Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

I would like to wish all of you a Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! As we close out another calendar year, I often reflect on how quickly the year has passed and all the events that have occurred during the year.

As I say goodbye to 2012 and bring in 2013, I will be reflecting on how much I have enjoyed spending my days working with the staff, students and community of the Genesee School District. We are truly blessed to live and work in a district and community that cares so deeply about children. As educators we know that our job would be much more difficult if we didn't have the continued support from our families and community as a whole.

Two recent examples of this is the "Palouse Cares Food Drive" and the "Sharing Tree". On December 1st, 17 Jr.High and High school students, along with community members collected over 900 lbs of food for the Genesee area. Secondly, this Christmas season the "Sharing Tree" will support 18 families/ 40 children, helping make their holiday just a little brighter.  It couldn't be done without your support!

 So on behalf of the students and staff at Genesee Schools, we would like to Thank You for all your support! We hope that you have a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to working with you in the New Year.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Tis the Season

As we get closer to the holiday season, I would like to encourage you to join us for some of the festivities here at school.

December 5 ........ Grades K-3 Concert in the Multi-Purpose Room
December 10........Grades 4-6 Concert in the Multi-Purpose Room

Students have been practicing for the concert and it is always a heart warming event to see them perform for an audience.  Please consider joining us.

Proposal 1, 2 and 3.

Propositions 1 and 2 and 3 will be on the November 6, 2012 ballot in the state of Idaho as veto referendums. The measures were filed in response to Education bills that were signed into law during 2011 state legislative session.

  Proposal 1: Bargaining Rights Summary Amends, repeals and adds to existing law relating to education to revise conditions relating to the employment of professional personnel by the board of trustees; to revise provisions relating to certain employment; to provide that a district may place certain employees on unpaid leave of absence; to revise provisions relating to contract categories; to provide provisions relating to grandfathered renewable contracts; to provide provisions relating to reductions in force; and to provide provisions relating to contract negotiations and establishing contracts. Full text can be found at http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1108.pdf

Proposal 2: Pay for Performance Summary Referendum to approve or reject S1110; relating to education: revising Idaho Code by adding new section 33-1004I to provide and distribute in fiscal year 2013 state share-based pay for performance bonuses to certificated instructional staff based on a school's median student growth percentiles on state achievement tests and a school's median standardized score on state achievement tests and local share-based pay for performance based on student test scores, graduation rates, dropout rates, percent of graduates attending postsecondary education or entering military service, meeting federal "adequate yearly progress", number of students successfully completing dual credit or advanced placement classes; percent of students in extracurricular activities, class projects, portfolios, successful completion of special student assignments, parental involvement, teacher-assigned grades, and/or student attendance rates, and, in fiscal year 2014 and thereafter, in addition to the aforementioned bonuses, provide incentives for certificated instructional staff in hard-to-fill positions and leadership awards for certificated instructional staff who assume one or more of the following additional duties: instructional staff mentoring, content leadership, lead teacher, peer coaching, content specialist, remedial instructor, curriculum development, assessment development, data analysis, grant writing, special program coordinator, research project, professional development instructor, service on education committees, educational leadership and earning national board certification. Full text can be found at http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1110.pdf

Proposal 3: Technology and Online Course Summary Repeals, amends and adds to existing law relating to education to provide provisions relating to public school technology and online courses; to revise provisions relating to the Educational Support Program; to revise provisions relating to staff allowances; to revise provisions relating to the experience and education multiplier; and to revise provisions relating to obligations to PERSI and Social Security. Full text can be found at http://www.legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2011/S1184.pdf

A YES vote means you approve the legislation. A NO vote means you reject the legislation.

This information was obtained from http://votesmart.org/elections/ballot-measures/2012/ID#.UIlzUm_A8uc Additional links: http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Idaho_Teachers'_Collective_Bargaining_Veto_Referendums,_Props._1_and_2_(2)_(2012)

Genesee Schools Receives Bronze Medal - U.S. News Best High Schools 2012

In the U.S. News Best High Schools 2012 rankings, 5 Idaho schools were awarded silver medals and 40 received bronze medals . The magazine annually rates schools across the nation in four areas: student-teacher ratios, college readiness and math and English proficiency.  Some schools also received a gold, silver or bronze medal based on their overall performance. Genesee Schools was a recipient of a bronze medal.

U.S. News reviewed 21,776 U.S. public high schools; 47 Idaho schools made their rankings.  Idaho requires high school students to take three years of math courses and three years of science courses; complete a senior project; and take the SAT, ACT, or Compass exam by the end of their junior years.
Students  are also assessed by the Idaho Standard Achievement Test.

Subject Proficiency Testing 
Student exit exams receive grades among multiple proficiency levels established by the state. These figures display how the school as a whole performed in different subjects.

English Proficiency Distribution 
English proficiency is determined by student results on the school's Idaho Standard Achievement Test.
Total Students Tested .................................23
Below Basic ..............................................0%
Basic .....................................................9%
Proficient ...............................................83%
Advanced ................................................9%

Math Proficiency Distribution 
Math proficiency is determined by student results on the school's Idaho Standard Achievement Test.
Total Students Tested..................................23
Below Basic ............................................  0%
Basic .................................................... 4%
Proficient ..............................................30%
Advanced ...............................................65%

College-Ready Student Performance 
High school students take AP® and IB exams to earn college credit and demonstrate success at college-level coursework. U.S. News calculated a College Readiness Index based on exam participation rates and percentages of students passing at least one exam. The Index determined which medals were awarded to qualified schools.

College Readiness Index : N/A
Exam Used for Index................................. N/A

Overall Student Performance
This measures overall student performance on state exams. The calculations by U.S. News were the first step in determining which schools qualified to receive medals.

State Test Performance Index..................119.9
Risk-Adjusted Performance Index............... 15.2

Disadvantaged Student Performance

This measures the proficiency on state exams among typically underperforming subgroups. The calculations by U.S. News were the second step in determining which schools qualified to receive medals.

State Test Proficiency Rate of Black, Hispanic, and Economically Disadvantaged Students ..............................................................N/A
State Test Proficiency Rate of Non-Disadvantaged Students................................................... 93.4
Current State Test Achievement Gap ...............................................................N/A
Performance Gap of Black, Hispanic, and Economically Disadvantaged Students .....................................................N/A

Of the nearly 22,000 high schools ranked nationwide, 2 percent received gold medals, 7 percent received silver medals, 13 percent received bronze medals and 78 percent did not receive medals.

A complete list of the "Best High Schools" rankings is available at http://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools

Genesee Schools see financial return on Solar Panels

After one year of having the Solar Panels installed on the roof of Genesee Joint School District, the district received its first incentive check  from Avista Utilities in the amount of  $11,938.

The kWh (kilowatt hours) created from 7/2011 to 7/2012 through the solarpanels was 59,689 kwh.

If you would like to follow the production of energy from the solar panels, the public website is https://www.mypvpower.com/dashboard/1834.

Genesee Schools Chosen for 1:1 Intiative for Laptop Devices

SIX NORTHCENTRAL IDAHO SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO

PARTICIPATE IN FIRST DEPLOYMENT OF LAPTOP DEVICES

BOISE – Thirty school districts and two charter schools across Idaho will be the first to achieve 1:1 ratios of laptop devices to students and teachers in the next two years, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna announced today.

The 1:1 initiative is a part of the bold Students Come First laws, which are comprehensively changing Idaho’s education system to ensure every student graduates from high school prepared to go on to postsecondary education or the workforce without the need for remediation.

Five of the school districts and one charter school selected to deploy 1:1 devices for high school students in the first round, beginning in Fall 2013, are in north central Idaho. Cottonwood School District, Culdesac School District, Genesee School District, Highland School District, Idaho Distance Education Academy, and Lewiston School District have all been selected.

“This is an exciting day for schools all across Idaho,” Supt.Luna said. “Reaching a one-to-one ratio of students and teachers to laptop devices in every public high school is just one part of the Students Come First laws. Idaho schools now join thousands of schools across the United States in creating 21st century classrooms where learning opportunities are limitless and will provide equal access to the best educational opportunities for every student – no matter where they live.”

Students Come First puts the programs and policies in place necessary to create the 21st century classroom in every Idaho classroom, to provide equal access to the best opportunities for every Idaho student no matter where they live, and to recruit and retain highly effective teachers in the profession.

Some of these programs include achieving a 1:1 ratio of students and teachers to laptop devices in every high school, improving teacher pay with $40 million in new funding for pay-for-performance, supporting classroom teachers with $4 million a year in ongoing funding for professional development, and paying for high school students to take up to 36 dual credits before graduation.

Idaho will begin phasing in the 1:1 initiative for public high schools in Fall 2012 by deploying devices to high school teachers and principals first. They will receive devices along with a year of intensive professional development. The devices will then be deployed to students over the following three years. In Fall 2013, the state will deploy devices to the first round of high schools representing one-third of high school students. The state will continue to deploy devices to high schools over the next two years until a 1:1 ratio is reached in all grades 9-12. All high schools will eventually reach a 1:1 ratio.

“A year ago, Highland School District was a small, rural school with basic technology tools. Within one year, through Students Come First and the different technology grants, we have been able to bring Highland into the 21st century and provide our students the tools they need to meet their educational goals.  Being chosen to be one of the schools in the first third of the 1:1 deployment continues that effort to provide our students similar opportunities provided in larger school districts,” said Cindy Orr, Superintendent and Elementary Principal of the Highland Joint School District.

Because more than 170 high schools representing 84 percent of Idaho’s high school students wanted to participate in the first round of deployment, the state developed a competitive application process to determine the schools and districts that were most ready to benefit. A committee made up of educators in Idaho and staff at the State Department of Education conducted a “blind” review of the applications throughout May where the reviewers did not know which schools or districts they were rating. The selections were determined by point rankings on the application by region to ensure school districts in every region of the state would participate in the first deployment.

“The Genesee School District is excited to be one of the first districts to receive the 1:1 laptop devices. We believe this initiative will help bring greater educational opportunities for our students and help raise academic achievement. We are very grateful for this opportunity to invest in our future....our students,” said Wendy Moore, Superintendent of the Genesee School District.

THANK YOU for your support!

On behalf of the students, staff, Administration and Board of Education I would like to send a sincere "Thank You" to all of you who supported our 2012 Supplemental Levy.

We completely understand that the levy was a significant increase for our tax payers and I can assure you that we as Administration, Staff and Board of Education will work diligently to ensure that these funds are used to support and maintain the highest level of quality educational services that our community has come to expect.

Thank you again for supporting the students of Genesee School District.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Wendy Moore
Superintendent

Supplemental Levy Meeting - Thursday, March 8th at 6:00 p.m.

On Thursday, March 8th the Genesee District will host a public community meeting to inform patrons regarding the Supplemental levy election that will be held on March 13, 2012.

The proposed one year levy of $935,000 will help the Genesee School District maintain quality educational programs and opportunities for our students. Taking into account the property tax reduction provided by the agricultural equipment replacement exemption, which is approximately $57,693, the estimated cost of this levy will be closer to $877,307.

The cost of this levy is estimated at $5.87 per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation based on the projected property market value of $141,098,149. This levy is an increase of $1.21 per thousand dollars of assessed valuation.

The determination of the levy amount was based on the discrepancy between the state and federal revenue available to the district and the educational needs of our students as determined by the Board of Trustees.

If you are unable to attend the meeting and would like additional information, please contact Mrs. Wendy Moore at 208-285-1161.

SUPPLEMENTAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION LEVY ELECTION

SUPPLEMENTAL MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION LEVY ELECTION

March 13, 2012

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LEVY?

The proposed one-year levy of $935,000 will help the District maintain educational programs at the same time the State of Idaho is reducing funding. Current Idaho legislation decreases staff funding for public schools by 4.05% for the 2012/13 school year.

The determination of the levy amount was based on the difference between the anticipated revenues to the Genesee School district and the educational needs of our students. The cost of this levy is estimated at $6.61 per one thousand dollars of assessed valuation based on a projected market value of $141,098,149. The proposed levy amount is an increase of 1.85% from the 2011.

The proposed levy provides the necessary funds to continue to offer our students at Genesee Joint Schools a quality education. These funds will ensure that our students continue to receive the highest quality education that has been a tradition for the Genesee School system over the last 100 years.

PUBLIC MEETING

On Thursday, March 8th, the district will host a community meeting to inform patrons what generally comprises the $935,,000 supplemental levy. The meeting will be held at 6:00 P.M. in the Multi-Purpose Room at the school. If you cannot attend or would like additional information, please contact the school district office at 208-285-1161.

WHERE TO VOTE

For Electors in Latah Co:

Genesee Senior Center , 240 E. Walnut, Genesee, ID 83832

In person voting: Latah Co. Courthouse, 240 E. Walnut, Room 101, 522 South Adams, Moscow, ID 83843

For Electors in Nez Perce Co.

Ballots will be mailed to all registered voters.

In person voting: Nez Perce Co. Courthouse, Room 100, 1230 Main Street, Lewiston, ID 83501.


“We have never needed great schools more than we do today, and our schools have never had a greater need for public support”. – Jamie Vollmer – Author of Schools Cannot Do It Alone.

Book Club: "Schools Cannot Do It Alone"

The Genesee Joint School District Board of Education and Administration has begun reading “Schools Cannot Do IT Alone”, by author Jamie Vollmer. The story is one of a businessman’s journeys working with the public education system and his transformation from harsh critic to advocate of America’s public schools.

Mr. Vollmers experiences in public education over the last twenty years have led him to two important discoveries. First, public education has a system problem not a people problem. That in order to obtain the graduates we need, we must be willing to change the system of how we deliver instruction. Secondly, we cannot change the system without touching the culture of the community; everything that goes on inside a school is tied to local attitudes, values, traditions and beliefs of the community in which it resides.

In "Schools Cannot Do It Alone", Mr. Vollmer presents a practical plan to increase student success. Vollmer’s community-based program, called “The Great Conversation” provides instructions and suggestions to tackle the major obstacles to school improvement. "Schools Cannot Do It Alone" also includes an expanded version of the famous “Blueberry Story,” and the latest update of “Vollmer’s List.” This exhaustive review of the responsibilities heaped upon the nation’s public schools over the last hundred years proves that our schools are no longer being told to” just teach” America’s children.

If you would be interested in reading a copy of the book or joining us in a discussion about the book, please contact Mrs. Moore, Superintendent at 208-285-1161.

Book Information:

Vollmer, Jamie (2010). Schools Cannot Do It Alone. Enlightenment Press.

Website Information:

www.jamievollmer.com