With a brand new year, our school board has been busy working on lots of new projects for our schools. Here are a few of the things going on:
1. New graduation requirement - At our last school board meeting, the Board added a Community Service requirement. The policy is below. Current seniors are exempted from the policy and then each class has a certain number of hours to complete. We believe that our students must be well-rounded when they leave our high school and being involved in the community is of vital importance. Students will have many opportunities to complete their service on campus, but some may wish to perform the service off-campus. The school will work with local service clubs to identify appropriate opportunities for our students.
Here's the language from the policy, adding this requirement to graduate from HHS:
Community Service or A Service Project of 45 hours or more
Students may have up to 20 hours per year applied to meet this requirement. The school will develop and provide forms and processes to implement this requirement. Parents and students shall be provided information on this requirement along with approved suggested community service projects and activities on at least an annual basis. The school shall provide on-campus community service opportunities for at least the minimum number of hours required for students to complete this requirement (minimum of 15 hours per year).
Students may also propose to the principal and his/her designees other on or off-campus community services activities and projects.
No hours towards this requirement shall be credited for projects or activities not pre-approved by the principal and/or his/her designees or for activities in which the student is in a paid position or for those hours required for credit or a grade in any class.
Students shall be encouraged to perform at least 15 hours of service each year.
In order to facilitate the transition to these requirements, the following shall be required for students enrolled in the following graduating classes:
Graduating class of 2015 and beyond: 45 hours
Graduating class of 2014: 30 hours
Graduating class of 2013: 15 hours
Graduating class of 2012: 0 hours
Effective with the 2012-2013 school year, students who enroll in the school after 9th grade shall be required to complete the following hours:
Entering in 10th grade: 35 hours
Entering in 11th grade: 20 hours
Entering 12th grade: 10 hours
2. Quality School Construction Bond
Through the use of a Quality School Construction Bond, the Board approved many improvements to District facilities:
Background
The school district was recently awarded the opportunity to participate in the Quality School Construction Bond program provided by the Federal Government. This program restricts the use of funds obtained by this program to capital facility projects in the District. The following have been approved for the use of the QSCB funds in the amount of $1,500,000.
Proposed Projects with estimated costs – Projects are in priority order and would be funded as needed. Funds not utilized would go down to augment next item as needed.
1.Field Lighting Project ------ $460,000
Lighting for football, football practice field, softball and baseball, include lighting standards, extensive underground wiring, scoreboard, pressbox wiring, conduit for future use, IID fees, architect, DSA, etc. Amount listed excludes funds provided by FEMA for project, of Approximately $180,000.
2.New/upgraded physical education facilities at HHS –Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis
------ $575,000
Approximately 40-50,000 square feet of concrete for basketball and volleyball courts. Would include fencing, backboards, standards, striping, etc. In addition, resurface existing asphalt courts, which have deteriorated to the point of being a hazard. Would involve grinding current surface down, filling in cracks, applying new asphalt on top. Includes fencing. In addition, provide supplies, materials, infrastructure to construct storage for PE programs.
3. Food Service Facility Improvements $250,000
Some of the current facilities are over 50 years old. These funds would be used for new equipment for all kitchens as needed and to convert the high school home-ec room into a food service facility to improve the food service program at the high school. It would also add improvements to seating areas for students as well as provide new tables, shade, landscaping, hardscaping, etc.
4. Shade cover/ tables/benches/physical education equipment or other improvements at each site (site amounts would be increased proportionally if savings occurs on above projects): $215,000
Site allocations: Pine $25,000
Finley (includes Dist. Office) $85,000
HMS $30,000
SWHS $15,000
HHS $60,000 (includes AG, maint. areas)
3. New Cafeteria management structure, including executive chef.
The cafeteria management has been changed to include a Director of Food Services/Executive Chef and a new position of Food Services Operations Manager.
We are continually looking for ways to improve the operations of the school district and the food services area is one that we are tackling now. The cafeteria program is self-sufficient, in that it raises its own revenue to operate and does not encroach on the general funds of the District. By separating the duties of the management into two positions, we believe we will be able to dramatically improve the food quality and raise the number of students choosing to eat in the cafeteria.
Travis Jennings has been hired by the District as our new Director of Food Services and Executive Chef. He will working hard to offer more of a variety for students with a focus on taste, quality and nutrition. He will be adding more fresh foods to the menu and will be working hard to ensure the students have a say in what is being served. He will be working with staff, parents and students to help him prioritize what the students want from the cafeteria.
Erika Allen, a long-time district employee has been promoted to the position of Food Service Operations Manager. Erika’s duties will be ensure that all state and federal regulations are being met by the department. She will also be in charge of the Food Service meal reporting and will assist in personnel.
With the school board’s investment in facilities through the use of the Qualified School Construction Bond, the eating area at the high school will be entirely revamped with the old Home-Economcs room becoming part of the food preparation and serving area. A total remodel of this area is planned and will be completed during the school year. By the end of the school year, the high school students will have much more variety to choose from and a more comfortable seating area. They will also be served in a much more efficient manner, allowing them more time to eat their lunch.
4.Update on the field lighting project.
The high school field lighting project, which began as a repair project after the 2009 earthquake, is now a full-scale replacement and addition project. In addition to football field lighting, the project now includes the practice field, softball and baseball fields. The project is expected to be completed in time for the second football game of the season on September 9th.
We are also raising funds for a new football scoreboard. Through generous donations by the Holtville Athletic Club and private donors, $12,000 has been raised for the scoreboard which has an estimated cost of approximately $20 - 26,000. Hopefully we will have the new scoreboard sometime this school year.
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Comments left on this blog may or may not be published depending on the appropriateness of their content. Comments may also be turned into questions and addressed as new blog entries. I welcome your input and look forward to your comments. -Jon LeDoux, Superintendent