School District of New Berlin News
Information for the New Berlin community on school district news, events, and celebrations of success.
Highlights from the Board of Education Meeting - 2/25/13
HIGHLIGHTS FROM BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
FEBRUARY 25, 2013
Link to Meeting Packet Link to LifeSize Video of Meeting
Moving New Berlin Forward Update
Superintendent Joe Garza shared successes of the 2nd Annual Moving New Berlin Forward / School District of New Berlin Career & Job Fair – held Wednesday, Feb. 14 in the New Berlin West Field House. The purpose of the event is to connect students with businesses to prepare for future jobs and careers. Sixty businesses shared with 800 students the education and skills necessary to succeed in their respective industries. Eight career cluster breakout sessions were also held for students. Some students collected applications for businesses that had jobs available, and community members attended the evening job fair for employment opportunities. More info and photos are available at www.facebook.com/nbexcellence. Board President David Maxey joined Superintendent Garza in thanking all staff who organized the event, businesses that exhibited, career presenters, and sponsors.
Goals, Projects & Initiatives Update: Learning Technology – Counselor Update
School counselors from New Berlin West (Matt Ische, Allison Schwaab, Heidi Stigler) and New Berlin Eisenhower (Tim Kujawa, Mary Jane Whitty, Kathy Lohse) reported on SDNB’s comprehensive career planning curriculum for middle and high school students. They explained how students use WisCareers, a career development website that helps students with career awareness, exploration and planning. Students develop Individual Learning Plans and through the process understand themselves better, allowing them to make course selections appropriately and to develop future college and career plans.
Counselors also provided an update on the district’s Student Family Assistance Program (SFAP). They are no able to refer students and their families to health services professionals for assistance with relationship challenges; social or peer pressure; stress, anxiety and depression; substance abuse; other addictive behaviors and more. SFAP has also provided inservices for staff on topics like anxiety disorders. Counselors thanked the Board for their support of SFAP because of its value to students, their families and staff.
Goals, Projects & Initiatives Update: WKCE Update, Overview of February 14 Staff Learning
Director of Curriculum & Instruction Eileen Depka shared information on new Wisconsin Knowledge & Concept Exam (WKCE) standards. This year Wisconsin raised the WKCE proficiency levels needed for students to reach the basic, proficient, and advanced performance levels in reading and math. As a result, WKCE results will show a decline in the number of students considered to be “proficient” or “advanced.” The new, more rigorous college and career readiness scoring standards better reflect performance as compared to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a national test of student performance, and will help prepare all Wisconsin students to be college and career ready.
SDNB parents received information about the new standards with their child’s WKCE Individual Profile Reports in February. It was communicated that the scoring change does not reflect a change in the abilities of students, teachers, or schools, but rather reflects the higher standards and aspirations Wisconsin has for its students and schools. It is important to note that SDNB uses several measures of student progress to individualize instruction; the WKCE is just one assessment and is only administered once per year to students in grades 3-8 and 10.
Depka also reported on the positive response to the district-wide Professional Learning Day for teachers February 14th. More than 90 teachers volunteered to present on 56 topics that supported district goals, projects and initiatives.
Approval of Policy 5117.1 – Homeless Children & Youth
The Board approved revisions to the policy 5117.1 Homeless Children & Youth.
Donation Report
Board Treasurer John Kegel reported on recent donations to schools and thanked donors for their support.
Note: The Agenda Item “Discussion / Approval of Offer to Purchase Little Grove School, Subject to Approval by the Electorate, and Approval of Financing Terms” will be included on the March 11 meeting agenda.
