Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Dead Season

This time of year is the Dead Season....not only are we between sports season (at least when you don't make it to state basketball!!) but we are bouncing between winter and spring.  Two weeks ago I was going to change my background to green grass and spring flowers...then last week the winter season seemed  to be perfect.

No, what really makes this the Dead Season is that this time of year we are at the mercy (or lack there of) of the Iowa Legislature.....zero allowable growth or 2% allowable growth....continue to fund pre-school or not...one superintendent per county....unfunded mandates....state control vs. local control...when should school start....it never seems to end.

The worst part is schools have no control over any of it....we just have to sit and wait for them to make decisions and then try to figure out later how they affect us.....it's hard on the nerves and makes for some sleepless nights (even more than usual)

Everything (at least in the life of a Superintendent) is put on hold...no bargaining, no budgeting, not contracts....it's simply hurry up and wait....wait for people in Des Moines to determine your ( more precisely your schools) fate...it's very frustrating!!

I need to just take a deep breath and relax....as, like winter, the legislative dead season will end. ( I mean they have to end sometime don't they? These people do have real jobs don't they?)  We'll then pick up the pieces, figure out what they have done for us (or to us!!) and move forward.

I just know this; I don't miss a lot about North Dakota...the long winters, the incredible cold, the mosquitoes!!!  But the fact that their legislature only met once every two years was fabulous!!! Definitely something Iowa needs to look into.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Schedule for the Week of February 28 - March 5

Here is my schedule for the week of February 28th through March 5th. So is March going to come in "like a Lion" and cost us another day or two of school? Hopefully not, but with very little going on this week for activities it might not be a terrible time for our last snow storm of the year....at least I'm hoping that if we have to have another storm that it will be our last!! I keep reminding myself that our first track meets are only three or four weeks away so it's got to be over soon!! Here's what I have on my schedule next week:

Monday, February 28th

Administrative Meeting - 9:00 - ICN

Tuesday, March 1st 

Crisis Management Team - 9:00 - 12:00 - ICN

Wednesday, March 2nd 

PD Early Out - 2:30
Technology Committee mtg. - 3:00 - 4:30 - ICN
Thursday, March 3rd

JH/HS Jazz Choir Showcase - 7:30

Friday, March 4th

IASB Conference Call - 8:30 - Office
WIC Superintendent Mtg. - Depart @ 10:15 - Gibbs White Car

 
Saturday, March 5th


If you have any questions or concerns please contact me or stop by the office for a visit.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Schedule for the Week of February 21 - February 26

Here is my schedule for the week of February 21st through February 26th. Other than Junior High Wrestling our other winter sports activities are over for the year and we start a brief, very brief lull in after school sports activities. If your student is in speech, band or chorus then your busy time is really just starting!! It sounds like another good week of winter weather to finish out the month of February and then maybe we can really start thinking about spring around here!!

Monday, February 21st


School Board Policy Committee - 6:30 - ICN
School Board Meeting - 7:00 - ICN

Tuesday, February 22nd 

21st Century Schools Training - Clive - 7:30
Lion's Meeting - Memorial Building - 6:30

Wednesday, February 23rd 

School Law Seminar - WDM - 7:30
PD Day - 2:15 Dismissal

Thursday, February 24th

In District

Friday, February 25th

6th Grade Field Trip - Omaha - 8:00

 
Saturday, February 26th

Lion's Farm Toy Show - Agri Hall - 7:00

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me or stop by the office for a visit.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Schedule for the Week of February 14 - February 19

Here is my schedule for the week of February 14th through February 19th. This week could mean the end of the winter sports seasons, depending upon how the girl's and boys' basketball teams perform in the first round of the playoffs.  Our wrestling team will see their season come to an end this week as the state tournament will be in Des Moines starting on Wednesday.  Finally, congratulations and good luck to our boy's speech improvisational group who earned the honor of performing at the state large group speech meet in Ames on Saturday the 19th!!  We're very proud of them and our entire speech program....Great job students and coaches!!
Monday, February 14th

Audubon Jazz Choir Festival - 8:30
Boy's District BB @ Treynor - 7:00

Tuesday, February 15th 

Regional GBB - 7:00 - Manning (tentative)
Bargaining Meeting - 5:00 - ICN

Wednesday, February 16th 

PD Day - 2:15 Dismissal
Leadership Team mtg. - 3:30 - ICN

Thursday, February 17th

JH GBB - 4:15 - Home

Friday, February 18th

IASB Legislative Conference Call - 8:30 - Office
Webinar - 11:30 - Office
Wintertainment - 7:00

 
Saturday, February 19th

All-State Large Group Speech - Ames
Depart @ 7:00 a.m. Rich Hemmingsen Bus #6

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me or stop by the office for a visit.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Schedule for the Week of February 7 - February 12

Here is my schedule for the week of February 7th through February 12th. Although students don't have school on Monday, it will still be a busy day with a junior high girls basketball game followed by the high school girls and boys team playing AHST for Parent's Night.  We end the week on Saturday with the Regional Wrestling Tournament as our wrestlers face their final hurdle to earning their way to the 2011 state meet. The Girl's basketball team begins their quest to return to the state tournament as they travel to Manning to face the host team starting at 7:00.

Monday, February 7th

PD Day - No School for Students
Budget Workshop - 9:00 - Johnston
JH GBB - 4:15 - Home (north gym)
G/B BB - 4:30 - Home Parent's Night
Bargaining Meeting - 5:00 - ICN

Tuesday, February 8th 

Administrative mtg. - 9:00 - ICN
GBB - 6:15 - Home


Wednesday, February 9th 

Apple Meeting - 9:00 - Office
PD Day - 2:15 Dismissal
Technology Committee mtg. - 2:30 - ICN

Thursday, February 10th

JH Wr. - 4:00 - Home
JH GBB - 4:15 - Home

Friday, February 11th

IASB Legislative Conference Call - 8:30 - Office
Webinar - 11:30 - Office
Roofing Bids Due - 4:00

 
Saturday, February 12th

District Wrestling Tournament - CB St. Albert's - 12:00

If you have any questions or concerns please contact me or stop by the office for a visit.