Superintendent's Blog

A Note of Thanks to Our Teachers

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:28:56 GMT

This week is teacher appreciation week and we take this opportunity to say thank you to each of our teachers for all you do for the kids.

Teaching, in part at least through the political process and the media, has become less than the revered profession it once was. However, in my opinion, it remains one of the most important, difficult and complex of professions.

Our schools, with teachers being the key service providers, continue to gain exceptional results in student achievement and development. It is the ongoing dedication of special people who teach our children that make our schools successful. Thank you teachers for all you do for the kids every day.

Paul

Superintendent's Blog: An Update on Security Measures in Pullman Schools

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 03:52:30 GMT

An Update on Security Measures in Pullman Schools:

Pullman School District is fortunate to have a Pullman police officer that serves as a full-time School Resource Officer (SRO) in the Pullman Schools. The Pullman Police Department has been proactive toward school and community safety by assigning this officer to serve the community and youth of Pullman. The SRO occupies an office in Pullman High School as his “home base.” The SRO is the only person regularly in any of our schools who is legally armed (other law officers with business in the schools may also be armed but are not regularly in the schools). Though the SRO is based at Pullman High School, he makes himself available to other schools (elementary schools and middle school) when called and he makes regular visits to each school to teach safety and awareness curriculum. Each year the SRO teaches DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum in each 5th grade class.

Pullman School District is in the process of making WIFI access available exclusively to Pullman Police Department officers in specific areas of our school parking lots so that officers can be present at schools while also performing job related tasks such as completing reports, answering email, making phone calls, etc.

A good deal of discussion is taking place within the community about the need for and plans to improve security at Pullman High School through a redesign and construction of PHS if supported by the upcoming bond election. A joint Pullman Police Department and Pullman School District meeting is scheduled on Monday, January 14 to review security measures and interactions. This joint meeting is a continuation of that discussion and planning toward our fundamental goal of maintaining the safest environments possible for students.

District Enrollment and Staffing

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 21:58:03 GMT

The table below summarizes enrollment comparisons between September 4, 2012 and last year’s September count day (the September 2012 count day is this Friday, September 7th). Steady and positive enrollment trends appear to continue again this year.

District Student Enrollment 2011/2012 Comparison

	Sept 2012 (unofficial)	Sept 2011
Kindergarten	246	209
Gr. 1-5	1014	1003
Gr. 6-8	570	541
Gr. 9-12	675	702
Total	2505	2455
Total FTE	2354	2319

Two kindergarten sections have been added beyond last year. Class sizes are trending a bit larger at the elementary grades in particular because of limited classroom spaces. Because enrollment in grades 1-5 is consistent at about 200 students per grade, there is no particularly large elementary grade level, except for kindergarten, to which it makes sense to add staffing at this time. Actual class sizes in grades 1 -5, without considering support staff such as special education, Title, counselors, PE, art, music, etc., are at just under 25. With specialists the staffing ratio is about 21:1.

At the middle level, math/science, language arts/social studies and PE staffing has been added along with some internal shifting of staff assignments.

High school enrollment is down somewhat from last year with students moving or choosing other programs/districts along with a small class moving from 8^th to 9^th grade for a net reduction in enrollment. Even so, added instructional and support staff have been added in ESL, Spanish language, English CTE, along with some internal shifting of staff. Because of the variety of electives, staffing is a bit less efficient at the secondary level.

A Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) has been added to assist with the implementation of RTI and utilizing data to inform instruction, a significant development in the new teacher and principal evaluation requirements.

So far 5 new paraprofessional educator positions have been added, mostly in special education. The special education preschool program is expanding into the afternoon with the addition of a certificated teacher.

All in all, positive enrollment trends continue to develop and we have been able to respond with additional staffing.

The community in and surrounding Pullman values and gives high praise to Pullman Public Schools. Thanks to the hard and smart work of its employees, students and families can find tremendous educational advantages in their schools.

Paul

A Great Beginning

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 16:49:42 GMT

As I went around to classes on the first couple of days of school I was pleased to see kids engaged in intentional learning activities. Class discussions, writing, reading, listening, and computing are just some of the activities I saw. Very few students were sitting passively. Instead, as it should be, most of the time kids were doing.

Teachers and principals continuously demonstrate a commitment to using the time with students productively. I saw many relevant and meaningful activities happening in classrooms and kids seemed to be enjoying what they were doing! For example, I saw students doing a pre-write exercise for a paper based on a unique topic that they were able to choose - one of their interests.

Way to go, teachers! Way to go principals and para-educators! Another school year has begun successfully, and importantly, meaningfully for students.

Way to go to all the support staff for making the school buildings and grounds, the food, and getting to and from school clean, pleasant, healthy and safe.

Thanks for a great beginning!

Paul

Preparing for the New School Year

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:01:01 GMT

When preparing for students to arrive back to school the first thing teachers often do is deal with classroom procedures and rules.

Setting the classroom climate and culture are keys to a successfully managed classroom and to enhancing student learning. Establishing classroom rules or procedures that influence students to act in ways that enhance learning for every student in the class is the goal of every teacher. Nancy Flanagan in her EdWeek Teacher Blog asserts that, “We want kids to behave appropriately because they understand that there are rewards for everyone in a civil, well-managed school.”

Here’s to a wonderful school year!

Paul

A Flipped Class

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 20:51:48 GMT

There is a lot of buzz going around about the “flipped” classroom described on the ASCD website reviewing new books including Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day, by Jonathan Bergmann, and Aaron Sams.

In her blog teacher Mary Beth Hertz discusses the pros and cons of a flipped classroom. Ms. Hertz points out that whatever the flipped classroom is or is not, it has become an important catalyst for people to reflect on and refine their instructional practice.

Bergman and Sams, authors of the new book, Flip Your Classroom: Reach Every Student in Every Class Every Day, along with several co-authors have created a three-part series of articles about the “flipped classroom.” In the first article, The Flipped Class: Myths vs. Reality, they discuss “what a flipped class is and what it is not.”

I trust you are enjoying the sunny & warm days of summer!

Paul

Superintendent's Blog: March 28, 2012

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:35:32 GMT

Over the past four years it seemed as though we would never hear good news again. However, even in times when the financial future has been uncertain, Pullman Schools have achieved some very important things.

Some examples in 2011-12:
The employee portion of the retiree carve-out (nearly $60 per month per employee) was paid by the District
Salary cuts by the legislature were restored for the year
Class size assistance was maintained
Elementary preparation time was increased
Seven half-days to enhance collaborative work among teachers and principals was implemented
New boilers and lighting were installed in the high school
The gym floor in the high school was replaced
New press boxes were installed in partnership with the Booster Club
This week the Board agreed to a tentative agreement reached in Problem-solving that may prove to be more workable personal leave language for teachers
Pullman High School earned “Overall Excellence” in the Washington Achievement Awards
Most important, students achieved, gained successes, and earned numerous recognitions at all levels in academics, the arts, sports, and other endeavors.

We are still awaiting word from Olympia about the state 2012-2013 budget. However, the trajectory prior to the special session was more positive than we had expected earlier in the session. This is probably due in part to the McCleary decision and a slightly better state revenue forecast.
Assuming there are no surprises coming out of the legislature in the next days or weeks, I personally am more optimistic. The community has given us a huge vote of confidence in the nearly 80% passage of the M&O and Technology Levies. There are reasons to hope that the economy in our state may have hit bottom. Many in the community are talking about opportunities instead of disappointments. People are expressing more interest than ever in making comprehensive improvements to the high school. The entire atmosphere seems more positive.
I hope each of you can relax and enjoy spring break and get some needed rest and recreation with family and friends, or maybe solitude is your recipe for renewal. Whatever the case, enjoy!

Paul

Teachers Use Collaboration Time Well

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:50:03 GMT

Wednesday this week was an early release day for students to allow for teacher and principal collaboration. I was able to visit several groups working together at both Pullman High School and at Jefferson Elementary School.

The high school staff was fine tuning a school-wide rubric for evaluating paragraph writing. I gathered from the discussion that it will serve as a spring board for the development of a school-wide rubric for essay and research paper writing.

Comments from teachers included such things as, “the kids will have consistent expectations for writing in every class,” and “it will save us instructional time because we won’t have to spend time teaching so many unique expectations in every class.”

Discussion could be heard about whether there needs to be a different rubric for every grade level or one rubric that sets a single expectation for the entire high school. There was discussion about adding conventions such as spelling, format, and punctuation. In addition, one group discussed adding model paragraphs so that student will have access to examples of the expectations.

At Jefferson, each grade level of teachers were together combing over assessment data for each of their students, identifying common weaknesses and strengths and making plans together to help student struggling with specific skills and concepts. One group will have a paraprofessional, assigned to one of the teachers because of a large class, work with small groups of students from their three classes that have not mastered specific skills. Another group was exploring how to better align classroom core instruction with intervention specialist time. Still another group included one of the specialist in the discussion about how best to provide extra help for individual students.

I heard teachers speak about the gap between the highest and lowest achieving students. They discussed ideas about how to make sure each student is able to make progress. The conversations were not about getting through the content, but it was about each student’s learning.

These are only samples of many similar discussions I heard. It was evident that the teachers at these two schools put the time today to exceptionally good use. Every discussion I heard was evidence that the teachers and principals are entirely focused on helping students succeed and make progress from wherever their current skill level. They were not simply discussions; plans were made for actions that are expected to improve learning and student achievement and performance.

Levy Information

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:23:35 GMT

Are you interested in finding out more about the upcoming levy?

Read more HERE or contact Shannon Focht with questions at sfocht@psd267.org

January 20, 2012 - An Update on Weather Related School Closures

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:21:06 GMT

The weather has been challenging over the past three days in Pullman.

Weather predictions are never perfectly reliable since conditions can change in a short period of time.

Thank you to our facilities crews who worked through the night last night and continue throughout the day today. Because temperatures climbed, rain and freezing rain fell, and the ground below not being completely frozen, the snow, ice, and slush proved to be too difficult for our equipment to move. We solicited the help of a local contractor during the night. With some heavy equipment and our crew in support, most of the snow has been cleared. However, it took past noon to accomplish. There was simply no way to open our schools today.

In addition, transportation department staff assessed school bus route throughout the night and early morning. Driving buses and transporting students, especially in rural areas, was not safe enough for us to proceed, even if we had been able to clear the snow and operate schools.

We will continue to monitor weather conditions through the weekend. A decision will be made according to our typical procedures by 5:00 A.M. Monday morning. If delays or closures of schools are necessary that will then be communicated as it has this week via media, our automated calling system, and website.

Thank you to the staff for assisting and to families and the community for your understanding and patience.

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Supreme Court Decision - McCleary v. State of Washington

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:23:44 GMT

The Supreme Court Ruling that Washington Schools are not fully funded is encouraging but may not have significant short-term implications.

The Washington Supreme Court upheld the McCleary v. State Decision that Washington State has failed to fund basic education.

The most we can hope is that the current legislative session will result in fewer cuts to public schools because of this decision.

The court acknowledged that the legislature recently enacted a promising reform package under ESHB 2261, which if fully funded, will remedy deficiencies in the K-12 funding system. The decision gives the legislature until 2018 fully fund the reforms of 2261.

Legislators and policy advocates are quickly posturing and spinning the meaning of the court decision. It will make for interesting deliberations for some time to come.

In the short run, the pending maintenance and operations (M & O) and technology levy elections are no less important to education programs and jobs in Pullman.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:24:44 GMT

To PSD Employees and Friends:

I hope each one of you has an enjoyable time with family and friends. Thanksgiving week gives us a wonderful opportunity to be reminded of the many good fortunes we enjoy while so many in our community and across the world face significant challenges and misfortunes.

Personally, I know how fortunate I am to work with employees who share my passion to serve the learning needs of children and youth. In addition, I am thankful for the incredible support we recieve from parents and the community. I have been spending the past few days with board members at the state school board conference. Once again, I am struck by the thoughtful and diligent commitment our board members hold to our work and the success of each student.

Thanks for all you do for the kids!

Have a restful and safe Thanksgiving.
Paul

Teachers Working Together

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 19:31:08 GMT

The San Diego Unified School Community Based Reform Model encourages teachers to be leaders in grade level and school wide Professional Learning Communities and to participate in Instructional Leadership Teams (ILT’s).

On this, Pullman Public Schools second collaboration day this year, I draw your attention to an ongoing discussion on the Bridging Differences blog on the Education Week website between education historian Diane Ravitch and co-author Deborah Meier on the Education Week website.

In Diane Ravitch’s blog posted yesterday, November 1, 2011, she talks about the successes of the Community Based Reform Model that includes a central theme of collaboration. The Community Based Reform Model website states (my emphasis) that “These professional learning communities allow teachers work together to engage in collaborative discussion to set rigorous standards and develop common assessments that measure student progress. Teachers will be involved in continuous opportunities for collaboration and assessment that is part of an ongoing cycle of continuous improvement.”

Let Your Voice Be Heard

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:06:01 GMT

We have an incredible privilege and duty to participate in our political processes. With a levy election for Pullman Public Schools coming in February we will be posting information about the two levy measures that will be on the ballot at http://psd267.schoolwires.net/Page/624.

Beginning November 28, 2011, a special session of the legislature will commence to address the most recent disclosure of state revenue shortfall. Undoubtedly, since school funding is nearly 50% of the state budget, the legislature and governor will be looking for reductions to school funding once again. Then, almost immediately, the legislature will return to the regular legislative session in January when school finance as well as policy issues will be considered.

I encourage you to participate by providing legislators and the governor with your perspectives. Telling your stories (giving concrete examples) about the work you do with students and how funding cuts and policy decisions have impacted and will impact your work with them have been effective when communicating with legislators.

More than ever before public schools are expected to help students reach greater levels of achievement and be prepared for college. We are facing uphill challenges in meeting these increasingly high educational goals for every student. It is important for people who value public education and achievement for every student to participate in the process.

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Alumni Profile: Jennifer Johnston

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:23:51 GMT

Hello Everyone,

I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch and listen to the video profile of one of our former students, Jennifer Johnston. She graduated in 1999. We are proud of her accomplishments and service, and the role Pullman Schools played in her development!

View the video at:
http://stream.psd267.org/alumniprofiles/default.html.

The video was produced for Pullman Public Schools by the Northeast Washington Educational Service District #101 (NEWESD 101).

Thank you teachers and all PSD employees for all you do for the kids!

Paul

Whitman County Schools Gather for Professional Development

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 17:32:51 GMT

Friday, October 7, nearly 350 teachers, administrators, and board members from throughout Whitman County attended an all-day seminar conducted by Dr. Robert Eaker and Janel Keating. The focus was on using best professional practices and professional learning communities to improve student achievement.

The Whitman County Principals Association planned and organized the event. Franklin Elementary principal, Brian Moore, led the work of coordinating the event.

In my view, the day was a success on several fronts:

Whitman County teachers and administrators came together (nearly 350 signed in) to hear and discuss a common message about professional learning.
The common message can serve as a framework for ongoing discussions about what the work of collaborating means, what its purposes are, how to best use the gift of time, and what we and our community expect to get from it.
A key message was for teachers to schedule the teaching of content and classroom assessments together so that collaboration occurs around common student learning.
A strong message was given about leadership and setting the parameters for the work by administrators and teacher leaders working together.

There are surely other messages to take from the event that may emerge as we continue to work and dialog with each other to help kids achieve.

At the end of the day, the overarching theme for me was that of working together to help every child/student to learn at the highest level we can, from the struggling learner to the highest achieving.

"Collaboration" is not an end in itself. However, when done well, the principles of professional learning communities are proven to bring greater achievement to more students.

“There is nothing more unequal than the equal treatment of unequals.”
Dr. Robert Eaker

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Revenue Forecast

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:15 GMT

I am certain you are all aware that the State Revenue Forecast released September 15, 2011, is once again weak. The forecast is now at $1.4 billion below expected revenue for the 2011-2013 biennium.

In a press release on September 22, 2011, Governor Gregoire called for a special session of the legislature beginning November 28, 2011, to address the budget shortfall. The press release states, “More than one month ago, Gregoire asked state agencies to detail how additional 5 to 10 percent cuts would affect their abilities to serve Washingtonians,” It also stated, “Since the national recession began, the state has made nearly $10 billion in cuts.”

According to an article in the Spokesman-Review (Sept. 22, 2011) at the meeting of the Association of Business annual “policy summit,” Gregoire said, “[The State] may have to cut early learning programs, and even basic education “is not sacrosanct”.

Pullman Public Schools are better off than most, thanks to cautious planning, cooperation from employee groups, strong support from our community, and increasing enrollment over the past three years. Still, as a district we are operating with a loss in funding (without the increases in enrollment) of over $2 million. Obviously, more challenges are ahead of us - the extent of which is uncertain.

Our work is important to the present and future lives of the children we serve. Educating students is also an investment in the future character and strength of our community, state and the nation. The negative consequences of further cuts to funding education will not be evident immediately. This long view makes it difficult to compete with the urgent short term needs that challenge our legislators.

It is important for legislators to hear your stories that demonstrate to them the importance of investing in the education of our children and youth. It would be short sighted if our state abandons this investment in the future.

Local Legislators:

Senator Mark Schoesler:

110 Irv Newhouse Building
PO Box 40409
Olympia, WA 98504-0409
(360) 786-7620
Fax: (360) 786-1999

Email: mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov

Representative Susan Fagan:

204 Modular Building C
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7942

Email: fagan.susan@leg.wa.gov

Representative Joe Schmick:

P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7844
Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

Email: joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Just the Facts: September 19, 2011

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 21:04:16 GMT

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Collaboration Day Report

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 22:56:30 GMT

I visited each school last week during the September 7th collaboration time. I observed teachers working together in large and small groups in each school. Teachers, support staff, and principals were developing plans and strategies. When I questioned individual teachers about the work they were doing the responses often focused on how to better meet individual student learning needs. For example, the third grade teachers at Franklin Elementary were developing scheduled groups that would allow them to give more support to students identified as not mastering a concept while creating opportunities for students who had mastered the concept to progress and apply what they had learned. At Jefferson Elementary School, teachers along with support staff and the principal started by discussing the specific focus of their work for the afternoon. A group of teachers at Lincoln Middle School were exploring integrating various disciplines around a theme of sustainability to help students relate learning in individual disciplines together. At Sunnyside Elementary small groups reviewed recent assessment data and how to gain understanding and use the data to improve student achievement in math. Pullman High School considered how writing instruction can be applied to various disciplines.

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

We had a Busy Summer!

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:32:05 GMT

Many of our staff stayed busy over the summer working on a multitude of projects including, painting, grounds maintenance, utilities improvements and repairs, carpet installation, general cleaning, polishing, and waxing - just to name a few projects.

In addition to projects completed by our facilities and custodial crews, we had contractors in the high school all summer working on replacing 5 boilers, adding press boxes to the PHS football field, and replacing the gym floors.

Take a look at the improvements at PHS:

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Just the Facts: 2011-2012 Budget

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:50:06 GMT

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

Welcome Back!

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 20:35:08 GMT

Yesterday brought smiling faces and a lot of energy to the first day of school in Pullman Public Schools. I was able to visit many classrooms in each school. Teachers had students engaged in productive learning activities at the very beginning.

One of the most important prerequisites for learning is how students feel about being at school. I saw many classrooms where teachers were learning about their students in a variety of ways, and giving the children opportunities to get to know and become comfortable working with their classmates. Nearly every child responded positively about being in school. Such a positive attitude about school bodes well for a great school year and for students making exceptional progress.

“People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you make them feel.” Maya Angelou

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org

School Levy Creates Opportunities for Students and the Community

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:29:24 GMT

The Pullman community has a tradition of strong support for schools, in particular by supporting the maintenance and operations (M & O) levy and more recently the technology levy. The School Board has authorized a levy election to continue the expiring M&O and technology levies. The M&O levy amounts to approximately 23% of the operating budget for the District. As a result, the District is able to offer extra programs and services that benefit students’ individual development and learning. The Technology levy allows the District to keep up to date with digital information systems and learning and instructional strategies.

The current M&O levy is approximately $2.75 per thousand of assessed property value. That means that about $46 per month or $550 per year of a home owner’s property taxes for a home that is assessed at $200,000 is staying in Pullman and the County to support the operations of your local public schools. The School Board and staff are committed to operating the District efficiently in order to maximize services to students and families and to keep tax rates as stable and low as possible while maintaining the programs and quality the community expects.

You might ask what these M&O and Technology tax dollars provide. Again, the M&O levy represents approximately 20% of the District’s operating revenue. Without this local support non-required programs and amenities would not be possible. Examples of things the levy makes possible:

Large variety of quality extra-curricular and co-curricular activities for students such as athletics, student interest clubs, and academic

Music, art, and an array of elective classes at the middle and high school

Support staff such as counselors, PE and art specialists, highly capable instructor, and paraprofessionals to support students’ exceptional needs

Lower class sizes to better address individual attention and instruction

Maintain and improve buildings and grounds

Extend student transportation and sustain partnership with the City Transit

Offset reductions in State and Federal revenue and increases in fuel and utility costs

Facilities open and available for student and community use outside the school day

The technology levy allows the District to:

Maintain a robust network infrastructure, hardware, and software, and access to the Internet

Give students opportunities to utilize information technology to access the abundant information available on the Internet, for on-line learning programs, communicating, and producing projects

Comply with increasing requirements to administer state assessments, submit data reporting, and exchange correspondence with State and Federal education agencies electronically

To say that your local tax dollars for school levies are important is a significant understatement. Quality schools are a key factor in the quality of life and economic vitality of the area. Pullman, its surrounding communities, and rural families take pride in the quality of their public schools here. As public employees we value the community’s support and pledge to continue to work diligently to keep expenses low and service quality high, remembering our mission, with your help, is to “ensure learning while challenging each student to achieve full potential.”

Please send comments or suggestions for future blog topics to sfocht@psd267.org