District 80 Homepage - From the Superintendent

09.08.10

Dr. Kevin Settle (center), District 80 Superintendent, welcomes Korean educators during their visit to Mt. Vernon in April, 2010.

Board Goals set for 2010-2011

by Dr. Kevin Settle,
District 80 Superintendent

Every year District 80's Board of Education holds a two-day planning session to set goals for the following year. The process is very comprehensive. Perhaps most importantly, it promotes alignment and articulation from the Board of Education level all the way to the classroom level.

The administration compiles volumes of research, data, and other pertinent information for the board to use in determining its goals. First, a thorough review is presented to examine to what degree the previous board goals were accomplished. Based on these accomplishments, current data, and research, the board develops its new goals. These are focused on implementing the five-year Strategic Plan.

Once the board's goals are approved in their final form (usually in March), the superintendent creates his goals to align with the board's. Before the end of the school year, the principals develop their goals in alignment with the superintendent's goals and the board's. During the fall, teachers develop their goals to help the principals meet theirs. Finally, students even create their individual goals to help teachers meet theirs. Obviously, the correlation between student goals and the board's may not be direct, but it can be traced back to them and the accomplishment of the initiatives of the Strategic Plan.

At the March 10, 2010 Board of Education meeting, the following goals were approved. Between now and the end of the next school year, one will observe administrators, teachers, students, parent, and community members focusing on these six goals to implement the Strategic Plan and improve education in the Mount Vernon City Schools. The goals are not presented in priority order.

BOARD OF EDUCATION GOALS: 2010-2011

GOAL #1: The Board of Education will provide the resources and support processes so staff can meet the academic and enrichment needs of each student.

Objective #1: Analyze the longitudinal student achievement data by demographic subgroups, as well as by individual students for staff to evaluate programs.

Objective #2: Implement Response to Intervention (RtI) with fidelity, with a curriculum that will maximize each student's learning.

Objective #3" Pursue a permanent funding source to implement a more balanced school calendar that will provide additional learning time.

Objective #4: Explore the options to expand the sports programs for grades four through eight, with input provided by a task force established by the Board.

GOAL #2: The Board of Education will provide all staff with the training necessary to perform their job responsibilities.

Objective #1: Promote avenues for better communication within schools as well as between schools so District 80 staff has factual information to share with the community.

Objective #2: Encourage staff to increase and improve the quality, frequency, and types of communication between the schools and the community.

Objective #3: Use a variety of methods (i.e., websites, newsletters, School Reach, presentations, visits, conferences) to disseminate information such as student achievement, district operations, school climate, RtI implementation, school events, and student and staff accomplishments.

GOAL #4: The Board of Education will provide for improvements to the District's facilities.

Objective #1: Explore the options to increase the storage capacity for the District.

Objective #2: Prepare to implement the building expansion and renovation plan at Casey Middle School and for the Early Childhood programs.

Objective #3: Provide the resources needed for improvements at each facility.

Objective #4: Obtain funding from federal, state, or local sources for the improvements.

GOAL #5: The Board of Education will closely monitor the financial condition of the District and make fiscally responsible decisions.

Objective #1: Create multi-year financial projections of anticipated revenues and expenditures to assist the Board and Superintendent in making staff and budget decisions during the current financial crises.

Objective #2: Seek local, state, federal, and private foundation grants that will provide external funding for projects that will benefit District 80.

Objective #3: Work with the City of Mt. Vernon to obtain financial assistance for educational projects.

GOAL #6: The Board of Education will promote safety and security initiatives for the District 80 schools, students, staff, and public.

Objective #1: Explore ways to increase safety and security outside the buildings such as lighting, sidewalks, signage, speed bumps, and other measures.

Objective #2: Provide biannual training for staff about school safety and security policies and what their responsibility is for implementing them.

Objective #3: Review and update the crisis plans for each school and conduct safety audits with community partners to maintain awareness about the topic.

-----------------------------------------
Goals are necessary at every level of any organization. They help people focus on what has been determined to be important. The Board of Education and administration at Mount Vernon City Schools believe it is important to share the annual goals with our constituents. Your help and guidance in the development of the 2007-2012 Strategic Plan has provided the direction for the board to set its annual goals.

Winter 2010 Article from the Superintendent

How I spent my summer vacation

by Dr. Kevin Settle, Superintendent

This is a popular topic that students write about when coming back to school each fall. We are not exactly starting back to school, but now is when we are studying China in several grades, and that is why I am now sharing this article.

I was one of the 24 superintendents in the country who was selected to participate in an eight-day trip to China. The trip was paid for by the Chinese government and sponsored by the U.S. College Board. The purpose of the program is to establish better relationships between the U.S. and China. We were challenged to observe educational practices and share American educational practices, learn how progressive China is becoming, learn about the history and culture of China, and consider expanding the teaching of Chinese in American schools.

Some interesting facts:

China is a 13-hour flight over the North Pole. That, coupled with a 13-hour time change, provided us with serious jetlag. Did you know that the United States and China are almost identical in size? One huge difference is the population. There are only 307,000,000 people in the U.S. compared to the 1,339,000,000 in China. Another difference is the age of civilization. China has been a civilized country for over 5,000 years, and the U.S.A. is only 234 years old.

History and Culture:

We were treated like royalty during the entire trip. We had guided tours to many famous sites. We visited Tiananmen Square that was built in 1400. Chairman Mao's Memorial Hall is located on the Square, with The Great Hall of the People on one side, The City Museum on one side, and the Forbidden City on another. The Forbidden City was started in 1405 and built over a 15 year period. It has 980 buildings and was the home of the Chinese emperors for five centuries. The other breathtaking site was the Great Wall of China. It took 2,000 years to build and goes on forever.

Food:

I love Chinese food, but the real stuff is not exactly like what we get here in America. During every meal, it was a contest to see who would find the strangest thing in our food. It was always served family style and they provided much more than we could possibly eat. There was always something very tasty to fill us up. We were expected to eat with chopsticks.

Education

We visited an elementary school with 4,500 students in grades three through seven. The class sizes were very large compared to our schools. I did not see a class with fewer than 50 students. All of the students were taught English and could communicate with us. The high school we visited had 3,000 students. One hundred percent of the students graduated from high school and went to college. One of the main differences is that not all students attend high school. At the end of middle school, all students take exams that determine which ones are allowed to go to high school. Those who do not make it are almost guaranteed a life of substandard living. Therefore, middle school students take school very seriously.

Transportation:

Most people traveled in the cities by bicycles. There were also several motorcycles and homemade vehicles that were very small. We saw several public buses and cable cars. We traveled by coach buses and more than once we had near accidents. The drivers in China are worse than in Chicago.

American Influence:

From the first day in Tiananmen Square, where we were asked several times to have our picture taken with Chinese groups, we noticed how the Chinese people admired Americans. Several examples, from copycat clothing (Reebok, Nike), products (Pepsi, Pringles) to the chain stores and restaurants (Kentucky Fried Chicken, McDonald's, Wal-Mart), illustrate their desire to be like Americans.

The trip was a wonderful experience. Not only for the chance to experience China, but also to interact with 23 of the top superintendents in America. Several of us continue to correspond and share ideas and best practices. The same organization that sponsored my trip has invited us to consider hosting a Chinese teacher to teach in District 80. Maybe we will be selected and China will come to us next year.

Education through the Generations

February 2010

Reflecting on Education In District 80 Through the Generations

by Dr. Kevin Settle, Superintendent

As Superintendent, I usually spend my time looking to the future and setting the course for education in the Mount Vernon City Schools.

However, I recently stumbled onto some historical documents that caused me to reflect on the past. During the winter break while I was taking some files to storage, I ran across these documents and spent hours reading through them.

Although some of them contain conflicting information, I found it very interesting to compare the similarities and differences in education in District 80 throughout the generations.

One might wonder how Horace Mann knew 150 years ago how true his statement was that, "The public school is the greatest discovery made by man." Public schools are crucial for perpetuating American democracy. The purposes for schools have not significantly changed since they were first started: to prepare children for citizenship, to cultivate a skilled workforce, and to help each student obtain the knowledge and skills to become the best they can be. District 80 is a prime example of how the public schools have become better and stronger through the generations, while still focusing on the primary purposes of public education.

Although there were some schools in the Mt. Vernon area as early as 1820, documents show that District 80 was formally organized in 1887. In a detailed report titled, Mt. Vernon Public Schools--1895, written by Superintendent A.O. Reubelt, several similarities with today's schools can be found:

The length of the school year was similar (from early September to mid-May).
The length of the school day was similar (8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) Fire drills were mandatory.
Teachers had to keep attendance and other records.
There were teacher meetings every month.
Firearms and tobacco were not allowed at school.
The required courses of study included arithmetic, reading, writing, spelling, geography, grammar, history, philosophy, and elementary science.
A school board governed the school.

In fact, throughout this 97-page report, nearly everything required then is still in place today.

However, there are additional challenges that schools face today, and many more factors must be dealt with than the public schools faced in 1895. Competing in a global society, safety issues, environmental issues, inadequate funding, political issues, and a more diverse and mobile student population are a few.

For 150 years, the focus of public education was on universal access--making sure that all subgroups of our population had the opportunity to attend public schools. We take it for granted today, but not always were females, minorities, poor, disabled, or homeless children allowed to attend school.

Today, universal access has been achieved and our nation has turned to a new goal for public education--one of universal proficiency. Obvious changes have taken place throughout the generations to help us reach universal proficiency, such as better qualified teachers, better facilities, better instructional materials, including technology, and using data to better understand how students learn and to make better decisions. These and other improvements still focus on the primary purposes of public education.

My reflection and research has led me to the conclusion that although there are obvious changes and more factors the schools deal with today, they are still more similar than different. The bottom line is that public school teachers still do everything in their power to make sure the primary purposes for schools are met--to prepare children for citizenship, to cultivate a skilled workforce, and to help each student obtain the knowledge and skills to become the best they can be. I would like to commend all of the people throughout the generations that have been involved in public education for their part in getting us to where we are today. Their dedication and hard work has proven what Horace Mann said 150 years ago--that indeed, "The public school is the greatest discovery made by man."

Fall 2010 Letter from the Superintendent

Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year

By Kevin Settle, Superintendent
On behalf of the Board of Education, District 80 staff and administration, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2009-2010 school year. We are excited about the new school year and are off to a terrific start. We pledge to provide your child a comprehensive education while focusing on the Illinois Learning Standards.

Opportunities

Each one of our schools offers a variety of academic and enrichment programs to meet the needs of all of our students. In addition to the core curriculum, all elementary students are taught art, music, technology, and physical education. At Casey Middle School, students also receive instruction in band, orchestra, applied technology, life skills, career exploration, physical fitness, Spanish and community service. Students who have special abilities are identified early and receive services in the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program. Instructional specialists work with students who have learning disabilities in smaller classroom settings.

Licensed nurses and social worker/counselors are housed in every school. The STARS Academy has been expanded to each school and provides additional help in academics and enrichment after school every day school is in session. Students are encouraged to participate on the Casey Middle School teams in basketball, softball, track, cross country, baseball, dance, and cheerleading.

Achievement

Our highly qualified teachers work extremely hard to teach students the appropriate material, and our principals provide guidance and encouragement to both teachers and students. Our students work very hard to learn the material in order to be able to demonstrate their knowledge on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT). Even though our overall scores improved in many areas, we did not make Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by the increasing standards of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). (Visit our website at www.mtv80.org to obtain actual figures.) However, we will continue to work hard to meet that goal by challenging all of our students to earn at their maximum potential.

This year, we have started a new initiative called Response to Intervention (RtI). Students are regrouped daily, according to their academic ability, and provided additional learning opportunities. This initiative will provide the additional time our teachers need to help more students be successful.

Involvement

Students perform better in school when their parents are supportive of the school and are more involved in their education. Establishing regular communications with the building's teachers and principal will help to ensure a successful school year for the student. Working together in a collaborative and cooperative manner will help us to successfully achieve our goal. It is important that we work hand in hand to meet the needs of our young people.

Support

District 80 has had excellent support from the Mt. Vernon community. We look forward to the continuation of your support and welcome organizations or individuals who want to explore forming partnerships with us. Please feel free to stop by any of the schools or the District 80 Office (2710 North Street) to see what a wonderful public education system we have in the Mount Vernon City Schools.

President Barack Obama has led the way this year by addressing all of the school children in America with his historic speech on September 8, 2009. In his speech, he called upon all adults to join together to help our students be successful in school. He told the students how important education is by stating,

"What you make of your education will decide nothing less than the future of this country. The future of America depends on you. What you're learning in school today will determine whether we as a nation can meet our greatest challenges in the future."

I believe that the President's statement is accurate, and I would like to extend a special invitation to our parents and community members to join with us in a partnership that is dedicated to the goal of providing a quality education to all students.

Summer 2009 Newsletter article

Looking back prepares us to look ahead

by Dr. Kevin Settle, District 80 Superintendent

Another school year is rapidly coming to an end. I would like to thank all of the parents and community members who have helped with the schools this year. We have excellent teachers and staff, but we would not be nearly as successful in educating our students if it were not for your support.

District 80 is fortunate to have a Board of Education that is focused on making decisions that are best for kids. The Board insists that all employees focus on the District's vision: "Always Seeking, Always Learning."

We will greatly miss the expertise of Linda Holt, who has served on the school board for 20 years and led the District through many trying times. I could always count on her to ask the tough questions but also to support any decision that was good for our students. We will also miss Yvette Jones, who served on the Board for four years.

Academic successes There have been numerous academic successes this school year.

Probably the most notable is that scores on the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) continued to be high.
Eleven students graduated from Zadok Casey Middle School, with a perfect straight A grade point average.
The kindergarten-bound students at Franklin Early Education Center scored above the national average on their academic assessment.
Our music department received high ratings in contests and provided several concerts for the enjoyment of the community.
The Casey basketball team finished fourth in the state.
Casey's Team Quest qualified for State competition.
More than 120 students qualified to attend the Academic Fair field trip to St. Louis, visiting the Magic House or City Museum, depending on their grade level.
In addition to these accomplishments, numerous individual students have demonstrated excellent commitment to their studies, achieved academic success, and were recognized in the community for their efforts.

Notable accomplishments

Katie Baumhoegger was named one of the finalists for Illinois Teacher of the Year. It is the first time a teacher in this area has made it that far.
Nine years after restructuring the District, we sold Lincoln School to Lively Stone Baptist Church and the Kenneth Martin Center to Power of Change Ministries. Both of these sales saved the District considerable amounts of money and will provide sites that will be positive for each neighborhood. The property sales allowed us to purchase a new District Office that is conveniently located next to the Primary Center.
About $1,500,000 of renovations will be completed this summer on Casey Middle School and the Hall building. The most notable will be the new windows, doors, and dropped ceilings. The renovations will not only bring the buildings up to safety code but will save the District a considerable amount in energy.
The implementation of our new math textbooks have provided up-to-date material and teaching strategies for our students and teachers. We are planning to install new Smart Boards, computers, and printers this summer, so all of our classrooms will have the same state-of-the-art technology for our students.
After several years of planning, we began teaching Spanish to all students at Casey Middle School.
The District 80 Foundation held a very successful dinner and sales of sports memorabilia to raise money for our students and teachers.
We adopted a balanced budget again this year, and we received the highest auditor opinion about our school financial practices.

A look forward

We have already been planning for the 2009-2010 school year. Although the lack of adequate state funding for schools will create a very tight budget again next year, we will aggressively seek additional grant funding and use it to support the educational needs of our students.

We plan to double the size of our Talented And Gifted (TAG) program. Professional development for all teachers next year will focus on meeting the social and emotional needs of all of our students.

A planning committee will continue to work with FGM to design a new building to be constructed to improve Casey for our middle school students and Hall School for our early childhood students.

I would like to congratulate the students on their very successful school year. They have again excelled in academics, athletics, the arts, and in character-building activities. Their hard work and commitment to school, along with dedicated teachers and support staff, as well as supportive parents, all contribute to their success.

District 80 and our students benefit greatly from the tremendous support the Mt. Vernon community gives to public education.