To:       School Board

Re:       Superintendent’s Report

Fr:       Victoria Burns, Superintendent

Date:    November 5, 2008

 

 

1.         The Middle School students were featured in the local papers last week. More than 40 students participated in a simultaneous dance set to the song Thriller by Michael Jackson. The event was coordinated by the Middle School drama and dance clubs.

 

2.         Over the last two weeks I began the process of doing an observation in the classroom of each second year teacher in the District. The following classes were observed:

            High School Recovery English

            High School Special Education-Functional Life Skills

            High School Special Education-CoTaught English Class

            High School Library Program

            Middle School Special Education Self-Contained Program

            K-2 Speech and Language.

            It is a pleasure to watch our teachers and students in “action”, and I am positive that you would be pleased with the instructional programs.

 

3.         News continues to come from the State regarding the state of the budget and its impact on the 09-10 and 10-11 school subsidies. I attended a Superintendent’s Conference on October 18^th and October 30^th meeting with the Cumberland County Superintendent’s Association. The bad economic news was central to both meetings. Currently, it appears that the best news is a 2-year subsidy freeze at our current level. With inflation currently over 4% and projections for over 2% for the following year, there will be a significant impact on our budget planning.

 

            Mr. Towle and I are meeting with the administrative team to prepare a budget with no new revenue sources. Our first action will be to examine the Essential Program and Services Formula and look carefully at every line where we exceed the State EPS formula in order to justify why we may need to exceed EPS or why we may need to recommend reductions in certain lines.

 

4.         Information regarding the legislative committee organized to provide recommendations for the high school diploma was given at the Cumberland County Superintendent’s meeting. As you are aware, Mr. Penna, HS Principal; Joan Tremberth, Adult Education; and I have the responsibility to provide an updated graduation policy to the Board by the spring of this year. We will wait to begin our work until the State recommendations are made; but the Board’s timeline will be met.