Four-day School Week

The Board has been discussing the District response to the pending state funding shortfall we anticipate for the 2010-2011 school year. One of the topics of interest to the trustees is the four-day school week. This concept has been discussed at public meetings during the past two years. While there were some financial savings from transitioning to a four-day school week in prior years, a change in the way school bus transportation is now funded has almost doubled the savings which would result from the schedule change. Idaho now reimburses allowable bus transportation at 50% of the cost versus the prior 85%. Saving twenty percent of our regular transportation is now 10% saving versus 3%. In addition kindergarten would likely transition to two full days which would eliminate the noon bus routes further increasing the savings to the District.

The Board appointed a committee under the direction of Mr. Caldwell which will include four staff members and several parents to go visit a school district currently on the four-day school week. A public meeting will be held in February to provide information regarding the four-day school week and committee members and Mr. Neumann will be available to answer questions.

It should be noted that there are other positive educational reasons to consider the four-day school week in addition to the financial benefits which will be discussed at the meeting. There are challenges as well, but the track record of schools transitioning to this form of schedule has, for the most part, been very positive. The school board plans to make a decision in March

Emergency Release of School

As the flood waters rose on Cow Creek yesterday, we received numerous calls from anxious parents wanting to know if we would be releasing students early. The answer was no. It is the policy of the school district not to release school early because many young students would arrive home to empty and/or unsupervised homes. The school building is a safe environment. In the instance of a flood, being at the top of the hill, makes the school a very safe place to be. Further, releasing unsupervised students who may venture too close to icy cold and unsanitary flood waters would pose another threat to student safety.

Similar situations can occur when significant snowfall occurs during the school day. Again, we will not release students early. Our transportation supervisor is in continuous communication with the appropriate road departments. Alternative plans and routes exist to take students home from school. In the very unlikely event that this could not be accomplished, parents and guardians would be contacted and alternative plans would be put into effect. As always, our highest priority is student safety.

There could be a situation when it would be necessary to evacuate the school such as a fire, bomb scare or similar event. The school has emergency closure plans in place which utilize alternative locations in the community to facilitate transporting students to their homes. This process is practiced and students and staff know what to do and how to act in the event of such an unlikely event.

If you have specific questions or suggestions, you may email me at dneumann@sd282.org.

Cold Weather and Your Student

Now that cold weather is here, it is important for parents to make sure their students are adequately clothed for the temperature and conditions. Warm jackets, pants, appropriate footwear and gloves are essential.

When the temperature (taking into consideration the wind chill factor) drops below ten degrees, the elementary school will hold indoor recess. Otherwise students will have recess outside and they need to be prepared to dress appropriately.

Generally we do not allow elementary students to enter the building until 8:15 AM. Please do not send your child to school earlier than that if he or she walks to school. When the temperature drops to ten degrees or below, we will allow students to go to their classroom versus waiting outside but it would be helpful if students did not arrive too early. The teachers have many responsibilities in the morning to ready their classrooms for the arrival of students. You support would be appreciated.

Idaho is a beautiful state with four seasons. Each season places personal demands on each of us. What a great opportunity for students to learn how to cope with these changing seasons. We will continue to do our part; please reinforce the message at home. Thank you.

Superintendent Search

The search officially begins today to hire a new superintendent/K-6 principal to replace me as I retire June 30. The Board of Trustees appointed a hiring committee in November consisting of the five trustees, Kelley Porter, Russ Zenner, Bill Newbry, Lezah Shinkle, Peter Crowley and Heidi Waisanen to review applications, interview candidates and follow up on recommendations. The position closes on January 11, 2010.

The committee will review application materials beginning January 18, followed by interviews, possible site visit(s) and a recommendation to the Board in February for the new hire. The position begins July 1, 2010.

Rather than hiring a consulting firm, the Board opted to conduct the hiring process internally. The Board developed a hiring process with a time line, revised the job description, and requested that a four-color brochure be prepared by staff, printed and distributed to all school districts in Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington. College placement offices and other educational job listing services in the Pacific Northwest also have the position listed. A job description and application form is available on the District's employment web site.

We all know that the Genesee School District is the top rural school in Idaho and can compete with any school district in the region. Couple that fact with the quality of life that the community of Genesee affords its citizens and we believe we will successfully locate a superintendent/principal that can continue to move the District forward and meet the challenges that exist today and tomorrow.

School Bus Unloading

From 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM Ash Street between Tamarack and Elm is closed to all traffic except school bus loading and unloading. It is imperative that no vehicles use this portion of Ash Street during this time for the safety of the students. We have had several incidents of cars driving through Ash Street while buses are unloading students in the morning. Not only is this dangerous, it is illegal. Violators will be prosecuted. 

Community Service

Genesee Junior Senior High School recently completed a Community Service afternoon last Wednesday. Organized using the school's color groups (cross-grade groupings of students) and supervised by staff members, the students performed various activities including raking leaves for senior citizens, collecting litter along roadways, organized food bank donations and stocked shelves, repainted playground game spaces, hauled firewood for senior citizens, cleaned up the memorial park and statue, cleaned the downtown park by the Verizon building, and made cookies and delivered them to the Genesee Fire Department.

Another on-going community service project organized and run by the students is a food bank drive and contest which will culminate in two weeks. Your support of their efforts is greatly appreciated. Community Service is an important component of Vision 21; the District's effort to incorporate 21st century learning skills into the educational process. The 21st century skills are embodied in the Board of Trustees Philosophy and Objectives (see Policy 300.2). "Participate effectively in civic life" is the skill supported by community service.

$3,318.60 raised for Breast Cancer Research

Through the combined efforts of the Genesee and Troy volleyball teams, $3,318.60 and has been donated to the Side-Out Foundation in Annandale, Virginia for breast cancer research. The Dig Pink volleyball match held between the Bulldogs and Trojans on October 13 was the featured event of this multi-pronged fund raising effort.

Various activities were held including a sign auction, 50-50, serving contest, and business donations but by far the largest effort was collecting pledges for team digs during the match. Several players collected over $300 of pledges. Rachel Krick, Genesee junior, collected the most and will be awarded a pink and white volleyball at the volleyball awards banquet to be held on November 19.

Thank you to all the donors and participants in this event. The initial goal was to raise $1,000 in the event. We are so excited to have more than tripled our initial goal.