LAS School Board Meeting 5-13 Recap
LAS honors 2024 retirees, Elementary students progress with new math curriculum
By Michelle Smith
contributing writer
The Lowell Area Schools Board of Education met for its regular meeting, May 13, at the Administrative Offices building.
Antonio Casarez delivered his final student council report and was thanked by the Board for his service throughout the school year. “It has been an honor to represent my peers and my school that I love so much... It’s not really goodbye, for being a Red Arrow will never truly leave me,” Casarez said. “Thank you for giving us students a better future.”
He also reported many events, including “Senior Give Back”, where seniors gather for breakfast and are carpooled off to various locations to do volunteer work around the community. There is also a Senior Honor Night for the distribution of scholarships and other recognition, seniors’ last full day and exams, and “Senior Release.”
The final events for the class of 2024 are the May 22 breakfast and graduation rehearsal, followed by the May 23 graduation.
Retiree recognition, teacher appreciation
LAS Superintendent, Nate Fowler, recognized and thanked the 2024 retirees. The following retirees were honored:
Renay Bouwhuis, High School Administrative Assistant
Tammy Griffith, Bus Driver
Dale Hollister, Bus Driver
Gail Hutchinson, Middle School Registrar
Sandy Keeney, Bushnell Elementary Teacher
Linda McElroy, Nurse
Vicky Pratt, High School Administrative Assistant
Kristin Schutte, Middle School Teacher
Cathy Wood, Bushnell Elementary Teacher
In honor of the retirees and Teacher Appreciation Month, Fowler read from a book written by Alto author, Gary D. Schmidt, Labors of Hercules Beal. He said it is a fitting tribute to teachers and all district employees.
“We’re here to help you carry the sky when you have to, and we’re here to help you put it down when you need to. Why else would anyone ever become a teacher?” Fowler read.
“Your students may not have had to carry the sky, but I know that over the years each of you have been there for your students, you’ve been there for your families, you’ve been there for your colleagues and your teammates,” Fowler said to the retirees.
“We’re going to miss your wisdom, We’re going to miss your knowledge and the little things you do every day to help us function. On behalf of the Board and all of us at Lowell Area Schools, we express our deepest appreciation. Your labor has meant everything.”
Fowler then gave Casarez a plaque, thanking him for his service to the Board and wished him well after graduation.
Student, Mackenzie Wyant, was presented the Gold Award from the Girl Scouts. Fowler said this is the highest honor given by the organization, and Wyant displayed that she deserved the award through her service project, supporting seniors in the community.
Elementary Math Program Update
Alto Elementary Principal, Paul Papes, presented an update on how the new math curriculum “Reveal Math” is working out for the district’s K-5 students after using it this school year. First grade teacher, Pam Bement, fifth grade teacher, Andrew Sargent, and Math Coordinator, Carmen Tawney, joined Papes in reporting how the implementation of the new curriculum has gone for the district.
Papes said 80 percent of instruction comes from Reveal materials; the other 20 percent can come from supplementary resources such as Prodigy, Math Facts, or other favorite resources.
Teachers were given the new materials last June so they would have them throughout the summer to get familiar with them, in addition to training sessions.
Papes said it is important that all students have the mindset that they can learn high-level math. “Sometimes we have students who don’t believe that for whatever reasons. It’s important to us, starting with the youngests kids, that they believe that, and we’re developing that math mindset.”
Papes said there are ways to tell when learning has taken place that do not include just testing. “Proficiency is when students can apply learning outside of the classroom.”
He said the new materials and teacher training encourage discourse and collaboration in the classroom, as it is important that students learn from their mistakes and struggles, and they allow themselves time for mental processing. “Being smart doesn’t mean fast. It takes time to learn. It takes time to think.”
Scores for the school year are showing improvement. Fall to winter scores showed at or above-level improvements. Spring test scores are not yet available.
Action Items
The Board approved the purchase of two new curricula. Director of Curriculum, Dan VanderMeulen, presented Klett for Spanish language students and Reveal Math for middle school. The Spanish language materials will cost $28,049.70 and the math is $115,000.
The Board approved a new foodservice contract for Chartwells, the current management company.
The Board then passed a resolution to begin the process of issuing the first series of bonds that the recent election allows the district to sell. “This specific resolution authorizes us to issue the first series of bonds. The election allowed us to borrow up to $104,150,000. This first series is $32,785,000. The next two series will be in 2028 and 2030,” Sonia Hodge, Chief Financial Officer said.
“With the approval of this resolution, we are able to start putting together all the documentation to go out to investors, and sell bonds, hopefully, at a very good interest rate.” Hodge said this will be a competitive sale, versus a negotiated sale, in order to attract a wider market, and hopefully, receive better interest rates. The bond sale will be in June.
Comments
Kim Lum thanked the board for all the opportunities and interaction regarding the bond proposal and information on how schools are funded in Lowell. She also thanked them for listening and adjusting plans according to feedback.
Superintendent Fowler thanked the community for support of the bond proposal. He said the first task will be to organize a timeline for construction at Cherry Creek Elementary.
He again thanked the retirees, teachers, and staff members. “You build our students’ confidence, and you set them on the road to success.”
He also congratulated the class of 2024. “(Graduation) is an opportunity for us to celebrate the doors that open for our young adults and our community, as a result of the public education that this board and they (teachers) provide them.
