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| This blog features the Superintendent Message by Dr. Dan Dozier found in the district newsletter "Riverspointe News", the official newsletter of the Orchard Farm School District. Please subscribe or bookmark this page to stay updated! |
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| During our regular Board meeting held on April 17, 2012, Mrs. Nancy Goeke and Mr. Fred Semke were sworn in as members of the Board of Education for a three year term. Mrs. Goeke is serving in her seventh three year term as a Board member and Mr. Fred Semke is serving in his fourth consecutive term. Officer elections for the Board of Education were also held during the April 17th meeting (see related article). Mr. Elmer Dwyer was elected President of the Board for the 2012-2013 term and has served as the president for 21 consecutive years. I am proud to serve with such a fine group of individuals on our Board and thank them for their countless volunteer hours dedicated to serving the children of the Orchard Farm School District.
I would like to invite the community to several events in the month of May as we wind down the 2011-2012 school year. Keep in mind this is a busy time for students and staff as we focus on preparing for our final exams and graduation programs at the elementary, middle and high schools. You will find the dates and times of the graduation programs in a related article and the calendar section of this newsletter. Mr. Randy Schilling has agreed to be the Commencement speaker for the Class of 2012. Mr. Schilling is a graduate of St. Charles High School and is the former President and CEO of Quilogy, Inc. and is the current President and CEO of Candlestiq, Inc. Quilogy and Candlestiq are successful multinational software companies competing in an aggressive global market. Mr. Shilling is the chairman of the Partners for Progress Education Committee and has ignited a focus on METS (mathematic, engineering, technology, and science) education in St. Charles County.
In closing, I would like to thank the parents for their support of their students as we finish the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) testing cycle. I know the students performed at their best efforts and abilities on this very difficult and lengthy task. Your support is critical to reinforce the importance of education for our children. As always, I am honored to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
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| If you review the calendar on the last page of the newsletter you can see that April is a very busy month here at school. All students in grades three through eight and students in grades ten and eleven are participating in the statewide MAP program. Please help your student be prepared for these exams by encouraging each child to do their best and get plenty of rest the night before their testing sessions. These exams take several days to administer and are very important to the students and the district. The scores each student earns on the MAP become a part of their permanent record. The spring sports seasons and related activities are also in full swing. Please stop by the campus and support your favorite team or building level activity in April and May.
In a separate action at the March meeting, the Board approved $4.7818 as the non-binding estimated tax levy for 2012 in compliance with SB711 (operations $4.0518, debt service $0.73). The estimated tax levy for the Orchard Farm School District continues to be one of the lowest tax rates for school districts in St. Charles County. The estimated levy was calculated using the State Auditor’s tax calculation forms taking into consideration the requirements of the Hancock Amendment and incorporating the most recent data the district has received from the
St. Charles County Registrar’s Office. The Hancock Amendment requires taxing jurisdictions to adjust the tax levy during reassessment cycles to flatten operating revenue from local taxpayers.
The estimated levy will be used to notify taxpayers of their anticipated tax liability for 2012. You should receive the notice from the county in late April. Many pieces of information remain incomplete at this time to provide a finalized tax levy. The district has yet to receive an estimated value of personal property or locally assessed railroad/utilities. Therefore, the rate the Board approved in compliance with SB711 to compute your anticipated tax liability notice will change as more information becomes available and the Board sets the final levy in September of 2012.
You will be able to find more information about the requirements of SB711 and the Tax Liability Notice on the St. Charles County and the Orchard Farm website when the notices are finalized. Contact information and website addresses will be identified on the Tax Liability Notice.
As always, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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I want to take this opportunity to invite everyone to the “Meet the Candidate Night” scheduled for Wednesday, March 28, 2012. The event will provide a forum for community members to discuss key issues impacting the district. The three candidates running for the Board of Education as they appear on the ballot are Mr. Fred Semke, Mr. Kevin Garcia and Mrs. Nancy Goeke. The event will begin at 7 p.m. in the high school commons and refreshments will be provided (see related article).
Another outstanding event scheduled to begin in March is the Orchard Farm School District Fine Arts Show scheduled from March 28th through April 13th at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles. A reception is scheduled on Sunday, April 15, 2012, from 1 to 3 p.m. featuring performances by the elementary chorus, middle school Eagle Singers, high school Women’s Chorale and the high school jazz band. Works of art will be on display representing the talents of our students in both elementary schools, middle school and high school (see related article).
The Orchard Farm School District has joined many of the school districts throughout the metro area and is now operating on a deficit budget for fiscal year 2012. While we maintain healthy balances, the Board has been preparing for the loss of revenue as the improvements to the Ameren UE Portage des Sioux plant are now complete and the value of those improvements move from being locally accessed to state assessed. The district has benefited in Ameren’s construction program for the past four years. The completion of the project will reduce our local tax collections by more than $4 million. The Board has been preparing for this reduction; however, a loss of this magnitude will have an impact on our current operations. Our Board is committed to providing a quality education program for our community while impacting as few programs as possible.
On a final note, I would encourage all parents to talk to their children about the importance of the MAP testing scheduled in the next few weeks. Encourage your children to do their best, get plenty of rest and come to school prepared for these important tests. Our district is judged on the performance of our students. As always, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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| January 17, 2012, brought the close for Board candidate filing. Three individuals have filed to run for two Board positions currently open for election. In order of filing, Mr. Fred B. Semke filed for his fifth term as a director of the Board of Education. Mr. Semke is a resident of St. Charles and is a principal owner of Semke Forensic, Inc. located in Hughes Industrial Park. Mr. Semke currently serves as Board secretary. Mr. Kevin Garcia is a first time candidate for the Board of Education. Mr. Garcia is a resident of St. Charles and is the principal of Quail Ridge Early Childhood Center in the Wentzville School District. Mrs. Nancy Goeke filed to serve her sixth term for the Board of Education. Mrs. Goeke is a resident of St. Charles and currently serves as Board Vice-President. Mrs. Goeke works at the City of St. Charles in the Finance Department.
I would like to invite all of you to a “Meet the Candidate” night on Wednesday, March 28, 2012. The event is scheduled for the high school commons and will begin at 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. The election to determine the two members of the Board to serve a three year term will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. The Board of Education will meet on April 17th to install the new members and elect officers for 2012.
The Board recently accepted a letter from Mrs. Sue Fritz, Mrs. Cindy O’Donnell and Mrs. Barbara Brennan announcing their retirement at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Mrs. Fritz has been a member of the Orchard Farm faculty for 24 years, teaching in the elementary school. Mrs. Fritz currently teaches third grade at Orchard Farm Elementary. Mrs. Cindy O’Donnell has been a member of the Orchard Farm faculty for 29 years of her 33 year teaching career. Mrs. O’Donnell has taught reading and social studies at the middle level. She is currently the 7th grade social studies teacher at Orchard Farm Middle School. Mrs. Brennan has been on staff for 40 years beginning her career with the district as a middle school secretary. Mrs. Brennan has worked in the administrative offices in the middle and high schools with the last 26 years as the administrative assistant to the Superintendent of Schools in the District central office. I want to wish all of our retirees success in their retirement. They will all be greatly missed.
As always, it is an honor to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
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| Beginning Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at 8 a.m., individuals interested in serving as a member of the Orchard Farm Board of Education may file at the district main office. Members of the community will have the opportunity to elect two members to the Board on Tuesday, April 3, 2012. Current members of the Board whose three year term expires in April 2012 include Mrs. Nancy Goeke (18 years of service) and Mr. Fred Semke (15 years of service). More information about the responsibilities of a school board member can be found at the Missouri School Boards’ Association website at www.msbanet.org.
December usually brings our first opportunity to deal with inclement weather and unfavorable road conditions that could impact the ability to safely transport students and have school. I take this responsibility very seriously and monitor weather and road conditions in order to make the best decision for the safety of the students and staff. When inclement weather is present, Ms. Norma Smith, our director of transportation, and I drive the major roads of the district to determine the accessibility for our buses. I usually hit the roads about 3 a.m. and keep in contact with the weather service and other superintendents in area districts to monitor the progress of winter storms. Our goal is to make a decision by 5 a.m. and contact the media sources to inform our patrons should school need to be canceled (see related article). Many of the media outlets are also posting this information on their websites to expedite the notification process for their listeners and viewers. We will also post closings on our website and utilize the District E-News at our first availability. If you have not signed up for the District E-News electronic notification service, please contact Bill Niemeyer at bniemeyer@ofsd.k12.mo.us.
As I noted last month, the district will continue utilizing an automated phone and text messaging service to notify parents of school closings or early dismissal during inclement weather. You must have current contact information in our student data system in order to receive a phone call or text message. Please check with your building offices to make sure your contact information is complete. During winter weather road conditions can change rapidly. I encourage all students to ride the school bus for their safety and minimize the number of vehicles on the road during the early morning hours so the snow plows can be effective.
I hope you and your family have an opportunity to spend time together during the holiday season. I invite you to attend the holiday programs throughout the district and enjoy the talents of our children during the performances. Your support at these events shows the students your commitment to education and family. A complete listing of events and locations can be found as calendar items on page 4 of this newsletter. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be the superintendent of such a fine school district. Happy Holidays and best wishes to you and your family.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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| As you have read in articles published in journals and newspapers, the funding of Missouri public schools through state appropriations is threatened by the current economic conditions. Over 150 million dollars in the state appropriations for the current school year came from federal stimulus money or gambling dollars that were overstated in the budget. Couple the economic conditions with budget/program cuts at the state level, recent court rulings and required increases to fund the state education formula, and you will find the quality of education available to students throughout the state in jeopardy. The Orchard Farm School District has been able to absorb some of the cuts imposed on the district like a reduction of transportation aid and a reduction in basic formula money. The total dollars for public education in the state has remained flat for the past two years.
Locally, the district has experienced over 90 million dollars in lost assessed value largely due to the completion of two major utility projects (Ameren Portage Des Sioux Plant and Trans-Canadian Pipeline). The loss of assessed value was anticipated and the budgets were put in place over the last three years to prepare for the completion of these projects. The 2011-2012 fiscal year is the first year that I can recall in my tenure in the district that the Board has adopted a deficit budget of just over $(500,000). The district will continue to operate a deficit budget in the near future until such time that the Fountain Lakes Tax Increment Financing (TIF) project is complete and the property taxes generated from the commercial improvements are returned to the district for the purposes of public education. The Fountain Lakes TIF is scheduled to sunset in March 2014, making the property tax revenue available in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
It is not uncommon for the severe weather season to start in our area in November. The students have completed several safety drills and know what to do if severe weather strikes while they are in school. Emergency closing procedures will be handled through the local media stations (see related article) and the district will continue to utilize an automated phone, email and text notification system for parents and staff. It will be essential that our student records have accurate home phone numbers, cell phone numbers, and email addresses for parents and guardians for the system to work efficiently and accurately. We are proud that more than 85% of our parents and guardians are currently signed up for the “Parent Link” service to communicate with the district and follow up on their child’s performance. Please check your personal demographic data using the “Family Data” tab of Parent Link to assure that your contact information is accurate. You may also contact the school your child attends to assure the contact information is accurate if you do not have Parent Link services.
As always, it is an honor and a privilege to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier |
| I am pleased to announce that the Orchard Farm School District received a perfect score on the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Annual Performance Report (APR). The APR evaluates the district annually utilizing 14 different criteria including MAP scores at all grade levels, ACT scores for high school students, course offerings, graduate follow-up data, dropout rates, and district attendance. A perfect score identifies the district as being a “Distinction in Performance School District.” The district has earned this honor in seven of the last eight years. Congratulations to our students, staff, and parents for this great accomplishment.
The current district enrollment is 1,538 which is the largest student count since 1977 when the district enrollment was 1,619. Last year our enrollment count at this time of year was 1,512. The growth the district has witnessed over the last few years is healthy for the district and very manageable with the improvements made to the campus and the addition of Discovery Elementary School. I want to thank the patrons of the district for your support in providing a safe and enriching learning environment for our students.
The first quarter will end on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Grade report cards will be available at parent-teacher conferences scheduled for Tuesday, October 18 and Thursday, October 20, from 5 to 8:30 p.m. I encourage parents to contact the building offices to schedule a conference time that best suits your schedule. The conference times are available on a first come-first serve basis, so call early to set up your appointment. As always, parent-teacher conferences are the best opportunity to discuss how your child is performing in class and your observations of independent practice on homework.
I encourage parents to use this time to talk with your children about the safety measures at school. More importantly, talk to your children about the importance of coming forward with any information at any time that causes them to question their safety or that of their fellow students, teachers or school employees. As members of the school community, we must break the “code of silence” related to school safety. Statistically, 81% of the people involved in school violence activities communicated information about the event before acting. It’s important for all of us to keep an open line of communication and feel comfortable with sharing information that causes someone to question intentions.
Your child’s safety is a #1 priority for our school district. Children will not learn unless they feel safe. We work each day to ensure our classroom environments, along with our school buildings, remain safe. We will continue to work with local, county and federal officials to update district procedures in the event of an emergency.
If, at any time, you have any questions regarding your child’s safety in our school district, please don’t hesitate to contact me. As always, it is an honor and a privilege to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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| We have had a great opening to the 2011-2012 school year in the Orchard Farm School District. I want to thank the parents who attended the Open House programs at Discovery Elementary, Orchard Farm Elementary, Orchard Farm Middle and Orchard Farm High Schools. We had a fantastic turnout and always welcome the community into our buildings at every possible opportunity. Your attendance at Open House and other school programs is critical to show your children how much you value their education. As of this writing, the enrollment in our K-12 program is 1,557 students, which is the largest the district has been since the 1977-78 school year. Another 37 students are enrolled in the Preschool program located at Discovery Elementary.
Calling all Engineers – The new pre-engineering curriculum, called Project Lead The Way, offered to students in grades 6-12, is forming an advisory committee. The committee will be charged with providing input on future course offerings, job shadowing and internship opportunities, and keeping the curriculum current and on target for the engineers of tomorrow. The first advisory committee meeting will be in October. More information will be available on the website as details are finalized. If you are interested in becoming part of the Project Lead The Way advisory committee, call the district office at 636-250-5241. I challenge every parent to get involved this year. Volunteers are needed throughout the buildings for parents, guardians, grandparents and community members who have time to give to the district. The elementary school PTO meets on the second Tuesday evening of the month at 7 p.m. The elementary PTO represents both Discovery Elementary and Orchard Farm Elementary and will rotate meetings each month. The next elementary PTO meeting will be Tuesday, September 13, in the Discovery Elementary Media Center. The middle school PTO meets on the fourth Tuesday evening of the month at 7 p.m. The Music Boosters and the Athletic Boosters meet monthly. This is your chance to get involved in school programs and activities.
As we move into September, the fall activities will be in full swing. Sporting events in football, softball, volleyball, and cross country will support other extra-curricular organizations including band, choir, cheerleading, pom pons, and our student clubs or organizations. This year will be the sixth and final year the district will be a member of the Eastern Missouri Conference (EMO). Next year, the district will be joining the Gateway Athletic Conference (GAC). As always, it is a great honor to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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| I am excited about the start of the 2011-2012 school year. We have a quality staff in place to help our students to perform at their best. Our Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) data should be available in late August for teachers and parents. Our teachers have been working throughout the summer preparing for the new year. This year the district is launching a new math curriculum at the elementary level called Singapore Math. Singapore Math is based on the national math system of Singapore and aims to emulate that country’s success by promoting a deeper understanding of numbers and math concepts. Students in Singapore have repeatedly ranked at or near the top on international math exams since the mid-1990s. Some recent research suggests that students who are taught Singapore Math score higher on standardized math tests, and in anecdotal reports, teachers say it helps even young children to develop confidence in their math abilities. District staff will complete an intensive week long training program August 1-5, 2011. Nationally renowned experts will be on campus to provide the training. A special parent meeting will be held on Thursday, August 4, 2011, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Orchard Farm Elementary Media Center by the trainers to present an overview of the program and answer any questions. I encourage parents of students in our elementary schools to attend.
The start of the school year is just a couple of weeks away which means the registration process for all secondary students will begin the first week of August (see related article). Open House programs are scheduled for Orchard Farm Elementary and Discovery Elementary on Monday, August 8, 2011. The Discovery Elementary Open House program is scheduled from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and Orchard Farm Elementary is scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Orchard Farm Middle School and Orchard Farm High School will have their Open House programs from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. I encourage all of you to attend the Open House programs, registrations, and start of school activities as we near the first day of school, Wednesday,
August 10, 2011.
The district will once again be offering a before and after school care program called Discovery Zone beginning the first day of school. The program is located at Discovery Elementary and serves all students in the district grades PreK-5. The program will operate each day from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and transportation will be provided to the main campus. Registration for the program is now open for either full or part-time participation. Please contact Ms. Kristian Walton for more information about the Discovery Zone program at kwalton@ofsd.k12.mo.us or via phone at 636-757-6809.
Monday, August 8, 2011, kicks off the start to the fall sports season. Practice information can be found on the district website or by contacting the activities director, Mr. Duane Stuermann. Check out the district calendar on the website and track your student athlete’s schedule by email.
The Orchard Farm School District is committed to making a difference in the lives of children academically in and out of the classroom. Student success requires the support of parents, community members, teachers, administrators, and school Board members. Let’s join together to make the 2011-2012 school year the best ever. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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| As we draw the 2010-2011 school year to a close, it is important to reflect on some of the successful initiation of several endeavors this past year.
- Discovery Elementary successfully completed the first year of services to our primary students in grades PK-2 for the southern portion of our district.
- Discovery Zone was successful in providing quality before and after school programs to our patrons on a tuition/fee basis.
- RTI academic intervention models improved student learning at the elementary and middle school levels.
- Project Lead the Way grants provided a pre-engineering academic program for students in grades 6-12.
- The high school seniors who took the ACT achieved a composite score of 21.8, exceeding both the state and national average.
- Project Search completed a successful year of providing “on the job” transition opportunities for students with disabilities through a partnership with BJC Hospital in St. Peters.
- The boys’ varsity basketball program won the district tournament for the first time in the history of the school.
- The scholar bowl (quiz bowl) team at the high school finished 4th in the state tournament for the first time in the history of the academic competition.
- The girls’ varsity soccer team finished 4th in the state tournament for the first time in the 10 year history of the program.
- Orchard Farm High School earned the coveted Red Quill Award from ACT.
The FY12 budget was approved at the June 21, 2011, Board meeting. This year will be the first time the district will be starting the year with a deficit budget of $478,641. Through careful financial planning, the Board has been building balances to prepare for a deficit budget resulting from the loss of assessed value. Our best calculation to date indicates the district will lose 26% or $98,512,285 of assessed value for the FY12 year. This trend will continue until the Fountain Lakes TIF project is complete which is scheduled for 2014. An extension of the Fountain Lakes TIF project would have a devastating impact on the financial resources of the district.
The summer is quickly passing and the start of a new school year is just around the corner. Our maintenance, custodian and technology staff have been working hard all summer to prepare the facilities for the start of school. The 2011-2012 school year is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Please refer to the school calendar on the last page of this newsletter or on the district website for scheduled activities and events as we prepare for the start of school. As always, it is an honor to be the superintendent of such a fine school district.
--Dr. Dan Dozier
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