School Board decision highlights

Board Highlights - August 18

The School Board (3-0) adopted the 2009-10 budget last month, which includes a $4.8 million reduction to its $122 million general budget. Cuts ranged from eight administrative or supervisory positions to reduced elementary teacher librarian hours and raising athletic fees and lunch prices.

Other highlights included:

• All-Day kindergarten opportunity coming for Title 1 schools: District plans to allocate federal stimulus money (about $500,000) for Title 1 schools through six extended day kindergarten programs to start in October in an effort to give students at higher poverty schools extra help and support. The schools are: Chambers Prairie, Lacey, Lydia Hawk, Meadows, Mountain View and Pleasant Glade.
• Special education will also receive about $2.8 million in federal stimulus money over the next two years to develop an assessment and intervention system to help students be more academically successful and socially competent.
• NTPS receives $2.3 million student support grant: The district was awarded a $ 2.3 million 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from OSPI - one of only 18 grants awarded statewide. The grant, written by Dr. Maddy De Give, Executive Director of Student and Staff Support, will provide Nisqually Middle School and four elementary schools (Lydia Hawk, Meadows, Mountain View, and Pleasant Glade) a total of $465,000 per year to target 420 students in need of additional supports to achieve academic success and social competence. Programs will range from parent engagement programs to innovative academic enrichment opportunities.
• School Board meetings moved to Tuesday nights: The Board announced its decision to move its regular twice monthly meetings to Tuesday nights (originally on Mondays). The first board meeting of the month will be held at the District Office but the second one will be at an NTPS school . "We hope this will help get more community members into our schools and engaged in student success," said Board President Aaron Owada.

From NTPS Success Weekly page