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School board reviews District #299’s goals |
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By Daniel McGonigle
Argus Managing Editor
“If we wrote goals that we could totally achieve they wouldn’t be that ambitious of goals,” said Caledonia Superintendent Mike Moriarty. “We’re making some progress but there is room to improve.”
Every few years, the school board reviews their goal statements in an effort to analyze where they’re going, what they hope to achieve and how their doing in terms of getting there. The board reviewed their goal statement Monday night.
•Students will be educated in an environment which offers options to reach high achievement and instills an appreciation of the value of learning.
To do so the district has established a reading, writing, and math focus district wide and integrated that focus into their K-12 curriculum.
“We’ve been able to accomplish that,” said Moriarty. “There has been a consistent commitment of district funds to teaching in those areas and there will be again this year.”
To help establish an environment which offers options for students to reach high achievement in learning, the district has also invested heavily in the use of technology that supports learning.
“Every effort has been made to keep up to date with technology by the district,” noted Moriarty. “We’ve upgrade technology in the food service program and parents have found that a useful spot to go to, to be able to pay for their children’s lunches on-line.”
The district also supports a vibrant fine arts program.
“We continue to provide funds to be used to purchase band equipment,” said Moriarty.
The district also mentioned their commitment to providing opportunities which specifically position students for future careers.
Moriarty listed things such as on-line partnerships with institutions of higher learning, concurrent enrollment in college courses and things of that nature as ways the district is working towards meeting the specific goal of providing opportunities for a future career.
The district also noted its commitment to community education.
•Students will learn in an emotionally, physically and socially safe and healthy environment.
Moriarty noted the district is addressing their needs of maintaining their facilities. He also spoke of a “climate of respect” that the staff and students adhere to. Specific to the student’s interest is an anti-bullying program which has been in place for several years at Caledonia schools.
“The staff perceive themselves as valuable components of a positive learning environment,” noted Moriarty.
•The district will operate in a strong financial position to provide an effective learning system.
The board has worked to maintain an eight percent fund balance. They fell just short of that goal last year, but Moriarty noted that it is within reach.
Every effort is also being made to maintain or increase enrollment.
The board and administration also remains active in the legislative arena.
“I’m not saying we’re meeting all of these goals, we may not be meeting any of them but we’re making progress towards them,” said Moriarty. “And we’re probably missing several things that are being done.”
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