue to promote IPS as THE school of choice in Ionia County. -- Jamie Carpenter, Auto Mechanics, is the Ionia HIT Student of the Month -- Liz Powers and Jacob Braun were also recognized as Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor which places them in the top 5% of more than 1.4 million students who took the PSAT nationally. They do not have the opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Finalist. Congratulations! -- Liz Powers, volleyball, and Jacob Braun, tennis, were named the Independent Bank Athletes of the Month for September. Congratulations to these fine students and their families. -- Recognized with the Meijer Dignity and Respect Award were the following: Tyler VanSyckle, IHS senior; Chuck Smith, HIT Machine Tool; Jessica Bosley, IMS; Emily Nemetz, Boyce; Cameron Mahlich, Emerson; Seth Groom, Jefferson; Madison Cook, Rather; and Savannah Parks, Twin Rivers. -- Ionia High School was celebrated as Fox 17's "School of the Week" during Homecoming Week!! The wonderful publicity was generated based on the nomination of sophomore Jimmy King. Congratulations! -- Hanna Anderson was crowned Homecoming Queen and Kyle Miller was crowned Homecoming King for 2007. -- Paul Frost’s 5th grade class at TR will be participants on the TODAY Show (that’s right, NBC!!) on November 5. Paul’s class was chosen to participate in Al Roker’s Reading Program. Paul’s class will read the book The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman. Al Roker will host the author on the 5th and have video taped questions from the TR class for the author. All students received a copy of the book Monday courtesy of the Today Show and they are reading the book out loud in class. -- MEAP testing for grades 3-9 is underway. -- The Class Act Restaurant is now open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays AND the Middle School Service Learning Class will be participating in the Chili Dawg Challenge on Oct. 25. The HIT Food Service Program will also have a chili dawg recipe for you to test at the Challenge. -- Bag It Up" for Goodwill is scheduled for November 12-17. This will be the 11th annual event for Ionia Public Schools. Information is being distributed advertising this community service project which enriches the local Goodwill Retail Outlet and also provides vouchers for school families in need. -- Twin Rivers Teacher Sara Speckin will join 5 area women (Monica Miller, Dawn Casey, Julie Berger, Heather Wolcott and Heather Kapp) in the Nike’s Women’s Marathon in San Francisco on October 21. They have raised thousands of dollars for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Kudos to them!! -- The fifth graders will again partner with Goodwill to design its corporate holiday card. Elementary Art Teachers Amber Graham and Anne Kohler have agreed to coordinate the project.
Parent/Teacher Conferences, grades 9-12, 5-8 p.m. Pancake Breakfast at Applebees for Scholarship Fund, 8-10 a.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences, grades 9-12, 5-8 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences, grades 6-8, 5-8 p.m. IHS Vocal Music Concert, 7:30 p.m., Watt Auditorium Parent/Teacher Conferences, grades 6-8, 5-8 p.m. IMS Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m., Watt Ionia Autumn Harvest and BB/BS Chili Dawg Challenge, 4-7:30 ACT Test, Ionia No School, Professional Development Day Window opens for HS MEAP retakes IHS Band Blue & White Review, 7 p.m., IHS gym Halloween parties, elementaries No School, K-5 students only; Elementary Planning Day Parent/Teacher Conferences, K-5, 5-8 p.m. Nov. 6 Nov. 8 Election Day Parent/Teacher Conferences, K-8, 1-4 p.m. Parent/Teacher Conferences, K-5, 5-8 p.m. K-8 attends a.m. only; full day for grades 9-12 No School American Education Week "Bag It Up" for Goodwill National Honor Society Induction, 6 p.m. Senior Citizen Luncheon, 12 noon, Watt Lobby ICT, "Little Shop of Horrors", Watt Scholarship Breakfast at Applebees , 8-10 a.m. Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m. "Meet the Team" for winter sports, 7 p.m. Happy Thanksgiving Winter Sports Team Pictures, 2:45
Superintendent's Report
Coming Events
Oct. 18 Oct. 20 Oct. 22 Oct. 23 Oct. 23 Oct. 24 Oct. 25 Oct. 25 Oct. 27 Oct. 29 Oct. 30 Oct. 30 Oct. 31 Nov. 5 Nov. 6
Nov. 9 Nov. 12 Nov. 12-17 Nov. 14 Nov. 16 Nov. 16 Nov. 17 Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Nov. 22 Nov. 28