This week's meetings. Find agendas here: http://www.aps.edu/about-us/board/meeting-archives
-- Monday, Nov. 14: Redistricting Committee meeting: This is the last meeting of the APS Redistricting Committee. 6 p.m. at Eldorado High School.
-- Tuesday, Nov. 15: Finance Committee meeting. 7:30 a.m.
-- Wednesday, Nov. 16: Board of Education general meeting. 5 p.m.
-- Thursday, Nov. 17: District Goals meeting: This is the last meeting at which APS will solicit the community's input before prioritizing the new goals for the district. It's at Manzano High School from 6 to 8 p.m.
Last week's news:
I. Policy and Instruction Committee meeting, Nov. 8: As you might already know, the Board is considering next year's calendar recommendations. One recommendation came from the APS Calendar Committee. Another recommendation came from Superintendent Brooks. Here are the two recommendations:
Here are my personal observations, and why I voted to send both calendars back to the calendar committee for more work (that vote to send back to committee was 5-0 with the chairman abstaining and one member absent):
1. I believe if APS charged a committee to do the work, then the Board shouldn't disregard that work, even if it likes the superintendent's proposal better.2. I do not approve of the fact that the Calendar Committee is weighted against parents and students. For example, two parents and two students sit on the committee. One parent is from the West Side and one is from the Northeast Heights. There are six union representatives, plus one representative from each: Human Resources, Payroll, the Board of Education and UNM. Parents' voices are completely outnumbered by union interests.3. I like the later start time offered by Superintendent Brooks.4. I like the intermittent breaks offered by the committee.5. I don't like a snow day on April 1 and believe all snow days should be added to the end of the year -- even if it means students must go back to school after Memorial Day. I want kids in school on April 1.6. I am frustrated by this argument given by parents and sometimes teachers (sometimes this argument is made in the same breath): APS stinks. N.M. schools are ranked last in the nation. BUT don't let school start too early and make sure it ends before Memorial Day. (Is education a real priority in this state??)7. I wish we could start school after Labor Day and go through mid to late-June. That's how it's done in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest and the Northeast. I also wish we could have students in school for a bit longer day. We are no longer living in an era when our kids need to work on farms and ranches in the summers!8. Our school year calendar development is always tricky because the district is trying to balance the number of days in each of the two semesters, with one semester ending before Christmas break. Thus, the reason why the committee put the start of school on Aug. 13. I don't like the logic of the semester deadlines and that logic is very restrictive.9. Another reason cited by HR's Andrea Trybus for the earlier start day: the desire for a two-week pay period for employees. Starting on the 20th means the first paycheck is for one week.
The Board sent the calendars back to the committee and asked it to do the following by the next Policy and Instruction committee meeting in December:
1. Add one parent from the other five Board districts.2. Add another couple of SuperSAC students.3. Consider taking away April 1 as a makeup snow day and tacking it on to the end.4. Keep intermittent holiday breaks.5. Consider an Aug. 20 start date.
Let's see what the committee does. If you want to weigh in, then email boarded@aps.edu All of us will get your comments in this way. Please don't just email me.
II. Council of Great City Schools Snapshot: As promised, I will share a highlight of the CGCS' October 2011 report, titled "Managing for Results in America's Great City Schools." Here's how this report works: The report is a result of an effort that began in 2004. It is an online system that collects, calculates and reports strategic-performance data to aid decision-making among the nation's largest urban districts. APS inputs its data into the online system regularly.
This 2011 report compiles key performance indicators for the 2009-10 school year in business services, finances and technology. Because I constantly hear folks tell me that APS' finances are horrible (APS lost money in 2007, then found it again, then lost more again, etc.) I thought I would focus on a finance area of the report. APS hired a new chief financial officer, Don Moya in 2010. Under Mr. Moya's leadership, our district is now on time with all its required audit reports. There isn't a meeting that goes by that Mr. Moya is asked for some financial bit of information or another and always is able to produce the numbers in a timely fashion.
I know in years past, the finances of our district were in turmoil. In my few short eight months here, I have come to have a great deal of respect for the huge turnaround that has occurred under Mr. Moya's financial leadership.
That isn't to say I agree with HOW APS spends its money in all areas! But I do think the public must know that the financial stewardship and accountability of the district has improved tremendously.
In one area of the CGCS report, titled "General Fund Expenditures Efficiency -- Final Amended Budget," the closer a large urban district is to 100% indicates efficient utilization of appropriated resources. APS scored among 46 districts a 97.11% in this area, or No. 21 on the list. Influencing factors in this rating are: policies and procedures; budget development and management processes; administrative organizational structure, leadership styles, decision-making processes and distribution of authority; and departmental employee responsibilities and competencies.
In another area of the report, titled "General Fund Revenues Efficiency - Final Amended Budget," a percentage nearing 100% or above indicates efficiency in obtaining revenues to support final approved receipts. APS scored a 100.76% among 47 districts and ranked No. 8. Influencing factors are the same.
In both charts, APS is above the median average, which is 95.9% for expenditure efficiency and 99..35% for revenues efficiency.
III. Kudos:
-- Truman Middle School was host last week to international soccer star Brandi Chastain, who helped the school kick off its flu vaccination awareness campaign. Chastain also visited other schools, too. Also thanks to NM Department of Health Secretary Dr. Catherine Torres, who was also at the kickoff event!
-- Marie Hughes ES hosted a Literacy Night on Thursday, Nov. 10. Kudos the parents and children who attended and took part in a variety of reading activities, like writing a book and participating in a Book Walk.
-- If your school is doing something great to promote academic achievement, let me know! I don't want to overlook all the great efforts being made by our teachers, students and school leaders!
-- I have attached two documents I found on our VVHS and WMHS web sites. One is the senior project requirement for VVHS seniors. The other is WMHS' improvement plan.
Thanks,
Kathy Korte
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