From the Desk of…
Diana Bourisaw, Superintendent
Summer School Begins June 11
It is not too early to begin thinking about summer school.
While there will be no mandatory summer session, I encourage
all parents to consider enrolling their children for this year’s
offerings.
This week we are accepting applications for summer positions,
including certified teachers, teacher assistants, instructional
care assistants, and school nurses. If you are interested,
please visit www.teach4slps.org for more details.
Improvements to Continue Next Year
We continue to work towards the goals established by our Comprehensive
School Improvement Plan (CSIP) in many areas. As we near the
end of the 2006/2007 school year, it seems like a good time
to announce just a few of the things we are working on for
next school year.
Academics and College Prep
Making more Advanced Placement classes available (through
federal grant).
Expansion of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
program to 18 schools. AVID is a proven college-prep program
that uses specialized curriculum and training.
Further expansion of College Summit so that 1,400 seniors
can participate during the next school year. College Summit
is an award-winning, results-driven program that builds the
capacity of schools to increase their college-going rate. It
fosters the kind of culture that helps all students stay on
track academically.
Including ninth graders in the McKinley Classical Junior Academy
gifted program.
Implementing a scholarship program for all ninth graders who
agree to certain conditions, including good attendance, an
average grade point average, and no serious disciplinary problems.
Early Childhood Education
Reopening Meda P. Washington as an early childhood center
and centralizing several programs related to our early learners.
Safe and Secure Learning Environment
Increasing the number of seats available through Alternatives
Unlimited to accommodate additional students who have committed
serious infractions.
Introducing new alternative programs for chronically disruptive
students in grades K-12.
Finances
Proposing a budget that again balances revenue and expenditures.
Better utilization of existing facilities.
Selling selected closed schools.
Board Meeting – April
25
Northwest Transportation & Law Academy - Auditorium
5140 Riverview Blvd.
Please note the change in location for this month’s
Board of Education meeting.
There are several important issues the Board will be deliberating
this month, including the plans for school reconfigurations
and closings. All of our facility recommendations will move
forward with the exception of reopening Des Peres as the new
alternative high school and the expansion of Clyde C. Miller
into the former Carver building.
We will be coming back to the Board of Education with a recommended
site for the “Big Picture” high school in the coming
months.
Additional information on the final facility recommendations
is available online at www.slps.org.
“The strongest oak tree of the forest is not the one
that is protected from the storm and hidden from the sun. It's
the one that stands in the open where it is compelled to struggle
for its existence against the winds and rains and the scorching
sun.” – Napoleon Hill
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