May-June 2011 - Meade School District

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$04 Math-Algebra 4.A.1.1 - Form B$

Martinson is band director of the year Sturgis Brown High School band director Dave Martinson has been named 2011 Outstanding Bandmaster for South Dakota. As the state's top band director, he was honored in a ceremony held during All-State Band for his achievements in the field of instrumental music education, and for his exemplary service, dedication and professionalism. During the presentation, Martinson was congratulated for the success of his students over the years in All-State Band, All- State Jazz Band and at music contests. His students have been selected for All-State Jazz Band every year for the past 17 years. In addition, his symphonic bands have received superior ratings at large group contest 15 times during the past 16 years. SBHS choir director Bart Torbert said of Martinson, "Dave has been highly regarded among music educators for some time, and that is a large part of the reason I left the Rapid City School District to come to Sturgis Brown High School. I wanted to partner with a teacher of his caliber." Co-worker Gary Nelson said he is proud to call Dave his friend and colleague. "No one deserves this honor more," he said. "Dave has been so involved in both the state and local music scene and is so dedicated to his students." Sturgis Brown High School band director Dave Martinson, left, was named this year’s Outstanding Bandmaster for South Dakota. Whitewood School music teacher Marlene Kotab concurred. "This is a well-deserved honor," she said. "Dave has been a mentor, friend and inspiration to dozens Sturgis Brown High School student musicians. I am always in awe of his professional manner when working with students. His humor shines through his teaching along with his serious sense of expecting the best from each one - no matter the level of their talent. We are so fortunate to have him in Sturgis." Echoing those comments was Connie Feekes, music teacher at Sturgis Williams Middle School and Piedmont Stagebarn School, who said, "It is fitting that David Martinson is the recipient of this award because of his long career dedicated to promoting music education. During his tenure as band director, Dave has touched the lives of countless young people and stirred in them a desire for excellence and creativity through music. He has been a mentor to others in the field of music education and an avid supporter of music in our community and state." Martinson has taught instrumental music for 35 years, the last 19 at SBHS. He has been an adjunct woodwind instructor and band director at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, and is a performing saxophonist throughout the Black Hills area. He was Meade School District Teacher of the Year in 1997. 12 In Touch May-June 2011
Budget reduction, finance plan includes reallocating resources and using reserves Meade School Board members have devoted a portion of three school board meetings and one entire meeting to discussing ways of dealing with the 6.6 percent cut in state funding to education. During the April board meeting, the board cut the budget by $380,773, deferred the purchase of math curriculum materials in the amount of $330,000 and reallocated it to cover utility and property insurance costs, and allocated $350,000 of general fund reserves to cover the rest of the decrease in funding thereby almost balancing the budget for 2011-2012. "Though having a qualitative impact, this action enables the district to keep the highest quality of services," said Superintendent James Heinert. "Reserves would be drawn down, but the fiscal solvency of the district would remain intact." He pointed out that balancing the budget is predicated on the assumption that employees will receive no salary increases for next year, that health insurance premium increases will not exceed seven percent ($100,000), and that other costs such as heat and fuel will not increase more than $150,000. The $380,773 in budget cuts include the following: 1. Reduction of 1 full time equivalent (FTE) in administration - savings of $69,000 2. Reduction of 1 FTE counselor - savings of $50,000 Reading strategies for the summer months Many children forget some of what they've learned or slip out of practice during the summer months. Try the following strategies to help your child improve his or her reading during the summer and beyond. Six books to summer success: Research shows that reading just six books during the summer may keep a struggling reader from regressing. When choosing the six, be sure the books are not too hard and not too easy. Read something every day: Encourage your child to take advantage of every opportunity to read, whether it is just the comics or weather in the morning newspaper. 3. Reduction in mileage to parents - savings of $15,573 4.Reduction in administrator professional development - savings of $15,200 5. Reduction in co-curricular activities - savings of $37,000 6. Reduction of 4 FTE classroom teachers - savings of $194,000 ($48,500 per teacher) Superintendent Heinert had proposed a reduction of five classroom teachers - two at Sturgis Brown High School, two at Sturgis Williams Middle School and one at Enning - for a total savings of $242,500. However during the April board meeting, the school board pulled the Enning classroom FTE from the budget reduction plan after members of the Rural PTA appeared at the meeting to protest the cut. The board directed the superintendent and rural principal to meet with representatives of the PTA to discuss the elimination of the teacher from the Enning School. Until a final determination is made from which school the fifth teacher will be cut, the board is $48,500 short of reaching a balanced budget. To view the budget reduction and finance plan in greater detail, go to the school district website at www.meade.k12.sd.us. Keep reading aloud: Reading aloud to your child benefits all children, especially those who struggle. One benefit is that the child will build listening comprehension skills which increases knowledge and expands his or her experience with text. This enables the child to do better when reading on his or her own. May-June 2011 In Touch 13
Page 1 and 2: In Touch May-June 2011 Volume 7, Nu
Page 3 and 4: Staff retirement and recognition re
Page 5 and 6: Drivers education registration unde
Page 7 and 8: March 8, 1937, meeting, Board of Ed
Page 9 and 10: Student-built house nearing complet
Page 11: Special public hearing set for May
Page 15 and 16: ‘Pinocchio’ is Spring children

May-June 2011 - Meade School District

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