MONROE - The Monroe School District is getting its priorities straight.
As part of the District Improvement Plan, the administrative team this summer came up with a list of needs or enhancements it would like to see implemented, said Business Manager Ron Olson. The school board agreed, adopting them earlier this month.
Each of the seven priorities has been added to the proposed budget that will be voted on at the district's Oct. 20 annual meeting.
Most of the priorities, such as adding positions, are long-term commitments.
"These truly have to be priorities" before the district moves forward with them, Olson said.
The school board accepted the preliminary 2008-2009 school year budget of about $30 million Monday. The budget includes levying $900,000 of the additional $1.5 million allowed under a referendum passed last spring.
Olson said the priorities will be financed primarily through savings that came this summer because of staff turnover.
The seven priorities are:
1. Hire an additional school psychologist. This would allow each school to have a full-time psychologist. This is needed because psychologists are now spending more time assessing student data, developing intervention plans for students and overseeing those plans. The budget includes $90,000 for salary and benefits for this position.
2. Professional development. The district has depended on federal grants to pay for professional development over recent years. Providing more professional development is needed for teaching staff to be able to effectively use new curriculum and initiatives. The budget includes $100,000 for professional development.
3. Designate money for Response to Intervention. Response to Intervention is an educational philosophy that seeks to provide early and effective help for struggling students. One possible RTI strategy is an extended day program to offer additional learning for students. The budget includes $100,000 for RTI.
4. Hire an additional Library Media Center director. There is now one LMC director for the district; hiring an additional position would provide an LMC director for elementary grades and one for the middle and high school. This would allow for more student instruction in using libraries for younger students and research assistance for middle and high school students. The budget includes $80,000 for salary and benefits for the position.
5. Provide more money for the Gifted and Talented program. Additional money would be used for materials, curriculum and programming. The budget includes $20,000 for the program.
6. Replace the school van. The district has an older 12- to 15-passenger van. The district will look at replacing it with a 7- to 9-passenger van, or possibly two minivans. The budget includes $50,000 for the vehicles.
7. Add study hall supervision at the high school. This would free up teaching staff for more professional collaboration time and student assistance programs. The budget includes $40,000 for study hall supervision.
As part of the District Improvement Plan, the administrative team this summer came up with a list of needs or enhancements it would like to see implemented, said Business Manager Ron Olson. The school board agreed, adopting them earlier this month.
Each of the seven priorities has been added to the proposed budget that will be voted on at the district's Oct. 20 annual meeting.
Most of the priorities, such as adding positions, are long-term commitments.
"These truly have to be priorities" before the district moves forward with them, Olson said.
The school board accepted the preliminary 2008-2009 school year budget of about $30 million Monday. The budget includes levying $900,000 of the additional $1.5 million allowed under a referendum passed last spring.
Olson said the priorities will be financed primarily through savings that came this summer because of staff turnover.
The seven priorities are:
1. Hire an additional school psychologist. This would allow each school to have a full-time psychologist. This is needed because psychologists are now spending more time assessing student data, developing intervention plans for students and overseeing those plans. The budget includes $90,000 for salary and benefits for this position.
2. Professional development. The district has depended on federal grants to pay for professional development over recent years. Providing more professional development is needed for teaching staff to be able to effectively use new curriculum and initiatives. The budget includes $100,000 for professional development.
3. Designate money for Response to Intervention. Response to Intervention is an educational philosophy that seeks to provide early and effective help for struggling students. One possible RTI strategy is an extended day program to offer additional learning for students. The budget includes $100,000 for RTI.
4. Hire an additional Library Media Center director. There is now one LMC director for the district; hiring an additional position would provide an LMC director for elementary grades and one for the middle and high school. This would allow for more student instruction in using libraries for younger students and research assistance for middle and high school students. The budget includes $80,000 for salary and benefits for the position.
5. Provide more money for the Gifted and Talented program. Additional money would be used for materials, curriculum and programming. The budget includes $20,000 for the program.
6. Replace the school van. The district has an older 12- to 15-passenger van. The district will look at replacing it with a 7- to 9-passenger van, or possibly two minivans. The budget includes $50,000 for the vehicles.
7. Add study hall supervision at the high school. This would free up teaching staff for more professional collaboration time and student assistance programs. The budget includes $40,000 for study hall supervision.