Staff and administration develop personalized learning program through KnowledgeWorks

The New Rockford-Sheyenne School Board of Education convened on Tuesday, Nov. 13. There was a tone of optimism and forward thinking in the room throughout the evening.

Perhaps the greatest enthusiasm and energy came during teacher’s report given by Personalized Learning Coordinator, Lynnae Lies and 1:1 Technology Coordinator Amy Cudworth recapping their recent trip to the School Superintendents Association (AASA) Personalized Learning Cohort in Surprise, Ariz.

Cudworth noted that the highlight of the trip was meeting and interacting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education, Mitchell Zais, giving a prime example of how this group is trying to work with politicians to transform education.

The cohort of educational leaders, politicians and even everyday educators visited some very innovative schools around the area leaving Lies feeling very proud and confident in what NR-S has developed in terms of personalized learning. “We are part of those who are leading this.” Lies says, “This is a really exciting time to be part of education.”

Cudworth explained how this cohort, which consists of approximately 75 professionals, will continue to share their expertise and learn from each other by contributing to an upcoming publication, “Personalized Learning and Leadership: Ten Building Blocks for Success.”

Superintendent Jill Louters led a design team in Jamestown for a collaborative KnowledgeWorks session. Director of Strategic Foresight, Jason Swanson, calls himself a ‘futurist’ and asked participants to consider the possibility that we don’t know what kinds of jobs will exist for future graduates. Swanson shared new foundations for readiness that depend on graduates who can recognize others’ emotions and perspectives to help build inclusive, collaborative work environments. More on redefining readiness can be found at https://knowledgeworks.org/resources/future-learning-redefining-readiness/.

To continue the theme of personalized learning and professional development, Louters asked the board to approve travel for a district team to visit Lindsay Unified School in Lindsay, Calif., on Dec. 6-8. Lindsay Unified School District, a collaborator in KnowledgeWorks has a Bush Foundation grant to cover travel for district teams for up to five individuals from each of the KnowledgeWorks participants in our region, which includes Oakes, Northern Cass, West Fargo and New Rockford-Sheyenne. The staff comprising the district team includes Louters, Baumbach, Brady Eichelberger, Jamie Risovi and Kent Brown.

Louters also requested that two board members take the opportunity to join the team. The board approved the expense, not to exceed $1,800. Board members have yet to determine who will attend.

The building committee continues to be active as playground needs were again a major topic of discussion. Board member Alyson Myhre reported on the creative and budget friendly options the committee had developed including a four-square game grid, gaga ball pit, hopscotch board, and a sensory path.

Upon recommendation from the committee the board approved the $8,365 to purchase eight tables, two benches and two dome lid garbage receptacles. Funds will come from the playground account and the USDA Rural Development grant, and will be in place this coming spring.

Storage is another issue for the building committee. The district leased containers during the renovation project to store classroom and office items. The container and garage have since become filled with furniture, pallets, rolls of paper and various shop items. Currently the storage container is being rented for $125 per month. However, the owner of the container asked that the school purchase the container for $4,850 or make it available for another party to purchase. The conversation was tabled for one month, and staff will be instructed to identify what is reusable and what can be sold.

Principals Natalie Becker and Avolt Baumbach reported on attendance at parent teacher conferences on Nov. 8. On average, 90 percent of parents with elementary students attended, while just 35 percent of junior high and high school students’ parents were present.

In the spring, the junior high and high school conferences will be student led, an approach used by other schools that has yielded up to 90 percent parent attendance.

Baumbach reported on the success of the recent student interaction called Lunch with Mr. Baumbach. He cited the value of these opportunities to facilitate informal communication building experience, especially for seniors.

Spring registration for secondary students will begin soon, and Baumbach said that there will be a record number of dual credit course options for students through the Center of Distance Education.

In the superintendent report, Louters discussed the solicitation of participants and school partners in the KnowledgeWorks cohort. She also mentioned the conversation she had with East Central regarding the appraisal and sale of their facility. That conversation also held overtures for East Central’s need to house a business manager, possibly at NR-S.

The search for an office manager for NR-S has yielded a promising pool of applicants. The administration hopes to have completed interviews and made an offer by Friday, Nov. 16. Tiffany Schaefer will continue filling in at the office until after Thanksgiving.

In regards to the construction work with CTS, there has been little work done to repair the drywall. It is expected this work will be competed during the upcoming winter break, however no additional payments will be made until the project is commissioned by CTS.

No students were present on the student report, however Baumbach reported that the student council will be attending the state conference. In addition, students have selected a tree to decorate in the New Rockford Chamber Tree Lighting in Centennial Park. Student council and the Sources of Strength students are engaged in a toy drive partnership. In the Oct. 31 food drive, student council collected 1,000 items for food bank donations.

New board members Dave Holzwarth, Patti Larson and Mike Jacobson attended the North Dakota School Board Association annual convention on Oct. 24-25 in Bismarck. Holzwarth and Larson shared their insights on the information they gained regarding school board roles and responsibilities, as well as the collaboration and organization needed for maintaining a budget. Additional themes of the convention included school safety and various sources of funding. 

The board completed the superintendent’s semi-annual evaluation. Louters scored satisfactorily in all six areas: goal and vision setting, board relations, human resource management, curriculum development and student support, community relations, and operations and resource management.

NWEA test results to date indicate a broad range of elementary skills in math and reading. Becker noted that half of students in the first grade class are scoring below average, while the remaining students are above average, which suggests the need to reduce class size.

Becker and Louters proposed that the district hire a temporary staff FTE to team-teach with current first grade teacher Tasha Skogen. This will provide time to review classroom gains through assessment while still being conscious of the fiscal picture and responsive to the student needs. The motion was made and carried to hire a new temporary staff member to begin in December.

The board initiated the process to replace Policy FDB: Education of Homeless Students. They began by rescinding the current policy and conducting the first reading of the replacement Policy FDB-R. This policy will provide administration with direct guidance to ensure equitable access to education by eliminating barriers homeless students experience with school attendance as stated in the previous policy. In addition, the replacement policy will guide administration in identifying these barriers, which might range from unhealthy living arrangements with non-parents to temporary or inadequate housing. In addition, revisions were proposed to Policy FDH: Education of Foster Children in terms of providing transportation and maintaining records. These revisions are directly related to the current Title I monitoring and reporting.