Note: This is part of several articles about developments at area schools on the eve of the new school year.
NEW ULM - Several efforts are being started in District 88 for 2009-2010 - including a behavior modification program, reading tutoring, and a new movement program called SMART, at Jefferson Elementary School; a GRAD remediation program at the High School; activities to address obesity districtwide; and a new district website.
These are some developments listed by Superintendent Harold Remme.
Another key news was the hiring of an academic coordinator of excellence (ACE) - to manage testing data, apply this analysis to curriculum and instruction modification and lead professional learning communities of teachers; with the goal of tying these areas together to positively impact student learning.
Behavior modification
Addressing challenging social behaviors provides an improved learning climate for students and increases student achievement, says Remme.
With that goal in mind, Jefferson staff researched building behavior modification programs during the 2008-09 school year.
Based on research and visits to other school systems, a grant was written and received to implement a schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) plan in 2009-10. The grant has provided staff training and technical support for implementation of the plan.
Reading Corps
Jefferson School has received a Minnesota Reading Corps grant, to place two adults in classrooms - to work with students using reading tutoring techniques and assessments.
The Minnesota Reading Corps places Americorps members in schools to help children ages 3 to grade three who are lagging behind grade level in reading skills. The Reading Corps staff receive appropriate training to implement the interventions.
The program will serve Jefferson students just below grade level in skill development. Students will receive 60 minutes per week of supplemental instruction.
SMART room
A program at Jefferson - called Stimulating Maturity through Accelerated Readiness Training (SMART) - will use age-appropriate activities that are fun and engaging to actively stimulate the brain.
The SMART curriculum applies a multi-sensory approach to learning - to develop and enhance the physiological and neurological readiness skills that students need to succeed in school.
The curriculum consists of activities for developing and enhancing large and fine motor skills, visual perception and eye-hand coordination.
If students do not develop these skills, they are likely to struggle in the classroom and may become frustrated and fail in school.
So far, Jefferson has trained seven staff in this program, and hopes to train more.
Jefferson is a state learning site - so it will receive special mentoring and monitoring from a Minnesota Learning Resource Center as it implements the project's initial phase.
The current motor room will double up as a SMART room.
SHIP
District 88 is partnering with other Brown County schools and the Brown County Public Health Department on writing a planning grant to address obesity concerns.
The school district will choose obesity-fighting strategies to implement in schools.
GRAD remediation
The high school will have new GRAD remediation plans.
The state requires all students who entered eighth grade in 2005-06 or later to pass state tests in order to graduate. A writing test is administered in grade eight, reading test in grade 10, and math test in grade 11. For students who fail the test when it is first given, the school must provide at least six weeks of remediation before the next test. In addition, districts must develop a remediation plan for students who do not pass two consecutive tests.
Website
The district has decided to change its website, to improve customer service.
The new site should provide 24-hour access to vital functions of school operation, and the ability to pay fees and purchase items via credit card.
The new site includes: a district-wide webpage, a building-by-building webpage, a school-age childcare link, a community education class registration link, a facilities scheduling link, an activities scheduler, and a school store which will allow parents to purchase items offered by booster clubs.
The transition to the new site is going more slowly than anticipated, and the site will not be usable by the time the new school year begins. Until the new site is in operation, the old one will remain available.
