Great Things Going On Now
The week of March 4th through 9th was incredibly eventful!
I would like to begin by thanking all of our staff members for the work they have done to increase our preparedness to administer state of Colorado TCAP tests. We have been doing this by working to ensure all our staff members understand and apply the required rules of test administration. We have also been dong this by finding ways to motivate and encourage our students to put forth their best effort when they take the tests. However, the most important thing we have done is to continually provide outstanding instruction to our students on a daily basis to guarantee they are armed with the skills necessary to be successful on the test. TCAP testing began this past week with our 3rd graders taking the reading assessment. It will continue during the next two weeks as all 3rd through 10th graders will be taking their tests in reading, writing, math, and science.
I would also like to take time this week to congratulate our many Center Schools students who excelled at the San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair. Among the many individual awards earned, Center High School students once again brought home the small school of the year award. Outstanding individual performances were put in by Jordan Lobato, Carmen Ruggles, Rebecca Paez, Nick Lobato, Alanna Chacon, Ruben Hernandez, Will Weatherford, Bryan Soriano, Jose Luis Macias, Brittany McKibbon, Daisy Rascon, Elise Rodriguez, Genesis Villa, Brisa Archuleta, Eric Garcia, Megan McKibbon, Kevin Garcia, Christian Espinoza, Gabriela Bucio, and Ofelia Gonzales. Additionally, Alanna Chacon and Kevin Garcia both qualified to participate in the Colorado State Science Fair. Many thanks go out to our teachers and support staff members who have worked so hard to prepare our students for the success they earned.
I would like to begin by thanking all of our staff members for the work they have done to increase our preparedness to administer state of Colorado TCAP tests. We have been doing this by working to ensure all our staff members understand and apply the required rules of test administration. We have also been dong this by finding ways to motivate and encourage our students to put forth their best effort when they take the tests. However, the most important thing we have done is to continually provide outstanding instruction to our students on a daily basis to guarantee they are armed with the skills necessary to be successful on the test. TCAP testing began this past week with our 3rd graders taking the reading assessment. It will continue during the next two weeks as all 3rd through 10th graders will be taking their tests in reading, writing, math, and science.
I would also like to take time this week to congratulate our many Center Schools students who excelled at the San Luis Valley Regional Science Fair. Among the many individual awards earned, Center High School students once again brought home the small school of the year award. Outstanding individual performances were put in by Jordan Lobato, Carmen Ruggles, Rebecca Paez, Nick Lobato, Alanna Chacon, Ruben Hernandez, Will Weatherford, Bryan Soriano, Jose Luis Macias, Brittany McKibbon, Daisy Rascon, Elise Rodriguez, Genesis Villa, Brisa Archuleta, Eric Garcia, Megan McKibbon, Kevin Garcia, Christian Espinoza, Gabriela Bucio, and Ofelia Gonzales. Additionally, Alanna Chacon and Kevin Garcia both qualified to participate in the Colorado State Science Fair. Many thanks go out to our teachers and support staff members who have worked so hard to prepare our students for the success they earned.
Finally, I would like to thank Center High School Social Studies Teacher Scott Poole for being willing to make the trek to Denver on Thursday to offer some of his students the opportunity to witness history as the Lobato v Colorado case was argued in front of the Supreme Court. While there, Center High School Senior Tamera Flores was interviewed by Univision Colorado. You can see her comments and a Spanish language story about the case at this link: http://www.somosnoticiascolorado.com/2013/03/07/demanda-contra-el-estado-2/
The Past Week
During the past week I participated in an Early Steps to Childhood Literacy research site visit. The Save the Children Foundation, which is supporting this program in the Center School Community, has chosen to use our site as a research site to study how successful our efforts are.
From Monday through Wednesday I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in our buildings. On Thursday I, like many Colorado citizens, carefully followed the proceedings of Lobato v Colorado in the Supreme Court. After viewing the hearing I was left with the impression that the justices will eventually rule in our favor. It goes without saying that lead attorney Kathy Gebhardt, and the family of Anthony and Denise Lobato deserve a gigantic thank you for bringing the issue of school finance adequacy and equity to light. More unexpected is the role Taylor Lobato has come to play in the case. Only a middle school student at the time the lawsuit was filed, but now a Junior at Denver University, Taylor has grown to become the face and spokesperson of the case. You can view and listen to the entire Supreme Court hearing at this link: http://www.courts.state.co.us/lobatovstate/ You can also watch a video of Taylor’s post hearing comments at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzBWPUnUT0
On Saturday I had the pleasure of presenting the story of the successful turnaround experience we have had at Haskin Elementary School while attending the Lindamood-Bell International Conference in Anaheim, California. Along with Colorado Assistant Commissioner of Education Keith Owen, I presented how local, state, and federal partnerships can make a difference in increasing student achievement, especially if resources are available in the form of dollars and training in scientifically proven processes.
From Monday through Wednesday I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in our buildings. On Thursday I, like many Colorado citizens, carefully followed the proceedings of Lobato v Colorado in the Supreme Court. After viewing the hearing I was left with the impression that the justices will eventually rule in our favor. It goes without saying that lead attorney Kathy Gebhardt, and the family of Anthony and Denise Lobato deserve a gigantic thank you for bringing the issue of school finance adequacy and equity to light. More unexpected is the role Taylor Lobato has come to play in the case. Only a middle school student at the time the lawsuit was filed, but now a Junior at Denver University, Taylor has grown to become the face and spokesperson of the case. You can view and listen to the entire Supreme Court hearing at this link: http://www.courts.state.co.us/lobatovstate/ You can also watch a video of Taylor’s post hearing comments at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrzBWPUnUT0
On Saturday I had the pleasure of presenting the story of the successful turnaround experience we have had at Haskin Elementary School while attending the Lindamood-Bell International Conference in Anaheim, California. Along with Colorado Assistant Commissioner of Education Keith Owen, I presented how local, state, and federal partnerships can make a difference in increasing student achievement, especially if resources are available in the form of dollars and training in scientifically proven processes.
Big Things We Are Working On
We should get a Supreme Court decision in relation to the Lobato v Colorado school finance lawsuit within the next six months. In the mean time Senator Michael Johnston has proposed a revision to our current school finance act. Key provisions of this proposed act include an additional 1 billion dollars in K-12 funding if voters approve a ballot question in November. If voters approve this revenue increase the new act would start funding schools during the 2015-16 school year. The act also provides more money for preschool kids, kindergartners, at-risk students, English language learners and gifted and talented students. The act would also establish a new enrollment counting method in an effort to more accurately track student movement. Current spreadsheet examples show that San Luis Valley school districts would benefit greatly, and the Center School District would have a funding increase of approximately $2,600 per student if the act were to pass as is. Of course for folks in Center serious consideration needs to be given to whether or not this new act will remedy the inadequacies and inequities highlighted by the Lobato v Colorado lawsuit.
Another big item of focus for the district right now is the annual evaluation of the superintendent of schools. This process will be finalized on Tuesday evening and the board of education will then have an opportunity to take action on my contract for next year.
Another big item of focus for the district right now is the annual evaluation of the superintendent of schools. This process will be finalized on Tuesday evening and the board of education will then have an opportunity to take action on my contract for next year.
The Week Ahead
I will be in Denver on Monday for the CASE, CASB, CEA Anchor Group meeting. On Tuesday I’ll have my monthly marathon of meetings with the SLV Superintendent Advisory Council, District Accountability, and BOE meetings taking place. On Wednesday I will be meeting with teachers to discuss the value of our student survey pilot, hoping to find ways to incorporate student feedback about teachers into teacher evaluation processes. On Friday I’ll be attending a CDE Consolidated Federal Programs Grant application training session. This will give us the opportunity to begin planning how to spend our federal programs dollars next year, though I’m sure we’ll also learn about the possible effects sequestration may have on this funding.
Extra Points
It is with a truly heavy heart that we pass along the news that Center Schools 10th grader Alea Villagomez, daughter of Jose and Theresa Villagomez, passed away unexpectedly this weekend. Alea had been attending both the Academic Resource Center and Center High School during the past year and will be sorely missed.
We want the community to know Center Schools will do its best to be prepared to support students as they arrive at school on Monday and begin to deal with this loss.
In the mean time, as a district we would appreciate if each of you could hold up Jose, Theresa, and the entire Villagomez family in your thoughts and prayers. We hope we can all come together to support them in this time of sorrow and need.
Thanks once again for listening.
George
We want the community to know Center Schools will do its best to be prepared to support students as they arrive at school on Monday and begin to deal with this loss.
In the mean time, as a district we would appreciate if each of you could hold up Jose, Theresa, and the entire Villagomez family in your thoughts and prayers. We hope we can all come together to support them in this time of sorrow and need.
Thanks once again for listening.
George