Keeping Our Focus
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    • 2015 >
      • Binational Educator Exchange
      • January 11, 2015
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      • January 25, 2015
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      • June 28, 2015
    • 2014 >
      • 2014 In Review Part 1
      • 2014 In Review Part 2
      • 2014 Accreditation
      • Sanchez-Varoz Documents
      • Superintendent Work Calendars
      • Alternative to Expulsion Policy
      • Superintendent Job Performance Surveys
      • January 6, 2014
      • January 12, 2014
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      • January 26, 2014
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      • September 1, 2014
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      • September 28, 2014
      • October 5, 2014
      • Extra Points 10-5-14
      • October 13, 2014
      • October 19, 2014
      • October 26, 2014
      • November 2, 2014
      • November 9, 2014
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      • November 30, 2014
      • December 7, 2014
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    • 2013 >
      • January 6, 2013
      • January 13, 2013
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      • January 27, 2013
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      • February 24, 2012
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      • July 21, 2012
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      • October 27, 2013
      • November 3, 2013
      • November 11, 2013
      • November 18, 2013
      • December 1, 2013
      • December 8, 2013
      • December 15, 2013
      • 2013 in Review
    • 2012 >
      • 2012 in Review
      • Class of 2012 Graduation Video
      • 3rd Grade TCAP Release
      • December 16, 2012
      • December 9, 2012
      • December 1, 2012
      • November 11, 2012
      • November 4, 2012
      • October 27, 2012
      • October 14, 2012
      • October 7, 2012
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      • September 23, 2012
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      • August 26, 2012
      • August 19, 2012
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      • August 5th, 2012
      • July 29, 2012
      • July 22, 2012
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      • May 27, 2012
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      • April Fools
      • Mar 25, 2012
      • Mar 18, 2012
      • Mar 11, 2012
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      • Feb 26, 2012
      • Feb 19, 2012
      • Feb 12, 2012
      • Feb 5, 2012
      • Jan 29, 2012
      • Jan 22, 2012
      • Jan 15, 2012
      • Jan 8, 2012
    • 2011 >
      • 2011 in Review
      • Dec 25, 2011
      • Dec 18, 2011
      • Dec, 11, 2011
      • Dec 4, 2011
      • Nov 27, 2011
      • Nov 13, 2011
    • Lobato Decision >
      • Lobato Update

Great Things Going On

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I want to thank our many teachers and paraprofessionals who have continued their hard work during this past week of summer school.  In walking around school this week I have seen many kids engaged in Lindamood-Bell reading intervention groups, working hard on math fundamentals, and engaged in descriptive writing. 

I also want to thank our current crew of Americorps workers who are supporting our summer school efforts by helping with instruction and then offering enrichment activities for our students such as art, swimming, and tennis in the afternoons. 

Finally, a special thank you goes out to all the firefighters and first responders who have been working their tails off trying to keep the West Fork fire complex from advancing closer to the towns of South Fork, Creede and Del Norte this week.  We are aware many of our own staff members live in these areas, and we are also aware that many of our friends in education are being directly affected by this situation.  Center Schools is a Red Cross evacuation facility and we are ready to open our doors to evacuees if we are directed to do so.  


The Past Week

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This past week I spent a lot of time on office work, attended a La Llave Board of Directors meeting, continued working on the district budget, and communicated with Red Cross personnel about the West Fork fire and the availability of our facility.

I also surveyed staff members about the service attitude of our custodians, and had an extensive meeting with Tiffany Deines from the Colorado Department of Education about the progress of the San Luis Valley Race to the Top collaborative effort.  On Friday I worked on monthly payroll matters.  



Big Things We Are Working On

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We are close to finalizing our 2013-14 budget.   As our draft currently stands it looks like we’ll be able to meet our required reserves, staff our schools with needed teachers and paraprofessionals, and continue on our path of putting learning technology in the hands of all our teachers and kids.  To finalize the budget, I’ll be meeting with Director of Technology Julio Paez, and Director of Finance Betty Casanova early in the week, and I’ll be finalizing our annual federal programs application.

The Coming Week

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The focus of our efforts this week will still be budgeting.  We have a special board of education meeting scheduled for Thursday at Noon where the board will consider our final work.  In order to prepare for this meeting we’ll be reviewing all personnel salaries and contracts, finalizing our federal programs application, and completing required paperwork for submission to the Colorado Department of Education. 

I’ll also be spending time doing some planning for next year for the San Luis Valley Race to the Top collaborative.  This will include adjusting finalizing 2012-13 expenditures, requesting remaining funds, and adjusting next year’s budget to match the work trajectory we are on. 

Thanks for listening again!


George