Calendar Set for 2016-2017 School Year

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The Colstrip School Board approved the 2016-2017 Calendar from a list of three calendars presented. As presented in the Superintendent Blog post: Request for 2016-2017 Calendar Input, Colstrip steak-holders selected the "Gold" calendar. The "Gold" calendar received 63% of the vote while the "Black" calendar got 19% and the "Green" received 17%.

The Calendar has 177 student days of which 34 are partial and 2 are half days. There are 7 PIR days for professional development scheduled. One day is reserved for staff check out. The total calendar days equals 185. See the Definitions below for more information. 

The first day of school will be August 24, 2016 and the last day will be May 25, 2017. The Administration Team will be working on providing and scheduling details into the calendar that is presented below. This is a "Stake-Holder" approved calendar that meets the needs of our community and students. Thank you for your help and input in selecting a calendar for 2016-2017.

DETAILS:
Staff PIR: No School August 22-23
First Day of School: August 24
Labor Day: No School September 5
MEA Convention: No School October 20-21
End of First Quarter: October 28
Staff PIR: No School November 9
Thanksgiving Break: No School November 23-25
Winter Break: Half Day/Early Out December 21
Winter Break: No School December 22-January 2
End of Second Quarter: January 13
Mid-Winter Break: No School February 17
End of Third Quarter: March 17
Snow Day: No School March 24
Staff PIR: No School March 27
Spring/Easter Break: No School April 14-17
End of Fourth Quarter: Half Day/Early Out May 25
Last Day of School: May 25
Staff Check Out: No School May 26

DEFINITIONS:

Full Days: (WHITE COLORED DAYS) This is a regular day of school.Typical days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday during the following times:

Elementary School: 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM

Middle School: 8:15 AM - 3:45 PM

High School: 8:05 AM - 3:35 PM

Partial Days: (GREEN COLORED DAYS) School is dismissed early. These days are scheduled on Thursdays. Staff will remain in school and continue with their professional responsibilities meeting with parents, school improvement teams, data collection and planning and preparation. These days will also be used for delivery professional development to the staff. These days will focus on school improvement through communication and collaboration efforts. Partial day times:

Elementary School: 8:15 AM - 2:30 PM
Middle School: 8:15 AM - 2:45 PM
High School: 8:05 AM - 2:35 PM

Half Days: (PURPLE COLORED DAYS) Half-days often occur right before holiday breaks. Half-day times:

Elementary School: 8:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Middle School: 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM
High School: 8:05 AM - 12:20 PM

Student Days: Days students will be in attendance at school.

PIR Days: (ORANGE COLORED DAYS) Pupil Instruction Related (PIR) or professional development/training days. No school is scheduled for students.

Vacation or Holidays: (YELLOW COLORED DAYS) Days recognized as holidays or breaks. There is NO SCHOOL on these days.

Colstrip Welcomes New Middle School Principal for 2016-2017

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The Colstrip School Board put the final stamp of approval on the hire of next year's middle school principal at Frank Brattin at their April 11, 2016 Board Meeting. Interviews were held March 14, 2016 by three panels: FBMS Staff Panel, CPS Administrative Panel and the Superintendent. Pax Haslem was the recommended candidate for the job.

I am very excited about what Mr. Haslem has to offer our district. He is a certified administrator who will be in is first year as a principal. He is very enthusiastic and has experience with some of the key initiatives that our district is currently undertaking.

Mr. Haslem is a very likable individual that has a plethora of experience in middle school and serving at-risk students. I believe him to be a "no-nonsense" type of leader that is willing to embrace new ideas with the greater organization in mind.

We would like to welcome Mr. Haslem and his two daughters to our district and schools. We have high expectations that he will help our students MAKE DUST!

Congratulations Mr. Haslem! Welcome to Colstrip, Montana!

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Disposal Auction

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

As per Policy 7251, the district is disposing of obsolete, undesirable, or unsuitable property as it can no longer be stored in IBCLC. Faculty members were given a chance to select items that they would like to utilize in their classroom at the District Early Out. The maintenance department has moved those items to their buildings. A resolution to dispose this property was approved by the Board at the Regular February Board Meeting. 

The District has solicited the Van Ash Auction Company to sell the property to the highest bidder. Gordon Van Ash, owner said the most profitable and efficient way to do so is through online sales. You can go to http://www.kinseyauction.com/ to view the items being sold and the conditions of the sale. 

At this time, you are able to submit a bid.

Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets will be deposited to the general, debts service, building, or any other appropriate fund (Policy 7251 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT: Disposal of School District Property Without a Vote). 

Please share the information and look over the items listed on the website of Kinsey Auctioneers and Real Estate. 

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

A Purpose-Driven Education Through Strategic Planning

By Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

Just short of seven years ago, on April 13, 2009, the Colstrip Board of Trustees formally adopted its new Strategic Plan.  Colstrip Public Schools’ Board and Staff Leadership Team embraced the method of strategic planning as a continual and ongoing process to set the direction of the District for years to come.  This is not a "strategic planning project" that is completed. Adoption of a strategic plan is an affirmation of the general intent and direction articulated by the Core Ideology, Envisioned Future and Goals and Strategic Objectives. It is understood that progress toward achieving strategic objectives will be assessed annually, and the plan will be updated based on achievement and changes in the needs of the children served by the Colstrip School District. 

Strategic Planning allows Colstrip Public School District to create a direction for the school district that strategically focuses its resources on identified wants, preferences, and needs of its community. As part of this process, Colstrip Public Schools has begun a strategic planning and thinking process which will lead to a stronger and more vital school district.  This process has been ongoing as Colstrip Public Schools moves into the future.  This strategic plan is intended to help Colstrip Public Schools in focusing its resources in a manner which will best benefit the children enrolled in Colstrip Public Schools.  

The Colstrip Board of Trustees and Staff Leadership Team began the strategic planning and thinking process necessary to amend its current educational goals to better fit with its commitments to children, to community engagement, and to knowledge-based decision making processes. The Board and Staff, through this process, to date have discussed at length how it could best meet the present and future needs of the students of the Colstrip Public Schools.  Point of fact, the School Board monitors Strategic Planning processes at every monthly meeting to assure the direction set are being met or are meeting the needs of our students 

One of the first  items the board and community determined in the strategic planning process was the Core Ideology of the District. The Core Ideology describes a school district's consistent identity that transcends all changes related to its relevant environment. The Core Ideology consists of the following two elements: 

1)   Core Purpose - the school district's reason for being (see slide above).

2)   Core Values - essential and enduring principles that guide a school district (see slide below). 

The Core Ideology and Purpose provide a foundation for purpose-driven governance. The framework used by the Colstrip School District for its strategic planning process was adapted from a model developed by Jim Collins, author of “Built to Last” and “Good to Great.” The Board focuses on five different planning horizons, starting with the long term issues first to provide focus to shorter term efforts. 

Follow up posts to this blog will further explore the strategic planning process and the District's Envisioned Future and the process associated in developing the District's Big Audacious Goal and Vivid Descriptions. 

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"

Request for 2016-2017 Calendar Input

by Robert "Bob" Lewandowski

The Colstrip Public School District #19 Calendar Committee would like to invite all of its stakeholders/constituents to to provide feedback on three different calendars developed by the Committee. We ask that you identify your relationship to School District #19 and then select your favorite calendar of those provided.

NOTE: We are also utilizing several collectors to categorize responses: Social Media (Facebook); Website (http://colstrippublicschools.org/); and Email. The most reliable is Email, followed by Website (one response per IP address) and then the Social Media (open forum response). If you would like to participate in other forums, to maximize your voice, please email the district at info@colstrip.k12.mt.us.

THIS SURVEY WILL CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT April 1, 2016.

The items below describe the Calendar Options. The Calendar Committee would like you to assess each of the three options for the Colstrip Public School Board #19 to consider.

DEFINITIONS:

Full Days: (WHITE COLORED DAYS) This is a regular day of school.Typical days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday during the following times:

Elementary School: 8:15 AM - 3:30 PM

Middle School: 8:15 AM - 3:45 PM

High School: 8:05 AM - 3:35 PM

Partial Days: (GREEN COLORED DAYS) School is dismissed early. These days are scheduled on Thursdays. Staff will remain in school and continue with their professional responsibilities meeting with parents, school improvement teams, data collection and planning and preparation. These days will also be used for delivery professional development to the staff. These days will focus on school improvement through communication and collaboration efforts. Partial day times:

Elementary School: 8:15 AM - 2:30 PM
Middle School: 8:15 AM - 2:45 PM
High School: 8:05 AM - 2:35 PM

Half Days: (PURPLE COLORED DAYS) Half-days often occur right before holiday breaks. Half-day times:

Elementary School: 8:15 AM - 12:15 PM
Middle School: 8:15 AM - 12:30 PM
High School: 8:05 AM - 12:20 PM

Student Days: Days students will be in attendance at school.

PIR Days: (ORANGE COLORED DAYS) Pupil Instruction Related (PIR) or professional development/training days. No school is scheduled for students.

Vacation or Holidays: (YELLOW COLORED DAYS) Days recognized as holidays or breaks. There is NO SCHOOL on these days.

Below is each calendar and a description. To take the survey go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CPScalendar

GREEN Calendar Option (See Graphic Above): This Calendar is the same calendar that is utilized this school year. The Calendar length is 179 student contact days. School begins on Aug 23 and ends on May 30. It has (9) Winter Break Days; (2) Spring/Easter Break Days. It has (144) Full Days; (33) Part Days; and (2) Half Days. There are (187) Professional Days and (8) PIR Days. 

BLACK Calendar Option (See Graphic Above): The Calendar length is 178 student contact days.  School begins on August 24 and ends on May 30. It has (1) Snow Day; (7) Winter Break Days; (4) Spring Break Days. It has (141) Full Days; (34) Part Days; and (3) Half Days. There are (185) Professional Days and (7) PIR Days.

GOLD Calendar Option (See Graphic Above): The Calendar length is 177 student contact days. School begins on August 24 and ends on May 25. It has (1) Snow Day; (8) Winter Break Days; (2) Spring/Easter Break Days. It has (141) Full Days; (34) Part Days; and (2) Half Days. There are (184) Professional Days and (7) PIR Days.

GO COLTS! GO FILLIES! 

MAKE DUST OR EAT DUST!

"Get out in front and stay there!"