LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Due to the increase in enrollment across the state of Kansas, and when adding the various factors that give our "weighted" funding our state is another $100 million over budget on education funding for this fiscal year. The governor has expressed that a cut will be made at the end of November in the amount (we have been told) of $150 per pupil on our "weighted" funding. For USD 344 this means a cut of approximately $100,000 from our budget. The news just keeps getting better, we have been warned that another cut will be coming in April and will probably be even bigger than the November cut, but that is speculation.

Here is the problem with these type of cuts. All schools set their budgets in July like we are supposed to and then to cut the budget six months or nine months into it when obligations have been made is not a good way to conduct business. I realize that if the money is not there then we have absorb cuts from state aid like other agencies, however, one could ask the legislature where they get their figures and why are they so grossly wrong. To be blunt, I'm not sure the legislature wants to do a thing to correct the fiscal woes our state is in, and I think that is unfortunate for the kids of Kansas because they are the ones that will ultimately suffer.

The Two Hand Set Shot

When we first learned to shoot a basketball, we all used the two hand set shot because we were to weak to get the ball up to the goal any other way. Then as we got older our shot changed, because we got stronger, and could get the ball to the goal with one hand. The only problem was our accuracy suffered because it was a different way of shooting. Our coaches pointed out, though, that the two hand set shot was to easy to block and we had to change. The ones that changed to shoot the way we were coached lasted, the ones that couldn't give up the two hand set shot dropped out of the sport.

Most of us are self taught, we use what we know and what talents we have to succeed. But once we encounter a situation or challenge that is on a different level than we have experienced before how many of us revert back to the two hand set shot? It can be very uncomfortable to change old behaviors, and usually the first few tries at something we fail, just like the one handed shot. We must stay the course because we know that is what is best in the long run and all that is necessary is to practice the new behaviors. As life and changes get more competitive we are constantly taking our game to different levels, and as painful as it sometimes is we must learn new ways to handle the new problems we are faced with.

Board Summary

The Board of Education met on Monday, November 9, in the annex. The meeting was by far the best attended board meeting since I have been here. The hot topic was the senior panel, most of the seniors, several parents, and underclassmen were in attendance. The students made their presentation their views, and their parents views were taken into consideration. The board decided to table the issue until the December board meeting, with the Pleasanton Student Council and the administration coming up with a policy.

The auditing report by Terry Sercer was approved, Connie Krull, board clerk, and Karen Snow, board treasurer, were both sited by Mr. Sercer as doing good work in getting the information ready and the accuracy of their figures.

The Board also voted not to become a member of the Schools for Fair Funding group.

The policy book will be reviewed in the December board meeting and the appropriate policies will be discussed and changes made if necessary. The policies will then need to be reviewed by KASB and then get final approval.

The Christmas Dinner for employees will be December 14, at 6:00 p.m. The monthly board meeting will then follow at 7:30.

November BOE Meeting

The November Board of Education for USD 344 will be, Monday, November 9, in the Annex. The agenda is as follows:

Call to Order

Additions to Agenda

Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

Approval of Monthly Bills

Visitors Forum

Thank You Card

Principal and Superintendent Report

Business, Discussion, and Action Items

SPED Van

Senior Class Panel

Report by Auditor (Will probably occur at the start of the meeting)

Schools for Fair Funding

KASB State Convention

Policy Book

Christmas Dinner

Executive Session

Adjournment

Volleyball

The reason I blogged about football yesterday is that it was fresh on my mind, but I have a few things to say about our volleyball season as well. I will also admit as far as expertise goes, I can speak at ease about football, and I have none in volleyball.

I can say this from watching our girls play, we were not the same team at the end of the season that we were at the start. The improvement shown by our team was astounding, and you could see their confidence soar as the season wore on. I got the genuine belief that our girls felt they had a chance to win no matter the opponent. Only having one senior on the squad I think the future is bright for our volleyball program.

As stated earlier I am not a volleyball expert, nor do I know how to coach volleyball, but I feel I do recognize coaching. The gains made could not have been achieved without good coaching and patience to work with such a young team and keeping sight that it is how you finish not how you start.

I just want to say kudos to all involved in our volleyball program.

Football

Pittsburg Colgan is a better football team than the Pleasanton Blu-Jays.

I do not want to discuss the difference between private and public schools. I believe in public education and its benefits.

This past Friday night, October 23, our football team played at St. Marys-Colgan. We had three members gone to Indianapolis to the FFA National Convention, which left us with only 14 in uniform. Colgan is down this year in their numbers they only have sightly over 50 playing football. The clock ran the second half, Colgan won the game 39-0. None of this matters.

What matters was the extraordinary effort put out by our players, knowing they were outmanned I couldn't have been more proud of our kids for the valiant effort that was put out. As the game wore on I became more and more proud watching our kids battle, I am very happy to be a Pleasanton Blu-Jay.

It didn't stop at our players either, our coaches coached the entire game as if it were a 0-0 game and never stopped demanded the very best from our kids. The cheerleaders performed throughout the entire night and kept our crowd involved until the end, kudos to you, and your leadership, our fans stayed until end on a cold and wet night the simple thing would have been to get in your car and head home, however, not one person did. I did watch the Colgan fans stream out at halftime as if a fire alarm had been sounded.

Sports are not intended to teach character, but more often than not sports reveal character, and judging from last Friday night that is one trait we are not short on. My hats off to everyone involved.

3 Beliefs of a Professional Learning Community

Planting and nurturing a healthy professional learning community requires that every teacher and employee in a building arrive at three conclusions:

1. I am a professional. My mission is to ensure learning at high levels for every student, measurable by objective evidence.

2. I learn and I help others learn. My students learn more when I collaborate and lean with other teachers, sharing strategies and comparing evidence.

3. My school is a community, greater than the sum of its parts. It is built out of collaborative teams and disciplined professionals that share and learn from their failures and successes.

It's not enough to adopt two out of the three conclusions. It's all or nothing.

Because these conclusions aren't just benign, buzzword statements, adoption can be pretty arduous. Teachers need time and patience to hash through the implications of these terms with other teachers.

Teachers need time to air their concerns, fears, and insecurities before they really assimilate these beliefs. Teachers need time to struggle and even fight through the process of letting go of longer-standing beliefs that conflict with these conclusions, without feeling like they're forfeiting their souls and their individuality.

For leaders, the whole process is less like building a tract house, and more like planting and growing a forest. It takes strategy and experience, nurturing and pruning, and time.