HAPPY NEW YEAR – WELCOME 2016!
Happy New Year to everyone, and welcome to 2016! As far as the school calendar is concerned, in many ways we have two “new years.” We have the first day of school in August that breeds excitement of what a new school year may bring. New classes, new teachers, and new friends are all great reasons to be ready to start the school year. However, with January 1, 2016, arriving in the middle of our school year, we get a fresh start. We can wipe the past year clean with the dawn of January 1. Some of us make New Year’s Resolutions to start fresh and try to improve upon the year that just passed. Over the years I have tried to make resolutions, only to never follow through like I had intended. However, as I become older and more reflective, I am trying to do a better job of “living in the moment.” Our lives have become increasingly busy with the many activities our children participate. Sometimes it would be nice to have just one night at home and not have to go anywhere or do anything. While that may be true, the time with our children passes entirely too fast. Before we know it our children are on their own, pursuing their dreams. When that time comes for me, what I wouldn’t wish for to have that feeling again of “trying to be at this game, at this practice, at this band concert, and still fit in dinner somehow?” Yes, life is busy. Even with all the advance conveniences of technology, we still do not have enough time. So, if I would have a “New Year’s Resolution” for this New Year, it would be to “live in the moment.” Enjoy it and embrace it and make the effort to find the extra time. Remember, that the best gift that you can give your children is your time. Happy New Year!!
CURRICULUM NOTES
Part of our work this year will be to evaluate new textbooks and how online textbooks might be used. We are still in the research stage but will share as more information becomes available. One new item coming for the 2016 – 2017 school year is a longer school day. Our teachers have agreed to increase the school day by 20 minutes. They realize the value additional instructional time can have for our students. We will be reviewing our schedule and how that time can be best utilized. We are looking forward to this great opportunity to build upon our curriculum. So, starting next year our school day will be 7:55 AM to 2:45 PM.
BUILDING UPDATES
Our building committee is in the process of prioritizing some short and long term goals to enhance the building. Those discussions have focused upon the last phase of the parking lot, and reviewing some potential options for air conditioning. This summer we do have some life safety work that will need to be completed that was highlighted on our ten-year life safety survey. The building committee is researching what other projects can be completed this summer, prioritizing them by need, time, and cost. Past short and long term goals have served the district well by having all our current roofs under a twenty year warranty, technology infrastructure upgrades, and our largest project to date, the two classroom addition. All of these improvements have been paid with reserves and matching grants. We have not had to issue any bonds. However, if the Peoria County Facilities Sales Tax Initiative were to pass, it would provide a revenue source for building improvements that we have never seen previously. It would definitely fall under the category of “game changer” in terms of the ability to provide building enhancements. This revenue would be generated from sales tax and not property tax. Visitors to our county could help pay for the improvements to our facilities. More information on this topic will be forthcoming as the year progresses.
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career - PARCC
This year marks the second year for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, as it is commonly referred. Since last year’s assessment, there have been some changes. First, we will only have one assessment window. Last year we had to coordinate two separate testing times. This year we were allowed to pick our own “30 day window” so we will be administering PARCC from April 11 – May 11. Students in grades 3 through 8 will be assessed in math and reading. Second, originally students in grades 5 and 8 were also going to be assessed in science, but the lack of a state budget has put that initiative on hold. Our students will take the assessment online as they did last year. Students will be given opportunities to work with the interface so they are familiar with the online tools when they take the assessment. Last year’s results were classified as baseline data. My hope is that over time, the state will use the PARCC results to create normative data that can be used to help drive instruction.
STATE BUDGET
You could have left the country for the last six months, returned, and not have missed anything regarding the budget status for the state of Illinois. Since July 1, 2015, the state has been operating without a budget. Ironically, in February of 2016, Governor Rauner is supposed to give his budget address for the budget year of 2016 – 2017. At this point there does not seem to be any type of progress on a budget. To give you a timeline of how difficult the budget process is for the Board of Education, I have listed some dates that show how frustrating it can be to try to put together a district budget on so many unknowns. Here is the timeline for our current school year, 2015 – 2016:
December, 2014 – Board of Education must set tax levy amounts for the 2015 – 2016 school year, not knowing what the legislation will appropriate for schools in May of 2015.
May 31, 2015 – Legislature and Governor have an approved budget for the state of Illinois. Appropriations for General State Aid, transportation, and other mandated categoricals listed in the budget.
July 1, 2015 – New fiscal year begins for school districts. New state budget also takes effect.
December, 2015 – Board of Education must set tax levy amounts for 2016 – 2017 school, not knowing what the legislation will appropriate for schools. (Added caveat – a budget for 2015 – 2016 has yet to be finalized, nearly 7 months into the current year).
In spite of the state’s problems, Limestone Walters is positioned to weather this unknown period. However, it is anyone’s guess when a budget will be approved and what the major details will be going forward through this year and next.
Sincerely,
Tim Dotson, Superintendent
Happy New Year to everyone, and welcome to 2016! As far as the school calendar is concerned, in many ways we have two “new years.” We have the first day of school in August that breeds excitement of what a new school year may bring. New classes, new teachers, and new friends are all great reasons to be ready to start the school year. However, with January 1, 2016, arriving in the middle of our school year, we get a fresh start. We can wipe the past year clean with the dawn of January 1. Some of us make New Year’s Resolutions to start fresh and try to improve upon the year that just passed. Over the years I have tried to make resolutions, only to never follow through like I had intended. However, as I become older and more reflective, I am trying to do a better job of “living in the moment.” Our lives have become increasingly busy with the many activities our children participate. Sometimes it would be nice to have just one night at home and not have to go anywhere or do anything. While that may be true, the time with our children passes entirely too fast. Before we know it our children are on their own, pursuing their dreams. When that time comes for me, what I wouldn’t wish for to have that feeling again of “trying to be at this game, at this practice, at this band concert, and still fit in dinner somehow?” Yes, life is busy. Even with all the advance conveniences of technology, we still do not have enough time. So, if I would have a “New Year’s Resolution” for this New Year, it would be to “live in the moment.” Enjoy it and embrace it and make the effort to find the extra time. Remember, that the best gift that you can give your children is your time. Happy New Year!!
CURRICULUM NOTES
Part of our work this year will be to evaluate new textbooks and how online textbooks might be used. We are still in the research stage but will share as more information becomes available. One new item coming for the 2016 – 2017 school year is a longer school day. Our teachers have agreed to increase the school day by 20 minutes. They realize the value additional instructional time can have for our students. We will be reviewing our schedule and how that time can be best utilized. We are looking forward to this great opportunity to build upon our curriculum. So, starting next year our school day will be 7:55 AM to 2:45 PM.
BUILDING UPDATES
Our building committee is in the process of prioritizing some short and long term goals to enhance the building. Those discussions have focused upon the last phase of the parking lot, and reviewing some potential options for air conditioning. This summer we do have some life safety work that will need to be completed that was highlighted on our ten-year life safety survey. The building committee is researching what other projects can be completed this summer, prioritizing them by need, time, and cost. Past short and long term goals have served the district well by having all our current roofs under a twenty year warranty, technology infrastructure upgrades, and our largest project to date, the two classroom addition. All of these improvements have been paid with reserves and matching grants. We have not had to issue any bonds. However, if the Peoria County Facilities Sales Tax Initiative were to pass, it would provide a revenue source for building improvements that we have never seen previously. It would definitely fall under the category of “game changer” in terms of the ability to provide building enhancements. This revenue would be generated from sales tax and not property tax. Visitors to our county could help pay for the improvements to our facilities. More information on this topic will be forthcoming as the year progresses.
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career - PARCC
This year marks the second year for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC, as it is commonly referred. Since last year’s assessment, there have been some changes. First, we will only have one assessment window. Last year we had to coordinate two separate testing times. This year we were allowed to pick our own “30 day window” so we will be administering PARCC from April 11 – May 11. Students in grades 3 through 8 will be assessed in math and reading. Second, originally students in grades 5 and 8 were also going to be assessed in science, but the lack of a state budget has put that initiative on hold. Our students will take the assessment online as they did last year. Students will be given opportunities to work with the interface so they are familiar with the online tools when they take the assessment. Last year’s results were classified as baseline data. My hope is that over time, the state will use the PARCC results to create normative data that can be used to help drive instruction.
STATE BUDGET
You could have left the country for the last six months, returned, and not have missed anything regarding the budget status for the state of Illinois. Since July 1, 2015, the state has been operating without a budget. Ironically, in February of 2016, Governor Rauner is supposed to give his budget address for the budget year of 2016 – 2017. At this point there does not seem to be any type of progress on a budget. To give you a timeline of how difficult the budget process is for the Board of Education, I have listed some dates that show how frustrating it can be to try to put together a district budget on so many unknowns. Here is the timeline for our current school year, 2015 – 2016:
December, 2014 – Board of Education must set tax levy amounts for the 2015 – 2016 school year, not knowing what the legislation will appropriate for schools in May of 2015.
May 31, 2015 – Legislature and Governor have an approved budget for the state of Illinois. Appropriations for General State Aid, transportation, and other mandated categoricals listed in the budget.
July 1, 2015 – New fiscal year begins for school districts. New state budget also takes effect.
December, 2015 – Board of Education must set tax levy amounts for 2016 – 2017 school, not knowing what the legislation will appropriate for schools. (Added caveat – a budget for 2015 – 2016 has yet to be finalized, nearly 7 months into the current year).
In spite of the state’s problems, Limestone Walters is positioned to weather this unknown period. However, it is anyone’s guess when a budget will be approved and what the major details will be going forward through this year and next.
Sincerely,
Tim Dotson, Superintendent