January 2, 2010
Purpose of Blog
Van-Far Community,
Welcome to my blog. This is an area where you can share directly with me your ideas, concerns, and hopes for the district. Please click on the comment link to give me your feedback. I hope that you will find this as a place to learn about the school district and how the district operates.
December 30, 2009
Welcome Address
Welcome: Please click here to listen.
January 18, 2012
Senate Bill 54: Amy Hestir Student Protection Act
I realize there is a lot of discussion regarding SB 54 and SB1,also known as the Amy Hestir Student Protection Act. On Friday, August 5, 2011, Judge Jon E Beetem determined that the part of the law that states, “No teacher shall establish, maintain, or use a non-work related internet site which allows exclusive access with a current or former student” is too restrictive and is in violation of the state and federal constitutions.
SB 1 was signed by Governor Nixon and made law. Amendments were made to the law and districts are to craft policy by March 1, 2012 to comply with the law and define how teachers are to communicate with students. The intent of the law is to regulate communications with students in relation to unethical “grooming” practices by sexual predators.
The district maintains its policies with the Missouri School Board’s Association. They have drafted policy to comply with the new law. Attached below is a copy of the policy. Teachers and district employees are encouraged to review the policy and inform me of concerns so that I can bring them to the attention of the members of the board. Also attached is the court order in regard to the injunction of SB 54 in respect to “friending” and the Missouri School Board’s Association understanding of the injunction. Never hesitate to stop by your principal’s office or my office to discuss concerns.
Respectfully,
Chris Felmlee
Order Preliminary Injunction 8.26.11
MSBA Social Networking Restriction Found Unconstitutional for Now
December 27, 2011
Van-Far’s Adult Education Program
The Van-Far School District has a comprehensive educational program for the students it serves. Not only does the district meet the needs of its students preschool through twelfth grade; but it also is one of the few districts in the state to offer an Adult Education and Literacy program. Adults in the communities of Vandalia, Farber and Bowling Green and outlying areas can obtain a General Education Development (GED) or become more proficient in reading and mathematics.
Classes are offered in the Van-Far Junior High and High School Building, Monday through Thursday, from 5:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Classes in Bowling Green are offered Tuesday and Thursday, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at 805 Highway 61 North, Bowling Green, MO 63334. The District also provides adult education classes at the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC), and Women’s Eastern Treatment Center (WETC).
Mrs. Shannon Moore is the Director of the Adult Education and would be happy to answer questions or begin your enrollment process. Please contact Mrs. Moore at 573-594-6111 or email her at smoore@vf.k12.mo.us .
Below is information about GED programs, brochures about the program offered at Van-Far and important documents about adult education prepared by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Information regarding the Van-Far R-I School District’s Adult Education and Literacy Program
Public Program times and dates
Advisory Meeting Minutes 11-14-11
VF & BG Public -Joint AEL Flyer
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has many Adult Education resources.
AEL_Guidelines_For_Serving_Students
Online Teacher Certification ProcessAEL-distance-learn-hb-11
August 23, 2011
District Evaluation Plan
The district evaluation plan is a document that lists the objectives of the district’s educational programs as well as information regarding how the board of education will measure effectiveness of each program. Over the span of two years every program in the school should be reviewed by the board of education. This document lists the time line for review, the objectives of the program, as well as the template used by the board of education to evaluate the quality of the program. The documentation approved by the board will be used when we review of the district’s Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).
Van-Far has not had a document like this before. Please read over the attached plan. I am eager for your insight to make this document more effective and useful. Thank you for your time.
July 19, 2011
School Improvement Resources
The Van-Far R-I School District has partnered with the Columbia Regional Professional Development Center to develop a comprehensive school improvement plan that aligns resources to needs based upon student assessment data. Below are resources used to compose the improvement plan.
Van_Far_R-I_10_Steps_Presentation
Van-Far__Step_1__Systems_and_Structures
Both documents present the same data but in different formats. This needs assessment was taken by the staff and measures their perception of the Van-Far educational program. This data was used to isolate the direction for district wide professional development and professional learning community goals for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years.
Blank SRBS Action Steps Planning Template
These document were used to gather and organize the multiple resources utilized to compose the district wide needs assessment and begin extensive planning for systematic comprehensive improvements in the educational programs offered by the district.
July 13, 2011
Cash Management by School Sponsors
All sponsors are required to view this presentation and return the attached signed document as soon as possible. The Cash Management training establishes awareness of district policy and ensures everyone realizes the need to comply with school board policy. If you questions or concerns please discuss them with the building administrator first. If concerns persist call me immediately at (573) 594-6111.
Respectfully,
Chris Felmlee
Van-Far R-I School District Superintendent
Cash Management by School Sponsors signature form
Fundraising management slideshow (Powerpoint 2003)
May 26, 2011
Federal Programs Review
As required under Federal guidelines for Title programs, the district must notify the public of how Federal funds will be spent as well encourage the public to evaluate the program. A public meeting has been advertised in the local paper to be held on Friday, May 27, at 3:00 in the Van-Far Superintendent’s Office located in the High School.
Below is a narrative of how the District intendeds to spend its Federal funds.
Title Programs Review
May 27, 2011
Federal funds are used in a variety ways. Funding for Title I reading and math focus on maintaining reading improvement at the elementary and junior high levels. The Success For All (SFA) reading program has been identified as a program that will coordinate reading instruction in special education, Title programs, and the traditional classrooms first grade through eighth grade. This program also provides effective assistance and guidance in organizing tutoring programs, Limited English Proficiency education, family support, and meeting the needs of students identified as at risk.
A school-wide plan was composed and approved over the summer of 2009 in order to reap the full benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. As a school-wide elementary building, funds can be used more freely within the building and serve all students, specifically allowing Title staff to meet the needs of all students rather than only those identified.
For the 2011-2012 school year both buildings will utilize Title IIA ($33,663.00) funds and Title VI ($14,576.00) funds to purchase SFA support materials and professional development to train teachers in effective teaching methods of reading instruction and ultimately increase student performance and achievement.
Title I ($193,101.00) funds will be used pay specific elementary Title I teachers and the Preschool teacher’s salaries. Remaining funds will be used to purchase supplies to support math and reading instruction.
The elementary building has an additional $40,000.00 allocated under Title I a. Building Improvement funds to be used toward academic improvement. This is as a result of being targeted by the No Child Left Behind Act. Federal funds will be utilized to supplement mathematics and reading instruction, identify student mastery levels and achievement data.
Break Down of Allocations
Tile I: Projected Allocation for 2011-2012: $193,101.00
Title I a.: Projected Allocation for 2011-2012: $40,000.00
Title II A: Projected Allocation for 2011-2012: $33,663.00
Title VI RLIS: Projected Allocation for 2011-2012: $14,576.00. These funds will be used to defer the cost of the Success For All reading program in the Junior High School.
At any time, please call Chris Felmlee, Superintendent, if you have questions or concerns regarding federal programs at (573) 594-6111.
LAST YEAR’S NOTICE
Title Programs Review
May 25, 2010
As required under Federal guidelines for Title programs, the district must notify the public of how Federal funds will be spent as well encourage the public to evaluate the program. A public meeting has been advertised in the local paper and was held on Friday, May 28, at 3:15 in the Van-Far Superintendent’s Office located in the High School.
Below is a narrative of how the District intendeds to spend its Federal funds.
This year’s federal funds were used in a variety ways. Funding for Title I reading and math were focus on reading improvement at the elementary level. The Success For All (SFA) reading program has been identified as a program that will coordinate reading instruction in special education, Title programs, and the traditional classrooms. This program also provides effective assistance and guidance in organizing tutoring programs, Limited English Proficiency education, family support, and meeting the needs of students identified as at risk.
A school-wide plan was composed and approved over the summer of 09 in order to reap the full benefits of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds. As a school-wide elementary building, funds can be used more freely within the building and serve all students, specifically allowing Title staff to meet the needs of all students rather than only those identified.
Lastly, much of the Title I funds were used to pay the salaries of all our Title teachers; something the district has not been able to do in the past.
For the 2010-2011 school year, I would like to use remaining ARRA funds and carry over Title VI ($23,919.00), and Title IId ($4,153.00) to expand the Success For All reading program into the Junior High School. In both buildings part of the Title IId ($53,585.00) funds and Title VI funds will be used to purchase SFA support materials and professional development to train as many teachers as possible in effective teaching methods to improve the quality of reading instruction and ultimately student performance and achievement.
Title I funds will be used mainly to pay Title I teachers’ salaries. One necessary change has been moving a Title teacher into the classroom and shifting federal funds to pay this salary to local district funds. Likewise, the Reading Coach, which has been paid for with local district funds, will be switched to Federal funds to pay her salary. I will ask the board to formalize this change during the June or July board meeting. Remaining Title I ARRA funds will be used to pay for professional development related to SFA and materials and supplies in the elementary building.
The elementary building has an additional $40,000.00 to use toward academic improvement as a result of being targeted by the No Child Left Behind Act. Federal funds will be utilized to purchase mathematics materials. As a result, Everyday Math, will be the primary mathematics instructional resources in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Title IId: Allocation for 2009-2010: $5,272.00
Carryover: $4,153.00
Title IId is focused on educational technology. The district has not received this funding in the past and will not receive additional funding for the 2010-2011 school year.
Title IVa: Allocation for 2007-2008: $6,122.00
Allocation for 2008-2009: $2,680.00
Allocation for 2009-2010: $ 2,773.00
Projected Allocation for 2010-2011: $0.00
Safe and Drug Free Schools’ funds have been cut from the Federal budget.
Title V: Allocation for 2007-2008: $10,805.00
Allocation for 2008-2009:$0.00
Allocation for 2009-2010: $0.00
Projected Allocation for 2010-2011: $0.00
These funds have been dissolved due to federal budget cut-backs.
Title VIb: Allocation for 2007-2008: $14,795.00
Allocation for 2008-2009: $15,730.00
Allocation for 2009-2010: $17,052.00
Projected Allocation for 2010-2011: $14,895.00
Projected 2009-2010 Carryover: $6,867.00
TOTAL: $23,919.00
These funds will be used to defer the cost of the Success For All reading program in the Junior High School.
At anytime please call Chris Felmlee, Superintendent, if you have questions or concerns regarding federal programs at (573) 594-6111.
March 30, 2011
2011-2012 Health Insurance Plans
Attached below are the district’s health insurance rates for the next school year. The district can offer 3 plans. It is my intent to maintain and fully fund the core plan; PPO 1500. I will recommend to the members of the board of education to maintain offering the POS plan. Lastly, I will recommend that the members of the board fund the HSA7 2000 plan at the level of the core plan. This additional $113.51 a month deposited into the health savings account will generate $1362.12 by the end of the contract year. Health savings accounts are slightly different insurance plans compared to traditional plans. I will schedule meeting times with Drew Beaugard, our insurance representative, to met one-on-one to answer questions. If you can, you may want to gather your billing statements for Mr. Beaugard to compose a cost comparison and show you which plan is the best based upon your claims. Please feel free to call me, email, or stop by if you have questions or concerns.
Chris
March 14, 2011
Letter to the Editor of the Vandalia Leader and People’s Tribune
Letter to the Editor
Dear Van-Far School District Community,
Thank you for your continued support of our educational programs and, most importantly, our community’s children. I realize that there are many struggling with the economy. I also realize there are many school boards of education in our state who are dealing with reducing services, staff, and educational programs. I am blessed to report that Van-Far is not one of these schools. Due to the cooperative team work between the board of education, administration, and staff over the past four years we have been able to budget our resources more effectively, continue program improvements; especially in math, reading and in our Food Service, as well as make building improvements that have enhanced the learning environment and provide a better and safer place for our students, staff and community.
I realize that in order to make these improvements it has required difficult decisions. The board and administration have pushed the teachers and staff to learn new ways of teaching, adopt new reading and math programs as well as learn how to be more effective teachers through extensive professional development. As a district, we have utilized technology to offer our students more advanced learning environments. As a result of this combined focus, we are seeing improvement in state test scores and local assessments, curriculum and educational course objectives, and overall student performance.
In spite of current educational funding reductions, increased accountability, and legislative uncertainty, the Van-Far School District continues to offer its students better services and educational resources. Over the past two years the district has faced serious reductions in critical state funding and reimbursement for programs such as Parents As Teachers (PAT), transportation, and basic foundation funding. It is my intent to continue offering Parent As Teacher services to our families who are expecting babies as well as our families with newborns, toddlers, and children who are not of age to start preschool and kindergarten. The board is considering the purchase of a new bus to update the district’s transportation fleet. I am not proposing reductions in bussing services. I have worked closely with Mr. Stroker, the Transportation Director, to make sure the routes are efficiently designed and operated. As a result, last year we were able to trim a bus route without compromising student care or safety. State reimbursement to Van-Far School District for Parents As Teachers and transportation have been reduced by more than half their levels in comparison to the past few years. Regardless of major reductions in state funding, I am not recommending reducing services.
It is already time to start planning for the next school year. On Thursday, March 17, at 5:00pm in the High School Library, I am hosting a public meeting to discuss the 2011-2012 School Calendar. You can view the proposed calendar and leave comments at http://cfelmlee.edublogs.org/ and scroll down to the heading 2011-2012 Calendar. This web page contains many district documents concerning our last audit; budge and compensation data, legislative updates on proposed bills effecting Missouri public education, and district wide plans. The Board of Education will host a public hearing on the 2011-2012 Calendar on March 24 at 6:45 before the regularly scheduled board meeting at 7:00pm in the High School Library.
Lastly, I would like to promote a new program in the elementary school. The district has partnered with the Mexico Area YMCA to provide after school daycare. Care is provided from the time school ends until 5:30pm. The students are provided tutoring and homework help, a snack, and activities. Interested families can receive additional information on the program in the elementary school office.
Thank you for your continued support of the District. We have made significant improvements over the span of a few years. I am not promoting that the work of improving our educational programs is complete. There is still a lot of work that needs to be done; however, I am very proud of the effort made by the staff, teachers, administration, and board, but most of all our kids and community. Thank you for the honor and opportunity to serve the communities of Vandalia and Farber.
Respectfully,
Christopher Felmlee, Van-Far R-I School District, Superintendent of Schools
March 9, 2011
2011-2012 Calendar
The 2011-2012 calendar was composed as a result of several public meetings and staff meetings. Although the calendar may not meet everyone’s specific interests, I tried to meet the needs of the students, students utilizing Mexico’s vocational classes, community parents and stakeholders, and teachers. The calendar was approved at a public hearing held on March 24, 2011.
Approved Van Far Calendar 2011-2012
February 11, 2011
Legislative Updates
The current tone from the legislative body has been concerning, especially on educational issues ranging from overturning tenure law, charter schools, vouchers, and open enrolment, to increased accountability without funding to changing the Missouri tax structure to rely entirely on sales tax. If you have an opinion on educational issues it is important that you contact your legislatures. For our local area, contact Senator Brian Munzlinger (R) at (573) 751-7852, Representative Jay Houghton (R) at 573-751-3649, or Representative Lindell F. Shumake (R) at 573-751-3613. The link below contains newsletters from DESE’s Legislative FAQ 2011 and legislative updates from MSBA, MSTA, and SAC.
End of Session Summary: http://aasaonline.mediasite.com/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=a6e30d50ee3e4c09860b0f236353674d1d
Legislative Updates March 4 2011
Legislative Updates February 25
Legislative Update Feb 18 2011
Legislative Updates from DESE, MSBA, SAC, and MSTA for Feb 11, 2011
