Creating Futures For Our Children Is Important
That’s Why We're Doing It Russellville School District Annual Report 2015
A LETTER FROM
THE SUPERINTENDENT Meeting Children Where They Are Children come to our schools with varied skills and abilities. Many of them walk in the door with abilities that make learning very easy for them. Some are not so lucky, and they need extra support. If a school district is genuinely concerned about helping students, the first step is to make sure that all students’ needs are met. This can be difficult. It takes a lot of resources, careful planning, and constant assessment of student progress. It takes an emphasis on the whole child and consideration of the emotional, health, and safety needs in addition to the intellectual aspects commonly associated with schools. All of our students at Russellville School District need and deserve to have their needs met. This requires a commitment to provide well-trained personnel, state-of-the art programs, quality facilities, and a “students first” attitude. The challenge for a caring school district like RSD is to meet the needs of all of our students and to do so in such a way as to cause them to grow as students and as individuals. RSD strives to meet each child wherever they are emotionally, socially, and intellectually and move him/her in a positive direction. This publication showcases our commitment to meeting our children where they are by focusing on their health and safety, providing a world class curriculum, motivating them in career planning, encouraging good citizenship, providing quality facilities, and offering varied extracurricular activities. The students of today are the dreamers, planners, workers, and creators of the world in which they will live tomorrow. At RSD, we care about all our students and we believe that providing opportunities students need to be successful is important...and that’s why we’re doing it.
Yours in Education,
Randall W. Williams Superintendent
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2013-2014 Data: Enrollment: 5,148 Students (October 1, 2013) ■ Attendance Rate: 94.2%; Graduation Rate: 90.7%; Dropout Rate: 2.36%; C
A HEALTHY & SAFE
ENVIRONMENT IS IMPORTANT
The health and safety of our children play a vital role in their academic success. At RSD, we are investing in our children’s physical and emotional safety everyday by providing: • • • • •
Registered Nurses at every school School Resource Officers at RHS and RJHS Safe rooms at every school Investment of $164,000 in cameras at RHS Restricted access into each of our schools
• • •
Physical Education teachers at all elementary schools Participation in athletics beginning at RMS Designated staff trained in CPR at each building and multiple automated external defibrillators (AED) in every building
RSD Nurses
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT
College Remediation Rate: 39.4% ■ Discipline Plan Sent to Parents: Yes; Parent Plan Adopted: Yes ■ Expulsions: 1; Student Assaults: 11 n
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A WORLD CLASS CURRICULUM
IN STEM IS IMPORTANT
New Math Curriculum Benefits Students and Parents RSD adopted a new curriculum for math in grades K-5 entitled Eureka Math. Eureka Math provides students with practical skills and engages them in higher order thinking by teaching them the Base-Ten System, math facts, practical application, multi-step problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking and explanation, and multiple approaches to solving problems. Eureka Math also has online parent overviews that explain what the student is being taught in the classroom and gives examples and tips that parents can use at home to help their child. RSD believes that this balanced approach will help our students become more math literate and will give them a deeper understanding of math principles.
Elementary Science Lab
New STEM Program Offers More In-Depth Learning Students at Russellville Junior High School were able to take advantage of a new Biomedical Course entitled Medical Detectives as part of the School of Innovation waiver that RJHS received last year. The Medical Detectives class explores the biomedical sciences through hands-on projects and labs that require students to solve a variety of medical mysteries. Students investigate medical careers, vital signs, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, as well as human body systems such as the nervous system. Activities such as genetic testing for hereditary diseases and DNA crime scene analysis allows RJHS students an opportunity to become Medical Detectives.
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2013-2014 Data: School Expenditures: Total Expenditures: $58,596,549; Instructional Expenditures: $30,136,205; Administrative Expenditures: $3,01 Pupil: $9,919 n Students Eligible f
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT The future world our children will live and work in will require solutions to problems that are fashioned differently than those we face today. These solutions will come from children who can solve problems critically, creatively, and collaboratively. At RSD, we want to provide the best educational experience for our children by expanding our curriculum to meet the needs of all of our children now and in the future. That is why we offer a wide variety of classes in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
RSD Offers These STEM Classes For Our Students • • • • • • • • • •
Elementary Science Enrichment Labs Principles of Biomedical Sciences Human Body Systems Medical Interventions Biomedical Innovation Genetics Microbiology Introduction to Engineering Principles of Engineering Digital Electronics
• • • • • • • •
Engineering Design Marine Biology & Oceanography Zoology/Botany Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) Introduction to Engineering Design Automation and Robotics Design and Modeling Medical Detectives
15,166; Extracurricular Expenditures: 3,771,787; Capital Expenditures: $4,851,342; Debt Service Expenditures: $3,100,599 ■ Total Expenditures Per for Free/Reduced Meals: 58.6% n
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A WORLD CLASS CURRICULUM
IN ART AND LITERACY IS IMPORTANT
RSD believes fine arts programs play an important role in the overall success of a student and provides many opportunities for students to participate in fine arts classes.
RSD Offers These Fine Art Classes For Our Students •
The Oakland Heights Elementary STEPS Dance Program After-school Student Talent Shows Fine Arts Classes Beginning in Elementary Art History AP Art Digital Communications Oral Communications Journalism Creative Writing Debate
• • • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
Forensics Intro to Theatre Arts Theatre Technical Design Theatre Performance Music Appreciation AP Music Theory Concert Choir Chamber Choir Music Technology Band
While the District provides many opportunities for students to participate in classes in science and art, we are still focusing on the basics of literacy and math. The District employs instructional facilitators, interventionists, reading recovery teachers, dyslexia reading interventionists, and reading specialists to help improve literacy in our elementary schools.
RHS Theatre Performs “Shrek”
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2013-2014 Data: 1 School: Accredited Cited; 9 Schools: Accredited n Grade Retention: 1st (9), 2nd (3), 3rd (3), 4th (2), 6th (1) n Norm-Referenced (60%), 2nd (62%), 3rd (53%), 4th (57%), 5th (45%), 6th (48%), 7
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT
d Scores (percentile ranking): Math 1st (53%), 2nd (62%), 3rd (56%), 4th (61%), 5th (53%), 6th (55%), 7th (57%), 8th (56%), 9th (50%); Literacy 1st 7th (55%), 8th (59%), 9th (58%); Science 5th (64%), 7th (68%) n
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A FOCUS ON CAREER PLANNING BEFORE GRADUATION IS IMPORTANT
Deciding what to do after graduation is a tough decision for some of our students. Many of our students do not know what they want to do once they leave high school, and others go to college with no career goals in mind. At RSD, we are encouraging all of our students to have a plan after graduation, whether that plan is college or career.
RHS Career Planning Class
All students at RHS can participate in College and Career Readiness Advisory that provides them with the necessary skills to evaluate who they are and what they need in a career. Students also refine their career choices through a decision-making process and master the skills most needed in the 21st century. Another course that is beneficial to students at RHS is Financial Literacy, where students learn how to successfully manage their personal and family financial resources. Students learn to manage resources through hands-on applications that are relevant to their lives. Examples include employment related forms, spending plans, cost analyses, comparison-shopping, understanding your paycheck, financial planning and banking, insurance, credit, consumer skills, and housing and transportation costs. All students at RHS participate in College and Career Readiness Advisory before they graduate.
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2013-2014 Data: Percentage of Proficient or Advanced Benchmark Scores for the Combined Population of Grades 3-8 and End of Co
Guest Speaker at RMS
Expanded Focus on College and Career This year, the District began focusing on preparing our students for the path that they will take after graduation as part of the District School Board Goals. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade are now being exposed to college and career opportunities. Students in the elementary levels are being introduced to different career options through class assignments and events such as career fairs. Students in the secondary levels are taking interest inventories to see what careers they might be interested in and participating in advisory periods where they are learning skills to prepare for college.
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT RSD Offers These College and Career Opportunities For Our Students • • • • • • • • • • • •
Career Day at Elementary Schools Gifted and Talented Programs Kuder Navigator Career Inventory Planning Program that begins in 8th grade and continues through 12th grade as students narrow their career choices Career Development Classes Mock Job Interviews ACT and AP Prep Classes 30 Hours of Concurrent Credit ATU Career Center JAG Program Presentations from Industry Professionals College and Career Fair at RHS Job and Career Fairs at RHS
ourse (EOC): Math 3rd (89%), 4th (77%), 5th (61%), 6th (75%), 7th (74%), 8th (69%), EOC Algebra 1 (88%), EOC Geometry (86%); n
ATU Career Center
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BEING A GOOD CITIZEN
IN THE COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT
We want all of our students to become citizens who are globally aware, responsible learners, and independent thinkers. At RSD, we are teaching the building blocks of good citizenship in the classroom and throughout the community.
The Center Valley Elementary Ambassadors volunteered at the Russellville First United Methodist Church Manna House this past year. The Ambassadors served 41 families while working in the food pantry. The students stocked shelves, filled family orders, sorted bags, carried food out with the families, and learned the importance of helping those in need.
For the past four years, the Russellville Junior High School Student Council has volunteered at the Salvation Army on Weir Road by packing, sorting, and handing out Thanksgiving meals to families in our community. Last year, they decided to go a step further and help out the students in their school by holding a “Snackpack Food Drive.� Members created two Whirlwinds made of tags that had food items needed by the Salvation Army and students could select a tag to purchase that food item or a gift card and then return it to the Student Council.
Students in first through fourth grade at Dwight Elementary decorated lunch containers to show their appreciation for the hard work that active military and emergency personnel do every day. These lunch containers were used at a luncheon for active military and emergency personnel on September 11.
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2013-2014 Data: Literacy 3rd (83%), 4th (87%), 5th (82%), 6th (77%), 7th (79%), 8th (81%), EOC Literacy (82%); Science 5th (67 www.russellvilleschools.n
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT
7%), 7th (55%), EOC Biology (65%); For more information about your school’s achievement scores for the past three years, visit: net/required-information n
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QUALITY FACILITIES
FOR STUDENTS & PATRONS ARE IMPORTANT
New Classrooms at Sequoyah
Cyclone Sculpture Dedication
As a partner of the Russellville community, we want to provide quality facilities for our students and patrons. At RSD, we are providing quality learning environments to accommodate the needs of all of our children. RSD finished three facility improvements this year. Sequoyah Elementary School added ten additional classrooms this fall to assist with the growing number of students in their zone. This expansion increases the number of pre-school classrooms by two for a total of 12 pre-school classrooms throughout the District. The new classrooms include space for students to engage in engineering and art projects and support the District’s K-12 STEM program. The last piece of The Center for the Arts project was completed with the installation of a cyclone sculpture in July on the Russellville High School campus. The red cyclone sculpture is comprised of 18 metal rings that range from 18 inches to 10 feet in diameter, and is over 15 feet tall. The Project WOW! Group along with the District held a formal dedication ceremony on September 25 and dedicated the sculpture to current Board of Education member and former RHS Principal Wesley White. The new competition gymnasium was completed in September 2015. The new gym will accommodate multiple sports such as basketball, volleyball, wrestling, cheerleading, and dance teams and will seat approximately 2,350 people.
New Classrooms at Sequoyah
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2013-2014 Data: 16 Advanced Placement Courses Offered n 788 Advanced Placement Exams Taken n Percentage of Qualifying Scores of 3, 4, o (34%) n ACT Results: RHS Students Scored on Average 21.5, Arkansas 20.4 n All Schools: Ne
Cyclone Arena
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT Cyclone Arena
or 5 on Advanced Placement Exams (past three years): Russellville: 2012 (47%), 2013 (54%), 2014 (51%); State: 2012 (34%), 2013 (34%), 2014 eeds Improvement n 2 Schools with A Rating, 2 Schools with B Rating, 6 Schools with C Rating n
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VARIED EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE IMPORTANT
Varied extra-curricular activities provide our students the opportunity to learn leadership and teamwork skills outside the classroom. At RSD, we believe in providing many clubs, organizations, and athletic opportunities, so that our students can participate in activities that fit their interests. Last year, our student athletes, clubs, and organizations competed in numerous events and activities. We are proud of their accomplishments.
RSD Offers These Extracurricular Activities For Our Students • • •
27 Clubs and Organizations 14 Athletic Opportunities Band and Choir
RHS DECA Students
RHS Quiz Bowl State Runner-up
RMS Gale Football
RHS Forensics & Debate Team
RHS Soccer State Champions
RHS Volleyball State Champions
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RJHS Dance Team
2013-2014 Data: RSD Teachers: 59% Bachelors, 41% Masters n 97.8% Teacher Completely Licensed n 0.2% Teachers with Emerge Average Teacher S
RHS Band
THAT’S WHY WE’RE DOING IT
ency/Provisional Credentials n Licensed Employees: 469, Classified Employees: 294 n 30+ Teachers are National Board Certified n Salary: $51,288 n
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School Board Members:
RSD School Board Goals:
Morgan Barrett Chris Cloud Breanne Davis Allan George Jami Mullen Jeff Phillips Wesley White
1. RSD will be the “School of Choice” in our region for parents, students, and employees.
Administration: Randall Williams, Superintendent of Schools Alene Bynum, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Instruction Justin Robertson, CFO/Assistant to the Superintendent
2. RSD will increase partnerships that create a unified community that values and supports education. 3. At RSD all students will achieve a level of preparedness and readiness to reach their individual potential so that businesses and universities seek out RSD students. RSD will cultivate a culture of high expectations at every level.
RSD Board Meetings: RSD is governed by a seven-member Board of Education. The School Board consists of seven members, elected by a combination of five single-member zones and two at-large positions by the qualified voters of the District. School Board meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building located at 220 West 10th Street. The meetings are open to the public. Parents, grandparents, and care-givers of RSD students and Russellville residents are encouraged to become more familiar with the governance of the School District.
The Russellville School District Annual Report to the Public is a publication of the Russellville School District. In compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws, the Russellville School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, or disability in its employment and education practices. If you have questions regarding the professional qualifications of your child’s teachers or paraprofessionals, you are encouraged to contact Mrs. Alene Bynum, Assistant Superintendent of Personnel and Instruction at 479.968.1306. Le invitamos a que hable con la Mrs. Alene Bynum, si usted tiene alguna pregunta sobre las capacitaciones profesionales de los maestros o asistentes de maestros de sus hijos.