Superintendent April Newsletter

A strategic plan is comprised of goals for students and action steps the district and schools can take to support students in reaching the goals. Different measures and data points are used to write and monitor the plan. The plan is utilized as a road map for staff, students, and families. The plan is reviewed and adjusted accordingly every year.

The 2024-2029 District-wide Strategic Plan review and revisions are underway. We held three different input sessions. There were about a total of 135 people involved. There were another 40 people who replied in writing. In March, the Board provided input for the Plan. On March 22nd, the staff gave some final thoughts regarding the mission and values.

You can read the input at this link = https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X3uyMD_pifF6SpgFiS80gVzR473EA_-M

Next Steps:

The District team continues synthesizing the input to build an updated and new District-wide Strategic Plan for 2024-2029.

The draft version will be shared at the April and again at the May Board Meeting.

The final version should be approved at the June Board Meeting.

The Plan is a road map of goals and action steps, value statements and a vision/mission statement, that the school district will use as a guide. The plan is reviewed and monitored annually.

• St. Maries has received confirmation that we would not need flood insurance at construction site #1 on the lower parking lot near the other current shop.
• St. Maries has received confirmation that we would not need to elevate one foot above the current elevation point at construction site #1.
• The two construction sites were surveyed.
• We will have Geotech Testing at both possible construction sites.
• The architect should then have enough information to design a comprehensive conceptual map for both construction sites, allowing St. Maries to do a cost analysis and decide where to build.
• Stay tuned.

The small yet mighty team met this past Monday. Most of the team reviewed the advisory committee's purpose, timeline, and project ahead. We assigned homework to review five required policies, and revise at our next meeting on April 15.

The committee also identified the most efficient and cleanest (in terms of accuracy) process to study, comment, seek legal guidance, revise, and prepare policy for the Board. In working with Simbli and ISBA, I think we have a plan.

Each set of policies could be presented at either one Regular Board Meeting (for comment, presentation, and action) or throughout two Board Meetings (for comment, discussion, and action). I will present the formalized and revised process to the Board for discussion and action at the April Board meeting.

March 22nd was a day of professional learning, collaboration, and work time for the teachers and support staff. The training is a high-leverage opportunity:

• SD 41 heard one message directly from the Superintendent and the Superintendent heard input directly from the SD 41 staff.
• The SD 41 team enjoyed each other in conversation.
• Gained a deeper understanding of the strategic plan.
• Gathered ideas/strategies regarding instruction and student learning

Building Safety Projects

• Surveillance cameras at SMMS and UpRiver.
• Perimeter fencing at SMMS.
• Exterior lighting at all four school sites.
• Intercom systems, assessed with a 3 -4 year plan for updates per site.
• Secure exterior door at Heyburn.
• Secured entrances at UpRiver and SMHS.

Facilities Projects

SMHS - Repair High School Sewer system.

Heyburn

• Upgrade the plumbing in the first floor bathrooms.
• Reframe the exit door between the bleachers in the gym.
• Repair in the gym at the Southeast corner. Replace some bricks and repoint the water.
• Add a fob key entrance near the gym and the new wing.
• Improve the landscaping at Heyburn with a sprinkler system.
• Envelope Projects at Heyburn.

UpRiver School.

• Remodel the Pre-School cafeteria/classrooms adding classroom and office spaces.
• Add a Fob Key Entrance at the side entrance.
• Repair surveillance cameras.

SMMS – Repairs to the Rooftop.

The math curriculum committee is comprised of 19 members, a blend of parents, staff, and a board member. The committee members are committed to finding a quality math curriculum for St. Maries students and staff.

The notes and agendas for each meeting are on the Teacher and Learner Page on the District Website. The public can also attend the math curriculum committee meetings.

During the pilot, the public can request a sample by visiting the District Office any weekday during business hours from April 1 through April 19, 2024.

The next meeting is scheduled for April 2 at 3:30 pm. The proposed agenda is the following:

• K - 5 evaluates dimensions as the halfway point of the pilot.
• 6 -8 grade evaluates Dimensions and possibly looking to pilot a different math product.
• High School readies to recommend a math curriculum for adoption

• • April 1: Return to school from spring break.
  • April 2: Math Committee Meeting
  • April 5. Pre-K - 8th grade family-school conferences. (some are head the evening of April 4th as well).
  • April 5. HS conferences and an eLearning Day.
  • April 12: SBingo Night for all schools and community members. Everyone is invited! The event starts at 5:30 pm at the Elks Lodge. Th event is sponsored by the Heyburn PTO and the Heyburn Pre-school teacher, Jenny Short.
  • April 8: Regular Board Meeting

  
  

The Regular Board Meetings are now being broadcasted through this link https://www.youtube.com/@SD41YouTube/streams

Next Board Meeting is Monday, April 8, 2024. At this board meeting, the calendar for the 2024-25 regular board meetings will be established.

While we focus on student achievement for this school year, we are also starting to plan for the 2024-25 school year. Principals and staff are working on the teacher assignments for 2024. Principals are also building their master schedules with a wealth of student course offerings. Furthermore, staff and principals will be gathering information from students and parents/guardians to place each student into a school-day schedule for the 2024 school year. Staff and administration are also working on the 2024 School Calendar.