Pirate Post

January’s Pirate Post

Hello Everyone! This is Dr. Rogers with a December and January update. December was filled with the magic of Christmas and all things that go with the close of our first semester. High School students completed finals and those students who had excellent attendance were exempt from taking their finals, and were able to job shadow in a variety of jobs the last two days of the semester. Over 140 elementary students received makeovers, reaching a new record thanks to amazing volunteers who devoted time shopping, sizing, cutting and styling hair, painting nails, etc. It truly was magical seeing these students show off their skills while looking amazing! January has brought excitement of fresh beginnings as we kick off the second semester!

The past two months we recognized Mrs. Emilea Buckhannan, one of our kindergarten teachers, Mr. Daniel Cline, our JH Social Studies and JAG teacher, Mrs. Adria Marcum, our 5th/6th grade science teacher, and Mr. Dave Hesford, our high school math teacher as our Teacher Proud Tuesday honorees. These spotlights give us the chance to showcase the incredible individuals who make public education so impactful. Our November Teacher of the Month was Ms. Maddy Swearingen who serves as a 2nd grade teacher and is a Crane alumna. And our January Teacher of the Month was Mrs. Jennifer Wilken, our JH/HS special education teacher. All these staff help make Crane amazing!

Did You Know? Cont’d: Last month I shared a little bit about the Student Adequacy Target. This month, I want to share about recent legislative news.

Executive Order

With recent legislation and/or executive orders from the Governor, public education funding is at risk of being negatively impacted. While every school has areas to improve, the Governor’s executive order will rank every district using an A-F letter grade system. This appears to be a way to make the public think our small rural schools are failing…which we wholeheartedly believe is not the case. While our students may not perform the greatest on the state’s MAP and EOC tests, they excel in many meaningful ways that are not fully captured by these measures and in formal tests. We are committed to highlighting the strengths, opportunities, and successes we provide our students, and we look forward to sharing more in the months ahead.

School Funding Modernization Task Force

As I shared last month, the school funding formula has not changed in the past 20 years. What has changed is how the state calculates the number used in that formula. In the past, funding was based on Average Daily Attendance (ADA), which reflects how often students attend school. This year, the state began shifting to a new method that uses 90% attendance and 10% total enrollment (membership). Each year, enrollment will count more and attendance will count less. Until then, we will continue to push for higher attendance rates and appreciate all the help we can get from families to ensure students are at school every day and arriving on time!

Board Meeting Updates: Over the past two months, the Board of Education has addressed several significant matters impacting the district. The Board approved a bid from Landmark Fencing to construct a fence surrounding the track, enhancing both safety and facility security. In addition, members approved the purchase of a new propane bus, fully funded through the Volkswagen Trust, covering the entire cost of the vehicle. Considering that new buses now cost approximately $150,000, this grant represents a substantial financial benefit to the district. The Board also approved bids for new wireless access points and uninterrupted power supplies. These critical technology upgrades will be largely funded through the district’s obligated E-Rate funds, requiring the district to pay only 20 percent of the total cost. Lastly, the Board approved a partnership with Care to Learn, an initiative supported by the Silver Dollar City Foundation, allowing the district to continue receiving Care for Kids funding. This collaboration is a valuable partnership that will have a positive and lasting impact on our students.