Blog Bits

Congratulations
Our speech team has done it again! They are state champs in Division II. Thank you to all the team members, Dave McKenzie, Jane Nelson, and Charlotte Tyree for bringing home the trophy.


For Your Reading
Spring break has provided a time for us to do some reading. We recommend the following for your consideration:

Our Endangered Values is an interesting read on former president Jimmy Carter. The book reviews today’s events in light of those values that are part of our heritage.

A Team of Rivals by Doris Kerns-Goodwin details the presidential campaign of Abraham Lincoln and those who ran against him. This documentary uses excerpts from newspapers, diaries, and letters to show the inter-workings of Lincoln’s cabinet and the struggles he endured with his Generals.

Daniel Pink has written an interesting book called A Whole New Mind. Pink describes the movement from the informational age to the conceptual age and its implications for preparing ourselves and our students for work in the future.


Legislature
The legislature has passed several bills during the last session that relate to schools. The following is the summary of changes:

When parents have joint custody of a child and live in different school districts, they may choose which district the child can attend school tuition free. This decision must be made 14 days before the first day of school. The law becomes effective July 1, 2006.

The percentage and the definition of a qualifying school has been lowered from 25% to 15% beginning July 1, 2007 for the purposes of offering the school breakfast program.

School districts are now required to establish a coordinated health advisory council to develop a local wellness policy. Our district is ahead of this requirement.

School districts will now have official counts in September, December, and May of each year under Senate Bill 173.

For those who drive our white busses, Senate Bill 305 requires that the bus may not be operated at greater than 55 miles per hour and that the emergency exit or exit windows may not be obstructed. This bill becomes effective July 1, 2006.

High schools will now have to offer a minimum number of advanced placement classes and dual credit classes.

Possessing a knife on school property or on the school bus is now a Class B Misdemeanor.

The Department of Education and State Board of Education is to conduct a review of the state-wide student testing program and develop a long-term plan for student testing. This must be completed by November 1, 2006.

House Bill 1347 raises the drop out age to 18 unless a student can prove financial hardship, illness, or may drop out via a court order.