District Parent Advisory Council

March 2004 Newsletter

The District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is a group headed by Acting Superintendent Dan Walker and meets quarterly.

Our second meeting of the year was February 12th and the following topics were reviewed:

Director of Information Services, Tom Marble and Media Specialist Coordinator, Mary Bloomgren presented the District Technology plan for 2004-2007. Their presentation began with a review of the Tech Levy Plan 1999-2003 in which a fiber optic network was instituted causing a significant reduction in telephone services and cost. The new plan highlights are 3:1 student: computer ratio, district-wide student information access system, 5yr cycle of life for equipment, wireless laptops at all schools with a pilot program at Cedar Manor and Susan Lindgren, and training sessions for staff/parents/students. They are also defining the role of the Media Specialist as the technology leader of each site and strengthening the path for the use of tech in the learning process.

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Barbara DeMaster gave feedback and background on the newly administered report cards saying it reflected (2)years of staff/teacher work as well as costs related to the implementation and that it was built off of the No Child Left Behind requirements. Survey responses will be coordinated and reflected in a revised report card in the spring, resulting in the final product one year from now. DeMaster also said there is current discussion on having three report cards per year as opposed to two per year. The presentation concluded with an outline of additional student testing that will be required beginning next year due again, to the No Child Left Behind requirements.

Acting Superintendent Dan Walker spoke on the budget stating that 201 million will be cut from our district budget and from that 1.6 million will be from non-classroom reduction in areas of transportation, building & grounds, community ed, special ed, and maintenance.

School News: How to get on the site council at the various schools was reviewed: Jr. High – self nominating form during orientation, then voting happens on ‘school nite’ making up a group that represents each team (typically 4) for both grade levels. This group is currently working on making SC more visible and clarifying the membership process. At the Sr. High – all you have to do is show up to the meetings that are posted in the district calendar to become a member. The Jr. High also announced that they elected to obtain and cover the cost of one amity scholar for their site next year.

The next meeting of this group will be May 13th, 2004.

Rachel Richardson – Site Council
Katherine Cramer - PTO