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Tri-City Register
School board hires RtI aide, District
Technology Plan progressing
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Tri-City School Board of Education last Thursday night heard that Rochester has contacted
the district to see how Tri-City is implementing technology into its elementary classrooms through
the use of laptops.
Rochester is considering implementing the same kind of program, according to Superintendent
Dave Bruno and Professional Development Coordinator Christy Kindel.
There was nothing major to report under the bus report or facility report.
Under the athletic report, it was noted that mats have been ordered for the old gym and the
artwork has been approved.
Athletic Director Erich Schleicher also noted that Skylar Morris and Ellie Krone have been
nominated for the IHSA All-State Academic Team; to be eligible, students must have at least a 3.5
GPA (on 4.0 scale), participate in at least two IHSA sports in each of the last two years and
“demonstrated outstanding citizenship during her/his high school career.”
In his report, Bruno noted that he had met with local politicians twice in the last month about how
to have better communication and also to answer any and all questions they may have had.
The staff retreat was cancelled and is in the process of being rescheduled.
Preliminary work on next year’s attendance schedule has begun as well as conversations about
class offerings.
He also discussed the situation with now-former HS/MS Principal Duane Schupp, whom he
placed on leave over Christmas break (look for separate story on this elsewhere in the paper).
Bruno also appeared on Newschannel 20 in a story about how small schools are dealing with
funding issues and the uncertainty of state financial support.
Elementary principal Kara Cummins reported on Rti training and comprehension testing to see
who qualifies for RtI as well as how to better implement it.
There is a teacher workday coming up, and after the ISAT, teachers in grades 3-5 will be working
on a collaborative project that is interdisciplinary in nature.
Several teachers will also attend a gifted conference sponsored by the Regional Office of
Education.
The conference will help teachers identify gifted students and also ways to enhance their
learning.
“Since we are differentiating instruction, we need to enhance our curriculum to meet every
student’s learning needs,” said Bruno.
Three teachers attended a Kindergarten Standards Conference, and the district will be switching
looping from grades 1-2 to grades K-1 (having the same teacher both years).
It will be done to “help facilitate the learning process at an early age, where the foundation is
built for future education,” said Bruno.
There are four student teachers this semester, and they will work with classroom teachers and
also help pilot the Rti math program in the elemtentary, according to Bruno.
Bruno presented the high school/middle school report; he is meeting with teachers to better
understand their needs and activities, though the catching-up process will be a slow (but positive)
one.
Kindel reported on a planned meeting last week that was to “begin the process of developing
district goals as they relate to curriculum.”
Weekly meetings with elementary teachers continue and the focus for this semester will be “to
continue our work on differentiation.”
The ARRA grant (federal stimulus money) has been approved and the district will be using a
portion of that money to expand the technology available in several of the special education
classrooms.
The district will also be looking at ways to better utilize the online classes.
The writing of the District Technology Plan continues, and the completed plan should be
available for review by March 1.
The Multimedia room has been equipped with a SmartBoard and teleconferencing abilities.
Kindel will be encouraging teachers to take advantage of the opportunity as the semester
continues.
The board approved a resolution officially accepting Chatham’s exit from SASED, which each
board of education in the co-op must do.
The costs for Tri-City are going to increase, though the preliminary number, in the high four
figures, is a “very preliminary estimate,” according to Bruno.
CACC is facing issues since LLCC is building a vocational center, noted Bruno.
CACC is looking at adding new programs to draw more students, but schools are sending fewer
students because of funding and PSAT testing issues.
The board hired (7-0 vote) Lynn Buckles as the new Rti aide; the position is being paid for
through the ARRA grant.
Technology Plan progressing
By Byron Painter
Editor
The Tri-City School Board of Education last Thursday night heard that Rochester has contacted
the district to see how Tri-City is implementing technology into its elementary classrooms through
the use of laptops.
Rochester is considering implementing the same kind of program, according to Superintendent
Dave Bruno and Professional Development Coordinator Christy Kindel.
There was nothing major to report under the bus report or facility report.
Under the athletic report, it was noted that mats have been ordered for the old gym and the
artwork has been approved.
Athletic Director Erich Schleicher also noted that Skylar Morris and Ellie Krone have been
nominated for the IHSA All-State Academic Team; to be eligible, students must have at least a 3.5
GPA (on 4.0 scale), participate in at least two IHSA sports in each of the last two years and
“demonstrated outstanding citizenship during her/his high school career.”
In his report, Bruno noted that he had met with local politicians twice in the last month about how
to have better communication and also to answer any and all questions they may have had.
The staff retreat was cancelled and is in the process of being rescheduled.
Preliminary work on next year’s attendance schedule has begun as well as conversations about
class offerings.
He also discussed the situation with now-former HS/MS Principal Duane Schupp, whom he
placed on leave over Christmas break (look for separate story on this elsewhere in the paper).
Bruno also appeared on Newschannel 20 in a story about how small schools are dealing with
funding issues and the uncertainty of state financial support.
Elementary principal Kara Cummins reported on Rti training and comprehension testing to see
who qualifies for RtI as well as how to better implement it.
There is a teacher workday coming up, and after the ISAT, teachers in grades 3-5 will be working
on a collaborative project that is interdisciplinary in nature.
Several teachers will also attend a gifted conference sponsored by the Regional Office of
Education.
The conference will help teachers identify gifted students and also ways to enhance their
learning.
“Since we are differentiating instruction, we need to enhance our curriculum to meet every
student’s learning needs,” said Bruno.
Three teachers attended a Kindergarten Standards Conference, and the district will be switching
looping from grades 1-2 to grades K-1 (having the same teacher both years).
It will be done to “help facilitate the learning process at an early age, where the foundation is
built for future education,” said Bruno.
There are four student teachers this semester, and they will work with classroom teachers and
also help pilot the Rti math program in the elemtentary, according to Bruno.
Bruno presented the high school/middle school report; he is meeting with teachers to better
understand their needs and activities, though the catching-up process will be a slow (but positive)
one.
Kindel reported on a planned meeting last week that was to “begin the process of developing
district goals as they relate to curriculum.”
Weekly meetings with elementary teachers continue and the focus for this semester will be “to
continue our work on differentiation.”
The ARRA grant (federal stimulus money) has been approved and the district will be using a
portion of that money to expand the technology available in several of the special education
classrooms.
The district will also be looking at ways to better utilize the online classes.
The writing of the District Technology Plan continues, and the completed plan should be
available for review by March 1.
The Multimedia room has been equipped with a SmartBoard and teleconferencing abilities.
Kindel will be encouraging teachers to take advantage of the opportunity as the semester
continues.
The board approved a resolution officially accepting Chatham’s exit from SASED, which each
board of education in the co-op must do.
The costs for Tri-City are going to increase, though the preliminary number, in the high four
figures, is a “very preliminary estimate,” according to Bruno.
CACC is facing issues since LLCC is building a vocational center, noted Bruno.
CACC is looking at adding new programs to draw more students, but schools are sending fewer
students because of funding and PSAT testing issues.
The board hired (7-0 vote) Lynn Buckles as the new Rti aide; the position is being paid for
through the ARRA grant.
Issue Date: Jan. 21, 2010