Please attend these very informative sessions and/or look for the minutes as they are posted on the district's website.
http://www.orcsd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=387:2011-brown-bag-lunch-series-&catid=5:front-page-news-rotator&Itemid=211
“Central Office Coffee and Conversation” Meeting Opportunities
Join the central office administration for coffee and conversation at the SAU office. The goal of these informal gatherings is to provide additional opportunities for communication between the administration, parents and the broader community as it relates to education and specifically Oyster River. There will be no set agenda.
Date Time Location
Saturday, March 26th 9:00am - 10:00 am SAU Building
Saturday, May 21st 9:00 am - 10:00 am SAU Building
2011 “Brown Bag Lunch” Series
Please join Howard Colter, Superintendent, Meredith Nadeau and Danielle Bolduc, Directors of Instruction, for a one-hour, lunch time discussion on the following topics.
Date Topic Location
Wed, March 16, 2011 Understanding the Digital Generation SAU Building
Wed, April 27, 2011 Grouping Practices SAU Building
Wed, May 11, 2011 Homework SAU Building
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Durham/ORSD Election Results
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VOTE TODAY!!!!
Don't forget to VOTE. Booths are open until 7 p.m. in Durham (high school) and Lee (safety complex) and 7:30 in Madbury (town hall).
If you have not made up your mind, here is some candidate information Krista put together and gave me permission to post:
Sent: Mon, March 7, 2011 7:48:08 PM
Subject: Tuesday March 8th
If you have not made up your mind, here is some candidate information Krista put together and gave me permission to post:
Sent: Mon, March 7, 2011 7:48:08 PM
Subject: Tuesday March 8th
Hello all,
As most of you know, tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8th is town and school district elections. I am sending you this email to encourage you to vote and also to provide you with information for each of the School Board candidates that are running this year for ORCSD. It is our responsibility to take 10 minutes on Tuesday sometime between the hours of 7am and 7pm and vote. Whether you want lower taxes, or better education, or more fiscal responsibility, or more AP classes, or lower spending, or strings in the music program, you need to vote...we all need to vote or our voices will not be heard. This is your chance to tell the towns and the district what is important to you. Please, take 10 minutes to stop by your local polling station to vote.
All of the following information was provided to me by each of the candidates to use for publication. Please do not hesitate to contact them if you have any questions, there is still time to become educated about your candidates and which one is right to represent you.
At-Large Positions (2 seats)
Ann Lane - Durham
or on Facebook at Ann Lane for School Board
see attached flyer
Chandler Hull - Durham
or on Facebook at Chandler Hull for School Board
Megan Turnbull - Durham
or on Facebook at Megan Turnbull for School Board
see attached flyer
John Collins
see attached flyer
Madbury Representative (1 seat)
Jim Kach
740-5011
see attached flyer
Susan Willer
533-2114
Thank you all and I am looking to seeing you all at the polls on Tuesday!
Krista
P.S. as always, if I can be of assistance on any information on the warrant articles or other information please do not hesistate to contact me.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Rationale for AP Class Cuts 2011-2012
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "L. Rogers" <sender@edline.net>
To: "Undisclosed Recipients"
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2011 9:45:55 PM
Subject: Scheduling for 2011/2012
From: "L. Rogers" <sender@edline.net>
To: "Undisclosed Recipients"
Sent: Monday, March 7, 2011 9:45:55 PM
Subject: Scheduling for 2011/2012
March 7, 2011
Dear ORHS Parents and Other Residents of the ORCSD:
Every year at this time, we begin building a schedule for the coming year. Students attend our Electives Fair, meet with Guidance Counselors in class groups to hear about requirements and then sign up for courses. To insure that parents are in the loop, the Guidance Department sends out an email to all parents through Edline, letting them know about deadlines, providing the link to the Program of Studies and listing additional information that might be helpful during the process. After making their requests, students meet with their guidance counselors to make sure their desires fit their four year plans and that prerequisites have been met for the courses they have selected.
After students have completed their course selections, we send tallies (course request numbers) to department heads and ask them to schedule meetings with their department members. During these meetings department members discuss who will teach which courses and which courses we will run during the upcoming year. Their requests come back to me and I support them or, when there are decisions that are not so clear cut, I continue discussion with the department heads about the best course of action.
This year, we have made the decision not to run several courses during the 11/12 academic year, just as we have during every other scheduling cycle since I have been at ORHS. This year is different, however, because some of those classes are AP or courses labeled as “Advanced”. So that everyone can have accurate information, please let me clarify the reasoning behind these decisions.
First, please be aware that all of these classes are impacted by the fact that next year we will have the smallest ORHS senior class in a decade. The class of 2012 has 156 members, over 20 students fewer than the class of 2011 or that of 2013. Part of our low numbers in senior classes can simply be attributed to this single year’s dip in enrollment. The following courses seem to have caused particular concern.
Advanced Chemistry: Only one student signed up for this course. That could be because we are offering Advanced Biology (which we plan to offer with the AP designation in 2012/2013) for the first time this year.
AP US History: There is a history of low enrollment for this course at ORHS. Whether students are overly challenged by the summer reading requirements or would simply prefer to take our other social studies electives, there has only been one year when enrollment reached the requisite number of 10 since it was first offered in 2002/2003. This year four students requested the course.
AP Spanish/AP French: AP Spanish and French were first offered four years ago. The first year, it was taught as a combined course. This was unsuccessful for several reasons which I will expand upon at the 3/16 Board meeting. This year, the combined requests for Spanish V and AP Spanish totaled 21. 20 students requested French V and AP French. The members of the department feel strongly that we can’t run both without negatively impacting earlier classes, some of which would ultimately exceed 22 if both AP and level Vs were to run.
In addition to these courses, we are not offering (or will be combining) a variety of other courses including Journalism II (6 requests), Advanced Publications (2 requests), Interior Design (5 requests), Intro to Art History (5 requests), Advanced World Cultures and several other classes. These are decisions we make collaboratively, by department, every year. I am disappointed that this has been made into a political issue and has been used to decry the “lack of leadership” at the high school. I am particularly disappointed that, given the amount of rhetoric and accusation concerning the decisions made, only three parents chose to contact me, one directly and two who asked their daughters to come and ask the reasons behind these decisions.
I have been directed by the Board and advised by the ABC to make sure that ORHS builds a schedule in compliance with the Board policy concerning class size standards. I am complying with those requests and trying to insure we maximize the opportunity for a positive academic experience for all of our students. To eliminate classes that received one, four or even eight requests is a clearly articulated expectation according to the policy. For community members to express “moral outrage” because this year a few of the classes we must cut bear the AP label is a concern for me. No one expressed any moral outrage when we didn’t have the requisite numbers to run “Exploring Electricity” or “Topics in Current History” this year.
The teachers who would have been teaching the aforementioned classes are scheduled to lead other courses that have larger numbers of requests. Those would include new courses like Advanced Biology and other offerings like Psychology and British Literature that have seen an increase in student requests for next year. We have also increased the number of freshman classes. Given that we are anticipating an entering freshman class of 185 (an increase of almost 30 compared to our number of rising seniors) the fact that I have not recommended staffing reductions should not be a surprise.
At Oyster River , decisions to run classes are made on an annual basis. All of the classes we have “tabled” for the 2011/2012 year will still be in the Program of Studies for future students to enroll in- or to choose to forgo. I would hope that decisions about which classes run will continue to be made collaboratively by teachers and administrators.
Publicly, the members of the Board and those candidates who are running in tomorrow’s election have all expressed respect for the teachers of the district and a desire for more open communication. I hope that there will be a greater display of trust for their decisions in the future. The public nature of this conversation, the lack of inquiry and the undertone of accusation contained within has concerned many faculty members. As someone who has come to love this school, its students and the people who work here, I welcome the opportunity to answer your questions, whether you are a parent, student or community member, in an effort to avoid future misunderstandings.
Sincerely,
Laura Rogers
Principal, ORHS
603-868-2375 x1104
PS- Please feel free to post this online and to forward it to others who are not parents, but who have questions about ORHS.
You have received this e-mail because this address was registered at www.edline.net
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Edline
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Edline
AP Courses cut at ORHS
I usually just post facts about what is going on but I am very disappointed with this decision. I don't understand why we don't want to encourage excellence.
http://www.facebook.com/notes/ann-lamborghini-lane/ap-courses-cut-at-orhs/1675583562866
UPDATE: The text from the link above which is not working for many is here:
http://www.facebook.com/notes/ann-lamborghini-lane/ap-courses-cut-at-orhs/1675583562866
UPDATE: The text from the link above which is not working for many is here:
Last week during the school board meeting three AP and one Advanced course were cut from the 2011-12 ORHS class offerings. While the class enrollments were low, there were no correlated staff reductions and there will be no cost savings to the district. According to Chair Henry Brackett he received no prior warning of this cut. Board member JoAnn Portalupi acknowledged the cut and dismissed the action as within the purview of the principal. Sitting in the audience, I witnessed no moral outrage.
Some might argue that our district caters to the child who elects to take rigorous courses. While 50% of them were just cut, that is a myth. The truth is that we fail to celebrate and reward merit. “Engaging every learner” requires a comprehensive spectrum of class offerings, including classes of rigor.
In 2008 my eldest child was discouraged by a HS teacher to take AP US History. As his parent I encouraged my son to follow his passion and take the class. He scored a 4 on the exam, receiving 6 credits toward his GWU Gen Ed requirements.
Tomorrow, March 8th, you have an opportunity to vote for three school board candidates. It is not my place to tell you who to vote for. Candidates who have records of advocating for children are one option.
Support Lane, Turnbull and Kach
Support Lane, Turnbull and Kach
Please join us in voting for Lane, Turnbull and Kach on Tuesday March 8th.
Jim Kach stepped into serve when no one else would, is now willing to serve for three more years, which we believe is commendable. Kach’s experience working in another district as well as his experienced time on the Board will serve our district well. Kach is not afraid to ask the tough questions, and though we don’t always agree with him, we appreciate someone who is willing to challenge the status quo. Kach’s son graduated from the high school, and this alumni parent perspective will be a great asset to the Board.
Ann Lane is a proven leader in our community. She is a former co-chair of the PTO, as well as an active volunteer in our schools. Lane will keep our children first and foremost with every decision she makes. Lane has two of her own children in the schools and her third is a recent graduate. She has a strong understanding of the importance of educational excellence for our children. Lane is not afraid to face a challenge, and will always listen with an open mind.
Megan Turnbull is also a parent of school aged children, and as such cares deeply about the education her children are receiving. Turnbull’s community volunteer, professional strategic planning experience and her experience as an instructor at UNH will be a strong asset at the Board table. Turnbull’s ability to listen and understand all points of view are exactly what is needed at this time. Turnbull is passionate about excellence in our schools, and has already begun to work with the leaders in our district to improve communication.
Our district has had some tough times over the last few years. This Board will be responsible for attracting a new leader when our current Superintendent retires. We need strong, open minded, collaborative leaders who are willing to work with all stakeholders.
Lane, Turnbull and Kach will help lead our district with collaboration and open communication. These are the candidates who can best restore a collaborative culture focused on educational excellence for our schools.
Kim and Doug Clark
p.s. from Kim only......When I served on the Board the idea of unity was impressed upon all Board members. The idea that on our own we held diverse ideas representative of our constituants, but upon vote we would have the ability to unite behind the voice of the board.
These three candidates are on their own diverse and unique. I urge you to read the candidate profiles to see the differences between all of the candidates. These profiles are at the district web site, and on a link within this Blog.
The diversity of these three individuals in both their background and general ideas will work well towards the unity the Board and our district need at this time.
Please join us in voting for Lane, Turnbull and Kach on Tuesday March 8th.
Jim Kach stepped into serve when no one else would, is now willing to serve for three more years, which we believe is commendable. Kach’s experience working in another district as well as his experienced time on the Board will serve our district well. Kach is not afraid to ask the tough questions, and though we don’t always agree with him, we appreciate someone who is willing to challenge the status quo. Kach’s son graduated from the high school, and this alumni parent perspective will be a great asset to the Board.
Ann Lane is a proven leader in our community. She is a former co-chair of the PTO, as well as an active volunteer in our schools. Lane will keep our children first and foremost with every decision she makes. Lane has two of her own children in the schools and her third is a recent graduate. She has a strong understanding of the importance of educational excellence for our children. Lane is not afraid to face a challenge, and will always listen with an open mind.
Megan Turnbull is also a parent of school aged children, and as such cares deeply about the education her children are receiving. Turnbull’s community volunteer, professional strategic planning experience and her experience as an instructor at UNH will be a strong asset at the Board table. Turnbull’s ability to listen and understand all points of view are exactly what is needed at this time. Turnbull is passionate about excellence in our schools, and has already begun to work with the leaders in our district to improve communication.
Our district has had some tough times over the last few years. This Board will be responsible for attracting a new leader when our current Superintendent retires. We need strong, open minded, collaborative leaders who are willing to work with all stakeholders.
Lane, Turnbull and Kach will help lead our district with collaboration and open communication. These are the candidates who can best restore a collaborative culture focused on educational excellence for our schools.
Kim and Doug Clark
p.s. from Kim only......When I served on the Board the idea of unity was impressed upon all Board members. The idea that on our own we held diverse ideas representative of our constituants, but upon vote we would have the ability to unite behind the voice of the board.
These three candidates are on their own diverse and unique. I urge you to read the candidate profiles to see the differences between all of the candidates. These profiles are at the district web site, and on a link within this Blog.
The diversity of these three individuals in both their background and general ideas will work well towards the unity the Board and our district need at this time.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Open Letter to School Board and Leadership
To: Members of the ORCSD School Board and
School Administration Leadership Team
Date: March 4, 2011
On March 8, the taxpayers will be asked to vote on a school budget and the Teachers' Guild contract for the ORCSD. In our opinion, background information has been insufficiently publicized about the schools, teachers, and administrators, and how they address the education of our children. Therefore, we believe a high percentage of us have had little opportunity to comment publicly on the proposed budget and to voice our opinion on related topics pertaining to how school budgets evolve and some underlying problems as we see them.
In particular, the proposed budget appears buried under obscure links on the district's website that lacks any user friendliness to any older or inexperienced computer user. The newly formed ABC has made efforts to release information through the town and school electronic media about the budget, but again the elder citizens who do not receive email communications miss out. The District must find ways to openly communicate with the public that gets taxed without adequate explanations.
The Proposed FY12 Budget: The School Board and Administration declare the proposed budget as lower by 1.029% than last year's budget, yet school district taxes will be increasing. It appears that the lower budget was produced partially by one-time savings from accounting adjustments to employee benefits and from the retirement of a bond. The fact that the FY12 budget was developed from FY11's inflated budget (with a $1.2M surplus projected) that in turn was developed from the FY10's inflated budget (with a $2.2M surplus) creates an illusion that the schools will be “level” funded next year. In our opinion, the School District budget should be developed closer to actuals than proposed desires. We charge the Administration and the School board to build budgets based on reality – real expenditures – and not on inflated prior budgets.
Teacher Salaries: Based on the existing teacher contract, teacher salaries increased 2% for the present 2010-2011 school year and 119 teachers (out of the 170 teachers in the ORSCD), who were at the top step of the salary scale, received a $1000 stipend. Those who were part time received a pro-rated amount of $1000. It is projected that in 2011-12 there will be 128 teachers at the top step; 139 for 2012-13 and 149 out of 170 for 2013-14. The ratio of “top step teachers” is comparable to having a University’s academic department made up of almost solely full professors and just a few associate professors, assistant professors and adjunct professors. As we see it, in the new Teachers' Guild three-year contract, as the top step stipend decreases to zero, the COLA increase goes from 0.5% back up to 2%. However, in these difficult economic times, across the board raises are hard to justify, especially for employees who receive much more than the average teacher in NH.
Average salaries for teachers in our District for the 2009-2010 year were $62,199. Average teacher salaries for the State in districts with 140-170 FTE teachers were $51,433. That means that ORCSD teachers receive 20.91% more than the New Hampshire average and are now the highest paid teachers in the State in districts of comparable size. (ORCSD teachers are second highest if Hanover’s average salary for 137 teachers is included in the range.).
We know that Oyster River has many outstanding teachers and the most of the students are high achievers. Also it is good to know that our teachers are well paid relative to what teachers in other school districts are paid, but these are difficult economic times for many of our residents. It is a time when the salary gap between our teachers and others should be decreased by freezing salaries for a year or two. Even the Federal Government has frozen the salaries of all government workers for the next two years. Why shouldn’t the salaries of teachers and administrators be frozen for a similar period of time?
Teacher Unions: The Teachers' Guild represents teachers. They do not represent our children. The negotiation process and the tenure system primarily are for the economic protection of the teachers. This combination of teacher protections for unionized and tenured teachers leads to systematically raising teacher’s salaries regardless of their competency and regardless of severe economic downturns such as what we are currently experiencing.
It is virtually impossible to discharge a tenured teacher with seniority. Teachers with less seniority are more likely to be discharged during an economic downturn even if they are the more competent teachers. In addition, it is virtually impossible to reward superior teachers with such a system. This approach of rewarding all at the expense of taxpayers is unsustainable.
Conclusion: We strongly encourage the ORCSD School Board and Administration to find better ways to communicate with the District's taxpayers, preferably via written mailed notices and/or newsletters so that ample background information is received by all taxpayers well in advance of when they are asked to vote on Warrant articles. Additionally, publishing information about the salary schedule (with numbers of employees at each step) from the administration to the bottom step for all employees would help clarify salaries. Our neighboring educational institution, the University of New Hampshire, makes all employees' salary information available in the UNH Library. Neighboring towns and cities also publish employee salaries and make new contracts available before voting occurs. We believe that such transparency is what all informed voters deserve.
Respectfully submitted by concerned Durham voters,
David and Lynn Holmes
Lee and Doris Irwin
Dolly Bechtell
Lew Knight
Zelda Moore
Dolly Bechtell
Jane Grota
Please support Article 7
Two years ago I asked the district if it would be possible to get rid of plastic utencils.
I was told the expense would prohibit this change. Evidence contradicted this statement, but despite this plastic utencils are still used. Simple changes such as this can help move our district towards a sustainable model. Please support Article 7 on Tuesday March 8th.
ARTICLE 7: By petition shall the District establish a study committee, to be comprised equally of school district personnel (teachers, and administrators), students, school board members, and community members from each town, to study best practices involved in creating a sustainable school district. The committee will meet during the 2011 calendar year and examine the integration of sustainable ecological, economic, and cultural equity policies and practices into school operations and the curricula presenting its findings and recommendations to the School Board at its first November, 2011 meeting.
YES
NO
I was told the expense would prohibit this change. Evidence contradicted this statement, but despite this plastic utencils are still used. Simple changes such as this can help move our district towards a sustainable model. Please support Article 7 on Tuesday March 8th.
ARTICLE 7: By petition shall the District establish a study committee, to be comprised equally of school district personnel (teachers, and administrators), students, school board members, and community members from each town, to study best practices involved in creating a sustainable school district. The committee will meet during the 2011 calendar year and examine the integration of sustainable ecological, economic, and cultural equity policies and practices into school operations and the curricula presenting its findings and recommendations to the School Board at its first November, 2011 meeting.
YES
NO
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Post from Jim Kach
I would like to thank Matt Pappas, who not only put together the candidate’s forum at the high school yesterday, but also spoke on behalf of a group of teachers who appeared at the School Board Meeting that night to present a letter to the board.
I had offered an idea at a previous meeting that I honestly felt would be in the best interests of all members of our education community. I suggested hiring an interim principal for the High School in order to let the new superintendent be involved with the hiring of a principal with whom he or she would be working closely. My sole purpose was to create the best possible working relationship between those two people for the benefit of the rest of the administrators, as well as the staff and students.
I was out voted at that meeting by the rest of the board, and a search committee was started. I support the board’s decision.
Nevertheless, a letter was presented to the board signed by sixty some staff members pointing out the benefits, based on past experiences, of hiring a permanent principal now. The letter was polite, informative and graciously received. Although the matter was moot, since the vote had been taken to proceed with the search for a permanent principal, I very much wish to thank those teachers who came out on a cold winter night to let their views be known. I hope that this can be the beginning of honest, forthright communication between the board and the education professionals that serve our community so well.
Sincerely,
Jim Kach
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Families and Schools Together for Special Education
Families and Schools Together for Special Education
Oyster River Cooperative School District
Please join us for a conversation about family/school communication.
Come prepared to meet and share ideas and strategies with Oyster River parents and educators.
Where? Oyster River High School conference room
When? Thursday, March 10th at 9 A.M. or 6:30 P.M.
Please contact Marion Pomerleau at mrpomerleau@orcsd.org or at 868-5100 ext. 11 to request child care
For additional information, please contact Meredith Nadeau (mnadeau@orcsd.org ).
Oyster River Cooperative School District
Please join us for a conversation about family/school communication.
Come prepared to meet and share ideas and strategies with Oyster River parents and educators.
Where? Oyster River High School conference room
When? Thursday, March 10th at 9 A.M. or 6:30 P.M.
Please contact Marion Pomerleau at mrpomerleau@orcsd.org or at 868-5100 ext. 11 to request child care
For additional information, please contact Meredith Nadeau (mnadeau@orcsd.org ).
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