By Mark Messman, Superintendent EV-W Schools Referendum
Stay informed and engaged with the ongoing referendum plans that will provide our students with safe and secure schools that operate with efficient mechanical systems and solid infrastructure. All of our meeting minutes, documents, floor plans, budgets, and tax impact can be found on the front page of the school district website.
We have two public meetings coming up in the near future. The first will be held in the HS Cafeteria on Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 6:30 p.m., with the second held in the Watkins Elementary Gym on Tuesday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. Each meeting will provide stakeholders and guests with the most recent updates to safe and secure entrances in the elementary schools, improvements to the 1927 HS, floor plans, budgets, and the opportunity to have your questions answered.
If you haven’t toured our facilities lately, I encourage you to call me and set up a tour so that you can see first-hand the desperate need to improve our infrastructure and provide enhanced security for our students.
It’s time to invest in your schools and ensure we have the resources and efficient facilities to remain an educational leader in Central Minnesota.
Free Lunch in December
The EV-W School Board approved the Free Lunch in December initiative to encourage greater participation in completing the Educational Benefits Application for free or reduced lunch. Even if you won’t qualify, simply complete the application and have your children eat free school lunch in the month of December. The school district will also receive additional benefits and compensation with increased participation in the program. You can find an application in each school office, or online under the For Families/Educations Benefits Application tab. Be sure to get the application completed and turned in by Sept. 28, to qualify for Free Lunch in December.
EV-W District-Wide MCA Scores 2018
Once again, our EV-W students posted strong scores in this year’s Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments in math, reading and science measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards. Students in grades 3-8 and 10 took the MCA in reading, grades 3-8 and 11 took the math exam, while grades 5, 8 and high school students took the MCA exam in science.
When comparing district-wide proficiency rates for all grades and all students, the 2018 EV-W math scores saw proficiency levels with 71.4 percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards compared to a State average of 57.6 percent. Reading and Science scores reflect a similar trend, with 68.6 percent proficient in reading compared to a State average of 60.3 percent, and 65.3 percent proficiency in science compared to a State average of 52.2 percent.
We have high expectations to remain an educational leader in student proficiency rates, and also realize that our history of maintaining high assessment scores can be a difficult task without the support and committed work ethic of so many students, parents and staff. Our district-wide scores remain well above the state averages in math, reading and science.
While the 2018 EV-W district-wide combined scores for all grade levels ranks high in the area, we refuse to become complacent with past successes. We continue to identify small grade level deficiencies and some improvement areas that will be targeted in 2019. We also invest in professional development opportunities for staff; research-based interventions, Targeted Services, integrating technology, increased school readiness opportunities, Barton and other reading resources, and will continually work to improve our student learning environment and culture.
I commend our EV-W students, parents and staff for their patience and cooperation throughout the testing schedule. We have a vision and an EV-W expectation that we educate every child for the future.
Rock Award
I consider a rock to be something that represents stability, support, a foundation to build upon, and a permanent source of strength. The “Rock” award was established in 2013, and annually awarded to staff at Eden Valley – Watkins School District #463. This award is presented to an outstanding employee who demonstrates educational stability, support, and a solid foundation that encourages innovation, action, and contributions to the welfare of others and the betterment of the school district. “Rock” recipients make a positive impact on the educational community, actively share ideas, and use their professional learning networks to improve conditions and the environment for colleagues and students.
I’m honored to recognize our ECSE teacher Lynette Wagner and kindergarten teacher Dawn Kuechle as recipients of the 2018 Rock award. Congratulations and thank you for the dedicated service to our school-community.
Previous “Rock” award recipients include:
2013 – Bruce Kiehn and Sharon Borgert
2014 – Rob Pederson and Mary Holmberg
2015 – Gordon Schlangen and Julie Bulau
2016 – Adam Langer and Susan Knutson
2017 – Cathy Wuertz and Tyler Warren