NCSA Today Magazine, Summer 2012

NCSA TODAY A PUBLICATION OF THE NEBRASKA COUNCIL OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

Building Success a system for

________________ Commissioner Breed Discusses NePAS Rural Backpack Food Program Makes Lasting Impact

________________

NCSA Honors Retirees

Nebraska Council of School Administrators

Summer 2012

www.NCSA.org

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CONTENTS

2 Commissioner Breed Discusses NePAS

BY ELISABETH REINKORDT

4 Rural Backpack Food Program Makes Lasting Impact

BY JEREMY CHRISTIANSEN

9 NCSA Honors Retirees 5

The Advantage of Membership

BY DAVE KASLON

6

HRA Equals Savings for Both District and Employees

BY MIKE BODEN

7

Nebraska Partnership for Learning (NPL)

7

2012 Administrators’ Days Keynote Speakers

8

Retirement – An Opportunity to Stay Involved

BY ROBERT L. (B0B) BUSSMANN

13

NSASSP Announces 2012 High School and Middle School Principal of the Year

14

NCSA Election Results

15

NASES Distinguished Service Award

17

Response to Change Keeps Schools at the Top of their Class

BY DR. MIKE DULANEY and DR. DAN ERNST

18

When is the Time Right?

BY DAVE RAYMOND and DENNY VAN HORN

19 20

In Nebraska Schools, Hunger Haunts the Hallways

NCSA EXECUTIVE BOARD 2011-2012 Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jack Moles Vice Chair . . . . . . . .Randy Schleuter Past Chair . . . . . . . . Sarah Williams NASA Representatives President . . . . . . . . . . .Greg Barnes President-elect . . . . . . .Tim DeWaard Past President . . . . . . . . .Jack Moles NASBO Representatives President . . . . . . . . . . .Dave Kaslon President-elect . . . . . . . .Jill Pauley Past President . . . . . Robin Hoffman NAESP Representatives President . . . . . . . . . . .David Kraus President-elect . . . . . .Ann Jablonski Past President . . . . . .Midge Mougey NASES Representatives President . . . . . . . . . . .Stuart Clark President-elect . . . . . . .Jane Moody Past President . . . . . .Peggy Romshek NSASSP Representatives President . . . . . .Mitch Bartholomew President-elect . . . . . . Chris Stogdill Past President . . . . .Randy Schleuter NARSA Representative President . . . . . . . .Robert Bussmann NCSA STAFF Dr. Michael S. Dulaney Executive Director/Lobbyist Dr. Dan E. Ernst Associate Executive Director/Lobbyist Kelly Coash-Johnson Training and Development Director Amy Poggenklass Finance and Membership Coordinator

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

NCSA Mission The mission of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA) is to be an effective leader for quality education and to enhance the professionalism of its members.

NCSA Today is a benefit of membership in the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, 455 South 11th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Telephone 402.476.8055 or 800.793.6272. Fax 402.476.7740. Annual membership dues are $325 (active members), $100 (associate members), or $30 (student members).

NCSA Today is published quarterly. Send address changes to NCSA, Membership, 455 South 11th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Copyright ©2012 by NCSA. All rights reserved.

Angie Carman Executive Administrative Assistant Carol Young Administrative Assistant Elisabeth Reinkordt Staff Correspondent The opinions expressed in NCSA Today or by its authors do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators.

SUMMER 2012

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FEATURE

Commissioner Breed Discusses NePAS

BY ELISABETH REINKORDT, Staff Correspondent

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Breed

2

hen the 2012 legislative session came to a close, the passage of LB 870—an amendment to the Quality Education Accountability Act—set in statute the last piece of Nebraska’s school accountability evolution. It began with the directive to move from the locally-driven STARS assessments to the state-led NeSA, and now, with comparable state assessment data at hand, the Unicameral directed the State Board of Education to “establish an accountability system to measure the performance of individual public schools and school districts.” What does this mean for schools and districts? NCSA Today asked State Education Commissioner Roger Breed to explain.

“If we’re going to have a state education system that is committed to student learning, then the first step was to agree upon what it is we want students to know and learn, and that was our standards. The second step is to measure student performance within those standards, and that’s NeSA. And then the third step is to establish a performance accountability system that replaces STARS, that meets federal accountability requirements, and that informs the state as to the overall performance of its schools,” Breed explained.

“We knew this was coming for the past two years,” Breed said, “and so we’ve been working both within the Department and through the State Board to develop a new system to hold schools and school districts accountable.” As stated in LB 870, the deadline is fast approaching, as “on or before August 1, 2012, the State Board of Education shall establish an accountability system to be used to measure the performance of individual public schools and school districts.” As early as November of 2010, the State Board approved the first part of the Nebraska Performance Accountability System (NePAS), outlining their beliefs, values, and purposes relating to a state accountability system. Importantly, the Board felt it necessary to distinguish Nebraska’s state accountability system from the federal model—AYP and PLAS calculations—which do not take growth into account when rating schools.

In the legislation, the Board is charged with creating a system that “shall combine multiple measures including, but not limited to, graduation rates, student growth and student improvement on the assessment instruments provided,” in the sections related to NeSA established by

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LB 1157. For the past two years, a subcommittee of the Nebraska State Board of Education has been studying accountability models based on the following three performance indicators: status, improvement, and growth.

In December of 2011, the State Board approved NePAS, defining the performance indicators as such: • Status indicators: NeSA scores in reading, mathematics, science, and writing. Also included as status indicators: graduation and participation rates.

• Improvement in average NeSA scale scores from one year to the next (with different students) in reading and mathematics.

• Growth in average NeSA scale scores from one year to the next (following the same students from grade 34-5).

In determining how to use these performance indicators, the Board laid out several considerations, Breed said. “I think the Board agreed early on that they wanted an accountability system that does several things,” he said. “One is that it meets the federal requirements— that’s the genesis as to why we’re doing all of this.” The second purpose, then, was that the system would allow the comparison of districts and schools across the state in terms of identified levels of performance. Thirdly, the board “wanted to expand the indicators of performance from just the statewide test to indicators that would include participating, growth, and the cohort graduation rate,” Breed explained.

Status indicators are now becoming easier to track statewide with the full implementation of NeSA in reading, mathematics, science, and writing and there is yet another layer of fair comparability to come in this arena.

In order for the data to be truly comparable, there cannot be aberrations in scores based on the modality tested. That is why, in 2013, all NeSA testing is moving online, except fourth grade writing, and in situations where a student’s IEP requires a paper-pencil option.

“One of the standardization requirements is that different modalities can’t produce different results,” Breed said, “and what we were finding was that students testing online performed better.”

For some schools and districts, a status indicator (continued on page 3)

FEATURE Commissioner Breed Discusses NePAS (continued from page 2) might be enough. “If your kids come in doing well, if they’re already meeting or exceeding the standards, you just have to keep them there,” Breed said. “But if your kids come to you below the standards, you want to be looking at other indicators like growth and improvement.” When the board decided that multiple indicators would all be used, then a consideration for rank-ordering or weighting the indicators followed, but is not presently part of NePAS. Of course, based on the characteristics in each local school and district, some administrators valued status as the highest, while others valued growth or improvement. In a very small school, for example, an improvement score could be heavily skewed by enrollment changes from year to year, and would have very little to do with any changes in instruction. Growth, which tracks the same students from one grade to the next and compares their individual scale scores, can be very useful for tracking the improvement in the performance of groups of students. However, since there is no way to track growth in the high school grades, graduation rate was added as an additional measure. Breed emphasized that the Board has taken a position that graduation is critical, even if a student takes longer than his or her four-year cohort to do so. “We want to give schools credit for getting students to graduation,” he added.

With all of these indicators, Breed noted, it is of the utmost importance that the meaning of the reports on the performance of public schools and districts be easily and clearly communicated with the public. “One of the things that killed STARS was that it was difficult for the general public to accept that district-based assessments could go through a process where they could be compared to each other—which they could, and could with some psychometric certainty,” Breed mused, “but that’s over now.”

Both growth and improvement require multiple years of data in order to make a valid calculation, and while the legislation states that “the board may establish levels of performance for the indicators used in the accountability system in order to classify the performance of public schools and school districts beginning with the school year 2013-14,” Breed noted that this is a system that will need to be phased in over time, and that NDE cautioned against combining all the measures into one score. The Board subcommittee recommended, therefore, that public reporting would include a display of disaggregated performance indicators at all levels: school, district, and state.

Breed strongly recommended that schools and districts ought to use their disaggregated data to drive their school improvement goals. “Look at your subgroups,” he said, “and use that to shape your continuous improvement strategy. What are the things that you as a community have an ability to do better at, and then, what are the objectives you have that will improve student learn-

ing?” This data will show clear needs, he said, and the question then becomes what the response will be, both by the local district and by the state. Breed emphasized the need for partnership across all levels, saying that he wished NDE had the resources to provide all the supports districts and schools could use. At a baseline, however, he noted that NDE will be helping to support and monitor Continuous Improvement Plans, and added that he hopes the state will be able to lead discussions and help foster relationships with ESUs. One of the challenges in developing a statewide system was defining just what exactly a “school” is under this law. Because facility decisions involving which grades to place in which buildings remain local, it was important to make clear that it was not “school buildings” being identified. Rather, it remains up to the individual districts and communities to determine what, in their unique local environment, constitutes a school. “School buildings implies a concrete structure with certain grades,” Breed explained, “and the reality is that we have more than ten different grade configurations in Nebraska public schools.” Therefore, for accountability purposes, the state will define grades 3-5 as elementary, grades 6-8 as middle, and grades 9-12 as high school.

“In a school district where the third graders might be in a different building than the fourth and fifth graders,” he continued, “it will be up to administrators to communicate the data to their community.”

Though this seemingly semantic issue might be thought to require little consideration, Breed emphasized its importance. “One of the things that the Quality Education Accountability Act set in place was an ability to compare school districts in terms of their levels of performance,” he said. “It’s relatively easy to rank school districts, but when you establish something to rank schools, it was important to come up with a model that would be fair statewide.”

As NePAS nears its public debut, Breed, himself a former superintendent and principal, was adamant that administrators know their data. “Know your data,” he repeated, “and be willing to say ‘we’ve got to do better,’ and be willing to take the steps to get better. It’s no longer acceptable to say ‘that’s just the way it is.’”

On the flip side, as educators, “we can now fact-check the rhetoric,” of politicians, he said, adding that “we can confront critics with data of kids who do well, and with data on growth.”

“This is going to provide data that we hope will be helpful to schools in responding to the learning needs of their students,” Breed said in closing. “It is the position of the State Board and the Department that this data is there to be helpful to improving student learning, no more, no less.” I

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PRO GRAM SP OTL IGHT

Rural Backpack Food Program Makes Lasting Impact

BY JEREMY CHRISTIANSEN, Principal, Central Elementary School, Fairbury

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he combined efforts of businesses, civic organizations, churches, community volunteers, and a school district in southeast Nebraska are making a difference in the lives children and families who too often wonder from where their next meal may come. The Fairbury Community Back Pack Program debuted during the 2010-2011 school year sending home foodfilled backpacks on Thursday afternoons with 74 students. Since that time, local support for the program has flourished through a strong sense of purpose from the community. The Back Pack Program’s mission is to help alleviate child hunger in southeast Nebraska by providing hungry children in Fairbury and surrounding communities with nutritious and easy to prepare food at times when other resources are not available, such as weekends and school vacations.

The Fairbury Back Pack Program began through partnership with the Food Bank of Lincoln and the Feeding America Program.

The Lincoln Food Bank’s Back Pack Program originally began in the 2004-2005 school year by sending home backpacks filled with food each week with 50 kids. Just seven years later, the Food Bank of Lincoln coordinates a regional program that sends 3,000 backpacks home to students each week in 30 Lincoln Public Schools, five Lincoln Catholic Schools and 39 rural communities in Southeast Nebraska. It was through the generous support of a rural expansion grant, funded in part by ConAgra Foods, that a much-needed Back Pack Program could become a reality for hungry children and families in Fairbury in 2010.

The Back Pack Program continues to provide backpacks filled with food to students in need of food over the weekend. The program rotates six different menus throughout the school year. The goal of the Back Pack Program is to supply a student and his or her family with four to five meals per menu.

The program primarily targets students who qualify for their school’s Free Lunch Program. Many of these students rely on their school’s breakfasts and lunches for their most nutritious meals of the day. In some cases, these are their only meals of the day.

These students are then faced with a food crisis over the weekend. The Back Pack Program is a way to help these students and their families until students return to school the next week.

Local Back Pack Program coordinator, Jeremy Christiansen, shares a unique perspective in the Fairbury community’s efforts to 4

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support children and families faced with worries about food and nutrition. Christiansen is also the principal at Central Elementary School in Fairbury and sees first-hand the effects of hunger and poor nutrition on his community’s young children. “Each year we see an increasing number of children and families eligible for free and reduced-price meals under the federal meal program guidelines,” Christiansen observed. “While a large percentage of our students participate in the daily school breakfast and lunch programs, we continue to see students who report limited access to food and meals outside of the school day as well as increased instances of health issues related to nutrition.” Christiansen points to one student as an example of the lasting impact that the local food backpack program has had in Fairbury. Following the administration of a local writing assessment, one of the teachers at Central Elementary School fought to hold back her emotions as she shared one of her student’s responses to the writing prompt, “Tell about your favorite day of the year. It could be a holiday, your birthday or any day that is special and important to you.”

Christiansen then read and clearly understood the significance of the Fairbury Community Back Pack Program:

[Manuscript interpretation: My favorite day of the year is Thursday.

Because on Thursday I get to take the food backpack home for my family. Thank you!]

Communities such as Fairbury that commit to alleviating childhood and family hunger understand that it takes consistent financial support and lasting dedication of many volunteers to make the Back Pack Program happen. The community supports an annual “Bowls for Backpacks” fundraiser that incorporates delicious soup, friendly recipe competition and ceramic bowl artistry. Generous local partners of the Fairbury Community Back Pack Pro(continued on page 5)

AF FIL IATE LEA DERSHIP

The Advantage of Membership

BY DAVE KASLON, Assistant Superintendent, Blair Community Schools

W Kaslon

hether you’re a new administrator or a seasoned veteran, membership in NCSA offers valuable resources for professional educators across Nebraska. When you become part of NCSA you’re immediately connected to a strong network of administrators who can share experiences and resources.

Through targeted professional development and opportunities for service, you’ll gain the knowledge and expertise necessary to be an effective school district leader.

As the demands of school district leadership continue to increase, NCSA can lend support and guidance. Questions can arise involving policy, personnel, finances, or situations that are unique to a particular district. NCSA is your connecting point to finding answers or finding the people who can answer those questions based on past experiences or areas of expertise. Research has shown that administrators who have a strong network of support are more likely to stay in the profession, a factor that is critical for the future leadership of our state.

In addition to the professional benefits of NCSA membership, the personal benefits are just as rewarding and

just as important to our overall health as educators.

Gallup has done research on the importance of having a best friend at work and the impact this has on numerous factors within the workplace. School administration can often be isolating and lonely, and our connection to other friends within the same profession is vital. The friendships developed stretch from east to west and north to south. Larger districts are connected to smaller districts and whether you have an administrative team of one or twenty-one, you have someone to call friend.

Through the connections we make as friends at Administrators’ Days, or when serving together as committee members or officers within the organization, our common goal of providing a quality education for all students continues to thrive. Membership is the driving force behind the quality of services NCSA is able to provide, and through those services, our districts reap the benefits.

I encourage you to extend the hand of friendship to those who are already members of NCSA and reach out to those who would consider joining this group of committed professionals. I

Rural Backpack Food Program…(continued from page 4) gram include the Fairbury Public Schools, Region V Services of Fairbury, the Fairbury Ministerial Association along with several local congregations, the Optimist, Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, Blue Valley Community Action Food Pantry, Ray’s AppleMarket, Schroeder’s Family Foods, Walmart, the Fairbury PTA, community service organizations, sororities, Fairbury High School Student Council, Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America, Fairbury LIFE Program students, local businesses, foundations, endowments, numerous individual donors, and many more.

Although the Back Pack Program serves many local children and their families, Christiansen and the program’s Fairbury supporters recognize the need is great and there are still more hungry children in their community. “The number of qualifying children and families continues to grow. It’s estimated that nearly 60% of our local youth population will be eligible to participate this coming school year. Our goal is to ensure that no child in Fairbury, Nebraska goes hungry!” To learn more about the Fairbury Community Back Pack Program and the Food Bank

of Lincoln’s regional Food Back Pack Program, contact Jeremy Christiansen in the Fairbury Public Schools (jchristiansen@fair buryjeffs.org) or Alynn Sampson with the Lincoln Food Bank (asampson@lincolnfoodbank.org). I

Members of a local 4H Club as well as a church youth group are shown volunteering at a Meal Pack Event held once every six weeks to organize and prepare the weekly menu items for delivery and distribution to participating children.

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HEA LTH CARE

HRA Equals Savings for Both District and Employees

BY MIKE BODEN, National Insurance Services

A

723-employee school district was paying out an average of $1,260,000 per year in accumulated unused sick leave and accrued vacation as an early retirement incentive to their teachers. The IRS considers the disbursed checks as normal payroll; therefore, the district had to shell out an additional 7.65 percent FICA tax that cost another $96,360. The incentive also lost value for the teachers because it was subject to withholding tax in their current tax bracket.

The district’s Business Manager attended a seminar where she learned that if she deposited the incentive into an HRA (Health Reimbursement Arrangement) instead of normal payroll, it would result in a win-win situation for the district and the employees.

In addition to the district saving over $96,000 in FICA tax, the retiring teachers received the full amount of the incentive without the normal tax withholdings. In some cases this change resulted in savings of as much as $10,000 to $15,000 for the retiring employee. The teachers were also pleased to learn that the funds roll over every year and accrue interest because there is no “use it or lose it” provision.

The retiring teachers at this particular district can now use the HRA funds not only to pay for their medical expenses, co-pays and deductibles; but also premium payments on their retiree medical insurance as well as medicare supplemental insurance. There are no requirements that prevent them from qualifying, such as being covered by a high-deductible medical plan, nor is the plan contingent upon a spouse’s access to a certain type of medical plan or Flex Spend Account as there is with an HSA (Health Savings Account).

What is an HRA? An HRA is an employer-established account used to pay for an employee’s eligible medical expenses and premiums on a tax-free basis. The funds in these accounts roll over annually; therefore, monies are not forfeited. Additionally, these plans serve to increase an employee’s responsibility for and ownership of medical expenses and savings.

What Can an HRA Be Used For? HRA’s have helped hundreds of school districts and educators save by: • Providing incentives for employees to retiree early.

• Using an HRA to pay early retiree incentives or time-ofseparation pay.

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• Requiring new hires to participate in higher deductible medical insurance plans with HRAs while leaving other employees on more traditional plans.

• Steering employees toward the higher deductible and possibly more sustainable medical plans (such as the EHA Dual Choice Plan) by offering an HRA as an incentive.

• Promoting consumerism in health care decisions.

HRA Advantages There are many advantages for school districts to use an HRA including: • No FICA Tax. The district and employee each permanently save 7.65%.

• Tax-Free Use of Funds. The HRA is used to pay for eligible medical expenses and funds are not subject to income tax.

• Interest. Account balances accrue compounding tax-free interest.

• No Penalties. Funds can be accessed for eligible medical related expenditures and premiums at any time without penalty (subject to the district defined vesting schedule).

• Investment Choices. Choose from Fixed-Interest or Variable Investment options.

Use an HRA to Pay your Early Retiree Incentives at Time-of-Separation Pay Paying for accumulated sick leave, unused vacation pay, payments based on years of service or other retirement incentives can take a big chunk out of a district’s overall budget. Funds earmarked for these purposes can be directed to an HRA and payroll taxes can be avoided by both the employee and the employer.

Use an HRA with a High Deductible Health Plan Districts can use an HRA alongside the new EHA Dual Choice option as an incentive for employees to elect the higher deductible plans. Often, districts will provide an HRA in the amount equal or close to the increase in deductible. Depending on the health needs of the plan member, this could be a wash or, in many cases, a better option for the employee by allowing him/her to create a nest egg for future medical expenses.

Some districts have also considered making a higher deductible plan a requirement for all new employees and using an HRA along(continued on page 14)

PARTNERSHIP

Nebraska Partnership for Learning (NPL)

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hirty schools representing fifteen school districts participated in year one of the pilot program initiated through the partnering efforts of the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Council of School Administrators. The program focused on the improvement of student learning through: the application of research and best practice; use of student performance data; and collaborative support.

Schools were paired and provided the opportunity to work together and to focus on activities and opportunities that can improve student learning. The first year of NPL pilot included direct school-to-school visits, visits via distance learning technology, and meetings in which all schools participated. Schools were accountable to each other, shared, analyzed their student data, and discussed their use of research-based strategies. Feedback from participants suggested that one of the most important features of NPL was the time allowed for professional educators to share in an open and honest

exchange of ideas to improve schools and enhance student achievement.

Michael Fullan stated, “the key to system-wide success is to situate the energy of educators and students as the central driving force.”

NPL believes that the first year has been successful and schools are looking forward to year two of the pilot.

We plan to include a future article that will highlight schools participating in the program. A survey of year one is currently being reviewed with the results to assist in planning year two activities. As we continue to assess the merits of the NPL pilot, decisions will be made that may include program continuation with the current schools in addition to the expansion of the program to include new schools.

The Nebraska Partnership for Learning is under the direction of Freida Lange at the Nebraska Department of Education. I

2012 Administrators’ Days

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on’t miss out on these great Keynote sessions at Administrators’ Days this year. Registration is open at http://ncsa.org

Thursday, July 26th 8:30 am to 9:30 am Mike Schmoker is a former school administrator, English teacher, and football coach. He has written five books and dozens of articles for educational journals, newspapers and for TIME magazine.

He also writes a monthly column for the Phi Delta Kappan. His most recent book is the best-selling FOCUS: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning. His previous bestseller is RESULTS NOW, which was selected as a finalist for “book of the year” by the Association of Education Publishers. Dr. Schmoker has keynoted at hundreds of state, national and international events and has consulted for school districts and state and provincial education departments throughout the US, Canada and Australia.

Thursday, July 26th 2:15 pm to 3:00 pm Larry Bell is a 25-year veteran in education. Fifteen of those years were spent as a classroom teacher where he was nominated for the National Agnes Mayer Outstanding Teacher Award. Larry, who taught at Garfield High School, a school with over 3,000 students speaking 36 different languages, was recognized for his innovative classroom strategies that allowed his so-called “Tough Kids” as

well as his “Gifted and Talented” to excel! For seven years, Larry Bell served as the Supervisor of Multicultural Education for Prince William County which meant providing hands-on workshops for teachers and students in 67 schools with 3000+ teachers and 50,000 students.

Friday, July 27th 9:30 am to 10:30 am Operation Rising Eagle - At 5:41 pm on Sunday, May 22, 2011, Joplin, Missouri was struck by a horrific EF-5 tornado. The Joplin area schools suffered casualties and major facility damage. Seven students and one staff member lost their lives. Joplin Schools began responding immediately. We are pleased to welcome administrators from Joplin Public Schools to share their story of healing and recovery.

Friday, July 27th 10:45 am to 11:45 am Murray Banks is an honored educator, a world-champion athlete, and has been a speaker and trainer for the past 27 years. He knows how to craft and deliver an inspirational presentation for school leaders that will be loaded with practical skills, engaging stories, and hilarious visuals! We can also expect a heartwarming story about Murray’s teaching experience in a small rural Vermont school and how that has influenced his work with educators throughout North America. I SUMMER 2012

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INVOLVEMENT

Retirement – An Opportunity to Stay Involved

BY ROBERT L. (BOB) BUSSMANN, President, NARSA re-tire-ment n : an act of retiring : the state of being retired; esp: withdrawal from one’s position or occupation (definition found in Webster’s New Students Dictionary that I readily used for many years as a classroom teacher, an administrator, and now as a retired educator for the past nine years)

P

ersonally, I take issue with Webster’s characterization of “withdrawal from one’s position or occupation.” I tend to see it more as a redirection of life’s journey with the belief that “once an educator; always an educator.”

Bussmann Within this article I would like to focus on those NCSA members throughout the state retiring this spring as well as the new administrators that will be replacing these retirees.

When one retires, there is often the thought that it’s the time to kick back, enjoy the lake cabin, the golf course, the backyard or nearby park, travel to far away places, and much more. Yes, these are some of the ventures one can take advantage of in retirement; but, there is also the opportunity to continue to be involved in your profession by being a member of the Nebraska Association of Retired School Administrators (NARSA).

Your benefits in becoming a NARSA member include receiving NCSA Today and Legislative Updates, paying “meal only” charges for NCSA Conferences, having an advocate at national and state levels on legislation, and paying Fiscal responsibility is only half of the annual “Special Services” dues amount for EHA. important to all of us (Special dues are charged to and I believe there are continue your EHA Blue many benefits gained Cross/Blue Shield Health coverage after retirement, up to age for the investment in 66.) professional Your opportunities in becoming a NARSA member include: to development for our keep current with educational isschool principals and sues and legislation; to continue administrators as supporting the profession; to maintain long-standing friendeducational leaders. ships; to continue representa-

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tion on affiliate executive boards; to provide representation on NCSA Standing Committees; and to consult on behalf of NCSA (i.e. seminars, workshops, task forces, mentoring programs, and member services).

NARSA events during the year include a reception during Administrators’ Days in Kearney as well as fall and spring social events.

The NARSA Executive Board consists of three NARSA members from each of the five member active associations of NCSA. Board members serve a term of three years and may be elected to a second term of office. The 15member board meets three times during the year. As NARSA President, I serve as a member of the NCSA Executive Board.

NARSA is the largest NCSA affiliate for which we are grateful to the present membership of 660-plus. NARSA membership is available to retired administrators for a one-time fee of $200 for life membership. We hope you consider joining your retired colleagues in NARSA. To the 2012 retiring administrators we offer our heartfelt “Congratulations” upon your retirement and a special thanks for your years of dedicated service to the students, staff, and patrons throughout the state of Nebraska.

As the school bells ring in late summer and early fall, there will be a transition taking place as many new administrators throughout the state will be filling the vacancies left by the retirees. Many will be first-time administrators and NARSA extends a warm “Welcome” to them and wish them well in their new position throughout the upcoming 2012-2013 school year.

I would ask present NCSA members in your support of these new administrators to encourage their membership and involvement in NCSA through their respective affiliate associations. Fiscal responsibility is important to all of us and I believe there are many benefits gained for the investment in professional development for our school principals and administrators as educational leaders.

NCSA provides professional development opportunities that allow principals and administrators to improve leadership skills and stay on the cutting edge as an educational leader. (continued on page 15)

RETIREMENT

NCSA Honors Retirees

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ach year NCSA is sad to lose but happy to congratulate those educators who are leaving the profession due to their long-deserved retirement. We are honored to share with you a glimpse of their future plans or just a bit of advice that only those who have worked with children and parents for so long can give!

Mike Aerni Fremont Public Schools Washington Elementary Thanks to those who have led me along the way. Congratulations to all of my fellow retirees.

Larry Babcock Elm Creek Public Schools It has been great working with many of you over the years! Keep up the good work. I/we will still be living in Elm Creek, so stop in sometime and say hello!

Fred Boelter Creighton Community Public Schools I have immensely enjoyed my many years in education. Thanks to NCSA for all you do. Best wishes to each of you.

Roger Boyer Wilcox-Hildreth Public Schools Thanks to all of my colleagues for the great memories and for their continued efforts and dedication in educating our youth.

Mary Campbell Lincoln Public Schools It has been my privilege to teach in the LPS System early in my career and to end my career with service on the Executive Committee for the District. All best wishes to all of you who do so much for the future of Nebraska’s children.

Sally Carlson Aurora Public Schools I will miss my interactions with staff and students as Aurora, but I am looking forward to working as an independent contractor with the Nebraska Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBiS) program at NDE. Chuck Chevalier South Sarpy Dist. 46 I have been truly honored to have served the state’s education system with so many great teachers and fellow administrators. I appreciate my association with NCSA since 1986, and I hope that I have done at least a little to make success for kids more of a reality. I want to thank all those who have helped me on my way, and I appreciate your patience with me.

Keep fighting the battle to make our state’s education system the best in the country.

Pam Cohn Omaha Public Schools Marrs Magnet Center It has been a wonderful run. My heart has been permanently imprinted by all the students and colleagues I have worked with these many years. I am looking forward to starting the next chapter of my life.

Richard Collura Lincoln Public Schools Lincoln Northeast High School My dad modeled a compassion for working with the youth in our community. I hope, in some small way that I can have done the same.

George Conrad DC West Community Schools The 37½ years of being a Nebraska private and public school educator have been highly rewarding. It’s been rewarding not only because of all the students I have come to know, but because of the great friendships I’ve been able to establish with administrators and educators across the state. I am honored to count myself within the ranks of high-quality administrators and will cherish my friendships as I reflect on my life and career!

Kimberley Cooper North Platte Public Schools Best wishes to all the wonderful friends I have made through NASES!

Jacquie Estee Westside Community Schools It has been a privilege to serve with great educators across the state over the last forty years. I am thankful to have been part of so many people coming together to meet the needs of Nebraska students and families. The dedication, innovation, relationship building, and passion for student learning of my colleagues has made a positive difference for students and will be needed more than ever to address the challenges and opportunities ahead. Thank you for being an important part of what makes Nebraska great!

SUMMER 2012

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RETIREMENT Gail Formanack Omaha Public Schools I have enjoyed my work with curriculum in the central office and have appreciated the collegiality of others in school administration.

Kate Fullerton Cody-Kilgore Unified Schools What a career I have had in my dream profession! It doesn’t get any better than having the opportunity to work with and for students and staff on a daily basis.

Coming from MA, I chose to live and work in a small rural community. My husband and I have three grown children that are the light of our lives. I have learned over the years that relationships matter the most. I have cultivated lifelong friendships and have been blessed to know the support of so many colleagues. Thank you.

Tom Hain Hershey Public Schools NCSA and the individual affiliates are great organizations. I encourage all members to not only become an active member, but also seek a leadership role.

Being a member the past 31 years, I have learned a great deal from colleagues and developed great friendships. I appreciated all the hard work the NCSA staff has done over the years to make the organization so successful and helpful to its members.

Alan Harms Wisner-Pilger Public Schools Thank you for all of your help and support over the years. I have very much appreciated my association with professional organizations. The networking that occurred at conferences, conventions, and meetings proved to be invaluable.

Terry Hazard Hyannis Area Schools & Cody-Kilgore Public Schools It is hard to believe that it is “retirement time.” I will miss the “kids”, staff, and colleagues. Tough decisions become easy when we remember to do what is best for students.

Linda Horton Millard Public Schools It has been a professional and personal pleasure to have been associated with other Nebraska school administrators. I learned so much from my association with others in this organization. Most of all I value the mentoring and the opportunity to mentor others over the past 27 years.

Barb Jacobson Lincoln Public Schools I have enjoyed working with so many of you over the years. Your commitment to students and their learning is truly remarkable.

Thanks for letting me be part of the journey.

Tom Jahde David City Public Schools Bellwood Attendance Center Looking forward to every day being Saturday.

Penny Jans Milford Public Schools I am so thankful for having experienced such an “inexplicably wonderful career.”

Please note: The NCSA staff made every effort to include all those individuals who responded to our request for information on retirements.

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Lori Jasa Millard Public Schools Kiewit Middle School It has been a privilege to be an educator in Nebraska for 35 years, and I have had many memorable experiences. From my early days in the classroom in Waterloo, Nebraska to my current administrative position in Millard, I have been blessed to work with wonderful students, parents, and staff.

Jim Jeffres Ogallala Public Schools Prairie View Elementary I have appreciated the collegiality of the members of NCSA over my career. The benefits of networking can never be overstated. I count many NCSA members as my friends and I will miss them.

Doug Jensen Grand Island G.I. Senior High School It has been my pleasure to be part of the school community for the past 40 years. Administratively supported by NCSA for 25 years as I was allowed to work in a progressive and rewarding career. I wish only the best for the State of Nebraska School Administrators as they move our state forward.

Laurie Kimbrough HTRS Public Schools What a fantastic career of which to have been a part.

I have appreciated the support of all my fellow administrators during my 35 years in education.

Bill Kuester Nebraska Unified #1 A special thanks to NCSA and school administrators for their support during my 39 years in education. I look forward to spending more time traveling and visiting grandchildren.

RETIREMENT Byron McCune Fremont Public Schools Clarmar Elementary School When looking back at my 39 years in education, I can honestly say that I could not have picked a better occupation. Thank you to a great team of colleagues and friends that continues to make a difference in so many lives. I am excited about spending more time with my family, friends, and most importantly, my grandchildren.

John McGill Papillion-LaVista Public Schools Papillion Junior High School I am grateful for the mentors and amazing people I have worked with for the last 33 years. My hope for all of you is to look back when your time comes and realize how rich your life has been because you chose to be an educator.

Rosemary Molvar Lincoln Public Schools Campbell Elementary School I feel so fortunate to have served as a teacher and principal for 42 years in the Lincoln Public Schools. As you know, this is an incredibly challenging but satisfying profession. I’ve been energized by the sense of mission among you, my colleagues, and I wish you well as you continue your pursuit of what matters most for kids.

Marilyn Moore Lincoln Public Schools Thanks for being my colleagues in this significant work – the education of all of the children of all of the people. Stay the course; speak for children.

Dennis Moore Ralston Public Schools Blumfield Elementary School Working at Cozad, EustisFarnam, and Ralston schools has been a fulfilling experience. I look forward to my part-time job of working for NPBiS through the Department of Education.

Bill Mowinkel Northwest Public Schools It has been a great career.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

Dan Mussmann Ralston Public Schools Ralston High School It’s been an outstanding 34 years. I have been able to work with and learn from so many close friends and colleagues. I taught 10 years as an elementary classroom teach, 9 years as a middle school physical education teacher, 7 years as a middle school assistant principal, and the last 8 years as Ralston’s High school assistant principal/athletic director.

Rich Patton Laurel-Concord & Coleridge Public Schools I am on the brink of completing 37 years in this profession. Although it has been difficult at times, it has also been miraculous. I have been blessed to spend a lifetime of labor helping others and forming many wonderful relationships. Rather than words of advice, I will give words of encouragement. Do what is best for others,

but also take good care of yourself. You cannot help others and you are not a good role model for children if you neglect yourself. Treasure all those special moments of our work. The times when the face of a child lights up or a moment makes you laugh or a student is comforted or a child looks at you asking what is right…these moments are numerous and they happen daily. Do not get discouraged by the demands and disappointments of this challenging, seemingly impossible endeavor.

Work to build a career that can be remembered with satisfaction, pride, and joy. Our work is rarely acclaimed but momentous.

Kris Reckewey Lincoln Public Schools Eastridge Elementary School It has been an honor to work with people who live their mission through their daily work, who give so much, and who are a ton of fun. Even though I am off to new adventures, you will all be in my prayers as you carry on your very important work.

Len Sagenbrecht Millard Public Schools Russell Middle School After 42 years as a professional educator (including 14 years an administrator), I have learned that helping students achieve learning success is a primary goal.

However, I have come to realize more and more the value of keeping in mind that not everyone learns in the same way nor at the same pace. It is easy to forget that in the hubbub of the classroom setting. Secondly, I have learned as an administrator that while students certainly come first, staff better be a close “second.” It’s been a great career. Millard Public Schools has helped me cap off that career!

Not pictured, but also retiring: Lynda Baumbach, McCook Public Schools, North Ward Elementary Sue Burch, Grand Island Public Schools Pam DePorte, Omaha Public Schools Cindy Osterloh, Louisville Public Schools, Louisville High School Jerry Riibe, Ralston Public Schools Kathy Ryan, Millard Public Schools, Millard West High School SUMMER 2012

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RETIREMENT Joe Sajevic Fremont Public Schools Fremont Senior High School Best of luck in continuing to provide the students of Nebraska the very best educational opportunities available. The job hasn’t become any easier over the years, but still continues to be one of the most rewarding, fulfilling, challenging careers as well as one of the most important responsibilities we have. I’ve enjoyed the ride!

Tom Sandberg Axtell Community Schools To all the friends and colleagues I have met over the years I want to say thank you for your help and camaraderie. This is an amazing profession in that school administrators I have worked with have always been willing to share the best of what they have on what works as well as pitfalls to avoid. Carry on!

Dan Schiefelbein Doniphan-Trumbull Public Schools Doniphan-Trumbull Jr Sr High I want to thank all of my colleagues for their help in making the past 30 years a wonderful experience. I’ve greatly enjoyed working with other administrative colleagues through the years. Best of luck to all of you in your continuing years.

Al Schneider ESU #5 I hope that you enjoy your time in education as much as I have.

Mark Shields Millard Public Schools Harry Anderson Middle School It has been a wonderful experience working with so many great students, teachers, and fellow administrators. Looking forward to the new adventures in our life this change will allow.

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Stan Sibley Wauneta-Palisade Public Schools Like many of you, I have spent my working life expanding learning opportunities for kids and nurturing the careers of teachers and other staff. It has been a pleasure being associated with you. Best wishes in the struggle.

Bill Thurmond Lincoln Public Schools Norwood Park Elementary

Phyllis Uchtman Westside Community Schools It has been an honor and a pleasure to start and end my career in Nebraska schools where public education is among the best in the nation. When I look at the talented people working in our schools. I am thankful that my grandchildren will benefit from their gifts just as my children did.

Darrell Vitosh Diller-Odell Public Schools To all the wonderful people that have surrounded me these many years, Thank You. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support. I thank many of you for your unwavering sense of humor. I hope that these relationships will continue.

Dallas Watkins Dundy County-Stratton Public Schools Education is a profession that is energized and reliant upon people; it is not something that is singularly defined or a mold that is absolute. The creativity, ingenuity and wonderful personalities within it have made my 35 years the greatest of journeys. I am thankful to have been able to work with so many of you; the memories will be longlasting.

Nancy Whitney Elkhorn Public Schools Looking forward to new adventures and challenges!

Will always look back on my teaching days as the best and so rewarding!

Evan Wieseman Shickley Public Schools More than anything, I have enjoyed the relationships I have had with my colleagues.

Steve Wilson Logan View Public Schools I have enjoyed working with many talented, passionate educators over the course of my 32-year career in education (most of which were in school administration). I still remember my first Administrators’ Days when I was in awe of the veteran administrators and their stories they shared! That time has gone quickly!

Norm Yoder Heartland Community Schools Thanks to all the NASA members for their support and encouragement over the past years. Keep supporting NCSA, it is a quality organization that does an outstanding job representing our profession.

Dick Zarkowski Alliance Public Schools Alliance High School NCSA has been a phenomenal organization, and I wish the very best for the friends that I have had the privilege to serve with during my nearly 40 years as a teacher and administrator. I wish you all the best. ZARK

ACHIEVEMENTS

NSASSP Announces 2012 High School and Middle School Principal of the Year

T Denker

Cudly

he Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals is proud to recognize Mr. Chad Denker, Principal at Seward High School, as the 2012 MetLife/NASSP Nebraska High School Principal of the Year.

Mr. Chad Denker was selected to represent Nebraska as the High School Principal of the Year. Chad received his education from Doane College (Bachelor of Science in Math, Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, and a Masters in Educational Leadership) and is working on his Specialist’s Degree through the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Mr. Denker has served as a practicing school administrator for the past 11 years serving as Principal at Kimball High School from 2002 to 2007 and at Seward High school since 2007. Prior to that, Chad was a classroom instructor at Crete Jr./Sr. High School.

Mr. Denker is active in many professional organizations and community leadership positions such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, and the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals, where he has served as the Region V president and as Region I Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President. Chad has also served on the NCSA Legislative Committee and Administrators’ Days Planning Committee. He has also served as Coordinator and Board Member for the TeamMates Mentoring Program, Vice President of the Kiwanis Club, and as a member of the Seward County Young Professionals, St. John Lutheran Church, and the Doane College Alumni Council.

Mr. Denker has several other honors, including the NSASSP Region I Principal of the Year, Region V New Principal of the Year, and TeamMates Southeast Region Coordinator of the Year. He has also been a presenter at several state and area events.

Mr. Greg Barnes, Superintendent of Seward Public Schools, states: “Mr. Denker’s focus has been on the students in our high school. He is continuously dedicated to improving instruction and providing opportunities for all students to learn.” Steve Borer, Activities Director at Seward, says: “Mr. Denker has done a superb job in his position. He is a hard worker and is willing to put in whatever hours it takes to get the job done.” Clark Kolerman, English Instructor at Seward High school states:

“Mr. Denker is a professional and always places others first, as he promotes personal excellence in his office, his students and the people he works with throughout the high school at all levels.” Sandy Wright, President of the Seward TeamMates Program comments: “Chad came to Seward replacing a retiring, long-time and much-loved Principal. Those were big shoes to fill indeed. He quickly demonstrated his professional dedication and was able to motivate and unify the teaching staff, administrators, patrons, and most of all his students to strive for excellence in the educational experience.”

Mr. Denker will receive his award at the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals State Conference and with his selection, will be eligible for consideration for the 2012 Metlife/NASSP National High School Principal of the Year.

Mr. Brent Cudly was selected to represent Nebraska as the Middle School Principal of the Year for the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals. Brent received his education from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision).

Brent has been in his current position at Arlington Public Schools since 2006. His previous educational experience includes teaching social studies at Fremont High School from 2002 to 2006.

Mr. Cudly is active in many professional organizations such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Middle School Association, and the Nebraska Association for Middle Level Education. He is an active member of the TeamMates program, serving as the current on the board and is the NSAA District II Middle Level Representative. Brent is also a liaison to the Arlington Booster Club Board, member of the First United Methodist Church, and a volunteer with Arlington Youth Sports.

Mr. Cudly was honored as the Region II Middle School Principal of the Year for 2011-2012. Brent has been a presenter at NCSA Administrators’ Days, the NSASSP State (continued on page 20) SUMMER 2012

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ELECTION RESULTS

NCSA Election Results

W Tracy

Ackerman

Janssen

Tonniges

Teahon

e are pleased to honor those members that have been elected by their peers and colleagues to serve as their respective affiliate president-elects for the 2012-2013 year. We feel extremely fortunate to have highly qualified and worthy individuals that participated in each election and wish to say thanks for those individuals willing to run for leadership positions. To be elected by your peers is certainly noteworthy and now these newly elected individuals will have the opportunity to serve and lead school administrators across the state.

In addition to their roles and responsibilities for their respective affiliates they also will begin as members of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators Executive Board, with official duties to begin on September 1, 2012.

We wish to congratulate and welcome the following new President-Elects: • NASES – Brenda Tracy, Special Education Director, Norris School District 160 • NASBO – Kelli Ackerman, Business Manager, Holdrege Public Schools • NAESP – Mike Janssen, Principal, Blair Arbor Park Middle School • NSASSP – Brian Tonniges, Principal, York Middle School • NASA – Mike Teahon, Superintendent, Gothenburg Public Schools In addition, we are excited to introduce the 2012-13 Chair and Vice Chair of the NCSA Executive Board.

• Chair – Dave Kaslon, Blair Community Schools • Vice Chair – Greg Barnes, Seward Public Schools I Kaslon

Barnes

HRA Equals Savings (continued from page 6) side the health plan. Depending on the district’s situation, this could prove to be a financially sustainable option.

Consumerism in Health Care Spending When using an HRA alongside an employer sponsored health plan, perhaps one of the greatest by-products is “consumerism.”

Americans tend to be savvy consumers of products and services except when it comes to medical services. This lack of consumerism can create runaway claims and drive premium increases. Experts agree that to reduce costs, organizations must encourage prudent medical utilization.

Using an HRA encourages consumerism because the plan member has financial “skin” in the game. Traditional medical insurance plans do very little to encourage a consumer-focused approach in medical care spending. High deductible health plans support smarter health care spending by encouraging plan members to shop for the best pharmacy prices, choose lower cost providers, eliminate duplicate tests and consider physician-recommended alternative treatment.

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Considerations When Negotiating an HRA • Compare Provider Fees. Most plans have a small fee associated with it that may include reimbursement and administration fees.

• Vesting Choices. Choose a plan with vesting options. One size doesn’t fit all. While immediate vesting is important in one particular application, it may not be relevant in another application. Look for a program that allows all three types of vesting: immediate, cliff and step-vesting.

• Choose a Provider with Public-Sector HRA Experience. An HRA for a corporation is very different than an HRA for a school district. Choose a provider who has the public sector experience you need.

Affording health care is the number one concern of retirees.

HRAs can help ease some of that worry and make it easier for employees to retire, saving valuable taxpayer funds and healing wounded budgets. I

ACHIEVEMENTS

NASES Distinguished Service Award

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r. Daryl Wilcox is the 2012 recipient of the NASES Distinguished Service Award. She started her career at Baker University, the oldest institution of higher education in Kansas, where she earned a bachelors degree in elementary education.

She taught at Douglas County, KS for 25 years during the time of school consolidations. She went back to school and got a Masters in Mental Retardation at KU. Then she taught for a short time at Lawrence High School before leaving for Colorado’s Western State College where she Stuart Clark, President, NASES, taught Special Education for and Dr. Daryl Wilcox 10 years (1974-84).

She went back to Kansas and got her EdD at KU in Learning Disabilities. She then went to Minot State University three years before moving on to Texas A&M at Prairie View and worked as a professor of Special Education and Administrator in charge of 27 education programs. She came to WSC in 1993 (she’s currently in her 19th year). She has had over 100 advisees each year since 1996.

During the past 19 years she has been a consultant and innovator to the programs in Northeast Nebraska.

Specifically, she consulted at Walthill and helped them implement the TOWER© and EDITS© programs she created. Currently she is the owner of Board O’ Trade™, a tool to teach students to identify coins up to $1. She also worked extensively with Winnebago Public Schools on their ”Science Through Native Legends” program and three years on a math exam. That exam ended up being approved by the Buros Institute of Mental Measurements.

Dr. Wilcox has also served on several area boards including the ESU #1 Board. She is currently the Vice President of the Board of Haven House, a domestic shelter in Wayne, NE, and she just came off the board of Nebraska Coalition of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence.

In addition, she has raised two grandchildren on her own. Her granddaughter recently graduated from WSC in business and her grandson works for Awards Unlimited (he knew she won before she did).

Daryl has long been and continues to be a positive force in Special Education in Northeast Nebraska. She is a NASES member and often attends our events. She is a tireless worker and advocate for students with disabilities and anyone who is in need. Humble to the core, she is not interested in awards, only that her students become successful advocates for students in their own right. I

Retirement – An Opportunity to Stay Involved (continued from page 8) The expanded role of technology has made the profession and role of school administrators different than what I experienced. The ever-changing environment means that principals and administrators have to continuously adjust to new education technologies and strategies. Personal growth and professionalism includes growth with one’s community of peers. NCSA allows individuals to come together and learn from the expertise of each other in addition to the opportunity to participate in professional development activities with state and national experts. In my 35 years of service in public schools, membership and involvement was crucial to my career. Administrators,

who do not belong to a professional association, are not receiving information on legislative changes, legal changes and professional development. All services provided efficiently and effectively by NCSA. Whether your district is supportive of paying the membership fees for principals and administrators or if payment is your responsibility, the cost associated is truly an investment in education and leadership and I am convinced that the children of your district will benefit by a positive and productive learning experience. I

SUMMER 2012

NCSA TODAY 15

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NCSA REPORT

Response to Change Keeps Schools at the Top of their Class

BY DR. MIKE DULANEY, Executive Director; and DR. DAN ERNST, Associate Executive Director

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Dulaney

Ernst

e would like to begin by extending our most sincere congratulations to NCSA members that are retiring at the end of the current contract year.

This year’s retiree group may be one of the largest in number in recent times. Please take the time to review the “retiree” section in this edition of NCSA Today. You will learn a little about each retiree and their career.

More importantly you will be impressed by the tremendous dedication to the administrative profession and appreciate the talent and years of service that this group has provided for Nebraska schools and students.

We thank them for their dedication and commitment to NCSA, and their leadership in Nebraska schools. They will be missed but not forgotten as they truly have made a difference in the lives of many! Congratulations on a job well done. We wish each of you the best in retirement.

Each year when administrators retire it is not long before the attention of our schools must turn to the orientation and indoctrination of the new administrators and staff in an effort to sustain quality education and excellence. We are reminded of the Charles Darwin quote, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”

Schools must be and will be responsive to change.

Schools are faced with many changes and challenges each and every year. The following table represents how the numbers in the positions of school superintendent and ESU administrators have changed beginning with the 2007-08 school year. The bulleted comments below represent some of the more interesting considerations.

• With 251 Nebraska school districts, the data suggests that up to 88 percent of Nebraska school districts may have elected new superintendents in the past six years. (We know this number is skewed to some extent as some districts have changed superintendents multiple times in recent years).

• 49 percent of the superintendent changes were filled with the selection of superintendents beginning their initial assignment as a superintendent.

• 10 percent of the superintendent changes were filled with the selection of superintendents that were experienced as a superintendent but was their first assignment in Nebraska.

• 12 percent of the superintendent changes were filled with the selection of superintendents that were returning to the superintendent position. This group would include those that have retired and returned, left the position of superintendent and returned, or those that accepted an interim superintendent position.

• 59 percent of our superintendents are new or new to Nebraska (in the last six years) We understand and appreciate the fact that the data in the table is not exact. We can cite examples of individuals that can be represented in multiple categories.

However, our purpose is to represent the ever-changing nature of the education. Our goal is to assist our new administrators to be successful and to encourage all NCSA members to reflect and honor the past and to move forward and lead with clear purpose and passion. We close with one final salute to our retirees and an additional salute to those with the desire and courage to lead in the future. I

Superintendent and ESU Administrator Information (Openings) 2007-08 through 2012-13

Supt. / ESU Openings Initial Supt. Assignment Experienced, New to Nebraska Experienced, Return to Supt. Position New ESU Administrators

2007-08 47 23 0 5 0

2008-09 25 21 3 1 1

2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Totals 33 42 40 36 223 13 17 23 13 110 5 5 3 6 22 3 5 7 5 26 1 1 2 1 6 SUMMER 2012

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SCHOOL CONS TRUCTION

When is the Time Right?

BY DAVE RAYMOND and DENNY VAN HORN, TRANE

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hen is the time right for implementing facilities renovations? It would seem the answer to this question is simple; the time is right when the need exists. It would be nice if the answer where that simple. However, there are many factors that impact the answer to the question making it a difficult and complicated decision.

One could say that when the stars and the planets are in alignment, the time is right. Short of having NCSA offer training in astrology, superintendents must weigh many factors when making a decision about approaching their boards with discussions of facilities improvement projects.

Obviously, need is the instigator for making facilities upgrade decisions and moves. Many factors may drive need including, but not limited to: age and wear and tear, growing or excessive maintenance cost, decreasing or insufficient functionality, need to decrease annual operating costs, and desire to improve the learning environment.

The “way we do school” evolves thus driving the need for facilities changes. More time is spent in classrooms, computers are more prevalent, students with health needs that previously wouldn’t have been in public schools are now attending and allergies among staff and students are on the increase. Facilities standards are modified, i.e. codes, rules related to accessibility and hazardous materials, elimination of previously accepted technology like incandescent lighting or magnetic ballasts and T-12 fluorescent lights, and increased standards for fresh air. These factors are tangible and provide their own justification for need and timing of facilities upgrades. However, they do not stand on their own as need must be followed with the funding to accomplish the necessary facility upgrades.

The other factors impacting the timing of investment in facilities upgrades are not nearly as straight forward and tangible.

Consideration of these factors is absolutely critical as the first step in determining whether the “time is right.”

Consider a few of the other factors that impact the decision.

At the top of the list has to be the will of the board of education.

Are they at a point where, at the very least, they are open minded about the potential for investing dollars in making facility upgrades? Their will starts with an understanding of the importance facilities have on teaching and learning. Even though the research has drawn a very clear connection between the physical learning environment and achievement, not all board members have knowledge of or have bought into the research. Beyond the board members, there are those constituents that have the men-

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tality of, “if it was good enough for grandpa, its good enough for today’s kids.”

Another factor impacting timing is the availability of and costs of obtaining funding. Nebraska school finance has school administrators and boards of education forced into funding facilities upgrades in competition with the funding of teacher salaries, textbooks, computers and other budget expenditures under the levy lid. The funding source has become the Qualified Capital Purposes Undertaking Fund (more affectionately know as QCPUF) for many qualified facilities upgrades. Issuing QCPUF bonds, for up to 10 years, requires a simple majority vote of the board of education and the up to .052 cents of levy for annual debt service is exempt from the levy lid. With the current cost of borrowing money using QCPUF bonds (2.5 – 3%), one could easily draw the conclusion that from the funding perspective now is the time. It makes absolute sense from a purely business perspective, but that doesn’t mean it will make sense or be justified to board members or their constituents.

The state of the construction industry is also a factor that can impact the timing decision. Is the industry up or down. Are contractors hungry for work or are they as busy as they need to be.

The old economics 101 axiom of demand drives cost is certainly true of the construction industry. Currently the demand remains, in most areas of the state, low meaning that contractors are sharpening their pencils and shaving their margins to be as competitive as possible. Their goal is to keep their people busy and weather the current economic storm by getting any work they can.

Every district, superintendent, and board of education face their own realities when making decisions about major expenditures for upgrading facilities. We are fortunate in Nebraska to have superintendents and boards of education that are able to sort out those realities and make decisions based on the best interest of their students and communities.

From many perspectives, the time is right for facilities upgrades. Low interest costs, competitive construction bidding environment and the need are all present at the current time. It may be that the heavenly bodies are aligned to make this the right time. However, the question remains when is it the “right time” for your district? I

PRO GRAM SP OTL IGHT

In Nebraska Schools, Hunger Haunts the Hallways

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nd classrooms as well. As a school administrator, you see it every day: promising students failing to meet minimum standards for conduct and academic performance because they arrive at school hungry. According to an article posted by the Lincoln Star Journal (“Nebraska Schools: More Minority Students, More Meeting Poverty Standard”, March 6, 2011), the percentage of students meeting the schools’ poverty standard has increased to 41 percent, compared to 30 percent a decade ago.

Sadly, Nebraska is typical of what is occurring across the country. According to Share Our Strength®, a national not-forprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood hunger in the US, nearly two thirds of elementary and middle school teachers reported that students came to school hungry because there was not enough food at home.

These findings were based on a national survey of K-8 teachers in both 2009 and 2010.

Hunger was not, to be sure, the largest problem cited by teachers in the survey. Over 80% of teachers in 2009 and 2010 cited lack of discipline and focus among students as the number one issue. This “problem”, however,

is largely symptomatic of another issue cited teachers: hunger in the classroom. Anecdotal accounts by teachers in the survey support scientific research that has found hungry students often have trouble with classroom behavior, following instructions, concentration and the ability to learn.

The good news is that we can fix this.

Two-thirds of teachers in the Share Our Strength study said most or a lot of their students rely on school meals as their primary source of nutrition. In addition, teachers were nearly unanimous in their belief that there was a strong connection between eating a healthy breakfast and a student’s ability to concentrate, behave, and perform academically. Unfortunately for Nebraska students and teachers, this state is ranked 46th of 50 in school breakfast participation.

Rising to the challenge, the Midwest Dairy Council, Hunger Free Heartland, Share Our Strength, the Nebraska Department of Education and others have partnered to tackle this problem and issued a challenge to all Nebraska schools: increase breakfast participation over the next two school years. This challenge comes with financial support through grants and awards as well as Federal subsidies. Dr. Roger Breed, State of Nebraska Commissioner of Education, and Nebraska’s First Lady, Sally Ganem, a former elementary school principal, support the school breakfast challenge as a means to improve student performance and test scores without adding financial burdens to the school district or Nebraska taxpayer.

School breakfast programs have the potential to decrease discipline problems, visits to school nurses and tardiness. The early morning meal also increases student attentiveness and attendance, and generally creates a better learning environment. These findings support reports from schools nationwide that have found school breakfast: • Provides a calmer start to the day • Improves performance on standardized tests • Improves speed and memory on cognitive tests • Results in better math grades, attendance, and punctuality

• Enhances performance on mental tasks • Facilitates better and more positive responses to frustration On the other hand, when hunger haunts the hallways, the performance of both children and staff suffer. Increasing breakfast participation is a certain win for the students who are presented with the opportunity to start their day with a nutritious meal. It’s also a win for administrators as a result of an elevation in student learning capacity, test scores and discipline.

The most effective strategy for Nebraska school administrators seeking to improve the performance of their entire student body is to implement a new school breakfast program or expand a current one. For more information, including details on the program, grants and funding opportunities, stop by the Nebraska School Breakfast Challenge booth at the NCSA Administrators’ Day, July 25 at the Younes Conference Center & Holiday Inn, Kearney, Nebraska.

Sources: Reist, Margaret and Mark Anderson, “Nebraska Schools: More Minority Students, More Meeting Poverty Standard”, Lincoln Journal Star, posted: Sunday, March 6, 2011 “Hunger in Our Schools: Share Our Strength Teachers Report”, Share Our Strength®, 2010

SUMMER 2012

NCSA TODAY

19

CALENDA R OF EVENTS July 19-20 25-27

Google Summit Administrators’ Days

9:00 am 8:00 am

SW High School Younes Conference Center

Lincoln Kearney

8:00 am

Cornhusker Hotel

Lincoln

9:00 am 8:00 am 9:00 am 9:00 am 9:00 am TBD

NCSA Holiday Inn Woodland Hills Holiday Inn Holiday Inn NCSA Parking Lot

Lincoln Kearney Eagle North Platte Kearney Lincoln

9:00 am TBD 9:00 am 9:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am 8:30 am 9:00 am

Younes Conference Center Lied Lodge ESU #10 Younes Conference Center Younes Conference Center LLLC Holiday Inn DC Center

Kearney Nebraska City Kearney Kearney Kearney Norfolk Kearney Omaha

August 31

NASES Fall Retreat

September 6 13-14 19 20-21 26 29

Facility Directors Wksp The Breakthrough Coach Tri-State Golf Challenge School Improvement Wksp School Law Workshop NCSA Tailgate

October 3-4 4-5 8-9 19 22 25-26 29 29-30

EdAd Tech Conference NACIA Fall Retreat School Improvement Wksp EOP Workshop Hispanic/Latino Summit School Improvement Wksp Paraeducator Conference School Improvement Wksp

National Convention Dates

ASBO—Oct. 12-15, 2012, Phoenix, AZ I ASBO—Oct. 25-28, 2013, Boston, MA I ASBO—Sept. 19-22, 2014, Kissimmee, FL AASA—April 13-15, 2013, San Diego, CA I AASA—April 5-7, 2014, New Orleans, LA NASSP—February 28-March 2, 2013, National Harbor, MD NAESP—July 11-13, 2013, Baltimore, MD

NSASSP 2012 High School and Middle School Distinguished Principals of the Year (continued from page 13) Principals Conference, and the Midwest Regional Middle Level Educator Conference.

Ms. Lynn Johnson, Superintendent of Arlington Public Schools, states: “In the formation of a middle level he spent time and energy in researching best practices and involved key staff members in the research and development. Brent introduced professional learning communities to our district by implementing the practice with his middle level initiative.”

Andrew Farber, High School Principal at Arlington, says: “Mr. Cudly has had success in his administrative role due to his desire to work with students, flexibility and willingness to learn best practices. He has a tremendous desire to improve the learning environment and overall education quality of our students.” Ann Jamison, resource and high ability instructor for Arlington Public Schools, states: “Our school is a different place through the efforts and leadership of Brent Cudly. Stu-

20

NCSA TODAY

SUMMER 2012

dents understand and take ownership in their own learning.”

Jodi Borgmann, an Arlington parent, comments: “Mr. Cudly creates an atmosphere which encourages success where the students and parents feel they are an important part of that success. He welcomes input and is innovative in implementing programs to help all students succeed.”

Mr. Cudly will receive his award at the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals State Conference and with his selection will be eligible for consideration for the 2013 Metlife/NASSP National Middle School Principal of the Year. I

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Humanex Ventures Katie Shanahan 2900 S. 70th St., Park One, Ste 100 Lincoln, NE 58506 402-486-1102 katie.shanahan@humanexventures.com www.humanexventures.com

Siemens John Hay 8066 Flint St. Lenexa, KS 66214 913-905-6723 johnhay@siemens.com usa.siemens.com

Bronze Sponsorships Benchmark 4 Excellence Rick Imig 1411 Rodeo Bend, Dickinson, TX 77539 281-910-0113 rick@benchmark4excellence.com www.benchmark4excellence.org Educator’s Virtual Mentor Woody Ziegler 2206 Rd. 20, Waco, NE 68460 402-362-8663 woody@L4TF.com www.educatorsvirtualmentor.com

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AIC 837 Ed. 5-12