Norm's Notes

SPS budget and finance Q and A

2010-03-10T15:59:00.000-06:00

School finance can be a complicated subject, not often easy to squeeze into a sound bite or a 500-word news article. Yet, school finance, budget, revenues, etc. are going to be on the minds of many as we continue the process of developing the 2010-2011 budget over the coming weeks and months.

With that, I want to take this opportunity to invite you to use the comments section of this blog post to ask any question you may have around this topic. Just click on the comments link below to submit your question for us to answer.

I would also encourage you to check The Bottom Line for the latest news and information about district finances. Also, be sure to check out our FAQ page for some commonly asked questions about the district's revenue and the budget planning process for 2010-2011, and take a moment to view this video which provides an overview of the budget development process. You can also find a complete list of district financial reports on our website.

Springfield Public Schools strives for an efficient and effective use of community resources, and as part of that goal we want to promote an open dialogue around that subject.

A note about comments: Please keep them appropriate; foul language and personal attacks will not be tolerated. We do have to review comments because of inappropriate spam that can show up without using the moderation process, so please note that your comment will not appear immediately.

CHS student Nicole Andrews wins Poetry Out Loud competition

2010-03-08T14:46:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to Nicole Andrews, a student at Central High School, for winning Missouri's 2010 Poetry Out Loud competition held last week in Jefferson City.

Nicole will go on to the national Poetry Out Loud competition in Washington DC on April 26 and 27. Students receive a $200 prize for winning at the state level and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington DC for the national competition. Central High School will receive a $500 stipend to purchase poetry books.

Please join me in wishing her luck next month.

Poetry Out Loud is a national poetry recitation contest among high school students in all 50 states. The program is conducted by the National Endowment for the Arts, working with state arts agencies. It's a great offering for classrooms, providing the opportunity for students to interpret and evaluate poetry as literature while building public speaking skills and confidence.

Parents speak out about the need for involvement and dialogue

2010-03-05T15:59:00.000-06:00

In recent weeks, the Springfield News-Leader has featured several editorial columns filled with inaccurate and misleading information about our Springfield Public Schools. Because that erroneous information is presented so prominently on the paper’s opinion page my staff and I have attempted to correct it, because I believe an informed conversation about our schools and the challenges we face has to start with facts rather than conjecture.

Thus, it was refreshing to see two parents and volunteers speak out on behalf of our schools today. Both authors shared a common theme in their contributions: the need for real community involvement to ensure the success of our children and schools.

Tim Burk discussed his experiences as a volunteer and president of his school’s PTA.

Gail Melgren urged readers to take a broader view of the achievement gap, rather than attempt to address the issue with vitriol.

Less than a month after the editor of the paper called for a more civil dialogue on the opinion pages, it’s good to see that several have heeded that call. If you have questions or concerns about your school or the district, don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff, myself included. We want you to be informed about the state of our schools. I encourage you to take the time to volunteer in our schools, donating a small portion of your time pays immense dividends in the lives of students.

Ten minutes can help your community and schools

2010-03-05T09:50:00.000-06:00

This spring, the United States will once again conduct a national census. Going back to 1790—when George Washington was president—our country has taken an official count of the population every ten years according to instructions in the U.S. Constitution.

Please know how important your participation and a complete, accurate count is to our school district and community. In addition to establishing the number of U.S. Congressional seats for each state, census information is used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state, and tribal governments each year. Schools also receive funding based on data from the decennial census and the ongoing American Community Survey. In addition, census information is critical when determining locations for medical services, improving schools, building roads, expanding public transportation, and creating accurate maps for emergency responders. Even allocation of vital supplies, such as influenza vaccines, is provided to local communities based on census counts.

In March 2010, households will receive a mail-back form which should take no longer than10 minutes to complete. The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest in history, asking only 10 questions. Strict laws protect the confidentiality of respondents and any information they provide.

To keep costs low and help the City of Springfield achieve a high mail-back response rate, everyone is encouraged to mail back the form (postage-free) as soon as possible after receiving the form. Census Bureau workers will not need to visit households to collect the information if the mail-back form is completed and returned by mail. People who live in group quarters (e.g., dormitories, nursing homes, etc.) will be counted through a group quarter count rather than receiving mail-back forms.

We join the Census Bureau in reminding everyone: “We can’t move forward until you mail it back.” Please mail your Census 2010 survey back as soon as possible!

Thank you for your continued support for our school district and community.

Meet Hillcrest's Pro Start culinary team

2010-03-03T14:19:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I told you a little bit about the Pro Start Culinary career education program and the award-winning team at Glendale High School.

Today, I want to share this video with you featuring Hillcrest family and consumer sciences teacher Robin Jones and several of the Pro Start team members there, including one young lady who has had a great experience interning with the pastry chef at the Tower Club. I'll let them tell you all about it.

Here are links to today's story in the News-Leader and the report (with video) from KOLR 10 about the GHS Pro Start team.

This is just one of the innovative programs we're pleased to offer SPS students.

Pro Start career education program a recipe for success

2010-03-02T09:49:00.001-06:00

The elaborate setups of the TV show “Iron Chef” usually come to mind when you mention cooking contests. However, one of the real challenges of being a professional chef is being able to adapt to the conditions around you, while still putting together a final product that meets a certain standard. Many television chefs may balk at having to prepare a meal on a two burner propane hot plate, but that’s exactly what the students on Glendale High School’s Pro Start Culinary Team had to do last month for the state Pro Start competition.

The GHS team competed against 28 other teams and won second place, which included a $500 prize and a renewable scholarship at East Central College for each team member. This is just the second year of the Pro Start program at GHS.

SPS’ Family and Consumer Sciences department implemented the Pro Start culinary arts curriculum in the fall of 2008. This is one of the district’s innovative career education programs that bring together what students learn in the classroom with the application of that knowledge in the workplace. The program offers students a sequence of courses that can lead to certification from the Missouri and National Restaurant Associations and a leg up on culinary school or other post-secondary training. Students get another opportunity to put themselves to the test through internships with local businesses.

The benefits of Pro Start are not limited to the culinary arts. The program fosters students’ problem solving skills and critical thinking ability as they react to various challenges and circumstances as individuals and members of a team. These are the skills that transfer across classrooms and throughout every facet of life, the most essential ingredient for success in anything students pursue.

Currently, SPS has Pro Start teams at Central, Glendale and Hillcrest.

Clarifying the facts

2010-02-26T15:19:00.001-06:00

As we get under way with the budget development process in the face of difficult economic times, it is essential that we provide accurate and up-to-date information, especially with looming budget decisions that will impact people’s lives. Thus, I was very disappointed Thursday morning when I picked up the News-Leader and saw an individual spreading misinformation and manipulating numbers to create a false impression of our schools.

As you may have noticed the News-Leader’s opinion page requires frequent corrections from our staff and Board. Let me clear up the two misleading examples used yesterday to imply something nefarious about the district.

Increases to SPS’ debt service levy must be approved by voters. The district’s debt service payment for 2009-2010 included $30 million from an escrow account that paid off the 2000 bond issue, which was refinanced in 2003 at a significantly lower interest rate, resulting in a significant savings of taxpayer money. That bond debt was retired during the 2009-2010 budget year because that was the earliest date we were legally allowed to pay off the 2000 bond. As you know, those bonds were approved by voters who have made upgrading the physical condition of our schools a top priority.

It’s simply not true that the district’s administrative expenses have increased from $425,000 in 2005 to $2.5 million in 2009-2010. When the district upgraded its accounting software in 2006, the finance department reviewed all general ledger accounts to ensure they were classified as recommended by the Missouri State Accounting Manual. A number of accounts were reclassified under "Executive Administration,” including administrative services DESE requires districts to have. Our district strives for an effective and efficient use of resources. As a result SPS’ ratio of 279 students per administrator is far below the state average of 187 students per administrator.

It’s unfortunate that Mr. Gargus declined my invitation last September to sit down and discuss his concerns. That might have cleared up some of the misunderstandings he has about our district’s finances.

Developing a budget and responding to difficult economic times is not as simple as laying off more than 150 district employees (representing $8 million), as Mr. Gargus suggests. We cut more than $6 million from the current year’s budget, which included personnel reductions, facility maintenance and improvements, professional development and curriculum.

As we consider the various scenarios for the 2010-2011 budget, let me make it clear that we will seek options that have as little impact as possible on the quality of education that we provide. This will certainly mean some tough decisions, and we very well may have to have a conversation about the operating levy in future years if state cuts impact the core quality of our teachers and schools.

I strongly support the right for community stakeholders to express their opinion. I also know that not everyone has a favorable view of what we do, especially when it comes to talking about taxes in the midst of this economic climate. However, when the News-Leader continues to print inaccurate information we will come directly to the community with the facts, allowing them to draw their own conclusions.

I encourage you to stay informed about the budget process with our financial blog, The Bottom Line, and don’t hesitate to provide your feedback or ask questions you may have regarding this issue.

Keeping you informed and asking for feedback in the budget development process

2010-02-26T09:10:00.000-06:00

One of my priorities during the budget development process is to keep the community informed with accurate information as well as giving SPS staff, parents and all stakeholders the opportunity to provide input. As you well know, the state of the economy makes the budgeting process for 2010-2011 particularly difficult.

The short video below is intended to provide you with a look at the district’s revenue situation for the current and upcoming years and an overview of the budget development process. I encourage you to take a moment out of your day to watch it.

I also want to encourage you to ask any questions you may have regarding the budget, revenue, etc. Feel free to leave a comment or question here on the blog. Please note, that comments may not appear instantly because we do have to guard against spam, unfortunately, but your comments will be posted and we do respond. I would also encourage you to use our other channels to stay informed and communicate your questions and concerns to us, including Facebook, Twitter and our e-newsletter. Later in the spring, we'll be reaching out to stakeholders for additional input to further clarify the final budget for 2010-2011.

Keep up with the latest news and information about the district’s budget and financial picture on our finance blog, The Bottom Line.

Thoughts about SPS' revenue, budget and the levy

2010-02-19T15:13:00.002-06:00

District CFO Steve Chodes and board finance committee members Dr. Tom Prater and Jean Twitty held a conference call with local media outlets on Tuesday, Feb. 16 to discuss district revenue projections, the budget process for the upcoming year and the outlook for SPS’ funding picture.

Naturally, the question of a possible increase to the district’s operating levy was raised. Sensitive to the difficult economic times, Dr. Prater reiterated that the district has no plans to ask voters to support a levy increase this year in the face of difficult economic times. SPS will be looking at cuts to the 2010-2011 budget in the face of decreases to the usual revenue SPS receives from the state, whether through sales taxes, the foundation formula or categorical items such as transportation.

The possibility of a levy in 2011 or beyond was mentioned on the call. However, it was mentioned in light of the state’s budget situation in 2011-2012, when stimulus money currently being used to prop up the state’s budget shortfalls expires. This could drastically impact district revenues at the state level. We hope that the economy turns around by that point. However, if the state budget situation is still as dire, we will need to have a community-wide conversation about the operating levy. I know this community places a high priority on keeping good teachers in the classroom, keeping class sizes manageable and preparing our students for success in college and the workplace. That part was left out of the newspaper’s story.

Dr. Prater also made an important call to action during the discussion of the levy and state funding, encouraging parents and all voters concerned about education to contact their legislator and ask that they make every effort possible to preserve education funding (that statement comes at the 28:14 mark of the call).

Listen to the conference call in its entirety.

Pershing students collect 1,197 pairs of jeans

2010-02-12T11:26:00.001-06:00

Middle school students at Pershing collected 1,197 pairs of jeans for the PTA Clothing Bank over the last two weeks. Students in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades divided into two teams per grade. The winning team, the seventh grade PRIDE team, collected more than 500 pairs of jeans, and will be treated to Andy’s Frozen Custard as a reward.

The contest was initiated and supported by Pershing’s PTA. Jeans have been identified as one of the biggest clothing needs at the PTA Clothing Bank, which provides clothing for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. For more information about the clothing bank talk to the principal, nurse, counselor or secretary at your school; they can provide families with referrals and other necessary information. The Kiwanis Shoe bank is located in the same building as the PTA Clothing Bank, 501 W Central.

Congratulations to the students at Pershing for their generosity on behalf of their peers across the district. I know these kinds of efforts are happening in all of our district schools, and it’s encouraging that we live in a community that values giving back to their neighbors.

Thanking Earl Newman for his service to Springfield's kids

2010-02-11T16:49:00.000-06:00

At today’s School Crossing Protection Committee meeting, Springfield Council of PTAs presented Earl Newman, a city traffic engineer and tireless voice for student safety, with the National PTA Life Achievement Award.

I want to personally congratulate Mr. Newman for his more than 30 years of service, working with parents, the city and our schools on behalf the Springfield children. The School Crossing Protection Committee is a collaborative effort between parents, schools, city, state and county officials that develops policies and procedures for a comprehensive, uniform school crossing protection program across our school district. With more than 50 schools in a community that’s experienced tremendous growth, that’s no easy task. Mr. Newman’s expertise has facilitated tens of thousands of students safely getting to school and back home again.

Please join me in thanking and congratulating Earl Newman.

Recognizing student efforts for Haiti

2010-02-04T15:40:00.004-06:00

Today, I had the opportunity to recognize the generosity and compassion of students, families and school staff members from our district and across the state for their efforts behalf of the devastated nation of Haiti.

I joined Governor Nixon, representatives from Convoy of Hope and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education at Bowerman Elementary to kickoff the statewide collection of Kits 4 Kids, a Haiti relief project coordinated by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Springfield-based Convoy of Hope.

Springfield Public Schools students have raised more than $15,000 in donations and collected almost 1,200 Kits 4 Kids. And that is not a final count! Many schools are continuing their efforts. One principal shared heart-warming stories of students who are donating money they earned by doing chores. One even contributed money received for making good grades.

Glendale High School alone has assembled more than 500 Kits 4 Kids. Two of our schools, Rountree Elementary School and Cherokee Middle School, have raised more than $3,000 each.

I’d like to thank representatives of Convoy of Hope and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for organizing the Kits 4 Kids effort. I also want to thank Gov. Jay Nixon for shining a light on this important effort and for recognizing the significant impact that schoolchildren can make in the lives of others.

Springfield selected for Kennedy Center "Any Given Child" program

2010-02-02T16:04:00.002-06:00

Tonight, I’ll be sharing some exciting news with the Board of Education at their February study session: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has selected Springfield to participate in their Any Given Child program. This program assesses our district’s existing resources along with those of Springfield’s public and private arts organizations to develop a comprehensive arts education plan for the children of Springfield.

Any Given Child seeks to bring access, balance, and equity to each child’s arts education, using an affordable model that combines the resources of the school district, local arts groups, and the Kennedy Center. With the assistance of expert consultation services provided by Kennedy Center staff and other professionals, community leaders develop a long-range plan for arts education that is tailor-made for the Springfield school district and community.

The arts offer kids the opportunity to enrich their lives and enhance their educational experience. Studies have shown that involvement in the arts can help children increase their overall academic achievement. The expertise available through Any Given Child will be invaluable to our district and our entire community as we work toward the goal of enhancing arts education offerings throughout our community.

Springfield is fortunate to have such an active and vibrant arts community, especially since our arts organizations have made educational outreach one of their chief priorities. Those organizations and the district collaborated closely to make the Any Given Child program a possibility in our community. I want to thank the Arts Programming Sustainability Initiative, Springfield Regional Arts Council, City of Springfield and Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce for their role in making this happen.

US News honors Central and Parkview among the best in the USA

2009-12-10T16:59:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to the students, faculties, staff and parents at both Central and Parkview high schools. Both schools were recognized by U.S. News and World Report as two of the nation's best high schools.

Central received a Silver Medal. It was the third year in a row that Central has been recognized by the magazine as one of the nation's top high schools. They received a Bronze Medal in the two previous years. Only six high schools in the state to earn a Silver Medal designation, and Central was the only Silver Medal school outside of the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas to earn a Silver.

Parkview was honored for the second year in a row with a Bronze Medal. Only thirty-six other Missouri high schools earned that honor.

Here's a complete list of all Missouri high schools honored in the report.

Congratulations again to both schools.

Bowerman teacher making a difference

2009-12-09T10:43:00.000-06:00

Last week I mentioned Bowerman teacher Laura Evans who received the Neighborhood Organization Volunteer Award from Caring Communities for her work in the Bowerman community.

The video below features Laura and others from the Bowerman community describing their efforts to strengthen the neighborhood and get families active in the school community. Unfortunately, these aren't the stories that make the headlines everyday, but these are the kind of efforts that have a far-reaching impact on our schools and kids.

Two district teachers honored

2009-12-02T15:26:00.000-06:00

Two of our district teachers were recognized this month for their outstanding work.

Laura Evans, a special education teacher at Bowerman Elementary School. Ms. Evans received the Neighborhood Organization Volunteer Award from Caring Communities for her dedication to Bowerman students. She was selected by the Woodland Heights Neighborhood Association to receive the award.

Lisa Lilley, Central High School Spanish teacher, was named 2010 Teacher of the Year by the American Council for Teaching of Foreign Languages. Ms. Lilley was named Distinguished Educator of 2008 by the Foreign Language Association of Missouri and Teacher of the Year for the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages last March.
The school day rarely ends at 3:00 p.m. for our teachers, who work on behalf of their students in and outside of the classroom. I'm certain the students and their families are as appreciative of Ms. Evans and Ms. Lilley as we are, and it is encouraging to see them honored for their work.

Remembering those in need this holiday season

2009-11-25T10:54:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. This is the time of year when we give back and offer our thanks. I hope that you will get involved with us in the effort to make this holiday season brighter and winter warmer. Please take a moment to view the video below to learn more about resources available for children in need and how to get involved in giving back this season.

Contact information for several organizations providing for families in need:

Contact information for all schools.
Crosslines - 865-5810
The Salvation Army - 862-5509
Victory Mission - 864-2225
The Kitchen - 837-1540

Everyone has a role in pedestrian safety

2009-11-18T11:53:00.000-06:00

I want to again thank Bill Armstrong, his daughter Kimberly, and Bill Harper for speaking out about the need for improved pedestrian safety on our city streets. Kimberly, you’ll recall, was walking to school when she was struck Sept 22 as she was crossing Kearney Street. We are pleased that Kimberly is making a successful recovery and that both parties involved in this unfortunate accident are working together to prevent future incidents such as this.

The School Crossing Protection Committee (SCPC) works with parents and the community to address concerns about crossing guards, crosswalks, lights, sidewalks, etc. This committee consists of PTA representatives, the Director of School-Public Safety for Springfield Public Schools, the District Traffic Engineer of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department, Springfield City Traffic Engineer, Springfield Police Department, Greene County Sheriff's Department, and the Greene County Highway Department. They are tasked with reviewing school crossing protection requests, recommending action to address school traffic safety problems, establishing priorities on projects, and developing policies and procedures to ensure a uniform school crossing protection program throughout the city and county.

Springfield is a large community with busy streets and lots of traffic which can compromise the safety of our children on their way to and from school. While the city and county are responsible for the streets themselves, we work closely with them through the SCPC to address these concerns.

I encourage everyone to take responsibility for pedestrian safety. When you see areas of concern, as a parent, driver or pedestrian, please bring it to the attention of the SCPC. Parents can work through their PTA to get these issues before the committee. Others can contact the Springfield City Traffic Engineer or Springfield Public Schools Police Services at 523-2911.

Drivers, please remember to slow down and exercise cautious while you are on the streets when students are going to and from school. We must all work together to prevent accidents like this in the future.

Central broadcast students win Pacemaker Award

2009-11-17T07:43:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Central High School's "Central Intelligence" for winning their second consecutive first place in the Best of Show category at the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) and Journalism Education Association (JEA) fall convention in Washington, D.C.

"Central Intellegence" also received their first Pacemaker Award, recognizing the five best student media programs in the country. Central also collected a total of 19 individual student awards, more than any other school in the country. Individual student awards include:

Superior- Nora Lewis and Grier Gammon for Short Documentary
Superior- Lydia Berns and Mitchell Trafford for Broadcast Package
Superior- Isabel Balla, Sarah Smith and Destiny Pettus for Public Service Announcement
Excellent- Alexa Snodgrass and Alex Scranton for In-Camera Feature
Excellent- Alex Schriver and Maddison McBurnie for Podcast
Excellent- Nate Fairbank and Raleigh Cavero for Broadcast News
Honorable Mention- Halli Bruton for Broadcast Sports
Honorable Mention- Yoonji Kim and Valerie Quirk for Broadcast Feature
Honorable Mention- Caroline Croessmann for Newswriting
Honorable Mention- Andy Wolff for On-Air Reporter
Honorable Mention- Brittany Donnellan for Broadcast Commentary

Congratulations to the students at "Central Intelligence" on their great work. Check out the show below.

October attendance tops 92 percent, despite influenza

2009-11-16T16:09:00.000-06:00

I’m pleased to report that Springfield Public Schools had an average daily attendance of 92.44% for the month of October. Typically, that number would be a little on the low side; it is down 2.69% from October of last year. However, that number is noteworthy this year since we’ve had to deal with H1N1.

Several of our schools experienced high absentee rates – topping 20% on more than one occasion – at various points last month because of students with flu-like symptoms. The district even had to close Delaware Elementary from Oct. 14-16 because of an elevated number of students absent with flu-like symptoms.

Because of the early arrival of flu season, I was pleasantly surprised by our 92.44% average daily attendance rate for October.

Nevertheless, it is worth reminding everyone that flu season is far from over, and we must continue to take precautions to deal with further outbreaks. SPS is now in the process of offering free H1N1 vaccines to our students, with parental permission. The schedules for vaccine clinics as well as additional information about flu prevention are available on our influenza information page. I encourage everyone to keep washing their hands and don’t hesitate to keep your child home from school if they’re showing signs of illness such as a fever.

Thank you from York Elementary

2009-11-05T16:14:00.000-06:00

York Elementary is one of the eight schools that will be air conditioned with the 2009 bond issue approved by voters this week. The students and staff at York expressed their thanks, and I wanted to share with you a photo of a thank you banner they made.

Teacher representation decision offers another opportunity to communicate

2009-11-05T14:27:00.000-06:00

On Tuesday, Nov. 10, Springfield Public Schools’ teachers, counselors and librarians will vote to determine whether or not they would like to be represented by one or more teacher organizations for the purpose of collective bargaining. The board and I place a great deal of value on the opinions of our staff, and their decision will provide us with another opportunity to communicate directly with our faculty.

As described in board policy HH, this election will ask teachers to choose among exclusive representation, multiple representation or no representation. Voting will occur at the district’s five high schools between 3:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 10. Each employee eligible to vote in the election is assigned to one of the five high schools as their designated voting location. Voting locations are assigned based on the employee’s primary work location on record. Employees whose names appear on the voter eligibility list have been provided a copy of the notice of election and notified of their designated voting location directly via U.S. Mail to their home address. The voting process at those sites will be overseen by an independent, third-party official, representatives from both teacher organizations (MSTA and SNEA) and a district official to ensure a fair process. Votes will be counted immediately after voting concludes.

I am continually impressed and inspired by the dedication of our teachers, counselors, librarians and everyone in the district who work so hard to educate our children. The community believes in our teachers and schools; almost two-thirds of voters approved a $50 million bond issue this Tuesday to upgrade the schools where our children learn. We are fortunate to be part of a community so supportive of teachers and education. The district will continue to support our teachers, and we look forward to an additional opportunity for direct communication on the future of our schools via whichever route they choose for representation.

Thank you voters

2009-11-04T11:00:00.006-06:00

Springfield voters overwhelmingly approved a $50 million bond issue on behalf of the more than 24,000 students in Springfield Public Schools. This represents an essential investment in keeping our facilities up to date and ready to serve the needs of children. We are fortunate to be part of a community so dedicated in their support for education.

Almost 65 percent of voters supported our bond proposal Tuesday and I believe that is a strong indication that this community is pleased with the direction of Springfield Public Schools. The community has entrusted the board of education and the district to do the right thing for children while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. It is a commitment we take very seriously.

This bond fulfills a promise made to the community a decade ago to air condition all district schools. Air conditioning the remaining eight schools provides equity in the quality of learning environments for students in all parts of the district. Construction and improvement projects and technology upgrades will put more district schools in line with 21st century standards for education. As we break ground and move forward with the projects promised in this bond, we will keep voters apprised of the progress and informed of the impact.

This bond allows the district to access between $5 million to $7 million of federal stimulus money that will save taxpayers millions in interest. Our good stewardship of public resources gave the district additional bonding capacity and available debt service funds to issue this $50 million bond, extending the commitment by just four years from 2026 to 2030 without having to increase the current tax rate. It is also important to mention that the majority of these dollars will be spent locally, creating employment opportunities and generating demand for raw materials and supplies for local businesses.

Every day in our schools hands reach skyward to ask a question or report a result. Those young hands waiving in the air represent the great strides our community is making as we prepare the inquisitive minds of our children to become the leaders of tomorrow. This bond issue represents another leap forward for Springfield Public Schools. On behalf of the students, teachers, employees, board of education and the community, I extend a heart-felt thank you to Springfield’s voters.

Sincerely,
Dr. Norm Ridder, superintendent, and Gerry Lee, board of education president

SPS faces 9 percent reduction in transportation revenue

2009-10-28T16:29:00.000-05:00

Today Gov. Jay Nixon announced that $200 million would be cut from the state’s budget. Due to this budget reduction, Springfield Public Schools will have about 9 percent of its transportation funding cut beginning in October.

Based on what we know at this point, we expect SPS could lose as much as $233,000 in revenue which would have been used to support our transportation services for students. Unfortunately, this will probably be the first of many budget reductions we will experience this year.

The district is currently evaluating the other budget restrictions announced today by the governor to determine what other impact there might be on the district’s budget.

SPS has long history of favorable audits

2009-10-28T16:28:00.000-05:00

Today we were notified that a citizens' group is initiating a petition drive to request a state financial audit of Springfield Public Schools. Our focus on efficient and effective use of resources within the district is supported by our fiscal track record.

SPS has received unqualified audits for the past 16 years from an independent auditing firm and there has never been a concern raised about our fiscal management. Less than 5 percent of Missouri school districts receive unqualified audits.

SPS is required by the state and federal governments to submit to an annual audit conducted by an independent auditor. The auditor is required to perform the audit according to government auditing standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. If it is the desire of our community for the district to undergo an additional external audit, we will do everything we can to accommodate it.

The district's most recent approved audit (2007-2008), found district financial statements to be in compliance with established standards. This audit and other budget and financial information is posted on this page of the district's web site.

The 2008-2009 audit will be presented to the school board at their Nov. 17 combined meeting.