Board discusses goals, enrollment numbers

Talk about it

The New Richmond Board of Education thinks it’s important to set goals and they spent about two hours of Monday night’s meeting making sure their goals are current.

The school board has five goals, with each goal having several objectives.

For example, the first goal is to maintain up-to-date facilities that meet the long-range needs of students and the community. Objectives that fall under this goal include the close-out of the building project referendum, working with the Community Commons partners on a plan for the former middle school property, developing and implementing a district facility emergency plan, etc.

The main goals didn’t change much this year, just some tweaking to make some line items more specific.

The 2011-12 board goals include:

* Provide up-to-date facilities that meet the long-range needs of students and the community

* Ensure that students at all ability levels achieve their fullest potential

* Maintain effectiveness of board in collaboration with district administrator and administrative team

* Ensure a strong financial foundation for the school district now and in the future

* Expand customer service focus

The board had also hoped to update the district’s mission statement, which was adopted in 1992.

The current mission statement reads: “As a steward of public trust and resources, it is the duty and the responsibility of the School District of New Richmond to provide a comprehensive educational program and a learning environment which allows for the intellectual, physical, emotional, cultural, social and ethical growth of children in a changing world.”

Board member Paula Kolbeck said she believed the mission statement was too long and that it should be shortened so that anyone would be able to recite it.

Brian Johnston, director of building and fiscal operations for the district, said the mission statement is reviewed every five years or so, but none of the past school boards have changed it.

The topic was tabled and board members are going to submit ideas for a new mission statement.

In other news, the board:

* Reviewed the projected enrollment numbers for the 2012-13 school year.

As of June 11 the projected enrollment numbers are 27 fewer than the district had originally estimated, said Morrie Veilleux, district administrator.

According to the numbers, New Richmond is expecting 3,081 students in early childhood education through 12th grade. That’s compared to the 3,108 budgeted.

Broken down by school, Veilleux said administrators are still working to even out class sizes.

The way it currently stands, fourth grade class sizes range from 20 to 28 kids. Veilleux said several measures are being taken to even out those classes, including the option for students to transfer from Starr and Hillside elementaries to Paperjack Elementary, where class sizes are on the smaller end.

“We’re continuing to work on it,” Veilleux said.

For the complete story, see this week's New Richmond News.

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