State Supplemental Aid Matters…A Lot

Back on October 1, 2019, I shared a blog titled Count Day Matters…A Lot.  In that blog I described the critical role student enrollment plays in school funding and budget development.

Today, I want to address another critical piece of the school funding formula, Annual Per Pupil Cost.  Each student enrolled in our district generates a specific amount of money.  For the 2019-2020 school year, that amount is $6900.00.  In order to maintain effective operations, and quality services for our students, it is critical that Annual Per Pupil Cost increases at a rate that keeps pace with the natural increases in our expenditures.  For example, when your electricity rates increase, our electricity rates increase; when you are spending more on gas, we are spending more on gas.

Setting a percentage increase for Annual Per Pupil Cost is a function of the Iowa Legislature.  Each year, the legislature sets a percentage increase for State Supplemental Aid (SSA).  That percentage increase is applied to the current Per Pupil Cost, and that new number allows school business managers and superintendents to begin the task of building a budget for the next school year.

The last five years have not enabled school district budget growth to keep pace with the natural increases in the cost of doing business.  The graph below shows the past 20 years of percentage increases in annual per pupil funding.  The graph also shows 15 years of five-year rolling averages.  You can see that the five-year rolling average is currently at the lowest point.  We have to do better as a state in providing this basic funding for our schools.

But Wait, I Read an Article About “Historic” Funding of Education

In recent years, Governor Branstad and Governor Reynolds, and the Iowa Legislature have talked about historic investments in education.  We hear numbers like $150 million dollars for Teacher Leaders and Compensation Programs, or “calling for $103 million dollars for education,” as mentioned in Governor Reynolds’ 2020 Condition of the State Address.  Unfortunately, many recent funding increases have been to categorical funds which can only be spent in certain ways.  These categorical increases reduce the local control of school boards, and can lead to significant surpluses in certain funds, while we struggle to have a General Fund that meets our basic needs.

While we appreciate the intent of the governor and legislature when they approve categorical funds, adequate increases to State Supplemental Aid empower local school boards and educators, and make the greatest difference in purposeful budget planning.

This year, School Administrators of Iowa, an organization of which I am a member, and the Rural School Advocates of Iowa, an organization of which our school district is a member, are calling for the percent increase to State Supplemental Aid to be set no lower than 3.75%.  I will advocate strongly with our elected officials for this percentage of growth, but your voices are what can truly make the greatest difference.

I encourage you to follow Parents for Great Iowa Public Schools.   You can find them on Facebook and Twitter.  They are a great source of information about how parents and community members can advocate for their local schools.

Additionally, I am always happy to talk with parents and community members about our local context, and how the actions of the legislature might impact our district.

Thanks for reading, and thanks for your support of Decorah Schools!

DCSD Condition of the District

Almost a year ago, I came to Decorah to interview to be the next superintendent of schools.  When I was invited to interview I was told I should be prepared to present an entry plan to the board of directors.  I could prepare a handout for the entry plan presentation, but I was told they did not want a Power Point presentation.  The handout I prepared began by communicating my purpose, and how I intended to present information back to the board about what was learned through deployment of the plan.

Since starting work July 1, I have engaged in a variety of activities designed to do what I told the board I would do during the interview process.  Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to have a mid-year check-in with our board members, and I shared a bone diagram capturing key elements of what I think I have learned.

On Wednesday, January 8, 2020, our Decorah Community School District staff met in the DHS Auditorium for a Condition of the District presentation.  We dedicated one of our late start Wednesday mornings to learning key information about who we are as a system.

I think it is important that our community be aware of these key desired outcomes as well.  Therefore, I invite you to watch a summary what was shared with staff using the video below.

Much of the work that is described in the video will be done in order to bring greater clarity to the shared why, how, and what of continually improving our Decorah CSD system.  As we do this work we will strive for transparency in our efforts, and to provide ongoing communication to you our stakeholders.

To that end, I am sharing a working document that is guiding our efforts to ensure we are creating a great environment for our employees to work, and for our students to learn.

Thank you for your continued support of Decorah Community Schools!

A New Era in Statewide Assessment

Back in 2013, the Iowa Legislature, and Governor Terry Branstad dedicated a great deal of time to passing education reform legislation.  Key aspects of the legislation introduced alternative career pathways for educators through Teacher Leadership and Compensation programming; the Iowa School Performance Profile website; and task forces to study teacher and administrator professional growth and evaluation frameworks, and a potential new statewide assessment of student achievement.

In August of 2013, I was working with Urbandale Community School District, and I was invited to serve as a member on the state assessment task force.  It was a great opportunity to work with amazing people from across our state who truly shared passion for doing what was best for Iowa students.

This brief history lesson is not the purpose for this blog, but I think it is important to provide a little context for where we are now, six years later.

This past spring Iowa students in grades 3 through 11 took the new Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress for the first time.  Iowa educators have been anxiously awaiting access to results from this first administration, and we expect to receive our results next week.  As the release of results has approached, the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa Testing Program, at the University of Iowa, have been sharing information with school administrators.  The graphic below is a snapshot of important information that will help educators, parents, and students understand results from the new tests.

The Iowa Department of Education has provided this fact sheet about the new Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP).

There are some key takeaways I hope everyone will keep in mind as we digest results from the first ISASP administration.

  1. A standardized test administered once a year is only one piece of a full body of evidence educators and parents should consider when evaluating students’ academic performance.  Results should be viewed interdependently with additional assessment results, and examples of student performance and work.  Whether a standardized test score is high, or low, overreacting to a single score is never in the best interest of a student.
  2. We will see overall scores across the state go down.  When our state introduced the Iowa Core Curriculum, and Next Generation Science Standards, the intent was to raise the bar in what we expected students to know, and be able to do.  Several research studies completed between 2012 and 2014 demonstrated that the old Iowa Assessment was not well-aligned to those new standards, and that a new, more highly-aligned assessment was needed.  The ISASP tests were developed and evaluated collaboratively by Iowa Testing Program and Iowa teachers.  More rigorous standards require a more rigorous test, and we will now have access to better-aligned results about what our students know and are able to do.
  3. Iowa schools and students will demonstrate growth in knowledge and skills in coming years.  This first administration is establishing a new baseline for schools across our state.  As a school district, we will examine our results for strengths and opportunities for improvement.  We will then do what we have always done, engage our educators in working collaboratively to provide Decorah students with a world-class education.

After we receive results, we will deploy additional communication and dissemination plans, and families will receive more building and/or grade specific communication on interpreting results.  If you have questions about the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress I would be happy to discuss the topic.  As a member of the initial task force, I have a great deal of background knowledge on the test, and how we got where we are today.  Once you receive results, if you have questions, I encourage you to reach out to your building principal, and they can assist you, or direct you to the appropriate person.

Thank you for your support and partnership!

Count Day Matters…A Lot

Today is an important day in the annual cycle of Iowa public schools.  October 1 is our official student count day, and that means every public school district in Iowa is taking a count of students enrolled in their schools.  We are required to take this count today, and then to certify our enrollment with the Iowa Department of Education October 15.

The reason today is so important is because Iowa public school funding is driven by a per pupil funding formula.  In other words, we build our annual budget one student at a time.  Our budget for the 2019-2020 school year is based on the enrollment we certified last fall, October 15, 2018.  Our Served Enrollment last October was 1,692.2.  The served enrollment is a combination of our students who live in the Decorah Community School District boundary and attend one of our schools, open enrolled and tuitioned-in students attending one of our schools, and dual-enrolled homeschool students.

Decorah CSD certifies our enrollment with the Iowa Department of Education annually. Student enrollment is the primary driver of our annual funding.

As we take our count this year, we are establishing the Served Enrollment number that will generate our budget for the 2020-2021 school year.  When the time comes for our board to approve the 2020-2021 budget, we are required by Iowa Code to multiply our enrollment by $6900.00.  That $6900.00 is the Iowa Per Pupil District Cost, and it is generated annually by the Iowa Legislature.  The table below shows how the Iowa Per Pupil District Cost has changed over the past 20 years.

Iowa public school budgets are built through a formula established by Iowa Code. Annual student enrollment and per pupil cost are essential elements of the formula.

Iowa superintendents and school boards pay close attention to whether the annual enrollment numbers for their school district are declining, increasing, or holding stable because this trend is directly tied to whether the annual budget will increase, decrease, or remain stable.  Over the past 20 to 25 years, most Iowa school districts have experienced declining enrollment trends.  This is the primary driver of the consolidation of school districts across our state.  For example, in 2000 there were 374 school districts across Iowa, and today there are 327.

There are school districts in Iowa that are experiencing drastic growth in enrollment.  In the recent past, school districts in the Des Moines metro area, and the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor have seen annual enrollment growth into the hundreds of students each year.

In Decorah, we have experienced stable enrollment over the past five years.  If you look closely at the annual enrollment chart above, you will notice our certified enrollment, or students who live in our school district boundary has decrease 2.4% over the past five years.  The stability in our served enrollment exists because of growth in the number of students open enrolled into Decorah Schools from other school districts.  The map below captures trends in enrollment changes across Iowa over the past five years.

Most Iowa school districts have seen declining enrollment over the past five years.

Today, Count Day, is a critical day in our budgeting and planning cycle.  Our  official Served Enrollment will generate about $25 million for the 2020-2021 school year.  The Decorah CSD Board of Education, our Director of Business Services, Cathy Dietzenbach, and I are committed to serving as highly effective stewards of taxpayer money.  Part of that work is open and transparent communication.  If you have questions regarding school finance, or annual budgeting in Decorah, don’t hesitate to reach out.  I am always happy to talk Iowa school finance.

Look to the Helpers

I remember the morning of September 11, 2001 as if it was yesterday.  That morning was a perfect late-summer morning, and I was happy to be outside welcoming students as they entered our school.  After the final few students entered the building, I headed back to my office.  As I made my way through the building, I was met by our secretary, Pam, and she told me I should find a television.

I spent the next 30 minutes in a state of confusion about what I was seeing, and after the Twin Towers fell, I remember thinking, I am the counselor for 500 elementary students, and I have no idea what to do.

I went to my office, and began to study my bookshelves, hoping something would stand out.  What I found that day became a resource I would use for years to come, and I share the web version today.

Fred Rogers Productions Parent Resources for Tragic Events

In a 1986 syndicated newspaper column, Fred Rogers shared guidance for parents helping children make sense of tragic events.  He wrote,

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.

While many are likely familiar with this Fred Rogers quote, you may not have ever taken the time to read the full article.  I encourage you to take the time to use the link above to do so today.  Additionally, I encourage you to take a few moments to talk with children whom you care for about the events of September 11, 2001.  Discuss your shock, fear, and confusion about what you experienced, and then share about the good you saw in people that day, and in the days that followed.

In closing, I will share another favorite resource related to September 11, 2001, and “looking to the helpers.”  Fireboat: The Story of the John J. Harvey is a wonderful picture book about a decommissioned New York City fireboat that was called back into service that day.  Each year since it was published, I have shared this book with my own children as a way to remember and to honor the victims and helpers involved.  Here is a link to a YouTube video reading of the story.

 

 

You Belong Here

I have spent the past two days engaging with teachers and staff in preparation for welcoming our students to the 2019-2020 school year.  I have observed great work, and rich conversation about how we will meet the diverse needs of each student in our system, and I am incredibly proud of the purpose and passion our people pour into their work.

In order for this work to achieve full potential, it is critical that we foster an environment where each student knows, without a doubt, that they are valued, respected, and celebrated.  My hope is that every student believes us when we say, YOU BELONG HERE.

As I reflect on how we ensure our students feel a sense of dignity and belonging, I am reminded of one of my favorite TED Talks, The Danger of a Single Story.  In this TED Talk, Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie richly describes the consequences of telling ourselves a single story about other people based on stereotypes and biases.  She calls on us to reject a single story about others in order to claim an empowering and dignity-filled world.

I’m sharing The Danger of a Single Story in hopes that you will watch and listen, and to communicate that this is the type of environment we hope to provide to our students.  Below the TED Talk, I have also included Decorah CSD Board of Directors Policy 500.2.  This is our Equal Education Opportunities, Prohibition of Harassment and Bullying of Students policy.

As a public educator, I am proud of our state, and the specific language all Iowa school districts are required to use in this policy.  We will use this policy to guide our work in providing a high quality learning environment for each student, and we will take action when we see, or become aware of behavior that stands in contrast to our policy.

Ultimately, it is up to each person to choose how he/she will interact with those they come across in their daily lives, and we know our students will face challenging and upsetting experiences with others from time to time.  Therefore, as the adults at school, we will take purposeful action to ensure our students are treated with dignity and respect, and understand that YOU BELONG HERE.

Thanks for taking the time to read, and to listen to Ms. Ngozi Adichie’s message.

The Danger of a Single Story, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

“The consequence of the single story is that it robs people of dignity. It makes our recognition of our equal humanity difficult and it emphasizes that we are different rather than how we are similar.”  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Decorah CSD Board of Directors Policy 500.2, EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES; PROHIBITION OF HARASSMENT AND BULLYING OF STUDENTS

Nondiscrimination.  No student in the Decorah Community School District shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in District programs on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, religion, family status, ethnic background, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, political belief or socio-economic background.  The policy of the District shall be to provide educational programs and opportunities for students as needed on the basis of individual needs, interests, abilities and potential.

Harassment and Bullying Prohibited.  The Decorah Community School District is committed to providing all students a safe and civil educational environment in which all are treated with dignity and respect.  The District is also committed to promoting understanding and appreciation of the cultural diversity of our society.  The District shall educate students about our cultural diversity and shall promote tolerance of individual differences.

Harassment and bullying of students is against the policy of the State of Iowa as well as of the Decorah Community School District.  The District shall promote procedures and practices to reduce and eliminate harassment and bullying.   The District prohibits harassment and bullying of students by other students, by employees, and by volunteers while in school, on school property, and at any school function or school-sponsored activity.  This includes harassment or bullying based on the student’s actual or perceived trait or characteristic, including the student’s actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex, age, religion, marital or familial status, ethnic background, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental ability or disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attribute, political party preference, political belief, or socio-economic background.  Acts of harassment or bullying may be treated as grounds for discipline.  Discipline may include suspension or expulsion of a student, termination of an employee’s contract, and/or exclusion of a volunteer from District activities or premises.

Link to the full DCSD Board of Directors Policy 500.2 

A Meaningful Gift

A couple weeks ago, I had a friend who was in Decorah for a few days for work.  He was busy throughout the day, but we were able to get together two evenings for supper.  My friend is a minister, and we often talk about the similarities between the responsibilities and challenges of leading a church congregation and a school system.  We both see ourselves as servant leaders who get to work with people with great passion.  We also both have opportunities to engage with people in highly emotional and stressful circumstances.

As we were having our second supper together in as many nights, our conversation turned to how we each handle moments when others are feeling frustration, anger, or a great sense of urgency about an issue.  I described my belief that it was essential to listen empathetically, to assume good intentions, and to resist the urge to jump immediately to solving the person’s problem for them, or giving advice.

My friend responded, “you mean serve as a non-anxious presence.”  I admitted that I wasn’t familiar with that exact term, but that it sounded about right.  He went on to explain that non-anxious presence was a term he had heard often in seminary, and that his instructors worked diligently to support the development of key skills that would help future ministers provide a non-anxious presence to individuals seeking their counsel.

Since our supper, I have been doing some more reading about non-anxious presence, and I have come to believe the concept can serve as a great gift those who work in a school setting can give to students.

Edwin Friedman, a Jewish Rabbi, and family therapist, coined the term to describe, “an individual who provides a calm, cool, focused and collected environment that empowers others to be relaxed.”  From time to time, teachers, para-professionals, and principals find themselves in situations where students are agitated, frustrated, and/or in crisis.  In certain situations, a child may not have the vocabulary or awareness to talk about what is so upsetting.  In those moments, it can be easy for the adult to experience stress and frustration.  However, as the adult, we have a duty to give the gift of non-anxious presence.

Here are three reminders I am going to share with the adults with whom I work this year to increase the likelihood that when any student in our district is experiencing crisis or frustration, we don’t take actions that make things worse.

  1. Don’t make it about your needs, feelings, or expectations.
  2. Do start with the positive presupposition that the child is doing the best they know how in the given circumstances.
  3. Do ask non-judgmental questions, and spend more time listening.

The ability to present a non-anxious presence to the students we serve is a powerful tool in maintaining dignity and relationships.  I’m confident that the more we model this purposeful behavior to our students, the more capable they will become in regulating their own emotions.

Reference

Wheeler, J., (2018). Five pragmatic tools to become a non-anxious presence: Tips and tricks for being a mindful counselor, Counseling Today. Retrieved from: https://ct.counseling.org/2018/06/five-pragmatic-tools-to-become-a-nonanxious-presence-tips-and-tricks-for-being-a-mindful-counselor/

Feeling Velkommen

 

You never get a second chance to make a first impression.  The Decorah Community School District, and the Decorah and greater Winneshiek County community, have made an impressive and lasting impression on me and my family.

In my first two weeks serving as Superintendent of Schools, I have been able to experience a wonderful balance of professional and personal activities.  I have engaged in a full spectrum of dialogue from visioning about hopes and dreams for the future of our district and community, to standing on the corner of Broadway and Winnebago examining the capacity of our buses to make the turn at the newly planned intersection bump-out.

Personally, I have biked the Trout Run Trail with my wife and brother; visited Seed Savers Exchange with my parents and in-laws; climbed to the top of Dunning Springs Waterfall with my children; fed the trout at the Hatchery with my niece; enjoyed pizza while sitting on a blanket on a beautiful Friday evening at Luna Valley Farm; and judged a cooking contest at the Winneshiek County Fair.

In my interactions with people, I am asking four key questions intended to build the knowledge necessary to serve our students, families, staff, and community well.

  1. What might be our district’s and/or community’s greatest strengths?
  2. What might be our district’s and/or community’s most urgent opportunities for improvement?
  3. What challenges or weaknesses might prevent us from overcoming these opportunities for improvement?
  4. What do you hope to see from me as superintendent?

In a future blog, I will share key themes from what I learned by asking these questions of students, staff, parents, board members, and community members and leaders.

In closing, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you from my family for making us feel so welcome in our new home.  Carla, Savannah, Will, Calhoun, and I lived in Waukee, Iowa for 15 years, and we left behind great friends and community connections.  The past two weeks have lessened the stress of this life change, and we look forward to helping make Decorah the absolute best place possible to live, work, rest, play, and go to school!

Hello world!

My name is Mark Lane, and it is an honor and privilege to serve you as Superintendent of Schools.  The 2019-2020 school year is my first with Decorah CSD, and my 24th year working in public education.

My wife, Carla, and I are thrilled to be joining the Decorah community.  Our son, Calhoun (9) will be a fourth grader at Carrie Lee.  Our other son, William (18) will be a freshman at Iowa State University.  Our daughter, Savannah (21) will be a senior at the University of Iowa.  We also have two dogs, Ferris and Avett, who are enjoying the Decorah Dog Park and walks on area trails.

I look forward to working with Decorah CSD students, staff, families, and community members to ensure our school system serves each and every student.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments, and when the opportunity presents itself, please say hi, and introduce yourself.