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 Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Richard H. Bauscher
We welcome each of our students to a new school year. We are so pleased to have each one in attendance at our schools. Middleton School District is focused on providing each of our students with the highest quality education possible. Our hope is that each of our students will give their best effort to achieve, learn and grow throughout this entire school year.
One of the first steps toward learning is to maintain good attendance at school.
School attendance is both a right and a responsibility. The Middleton School District is an active partner with students and parents in the task of ensuring that all of our students meet or exceed the State of Idaho Learning Standards. We acknowledge that consistent school attendance, academic success and school completion have a positive correlation. Our District has school attendance policies to encourage students to come to school ready to learn.
The Middleton School District strives to create and maintain a positive school building culture. This is accomplished by fostering a positive physical and psychological environment where the presence of strong adult role models encourages respectful and nurturing interactions between adults and students. This positive school culture is aimed at encouraging a high level of student bonding to our schools, which in turn leads to increased attendance.
When students are present for critical academic instruction, they are able to master academic material and life skills knowledge. This knowledge will enable them to achieve success in higher education and the future world of employment. Good daily attendance correlates directly with success in school. Punctuality and good attendance are life skills modeled by parents, which will carry over into adulthood. Parental attitude sets an example, which has a great impact on children. Parents need to let their children know how important school is to their future success. The School District will continue striving to provide a quality and meaningful education that will prepare all of our Middleton students for the future. Parents in partnership with the school and community can make sure their students attend school daily, complete the academic requirements, graduate from high school, and learn the values and skills needed so they can be successful in their careers and in life. Through this partnership the goal of ‘quality learning and superior performance for all students’ will and can be attained.
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Implementation of A New Student Information System
This year we are implementing a new student information system called Skyward. It will replace our previous SASI student information system, which we have utilized for the past eight years. Our previous student information system, SASI (IGPro-grading system used at MMS & MHS & Parent Connect) was an antiquated student management system that is no longer supported by the NCS Pearson Company. During the summer months, Tamie Fried, our District’s Student Information System Manager, has worked many hours to make the transition from SASI to Skyward (as seamless as possible) for our staff, students and parents.
Many of our Administration, faculty and staff members spent numerous days training this summer in preparation for the use of this new system. The tools provided in Skyward will help administrators, teachers and parents (the Family Access component will allow parents to monitor their student’s progress from home) to view student progress at anytime, during a school year. This new program will also assist District personnel in efficiently submitting the many required forms and data to the State Department of Education.
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New Middleton High School
 The downturn in the economy has had a significant impact (both positive and negative) on the bond budget for the new High School. The positive impact is that the bids for the new High School construction project came in lower than expected, allowing us to stretch dollars for facility improvements at some of our other buildings from these approved $51.9 million bond funds as follows:
Refinishing the deteriorating stucco on the Middle School exterior, replacing leaking rain gutters and down spouts.
Revamping the Heights Elementary School parking lot to allow for a better traffic flow (paving, lighting and fencing).
Energy efficient lighting at Heights multi-purpose room, Mill Creek gym and the High School gym (the new lighting is projected to pay for itself through the financial savings in approximately 5.5 years).
Student lockers added in the English wing of the future Middle School annex
Four Middle School tennis courts (for PE and Lifetime Sports).
Minor remodeling of the District Office, creating more efficient work spaces and a room for fire proof file cabinets for District employment records.
Emergency power and cabling to meet the technology needs of our current buildings and interconnect with our new facilities.
The negative impact of the downturn in the economy is that the market value has dropped some student enrollment (due to fewer new residents moving into our area and other residents moving out due to lack of employment) has leveled off. The result of this negative impact is that the School Board members and District Administration continues to review the use and sale of the $51.9 construction bond funds to maintain the advertised tax levy rate for our patrons (approximately $4.45 per $1,000 of homeowner value) for the upcoming fiscal year.
Due to the proactive stance that the School Board members and District Administration have taken toward the construction, equipping and furnishing (soliciting savings from our vendors) of the new High School and the downturn in the economy, the entire new High School project is projected to cost approximately $45 -$46 million dollars. The $6 to $7 million that will be leftover (of the total $51.9 million dollars in the new High School bond funds) will not be sold nor put on the tax rolls and can be saved towards the total cost of the construction of a future new elementary school (if the School Board desires), insuring that our patrons bond tax levy rate, does not increase as per our advertisements.
How Does The Economic Downturn Affect MSD #134?
The Middleton School District is facing some hard decisions as we continue to be firm in our commitment to provide the same high quality education to our students, regardless of the financial difficulties that currently plague School Districts throughout the State of Idaho. Although at this time we are uncertain as to the extent of the State funding cutback dollar amounts, we are certain the negative financial impact to our District -- will be vast.
We are aware that the Middleton School District parents, staff and patrons are facing their own financial woes with the downturn in the economy. We are aware that you as individuals must make adjustments in spending and budgeting to align with changes in your income. The following information is provided to you as a preliminary draft of the considerations that the Administration and School Board members are reviewing in preparation for the additional State funding cuts that we are facing for the remainder of this school year along with ones coming for the 2010-11 school year.
SCHOOL DISTRICT GOALS:
1)Maintaining a top-notch education for our students.
2)Maintaining extra-curricular opportunities for students.
3)Striving to continue employment for the majority of our Administrators, Certified and Classified Staff members.
4)Continued facility upkeep.
5)Achieving the above items, while maintaining a balanced budget.
UNDER CONSIDERATION:
1)Continuation of the all day kindergarten classes (currently scheduled as Monday-Thursday & Tuesday-Friday, alternating Wednesdays)
2)Reduction of some hours or days and/or salary for all employees.*
3)Not replacing some of our employees who resign or retire.
4)Larger class sizes at most grade levels.
5)Reduction of building budgets.
6)Reduction in student field trip transportation costs.
7)Increase in facility use fees for those outside entities not associated with the District.
8)Increased use of technology to cut back on paper costs.
9)Utilization of some of the District’s Contingency funds.
10)Continued efforts to cut back on utility costs (by shutting off lights, equipment, turning thermostats down, etc.)
*Subject to negotiations with the Middleton Education Association (Teachers)
We will continue to communicate with the patrons of our District as the School Board members approve the necessary changes to keep our School District’s budget balanced and maintain a high-quality education for the students of Middleton. Thanks for your support during these trying times in this downturned economy.
2010-11 Board Meeting Schedule
The Middleton School District Board members unanimously approved the following as the date, time and location of their regular monthly meetings:
Date: Second Monday of each month
Time: 6:15 pm
Location: District Office Boardroom
5 South 3rd Avenue West
Middleton, ID 83644
A School Board meeting is not a public forum; rather it is a time for the patrons and visitors to listen and observe both the discussion and actions of your elected School Board members. Audience participation (at the discretion of the School Board) may be allowed as a signed in visitor or as an individual/group who has submitted an advance written request.
Individuals and groups wishing to address the School Board should deliver a written request to the Superintendent’s office by 4 pm, seven days prior to the scheduled School Board meeting. No action on your item will be taken at that time. However, action could be scheduled for a subsequent meeting of the School Board.
Individuals approved to address the School Board will be limited to three minutes in duration. Delegations or large groups approved to address the School Board will be limited to fifteen minutes in duration and have one designated spokesperson.
As elected representatives, School Board members encourage your input to them, prior to monthly meetings as well as your attendance (as patrons) at their regular monthly meetings, PTA meetings, Booster Club meetings and other school related events.
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| Calendar |
9/06 Labor Day Holiday (No School) (District Office Closed) 9/08 Staff Collaboration (Early Dismissal)9/14 Regular School Board Meeting
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