FY 08 Nashoba Regional High School Budget Proposal January 25, 2007

1. FY 08 Nashoba Regional High School Budget Proposal January 25, 2007

2. NASHOBA The Nashoba Regional High School Community works together to achieve high intellectual and ethical standards while discovering and developing the gifts and talents of all. Each member of our school community recognizes his or her role and responsibility in creating a learning environment based upon respect, trust, teamwork and enthusiasm.

3. NASHOBA Goal 1- • Nashoba Regional High School will expand programs and establish expectations for personalizing the learning process- • Personal Action Plans- ( referred through STAT- plans are in progress) • Peer mentoring program- Pilot a program for Fall 2006/provide training to small group of students • Senior project /portfolio Faculty adviser to over see  small group of students to create their own course of study • Develop more student, parent and faculty surveys to determine current needs

4. NASHOBA Goal 2- • Nashoba Regional High School will address areas of concern with the NEASC accreditation and be able to complete or make progress in areas that need improvement

5. NASHOBA Goal 3 • Where practical, instruction and assessment at Nashoba Regional High School will be connected to real –life applications of knowledge and skills ( critical thinking and problem solving) to help students link their education to the future

6. NASHOBA • Goal 4- • Evaluate course offerings dependent upon student interest and societal trends so that students will have additional course offerings and establish  class sizes with a maximum of 24 per class

7. Goal 5- Encourage involvement of students to participate in community service and civic responsibility.

8. Development of the budget Beginning in October 2006, members of the Principal’s Council met to discuss future needs such as staffing, new courses, materials and space. School improvement goals were reviewed with both the school community council as well as department heads and area directors. Meetings were also coordinated in November and early December with the Director of Teaching and Learning, Technology Director, Nurse Leader and Director of Facilities.

9. NASHOBA • New staffing requests English 1.0- (reduce class size and teacher load) Social Studies . 5 ( reduce class sizes in electives) World Language .2 ( additional section in Spanish to lower overall sizes of classes)

10. Staffing requests Health . 5 ( add sophomore health classes to curriculum) Guidance Resource Specialist 1.0- provide support to students and parents in greater use of Naviance as well as developing a data base of potential internships, scholarships and other work opportunities Technology aide 1.0 – position would provide greater support for increasing amount of technology in high school building- ( wireless projectors, laptop carts, tablets, digital cameras etc..) –

11. Cost center increases Administration- cafeteria tables, computer tables, professional development- teaching in the longer block Media/Library services- increase to books/periodicals consistent with state standards as well as NEASC concerns to rebuild print collection. Contracted services increase due to increased technology in the building. Need to upgrade and repair equipment. Guidance-PD –college tours

12. NASHOBA • Summarization of FY 08 Budgeted Initiatives • Focus is on continuing to reduce overall class sizes and to provide students with greater personalization through instruction and new course offerings (robotics, biotechnology, genetic models for disease, health courses and freshman study skills) • Additional professional development support and funding is needed to provide training for teachers in teaching in a longer block of time.

13. NASHOBA Regional HS • FY 07 New Initiatives • Engineering to the Future is being offered to 27 students. This is a Museum of Science curriculum that will provide students with instruction in engineering concepts and will prepare students for technology portion of MCAS. • Establishment of DECA program in business is allowing students real life applications to their course of study. • Three students are participating in a senior project that enables them to work in an area of their own interest while also serving the Nashoba community.

14. FY07 initiatives • Training of fourteen students, one high school faculty member and one Assistant Principal in Peers Making Peace has allowed students to mediate and resolve minor peer disputes with administrative supervision. • Nashoba student store has enhanced overall school spirit and provided both business department as well as Special Education with opportunities for students to develop real life skills in inventory and marketing development and basic math skills. • Freshman transition program has been enhanced and now includes a Sharepoint site designed to help both students and parents transitioning to Nashoba Regional High School.

15. Conclusion Nashoba Regional High School is a high achieving institution that offers students a wide variety of course offerings throughout their four years. This budget allows us to make improvements, add additional offerings and reduce our class sizes in areas that still need to be addressed. The recent hires to Nashoba have enhanced our abilities to provide greater variety of instruction and assessment.