ASBSD Open Forum Blog News Feed

Donation information for Oklahoma

5/22/2013 5:12:25 PM

ASBSD extends its deepest sympathies to those affected by the devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma this week.

The Oklahoma State School Boards Association is taking donations of the items listed below to help the many people displaced. They will also be taking donations of money that will be distributed to the school districts impacted by the storms. Checks can be made out to "OSSBA Tornado Relief."

If you would like to make a monetary donation or send items, they can be mailed to:

Oklahoma State School Boards Association

2801 N. Lincoln Boulevard

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

Donations for School Supplies:	Other Supplies:
notebooks and paper	canned goods
markers	clothes
crayons	formula
glue	diapers
backpacks	baby wipes
pens and pencils	soap
pencil sharpeners	deodorant
erasers highlighters	toothbrushes
dry-erase markers	toothpaste
construction paper	hand sanitizer
copy paper	sunscreen
binders	dog and cat food
rulers	trash bags
tape	work gloves
art and gym supplies	insect spray
computers	brooms
desks	shovels

Applications for two grants open

5/21/2013 4:42:06 PM

The South Dakota Department of Education is now accepting applications for two grant programs, which were appropriated $500,000 by the legislature.

House Bill 1164 appropriated one-time funds for the Classroom Innovation grant program and House Bill 1185, which was the general funding bill, included one-time dollars for the Technology Infrastructure Upgrade grant program.

Here’s a rundown of the key points of each grant application:

Classroom Innovation (download application here and scoring matrix here.)

Provides funding for classroom innovation projects that use technology in creative and innovative ways to enhance student achievement.
K-12 school districts, teachers and Educational Service Agencies can submit applications.
Scoring matrix is on a 60-point scale, which includes (not limited to):
- A project summary
- Project goals – their alignment to DOE education goals and how it would incorporate technology
- Project narrative – describing how the project would change “business as usual” in the district, would be accessible by all students and how the goals could be measured.
- Project budget – listing equipment and materials needed and describing its investment value.
Maximum grant amount is $25,000.
Application deadline is Monday, July 8 at 5 p.m. (Central Standard Time).
Applications should be emailed to DOEInnovationGrants@state.sd.us as a PDF attachment.

Technology Infrastructure Upgrade (download application here and scoring matrix here.)

Provides funding for technology upgrades to improve student achievement.
- DOE listed distance learning and server plus Windows 2012 as items to consider.
K-12 school districts can submit applications.
Scoring matrix is on a 100-point scale, which includes (not limited to):
- Background and Need – demonstrating the district’s need, evidence that project could not be completed without funds and level of Capital Outlay levy.
- Approach – how the project aligns with DOE education goals and how it benefits the school district.
- Budget Narrative – includes up to 30 percent of matching funds and explains how the project is sustainable.
Maximum grant amount is $20,000 with up to 30 percent of matching funds expected to be provided by the school district.
Application deadline is Saturday, June 15.
Applications should be emailed to DOETechnologyGrants@state.sd.us as a PDF attachment.

Grant award recipients will be announced on Thursday, Aug. 1. Questions about the grant process should be directed to Amy Fowler of the DOE via email at amy.fowler@state.sd.us or 605-773-6898.

Flett set to join ASBSD

5/20/2013 8:38:33 AM

Matt Flett is set to join the ASBSD team on July 1 as the Assistant Protective Services Director.

“We’re excited to have Matt on board,” Executive Director Wade Pogany said. “His energy and experience working with school districts and board members will be great additions to our outstanding Protective Trust crew.”

Flett, currently of Watertown, is in his fourth year as the Chief Financial Officer of the Northeast Educational Services Cooperative, which serves 24 school districts in Northeast South Dakota. Flett works directly with the 24-member NESC board. Prior to joining NESC, Flett was the Business Manager at Marty Indian School.

A native of Scotland, S.D., Flett earned a Business Administration and Management degree from Black Hills State University.

As the Assistant Protective Services Director, Flett will fill the position with assisted leadership and marketing for the Health, Property/Liability and Workers’ Compensation Funds for Protective Trust.

Weekly News Links

5/17/2013 1:21:06 PM

Each week we’ll post links to news stories on K-12 education from the state’s various media outlets.

Argus Leader: Teacher pay getting bump as schools continue cuts recovery.

Aberdeen American News: School funding study committee members selected.

Mitchell Daily Republic: Mitchel Superintendent Joseph Graves offers his take on the school calendar.

Aberdeen American News: Legislators question Teach for America funding.

Keloland: Emergency procedures tested at West River school districts.

Keloland: South Dakota HS grads expected to increase in next decade. (View the report here.)

Keloland: SD Schools receiving increase in bandwidth.

One more week to submit candidates for ASBSD awards

5/17/2013 9:25:59 AM

Let’s honor those individuals who give their time and effort to enhance K-12 education at the local and state levels.

We need you to submit candidates for ASBSD’s Outstanding School Board Member of the Year, School Bell and Community Service awards.

Outstanding School Board Member: Nominate a local board member who exemplifies extraordinary leadership of public education by implementing initiatives that spur student achievement, advocating for secure funding sources for K-12 education and setting high expectations for the district and themselves among other high-quality characteristics. Download the application here.

School Bell: Nominate an individual working to improve public education in South Dakota through their exceptional leadership qualities, efforts to enhance facilities, teaching and learning and work with the state’s lawmakers along with additional excellent merits. Download the application here.

Community Service: Nominate a person or group that went above and beyond with their efforts to improve their local district through support of arts, music and extra-curricular activities, extraordinary fundraising efforts and steadfast commitment to the district. Download the application here.

Deadline for application submission is Friday, May 24.

If you have questions, please contact Tyler via email or at 605-773-8382 or 605-881-3791.

ASBSD's Spring Tour kicks off next week

5/15/2013 4:22:10 PM

Executive Director Wade Pogany invites you to join him, fellow board members and administrators at one of his nine Spring Tour stops, listed below.

1) May 23	Yankton	Yankton Schools Admin Building	2410 West City Limits Rd.
2) May 28	Hartford	West Central Administrative Offices	705 E 2nd Street
3) May 29	Madison	Madison High School	800 NE 9th Street
4) May 30	Platte	Mid-Central Co-op Office	612 S Main Avenue
5) June 11	Mobridge	Mobridge-Pollock High School	1107 1st Avenue East
6) June 12	Aberdeen	District Service Center	1224 S 3rd Street
7) June 13	Watertown	LATI Student Center (Room 433)	230 11th Street NE
8) June 17	Rapid City	District Community Room	300 Sixth Street
9) June 19	Custer	Custer High School Library	1645 Wildcat Lane

People and parameters picked for school funding study

5/13/2013 3:37:10 PM

Members of the Legislature’s Executive Board met today to select committee members and set subject parameters for the legislative interim study on school funding, which was selected by the board in April.

Committee members will be asked to examine how the school funding formula affects a district’s decision to seek an opt-out or utilize special tax a levy, funding’s effect on graduation and technology’s relation to teaching.

“I think we need to be concerned with the funding formula…and if that’s working for schools,” Rep. Kathy Tyler (4) said at Monday’s meeting.

Legislators, who will be examining those questions and more, include:

Rep. Jacqueline Sly (33) – Chair
Sen. Larry Tidemann (7) – Vice Chair
Sen. Jim Bradford (27)
Sen. Jean Hunhoff (18)
Sen. Al Novstrup (3)
Sen. Billie Sutton (21)
Sen. Bill Van Gerpen (19)
Sen. Chuck Welke (2)
Rep. Dan Dryden (34)
Rep. Mary Duvall (24)
Rep. Anne Hajek (14)
Rep. Paula Hawks (9)
Rep. Kathy Tyler (4)
Rep. Mike Verchio (30)
Rep. Dick Werner (22)

“This is a strong and diverse group charged with looking at school funding,” Executive Director Wade Pogany said. “I look forward to working with them in some aspect during the study.”

Legislators are typically the only people appointed to an interim study committee, but are generally expected to call upon individuals in fields related to the study topic to provide insight and information, said Sen. Corey Brown (23).

Pogany was asked to discuss the topic with the Executive Board at Monday’s meeting, where he thanked the board for selecting topic and suggested revenue sources and funding equity issues be analyzed.

“The scope of the study and the parameters set are broad enough to encompass revenue and equity,” Pogany said following the meeting. “The study has all the makings of a great starting point to improving school funding.”

For updates on the study, check the ASBSD Blog throughout the interim.

Weekly News Links

5/10/2013 9:14:49 AM

Each week we’ll post links to news stories on K-12 education from the state’s various media outlets.

Rapid City Journal: Editorial in defense of cyberbullying policies.

Yankton Press and Dakotan: Three districts combine efforts to save on food costs.

Keloland: A look at an Iowa school district’s transition to Chromebooks.

Mitchell Daily Republic: Mitchell School Board member, and former ASBSD President, Neil Putnam shares his appreciation of teachers.

Keloland: Chester Online Learning Program receiving international exposure.

May's ASBSD Bulletin

5/8/2013 11:38:05 PM

Check out Wade's Welcome and visit www.asbsd.org/bulletin for information on the legislature's summer study on school funding, spring tour dates and locations, 2013 Convention registration directions and much more.

If you would like to subscribe to the Bulletin, email Director of Communications Tyler Pickner at tpickner@asbsd.org.

What is Common Core?

5/8/2013 9:07:15 AM

Each month, ASBSD President Pam Haukaas will highlight a topic that is helping advance K-12 education in the Bulletin. This month's Bulletin will be published tomorrow (5/9). Check the ASBSD Blog for more information.

So what is Common Core and what does it mean for my district?

South Dakota along with 44 other states has adopted the Common Core State Standards. These standards promote:

Deeper understanding of key concepts students need to succeed as independent thinkers
Student’s ability to apply knowledge to real-world situations
Instruction that places more emphasis on understand and application, as opposed to memorization and test-taking
Richer, more authentic types of assessment

The development of the Common Core standards was led by the governors and educational leaders in the 45 participating states. These standards were adopted by the South Dakota Board of Education in November 2010. Download the S.D. Department of Education's Common Core FAQ.

Common Core has fewer standards, but they are more intricate in the development of critical thinking and problem solving skills our students need to be successful in the 21^st Century.

Students won’t just memorize facts, but will be able to master increasingly difficult problems and text.

Meaningful assessments become an ongoing process by giving teachers the data they need to make adjustments to curriculum and student groupings.

As districts begin to implement these standards, professional development time will be required for teachers to become familiar with the standards and to collaborate with peers to design district appropriate curricula.

The Common Core will focus on the student as learners with teachers teaching for understanding and mastery of core areas.

The standards add clarity and emphasis for teachers, helping teachers increase their students’ proficiency levels by focusing on core skills while maintaining flexibility to teach in the manner best for each child.

No longer will a text be followed from page one simply plodding through until the end; teachers will use multiple resources so that students will experience a curriculum which has meaning as well as depth and rigor. Students will develop the ability to apply learned knowledge to solve new problems and think critically.

Through communication and collaboration in the classroom, creativity and intellectual flexibility as well as strong interpersonal skills will be developed.

These broader set of competencies will give our youth an increasing advantage in work and life.

Please share with us how your district is implementing the Common Core State Standards by leaving a comment.

To leave a comment:click the "comments" link at the bottom of the post, enter your name and comment, type the security word displayed and click "post comment."