Norm's Notes

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.

Monday morning recommended reading

2009-10-26T09:29:00.000-05:00

It's Monday morning, and I hope everyone had a great weekend. I wanted to share a few links of recommended reading with you.

The News-Leader wrote a really positive editorial about the bond proposal on Sunday, Oct. 25. The community's trust matters deeply to all of us here at SPS, and it's refreshing to hear the paper express their trust in the district to do the right thing for kids and the community.

Parents and volunteers play a vital role in the success of our schools. Two letters from parents and volunteers were featured in the paper recently as well. Be sure to read them.

Saturday featured a letter from Kim Wrinkle about finishing what we start.
Lisa Langley has a letter in today's paper looking at the bond proposal from the perspective of someone who spends plenty of time volunteering in our schools.
Finally, if you've got minute, be sure to watch more videos on the district's YouTube channel.

No determination on days missed due to flu

2009-10-22T10:23:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to remind parents and others that no determination has been made as far as making up school days missed due to influenza-related school closings.

Springfield Public Schools is currently working with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine the required course of action. Parents and staff will be notified as soon as a decision is made regarding possible make-up days. However, it is a decision that might not be made until it is possible to discern the full impact flu-related cancellations might have this winter on schools throughout Missouri.

Cathy Clark on SPS' alternative education programs

2009-10-21T16:38:00.000-05:00

The projects included in the Nov. 3 bond proposal address critical needs for our school district and are the right thing to do, but I certainly appreciate the thoughtful public debate the proposals have generated. A healthy community and robust schools require involved parents and citizens. Something that has troubled me is the misperception of the district's alternative education programs and the decision of a few invovled in the debate to portray students in the alternative education program as bad kids whose presence would threaten the neighborhood.

As I've said before, alternative education gives students who, for whatever reason, are not finding success in the normal classroom setting the opportunity to learn to trust themselves and take responsibility for their own achievement.

Posted below is a short video featuring Cathy Clark, SPS' assistant director of alternative education, sharing some thoughts about the role of alternative education and the proposal to house those programs at Study.

Update on Pipkin & next steps for removing mercury in our schools

2009-10-16T15:57:00.000-05:00

The presence of mercury in our classrooms and buildings is a very serious issue. We have made a concerted effort for the past three years to remove from our schools thermometers and other once-common devices containing mercury.

Last month when a broken thermometer caused a small mercury spill at Sequiota Elementary School, we reinforced with school staff the importance of removing these items from our buildings and reminded them of proper disposal procedures.

A recent incident at Pipkin Middle School was an unfortunate accident that occurred as part of that process. A teacher had identified an instrument containing mercury and was taking steps to have it removed from the building.

I want to take a moment to tell you about the next steps in the process. At each school building, administrative staff will inspect every room to identify and document all instruments containing mercury and then provide a list of identified items to the science curriculum supervisor and environmental safety manager, who will supervise the packing, removal and disposal of those items.

Thermometers, barometers and other instruments are important classroom tools, and many of us can recall a time when those containing mercury were present in our classes. Over the years, however, we’ve learned much more about just what a serious health threat mercury can be.

Mercury exposure can lead to neurological and developmental disorders in people of all ages. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has much more information about mercury’s impacts on our health, and I encourage you to take a moment to review this information at the following link: http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/mercury.htm.

If you are concerned about potential exposure to mercury, contact the state Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology at 573-751-6102 or your personal physician for more information.

I would also encourage everyone to take stock of whatever items you have in your home that might contain mercury and follow the necessary steps to remove it. This page on the Environmental Protection Agency’s web site has more information for parents.

The Department of Natural Resources is now cleaning up the mercury spill at Pipkin, as well as the Employee Services Center and Doling Building. We hope to have Pipkin open for classes on Monday; however, an alternative location will be used if we are still unable to have classes at Pipkin on Monday. SPS will notify Pipkin families and staff on Sunday, Oct. 18, via the AlertNow telephone information system.

More on the decision to dismiss Delaware Elementary because of the flu

2009-10-14T10:59:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take some time and share my thoughts with you on the decision yesterday to dismiss classes at Delaware Elementary school through the end of this week. I realize this isn’t something we do frequently and that the move carries some implications for students, parents and teachers at that school. We are certainly sensitive to that.

The district consulted the Springfield-Greene County Health Department immediately, and officials there recommended that we close Delaware to prevent the further spread of the flu among students and staff at the school and of sensitivity to the school’s students with additional medical concerns.

For the rest of the week, our custodial staff will be working diligently to clean and sanitize Delaware for when students return next week.

To some extent we’re at the mercy of nature when it comes to influenza, but the district is doing everything possible to minimize flu season’s impact and reduce the interruption to the learning process. You can help us in this effort by doing some simple things like encouraging kids to wash their hands regularly, cover mouths when coughing and not sharing personal items like cups or silverware. Most importantly, if your child has flu-like symptoms, report those to the office at your school, and keep your child home for at least 24 hours after their fever goes away without taking any kind of fever-reducing medicine.

Be sure to visit our influenza information page to keep up to date with the latest news.

Congrats to SPS' student broadcasters!

2009-10-13T09:58:00.000-05:00

I wanted to call to your attention some of the great work being done by high school broadcast journalism students at Hillcrest and Central.

Last month, Central's "Central Intelligence" and Hillcrest's "HTV Magazine" were both named as finalists for the Pacemaker Award presented by the National Scholastic Press Association. The Pacemaker recognized the nation's top student produced program. Hillcrest has received the Pacemaker ten times throughout their 20 years of work. Central's program has been nominated as a finalist for the third time. The winners will be announced on Nov. 14.

Hillcrest's "HTV Magazine" is being featured this week in honor of their 20th anniversary by the High School Broadcast Journalism Project, part of the Radio and Television News Directors Foundation. Every day this week, they'll feature a video from HTV on the site. Be sure to check it out. My congratulations go out to Dave Davis, Hillcrest's broadcast journalism teacher, for his work over the years.

Be sure to check out the "HTV Magazine" web site.

Student mural speaks to the role of alternative education

2009-10-09T14:20:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to take a moment to share this photo with you. It's a picture of a mural painted by a student in the alternative program at Pepperdine. For the student, the mural helped him overcome some of the mistakes he'd made in his past It became an expression of his lesson learned and gaining faith in himself. The mural reminds other students in the program that they too can learn to trust themselves as they continue their academic & personal journey.

The mural will be moved to Study where the alternative programs will be housed if the no-tax-increase bond passes.

Bus cameras will help us keep kids safe

2009-10-08T14:34:00.001-05:00

One of the items discussed at the board study session this week was the purchase and installation of new security cameras on all 145 of the district’s school buses.

Drivers have a big responsibility to get children to and from school safely. Just like anyone behind the wheel, that means their attention is devoted to the road. That makes it hard for a driver to be involved in everything going on with the children in the seats behind them. Cameras can give us a big assist in stopping bullying and other unsafe behaviors. They also help us get the story straight when tales about what happened on the bus stray from the truth.

I want to say thanks to Charlie Ott, our director of transportation, and the drivers who do a great job every day getting our children to and from school. The board will be voting to authorize the purchase of bus cameras at the Oct. 20 meeting.

I’ll turn it over to Mr. Ott for more about the bus cameras in a story that appeared on KSPR earlier this week.

Setting the record straight

2009-09-30T16:27:00.003-05:00

Today Springfield Public Schools was the focus of several opinion pieces in the local newspaper. One in particular questioned the district’s use of the $96.5 million generated by the 2006 voter-approved bond issue and purported the district is “guilty of breach of faith with Springfield residents.”

Before some of this misinformation takes hold in our community, I wanted to provide you some facts that will clarify these questions.

In a column entitled “Numbers don’t back district’s claims,” the author implies that SPS did not use the $96.5 million to install air conditioning and address overcrowding in our schools. SPS not only air conditioned the 18 schools it promised, we were able to air condition three additional schools (Bowerman, Campbell and Shady Dell) due to sound fiscal and bond project management. Regarding the issue of overcrowding, I encourage you to ask the principal of McBride Elementary School whether construction of David Harrison Elementary School had an impact on crowding in southwest Springfield.
The column’s author also takes issue with our student-teacher ratio. Based on his math, SPS schools have a ratio of 14:1. While we have made a concerted effort to reduce class sizes, we have not achieved the levels he suggests. According to DESE, SPS had a student-teacher ratio of 21:1 in 2008. Our strategic plan has identified the need to reduce student-teacher ratios in our classrooms to meet desirable standards as defined by MSIP. We continue to make progress toward that measure.
In the same column, he states that SPS misused bond funds and “bypassed” voters by paying construction costs related to the new Hickory Hills School. In 2006 SPS stated that Hickory Hills construction would be funded through a lease-participation arrangement, requiring SPS to make an annual payment of $2.5 million. It was determined in 2009 that interest and earnings on the 2006 bonds had generated an additional $16 million so the school board prudently decided to apply $10.8 million of those earnings toward the project. This decision did not divert any of the $96.5 million in original bond funding. All projects were completed as promised.

This decision applied a portion of the $16 million in additional earnings toward the district’s debt, a wise financial decision which reduced interest and lowered the annual payment. A similar decision was made to apply the remainder toward air conditioning Bowerman, Campbell and Shady Dell schools. There was no “breach of faith” in the board’s actions. As elected representatives of Springfield they were acting as wise stewards of the resources entrusted to them.
In another opinion column, a west Springfield resident questioned the proposed 2009 bond project which would expand Westport Elementary School to a K-8 campus and turn Study Middle School into the new home for the district’s alternative programs. This project will help the district make strides toward all three of its strategic goals:
- Improve student achievement: Research indicates a K-8 configuration promotes academic success by fostering relationships over a period of nine academic years and by reducing the number of transitions students must make to other buildings. One study shows that students in K-8 schools outperformed their peers in attendance, dropout rates and test scores.
- Improve the graduation rate: More students at-risk of not graduating may be served when alternative education programs are relocated to the Study building. Currently Bailey Alternative High School has limited space and can accommodate a limited number of students in grades 10-12. Currently at-risk ninth graders do not have access to alternative educational services due to lack of space.
- Ensure efficient and effective use of resources: Enrollment at both Study and Westport has declined significantly over the past 10 years. Creating a single campus for both schools would free up the Study building to house all alternative programs, currently located in three buildings (Bailey, Berry and Pepperdine). The district would save more than $3 million by not having to air condition these three buildings. Other savings would result from reduced operating costs related to utilities, custodial, maintenance and food service for the three buildings. Additional efficiencies will be realized through collaboration with Springfield-Greene County Park Board, which will invest about $500,000 to improve the school-park program at adjacent Westport Park. Athletic fields, playground equipment, pavilion and swimming pool renovation are among the planned improvements.

Get the facts about the proposed no-tax-increase bond on the ballot in November on the district's site.

An overview of the proposed no-tax-increase bond

2009-09-21T14:28:00.005-05:00

In November, we will be asking Springfield parents and voters to help us take another important step forward by approving a $50 million investment in our schools to create quality learning environments for all students without raising the current tax rate. This no-tax-increase bond will fund air conditioning, construction & improvements and technology.

Here's a short breakdown of the proposed projects included as part of this no-tax-increase bond issue:

Air conditioning - SPS will fulfill its pledge to air condition every school in the district with this bond. Plans call for air conditioning to be installed at Boyd, Robberson, Rountree, Sunshine, and York elementary schools; Jarrett and Reed middle schools; Phelps Center for Gifted Education; and the district’s Tefft Center. This fulfills a promise made a decade ago to achieve equity in the quality of learning environments available to students in every part of our community.
Construction & Improvements - Essential construction and improvement projects will take place at Hillcrest, Glendale and Kickapoo high schools; Westport and Jefferies elementary schools; and we will use bond funds to retire lease participation agreements being used in the construction of the new Hickory Hills School.
Technology - Every classroom in the district will be equipped with an LCD projector and interactive whiteboard, and aging student computers will be replaced with more efficient workstations.

Passing a no-tax-increase bond issue now maximizes resources. It allows the district to leverage federal stimulus money to access between $5 million to $7 million in interest-free bonds available for a small window of time through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This will save Springfield taxpayers millions in interest. Those interest-free bonds along with the district’s current bonding capacity and available debt service funds – available because of our good stewardship of public resources – enable us to request a $50 million bond without having to increase the current tax rate.

I encourage you to read detailed plans for each project on our web site. I'm truly excited about the opportunity this no-tax-increase bond offers our schools and our community.

Thoughts on the Westport/Study discussion

2009-09-18T15:05:00.003-05:00

Thursday evening I had a chance to be a part of a panel discussion concerning the district’s proposed plans for Westport Elementary School as part of the proposed no-tax-increase bond issue. I want to thank the Westside Neighborhood Betterment Association for hosting this meeting and all of the parents, neighbors and others who came to learn more about and discuss this proposal. I am always encouraged when parents and citizens get involved with their neighborhood schools, and I hope each person who came to the forum will continue to stay involved in the lives of school children even beyond this election.

I’d like to take this opportunity to again share with you the details of this proposal and speak to some of the concerns expressed at Thursday’s forum.

This plan would expand Westport Elementary School to accommodate students from nearby Study Middle School. Both schools have experienced a significant decline in enrollment over the past decade. Bond funds would be used to construct a new cafeteria, gymnasium and classrooms plus renovate the existing all-purpose room. Westport will become a state-of-the-art facility and source of pride for students and the neighborhood. Study, air conditioned as part of the bond proposal approved by voters in 2006, will become the new home for all the district’s alternative programs, now housed in three different buildings.

Some important facts about this plan for Westport and Study:

Improving student achievement: Research and experience tells us that a K-8 configuration can promote academic success by fostering relationships over a period of nine academic years and by reducing the number of transitions students must make to other buildings.

Improve the graduation rate: By relocating the district’s alternative education programs to Study, we can serve more students at risk of not graduating. Currently, Bailey Alternative High School has very limited space for students in grades 10-12 and cannot accommodate ninth grade students. Consolidating these programs at Study would also allow the district to close and possibly sell the three buildings currently housing the programs.

Traffic: All our schools experience minor traffic inconveniences during start and dismissal times. As we develop the plan to expand the Westport campus, we will consult architects and planners to design traffic control measures which will minimize congestion on neighborhood streets.

Safety: Some parents have expressed concern about elementary school students and middle school students being together in the hallways. As with the other K-8 schools in Springfield, at Westport the middle school and elementary school programs will operate independently. While students may share the cafeteria, gymnasium and library, the times they use them will be staggered.

Alternative education: As for the plan at Study, I hope people will not jump to false assumptions about the students there. Kids in the district’s alternative programs are not “bad” kids, and it’s wrong to imply such stereotypes. Alternative education exists to provide an educational setting for students who are not succeeding for one reason or another in the regular school setting. These students may be teen parents or may have to work to support their family. Others may need more academic support to perform at grade level than their peers in a traditional classroom. Rather than allow these young people to fall through the cracks, we choose to provide them alternative educational opportunities designed to promote academic achievement, foster self-esteem and develop the skills required to graduate and become responsible community members. District rules governing conduct apply and are enforced among all students.

School-park program at Westport: The Springfield-Greene County Park Board will invest $500,000 to improve the school-park program at adjacent Westport Park. Athletic fields, playground equipment, pavilion and swimming pool renovation are among the planned improvements.

While many are excited about the possibilities associated with this proposal, I understand the concerns some residents have expressed about combining Westport and Study. I hope that this offers some assurance. New and improved school facilities can serve as the foundation of the revitalization of a community. I remain confident that this plan directly benefits the students of Westport, Study and all of our students accessing alternative services.

If you have questions about this plan or any of the others included in the upcoming no-tax-increase bond proposal, do not hesitate to contact us. You may read details of all proposed bond projects here.