001Uh just some uh federal and uh state news here. As you know, I'll start with the federal level. Um hope the Senate wins and not the House, I guess, is the best way to put it. the federal level. Uh the House, as you can see, wants to cut 26% of of federal aid, uh to local school districts across the country. Uh the Senate actually either wants to stay flat or even add a little bit of money u for that. So, uh if want to make a call, make you know, call tell them to support the Senate bills and not the House bills, uh as they work on this. Uh January 30 is the next federal deadline uh to get a either a budget going or or a continuing budget which they seem to be doing
002a lot of down there uh in that regard. Um as far as the department of education goes uh they continue to to break up the different parts of the department and put them under other departments. uh you know whether it's office of civil rights will probably go under the h office I think of all justice department actually uh other special ad I think it's going under health and human services uh and things like that so it's going to be you know so to speak spread out uh literally and physically ac all over Washington uh in that regard um you know for that so um but the money is supposed to still come so that you know at the end of the day that's you know pretty good uh at the state level uh the governor
003gave her state of the state address this week, but prior to that, she had put out kind of what the highlights were of her speech uh or her her plans for this coming year. Uh for schools, she's calling for statewide un true statewide universal prek uh four-year-old prek across the state and adding funds to make that happen. Not sure if that'll have much impact on us here at CA since we're already rolling and have the aid and such like that, but any more any additional aid would certainly be welcome uh here. She's also talked about child care um universal child care as well for here. So uh her budget runs should come out next week. Uh so we will update the board once we receive what her proposal is uh for state aid. Um we
004don't anticipate much in that a large increase. We have not received really over 2% the last several years here. Um so we'll see what happens. It is an election year. So hopefully the legislature will add a little more to that. Um an interesting dynamic this year is the state actually is doing pretty well when it comes to revenues. They're a lot of money coming in for whatever reasons. Um but the federal government has pulled out a chunk of money as well. also they're covering up those those gaps uh with the additional revenues. So, um that's kind of what they'll have to deal with. Uh zero emission buses they did or are formalizing a a waiver period. Uh Mr. Nan is is working with first student doing it all for us, right? >> Yeah. Right. So,
005um, so that's good, uh, for us because, um, we know how we had a huge increase this year with our transportation budget. Uh, that would look that'll look nice compared to what's going to happen when school districts have to switch completely over to EV. Um, you know, >> more. >> Yeah. So, it's just u Yeah. So, we're going to be applying. We're still waiting to see when we should do the waiver so we can maximize how far out we can go with the waiver. So, we may not do the March 1st one, we may do the next round of waivers uh in that regard. But either way, we'll try to push that out as far as we can. Um and for that, any other questions on state and federal stuff? I missed a uh you
006know, Kasaki Athletes, uh you know, with the things our teachers are doing and and staff are doing here is is becoming uh uh recognized and by the uh the state a little bit. Um they they've been coming down to see what we're up to down here when it comes to uh what we call our personal dispositions or what we now call a portrait of a graduate. um that's weird uh for that. So that's good news that you know we're in a good spot with all the changes happening from the state ed department uh in that regard. Our teachers are familiar with these attributes are familiar with with with measuring them to a certain extent uh for that. And so, uh, you know, it won't be quite as as big a jump or or or a
007leap for our folks here as it may be in a lot of other districts of the state as the as the state moves towards these being the the really large key indicators of for graduation measures, etc. Uh, as we go forward. So um you know with that and it's going to be a continued conversation here at CA and all the districts of how uh we we do measure those six attributes uh effectively and and and equitably uh across there and how technology plays a role in that u you know again u a lot of technology but how do we purposely use that um and if you look at a lot of those attributes um with with the just artificial intelligence just coming more and more at us like a fire hose. Uh that's going to
008be a lot of conversations too is how do we manage that in a in a thoughtful way uh where we allow our students to um know it because they we don't want them walking out of here as seniors and having had no um safe experience with with artificial intelligence because they're going to get hit with it their first day they they leave high school. So, how do we we manage that and create, you know, thoughtful digital citizens uh when they graduate here? So, um yeah, any questions on this? We're in a good spot. And then also just like I'd shared this out with the community and the board just to kind of looking back on our our on how STEM has evolved in the district over the years. Um you know and and so the
009next step here is how do we now merge STEM with the humanities, right? And so they become one uh you know interdisciplinary type of approach to to to learning in our schools for that. But um you know from where we were and where we are now especially at the elementary level and the experiences the kids are getting with STEM at that time um and then bridging that through the middle school Mr. Wakers done a fantastic job. The middle school with the programs he's implemented there and then the high school where you have either the cash bar uh the state even the country for that matter uh for you know the life skills and the and the um work skills if you will that the kids receive uh in in that area and just the the
010um STEM or the dream fab with either um manufacturing and the agriculture program now. Um so so I think we're in a good spot uh to keep moving in that direction. And then those are the programs that will help model and drive uh again just elevating our instruction really is what's I think if you're going to look at what's your what's your biggest thing you got to worry about as a as a district going forward. It's how do we elevate our instruction in our classroom so it's more student centered and inquirybased right instead of uh teachers do what I'm doing right now just talking to you on a lecture format you know how do we create classrooms where kids are really uh digging in themselves and learning uh and taking on challenges and trying to
011find solutions uh on a on a regular basis in all subject areas and and a one way to do that is not to isolate all the subjects but to bring them together to create you know solutions which is life uh I don't step out and you know call the math person over when I have a math question you know and then she goes back to your office then I call the science person in you know we we work together uh to create those solutions and that's really what uh the whole portrait New York inspires uh changes portrait of graduate graduation measure is really what they want to drive us at uh is elevating that instruction up uh where kids are project- based uh learning and um creating um artifacts and creating uh solutions uh to
012today's problems. And so I think our kids are learning those things in the STEM classes all the way up through u and so how do we expand that and and replicate that throughout our our district uh is is I think the challenge going forward for for our school all schools. Randy, maybe can you can you share like what the principles are currently saying or having a discussion on as it relates to this and what obstacles currently or barriers are currently in front of us to try to get to this model? I think that the um it's a conversation uh they're having. I mean, you know, it depends on the level. You know certainly we have to remember foundationally our kids need to be able to read and math right before they can think big big
013thoughts if you in that regard at the elementary school. So we want to make sure we're stay strong and stronger and and make ensuring our kids are able to read and and and do math etc. uh at the elementary level but they can do that in a way um I'll just say a better way in the sense of by integrating science and social studies into that work. um you know the the biggest I I don't think anybody's gonna disagree hopefully um the whole testing thing in this country destroyed social studies and science at the elementary level in my opinion uh because we got so test you know focused you know we kind of got thrown out a lot in a lot of places um so how do we bring all that back in uh you
014know I think is is a big piece but what the principles are are focusing on is you know creating those um or what they will be focusing behind is out uh creating those interdisciplinary approaches. You know, middle schools were created to do that. That was all the purpose of a middle school was was to create interdiciplinary teams to do interdisiplinary units. Um we do some of that here. We can do more. Uh you know, we do the projects. Each grade level does a a grade level project or three of them now every year for that. So, we want to continue to do that work. Um it's nothing new. This is nothing new. We were just talking like inquiry based, you know, Jim was doing it when he was in his student being a student. >>
015That was my whole preparatory. >> So, as a science teacher, you know, you know, interdisiplinary units is nothing new. I was doing them 30 years ago as a brand new student with my go blue and gold team at South Valley. Uh, you know, it's just sticking with it, you know, sticking with the knitting, so to speak, you know, and making that work. Um, you know, as we go forward, there's great models out there. Like I said, we we do it in spots. So we just have to how do we make that happen everywhere? Uh you know um yeah uh you know when I first was here you know I made I don't know if it was a mistake but I said out loud we should become the Tech Valley South Tech Valley High School because
016that's what they do. That's their whole whole culture and ecosystem is project based learning and and and all that. Uh you know did we get there? No. Uh we got closer. Uh we certainly didn't get there uh for that. And so that should really be what we should be looking for going forward is how do we replicate that authentic learning uh real world learning get our kids you know connected to real problems um they're out there and because they can probably come up with some pretty good solutions along the way um and that keeps them engaged. It keeps them coming to school, you know, and that trickles down to um better attendance, right? Uh you know, and they want to be here because they want to get get into that work, if you will, with
017their with their friends and classmates. Um, so it's I think it's exciting times to be in schools right now. Personally, I think if the state sticking with this and if they go through it in a on a thoughtful slow process um and and schools really think about closely, you know, what are we already doing that reflects you know this and and the portrait of a graduate and then how do we you know grow that and all across all classrooms uh in our schools. I think you're gonna you there's a possibility this could actually um be a true transformation of the schools here in this state um because of it. I think you know the commissioner is committed to it, the chancellor's committed to it. I know that uh they they spoke yesterday at posties event.
018Um, so >> and they haven't figured out yet how to monitor that to get like a report to different districts or they leave up to the district to to implement that and do the best they can. >> That is the conversation that's going on right now. We anticipate this summer to have a little more um of that answered. Um they're working through that. Um they have said they're gonna they don't want to like make it so tight that the district just following a script. You know that you can't do that anyway. Um so I think they're going to leave some of that up to the districts as far as um how kids can demonstrate they're a critical thinker or they're a collaborator or they're a self-directed. Um but I think there's going to be key
019um I cans do you know indicators things like that districts will have to you know somehow have evidence. Yes that's that's the work. How do we make kids show us they can do this >> and we can do it with our current staff in your opinion? We can accomplish this with our current staffing that we have >> for the most part. You just mean like just is that a question like should we add staff or you just asking with the people we have working with us now? >> With the with the teachers and assistants and staff we have now we we can do this in your opinion. >> Yeah. >> Okay. If I may >> um a lot of the so as I've like gone through the school system like as you're talking about uh
020being in school now it's like more exciting than ever and I agree with that. Um, my two favorite classes I'm taking this year are electives. So, they're not a part of like the core like structured learning, right? And the things I like about them is that they're very like hands-on, very discussion based. So, I do think that it's possible to do with our current staff. I think that the curriculum and how we're teaching a lot of our core subjects need to be shifted less like from lecture and more like hands-on learning. And I think I completely think that's possible. I think that our staff's capable of doing that. So to like to answer your question, I think like yeah, it's completely possible. Y >> I think it would make school a lot more engaging for
021most students. >> Um yes, I agree. It it's it's us supporting them and training them. >> So I mean one class is like a photography class. So I'm it's like where we talk about like history of photography, right? And it's like engaging. I never thought I was a photographer. Like the most I've done is like take selfies on my phone and like using all >> that's high class photography. Trust me. Yeah, a lot a lot of it like using all different kinds of cameras and history and stuff like that. It's like extremely interesting and it's very hands-on like it's it's practical. We like use it, right? And then we have discussions about it. Uh the other class I was talking about was a criminal justice class. I never I don't really want to be a
022lawyer, right? And I never really thought about getting into law, but it's so interesting like all the stuff that we learn about because it's not as much as like practicing law, but it's like practical knowledge about like >> how to out of trouble. >> Exactly. >> Right. Or it's like what you should do if you're like, you know, like if you speak it's like it's like real real life like applicable like applicable situations. >> I think that kind of learning and like our structured core classes like math, social studies, English, stuff like that would be I think that's how we can like engage like kids more in schools. >> And you you you like your anatomy and physiology class too? >> Yeah, I I mean I like all my classes. I'm kind of like I
023just like but I think that I think that kind of like hands-on discussion based learning is like is really the like the like the solution honestly >> in my opinion. >> Yep. Great. >> Thank you. >> And and it's it's scary for teachers who aren't used to that. I mean it just you know changing what they've been doing for for maybe a long time. I was fortunate as a new teacher my district got had me trained in how to do all that right off the bat you know. Uh so so I was just lucky I guess. Uh so just that's just what I did uh all the way through. So um so yeah so we have to support our teachers and provide the training and the um non-judgmental support that that they'll need to to
024to take those risks, you know, if you will, uh in their classrooms. Uh and I think our our admin team is on board with that and creating a safe environment, if you will, uh for our teachers to to do that uh along the way. And um you know the other thing too and I I'll put it out there. I think it's good too to to support your teachers to get out and see it in action you know to go to other schools and and where it's happening things like that because that because that even it's as simple as oh okay I could do that you know uh whatever you know they may see. So I you know I strong believer in the value of doing site visits to other schools. um you know just as
025why we host it because we're doing a lot of great things here and I know some of you have been part you know listened in and whispered to the people who have been here u and they leave inspired and ready to go back and you know do what CA's doing uh a little bit here so um so we'll continue to do that but also site visits maybe within this in our own school you know and that that takes a lot of trust uh to do that um for that but I think um to to's point it's it's how we learn we learn by doing you you know um and yes there's a place for you know the basic lecture and the basic you know you got to learn do X before you can do you
026know the hands-on stuff but uh but then by practicing and doing things um you know we go through the best models are science labs and sports practices uh you know I think for the what we're going to look forward to doing here so wellrun sports practices as you might say be a better way to put that so so good stuff going to be happening in our schools here. Uh just finally, just a quick uh we're we're almost halfway done with the school year, believe it or not. Uh time flies. And so just a couple highlights here. Um and before I start, so I don't you know, all these are notebook LM, all these graphics created. So if you haven't tried Notebook LM in your class yet, you need to try Notebook LM. It's got some
027lot more added features to it. It's free if you're a Google school like us. Uh of course, we passed our capital project finally in the fall, so excited about that. uh to see some additional improvements and and some of that work I get started this summer on the outside the playgrounds and some of the draining and things like that parking um so it's been great we had the site visit here in December that Janate and Allison put together has 30 something people here from I think a dozen different schools we had state ed person here was um it's like very excited about what we're doing u so just a great kudos to all the teachers open up their classrooms for that um as well and again we're focused sit on the science of reading our
028in our classrooms with benchmark uh and instructional tools etc. special ed doing a lot of um upping the game with with um it tools to help our kids you know you know thoughtfully using some technology tools to help our kids who are struggling that uh and as you said in the round table uh you know something to be very proud of this district is uh the service that goes on here amongst our students you know and I I'm trying not to like pat myself here um but you know there was there was always going on when I got here but I think by making it a a literally a goal uh that every kid is going to participate in some type of service project every year and we do that you know and if that's
029just an expectation we don't need to make a goal anymore and we certainly know kids you know go above and beyond just do it once you know kind of thing and it's K12 all the way through I think we should be very proud of that u that cuz um hopefully those then kids grow become adults and then they're the ones that get involved in the Rotary and the Kowanas and the little league coaching you know those types of things because so it's not the 25 people doing it all uh in your town. So hopefully that's will pay off dividends for a long long um time there. And again the building positive character and culture u you know the assemblies and just the uh Riverhawks way and and other things we're doing through the schools and
030Josh Praise got a whole what is it event calendar if you will for the spring uh coming forward to help support kids uh as far as character ed and positive culture um and having that as a high expectation for everybody. So, we continue to offer free meals. Um, and thankfully the state's backing us up on that as well. Hopefully that will continue because that's a huge benefit for our families here. Some of the highlights from the the fall semester. I think that's it. Yep. That's all I got. Any questions? So, last thing real quick, just because it happened, I was going through some stuff in my office. So I found and I shared it with them earlier an article from 2006. It was just I finished my first year as a superintendent and the Schnangle
031River over in Oxford decided to flood or we had a humongous storm that year. Um and the middle school over there is right on the river and the bottom floor. It's a three-story 1930s building with the big columns and all that. Uh but the basement floor totally flooded. Um and so I just remember rushing down there. The fire department called you know my house. your your school's flooding. Okay. Um, so we had two things. First, myself, the business official, Harry Harry here, U Chip there, Harold Kobe and I drove all the buses out of there because our bus garage is in the back of the middle schools. We drove all the buses to the other campus, the middle primary school, high school campus on the other side, out of southern side of the river, ironically.
032Um, that's the only time I've ever driven a bus. >> But you know what? You got to do what you got to do with that. Uh Chip had no problem doing that. He's a farber most big chunk of his life. So we did that and we came back and just started chucking stuff up on tables, uh the server rooms in the basement. I mean that that floor was like the most expensive floor to flood because it was your home and careers, technology, music room, uh cafeteria, kitchen, some classrooms, locker rooms. Uh and the boiler room was in the b like below grade. So you walked into the you know the first floor then you had to step go downstairs into the boiler kind of like the high school is here a little bit. So when
033it's all said and done the boiler room was underwater and then up to about just below my knees uh the whole first floor was with water uh for that. So um that was the week after graduation after my first year there for that and we opened up reopened September one. So >> why why did it flood? >> Just it was huge hurricane storm. Remember like the ones we had over here like 11 10 11 it happened one time it happened there in 6 happened again over there in 11 when we got crushed but um yeah the river just went from over the banks. So that was fun. So I after that easy peasy as far as uh this goes there but it was a lot of learning experiences there uh for that and again people
034stepping it up and doing their thing. um you know for that and so capital project with no wait time for approval you don't see that ever happen state said yep do what you got to do and we'll we'll worry about how you get it paid for later uh for that so we were able to open everything was re everything was done except that we didn't have the ovens in yet in the home and careers room everything else was done all brand new basically first floor uh you know and we did that so that was a fun summer to put it nicely so All right. So, um we just finished up in December our um parent teacher conferences and we had over 96% participation which is really high and exciting and uh it's a testament to
035the work that our teachers have done to engage parents to come in. Um they've done a lot of hard work chasing parents down if they didn't come in for a meeting. um you know through phone calls, video conferencing, uh meeting them in the mornings um or after school. So uh it's a really great way to foster that parent home school connection and uh you know I think the conversations were really deep and enriching for for both teachers and and parents. Um also just want to touch base on a new club that well we're going to have two new clubs. one that's already started this year, cadet club, which is being run by our SRO's. And uh so there's about 10 third and fourth grade students who um meet once a week. They do physical activities.
036They've been learning about they've had EMS and different community organizations that help do rescues and things like that. And they've had little lecture series on that. Um, just recently they did a whole CV radio uh with all the codes. So, Mr. Nent, they're they're doing pretty good with that. Um, and uh we're starting a gaming club in second grade. Um, and uh it'll be in the morning before school starts and just really trying to get kids to interact with one another, take turns, sportsmanship, and things like that. So, we're pretty excited about that. Hello. >> Hello. >> Uh so things are going pretty well at CE. Um we have it feels nice in the building. Um we have like a return to normaly after break which is really nice to see. Um and some exciting
037upcoming events. So the first one Tara already talked about penny wars but um we are launching our first readathon at CE. It's going to start on the 30th of January and run through the 12th of March where we'll end it with a drop everything and read day on that early dismissal day um for something different and fun for kids. Um it'll be a literacy themed day, different centers around um the building that all kids are participating in. And of course, our goal is 100% participation from students. Um so that's kind of we're going it's the first time that we've done it. So we're going to see whatever it takes to get everybody signed up and I'm really excited about that. Um, I'm also really excited to be giving the I Ready for the second time
038coming up. And I know that sounds funny um because assessment is assessment and it's nobody's favorite thing, but I am really excited to see our student growth um on a platform that shows us exactly what it is that students are excelling in and where it is that they're falling down so that we can begin to really target those skill gaps and um make up in leaps and bounds. So, that's exciting to me to be able to look at I Ready for the second time and see how kids have grown um and really use that data to drive our instructional decisions. Um and then finally, very exciting is our new playground that we've been working on. Um and we are very very excited to have new equipment, but mostly um our biggest focus at CE is
039inclusivity. Um because we do house, uh all of the students with disabilities K through four right now. Um and that includes many students who have mobility challenges. Um and so what is really exciting about this is that there is so much opportunity for students um both students with disabilities and um their typically developing peers to be able to interact on the playground. Um including one of those we call it the vomit comment at my last school, but those spinny things that make every adult sick and every kid loves um that is push in and wheelchair accessible. So that is very very exciting. Um and we're really excited to see all of our kids be able to um play together on the playground. So that's what's going on at CE. Any questions? >> Is that part
040of the capital project? Is that >> Yes. >> Yeah. So you've been working with them about >> Yeah. Yep. But and I mean EJA is working on their playground as well, but what's been really nice is looking at um the two buildings as the distinct communities that they are and really building those playgrounds to meet the needs of the students in each of our buildings. >> That's great. >> It's exciting. >> Yes. Thank you. >> I'll be quick. >> Terra makes fun of how much I talk. Um, uh, so I've been working with the teachers on a lot of project- based learning. Um, I just finished up the mitzvah in first grade at CE. Uh, so I'm putting together the film for that. Um, and they're going to it'll be at the showcase. So if
041you come to the showcase, you'll see it there. Um, and I had something else, but I forgot it. I get really nervous when I come up here, so I lose half of the things that are in my head. >> Oh, STEM. Uh, STEM. Uh, this was not because Randy talked about it. Um, but, uh, Melissa Belnner is doing a, um, virtual field trip with all of the kids in her STEM classes, which is really cool. She sent it to me today, so we're figuring out how to do that. And, um, yeah, it's on Amazon. >> Most effective >> Amazon It's like uh how they use technology in the Amazon warehouses. Uh but they have other things too with it. And >> I was talking about the river. >> Oh, no. I'm sorry. >> The store.
042>> See, this is why I can't talk. Um, but they have the other >> uh they have older ones, too. So, I I'm thinking about having the cash kids look at it. Um, cuz it has to do with like uh looking at how their systems work >> for the the company Amazon. >> Nothing. I'm sorry. What? >> See, I I think they Amazon has slowed down a lot. I order something and I don't get it for like four days, 5 days and it's really starting to aggravate me. >> First world problem. >> Isn't there software that you can like go into you can go into museums and stuff? >> Yeah, I mean the a lot of teachers do that those things already, but she this is through Cahoot and um so she thought she'd try
043it and see. It might be terrible and then we won't do it again. I think I've seen the ones that that bring you right into the Smithsonian. >> Yeah. Like >> we have a lot of teachers that do virtual field trips because it is >> um we'll bring in they'll bring in specialists and to talk to the kids and it's a lot of fun. >> Any questions?