SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

2008-2009

WALLACE GRADE SCHOOL

COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL

DISTRICT #195

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2008-2009

WALLACE GRADE SCHOOL

COMMUNITY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT #195

1463 N. 33^RD Road, Ottawa, IL. 61350

(815) 433-2986

Acknowledgments:

Thanks to the following for their assistance in the development of the following plan:

Anne Barlow Keeley Welch Linda Liebhart

Gene Duffy Tammy Hambleton Gary Grunstad

Nancy Boam Jim Lamb Dawn Maguire

Martha Maney Peggy Miller Mollie Nagle

Donna McNamara Kristel Schlorff Jenny Vogel

Louise Collins Maryann Schultz Kathi Shope

Mike Matteson Michael Stone Teresa Sigler

Chris Dvorak Rick Mangold Carrie Underhill

Toni Edgcomb Joe Schmidt Aaron Walker

Kathy Ferko Bill Vogel Tasha Clapp

Steve Sharp Rhonda Wilkinson Vicki Wielgopolan

Wendy Navarro Ashley Christensen Sandi Kurtz

Gail Butterworth Carol Taylor Kathy Schulz

Process of School Improvement

Wallace Grade School believes that rather than having a static team devoted to improving student achievement, all district stakeholders should have a role in the school improvement process. Thus, the composition of the SIP team varies depending on the task at hand. Administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, students, community members, and members of the Wallace Grade School Board of Education all contribute to improving our school.

School improvement is an ongoing, year-round, cycle of setting goals, monitoring progress, evaluating changes, and providing corrective feedback. Contributions to the improvement of Wallace Grade School is gleaned from school committees, parent and student surveys, goal-setting meetings, staff meetings all have their place in our school improvement process.

DISTRICT CORE VALUES

Core Values: Achievement, Celebration, Collaboration, Diversity, Fulfillment of Needs,

Life-long Learning, Tradition, Moral Character.

The Wallace Grade School Family believes that:

The instructional program should …..

• be based on rigorous standards that challenge and engage all students.
• teach skills needed in the real world including the latest technology.
• develop well-rounded students by providing varied educational opportunities.
• foster a love of learning among students

Teachers, administrators and other staff should …..

• meet student psychological needs of love and belonging, power, fun, and freedom.
• model the importance of life-long learning with a commitment to professional growth.
• collaborate with one another on a regular basis on curriculum, instruction,
• individual students, and school improvement initiatives.
• have high expectations for all students to learn and achieve, and accept responsibility for helping students meet those expectations.
• create partnerships and communicate regularly with parents and community stakeholders.

School should reflect a positive environment that …..

• is emotionally and physically safe and supportive
• celebrates the efforts and successes of teachers and students
• honors and promotes valued traditions
• expects trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship from everyone.

DISTRICT VISION STATEMENT

Wallace Grade School exists in order to serve the educational needs of the children of the district. Our employees strive to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students to become contributing adults and builds self-confidence. We work to create an environment for learning that is safe, positive, encouraging, and enjoyable. We are committed to challenge each student with high expectations for learning and success. Children will be actively engaged in their learning. We need the support and cooperation of caring and concerned families to accomplish our goals. We must protect the best interest of all of the residents of our district. That includes decision-making based on input from different sources and exercising fiscal responsibility. Mutual respect, communication, and cooperation are the keys to a healthy learning environment. We have to work together to provide the best program for all.

DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT

The Wallace School family learns and grows together.

SCHOOL - COMMUNITY DESCRIPTION

Our district is a rural, single building district located in central LaSalle County north of Ottawa. The school district services an area of 49 square miles. Over the past several years the population of our district has continued to change from what was once primarily farm families to what is becoming a population of subdivision residents in the country. All of our students are bused to school. The total enrollment of the district was 317 students in grades K-8 at the close of the 2007-2008 school year.

SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHIC DATA

Listed below is information from our School Report Card, which gives further information about Wallace Grade School. The numbers in parentheses are state averages.

Category 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008

Attendance Rate 97.2% 96.9% 96.9% 96.7% 96.6% 96.5%

Student Mobility 18.5% 8.2% 11.3% 10.1% 10.2% 10.4%

Chronic Truancy 0 0.7% 0.4% 0.6% 1.0% 1.3%

Low-Income 2.1% 7.9% 9.7% 16.0% 15.9% 20.1%

RETENTION AND EXPULSION

During the 2007-2008, one student was retained (kindergarten). No students were expelled.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Besides the ISAT tests, students in District #195 are assessed using AIMSWEB testing for Reading Comprehension, Reading Fluency, and Math Computation. Also, the Explore test battery is given to 8^th grade students. AIMSWEB testing is administered for all students three times throughout the year—Fall, Winter, and Spring Benchmarking. ISAT tests are given in the spring of each school year. Beginning the 2006-2007 school year, AIMSWEB testing replaced Stanford Fall testing.

TEST SCORE SUMMARY

ISAT 2008 SCORES

GRADE READING MATH SCIENCE

3^RD IN 0% warning 0% warning not tested

19% below 0% below

36 students 56% meet 25% meet

25% exceed 75% exceed

*81% meet/exceed *100% meet/exceed

(93% in 2007) (100% in 2007)

(74% in 2006) (100% in 2006)

3^RD OUT 0% warning 0% warning not tested

0% below 0% below

4 students 50% meet 50% meet

50% exceed 50% exceed

*100% meet/exceed *100% meet/exceed

4^th IN 0% warning 0% warning 0% warning

17% below 7% below 7% below

30 students 60% meet 70% meet 73% meet

23% exceed 23% exceed 20% exceed

*83% meet/exceed *93% meet/exceed *93% meet/exceed

(92% in 2007) (96% in 2007) (100% in 2007)

(91% in 2006) (100% in 2006) (97% in 2006)

4^th OUT 0% warning 0% warning 0% warning

33% below 67% below 33% below

3 students 67% meet 33% meet 67% meet

0% exceed 0% exceed 0% exceed

*67% meet/exceed *33% meet/exceed *67% meet/exceed

5^th IN 0% warning 0% warning not tested

11% below 15% below

26 students 54% meet 85% meet

35% exceed 0% exceed

*89% meet/exceed *85% meet/exceed

(79% in 2007) (91% in 2007)

(91% in 2006) (97% in 2006)

5^th OUT 0% warning 0% warning not tested

33% below 50% below

6 student 50% meet 50% meet

17% exceed 0% exceed

*67% meet/exceed *50% meet/exceed

6^th IN 3% warning 3% warning not tested

6% below 6% below

34 students 53% meet 70% meet

38% exceed 21% exceed

*91% meet/exceed *91% meet/exceed

(94% in 2007) (94% in 2007)

(77% in 2006) (81% in 2006)

6^th OUT 0% warning 0% warning not tested

33% below 0% below

3 student 33% meet 100% meet

33% exceed 0% exceed

*66% meet/exceed *100% meet/exceed

GRADE READING MATH SCIENCE

7^th IN 0% warning 0% warning 0% warning

14% below 14% below 3% below

37 students 70% meet 68% meet 73% meet

16% exceed 19% exceed 24% exceed

*86% meet/exceed *87% meet/exceed *97% meet/exceed

(90% in 2007) (90% in 2007) (97% in 2007)

(73% in 2006) (82% in 2006) (98% in 2006)

7^th OUT 0% warning 0% warning 25% warning

75% below 50% below 0% below

4 students 25% meet 50% meet 75% meet

0% exceed 0% exceed 0% exceed

*25% meet/exceed *50% meet/exceed *75% meet/exceed

8^th IN 0% warning 0% warning not tested

9% below 12% below

33 students 67% meet 70% meet

24% exceed 18% exceed

*91% meet/exceed *88% meet/exceed

(90% in 2007) (90% in 2007)

(93% in 2006) (87% in 2006)

8^th OUT 0% warning 0% warning

0% below 0% below

0% meet 0% meet

0% exceed 0% exceed

0 % meet/exceed 0% meet/exceed

AVERAGE IN *87% meet/exceed *91% meet/exceed *95% meet/exceed

(90% in 2007) (94% in 2007) (99% in 2007)

(83% in 2006) (93% in 2006) (98% in 2006)

AVERAGE OUT *65% meet/exceed *67% meet/exceed *71% meet/exceed

ISAT 2008 SCORES COMPARED TO 2007

WRITING

GRADE 2008 2007

5^TH IN 8% warning/2 students 0% warning/0 students

46% below/12 students 52% below/17 students

26 students 42% meets/11 students 39% meet/13 students 33 students

4% exceeds/1 student 9% exceed/3 students

46% meet/exceed/13 students 48% meet/exceed/16 students

5^TH OUT 33% warning/2 students 0% warning/0 students

50% below/3 students 0% below

6 students 17% meets/1 student 0% meet 0 students

0% exceeds/0 students 0% exceed

17% meets/exceeds/1 student 0% meet/exceed

6^TH IN 0% warning/0 students not tested in 2007

23% below/8 students

34 students 65% meets/22 students

9% exceed/3 students

74% meet/exceed/25 students

6^TH OUT 0% warning/0 students not tested in 2007

0% below/0 students

3 students 100% meets/3 students

0% exceed/0 students

100% meet/exceed/3students

8^TH IN 0% warning/0 students 2% warning/1 student

28% below/9 students 25% below/10 students

32 students 69% meets/22 students 65% meet/26 students 41 students

3% exceed/1 student 8% exceed/3 students

72% meet/exceed/23 students 73% meet/exceed/29 students

8^TH OUT 0% warning/0 students 0% warning/0 students

100% below/1 student 100% below/1 student

1 student 0% meet/0 students 0% meet/0 students 1 student

0% exceed/0 students 0% exceed/0 students

0% meet/exceed/0 students 0% meet/exceed/0 students

AVERAGE 64% meet/exceed 60.5% meet/exceed

IN

TEST SCORE SUMMARY:

ISAT Trends Scores Grade Eight

READING	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Comprehension							New ratings School/State
A. Literature	72	68*	70	72	77	75	11.4/10.9
B. Elements and Techniques	71	64*	66*	74	70	67
Applications of Strategies
A. Reading	76	67*	73*	78	81	73	18.4/17.9
B. Strategies	69	65*	67	72	72	60*	3.4/3.3
C. Vocabulary	75	60*	70	72	71	82	4.7/4.7
MATHEMATICS
Estimation/number sense/computation	66	61	64	65	65	63	9.2/8.3
Algebraic patterns/variables	61	58*	63	65	62	58	11.9/10.5
Algebraic relationships/representations	65	63	66	60*	63	61
Geometric concepts	65	57*	60	58	63	65	8.4/7.4
Geometric relationships	62	46*	43*	49*	68	81
Measurement	62	58	64	62	60	52	5.8/5.5
Data organization/analysis	69	66	61	63	63	74
Probability	66	62	70	65	69	67	6.6/6.0

Scores represent the percent of multiple-choice test items answered correctly for the sets of standards within the learning area. The data reported above are for ALL students

* represents percentages that are equaled or exceeded by the State

ISAT Trends Scores Grade Five

READING	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Comprehension							New ratings School/State
A. Literature	74	76	76	74	71*	77	9.4/9.4
B. Elements and Techniques	76	76	72	68	70	77
Applications of Strategies
A. Reading	74	81	76	75	69*	80	20.8/20.2
B. Strategies	76	76	73	72	72	59	3.0/3.1
C. Vocabulary	76	74	75	68	67	93	1.7/1.5
MATHEMATICS
Estimation/number sense/computation	63	59	65	65	60*	63	13.1/13.3
Algebraic patterns/variables	65	57*	68	68	65*	67	9.0/8.6
Algebraic relationships/representations	61	58	61	63	55*	62
Geometric concepts	67	56*	54*	65	60*	76	8.5/8.8
Geometric relationships	71	56*	57*	74	70	63
Measurement	65	65	62	62	52*	63	7.5/6.8
Data organization/analysis	63	62	61	61*	64	56*
Probability	73	66	72	63*	52*	71	6.0/5.9

Scores represent the percent of multiple-choice test items answered correctly for the sets of standards within the learning area. The data reported above are for ALL students

* represents percentages that are equaled or exceeded by the State

ISAT Trends Scores Grade Three

READING	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Comprehension							New ratings School/State
A. Literature	78	73	78	72	78	74	10.3/9.3
B. Elements and Techniques	79	78	76	78	78	74
Applications of Strategies
A. Reading	78	77	80	74*	80	76	22.1/19.7
B. Strategies	77	73	78	72	78	79	3.8/3.5
C. Vocabulary	81	75	71	83	72	81	2.7/2.3
MATHEMATICS
Estimation/number sense/computation	71	76	76	78	79	87	20.2/17.5
Algebraic patterns/variables	67	75	79	79	81	83	6.3/5.5
Algebraic relationships/representations	73	71	74	80	80	87
Geometric concepts	82	74	79	80	83	76	10.8/9.4
Geometric relationships	87	68	86	74	82	73
Measurement	65	68	69	72	76	79	8.9/7.6
Data organization/analysis	85	87	78	78	82	79
Probability	72	81	77	77	71	73	7.5/6.6

Scores represent the percent of multiple-choice test items answered correctly for the sets of standards within the learning area. The data reported above are for ALL students

* represents percentages that are equaled or exceeded by the State/School Report Card.

TEST SCORE SUMMARY (Continued):

Third Grade Reading

Students/School Year	Meets and exceeds	Exceeds Standards	Meets Standards	Below Standards	Academic Warning
All students/2008-2009
Non-disabled/2008-2009
All students/2007-2008	81	25	56	19	0
Non-disabled/2007-2008	79	26	53	21	0
All students/2006-2007	93	30	63	7	0
Non-disabled/2006-2007	93	32	61	7	0
All Students/2005-2006	74	22	52	26	0
Nondisabled/2005-2006	73	23	50	27	0
All Students/2004-2005	86	33	53	10	3
Non-disabled/2004-05	96	39	57	4	0
All Students/2003-2004	80	33	47	13	7
Non-disabled/2003-04	86	36	50	14	0
All Students/2002-2003	92	24	68	8	0
Non-disabled/2002-03	92	24	68	8	0
All Students/2001-2002	78	26	52	23	0
Non-disabled/2001-02	80	27	53	20	0
All Students/2000-2001	82	24	58	15	3
Non-disabled/2000-01	83	28	55	17	0

Fifth Grade Reading

Students/School Year	Meets and Exceeds	Exceeds Standards	Meets Standards	Below Standards	Academic Warning
All students/2008-2009
Non-disabled/2008-2009
All students/2007-2008	89	35	54	11	0
Non-disabled/2007-2008	95	40	55	5	0
All students/2006-2007	79	26	53	18	3
Non-disabled/2006-2007	89	32	57	11	0
All Students/2005-2006	91	37	54	9	0
Nondisabled/2005-2006	91	38	53	9	0
All Students/2004-2005	60	14	46	39	0
Non-disabled/2004-05	54	15	39	46	0
All Students/2003-2004	65	24	41	35	0
Non-disabled/2003-04	69	25	44	31	0
All Students/2002-2003	68	23	45	32	0
Non-disabled/2002-03	70	23	47	30	0
All Students/2001-2002	76	28	48	25	0
Non-disabled/2001-02	81	31	50	19	0
All Students/2000-2001	85	41	44	15	0
Non-disabled/2000-01	89	46	43	11	0

Eighth Grade Reading

Students/School Year	Meets and Exceeds	Exceeds Standards	Meets Standards	Below Standards	Academic Warning
All students/2008-2009
Non-disabled/2008-2009
All students/2007-2008	91	24	67	9	0
Non-disabled/2007-2008	97	26	71	3	0
All students/2006-2007	90	13	77	7	3
Non-disabled/2006-2007	94	16	78	3	0
All Students/2005-2006	93	10	83	7	0
Nondisabled/2005-2006	100	13	88	0	0
All Students/2004-2005	88	9	79	12	0
Non-disabled/2004-05	95	11	84	5	0
All Students/2003-2004	78	2	76	21	0
Non-disabled/2003-04	81	3	78	19	0
All Students/2002-2003	76	0	76	24	0
Non-disabled/2002-03	78	0	78	22	0
All Students/2001-2002	53	3	50	47	0
Non-disabled/2001-02	58	3	55	41	0
All Students/2000-2001	75	0	75	25	0
Non-disabled/2000-01	79	0	79	21	0

TEST SCORE SUMMARY (Continued):

Third Grade Math

Students/School Year	Meets and Exceeds	Exceeds Standards	Meets Standards	Below Standards	Academic Warning
All students/2008-2009
Non-disabled/2008-2009
All students/2007-2008	100	75	25	0	0
Non-disabled/2007-2008	100	77	23	0	0
All students/2006-2007	100	70	30	0	0
Non-disabled/2006-2007	100	71	29	0	0
All Students/2005-2006	100	74	26	0	0
Nondisabled/2005-2006	100	73	27	0	0
All Students/2004-2005	94	67	27	3	3
Non-disabled/2004-205	100	78	22	0	0
All Students/2003-2004	90	57	33	0	10
Non-disabled/2003-04	97	61	36	0	4
All Students/2002-2003	96	40	56	4	0
Non-disabled/2002-03	96	40	56	4	0
All Students/2001-2002	93	45	48	6	0
Non-disabled/2001-02	94	47	47	7	0
All Students/2000-2001	94	39	55	6	0
Non-disabled/2000-01	100	45	55	0	0

Fifth Grade Math

Students/School Year	Meets and Exceeds	Exceeds Standards	Meets Standards	Below Standards	Academic Warning
All students/2008-2009
Non-disabled/2008-2009
All students/2007-2008	85	0	85	15	0
Non-disabled/2007-2008	91	0	91	9	0
All students/2006-2007	91	12	79	6	0
Non-disabled/2006-2007	100	14	86	0	0
All Students/2005-2006	97	6	91	3	0
Nondisabled/2005-2006	97	6	91	3	0
All Students/2004-2005	79	0	79	18	4
Non-disabled/2004-05	81	0	81	19	0
All Students/2003-2004	77	12	65	21	3
Non-disabled/2003-04	82	13	69	19	0
All Students/2002-2003	74	0	74	26	0
Non-disabled/2002-03	77	0	77	23	0
All Students/2001-2002	68	3	65	33	0
Non-disabled/2001-02	71	3	69	28	0
All Students/2000-2001	82	10	72	13	5
Non-disabled/2000-01	88	11	77	11	0

Eighth Grade Math

Students/School Year	Meets and Exceeds	Exceeds Standards	Meets Standards	Below Standards	Academic Warning
All students/2008-2009
Non-disabled/2008-2009
All students/2007-2008	88	18	70	12	0
Non-disabled/2007-2008	94	19	75	6	0
All students/2006-2007	90	43	47	10	0
Non-disabled/2006-2007	100	53	47	0	0
All Students/2005-2006	87	33	53	13	0
Nondisabled/2005-2006	96	38	58	4	0
All Students/2004-2005	58	21	37	40	2
Non-disabled/2004-05	64	24	40	39	0
All Students/2003-2004	55	23	30	40	7
Non-disabled/2003-04	62	27	35	38	0
All Students/2002-2003	58	0	58	42	0
Non-disabled/2002-03	59	0	59	41	0
All Students/2001-2002	51	21	30	45	3
Non-disabled/2001-02	56	23	33	40	3
All Students/2000-2001	69	11	58	28	3
Non-disabled/2000-01	74	12	62	26	0

PART 1: INSTRUCTION

Accomplishment s for 2007-2008

Faculty, staff, administrators, and members of the Wallace School Board met to plan for the future during our annual Vision Night, held on September 10, 2007. Notes on these sessions are included on the bottom of this page.

Utilized curriculum mapping for Math, Science, Writing, and Social Studies district curricula.

Revised Open House into a parent night with an emphasis on curriculum, instruction, and expectations. Beginning the 2008-2009 school year, kindergarten through 4^th grade will hold a Curriculum Night shortly after school begins. A seperate Open House Night for all students/parents will take place in October.

Continued volunteer program that utilizes community helping students read, listening to readers, and tutoring students.

Revise the district’s professional development program by choosing 3-4 topics per year and working on those areas in greater detail.

Continued implementation of Character Counts character education program throughout the school, started in 2002-2003.

Staff development time will be allotted for staff to plan, review, and possibly make adjustments to Social Studies curriculum. Completed curriculum mapping of Social Studies curriculum.

Adopted new Reading textbook series—Storytown by Harcourt—for the 2008-2009 school year.

Hired three new teachers and district superintendent to carry on the great traditions of Wallace Grade School.

Continued emphasis on integrating Six Traits of Writing into Language Arts curriculum.

Utilized AIMSWEB program to assess, monitor, and chart student growth throughout the year. Benchmarked all students in Reading Fluency, Reading Comprehension, and Math Computation—Fall, Winter, and Spring—during the 2007-2008 school year. Testing took the place of Stanford Fall testing done previously.

Response to Intervention Team transitioned from Student Assistance Team. Focus turned from student behavior concerns to academic—specifically reading. Team met weekly to identify struggling readers, problem solve, plan interventions, monitor student progress, and dismiss students from interventions when appropriate. Team will continue for the 2008-2009 school year with focus continuing on Reading and with the goal of incorporating Math during the year. A Behavioral Management Team will be formed for the 2008-2009 school year to assist in student behavioral problem solving.

Reading Interventions begun in school utilizing available resources—Kevin Gallagher, Wendi Navarro, Susan Bruner, and Teresa Sigler worked as a team with kindergarten students, Kay Conroy utilized part of day to work with 1^st grade students, Dawn Maguire utilized prep to work with 2^nd grade students, LeeAnn Terry was free to work with 3^rd grade students, and Rhonda Wilkinson used part of her day to work with 4^th grade students. For the 2008-2009 school year, we will look to utilize same resources, expand volunteer inteventionalists, and utilize reading programs more successful—move away from school wide use of Great Leaps to using resources that best fit the student—PALS, Read Naturally, Lexia, etc.

Initial building needs assessment was completed by administration, board committee, faculty, and staff with Basalay, Cary, and Alstadt Architects. Initial findings were presented to Board of Education by architects during Spring meeting.

ALERT NOW communication system put in place during Spring 2008 to alert families of school emergencies in a speedy manner.

Planning for the Future at Wallace Grade School—3 meeting held during 2005-2006 school year, Notes from session 1:

Past

Consolidation, Dayton School and Disier School and Wallace in 1964

Mrs. Eike started at Wallace in 1964-T Haeberle graduated in 1965

1977-Terra Cotta first subdivision

Class sizes grew

Mid 1980’s- money trouble

1987-88 consolidation attempt with Rutland-failed in Wallace

Graduates were well prepared, parents were involved.

More like a family and less like a business-kids’ attitudes (and parents’) a big factor

Series of dedicated individuals working at Wallace

Caring, loving people, but the school looked like a shed

Some referred to Wallace as a private school

Wallace kids did more homework than town kids

Did we go to full day Kindergarten in 1996?

Present

What is important?

Teach the basics-reading, math

Learn technology

Quantity vs. quality

Arts

Writing-on computers also

Respect and responsibility-values

Family feeling-stick together

Open door-parents can visit

Working with kids at different levels-individual attention, working with parents

High expectations(grading scale is tough)

Don’t want to give up the family feel

Hands on approach to learning-success in classroom and on the field

Proud of

Wallace is a K-8 building-in the country

Small class sizes

Success of our students in high school

The Wallace attitude-make the most of what we have, we like our students

Atmosphere that the kids are proud of-Wallace’s reputation

We all know each other-friendly people

Much family involvement

Academics and physical education

The positive atmosphere throughout the years.

Our alumni like to come back (high school readers-good idea Kay)

Good programs: music, science fair, sports, library, technology

Parents’ Club, WAC, and volunteerism

Field trips

Excellent and caring, teachers, support staff, and administration who stick around

The way we work together-good teamwork

That we could add teachers who kept classes small and brought new ideas

We like our school board-willing to listen and work with the community

Pride in the work of school employees

Our building and Mr. Grunstad

Sorry about

The wind

Too much homework?

We couldn’t build more building back in 1994-music room

That we couldn’t afford bigger classrooms in 1994

That we can’t offer more classes (clothing, woods, foreign language)

That we do so much fundraising

That people don’t understand all that we are doing and have to do

That we spend too much time in board meetings on sports, complaints

Changes

Growth-new homes, apartments

We’re not a rural school anymore

3^rd grade class is too big

Expenses are increasing but money is not

Mobility rates- students from apartments vs. farm or single family home

Comprehensive city plan

NCLB, special education law, TIF district, alternate formula state aid

NCLB is taking the fun out of school

Growing diversity is good

Worried about

Money

Cost of housing special needs programs

More grant opportunities

Sufficient to provide special service in house(speech, social work)

Don’t want to consolidate

Plan for expansion

Land acquisition

Growth vs. funding

Mandates (special education)

So much reliance on property taxes for funding

Effects of growth on activities-cutting kids from teams

Increasing class sizes-can we hold on to our small school atmosphere?

Increase of transient students, low income students, single parent families

Can we afford what we have already? Instruction, environment, programs?

Being able to fund what is important

Growing burden on teachers

Questions we still have

We don’t understand the TIF

How much have we lost because of the TIF in the last 5 years?

How much of that did we collect from the city?

How much did each business benefit? Possible donations?

How much of a selling point for real estate is the Wallace district?

Assessments

Where do we put more students?

When did the Wedron kids start coming to Wallace?

What is the board doing to cut expenses?

What is our timeline for seeking business partnerships?

If we have to build-where?

Planning for the Future at Wallace Grade School

Notes from session 2

What do we want?

1. Continue to balance budget
2. Protect what we have
3. Stay independent – no consolidation
4. Retain our personality
5. Continue to be well-prepared
6. Continue to offer community a voice
7. Class size
1. 15-25 - over 25 too much
2. 15-17 is ideal
3. 20-25 depending on the make-up of the class
4. 15-20, k-3 especially important to keep size down, over 25 gets too big.
8. Faculty and staff
1. 1 teacher per 15 students and all of the extras
2. More social work, guidance counselors, art teacher, foreign language, keep up with special Ed/ESL, evening janitor for event cleanup, applied tech (shop), home ec (sewing & cooking), more special reading help
3. Increase staff – 1:10?
4. Progressive teachers
9. Administration
1. Ok for now, but more may be needed as enrollment increases, Activities Director would be useful
2. Full time superintendent, athletic director
3. Athletic Director (add ½ time teacher), not share administration
10. Supplies and Materials
1. Art equipment, copy machine upper floor
2. Lucky to have Parents’ Club donation for class materials
3. Keep current texts and trends
11. Library
1. Expand as needed. Increase hours and think about using during the summer. Expand services (video)
2. Stay at current standards
3. Integrate library with technology – media center

12. Technology
1. Lap top per child, more computers per size of class, update computer lab, expand computer instructional stuff, Expand the technology program
2. Keyboarding at a younger age
3. Need to keep up-to-date because changes so rapidly, new server, need to replace computers on a schedule.
13. Events
1. Include maybe history, geography
2. Keep science fair - add art to it, keep Christmas Program and choir and band concerts, split age groups for fairs
3. Same programs – need help with funding.
14. Facilities
1. A plan for expansion, band room, more classrooms, community room, second gym.
2. Larger classrooms, music room, art room, larger building, additional computer lab, applied technology room, 10 more acres of land.
3. Space for class size
4. Music room, practice gym, community room.

How do we get there?

1. Referendum, sell cash bonds, active foundation

2. Increase revenue, new houses increase our revenue, explore sales tax possibilities.

3. Increase taxes

a. Sell to public through open houses, personal contact, invite into the school and observe activities, programs in Wallace

4. Partnership with business

5. Fundraising

6. Cut all non-state required programs (negative feelings)

a. Hot lunch program

b. Full day kindergarten

c. Music

d. Computer program

e. All sports programs

f. Don’t replace retiring staff

7. Space – larger classes get bigger rooms, raise fees, progressive teachers (new ideas, professional development, time), keep strong PTO, not a lot to cut, can we better predict the future

8. Working Cash Bonds, booster organizations, fundraising (8^th grade monopoly), raise taxes

What do we need?

1. Educating people concerning our needs, larger facility, form business partnerships, getting people to vote
2. Community support ($), another classroom teacher for increased student numbers, east/west campus, stop building apartments, impact fees directed to Wallace for apartment students.
3. Keep up with volunteers

Barriers

1. People won’t want higher taxes, lapse time before answer is found, manpower to sell ideas.

Session 3 Notes:

We have just concluded a process of planning for the future of Wallace Grade School. A committee of over 50 parents, community members, faculty and staff, and other interested stakeholders participated in the “Future Search.” Participants met one evening in each of the last three months for the purpose of providing the Wallace Board of Education with input regarding the financial and growth concerns of the district.

Participants discussed balancing the budget by making cuts to staff, athletics, non-mandated programs such as kindergarten, music, computers, the lunch program, and other programs and personnel. Methods to generate additional revenue such as selling working cash bonds, seeking a referendum, forging business partnerships, seeking greater booster club support, and promoting the Wallace Grade School Educational Foundation were debated. In the end, the committee came up with the following recommendation:

Statement to the Board:

Wallace School is a special place. Not only do students receive quality academics, but the family-like, open-to-the-parents atmosphere is wonderful. It is imperative that we do not lose what we have. In order to make this a reality, the following is recommended.

1. Keep communication concerning the financial situation at Wallace flowing to all members of the community.
2. Solutions are needed to deal with the school’s immediate and long-term needs as well as education and building fund challenges. These solutions will take the form of the issuance of working cash bonds and referenda.
3. We value our independence and do not wish to explore consolidation as a solution.
4. Balancing the budget by making significant cuts to the academic program is not a viable option. Keeping community confidence, via prudent use of our resources, is imperative.

As our vision statement indicates, “we strive to provide a well-rounded educational experience that prepares students to become contributing adults and builds self-confidence.”

Action Plan

1. Send out a newsletter to the community detailing the results of the futures committee.
1. Information to include discussion of cuts, finances, taxes.
2. Feedback will be welcomed.
2. We need to deal with both the short-term needs (the immediate need to balance the budget) and the long-term growth issues.
3. In May, after the county provides the district with the tax computation sheet and the district has firm numbers on it 06-07 property tax extension (revenue)…
1. a decision will be made concerning the issuance of working cash bonds and
2. open meeting(s) will be held with the general public.
4. Form a referendum committee to begin to share information concerning Wallace’s financial status with the community and to begin laying the groundwork for a referendum to deal with growth issues.
1. Open meetings
2. Door-to-door

Community Feedback

More detailed notes and agendas from each meeting are available at the office if anyone is interested. Additionally, if you have any questions, concerns, or input you would like to share, please do not hesitate to call Mr. Mike Matteson at 433-2986. Thank you!

Information gained from Vision Night 2007—held September 10, 2007:

1. Any ideas leftover from last year.

a. Music and band room

b. Playground – done

c. Businesses in school – contributions

d. Curriculum mapping – Social Studies this year

e. Enrichment classes/clubs

f. Family involvement

Change

a. Teachers meet students after lunch recess

b. Invite administrators to classes

c. Vision Night in April or May

d. Curriculum Night

e. Notes home on Wednesday

f. Teachers need to tell bus drivers of any special medical issues with the students on their bus

2. Instruction

a. RTI – using personnel resources

b. Aims Web – grouping, identification and delivery of interventions

c. Curriculum Mapping – review as curriculum changes

d. ISAT writing – finding expectations

e. Technology utilization.

f. Inclusion of Character Counts into classroom curriculum

3. Personnel, facilities, finance, and policy

a. Increase access to information regarding professional development

b. Split Curriculum Night and Open House

c. Automated Emergency Phone System

d. Helpers for bus duty (Dawn M. volunteered)

e. Visitor need to sign in

f. Update security packets

g. Tornado plan update

h. All full-time staff comes to school functions and meetings

i. Professional relations – Social Committee

4. Community Partnerships

a. Change Curriculum Night and Open House format

b. Partnerships for building a new community room

c. Family Reading Night

d. Expands volunteer pool through newsletters and website

e. Career Day

f. Veterans as speakers

g. Family Nights

h. Foundation Committee

Information gained from Staff Planning Session:

The district will continue to work to improve school security and student safety. Items for consideration include: crisis management, playground safety, communication between classes, and alternative assessments to current Stanford test.

Areas for Curriculum Improvement 08-09

1. Reading

1. Gap Lower 20% are not meeting our goals
2. Goals Increase scores of the lower quartile of elementary students
3. Plan - Read and write across the curriculum

- Purchase Star Reading program from Renaissance Learning to monitor student reading progress; program started in 05-06 school year. Continue program and monitor results.

- Early intervention Reading Recovery-like program started in 05-06 school year. Continue program and monitor results.

-Utilize RTI problem solving model and assess students with Aimsweb test. Lower level students will be grouped and interventions will be put in place.

c. Cost $1,450 for AIMSWEB testing—320 students

2. Writing

1. Gap None listed
2. Goals Improve written communication among Wallace Grade School students.

c. Plan - Reading and writing in the content areas.

- Revision of the writing curriculum based upon the 6 plus 1 traits of writing.

- Yearly review of writing curriculum

d. Cost None listed

3. Math

1. Gap Curriculum overlaps and gaps.

b. Goals Regular review of math curriculum to rid these areas.

3. Plan - Mapped math curriculum in 2005-2006.

- Revise the order of instruction to rid gaps and overlaps.

- Use of Mountain Math to review math facts.

- Return to Algebra instruction for the top 8^th grade math students.

- Utilize RTI problem solving model and assess students with Aimsweb test. Lower level students will be grouped and interventions will be put in place.

4. Cost $2,400 for Aimsweb training/test

4. Social Science

1. Gap Curriculum overlaps and gaps.
2. Goals Map Social Studies curriculum to rid these areas.

c. Plan - Assess new textbooks and units taught throughout grade levels.

- Reading and writing in the content areas.

- Revise order of instruction to rid gaps and overlaps.

- Mapped Social Studies curriculum in 2007-2008.

d. Cost None

5. Science

1. Gap Curriculum overlaps and gaps.
2. Goals Regular review of science curriculum to rid these areas.

c. Plan - Mapped Science curriculum in 2006-2007.

- Reading and writing in the content areas.

- Improve methods of instruction based upon scientifically based methods that improve student achievement.

d. Cost None listed

6. Special Education

1. Gap None listed

b. Goals None listed

c. Plan - Formalize the instruction of the special education writing program based upon the 6 plus 1 traits of writing.

- Addition of 2/3 teacher to assist in serving special education students and RTI implementation.

d. Cost None listed

Goals for 2008-2009

A. Continue efforts to implement curriculum changes to state standards.

B. Begin revisions to district reading curriculum through the process of curriculum mapping; two year process as adoption of new reading textbook—Harcourt Storytown for 1^st through 6^th grade students begins in 2008-2009.

C. Utilize state descriptors and ISAT assessment framework to make curriculum revisions.

D. Develop and run activities focusing on traits of Character Counts program

E. Continue use of STI student management program, implemented 2005-2006 school year.

F. Continue use of STI grade book, implemented 2005-2006 school year.

G. Continue use of STI home-to-school program, STI Classroom Web, implemented 2006-2007

school year.

H. Replace Stanford test with Aimsweb program in 2007-2008 school year; testing to continue to take place three times during the school year—September, January, and May. Test data utilized to best meet student needs. Additional weekly/bi-weekly testing for students identified for intervention program.

I. Continue to drill and evaluate Crisis Management plan. School evacuation to offsite location took place during 2006-2007 school year.

J. Explore technology enhanced methods of differentiating instruction in math.

K. Continuation of after school tutoring program offered to students

L. Continue use of volunteer program, implemented in 2005-2006.

M. Seek and utilize community resources to enhance instruction, knowledge and monetary.

N. Utilize mentor program to orient three new teachers, 2^nd grade—3^rd grade—4^th grade.

O. RTI Team will continue to assess student needs and planning interventions. A Behavioral Team will be formed for the 2008-2009 school year to assist in behavior concerns—previous work done by Student Assistance Team that transformed into the RTI team in 2007-2008.

P. Utilize ALERT NOW system put in place during Spring 2008 as communication tool to notify families in the event of an emergency.

ANALYSIS OF DATA

Our data analysis included Stanford Achievement Tests, ISAT tests, teacher assessments, and the results from our annual goal-setting meeting (Vision Night) with faculty, staff, and board members. The focus of improvement efforts this year will be follow-up planning and review time for previously adopted science, math, and language arts curricula with emphasis on aligning curriculum maps in social studies to State Standards.

PRIORITY GOALS FOR 2008-2009

1. Wallace students will continue to excel in all learning areas. The targeted curricular area staff will review throughout the year is Reading; review will be a two year process as begin new reading series—Harcourt Storytown.

2. The school will continue to promote the Character Counts character education program throughout the school. The program’s central focus will continue to be to strive toward having students model a variety of character traits that have each been specifically targeted during the school year.

3. Building safety and security will continue to remain a focus as teachers will be inserviced on a variety of safety measures and concerns as illustrated by the district’s safety committee.

4. Assess student growth and academic concerns through Aimsweb testing. Testing will take place for all students three times per year, September, January, and May. Identified students may be tested weekly/bi-weekly to assess if interventions are effective.

5. Utilize problem solving model and RTI team to best meet student academic needs in reading and work towards math during 2008-2009 school year. Available resources will be identified as possible interventions.

6. Utilize problem solving model and new Behavioral Management Team to best meet student behavioral needs.

Professional Development/School Improvement

2007-2008

Date	Activity	Cost	Fund	Facilitator	Outcome
8/13/07 8/14/07	Aimsweb Training (train the trainers)	$1,500	Wrk. Shop	Aimsweb	To educate core group on Aimsweb program and usage. Group will train faculty on program usage and be answer people as begin implementation.
8/20/07	Informational Meeting/Planning for School Year	None	DNA	C. Dvorak/M. Matteson	To prepare staff for changes/information needed to begin the school year. To allow teachers an opportunity to plan for first day of school.
8/21/07	Aimsweb Training	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To learn use of Aimsweb test and monitoring tools.
8/28/07	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
9/4/07	Open House “Curriculum Night”	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff Parents Students	To enhance the communication and involvement of parents and the community, teachers, staff, and administration discussed the activities, rules, and expectations of the school year.
9/10/07	Vision Night	None	DNA	M. Matteson, Board of Education, Faculty, Staff	To plan for school year and evaluate areas to improve. Three lists created—just do, in the near future, in the far future. Ways to make improvements noted.
9/11/07	Team Meeting/Textbook Review	None	DNA	C. Dvorak/ Faculty/Staff	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students. To select a reading series for K-6 students to improve student achievement.
9/14/07	Aimsweb Testing 11:30 Institute	None	DNA	C. Dvorak D. Maguire R. Wilkinson P. Miller L. Roberts	To prepare staff to utilize Aimsweb test and monitoring abilities. (Procedures, administration, and test preparation.)
9/18/07	Autism Training	None	DNA	S. Brunner	To educate staff on autism and methods to best meet autistic children’s needs in the classroom.
9/25/07	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
10/2/07	Curriculum Mapping Social Studies	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless social studies program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in social studies.
10/5/07	County Institute	None	DNA	ROE Presenters	To inspire staff and train staff in a variety of learning areas.
10/9/07	Curriculum Mapping/RTI planning	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff RTI Team	To create a seamless social studies program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in social studies. To learn and adopt RTI—Problem Solving Model, assessment tools, and interventions to best meet student needs.
10/16/07	Textbook Review Reading	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To select a reading series for K-4 students to improve student achievement.
10/23/07	Curriculum Mapping of Social Studies 11:30 Institute	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless social studies program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in social studies.
10/30/07	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
11/6/07	Team Meeting	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students.
11/9/07	Parent/Teacher Conferences	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To increase the communication of teacher/parent behavioral and academic concerns.
11/13/07	Bloodborne Pathogins	None	DNA	Julie Jackson	To educate faculty/staff of infectious diseases and precautions to take for individual/student safety.
11/15/07	RTI Team—pullout of K-4 teachers throughout the day	None	DNA	RTI Team/K-4 teachers	To learn and adopt RTI—Problem Solving Model, assessment tools, and interventions to best meet student needs. Identified struggling readers and created intervention plan for these students.
11/20/07	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
11/27/07	Aimsweb Test interpretation, decision making, intervention planning	None	DNA	RTI Team	To learn and adopt RTI—Problem Solving Model, assessment tools, and interventions to best meet student needs.
12/4/07	Team Meeting	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students.
12/11/07	Wrap Christmas Presents	None	DNA	K. Ferko	To build community by wrapping presents purchased by the teachers for needy children within the Wallace Grade School district.
12/18/07	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
1/8/08	Team Meeting	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students.
1/15/08	Curriculum Review (Science)	None	DNA	Faculty	To create a seamless science program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in science.
1/22/08	Aimsweb Data Entry	None	DNA	Faculty	To prepare staff to utilize Aimsweb test and monitoring abilities. (Procedures, administration, and test preparation.)
1/25/08	ISAT Analysis 11:30 Inservice	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	Analysis of 2007 scores, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and discussion of how to improve areas of weakness. To instruct teachers on assessment and setup of ISAT test to better prepare students with effective test taking skills.
1/29/08	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
2/5/08	Team Meeting	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students.
2/7/08	Parent/Teacher Conferences 11:30 Institute	None	DNA	Parents/ Teachers	To increase the communication of teacher/parent behavioral and academic concerns.
2/8/08	Full Day Institute	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff Lori Anderson & Jeanette Pike	To create a seamless social science program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in science. Reading intervention preparation and planning. Textbook review with representatives from Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt.
2/12/08	Textbook Selection	None	DNA	Faculty/StaffParents/ Admin.	Selected Harcourt Storytown for 1^st through 6^th grade reading series. Adopted by the Board at February meeting—begin 2008-2009 school yr.
2/19/08	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
2/26/08	ISAT Instructions/ PALS Training	None	DNA	C. Dvorak/ S. Brunner	To instruct teachers on assessment and setup of ISAT test to better prepare students with effective test taking skills. To train staff on reading intervention tool to best need student needs in the classroom.
3/4/08	Team Meeting	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students.
3/11/08	Family Reading Night Planning/ Math Mapping	None	DNA	K. Conroy/ Faculty/ Staff	To plan an evening of reading to encourage reading with students/parents. To create a seamless math program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in math.
3/18/08	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
4/1/08	Team Meeting	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To inform staff of changes and upcoming events that impact them and students.
4/8/08	Young Authors	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	Committee met to finalize representatives for school at annual conference—to encourage reading throughout the grade levels.
4/15/08	Teacher Recertification	None	DNA	T. Sigler	To train staff in utilizing ISBE recertification system.
4/22/08	Group Cohesion/ District Overview	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To allow for group cohesion/bonding and to provide an overview of the district boundary lines, changing student population, and future of the district.
4/29/08	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
5/6/08	Teacher Appreciation Recognition	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To recognize the contributions of teachers throughout the school year.
5/9/08	Program Evaluation and Priority Goals for 07-08 11:30 Institute	None	DNA	Chris Dvorak	To review the school year and plan for the coming year.
5/13/08	Handbook Evaluation	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff Admin.	To allow staff input on student handbook/rule changes for 2008-2009 school year.
5/20/08	Curriculum Review Social Studies	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless social studies program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in social studies. Maps finalized and distributed to each teacher at this meeting.
5/27/08	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
6/3/08	Handbook Meeting	None	DNA	Handbook Committee—including parents	To allow parents input on student handbook/rule changes for 2008-2009 school year. Changes will be brought before the Board at the June Board Meeting.
6/4/08	Teacher’s Institute	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To wrap up and finalize any items for the 2007-2008 school year.

Professional Development/School Improvement 2008-2009

	Activity	Cost	Fund	Facilitator	Outcome
8/20/08	Teacher Inservice/ CPR/Heart AED Training	$30 per person	?	C. Dvorak CHO/Red Cross Staff	To prepare staff for changes/information needed to begin the school year. To allow teachers an opportunity to plan for first day of school. To train faculty/staff in first aid response/AED use.
8/21/08	Teacher Preparation 11:30 Dismissal	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To allow teachers an opportunity to plan for first day of school.
9/2/08	Curriculum Night K-4	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To enhance the communication and involvement of parents and the community, teachers, staff, and administration discussed the activities, rules, and expectations of the school year.
9/9/08	Reading Textbook Representative Presentation	None	DNA	Lori Anderson	To educate staff on effective usage of new reading series. Representative will discuss how to best utilize reading series.
9/16/08	11:30 Half Day Institute (12:00-3:30 p.m.)-Begin Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa H.S. feeder schools (common SIP date)	None	DNA	Curriculum leaders/Faculty/ Staff	To create a seamless curriculum program for K-12 students in order to improve student proficiency. To create common exit criteria for each grade level.
9/23/08	Signs of Substance Abuse	None	DNA	North Central Behavioral Health Systems	To educate faculty/staff on signs of substance use and providing them with current trends and early behavioral warning signs.
9/30/08	Signs of Substance Abuse	None	DNA	North Central Behavioral Health Systems	To educate faculty/staff on signs of substance use and providing them with current trends and early behavioral warning signs.
10/9/08	Open House	None	DNA	Parents/Faculty/ Staff	To enhance the communication and involvement of parents and the community, teachers, staff, and administration.
10/10/08	Teacher’s Institute County Institute Day	None	DNA	ROE presenters	To inspire staff and train staff in a variety of learning areas.
10/14/08	Infectious Disease Training/bloodborne Pathogins	None	DNA	CHO trainer	To educate faculty/staff of infectious diseases and precautions to take for individual/student safety.
10/21/08	11:30 Half Day Institute (12:00-3:30 p.m.)-Begin Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa H.S. feeder schools (common SIP date)	None	DNA	Curriculum leaders/ Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless curriculum program for K-12 students in order to improve student proficiency. To create common exit criteria for each grade level.
11/5/08-11/7/08	Parent Teacher Conferences	None	DNA	Parents/ Faculty/Staff	To increase the communication of teacher/parent behavioral and academic concerns.
1/23/09	11:30 Institute ISAT Analysis/ Information for March testing	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	Analysis of 2008 scores, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and discussion of how to improve areas of weakness. To instruct teachers on assessment and setup of ISAT test to better prepare students with effective test taking skills.
2/5/09	Parent Teacher Conferences	None	DNA	Parents/ Faculty/Staff	To increase the communication of teacher/parent behavioral and academic concerns.
2/6/09	Teacher’s Institute RTI Math Intervention Training/Planning	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To learn and adopt RTI—Problem Solving Model, assessment tools, and interventions to best meet student needs. Identify struggling math students and created intervention plan for these students.
2/10/09	Textbook Selection For 7/8 Reading	None	None	Textbook Reps	Textbook review with representatives from selected companies to inform faculty/staff/parents on each series.
3/10/09	Curriculum Review Math	None	None	Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless math program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in math—review current maps and make necessary changes/additions.
3/10/09	Vision Night	None	None	Board/Faculty/ Staff	To plan for school year and evaluate areas to improve. Three lists created—just do, in the near future, in the far future. Ways to make improvements noted.
3/24/09	Curriculum Review Science	None	None	Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless science program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in science—review current maps and make necessary changes/additions.
4/24/09	11:30 Half Day Institute (12:00-3:30 p.m.) Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa H.S. feeder schools (common SIP date)	None	None	Curriculum Leaders/Faculty Staff	To create a seamless curriculum program for K-12 students in order to improve student proficiency. To create common exit criteria for each grade level.
5/8/09	Program Evaluation and Priority Goals for 08-09 11:30 Institute	None	None	Faculty/Staff	To review the school year and plan for the coming year.
5/19/09	Curriculum Review Social Studies	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To create a seamless social studies program for K-8 students in order to improve student proficiency in social studies.
5/27/08	Teacher Work Day/Teacher Mentoring	None	DNA	Faculty/Staff	To meet the individual needs of faculty and staff in their efforts to improve student achievement.
6/1/09	Handbook Meeting	None	DNA	Handbook Committee—including parents	To allow parents input on student handbook/rule changes for 2009-2010 school year. Changes will be brought before the Board at the June Board Meeting.
6/2/09	Teacher’s Institute	None	DNA	C. Dvorak	To wrap up and finalize any items for the 2008-2009 school year.

Proposed Inservices/Meetings for 2008-2009

Inservices:

August 20, 2008 Informational Meeting to begin school year/CPR-AED training

August 21, 2008 Committee Meetings/Beginning of year planning

September 16, 2008 Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa HS feeder schools

October 10, 2008 LaSalle County ROE Institute

October 21, 2008 Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa HS feeder schools

November 7, 2008 Parent/Teacher Conferences

January 23, 2009 ISAT Analysis/Curriculum Analysis

February 5, 2009 Half-day Parent Teacher Conferences

February 6, 2009 Curriculum Review, Mapping, ISAT Preparation of Test

April 24, 2009 Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa HS feeder schools

May 8, 2009 Program Evaluation and Priority Goals for 08-09

2:30 Meetings:

Topics will include the following:

a. Bloodborne Pathogens

b. Aimsweb

c. Curriculum Articulation with Ottawa High School feeder schools

d. Signs of Substance Abuse inservice

e. Textbook training for 1^st-6^th new reading series, Harcourt Storytown

f. RTI—problem solving/intervention

g. Textbook review—7-8 Reading

h. Curriculum Review, Reading Mapping, ISAT Analysis

i. Handbook Revisions

j. Program Evaluation

k. Miscellaneous