Welcome!

1. Welcome! Forest Lake Area School District Staff District In-Service Tuesday, August 26, 2003

2. Vision: Inspire the learner; ignite the potential! Mission: We will inspire and challenge all learners to reach their full potential. In a safe, supportive environment we will teach the skills needed to succeed as responsible citizens in our changing world. Forest Lake Area School District Vision and Mission

3. FLAS District Focus and Priorities STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

4. Assessment Definition: Measures by which students and the system will be judged with regard to internal and external criteria.

5. Graduation rates Attendance rates Participation in testing Parent satisfaction Participation in courses Basic skills, MCAs, and TerraNova results Percent of students pursuing post-secondary education Assessment Measures (cont.)

6. Curriculum The Definition of curriculum includes: • classroom agenda • district and school-wide initiatives • co-curricular activities • parent and community outreach

7. Is relevant and research based Meets the needs of all learners Focuses both on content and cognitive skill development Is standards based and aligned Curriculum (cont.)

8. Definition: The methods we employ to guide students in understanding the curriculum. Instruction

9. Is developmentally appropriate Applies learning whenever possible Promotes problem solving and critical thinking Uses differentiated instruction for all students Instruction (cont.)

10. Resource Allocation - Our resources need to follow our beliefs Teacher Evaluation - Consistent teacher evaluation, focusing on professional development, is necessary to identify areas of strength and improvement for staff members SupportingAssessment, Curriculum, and Instruction

11. Our resources need to support our beliefs by: Recruiting and retaining the best possible staff Providing professional development in assessment, curriculum, and instruction Providing access to a quality learning environment for all learners Resource Allocation

12. Current District Initiatives • Curriculum Review and Development Cycle • Reading Tour 2003-2004; “Turning the Pages Together” • Teacher Evaluation • Differentiated Instruction • Technology Integration

13. Curriculum Review and Development2003-04 Year One: • Business • World Language • Guidance Year Two: • Art • Physical Education • Social Studies Year Three: • Industrial Technology • Language Arts and Literacy • Science Year Four: • Agriculture • Family and Consumer Sciences • Mathematics

14. READING TOUR 2003-2004;“Turning the pages together”

15. READING TOUR 2003-2004;“Turning the pages together” • “Promoting literacy and lifelong success in our community through the common experience of daily reading.” • Read 15 Minutes A Day! • Aloud Alone Along

16. READING TOUR 2003-2004;“Turning the pages together”TREMENDOUS SUCCESS in 02-03! • During the 2002-2003 school year, the FLAS District students and staff read together, aloud, along or alone for over 20 MILLION minutes! • The Linwood Elementary School community reports having read over 1,020,000 pages! • Forest View Elementary School First Graders and their parents read 22,340 minutes together during the month of March! • Forest View Elementary School Fourth Graders will have read over 90,000 pages from chapter books by the end of the year! • In all the media centers district wide, there was an average increase of 10% in number of books checked out from 2001-2002 school year to 2002-2003 school year!

17. Teacher evaluation, focusing on professional development, is necessary to identify areas of strength and improvement. Teacher Evaluation

18. Theoretical Framework - Charlotte Danielson’s work found in Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching Evaluation Language – LeadTeacherMN Software Management Tool – mVal Teacher Evaluation

19. Differentiated Instruction Taking into account the needs of all students in the classroom • New research available to provide even more assistance with this important work • October in-service will provide resources for teachers on differentiated instruction – Dr. Diane Heacox will be the keynote speaker October 20th

20. Differentiated Instruction (cont.) Through a range of instructional and management strategies

21. Technology Integration Technology makes a difference in a child’s ability to learn. • Empowers students to learn how to learn. • Enables students to become knowledge producers in addition to knowledge consumers. • Can provide an authentic global audience. • Connects learners to the world.

22. Legislature Freezes Funding • In 2004-05, based on a loss of State Aid and a loss of 50 pupils to the Spanish Immersion Charter, the district will have to cut $2,000,000

23. Levy Necessary for 2004-05 Budget • It is necessary for the district to go out to the community and ask for help with a new operating levy • If the levy passes, property taxes will increase but the district won’t need to make budget cuts

24. Legislature ProvidesProperty Tax Relief • In 2004-05, the State Legislature is providing Property Tax Relief through additional “Equalization Aid” • Because of this Property Tax Relief, the cost of our existing levy will be less

25. Legislature Cuts Taxes These figures show the effect of the Property Tax Relief on the Teaching and Learning Levy passed in 2001:

26. Operating Levy Request for 2004-05 • Operating Levy - $223/pupil unit • $223/pupil unit generates $2 million per year for five years beginning in 2004-05

27. Technology Task Force Makes Recommendations • Provides continuity in instruction, is available to capitalize on spontaneity and teachable moments • Provides flexibility to adapt to various environments • Provides maximum availability • Is easily reconfigured and fits comfortably in the classroom

28. Technology Levy Request for 2004-05 • Capital Projects Levy for technology for $2 million per year • Five years beginning in 2004-05

29. Tax Impact of Both Levies

30. Maintaining and Moving Forward • The $223/pupil unit Operating Levy is essential for the district to avoid budget cuts • The Technology Levy is also essential as we continue moving forward in the 21st century

31. Welcome Alan November! Internationally Renowned Educational Technology Leader • How can technology make a difference in a child’s ability to learn? • Just because it’s on the Internet, is it true? • Are we preparing students to be successful in an information economy?