1 / 23

Southwest MN Christian High School Town Hall Meeting

Southwest MN Christian High School Town Hall Meeting. April 5, 2011. Welcome and Devotions. Psalm 78:1-8. 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children,

zada
Download Presentation

Southwest MN Christian High School Town Hall Meeting

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Southwest MN Christian High School Town Hall Meeting April 5, 2011

  2. Welcome and Devotions Psalm 78:1-8 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. 1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

  3. Southwest’s Excellence and Legacy Mission: Challenging students to grow in knowing, loving, and serving God and others. • Christian Life • Christ-centered Worldview – Jesus is Lord over every square inch of His creation. • Defense of faith, apologetics • Quality education • ACT scores above national, state, and local average • 5 year average is 23.8 (out of 36) at SW (2006-2010) • For 2010: 22.9 – MN, and 21 – national • 88% of our students have taken the ACT on the 5 year average • For 2010, 47% national average, 70% state of MN • Life and college readiness – last three years • 4-year College acceptance – 76% • 2-year College/Technical School acceptance - 17% • Entering workforce or military- 7%

  4. Southwest’s Excellence and Legacy • Over 2,455 alumni around the world • Strong curricular and co-curricular programs • Academics, liberal arts • Fine arts, music, drama • Activities, athletics • Strong parental involvement • Strong community support

  5. The Board’s Concerns • Declining enrollment = reduced income • Increased expenses = increased tuition cost • Continuing to maintain and improve quality of education

  6. Considering three things: Excellence in education Financial stability Increased enrollment Eagle Vision – the board plan E – Educating students in a Biblical worldview A – Attaining diverse academic excellence G – Generating funds to support families L – Leading school improvement E – Enhancing student and family enrollment

  7. Southwest School Improvement GoalsDeveloped as part of the 2007 MNSAA Accreditation Goal 1: To have an enrollment of 200 students from Christian families. Goal 2: To develop discerning Christian servant-leaders who understand and express a biblical worldview. Goal 3: To maintain academic excellence in a Christian setting. Goal 4: To offer affordable Christian education to more families in SW MN Goal 5: To strengthen our Christian community and accountability. Goal 6: To maintain safe, modern, functional facilities.

  8. Southwest Financials • Present Situation: • Tuition is $5,600, likely $5,700 next year • Budgeted $106,000 in fundraising, $85,429.61 of this raised to date • Possible $43,000 deficit due to slow tuition income, families with significant tuition to pay • Present Funding Efforts: • Carry the Light Celebration: $41,592.46(budgeted $35,000) • Grain Drive: $45,568.52 • Individual Donations: $39,861.09, some of these funds were donated to support the administration development work • Rummage Sale set for April 29 and 30; outside money • Sign up sheet to volunteer will be passed around • Researched the Thrift Store

  9. Financial Future – the vision • Eagle Farms: Southwest is starting a pilot model this spring. • Donated use of 48 acres for one year • 48 ac x 160 bu/ac = 7,680 bu x $6 bu corn = $46,080 likely • Field work has been donated • $14,000 of inputs need to be paid – seeking donations • Science and accounting class involvement possible • Looking for long term lease for sustainability of Eagle Farms • Individual Donors: alumni, supporters, community members • Foreign Exchange Students – host families (separate handout if interested) • Grant exploration and awards • STEM Grant (MN Independent School Foundation), Greg Dyk’s agricultural education + community pumpkin patch efforts ($7,127.35 for science department efforts) • Alliss Educational Foundation – need-based tuition assistance

  10. Financial Management • 2010-2011 - .33 position reduction • 2011-2012 – 1.5 position financial reduction • Salary freeze (CSI recommendation) and tuition freeze for 2010-2011 school year • 1% average base pay increase for each of the last three contract years • Cost of living increase is 1.67% national average per year • Salary increase of 2% for 2011-2012 - CSI recommendation of 1.25%-1.75% • Tuition increase of $100 likely for 2011-2012

  11. Administrative Job Descriptions Paul Bootsma Principal/Administrator: • Board: reporting to and from, accountability, agendas for committees • Committee membership: executive, staff, finance, education, promotions (chair), building, United Christian Schools collaboration committee (chair), SW foundation (school representation, no direct affiliation with foundation for legal separation) • Average of 2 evening meetings or events per week during school year • Staff: supervision, organization, representation • Students/Parents: communication, support the vice-principal • Curriculum: program goals, course curriculum, PSEO/dual enrollment research • Building: financing improvements, planning, repairs • Finances: supervising budget, foundation • Qualifications: working toward an advanced degree as required by the board Development: fundraising and friendraising • Community/Public Relations: committee work, event planning, public attendance, meeting with pastors in the area, potential family contacts • Thrift store research, grain drive administration, Eagle Farms, individual donor contacts, building fund drive • Education research – PSEO/dual enrollment, curriculum

  12. Administrative Job Descriptions Darrel Ulferts Activities director: ½ time • Coordinate and approve all athletic, fine arts, and other education program schedules. • Responsible for assessing the school's activities program including working with teachers, coaches, directors, and advisors. • Conducting ongoing coaching assessments and providing guidance for coaches • Responsible for administering all National Federation, MSHSL, and Red Rock Conference regulations and activities. Teacher: ¼ time • PE/Health, possible accounting next year Vice-principal: ¼ time • Daily student discipline, attendance, and eligibility • Student and Parent communication

  13. Administrative Job Descriptions • Denise DeKam, administrative assistant: full time • Bookkeeping: 6 accounts including payroll, general, lunch, class, activity, and building fund • Tuition and lunch accounts, including free/reduced lunch reporting (federal and state) • Correspondence: written, electronic, telephone • Student records, attendance, registration, billing • Support of activities: athletics, drama, music • Event Planning Support: Pumpkin Festival, Carry the Light, Promotional events

  14. Administrative Job Descriptions • Debbie Swier: ½ time • Technology coordinator: server, computers, monitoring • Librarian: magazines, newspapers, books • Occasional secretarial work: phones, technology work, Donor Trak

  15. Administrative Job Descriptions • Other High Schools’ Administrative Models: • Unity (285 students): Principal; VP/AD/Finance/Maint; secretary; Development Director; Technology coordinator; Library Secretary; Librarian/counselor • FTE = 5.5 - approximation • Western (298 students): Principal; Development Director (part-time); secretary; business manager; vice-principal; activities director; librarian; technology is covered by existing staff • FTE = 5 - approximation • Pella Christian High School (292 students): Principal; VP; AD; 3 secretaries (2 part-time, 1 full time); technology (part-time); Development Director; librarian – 1 full time and 1 part time • FTE = 7 - approximation • Southwest MN Christian (119 students): Principal/Development, VP/AD, Secretary, technology/library • FTE = 3.25 • 2009-2010 CSI recommendation to Southwest to branch out with existing staff in development work, not feasible for SW to hire someone else

  16. Staff Information and Changes • Moving from 2 sections to 1 section for many classes • 11 teachers/administrators, full time; including Mr. Bootsma and Mr. Ulferts • In general, 6 classes taught next year by each full time staff person • This is a common school standard.

  17. List of Teaching Staff and Courses • Mr. Bootsma: Communications, Writing – college/high school • Mr. Busker: History, Bible, Math • Mr. Dyk: Science • Mr. Mattheis: Band, Choir, and Math • Mr. Mische: Industrial Arts, Art, Physics, and Math • Mr. Top: Business, English possible, Math • Mr. Ulferts: PE/Health, accounting • Mr. Vanderaa: Counselor, Bible, Speech • Mrs. Vanderaa: Student assistance, resource room • English teacher: English 9, Am Lit, English 12, AP English • Spanish teacher: Spanish, Geography, English 10 possible

  18. Effects of Changes • Approximately 1 less teaching staff – approximately $50,000 budget reduction; absorbing Dan Broekhuis’s and Heidi Uilk’s positions. John Top will teach full time. Darrel Ulferts and Paul Bootsma will each be adding a class or two. • Jim Mische and John Top will be the main math teachers. Qualifications: • Jim Mische has 20 years math experience, a math degree, and math certification • John Top has a business education degree and will be taking College Algebra and Geometry this spring/summer. • Art teacher and Spanish teacher were shared/contracted one period with Edgerton Public. They will be full time at Southwest next year. • Computer Science will be eliminated; Mechanical Drawing might be offered every other year opposite Industrial Arts • Student Population History: 7 students average in each class each year over the last 4 years.

  19. Dual Enrollment/PSEO Opportunities • High school juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to take college courses for college and high school credit. • Online: Northwestern College (St. Paul), independent study • In school: Dordt College credits, taught by Dordt adjunct professor/Southwest staff; some student expense • Courses will transfer to other area colleges

  20. The Feedback/Input/Conversations • What do we need to be pursuing? Concerns? Direction? • What are you pleased with at Southwest? • Does EAGLE Vision address your concerns?

  21. Conclusion • Praise in public, criticize in private • Confidentially discuss problems with board or staff as appropriate • Raise enrollment – everybody needs to support and promote quality, Christian education

More Related