November 20, 2014


Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Community Members:


Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and I want to express my appreciation to everyone who contributes toward the success of our students and schools.  On behalf of Billings Public Schools and the Board of Trustees, I would like to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving.  


Thanksgiving break is November 26th through November 28th with school resuming December 1st.  Please check with the principal of your student’s school should you have additional questions.


As you review the updates, attachments and additional information, please let me know if you have any questions.


Educator for a Day – Education Foundation


A big thank you to our guest educators for taking time to join our students, teachers, principals and support staff to learn first-hand about each school’s accomplishments, opportunities and challenges. This awesome opportunity could not happen without the dedication and hard work of Krista Hertz, Julie Whitworth and the Education Foundation Board…THANK YOU! 


We are also appreciative of the Foundation’s leadership and support of STEM/Project Lead The Way, Classroom Grants, Reading Rocks, Saturday Live and much more.


Elementary & Middle School Redistricting Meeting Reminder


Our fourth Redistricting Team Meeting is on Tuesday, December 2, 2014, from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Lincoln Center Board Room.  This meeting is open to the public and will focus on Options Development and preparation for the upcoming Community Forum #2.   Public comment will be taken at the conclusion of the meeting.


The Elementary & Middle School Redistricting Community Forum #2 will be held on Tuesday, December 16th, 2014 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Lincoln Center Board Room. All parents, staff and community members are encouraged to attend with an opportunity for public comment.


Your input is important to us!  If you have any questions, comments or ideas about the Elementary/ Middle School Redistricting process, please go to the Billings Public Schools’ website and click on the “Building Our Future Together Hand” and scroll down to “Your Opinion Matters.”  You can also access the page by clicking here.


Redistricting Summary from November 4th Meeting – Kristine Keller, Chairperson 

On November 4th the Redistricting team met at the Lincoln Center from 6-8 pm to review the second round of drafts that were presented by Cropper GIS.  Matt Cropper compiled the comments from October and applied them to the three new options that were presented Tuesday night.  Each new draft was presented in detail to the entire team providing opportunities for the members to offer suggestions and opinions for minor changes, such as grouping neighborhoods differently or assigning neighborhoods to schools that are in closer proximity.  Each option was supplemented with updated charts showing the number of students impacted per option, planned capacity, live-in capacity percentages, free/reduced lunch percentages and the feeder patterns.   Every option was still focused on maintaining a capacity level that would allow for future growth.  After each option was thoroughly reviewed, each team member indicated which option they preferred for the Heights and the rest of town.


Matthew Cropper will now use the team’s suggestions and top options to create new drafts for the team to review at the next meeting on December 2nd.


There were approximately 20 members from the community that also attended the meeting, observing the presentation and offering insights for particular neighborhoods.  Overall, the process remains transparent and objective, working towards creating the best outcome.


Redistricting for Special Education – Judy Povilaitis, Executive Director of Special Education

Billings Public Schools has been dealing with capacity issues in our schools for a number of years.  In an effort to design creative space for classrooms, students with special needs have been continuously displaced over the years.  Fortunately, now, with the passage of the building bond, the School District has an opportunity to evenly redistribute our classrooms and recreate space in our schools.  During informational meetings regarding the much-needed bond, Superintendent Bouck was ever mindful of the needs of the students served in special education.  As the district now embarks on the task of redistricting school boundaries, consideration for this unique student population is in the forefront.  


The redistricting committee will include in their charge allocating classroom space in identified schools within three geographical regions to house specialized self-contained programs.  This initiative will not only reduce transportation time for students, but, more importantly, will create a K-5 continuum for specialized programs within the same building, allowing students with disabilities in self-contained classrooms to remain in a single elementary school as close to their home school for up to six years before moving on to middle school.  Additionally, providing a K-5 model allows for more efficient use of staff, equipment and materials.  Travel time for specialists who currently work between buildings can also be reduced, giving them more time to focus on student needs.   


As promised, space is also being created to return the special education preschool classrooms to regional schools after being moved to the Career Center three years ago.  


As we move forward with an implementation plan for the 2016-17 school year, the expectation for the provision of a continuum of services in multiple areas throughout the district is to first phase in the K-5 model in the Heights.  Program needs will annually be assessed as the district continues to evaluate its ability to meet capacity needs.   As the new middle schools and renovation of older buildings add building capacity, the school district has an opportunity now to plan and prepare the much-needed space for all students attending Billings’ schools.


Broadwater Elementary School Update

Hardy Construction has been busy with the erection of the structural steel on the south end of the addition. The ‘massing’ of the new addition is now clearly visible as you drive by along Broadwater Avenue! The under-slab plumbing and electrical rough-in is complete, and the concrete basement slab has been poured. Site work and excavation continues around the building. The project is going very well and remains on schedule for the 2015-2016 school year.                                  

         

McKinley Elementary School Update

The structural steel framework at the East end of McKinley’s addition is going up quickly. Metal floor deck is being welded in place. Formwork, reinforcing steel and concrete are in progress at the cafeteria, the west end of the addition. Plumbers and electricians are installing underslab conduit and pipe for the new kitchen. Dick Anderson Construction is also working in the basement of the existing school, placing new concrete floor slabs and replacing termite-damaged wood wall framing. Diagonal parking along 31st Street is now available. The warm fall weather has been a blessing—lots of progress has been made.

           

Deferred Maintenance Update


Lew Anderson, 2013 Bond Project Manager, has provided an attachment that summarizes the 2013 bond deferred maintenance projects completed during the summer of 2014. You can see an overview of deferred maintenance projects planned for the summer of 2015 by clicking here.


Inclement Weather Update-Alternate Routes


Winter is upon us and it is inevitable that we’ll have severe weather headed our way.  In preparation for the snowy days ahead, we’ve updated alternate bus routes that will be used on days when busses are unable to use regular routes.  You can find the alternate bus routes and helpful tips for severe weather on our website.  Just click here or you can paste this shortcut into your browser: http://www.billingsschools.org/Page/159 for the most up to date alternate bus routes.


Thank you again, and I wish all of you a restful Thanksgiving.



Sincerely,



Terry Nelsen Bouck

bouckt@billingsschools.org


     
Building Hand
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