Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Welcome! Forest Lake Area School District Staff District In-Service Tuesday, August 26, 2003

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Forest Lake Area School District Vision and Mission Vision: Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Mission: We will inspire and challenge all learners to reach their full potential. In a safe, supportive environment we will teach the skills needed to succeed as responsible citizens in our changing world.

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! FLAS District Focus and Priorities STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Assessment Definition: Measures by which students and the system will be judged with regard to internal and external criteria.

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Assessment Measures (cont.) Graduation rates Attendance rates Participation in testing Parent satisfaction Participation in courses Basic skills, MCAs, and TerraNova results Percent of students pursuing post-secondary education

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Curriculum The Definition of curriculum includes: classroom agenda district and school-wide initiatives co-curricular activities parent and community outreach

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Curriculum (cont.) Is relevant and research based Meets the needs of all learners Focuses both on content and cognitive skill development Is standards based and aligned

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Instruction Definition: The methods we employ to guide students in understanding the curriculum.

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Instruction (cont.) Is developmentally appropriate Applies learning whenever possible Promotes problem solving and critical thinking Uses differentiated instruction for all students

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Supporting Assessment, Curriculum, and Instruction Resource Allocation - Our resources need to follow our beliefs Teacher Evaluation - Consistent teacher evaluation, focusing on professional development, is necessary to identify areas of strength and improvement for staff members

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Resource Allocation Our resources need to support our beliefs by: Recruiting and retaining the best possible staff Providing professional development in assessment, curriculum, and instruction Providing access to a quality learning environment for all learners

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Current District Initiatives Curriculum Review and Development Cycle Reading Tour ; “Turning the Pages Together” Teacher Evaluation Differentiated Instruction Technology Integration

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Curriculum Review and Development Year One: Business World Language Guidance Year Two: Art Physical Education Social Studies Year Three: Industrial Technology Language Arts and Literacy Science Year Four: Agriculture Family and Consumer Sciences Mathematics

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! READING TOUR ; “Turning the pages together”

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! READING TOUR ; “Turning the pages together” “Promoting literacy and lifelong success in our community through the common experience of daily reading.” Read 15 Minutes A Day! – Aloud Alone Along

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! READING TOUR ; “Turning the pages together” TREMENDOUS SUCCESS in 02-03! During the school year, the FLAS District students and staff read together, aloud, along or alone for over 20 MILLION minutes! The Linwood Elementary School community reports having read over 1,020,000 pages! Forest View Elementary School First Graders and their parents read 22,340 minutes together during the month of March! Forest View Elementary School Fourth Graders will have read over 90,000 pages from chapter books by the end of the year! In all the media centers district wide, there was an average increase of 10% in number of books checked out from school year to school year!

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Teacher Evaluation Teacher evaluation, focusing on professional development, is necessary to identify areas of strength and improvement.

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Teacher Evaluation Theoretical Framework - Charlotte Danielson’s work found in Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching Evaluation Language – LeadTeacherMN Software Management Tool – mVal

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Differentiated Instruction Taking into account the needs of all students in the classroom New research available to provide even more assistance with this important work October in-service will provide resources for teachers on differentiated instruction – Dr. Diane Heacox will be the keynote speaker October 20 th

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Differentiated Instruction (cont.) Through a range of instructional and management strategies

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Technology Integration Technology makes a difference in a child’s ability to learn. Empowers students to learn how to learn. Enables students to become knowledge producers in addition to knowledge consumers. Can provide an authentic global audience. Connects learners to the world.

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Legislature Freezes Funding In , based on a loss of State Aid and a loss of 50 pupils to the Spanish Immersion Charter, the district will have to cut $2,000,000

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Levy Necessary for Budget It is necessary for the district to go out to the community and ask for help with a new operating levy If the levy passes, property taxes will increase but the district won’t need to make budget cuts

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Legislature Provides Property Tax Relief In , the State Legislature is providing Property Tax Relief through additional “Equalization Aid” Because of this Property Tax Relief, the cost of our existing levy will be less

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Legislature Cuts Taxes These figures show the effect of the Property Tax Relief on the Teaching and Learning Levy passed in 2001:

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Operating Levy Request for Operating Levy - $223/pupil unit $223/pupil unit generates $2 million per year for five years beginning in

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Provides continuity in instruction, is available to capitalize on spontaneity and teachable moments Provides flexibility to adapt to various environments Provides maximum availability Is easily reconfigured and fits comfortably in the classroom Technology Task Force Makes Recommendations

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Technology Levy Request for Capital Projects Levy for technology for $2 million per year Five years beginning in

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Tax Impact of Both Levies

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Maintaining and Moving Forward The $223/pupil unit Operating Levy is essential for the district to avoid budget cuts The Technology Levy is also essential as we continue moving forward in the 21 st century

Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Welcome Alan November! Internationally Renowned Educational Technology Leader –How can technology make a difference in a child’s ability to learn? –Just because it’s on the Internet, is it true? –Are we preparing students to be successful in an information economy?