District Communications for AUSD Staff

12/16/2011  Superintendent’s Update

The District is moving forward on the technology infrastructure repair and upgrade to allow basic functions such as: web access, email, special education IEP access, web attendance to work consistently. In addition, the work should allow up to 25 wireless devices and computers per classroom at each school to be online simultaneously with fast connections for learning needs including streaming Khan Academy, using mobile devices as student responders, online research, collaborative online writing, and for use of online presentational tools (Prezi, Wordle, Glogster, Animoto, Storyrobe).

Next Steps:  Special Board Meeting to approve CalNet project contract 12/19 @ 7:30AM

Expected Project Start Date:  January 2012

Expected Project Completion Date:  Late Feb 2012

Budget Update:

The State trigger was pulled on 12/13/2011   The State is taking away 1/2 of annual transportation funding ($200,000-$208,000) from all school districts and another small amount from the revenue limit...approx 20,000k for AUSD.

The State is not pulling the full trigger that it could have.   Remember, the 1st trigger level made us subject to $327,000 in potential cuts.

With the trigger that was enacted today we sustain funding loses of 200k - 208k in transportation- plus 20k of revenue limit.  So the total defunding of approx 228k is better than it could have been, but it will still impact us in significant ways.  The most troubling part about the reductions is that districts with little or no transportation programs received little or no reductions, so the manner in which the State chose to apply the reductions in K-12 public education is inequitable and punishes rural and small school districts.

Innovation Update:

Many of our Innovation Team members met on 12/12/2011 to accomplish the following objectives:

• Discuss the varied mobile device uses that are currently in practice and that teachers believe have the highest affect on learning and will be easy to transfer to other teachers.

 

• Keeping the learning targets in mind…Determine and document the Top 5 uses for each grade level.  Email a brief description of the practice to the superintendent.

 

• Think about accountability and assessment of learning using the Top 5

 

• Coordinate who/when video examples will be made for each mobile device learning practice.

 

• Review the professional development survey the district is assembling and provide feedback for edits.

 

The team consisted of teachers, principals and district office leaders.

SHES: Anne Stahl 2, Lori Hernandez 4/5

CELC: Wendy Yoshinaga- Kinder

MVLA: Jennifer Broderick

Special Needs Specialist:  Katie Hurst, Kelly Stacks

AES:  Diana Tompkins 3, Jenna Weinert 1/2 /Traci Valade 5

BOES:  Chris Morales 3/4 , Darlene Newcomb 4,  Karen Jensen 5

JMMS:  Brendan Casey, Stephanie Jacques (via Skype), Jane Smith

Rita Andrews (district technology coordinator)

Stephanie Sibler (literacy specialist)

Katy Andersen, Keith Malcom, Yvette Maier, Jon McEvoy, Deann Jeffreys, and Tom Pellegrino

To learn what prgress was made, click here:  http://www.alpineschools.net/digitalpractices.php

11/18/2011  Superintendent's Update

The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) report came out and they are indicating that the trigger should be pulled to initiate further cuts to schools.

Good News:
Trigger level 4 appears to be off the table unless lawmakers pass a new budget act law.

The Department of Finance has the ability and the political connections to call off the trigger altogether.

Bad News:

The LAO has projected and recommended that the State enacted Level 3 Trigger cuts.  Trigger 3 would mean a cut in AUSD funding of about $560,000 midyear (probably Feb. 2012) and a .82 salary reduction to all AUSD employees.

We will wait to see what the Dept of Finance tells us on December 15th.  Nothing is finalized yet, and in this case (as is the case with all things to do with the Legislature) even when it is final, the lawmakers can change their minds and surprise us with a new funding direction (better or worse).

Click here for more detailed explanations by SI&A and a link to the LAO's complete report

11/15/2011  Superintendent's Update

During the Alpine Exchange, the superintendent reviewed the District's Goals & Priorities

Did you know that AUSD has three main priorities?

 

11/11/2011 Superintendent's Update

The AUSD Board Meeting on Nov 10th, 2011 was full of informational presentations:

STAR scores were shared with the Board with a focus on 7 year trend data  There are many areas of CST achievement to be proud of and other areas where site principals will direct inquiry to understand more about our areas of growth.

The technology infrastructure upgrade was reviewed.  The District has a plan to help staff and students move at the speed of light on the web!  The expected long term overhaul is projected to be complete by Spring 2012.

The Board Policy on Homework was discussed.  If you have something to say about the purpose, the ideal amount, or anything else about homework, click here to share your thoughts with me at  tpellegrino@alpineschools.net