SBPS Annual Report 2019-20

More documents

Recommendations

Info

6 | Scottsbluff Public SchoolsSuccess, Accessand SupportSCHOOL CLIMATEPositive Partnershipsand RelationshipsTransitionsEquitable EducationalOpportunities and AccessMany of you can probably relate, as aparent or a grandparent (or as anyonewho has children you love in your life), tothe challenges of managing a day whenyou needed to engage, entertain, andcare for a few children you love for an entireday. There are a lot of moving parts.Depending on the ages and interests ofthe children, you’d have to individualize.Some have skills and talents that otherslack. The challenges vary, but the bottomline is ensuring each has a great,productive day.Such is the work of a school district andthe responsibilities of each of our 500staff members every school day. Thereare a lot of moving parts – most of whichare critically important to ensure that everychild thrives. In order for this to happen,three key pieces emerge right fromthe start – just as they would for thesmall group of kids you might be takingout for a family adventure:1. Positive relationships and partnerships- Establish a foundation ofpositive relationships with the kidsand bring in others to help maketheir experiences more rewarding.2. Transitions – Help all children preparefor what’s coming next. Makesure they’re “ready.”3. Equitable Opportunitiesand Access - Be sure everyonehas the chance toenjoy every opportunity.To conclude the analogy, extendthose critical componentsof a good day with yourown very special children toour school district of about3500 or so students (includingthe many newborns andtoddlers we serve). ScottsbluffPublic Schools is now nearlydouble the size of any otherschool district in western Nebraska (andin most cases quite a bit more). Furthermore,SBPS is among a small handful ofregional districts that have grown overthe past five years. In fact with a growthof almost 600 students over the past decade,SBPS stands in stark contrast tothe rest of the region which has droppedover 1300 students in that time. SBPS isa busy place and getting busier all thetime. Some of you can relate ifyour family has been rapidly expanding!With a guiding Mission of “EveryChild, Every Day,” SBPS continuesto focus on providing anever growing and changingarray of services and opportunitiesfor a constantly changingschool population. We know weneed to remain “agile” as weadapt. We need to be flexible.With ongoing attention to conservativespending (as evidenced by a per pupilcost of nearly $1700 less than the averageNebraska school district), SBPS iscontinually evaluating and re-evaluatingstudents’ primary needs and goalsand how the district can adjust and readjustto those changes. For example, itis likely no shock to anyone that societyis sending schools very different kidsthan those of as little as a decade ago.It’s commonly understood among educatorshere that if we don’t “define” theculture within our schools, that culturewill define us.Consequently, this past fall, ScottsbluffPublic Schools competed for and was“In addition to providing tremendousopportunities to our studentsand our schools, this federal grant isdelivering much of nearly 2.5 millionnew dollars directly into our localeconomy”ultimately awarded over $2.3M federaldollars to “transform” the cultures of ourschools so as to better meet the needs ofour students and community. Primary tothis work is a focus on responding to thesignificant needs of children who cometo us unprepared to successfully participateand learn. Oftentimes, these kidsbounce from one frustrating and dysfunctionalexperience to the next and,Dr. Katie Carrizales of ESU#13 gives anupdate on the regional Day TreatmentSchool progress at the 3E CommunityNew Years Resolution Event.on the surface, appear unable or unwillingto live life any other way. They oftenstruggle with attendance, engagement,behavior, relationships and, in turn, academicand social progress. Many areoften victims of neglect, abuse, mentalillness, physical and emotional disorders,and other traumatic events in theirlives that, for many adults, are difficult tofathom. Some have faced unimaginabletragedy, been exposed to horrible violence,been abandoned and worse.This multi-year Climate TransformationGrant is funding a varietyof “restorative” components thatwill help kids regain control oftheir lives. For example, any studentconsequence for a drug oralcohol violation will be providedout-of-school professional counseling.Students in need of inschoolsupport will be providedclear goal setting guidance, mediation,comprehensive behavioror safety plans, or a host of otherinterventions. Valley Youth Connectionsis now a satellite site forthe school district to serve students whoneed temporary supports when suspendedor expelled. “Zoom” video camerasprovide kids visual and audio accessto their classrooms when they are out ofthe classroom for short term interventionsor consequences. The grant willfund diversity training and facilitationof our District Diversity Team. And this isjust the beginning.
Scottsbluff Public Schools | 7In addition to this Climate Grant, SBPS has also received multiplegrants to fund early childhood education and our afterschool program. An aggressive approach to alternative fundinghas helped secure grants that required competitive applicationsthat oftentimes only a small fraction of applicantsreceived. Collectively these grants have brought in over $6M tohelp supplement the basic state funding that is typically andsignificantly below what public schools in other states receive.Our students deserve it.There are many moving parts to an effective school district justas there are for a successful family or thriving neighborhoodand community. Ultimately, regardless of the context, our childrenrequire all of our persistence, creativity and initiative if weare to meet their varied and often quite challenging needs oftoday.13241The SHS Air ForceJunior ROTC Chapterwas recognizedby Special Olympicsfor their participatonin Unified Sports. InUnified Sports, studentswith disabilitiescompete on a team with studentpeers providing inclusion,promoting respect and providingmeaningful sport experience.Students with disabilities alsotake part in ROTC at SHS.2Lake Minatare PrincipalJeremy Behnke presentsa “Bee Your Best” award toDelilah Farrier. Bee Your Bestawards are given to students atall elementary schools for goingabove and beyond in displayinga safe, respectful or responsiblebehavior. Bee Your Best beeswere sponsored by the District3E Initiative.Every Child,Every DayEvery Child, Every Dayis more than just amission statement forthe students, staff andfamilies of ScottsbluffSchools . . . it’s wordsto live by. The photosabove are a few examplesof how ScottsbluffSchools promote inclusiveenvironments,kindness and caring,community service andequitable opportunitiesfor all children inScottsbluff.3The ScottsbluffPublic Schools BearCub Preschool hasreceived a $155,000 EarlyChildhood ExpansionGrant from theNebraska Departmentof Education for the2019-20 school year. Fundingfrom this grant was used toadd an additional preschoolclassroom and new playgroundat Roosevelt Elementary.4Twenty ReConnect studentspainted a house for a localresident as a communityservice project. Supplies weredonated by Diamond Vogel,Sherwin Williams, Menard’s,Carr-Trumbull Lumber andShaul Construction. ReConnectis designed to offer the supportand flexibility to help students,who have either dropped out orare at risk of dropping out, gettheir diploma.
Page 1 and 2: AchievementTHROUGH ACCOUNTABILITY
Page 3 and 4: Scottsbluff Public Schools | 3DISTR
Page 5: Scottsbluff Public Schools | 5AQuES
Page 9 and 10: Scottsbluff Public Schools | 9Stude
Page 11 and 12: Scottsbluff Public Schools | 11US D
Page 13 and 14: Scottsbluff Public Schools | 13DID
Page 15 and 16: Scottsbluff Public Schools | 15fund

SBPS Annual Report 2019-20

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?