Superintendent’s Report – May 2019
We were indeed fortunate to have made it through the winter without the need for a snow day. As a result of our good fortune, our last day for students is scheduled for Thursday, June 13th. Graduation is scheduled for Saturday, June 8th at 10:00 am. With only five weeks of classes left we have important events at Hinsdale schools at every turn. Please check our tweets on the District web page to track upcoming events.
We continue to receive positive signs related to a projected increase in state revenue for the 2019/2020 fiscal year. Currently the Senate is debating amendments made by the House to the Governor’s budget. The New Hampshire House budget restored stabilization grants to the 2016 level, provided full base adequacy funding for full-day Kindergarten students, and introduced two new funding streams in 2021: Fiscal Capacity Disparity Aid, and additional Free and Reduced Lunch Aid.
According to the surveys from staff regarding our staff workshop day on April 22nd the workshop day was productive. The two Board members who attended a workshop agreed with the staff.
The Board recently drafted their 2019-2020 School Board Goals. The 2019/2020 Board goals will likely be adopted at the Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th. The main goal areas are unchanged from the current year Board goals. A draft of the yet to be approved. The 2019/ 2020 draft Board goals are as follows:
2019-2020 Hinsdale School Board Goals
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Ensure that all students receive personalized guidance regarding post-secondary education or career options.
- Provide students with educational opportunities and learning based upon the student’s unique needs, interests and learning styles.
- Establish continuity and collaboration in instruction between the school buildings.
We are currently working in a number of areas regarding continuity and collaboration between buildings. These areas include the following: PACE, K-12 Music, K-12 curriculum committees, K-12 Technology Committee, Extended Learning Opportunities, and Professional Learning Communities. In a recent meeting with our Director of Curriculum and Instruction, the HES principal and HMHS principal all agreed that we should next develop a district-wide K-12 behavior system.
Our annual Extended Learning Opportunity day is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21. During the ELO Exhibition Day our ELO students demonstrate an aspect of their ELO experience. This event draws community members and area business and organizational leaders from Hinsdale, Winchester, Keene, and Brattleboro, Vermont. All five Hinsdale Board members plan to attend.
- Communication
- Internal
- Twice yearly school board tours of all school buildings – 1 tour during the school day and 1 tour when classes are not in session.
- External
- Maintain communication to promote a collaborative relationship with the community through a continued commitment to holding a minimum of two forums and maintaining a presence in other committees, boards and community events in town.
- Maintain relationships with town governing bodies.
On Monday, April 22nd all five Hinsdale Board members spent several hours touring both Hinsdale school buildings. The Board intends to tour the buildings when classes are in session on the afternoon of May 21st.
- Culture
- Ensure clear behavioral expectations are communicated and followed up on regularly through the development and implementation of a district-wide behavior code, the progress of which will be reported to the Board monthly by the Superintendent.
- Promote an atmosphere that supports a forward-thinking, professional learning community.
- Support and promote anti-bullying practices and ensure policies are being followed.
- Superintendent will spot check the bullying logs and report monthly to the board.
The Board would like a district-wide review of current student behavior expectations and student behavior supports. The Board directed me to form a district-wide behavioral support team. Board members Kaylah Hemlow and Jeana Woodbury have agreed to serve on the team. I expect to have a list of staff members who would like to serve on the behavioral support team ready for the upcoming Board meeting scheduled for Wednesday, May 8th.
HMHS had one allegation of bullying since our last Board meeting. HES had three allegations of bullying since our April Board meeting. One of the allegations at HES was substantiated.
- Personnel
- Support initiatives to recruit and retain professional, high-quality staff that are innovative, dynamic and dedicated to the success of all students.
- Promote an atmosphere that supports an inclusive, professional learning community.
We know of three Hinsdale School District employees who plan to retire on June 30th, 2019. As of early May we have hired one replacement. In addition, we have four teachers who intend to leave us at the end of the school year. In April several HSD employees attended the Keene State College Job Fair where they received several favorable inquiries from prospective employees.
- Financial
- Search for ways to conduct business in the most efficient and effective manner.
- Work with administration to identify and secure additional sources of revenue.
- Work with the administration to proactively monitor the fund balance.
- Maintain ongoing communication with the Budget Committee regarding any potential changes in funding.
- Work with the administration to present a Warrant article to rebuild the maintenance fund.
At the Board meeting scheduled for May 8th, the Board intends to form a tuition exploratory committee to see if additional tuition revenue is possible.
- Security
- Continue to review security audit information and move forward, in a fiscally responsible manner, to ensure our buildings are secure and our students are safe.
A new safety audit has been recommended by Homeland Security. We will be discussing this recommendation at the Facility Committee meeting scheduled for Friday, May 17th.
- Technology
- Continue to align the district budget to support the 5-year plan of the Future Technology Committee.
- Support the development and implementation of a data governance plan.
We are continuing to plan for the implementation of the third year of our five-year Technology Plan. Our seventh grade and our eleventh grade students are scheduled to be added to the one-to-one computer initiative next fall.
Work towards compliance of the new law mandating a comprehensive data governance plan has already involved all Hinsdale staff.
