Superintendent's Weekly Report for August 24 2012

Here is the Superintendent's Weekly Report. Superintendent Dempsey also sent a copy of his forthcoming Superintendent's Corner that will appear in the Mountain Monthly, and a spec sheet for the activity bus that was at the last school board meeting.

Regular School Board Meeting of August 21, 2012

The podcast is finally up for last week's meeting. Superintendent Dempsey used a slide presentation during his portion of the meeting. Those slides can be seen here.

I, along with several folks from the meeting, took a ride on a "demo" activity bus that was provided by Zia. Apparently, there is a mandate that a school must retire its activity bus after 20 years. I don't know how long this requirement has been around, but it didn't sound like something recent. Cloudcroft's activity bus is now 20 years old, so must be replaced at the end of this school year. A new bus cost around $172,000. Over the past 20 years, it sounds like our school has set aside roughly $42,000 to purchase a new bus.

The Superintendent has rescheduled his community meetings to Saturday, September 8. If you look at his slide presentation you will see the times and locations of those meetings.

There was one visitor asking what the school was going to do about AP courses, since Ms. Carter was the only teacher certified to teach AP in the high school. While the superintendent discussed AP in his presentation, visitors are allowed to speak only at the end of the meeting, so no one answered her question. I haven't heard what the school is doing about the students that were signed up for AP classes with Ms. Carter.

Here is the agenda for this meeting.

There were also some handouts at the meeting: The NMSBA Training Report and Article 22, School Election Law.

August 25 Community Meetings to be Rescheduled

Due to a conflict with a football scrimmage that has been scheduled for August 25, Superintendent Dempsey has cancelled his planned community meetings and will announce a new date as soon as he can find a time that doesn't conflict with something else.

Weekly Summary from Superintendent

As stated previously, I did formally request the Superintendent's weekly summary which he said he was going to start providing to the school board members each Friday. Below is his most recent summary, which I received today...

1.        History Position:  As you know we have had a resignation and been advertising for a history teacher.  Kelly Goss was interviewed, offered the position, and has accepted.  She comes to us from Quemado .  She has 15 years of teaching experience and is endorsed in history, Health, and PE.  She plans on being here beginning on Friday August 24 to start preparing her classroom and will more than likely begin instruction on Tuesday August 28.  Mrs. Morales and Mr. Renteria have been working on the impact this will have on the master schedule and they have a plan that I believe will ensure students needs are being addressed and the fewest overall changes will have to be made to student schedules.

2.       Staff Evaluation Training:  Robyn, Roman, and I will be headed to Ruidoso on Monday August 20 where Carol Helms will be training us on the most up-to-date methods of evaluating staff.  Carol is our school attorney and since we was already in Ruidoso with Region IX staff we are able to join in.

3.       Meet the Bears:  I know many of you we able to attend the event which raised over $1,000 for Sidelines.  With this money and a donation from Dr. Dan Jones and Dr. Suzanne Schmidt the Sideliners were able to reduce the “Participation Fee” from $50 per athlete to $25 per athlete.  Along these lines you all should have received an robo call concerning the reduction in the participation fee on the evening of Thursday August 16.  Earlier that day I was contacted by Margo Manford who confirmed that Sideliners were going to be able to make this possible in part due to the hamburger fundraiser and in part to the $1,000 donation.  She had included a message that she had drafted and wanted to be used for the call.  I did not see the attached message so Mr. Ward drafted the one that you did get.  Margo left me a message that she was upset of the message and was concerned that the individuals who had donated the funds would be offended since they were not recognized in the robo call.  You will be receiving a second message that does recognize these individuals.  I want each of you to be clear that this was an error on MY part and not Mr. Wards or Mrs. Dalton.  As far is next year we might need to have a discussion about the “participation fee” sometime before the next budget is passed, March and April, to see if this is something we want to continue or if it is something we can eliminate. 

4.       Activity Bus:  The tentative plan right now is that Zia Bus company will have an activity bus here on Tuesday August 21 in the afternoon and evening.  This will be an example of what is available since at the end of this school year we will be in the market for an activity bus since ours will be 20 years old and due to state law after 20 years will no longer be able to be used.

5.       Regular Board Meeting: Tuesday August 21: action items that are on the agenda

a.       Approval of IHBC-E (Principles of Restraint and Seclusion):  This basically a recommendation and an update from the New Mexico School Boards Association.  It is a state wide update and I will be recommending that we adapt this policy.  This is the second time we have visited it.

b.      Kindergarten Waiver:  State law requires schools  who have kindergarten classes that are over 20 students to apply for a waiver if they do not have the funds to hire a second Kindergarten teacher.  We had anticipated 16 students and currently have 22 with one teacher’s aide in the room to help.  We currently have a teacher’s aide position open which will be used in a manner that supports both the Kindergarten class as well as other larger classes.  Mr. Cook will include some of this information in her principal’s report.

c.       You will also see find that under the section “Superintendent’s Report” I added the section “Board Members Input”.  This would give each of you a opportunity to bring up ideas or concerns that you have or that have been brought to you.

6.        Update on SPED:  I have now had two meetings with the SPED staff and we are beginning to start the process of making some changes as to the options students with IEPs (Individual Educational Plans) have especially in terms of gifted education.  Right now we have several students who qualify for gifted and being served by a pull-out program. Historically, here in Cloudcroft this has been the model used, what we are going to start is allowing those students and parents with additional options for addressing these IEPs.  These options will include dual credit classes as well as Advanced Placement courses.  DonaKay has been asked to schedule a meeting with the parents of students who are gifted where I plan on offering those options to them. 

7.       Community Meetings:  I am planning on having the community meetings in Mayhill, Weed, Timberon, and Cloudcroft in Saturday August 25.  You can expect a couple of robo calls next week about these and you might see flyers.  The idea is for me to meet with people out in the surrounding communities share with them some school information such as testing data, student activities, and academic opportunities.  They then would have an opportunity to discuss with me concerns they have.

Finally Posting the Podcast for School Board Workshop

As I mentioned in my posting back on July 8, the school board and the new superintendent had a workshop to discuss policies and goals.

I have finally posted the podcast for this workshop at http://cmsbears.podbean.com. It is broken into 3 parts which conveniently coincide with dead batteries or other technical difficulties. Also, the whole thing lasts about 4 hours.

I have listened to the whole thing. There's a lot of talk...talk...talk. It remains to be seen how much "do" happens. However, some of the key points that I took away were:

1. The "grades" had just come out from PED. LOTS of talk about this. As we have seen in the past, it seems like no one really knows how these grades are set. There was some talk of PED "sandbagging" so they can hold up future grades and tout the amazing progress in New Mexico education. (Part 1, approx. time code 46 minutes). Seems like a plausible conspiracy theory to me.

2. One component of the "grade" is a survey that students take. Our schools failed the question "do you have an opportunity to learn." (Part 1 approx. timecode 49 minutes). So there was discussion on how to "explain" to our students how to answer those questions...someone even used the term "coaching." That makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

3. There was talk about opening the school on Mondays for teachers to access their classrooms, and even setting aside a place for students to get tutoring. In fact, opening the school on Mondays would even allow the school to use some of the expensive ITV equipment that it hasn't been able to use because our 4 day week schedule did not jive with other schools (Part 1, timecode 1hr 28 min).

4. There was discussion about how the school needed some positive PR, especially since they don't want people blaming the poor grades on the 4 day week. (throughout Part 1, and at timecode 1 hr. 38 minutes)

5. New superintendent Travis Dempsey asked the school board to give him their goals for him (part 2 timecode 12 minutes). Some of the conversation included: communication and exposure with the community and the teachers, getting to know the teachers and drop into classrooms, build a team mentality. At 19 minutes into part 2, and again at 1 hr. 2 minutes, Dempsey says he will start providing a Friday update to the leadership team and the school board. Sounds like a public document to me, so you can expect me to be asking for it.

6. Arlan Ponder wanted the superintendent to be evaluated by teachers, principals and parents (part 2, timecode 38 minutes). Jackie Cates Doyle was against this. (For what it's worth, I'm FOR it.)

7. Some board members want the school to start requiring new teachers to coach (part 3, timecode 1 minute). This makes me wonder what the priority is, coaching or teaching.

8. Board members wanted to know how teacher evaluations are being handled (part 3 timecode 17 minutes). If you listen to the podcast and hear a real answer, please let me know.

9. Dempsey says he wants teachers to teach "from bell to bell" (part 3 timecode 25 minutes). He is not in favor of kids lining up to leave 4 minutes before the bell rings, and says he will convey that to teachers.

Maybe you can listen to all of this during your commute or your next long car trip. For me, it was lots of talk, platitudes and "kumbaya" moments. However, there were a few commitments made and agreed to that we will just have to wait and see if they come to fruition.

I remain hopeful, but also realize that hope is not a strategy.

Mandatory Athletics Meeting Tuesday

This coming Tuesday at 6 pm there will be a mandatory athletics meeting for students participating in athletics. The meeting will be in the High School. There will also be hamburger, chips and sodas for sale by Sideliners.

School Looking for New High School History/English Teacher

Just heard today that Carol Carter has resigned. The school is looking for someone to replace her. I don't have the job posting, but Carol taught History and English at the High School. If anyone knows of a qualified person, have them contact the school's admin office ASAP.

Still Pursuing Information from PED

As you will note from my last post, I am still trying to find out why PED is refusing our school's request to have "athletics" count towards the states mandate that students have a PE credit to graduate.

They did not answer the FOIA request that I sent, so I re-sent it and clarified that I wanted to know about all waivers...not just PE/Athletics. They are now telling me that I will have the information in November.

Again, if any of ya'll know about other small school districts in New Mexico that have "athletics" counting as PE, let me know!

PED Turns Down Cloudcroft Request

I have heard that PED turned down Cloudcroft's request to have the Athletics course in the High School count as a PE credit. Since I was told by PED last year that other schools have requested that their Athletic's program count as a PE credit under the "alternative credit" system, I was wondering why PED would turn down Cloudcroft's request.

Imagine my surprise when I asked for the information via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and was told that no records matched my request. I called PED to follow up and was also surprised that it seemed to make a difference to the PED Public Affairs person if I was asking for this information as a "reporter" or a "concerned citizen." What happens if I'm both?

Below is the FOIA request that I reworded and sent to PED. Hopefully I will get a response. Does anyone out there know of another school district that has Athletics counting towards a PE credit? If so, let me know!

Dear Ms. Friedman,

Yesterday, I spoke with Larry Behrens regarding this request. I asked him if I was phrasing my request incorrectly, as I had been told in the past by Dr. Blair (with PED) that other schools have structured their Athletic's period to count as the state required PE credit. Dr. Blair was the one who told me that other schools had used the "alternative credit" route and gave me the NMAC code. Based upon this information, I believe that other schools have had this approved by PED. I would like to see the wording that these schools used so that Cloudcroft schools can get it's wording correct and not have their next request rejected by PED.

I was concerned that Larry asked me several times if I was seeking this information as a reporter or as a concerned citizen. I happen to be both. When he asked me for the third time if I was requesting this information as a reporter I responded that I could be if I needed to. The tone of the conversation changed quite abruptly and he seemed to be in a hurry to hang up the phone. This makes me wonder if reporters get different information or treatment than concerned citizens. 

Since I believe that the information exists, and that other schools have done this, I am asking again, formally as a FOIA request, that PED provide me with ANY and ALL approved requests for waivers, alternative credits, or any other terminology by which ANY and ALL New Mexico schools have SUCCESSFULLY or UNSUCCESSFULLY requested that PED approve a course as an alternative credit. I would like this information for the past 15 years.

I would appreciate receiving this information in electronic format.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information.

Margo Whitt

Concerned Citizen and Reporter

Cloudcroft's Grades are In

The Public Education Department has released the "grades" for schools throughout New Mexico. The state was successful in getting a waiver from the Federal standards, thus enabling PED to make its own grading system. According to the news, a staggering 98% of the state's schools would have failed under the Federal standards. But when the state was allowed to do the grading, most of the state's schools passed. Am I the only one who isn't surprised by this?

Anyway, here are the grades for Cloudcroft, and how they compare to what Cloudcroft got last year:

Elementary school: 2011-2012 Grade: D. 2010-2011 Grade: C
Middle school: 2011-2012 Grade: A, 2010-2011 Grade: B
High school: 2011 - 2012 Grade: C, 2010-2011 Grade: B

I'm baffled as to how the middle school is so dazzling when it's fed by students from the elementary school. And what's happening to those dazzling middle school students when they get to the high school? Is the glass 1/3 full or 2/3 empty?

Updating Some Documents

A while back I asked for, and received, a copy of the new superintendent's contract and a copy of the invoice for the consultant that the school board hired to conduct the search for the new superintendent. Here they are:

Consultant's Invoice
Superintendent's Contract

School Board Workshop held Yesterday

The school board held it's meeting yesterday to discuss goals for the superintendent and evaluate and set board priorities. Sounds like pretty heavy stuff. It was attended by exactly ONE member of the public...my husband. Since I'm out of town, he took care of the recording of the meeting, which I will podcast when I return on Tuesday. The meeting went for about 4 hours, and I can already tell you there were some "technical difficulties" that will result in some of the meeting not being recorded.


Here is what school board member Arlan Ponder had to say:


REPOST from Arlan Ponder's School Board Member News Facebook account:


Just finished a VERY productive work session for the Cloudcroft School Board. I think people will be impressed with some of the changes coming in the next year.

Look for more community input and board meetings IN communities like Weed or Timberon. Plus possibly a newsletter with updates from the superintendent.

I won't lie though ... We will have a few situations that not everyone is going to understand, but we have ALL committed to ensuring EVERYONE in the community understands the situations.

I think the days of "shut up and take it" are over. The age of transparency, respect AND teamwork should be the norm going forward.

In case you've forgotten the Cloudcroft School Board meets the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. Come by and meet the new superintendent and see what good things are going on at YOUR schools.

School Board to Hold Workshop to Set Goals & Priorities

Per the "sacred window" the school board and superintendent will be meeting this Saturday, July 7, at 9 am at the Co-Op to discuss goals for the superintendent and evaluate and set board priorities. I don't know if any public input is invited or welcomed, but it is a public meeting.

Here is the Agenda for the workshop.

Regular School Board Meeting June 19, 2012

Sorry for the tardiness of this post, but the Little Bear fire took a big chunk of my time.

I did make it to the board meeting Tuesday evening, and have posted the podcast. Here is the Agenda.

It was also the official passing of the keys from outgoing Superintendent Tommy Hancock to incoming Superintendent Travis Dempsey. I believe Mr. Dempsey's first official day is July 1...but he can get into the building before that, so I imagine he'll be around once he gets moved into his new house, which he was hoping would happen this weekend.

No Funding in Budget for Middle School Sports AND Pay to Play next Year

As it stands right now, there is no funding for Middle School sports AND the school expects pay-to-play to be implemented. Those preparing and approving the budget apparently made the ASSUMPTION that the Sideliners Booster Club would pay to keep the Middle School sports program going AND offset the pay-to-play expenses. Unfortunately, they never asked or consulted anyone on the Sideliners board about this. I have heard "approximate" numbers from the school of $7000 for Middle School PLUS another $5000 for pay to play. Oh, and they want to add football to the Middle School next year, which will be about $2000 more. Does anyone have a CLUE how many corn dogs, cookie doughs, car washes, pizza coupons, gun raffles, pancake breakfasts, golf tournaments, t-shirts, root beer floats, hamburgers, etc. etc. Sideliners has to sell to raise $14,000?!

I don't think the majority of people know just how much work went into fundraising efforts during the entire summer last year to raise the funds to keep the sports program going in the Middle School while also funding many activities in High School sports. Unfortunately, most of that work was done by very few parents and students and a handful of very generous benefactors. To put it bluntly, those parents were "rode hard and put up wet." Many of them are burned out. All of us have jobs, family and commitments. Without some fresh faces and enthusiastic Middle School parents/students, there will either be no Middle School sports, or a hefty pay-to-play per athlete. We simply do not have enough people volunteering, and I find any PRESUMPTION that those same parents can bust butt this summer to bail out Middle School sports and pay-to-play insulting.

Sideliners has asked the school for an accounting of where the money we donated last year was spent and how much, if any, is left. We have yet to receive that information.

The robo call that the school put out Sunday evening said athletics was "heavily affected" in the new budget. Unless the school can scrounge around in its budget and find $14,000 or so, I'd say heavily affected is optimistic. But who knows, they found $10,000 to pay a consultant when they supposedly didn't have that money either.

I'm not going to post the phone number for the Sideliner's president on a public forum. His number was given in the robo call. But if you want to volunteer or get involved I'd be glad to email it to you. I spoke to him yesterday, four days after the robo call. Want to guess how many people had called him to volunteer their services? None.