9486 in the collection
An Exchange on School Business/Busyness
A longtime teacher asks the schoolboard: Where are the children?
BOARDCAST E-NEWSLETTER
Dear alma corazon,
A Word from the Board President
Barbara Clark
As we approach the holidays and our winter break, my fellow Trustees and I would like to thank you not only for the support we receive but also for the unwavering support the District enjoys. We are proud to work with so many dedicated and passionate staff, parents, community and business leaders.
Enjoy this special time with your friends and family. We send each of you our very best wishes of the season and look forward to our continued relationship in 2010.
Happy holidays!
Barbara Clark
President
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Over the past months the Washoe County School District’s Capital Projects division has been focused on securing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to use in the older schools in our District. I’m happy to report that they have been successful. WCSD has been awarded $3.5 million of bond under the Qualified School Construction Bonds which is part of the ARRA.
Washoe County and the City of Reno also received an allocation under one of the programs in ARRA. However, due to the downturn in the economy, neither the County nor the City of Reno had projects planned that would require using all of their allocations. Fortunately, ARRA allows entities to transfer all or a portion of its bonding authority to another government agency. Washoe County and the City of Reno allocated portions of their authority to WCSD. We have always collaborated with the other entities in our district, believing the school district serves everyone in Washoe County. My fellow Trustees and I are very appreciative of the support demonstrated by Washoe County and the City of Reno and we thank them for their commitment.
These bond monies will be allocated to over a 100 older school improvement and technology projects at 50 schools scheduled for summer 2010. This summer's projects put nearly 500 construction workers to work. It is anticipated this funding will do the same in 2010. We know for sure that the work will benefit students, teachers and the community alike.
Data Summit
My fellow Trustees and I, together with parents, community and employee association representatives, recently attended a staff presentation of data related to the district's performance against its strategic plan (Blueprint for Student Success). The purpose of this data summit was to specifically evaluate progress made during the 2008-09 school year, to establish key indicators and to begin the planning process for the 2010-11 school year.
During the day we received a vast range of data. Some of it good, some of it not so good.
We feel the hard work must now start as we begin to consider what we are doing well and can do better, what we are not doing well and what we must urgently improve. Of course, we need to be mindful of the budget implications, but that will not be used as an excuse not to do what we must do. We are skilled in using the funding we have to the maximum benefit of students. We will continue to work with Superintendent Morrison, parents, the community, employee associations, and our staff to look at ways to make positive changes.
WCSD Audit
WCSD received an "unqualified" (or "clean") audit from the independent accounting firm Kafoury, Armstrong and Company of Reno. "Unqualified" is the highest level of assurance the CPA profession offers. The results of the independent audit clearly demonstrates that in its business and financial operations, WCSD follows the highest standards of professionalism.
For the eighth year in a row, WCSD was recognized with a "Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting" presented by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. The award recognizes the "highest standards in government accounting and financial reporting."
BOARDcast
Saturday, December 19, 2009 1:49 PM
From: Georgia Hedrick
To: communications@washoe.k12.nv.us
You never fail to amaze me. You brag about money coming from the government. Ok. You brag about data. Ok. You brag about bonds being now used for older schools. Ok. You brag about your highly rated audit. Ok.
I am curious: what happened to the children? Where are they in all this chest-thumping? When did children stop being first, and money and data take over?
You are not the school district I once taught in: We taught children.
You teach data and for the money--data and correct audits.
When did all the children die--and why?
— Washoe County School Board & Georgia Hedrick
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INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
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