Norm's Notes

Collective bargaining lawsuit filed

2009-06-03T13:50:00.002-05:00

District legal counsel was notified June 2 that Springfield NEA has filed a lawsuit against Springfield Public Schools related to collective bargaining. Legal counsel is in the process of reviewing the petition that was filed.

On May 26, the Springfield Board of Education approved three collective bargaining policies: HA, Negotiations with Employees; HPA, Employee Walkouts, Strikes and Other Disruptions; and HH, Teacher Negotiating Representatives. These policies empower Springfield teachers to make their own choice about whether they want to be represented by one organization, multiple organizations or no organization at all.

Policy HH, which identifies a process for conducting elections to allow teachers to choose how they want to be represented, is a policy used by at least 10 other school districts in Missouri.

As with all legal issues, we will await direction from district legal counsel before making any further comment.

Update on 2009-2010 budget process

2009-05-12T10:25:00.001-05:00

Comments made by MSTA and SNEA teacher representatives at the May 5 school board meeting brought to my attention that misinformation is being shared about the effect of salary and step freezes on administrative personnel. Let me be very clear--no raises or steps of any manner have been issued with contracts for administrators.

Please know that any step and salary freeze that may be necessary for the upcoming year will be in effect for all employees of the district. This is without exception.

During difficult budget years, unfortunate rumors such as this one sometimes occur. It has been our goal to provide you as much detail as possible regarding our budget to avoid such misinformation. That is one reason we created the Bottom Line information page on the district Web site, which has been operational since April 23. Located on the front page of our Web site, it will keep the latest information concerning our budget at your fingertips. Click here to view the Bottom Line.

I would also like to take this opportunity to provide a quick outline of where we stand today as far as cuts being recommended to balance revenues and expenditures for the upcoming year. These total more than $6.1 million and were decided upon before any consideration was given to salary and step freezes.

The cuts will have a direct impact on the quality of support services provided to our staff and patrons but they are necessary given our current economic circumstances. Please note that this is a partial list of the cuts, which total $6.1 million for 2009-2010, which is in addition to the $4.2 million in cuts already made during 2008-2009.

Operations
Elimination of School Based Clinicians
Reduction in A+ funding
Reduction in Guidance and Counseling facilitator and support
Reduction in Non-District Security Services
Reductions in the Extended Learning Program
Reduction of 1 ESOL FTE
Reduction of 1 ISSI FTE through attrition
Reduction of 1 Counselor FTE through attrition
Reduction of 1 Nurse FTE through attrition
Elimination of Coordinator of Alternative Programs through attrition
Reduction of 1 Behavior Interventionist FTE through reassignment

Business Services and Facilities
Elimination of facility improvement funds
Reduction in custodial services
Postponement of Pershing electrical upgrade
Postponement of Glendale bleacher replacement
Postponement of filling internal auditor vacancy

Curriculum and Instruction
Reduction in materials, equipment and supplies budgets
Reduction in purchases of manipulatives and consumables for K-12 teachers
Reduction in funding for book replacement to address wear and tear
Reduction in purchase of printed music, instruments and supplies for music classrooms
Reduction in number of student print periodicals
Reduction in repair budgets
Reduction in repair or purchase of microscopes, dishwashers, refrigerators, electronic balances, triple beam balances, and scientific models
Reduction in conference support for leaders and teachers

Professional Development
Elimination of 1 STEP UP Coach FTE by reassignment as a classroom teacher
Reduction in 2010 teacher summer academies for professional development
Elimination of 2010 Summer Leadership Academy
Reduction in training supply budgets and frequency of teacher training
Reduction in the number of PD 360 licenses for teachers
Reduction in conference support for leaders and teachers
Elimination of Summer 2010 SIP Option

Information Technology
Reduction of equipment replacement and/or new purchases of new PCs, Smartboards, LCD projectors, and ELMOS
Reduction of maintenance contracts, server replacements, wireless access points, and switches/network equipment

Community Relations and Grants
Elimination of Channel 25 (now 81).
Reduction of Teacher Externship program
Reduction in newsletters to our patrons
Elimination of $100,000 available to match grant opportunities

Human Resources
Elimination of Retirement Banquet
Elimination of Teacher of the Month Recognition
Elimination of Teacher Insight Program

Once again, this is a partial list of cuts. In addition to the items above, there have been many cuts to overall general supplies, materials, and training, and those will unfortunately be felt throughout the system during the coming year.

Departmental leaders will be communicating more specifically with their staff and stakeholders to provide a clearer picture of all cuts and how they will impact the level of services and support previously provided.

Due to the uncertainty of the next few months, we must be prepared to make additional cuts to services and supplies as needed. Please continue to check the Bottom Line page for timely updates.

This district performs at a very high level and is one that, compared to any district of its size, is a very lean operation. Due to this fact, cuts of any type, but certainly of this magnitude, will have a negative impact on the quality of service provided to our staff and patrons. Please know that we are working very hard at making the most of these difficult times and decisions.

An open letter to the President

2009-04-06T08:11:00.004-05:00

Dear President Obama,

As I write to you today, I am on the verge of having to make some very difficult budget decisions that will impact Missouri’s largest fully accredited school district. I am superintendent of Springfield Public Schools and, due to current economic conditions, the positive momentum we have achieved in recent years is at risk of stalling.

We have reduced class sizes, improved teacher salaries and upgraded the quality of our aging buildings, but we are currently facing a budget deficit of $4.7 million, in large part due to declining revenue this fiscal year.

I am somewhat surprised to find myself in this position considering the promise and hope you inspired in our community when you announced the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act earlier this year. My optimism has been replaced by confusion since we have yet to see any of the dollars promised for saving teachers’ jobs and modernizing our school buildings.

Last week I had the unpleasant task of informing 3,000 dedicated employees that we are forced to cut $4.2 million in expenditures immediately. Each day that passes without receiving stimulus funds makes it more and more apparent that we will be forced to make further drastic cuts for 2009-2010.

Millions of Americans are struggling and making similarly tough financial choices. We believe that you intended for your bold act in January to not only invest in education but to bolster our faltering economy and create jobs for our friends and neighbors here in southwest Missouri.

Mr. President, our community and Springfield Public Schools stand ready to assist you in making that promise come true. Our district is prepared with a plan of action to invest the dollars promised in our community to save jobs, create work opportunities and generate demand for raw materials and supplies. In exchange for that investment, we pledge to be accountable for every dollar spent and to demonstrate the positive impact of these funds.

Here is our immediate plan of action given the funding:

Address critical facility needs by making our 53 schools safer, greener and better places for children to learn. We have identified 150 improvement projects totaling $66 million that can be immediately implemented. These shovel-ready projects will mean jobs right here in Springfield for a construction industry beleaguered by the housing slowdown.

Preserve teaching jobs to keep class sizes down and retain quality teachers in our classrooms. It is vital that we not only preserve but promote the quality of education to ensure our graduates, and ultimately our country, are equipped to compete in an increasingly global economy.

Move forward with important, innovative initiatives we have started in this district to meet ever-changing student needs. These are designed to prepare at-risk high school students to move directly into high-demand professions like nursing and diesel mechanics, and to promote fifth-graders’ focus on environmental science, equipping them to potentially create solutions to the tough environmental issues facing this country. These are just two examples of quality programs this district must maintain to meet the educational challenges of tomorrow.

While we still have hope that we can do our part in putting America on the road to recovery, we need the cooperation of the Missouri legislature. As of today, not one penny of investment has been made available to Springfield Public Schools via your initiative.

I am calling for leadership at the state and federal level to remain true to the spirit of your directive and enable this district, and all public school districts in Missouri, to do their part to secure America’s future with sound investments in our children, our schools and our community.

Respectfully,
Dr. Norm Ridder

Proposed 2009-2010 school calendar

2009-01-14T14:38:00.001-06:00

A draft of the 2009-2010 school calendar was presented last night to school board members for review at their study session. The board is expected to take action on the calendar at its Jan. 20 regular meeting.

Developing a school calendar is a complex process driven by many variables. I would like to thank the members of our calendar committee who work together to iron out these details and create a calendar that best meets the educational needs of our students.

The committee, composed of parents, students, teachers, principals, district staff, and community members, takes into consideration myriad factors such as legal and district requirements, holidays, parent-teacher conferences, professional development and stakeholder input.

For example, state law requires a minimum number of days and hours students must be in session and requires that six inclement weather days be included in the calendar. Within those parameters, the committee also tries to schedule the first day of school to limit heat-related issues (at least until all our schools are air conditioned) but still dismiss for the year prior to Memorial Day when possible.

As you might imagine this can be a complicated puzzle to piece together.

In the proposed 2009-2010 calendar, the first day of school would be Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009. This puts the last day of school before winter break as Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009. It is interesting to note that Dec. 23, 2008, was our last day before winter break this school year. We experienced very poor student attendance that day.

During discussions with my parent advisory council, some members suggested we move the first day of school to Tuesday, Aug. 25, and change the last day before winter break to Tuesday, Dec. 22.

What are your thoughts? Would you like to see the calendar approved as proposed or do you agree with modifying the calendar to start school a day earlier and release for winter break a day earlier?

Update on retirement issue

2009-01-12T13:51:00.002-06:00

I offer a sincere thank you to Missouri U.S. Representatives and Senators for their help in addressing a proposed change in retirement regulations. On behalf of Missouri’s teachers, our Congressional delegation moved swiftly in response to a proposal by the Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service to change current practices, drastically affecting the retirement benefits for some certificated staff effective July 1, 2009.

This week the SSA and IRS agreed upon prospective enforcement and said that the July 1, 2009, implementation date would be delayed. In a letter to Sen. Claire McCaskill, the agencies said it is their intention to resolve the issue by July 1, 2010. Following a 60-day evaluation period, they expect to have a better sense of future implementation plans and deadlines.

Our Congressional delegation believes that given the current positive and collaborative spirit among all groups involved, including the IRS, SSA, Missouri Office of Administration and the Public School Retirement System as well as various stakeholders in the education community, a fair and reasonable resolution will result.

We are grateful to everyone involved in these discussions for their efforts to protect the best interests of our educators.

Holiday activities and our schools

2008-12-17T11:06:00.003-06:00

This week a local radio program initiated a discussion about winter celebrations and observances in our schools. At this time of year, we often hear comments or questions related to that topic.

As a school system, we embrace the fundamental dignity and respect of each individual. That means we have a responsibility to protect individual rights even when majority views may be to the contrary. In keeping with that philosophy, we strive to ensure that no individual student feels excluded or singled out at any time, especially during the holidays.

Music, drama or literature with religious themes may be presented in our schools if done so in an objective manner, without sectarian indoctrination or other endorsement of religion. Many of our schools display Christmas trees in their lobbies. They include traditional Christmas carols in their musical performances along with songs about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Students create art projects featuring Santa Claus.

Christmas is not absent from our schools; it exists there right alongside many other religious and cultural traditions of the season.

Occasionally misunderstandings occur with regard to religious and cultural celebrations and observances. To prevent such misunderstandings, our schools strive to focus on educational aspects to advance students’ knowledge and appreciation of the global role religions and cultures have played in the development of our civilization. (Read Board Policy IGAC: Teaching About Religion.)

I always appreciate your comments. If you would like to weigh in on this topic, please leave a comment on my blog or call 523-0000.

New bond proposal postponed

2008-12-10T13:55:00.000-06:00

The focus of the school board’s strategic discussion this month centered around the potential for an April 2009 bond proposal to continue the district’s plan to go to the voters every three years with a bond initiative to address urgent facility needs. Since 2000, our community has generously supported bond proposals which have significantly improved the learning environment for students across our district.

Passage of an April 2009 bond would have continued this effort with a list of very important building improvements, including the completion of our air-conditioning projects. Although I consider these projects to be of great importance in improving our facilities for students, I believe the decision by the board to delay the bond election was the proper approach to take.

Our stakeholders understand the need for these improvements, and to their credit, many would be in line to vote in support of a bond in April 2009. However, we understand that while many community members are supportive of our efforts some may be struggling to make ends meet in this tough economic time. By holding off past April, a number of factors should become clearer at which time we will engage our stakeholders again in a discussion about setting a new date for a bond election.

For those of you who would prefer action in April 2009, I ask for your patience and understanding. For those who are struggling at this time but have supported the students of Springfield with past votes, please continue to stay engaged as we work though these times and make decisions that will be best for the entire community.

I look forward to hearing from you about this issue and urge you to submit a comment. Based on input from readers of this blog, I have decided to post your comments for all to read. As you submit your thoughts and opinions, please pose them in a manner that will contribute to constructive discourse. Thank you.

Boundary discussions

2008-11-12T13:56:00.002-06:00

Discussion at last night’s school board meeting focused on some of the proposed changes recommended in the Boundary and Facility Usage Review Final Report. This report is the result of a four-month process that involved staff, parents and community members. It is the first time anyone can recall Springfield Public Schools taking such a comprehensive look at attendance boundaries and other factors which impact our building usage and capacity.

Given the current economy, it is possible we will not implement all proposed changes immediately. However, this will not be the last discussion we have about our district’s boundaries.

As I explained last night, one purpose of this review is to develop a framework for us to use in the future to continually evaluate and modify our boundaries. For too many years our boundaries have been considered immovable. They cannot be viewed as static though because our community certainly isn’t static.

As Springfield grows and changes, we must be responsive and adapt our system to ensure we make the most of the resources you provide us. Along the way, we will continue to listen to our stakeholders as we consider ways to ensure the future success of Springfield Public Schools and its students.

Votes for the future

2008-10-31T09:58:00.002-05:00

Next Tuesday is an important day for Springfield Public Schools. As you know, your vote matters when it comes to local, state and national issues related to education. I encourage you to look closely at all the candidates and all the ballot issues that will no doubt have a major impact on the direction of our country and the future of public education.

This election will have a direct connection to the waters we will be navigating in the immediate and long-range future. Of course, right now the dominant topic of concern is the economy. I can assure you we will be following closely the impact a slowing economy will have on our budget, and I encourage you to stay engaged with our district so that we can work through these times together.

The Board of Education will be having a strategic discussion during its Nov. 11 Study Session to discuss the current economic conditions and its impact on our tentatively scheduled April 2009 bond election. While there is no question that the types of projects to be tackled with this bond, including the completion of air conditioning at the remainder of our schools, are needed as soon as possible, it is imperative that we be sensitive to the economic conditions that exist with our stakeholders as well.

Through focus groups conducted this year we were encouraged to find that frequent voters are very supportive of this school district’s direction as established by SP5. At the same time, we were encouraged to keep an ear to the ground when it comes to the economic reality faced by Springfield citizens during this economic roller coaster. Please know, we are indeed keeping a very close ear to the ground and will work hard on making the best decisions for all those impacted by future funding initiatives.

Enrollment increase

2008-10-06T13:48:00.003-05:00

Our official enrollment count indicates we have 166 more students in our schools this year. For 2008-2009 total enrollment for Springfield Public Schools is 23,968 students compared with enrollment of 23,802 students in 2007-2008.

Most of that growth is at the elementary level with an increase of 173 students. We also noted an increase of 44 middle school students but enrollment declined by 51 students at the high school level bringing us to a net increase of 166 students.

Growth in several southwest Springfield schools reinforces the need for the new elementary school currently under construction. McBride Elementary School has 69 additional students and Gray Elementary School increased by 31 students. These buildings are already struggling to accommodate their large numbers.

Other examples of schools in the southwest that are growing include: Carver Middle School with 37 additional students; Cherokee Middle School with 53 more students; and Kickapoo High School with 40 additional students.

We’ve added four kindergarten teachers to accommodate the elementary growth in the district and are requesting a fifth teacher be hired to help address the increase of 120 students who are English Language Learners. The hiring of these additional teachers is important in advancing the district’s strategic objective of reducing student-teacher ratios.

Schools, Neighborhoods and Cities....

2008-10-01T13:40:00.001-05:00

The recent Boundary and Facility Usage Review process that we are currently undertaking has once again served as a reminder of the central and essential part public schools play in a community. It was very clear with the Robberson Elementary discussion that it is the staff at Robberson and their relationship with their community that anchors that neighborhood.

Personal relationships are vital to the success of a public school, neighborhood and city. While individuals may have differing opinions as to the placement and future of the physical structure at Robberson, there is no denying that school and community relationships are built upon a solid foundation of trust and caring. I think you will find that is true throughout our system.

Based on the support expressed for Robberson, we will be working with that community to further define a vision for their school and neighborhood. It occurs to me that perhaps part of the struggle in discussing this type of emotional topic results from not being visionary enough. SP5, our strategic plan, has produced for our community a clear focus on what our stakeholders want to achieve for our district. What is needed now, for not only the Robberson community, but for all our neighborhoods, and our community as a whole, is a bold vision that reflects the dreams and aspirations we share for all students.

What if we did not just stop the discussion at whether a building from a distant era is suitable or not, but created a vision for the Robberson community that captured the imagination of not only the parents and students but of the entire city? What program and facility could exist that not only teaches the basics well but creates an environment which transforms a neighborhood and a school?

This discussion has reinforced for me that it is time, now more than ever, to be bold in creating an educational environment that meets the educational needs of our students as well as ignites the drive and innovation of a school, neighborhood and community.

With this in mind, I am asking Marc Maness to pull together a team of engaged citizens, a blue ribbon team if you will, to help us create this vision. The main goal of this team will be to take SP5 and propose ways to achieve the clearly stated goals in ways that will help transform neighborhoods and have a positive impact on our entire city. I will share with you in upcoming blog entries more specifics, but needless to say, this is an exciting time for public education in Springfield!

Future bond?

2008-09-19T09:23:00.000-05:00

Given this week’s economic news, I thought I’d ask your thoughts on an important financial issue facing the district. As many of you know, our school board will be discussing the need for another bond issue in the next few months.

We’ve been open with stakeholders in the past about our plans to ask for a new bond about every three years. You approved bonds in 2000, 2003 and 2006. Adhering to that plan would mean placing a new bond request on the April 2009 ballot, a decision which must be made no later than January.

With more than 50 school buildings, we will always have facility needs. But as members of this community, we have to balance our needs with those of our stakeholders. Should we keep to our plan and request a tax increase in 2009? How would it affect you and your family? Is it fair to delay our bond request and make students in the remaining 25 percent of buildings wait for air conditioning?

I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Boundary and Facility Usage Review

2008-09-08T15:56:00.000-05:00

I hope headlines and comments about a few proposed alternates don’t overshadow the good that can come from the comprehensive Boundary and Facility Usage Review we initiated this summer.

Such discussions can be unsettling for students and families but I want to remind everyone they are just that at this point—discussions. We want to know what our stakeholders think about these proposals and hear their suggestions for alternative solutions.

I received a comment via my blog about closing neighborhood schools. The reader stated:
“I beg you to not go down the slippery slope that the closing of neighborhood schools brings to families, to economies and eventually to the school district itself. Bigger is not better when it comes to children.”

Two alternates under consideration do propose closing an elementary school and a middle school. The other buildings that could be closed currently house alternative programs. These buildings, Bailey, Berry and Pepperdine, have not been used as traditional school buildings for several years because of their inadequacies.

I agree with the reader that arbitrarily closing schools is ill advised. However, I encourage stakeholders to consider the rationale behind the proposals and envision the positive possibilities they could bring for students. We believe all students deserve a quality learning environment and some of these buildings have limitations that even the most comprehensive renovations cannot address.

Making proactive and strategic decisions now about how to use the resources you provide will ensure Springfield Public Schools continues to thrive along with our community in the future and ensure academic excellence for ALL students.

I encourage you to attend a town meeting Thursday, Sept. 11, at 6:30 p.m. in Central High School auditorium to discuss the boundary and facility usage review. You may also read more online and provide your feedback.

A new beginning

2008-08-25T11:05:00.002-05:00

Welcome back to the first day of the 2008-2009 school year! I started my day visiting some of our schools and I sensed an energy in our classrooms that causes me to be especially optimistic about the future of education in Springfield Public Schools.

There is excitement about education in our community. Students, teachers, staff and community members are proud of our schools and it shows.

Of course, I believe their pride is well placed. We realized some critical milestones recently that position us for continuous improvement this year. Our graduation rate is up. Attendance is improving. Last year’s seniors performed remarkably well on the ACT exam.

As we embark on a new year, we will sharpen our focus on student achievement, persistence to graduation and increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of our system. We will engage all our stakeholders in this effort to ensure Springfield students receive every opportunity to succeed.

I hope this blog will give you an avenue to become more engaged in the discussion about education. Send me your questions or comments and we’ll address them in this forum. Let’s start with your comments about the first day of school. How did it go for your child?

Increasing transparency

2008-08-18T14:07:00.005-05:00

One purpose of this blog is to increase the transparency of Springfield Public Schools’ operations. It is imperative that a high-performing system give stakeholders easy access to information about critical decisions and everyday operations.

Another way we are trying to enhance transparency as an organization is by posting our internal audit reports online. I’m not aware of many other public entities in the area that do so. You can read them and find out for yourself where we are doing well in managing our resources and where we’ve identified opportunities for improvement. When you do, you’ll see an audit of the Superintendent and Board of Education was the first one posted.

I’d also like you to be aware that we are currently evaluating the feasibility of the KSPR building at 1359 E. St. Louis St. as a potential site for our administrative offices. The deadline is looming for us to determine whether we will invest money in our current building or move to a more efficient facility. We know we will have to spend a minimum of $600,000 to repair the boiler at Kraft Administrative Center just to pass building code. Last week, the elevator in the building was taken out of service for required costly repairs that may take more than six weeks.

While some might oppose our moving to a different building, it could help solve several problems. In addition to addressing the inadequacies of our current building, moving to a new location would allow us to improve the Central High School campus by providing much-needed green space and parking for the school.

Any thoughts?

Keep your comments coming

2008-08-15T13:31:00.004-05:00

Since my first blog entry, I’ve received numerous responses from readers. Several of you asked for a more detailed explanation about why we won’t be posting your comments for everyone to read.

On July 15, the school board adopted Policy EBH: Technology Usage to ensure appropriate use of district technology resources. Here’s an excerpt that applies to my blog:

Closed Forum
The district’s technology resources are not a public forum for expression of any kind and are to be considered a closed forum to the extent allowed by law. The district’s webpage will provide information about the school district, but will not be used as an open forum. The district’s webpage may include the district’s address, telephone number and an emailaddress where members of the public may easily communicate concerns to the administration and the Board."

While we have established these general guidelines, I do not expect them to impede our ability to have free discussion. You can still ask tough questions and I will respond.

The spirit of this blog is to facilitate an open and honest dialogue. With your enthusiastic participation, I am confident that can be achieved.

Let's start the discussion

2008-08-01T08:00:00.001-05:00

I am always looking for ways to improve the quality of education at Springfield Public Schools and my own performance as superintendent. I truly believe the best way to accomplish both can be as simple as having a conversation.

So, I thought it made good sense to tap into the power of "blogging." This electronic journal will allow me to interact with you more informally and give you a way to share your thoughts directly with me.

Welcome to the first installment of "Norm’s Notes." My goal is to make this a place where we hold regular conversations – candid, courteous and relevant – about important topics that might otherwise go unexplored.

Through regular journal entries, I will provide insights into what’s happening in the district and in the broader world of education. In turn, I hope you’ll share what’s on your mind. Such two-way dialogue will foster clearer understanding for all of us.

I regret that I won’t be able to post your comments on my blog due to legal limitations. However, I’ll do my best to review each comment submitted and consider them for discussion starters in future Norm’s Notes.

In spite of this minor limitation, I’m excited about this new line of communication. I think you know me well enough to realize I’m very comfortable sharing information, seeking feedback and encouraging an honest dialogue about the issues and challenges we face as a district.

So let’s get started. Do you think my new blog will be a useful communication tool?