Santa Fe Trail Superintendent’s Message March 5, 2012

Superintendent’s message: Tell us what you think

Spring Break is almost upon us and, after we return, it won’t be many more weeks before we’ll be closing the book on another school year.

When we do, we’ll be reflecting on everything we thought went well, and also talking within the district about the improvements we’d like to make for the coming school year. This year, we’d like your help with that project.

After Spring Break, we’ll be posting a very brief survey on our school district website that will ask you to tell us how we did, and what you’d like to see us do in the coming school year.

Specifically, the survey will ask you to:

Give us a grade. There will be a series of questions that ask you to “grade” the district – A, B, C, D or F – on a variety of people, program, and facility issues, and on the district’s efforts to provide you the information you need and want. We won’t be grading specific people – like individual teachers (that’s the district’s job) – but we will be asking you to rate the teachers, principals and district leadership overall. Your thoughtful approach to this will help us improve where we need to.

Tell us where we are strong and where we need to improve. You’ll have the chance to type a few comments related to where you think the district really shines, and where we may fall short of your expectations. Please give us your honest feedback in a constructive way. Remember, we want to use this information to improve.

Share with us where you get your information about the district. We know you are busy, and that you don’t have time to go searching for information about the schools. This part of the survey will give you the chance to tell us where you look first, helping us to really pinpoint where we put information so that it reaches you.

There may be a few other questions included; we’re still developing the survey. But, we really want you to take a few minutes and tell us what you think. It will help us evaluate our performance for this year, and prepare for a winning 2012-2013.

January 10, 2012

Superintendent’s message: The impact of the Governor’s proposal on our school district

As you have probably been reading, Governor Brownback has put out a proposal to adjust how public schools are funded in Kansas. We have been expecting such a proposal, and it was good to have the chance for us to review what is being considered and how it would impact students here in Santa Fe Trail USD 434.

However, it’s important to recognize that any proposal is just that – a proposal – until it becomes law.

School district leaders in Topeka and across the state are offering their advice to the Governor and his team as we speak. Both sides of the political aisle are weighing in, to make certain their voices are heard. In other words, if and when something comes to the floor in Topeka for a vote, it probably will look a bit different than what the Governor has presented. That’s just the way the political process works, as we all know very well!

Even so, I think it’s important for you to see how the current proposal would impact our students, our staff and you.

One-time funding increase. As you know, we have had to deal with a loss of $1.2 million in state funding over the last three years. Under the Governor’s proposal, we would receive a one-time-only increase of $381,428. Such an increase would be beneficial in the short-term, but we would still be more than $800,000 behind where we were just three years ago.

Local control. Any future increases in funding for the school district would have to come exclusively from local residents, through an increase in the mill rate. While the proposal does call for what’s known as “equalization,” this wouldn’t benefit us because our property values are not as high as those in some other districts. In other words, while our mill rates may be “equalized” under the proposal, those more well-to-do districts would be able to generate more revenue, because each mill is worth more there, than it is here.

Elimination of funding for bond issues. Right now, we receive 41% of the funding necessary to pay on our bond issues from the state. Under the Governor’s proposal, this funding would be eliminated, meaning any future bond issues would be the total responsibility of our patrons.

No revenue increase for the costs associated with at-risk students. As I’m sure you can imagine, it requires more resources to serve some students than it does to serve others. Under the present system, the school district receives additional funding from the state to cover those added costs. Under the Governor’s proposal, this funding would remain as it is today, and would not increase as our costs increase.

So, the sum total is a one-time, small increase in funding, with future increases becoming the responsibility of local citizens, along with the loss of state funding for bond issues and for increased costs associated with at-risk students. We’re pleased with some of the proposal and concerned about other aspects. But, again, we know that much will change between today and when it makes it to the floor for consideration.

We’ll work to keep you updated. If you have any questions about the proposal, or about what you can do to speak up on behalf of your schools, please let me know.

Santa Fe Trail Superintendent’s Message - November 30, 2011

Superintendent’s Message: A time of thanks

The holidays, and all the excitement they bring, are upon us.

In school, our biggest challenge during this season is keeping our students focused and engaged as the calendar pages turn and our upcoming break draws nearer. We want every day to be meaningful, while we realize that students are anticipating time with family and friends away from the classroom.

I’m sure that the upcoming break is something they are very thankful for. As I reflect on the first semester that’s about to draw to a close, your school district has a lot to be thankful for as well:

The trust of our parents. Schools can’t succeed unless there is trust and support between teachers and school buildings, and the parents. We have that in our district, which means the sky’s the limit for our students and staff.

The vocal support we’ve received for the district reorganization. Change is never easy, but our community has stepped up to offer its support for the steps we’ve taken. Parent and student’s positive support regarding reorganization have made this change successful.

Our improved technology. To compete in the global economy, our students have to have access to the latest technology. It’s the way the world works today, and I’m so thankful that we’re working hard to keep pace with the technology needs of our students.

The improvements we’re making to our facilities. If you stand still in education, you fall behind. The sensible improvements we’ve made have turned our buildings into more functional – and more attractive – places to learn.

The patrons’ support of our curriculum. We are constantly evaluating our curriculum to stay current with what students need today, and what they will need tomorrow. Our community’s support of those efforts is very much appreciated.

Our staff’s collaboration time. Having time for our teachers to be able to share insights with each other about the individual needs of students makes them better at their job, which puts students in a better position to succeed.

The quality of our professional development days. This time means so much to our staff, because they are growing in their skills. That benefits everyone.

Our improved relationships with 3-Lakes Special Education Cooperative. The more we can work together, the better it will be for our students with special needs. This growing relationship is already benefiting our students, and I see even better times ahead.

Take a moment and remember everything you are thankful for during this very special time of year. You might be surprised at just how long your list is!

Santa Fe Trail Superintendent's Message - November 14, 2011

At its November 9, 2011 board of education meeting the board approved a county educational mission statement. This statement was developed through a joint meeting of the cooperative board of education presidents in an attempt to focus on the issues facing Osage County/West Franklin in the terms as to what was trying to be educationally accomplished, while at the same time addressing shrinking resources. At this time, the statement has been approved by three of the six districts. The other three have it on the agenda for their next meeting to consider approving. The statement is as follows.

The Boards of Education for the Osage County and West Franklin County school districts share a vision that their schools be community centers where students are provided a well-rounded educational program that includes a variety of curriculum offerings and extra-curricular opportunities facilitated by effective instructors, sponsors, coaches and administrators in a comfortable, safe, clean and technologically current environment regardless of socioeconomic status, school size, or district valuation.

Maintaining this vision in these economic times is difficult. Aging facilities, reduced state aid, lower property valuations in addition to increased operating and technology costs have caused all the districts to reduce their budgets and operate on less money. Further revenue reductions could be catastrophic to the shared vision listed above. As a group, we encourage the Kansas Legislature to explore other options before further reducing state aid to schools. With the revenue for the state exceeding expectations, a 2-year funding plan that maintains state aid equalization for local property taxes, as well as low and declining enrollment issues, should be a possibility.

Santa Fe Trail Superintendent’s Message - September 12, 2011

Superintendent’s message: Off and running

Opening the doors and kicking off a brand new school year always brings with it some anxious moments.

Will the buildings be ready to go? Will the staff be prepared to hit the ground running? Will the students arrive in the right frame of mind to pick up where they left off?

For Santa Fe Trail USD 434, the answers were yes, yes, and definitely yes!

Thanks are due to the talented professionals who made certain our buildings were ready to go, to the staff for gearing up so quickly, and for our students – who came ready to get back to work. This is not to say we didn’t have a bus issue, a schedule concern, or something else along the way. But, all in all, we couldn’t be happier with the great start to the school year.

We’re planning on this being the best year ever. Parents can play an important role in making certain that happens for their children. Here are some tips on how they can help:

• First, establish an evening routine that makes time for homework. This can be a challenge for families with children who are active in clubs, sports and other activities. But, a regular evening routine that sets aside a specific time dedicated exclusively to homework will develop strong study habits that will pay off in the classroom.
• Second, make certain your children get enough sleep. Again, students whose after-school time and evenings are full of activities may find this challenging. But, setting (and keeping) regular bedtimes during the school year will make certain that your child is rested and ready to learn each day.
• Third, get to know your child’s teacher(s), and check your student’s grades regularly on PowerSchool. Take advantage of opportunities to meet the teacher(s) who are working with your student. Let them know your child’s strengths and challenges. Ask them to keep you informed. And, by all means, check PowerSchool regularly so that grade challenges can be caught – and addressed – early.
• Fourth, keep the lines of communication open with your child. Don’t just ask, “How’s school?” but, rather, ask more specific questions about classes, teachers, projects, and even friends. Look for words, phrases and body language that might suggest help is needed, and then alert the teacher. Remember, successful teamwork means keeping all teammates informed!

While it’s up to the student to get his or her work done, if parents create the right home environment, stay informed, and ask the right questions about life in school, they can play a key role in helping their child’s chances for classroom success.

August 23, 2011 - Santa Fe Trail Superintendent's Message

What your school district did over our summer vacation - With students returning to class later this week, it seems like a good time to catch you up on all the activity that has taken place in your school district over the summer.

We've been busy updating, renovating, and refurbishing each of our school buildings. Some of the changes will be noticeable to students and their families, while others are more ìbehind the scenes. But, each step we've taken over the summer was with one goal in mind: To make our schools the best they can be for students, staff and families.

Here's a summary of what weíve been up to:

Carbondale Attendance Center students will see mounted projectors in their classrooms, plumbing and privacy upgrades in the restrooms, and refinished flooring in the hallways and the gym. New security cameras have also been installed inside and outside the building, to enhance safety. There's also been quite a bit of painting and sprucing up throughout the building.

At the Overbrook Attendance Center, the classrooms that didn't have projectors last school year do now, and there is also new tile and carpet in various places throughout the building. A chain link security fence now encloses the playground, and a storage shed has been added to the grounds. The motor that raises and lowers the basketball goals was refurbished, and the kitchen was upgraded, with a new food warmer and serving table.

The Scranton Attendance Center also had projectors installed in the ceiling, the exit on the east side of the building was replaced, and doors throughout the building were checked and repaired as necessary. Fresh paint was applied throughout most of the school, and the stage area was also repaired. The kitchen will also benefit from a new food warmer and serving table.

Santa Fe Trail High School students will see big changes, as the computer inventory was overhauled and updated. The oldest computer in the school is now just one year old! We also added security cameras and a new keyless door entry system, installed ceiling projectors, replaced ceiling tiles throughout the building, and resurfaced all the floors to a shine they haven't seen in quite a while.

We're excited about the start of classes. Once you step inside our buildings and see all that we've been up to, youíll see why.

MAP Testing – This is the K – 8 testing tool used at the beginning and end of the school term to assess whether student knowledge of the subject has grown and how much growth has occurred. These tests provide the district with individual and grade level data. The preliminary data for this testing looks great! All grade levels meet or exceed the national average with math across the district scoring above the national average. This is the first time since the district began testing that all grade levels have been at grade level. This is a great reflection of the efforts of the teaching staff of the SFT school district and the job they do for the students of the school district! I’m very proud of both the staff and the students for this accomplishment. Detailed analysis with graphs will be presented by Sheryl Gill, Curriculum Director, at the August Board of Education meeting.

SFT Comparison to NWEA Median RIT Scores - The two graphs which follow show that the average end of year RIT scores of SFT students in math and reading were above the NWEA national norms in both math and reading. The NWEA median RIT scores were normed nationally in 2008.

District Fees – With the loss of additional state financial aid, the district will implement an increase in student activities and district food service fees. All students in grades 7-12 will pay a $50 activity fee at enrollment. This fee allows students to participate in activities and attend district events. An activity is one that is supported through a district supplemental payment and so will qualify for the fee. If the student attends an activity or is involved in a district activity, student participation will be determined.

The price of meals has been changed at each building. A student at OAC will pay $2.20 for lunch and $1.10 for breakfast, SAC $2.30 lunch and $1.20 breakfast, CAC $2.40 lunch and $1.30 breakfast, and SFTHS $2.50 lunch and $1.40 breakfast. During the past year, the food service fund spent $100,000 more than it generated. Money has been transferred from the General Fund to cover this excess cost. It is our hope with the fee increase and some changes in serving practices we can get this program closer to breaking even.

SFT Enrollment – Enrollment will again be conducted at the high school and is scheduled for August 10th and August 11th. If you can’t make these dates, you can make enrollment arrangements at the attendance center of your child. For students who have previously attended the school district, enrollment forms will be mailed to the address on file. Check over the information for accuracy and bring the forms to enrollment. For those new to the district, most forms will be available on the website and can be downloaded and completed prior to enrollment. The address for the website is www.usd434.org.

Facility Upgrades – Improvements made to the district buildings during the summer include a new floor finish at the high school, bathroom upgrades at CAC, new technology equipment at the high school, and the installation of mounted projectors in most classrooms. The next area of major improvements will most likely occur at the high school gym. I’m expecting the district to take a look at refinishing the floor, replacing the bleachers, along with repainting the gym. If the gym gets completed, about the only other big project remaining for the district is remodeling the Art and FAC’s (Home Ec.) rooms.

Adidas District – If you haven’t heard, the school district has signed an agreement with Adidas. Students attending SFT are eligible for a 35% savings on Adidas shoes and 40% savings on Adidas apparel. Francis Sporting Goods in Lawrence is the approved vendor and discounts will be given to those with a student ID. Those wishing to purchase before student ID’s are issued can tell the Francis Sporting Goods sales person they are from SFT for the discount. Over the next couple of weeks, we should have a link to Adidas and Francis Sporting Goods on our website. As the year progresses, before each season, a sport activity package will be offered online. If you’re interested in purchasing, just order and the merchandise will be delivered to the school within two weeks of the posted deadline.

Schools face $100 million cut in state funding
Kansas public schools will lose teachers, support staff, programs and services as a result of a $100 million cut in general operating funds next year under the state budget passed last week by the Kansas Legislature.

Because of the state’s action, local school boards face painful choices for next school year: cutting teachers and other school personnel, closing schools, raising local taxes and fees, and using one-time cash reserves. 

“It is important for school leaders, parents, patrons and state officials to understand the impact of the downward spiral in education funding,” said Dr. John Heim, executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards. “There is no way to avoid the fact this budget will damage the programs that have helped more students reach higher levels of achievement and create the need for significant reductions in staff,” he said.

School advocates warn these funding cuts threaten the academic progress Kansas has made in recent years, particularly for students at-risk of academic difficulty, a growing percentage of the school populations.

“We commend the efforts of state leaders who opposed even deeper cuts in education funding, but the downward spiral in the investment Kansans are making in public education will not prepare our state for future success,” Heim said.

The starting point for funding education for every student is the base budget per pupil, which will drop $232 to a 10-year low of $3,780 next school year. That is 5.8 percent lower than last year, and 14 percent below 2008-09.

School district general operating funds are made up of base state aid plus state special education aid and weightings for special services such as at-risk, bilingual, vocational programs and transportation.  General fund spending per pupil, that includes these calculations, will fall to $6,474, which is $803, or 11 percent lower than just four years ago.

The purchasing power of school district budgets continues to erode, meaning such things as insurance, fuel and supplies cost more even as budgets are cut. Since the end of the 2008-09 school year, the inflation rate (consumer price index) has increased 4.2 percent.  State economic experts project inflation will increase by 2.2 percent this year and 2.2 percent in 2012.

More and more districts across the state have no option other than reducing their largest cost: personnel.  Since 2008-09, districts have reduced total employees by 2,295 positions, or 3.2 percent of the total.

Certified teaching positions have been reduced by 1,106.5, or 3.1 percent.  Other major areas of reduction have been instructional support (library staff and directors of curriculum areas), down 275.3 or 11.6 percent; central administration, down 163.6 or 7.9 percent; school administration, down 187.4 or 4.7 percent; operating and maintenance staff, down 258.9 or 4.5 percent, and food service staff, down 192.9, or 5.6 percent.

How the budget impacts school aid programs:

MEDIA RELEASE - Kansas Association of School Boards

For more information contact: 
Carol Pitts
KASB Assistant Executive Director
Communications/Marketing
cpitts@kasb.org
785-273-3600

Superintendent’s Message - March 29, 2011

2012 District Budget

As we enter the final seven weeks of school, there is still no definitive answer how much revenue will be reduced for the budget this current year or next year.  We do, however, have an idea how much this undetermined amount will affect the school district. The district anticipates an approximate $400,000 budget reduction on next year’s budget. 

With this estimate, along with the amounts reduced the past two years, the district budget will have been reduced in the neighborhood of 1.3 million dollars.  So, what does this mean for the district?  We will have to begin looking for places to reduce further with fewer places to find reductions and we will have to explore student fees.

In comparison to how tight the budget is getting, next year we will run a 2012 budget on 1995 operating funds.  Like any other organization working within a budget, our costs of doing business continue to rise.  Our utility costs, insurance costs and fuel costs continue to increase just like yours, but we’re expected to work with a decreased budget.

The above chart shows the district budget the past five years.  General fund reflects the revenue we receive from the state.  In 2006-07 the General Fund was $8,330.604.  In 2010-11 the General Fund for the district is estimated at $7,696,973 which is before another anticipated $75 per student reduction.  The LOB is the revenue generated locally, along with some state aid due.  In 2006-07 the LOB was at $2,062,852.  In 2010-11 the LOB is projected to be $2,604,308.  The total budget is a combination of the General Fund and the LOB.  The combined budget for the school district is projected to drop below the $10,000,000 mark, or an estimated 1.3 million dollar reduction in the last three years, for the first time in a long time.  The responses the school district has made through reorganization and the reduction of expenses over the past years has positioned the district to better handle the latest budget reduction.

As you can see with the LOB fund, the district has tried to address the decline in state funding through local effort.  Since the LOB is capped at 30% of the General Fund, there is no more room to increase local effort.  In plain talk, what is reduced now by the state must be addressed locally through increases in student fees or reduction of school district expenses.

Spring Activities

It’s spring again which means student activity cancellations. At the time of this writing the first track meet has been cancelled, with softball and baseball yet to be determined.  I will remind you to check the school website for the latest in activity cancellations or updates.  You can find the site at www.usd434.org.  Here’s hoping for a dry spring!

District Lighting Upgrade

Beginning over spring break the district began a lighting upgrade in an attempt to save on utility costs.  It is projected to save $30,000 a year to the district with a six year payback.  Installation is now complete at OAC and CAC, with the high school nearly completed.  Most noticeable is that the gyms are much brighter and now the lights can be turned on and off without waiting for the lights to slowly come on.

2012 School Calendar

As we begin looking at the school calendar for the next school year the tentative start of school is scheduled for August 26.   The last day of school is scheduled for May 15.  There are two fewer professional development days in the calendar and two more student contact days. 

Graduations

Junior high graduation will take place at the Santa Fe Trail High School Saturday, May 7 at 2 pm.  The Santa Fe Trail High School graduation will occur Sunday, May 8 at 2 pm.

School Board Elections

A reminder that the school board elections are Tuesday, April 5. Get out and vote.

Superintendent’s Message

February 14, 2011

To: Parents and Patrons of USD 434

From: Dr. Steve Pegram, Superintendent of Schools

Subject: Snow Makeup Dates

The district needs to makeup three snow days of the seven we have missed. Current plans call for school to be in session on the following dates:

• February 21st - (originally an inservice date)
• March 4th - (originally a teacher preparation day)
• April 22nd - (originally scheduled for no school)

Should you have already made plans for any of these dates and need to have the student out of school, call the building and ask that your student be excused from school. It is our hope there will be no more cancelations due to weather. If we do not have any more weather cancelations, we will not need to makeup the other four school days we have missed.

Sorry about any potential scheduling problems this may cause you.

Superintendent’s Message
January 21, 2011

Budget Reductions

Like the great baseball player Yogi Berra said, "This is like deja vu all over again," when it comes to budget reductions and declining student enrollment in the school district.  It appears to be the same story but a different year.  Governor Brownback has proposed reducing state base aid $75 for the current year and an additional $157 for the 2011-2012 year for a total $252 reduction in the 2011-2012 budget.  What does this mean to the Santa Fe Trail School District?

The financial impact to the school district next year will be a budget reduction of $383,000 when both cuts are computed together.  Adding an estimated 15 student decline to the district, this affects the budget with an additional $60,000 approximately in lost revenue, for a total budget reduction in the neighborhood of $443,000.

Over the past two years the district has had to reduce the budget nearly $700,000.  With the additional reductions, we will have reduced our budget over 1.1 million dollars in the last three years.  In some situations we have been able to do this through programs and departments where it was not noticeable to many.  This reduction will be different.  This reduction will affect nearly every program/department in the district to some degree.  There is a chance some fees will increase and new fees will be considered, along with other reductions, changes in transportation, etc.  Regardless of what we have to do to reduce the budget again, we will always attempt to maintain our instructional core when we can, with the understanding we can not continue to do what we’ve always done.

As we enter into this process, please be patient with those who will need to consider budget reductions.  The board of education has the responsibility to address these reductions the best they can.  Remember, the board of education does not determine how much money the district receives, it is determined by the state legislature.  If those in the legislature decide not to fund education, their actions cause boards of education to make difficult choices at home. 

When it comes time for fees to increase and programs to be reduced, the local board of education is only playing the hand the legislature has dealt them the past three years, while at the same time reducing taxes for some special interest groups during the same time period.  The 2011-2012 budget will be funded at the 2007 rate.  This makes things even more difficult due to the district’s fixed costs (utilities and the like) continuing to increase during this time period. 

Superintendent’s Message
December 2010 

We will soon be into the holiday season.  With this season comes the potential of school cancellations and other items.

School Cancellation – The district plans to continue with the K-12 Alert notification system to inform you if school is cancelled.  This system is voice activated, something must be said or it will not provide the message.  If you are receiving phone calls from the K-12 Alert system that you don’t want, let us know and we will remove you from the system.  Phone calls will also be made to radio/TV stations. We will do our best to make any school cancellation notice as soon as we can and no later than 7 am.  Should we decide to have school and you do not believe it is safe for your child to attend, feel free to make the decision to keep your child at home. 

Head Lice – Yes it is also that time of year again.  We will be sending notice of the district policy regarding head lice and how we handle the situation.  Please remember, anyone can get head lice.  The more students are in social situations, the more chances they have of getting head lice.

Thunder Talk – There is a new button on the website called, Thunder Talk – Rumbling Rumors and the Shocking Truth (http://www.usd434.org/).  The button is located on the left side of the home page below the counter.  Check the button for details on the latest rumors.

We used something like this during the district reorganization, which worked well in dispelling rumors and addressing the rumors with the facts.  So, if you hear something you can’t believe is true or might be true, just follow the directions and we will get your questions answered. We stole the newest version of our rumor watch from the Eudora School District, just one school district helping another!

District Budget – As we approach December, as a school district we appear to be in pretty good financial shape.  There are rumblings coming out of Topeka we may have to face another mid-year budget reduction.  As with previous reductions, we will keep you informed as to what is going on and what has been decided by the legislature and how these actions affect the SFT School District.

No School – There will be no school December 22 through January 2^nd.  School resumes on January 3^rd.