MDSD DECEMBER BOARD BRIEF
MDSD
December 11, 2023
1. Celebrating the Contributions of Departing Board Members
Multiple members of our school community expressed deep appreciation for our two departing board members, Jon Walker and Jim Cole. They highlighted the years of dedicated service and significant impact these individuals had on our students and community.
The speakers shared stories that really captured the hard work of those leaving the board. They pointed out how these members weren’t just about making decisions but truly cared about the students and school district.
2. Gift & Grant Approvals
MDSD has been awarded the Securing Our Future Grant in the amount of $94,188.50! This will be allocated toward updating door security, new cameras for blind spots, and passive monitoring stations to allow staff to better monitor our school campuses. This grant underscores our commitment to fostering a safe and secure environment within MDSD.
3. Fall Benchmark Data
David Pickard, Valerie Berg, and Jake Olson delivered an overview of the initial assessment results for grades K-8, focusing on iReady, iStation, and MAP assessments. It looks like we are off to an even better start than previous years. These results serve as a crucial benchmark, offering valuable insights into our students' current academic standing and paving the way for progress tracking throughout the school year. As we eagerly anticipate the forthcoming winter data, we look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of our students' development and academic growth.
4. Average Daily Attendance (ADA)/Enrollment Funding Changes Update
MDHS has been able to maintain financial stability, thanks in large part to the Budget Stabilization Levy put into action in 2007. However, over the last 17 years of no increase to that levy the school district is facing tough decisions dealing with a 2.7-million-dollar funding shortage from funding levels seen in 2007. In addition, our legislative body recently changed the way schools are funded after school budgets were approved. This decision reduced the amount of funding to the MDSD by $590,000 per year. Not only was MDSD negatively affected, but 90 of the 117 school districts have been negatively affected as well. The results of the most recent reductions in state funding have prompted us to explore potential solutions to ensure ongoing fiscal stability in the coming years. For more details on our considerations and the way forward, please click HERE.
5. Clearwater Financial Update
Considering recent updates on reduced state funding, we find it necessary to address the $2.7 million financial shortage in our Stabilization Fund. To better gauge the community's sentiments and assess their willingness to support our educational initiatives, we will be incorporating additional questions in an upcoming survey. Along with determining the support for staff housing, and student enrollment concerns, this survey aims to gather valuable insights on whether the community would be open to supporting a potential supplemental levy, helping us navigate the funding challenges and sustain the quality of education that our communities served expect.
6. Maintenance/Operations 5-Year Outlook
Jason Clay presented our comprehensive 5-year maintenance and operations plan, showcasing our commitment to responsible facility management. With a primary emphasis on facility upgrades, the plan underscores our dedication to ensuring the safety and security of our students.
7. IT 5-Year Outlook
Matt Cavallin shared insights into the IT Department's plans for the next five years. The focal point of the discussion was the growing demand for laptops across the district, acknowledging this as an ongoing process with the aim of keeping these devices in service for at least five years.
Matt also shed light on the department's vision, recognizing the need to upgrade network infrastructure in three schools that have been in operation for almost a decade. This approach emphasizes our dedication to keeping up with technology and ensuring strong digital foundations to support effective education delivery.
8. Recycling Update
Unfortunately, we've run into a problem at MDHS, BRMES, and PLMS campuses. The last two bins at each spot meant for recycling are being used as regular trash bins from individuals outside the school community. The last several loads have been sent to the landfill as the recycling has been contaminated. This is causing a headache for our recycling efforts, and it's putting the success of our recycling program at risk. Please help us with our recycling efforts.
9. 24-25 Calendar Update
Just a quick heads up! The MDSD Calendar Survey hit your emails last week. We really want to hear your thoughts, so take a few minutes to fill it out HERE. Don't forget, the deadline to have your say is Friday, December 15. Your input is important in helping us plan our calendar, so thank you in advance for taking the time!
10. Policy update
A big shoutout to our Policy Conversion Work Group for stepping up and converting more outdated policies to ISBA policy! Your dedication is making a real impact, and we appreciate your hard work and commitment to keeping our policies up to date. Thank you for your valuable contribution!