As to the reality of the State Aid picture, the facts are:

• There are three categories of aid accounting for a $382,000 increase, which represent aid from funds spent in the 2012-2013 school year - it is called expense driven aid. In other words, the money has to be spent by the district first, followed by reimbursement from the state the following year. Expense driven aid is not “new money", it is reimbursement.
• The largest "increase" actually represents less of a decrease from what was promised! Over $500,000 of GAP Elimination was erased by the state. In other words, the amount from the Governor's Budget reducing aid to Johnstown was supposed to be $1.3 million. The new budget will instead reduce aid by $828,000. This is NOT an increase of funding; however, the numbers are being portrayed as an increase.
• The Software, Textbook, Technology and Library aid was reduced by $5,400
• The true increase? Foundation Aid is increased by $42,078. A far cry from one million!!!!

The method of state funding for public schools is severely flawed. Ongoing advocacy for appropriate funding to support programs for students is important. There appears to be some understanding amongst our elected officials, as they moved to add funding to the Governor's proposal. That being said, there is a long way to go.

 

March 26, 2013
Dear School Community,

One key component to the Board of Regents reform agenda is the shift to the Common Core Standards. The goal of the reform is to have every student graduate from high school with skills for college and or careers.

The Commissioner of New York Education Department, Dr. John King, Jr. has outlined the following:

Any major change initiative comes with anxiety and challenges. Some have even called for delaying the alignment of curriculum, instruction, professional development, classroom feedback, and assessment to the higher standards required for college and career success in the 21st century. But in point of fact, our students are already accountable for the Common Core. They do not have time to wait. Every time a college freshman takes a placement exam that first month on campus, he or she is being tested against the very expectations in the Common Core. Every time a high school graduate faces a daunting task on a challenging job (from the welder applying knowledge of fractions to the electrician reading the National Electrical Code), he or she is being tested against the Common Core. And quite frankly, our students are not doing well enough on those real world tests. Only about 35 percent of our students graduate with the skills and knowledge necessary to be called college- and career-ready. That's why the Regents moved forward so decisively in 2009. They understand that going slow means denying thousands of students the opportunity to be successful.

So, what do Common Core assessments really mean? Here are five key points that should help address some frequently asked questions about the transition to the Common Core.

1. In 2013, New York State, for the first time, will be reporting 3rd through 8th grade student grade-level expectations against a trajectory of college- and career-readiness as measured by tests fully reflective of the Common Core. As a result, the number of students who score at or above grade level expectations will likely decrease.
2. As mentioned above, we expect the assessment scores will decline. But we also expect that decline will have little or no impact on principals' and teachers' State-provided growth scores. Based on New York's approach to measuring growth relative to demographically similar students, similar proportions of educators will earn each rating category (Highly Effective, Effective, Developing, and Ineffective) in 2012-13 compared to 2011-12.
3. The number of students meeting or exceeding Common Core grade-level expectations should not be interpreted as a decline in student learning or a decline in educator performance. The results from these new assessments will give educators, parents, policymakers, and the public a more realistic picture of where students are on their path to being well-prepared for the world that awaits them after they graduate from high school.
4. No new districts will be identified as Focus Districts and no new schools will be identified as Priority Schools based on 2012-13 assessment results.
5. Local policies and practices should balance the need for increased rigor against legitimate student expectations for access to educational programs, including local promotion and admission policies.

There's much more information about the Common Core and the new assessments on EngageNY.org. Take a moment to check out what's posted there.

Again, I understand how stressful change can be, especially when you're asking students to read more challenging texts, to better support their arguments with evidence drawn from text, to write from sources, to achieve deep conceptual understanding of the most important math concepts of each grade, and to apply their math skills to real-world problems. But we owe it to our students to move forward; opportunity awaits them and it's our responsibility to make sure they're equipped to seize that opportunity."

Please know that the teachers and administrators have spent a great deal of time making adjustments to practice in order to make shifts to the Common Core. Also, training is ongoing as we prepare students for the future. As Commission King states above—change can be stressful, but we owe it to our students to best prepare them to seize opportunities in the future.

Sincerely,
Robert A. DeLilli
Superintendent of Schools

January 3, 2013
Dear Johnstown School Community,

On Friday, January 18, 2013, students will be dismissed early in order for staff to attend training on school violence and intruder awareness. Students at the high school and Knox will be dismissed at 11:15 a.m.; at the elementary level, kindergarten and first grade will begin dismissal at 11:45 a.m., followed by bus students and remaining elementary grades at noon. Lunch will be served in all buildings prior to dismissal: pizza at Knox and the high school and bag lunch at the elementary schools.

This training will be provided by the Office of Homeland Security and will include local law enforcement as well as staff from the Gloversville and Wheelerville school districts. The District is fortunate to have this resource available.

Please be assured that the safety of our students has always been and continues to be a District priority.

Sincerely,
Robert A. DeLilli
Superintendent of Schools
 

December 20, 2012
In order to address a rumor regarding threats of violence at JHS, police have been notified and investigated, administrators have investigated, and no corroborating evidence has been found. Please know that threats, rumors, etc. will be taken seriously, thoroughly investigated, and appropriate actions under the law will be taken.

I have spoken to the Chief of Police and the Mayor regarding the needs and security of the schools--both have been receptive and helpful. The Johnstown Police Department and the school district are working together closely on any and all issues that arise and, as of this correspondence, I have been notified that the police have provided an increased presence throughout the District --for that we thank them.

Additionally, in the coming days I have meetings with experts in the field of security to get advice on best measures to take regarding school safety. An architect has been invited to review each entry way and see what can be done. We have a company coming in to take measurements and spec the doors for parts to retro fit entry doors with the camera and remote release system. The Board of Education has considered surveillance cameras in the past, and I'm sure they will again.

Each building Principal has reviewed emergency planning and, as a District, we will revisit those plans and modify/update as necessary. In the coming weeks/months, each school will practice/drill on safety protocols that can only serve to help students and adults if emergencies occur of any kind.

I hope this helps as we move forward and I thank everyone for their valuable input.

Sincerely,
Robert A. DeLilli
Superintendent of Schools

Letter from the JPD

School Safety in Johnstown

December 17, 2012
Dear Johnstown School Community,

The tragedy that occurred in Connecticut on Friday caused all of us to stop and cringe in an emotional state that had a very tight grip. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this horrible event as well as the people of Newtown, as they try to move forward.

Below are resources you can use to help your child if necessary for coping in the aftermath of tragedy:

Tips for Talking to Children After a Disaster

Helping Children Cope After a School Shooting

Talking Violence

November 13, 2012
All students in the Johnstown School District will be dismissed from school 15 minutes early on Wednesday, November 21, 2012, as part of a drill for the School Emergency Management Plan. The buildings must be vacated for an hour during the drill. Therefore, all after school activities will be postponed for one hour following the release time in each building. School personnel will also be released early so parents must make arrangements for their children.

The drill, which is held in accordance with the NYS Department of Education regulations, will test the usefulness of communications and transportation systems during an emergency.

Non-public and special education students who do not attend Johnstown schools will also be dismissed 15 minutes early so that bus routes can remain the same.

If you have any questions, please contact your child’s principal.
 

September 25, 2012
Believe it or not, one month of the school year is just about behind us. Yes, 1/10 of the academic calendar will be completed next week. The 2012-2013 school year has brought about change, and I believe will continue to reflect change in many ways.

Your child may talk about some of the change headed our way. For example, the requirements of Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) may be mentioned by your child. This refers to the legislation for all teachers to be evaluated. Included in the evaluation process are assessments. In Johnstown, the students will be taking STAR Assessments as part of the teacher evaluation process. So again, your child may come home and tell you about a test he/she had to take on the computer. These test results will be utilized in a couple of ways. First, there will be ongoing assessment to best address weaknesses of students in order to help them achieve and, second, the assessment data will be utilized in the aforementioned evaluation process. No matter what, the quality of education your child receives remains very important. Our teachers worked hard over the summer in order to best serve our students this school year. That being said, the APPR process is new and will likely cause some stress. Hopefully, the wrinkles will get ironed out and all of us will move forward together.

The unfortunate circumstances that led to the end of the Varsity football season are very emotional. I can assure you the decision was not easy; however, in the name of safety, I believe the right action was taken. On the bright side, the Modified and Junior Varsity programs have healthy participation and should carry through to the Varsity level.

The conversation regarding Grade Level Grouping continues. The Board of Education's restructuring committee will meet on September 27th to further this discussion. Input from parents is important, and there will be more opportunity for involvement in the near future.

Glebe Street Elementary has welcomed Mrs. Abbey North as the new principal. The welcome signs in the hallway were a very nice gesture to Mrs. North on September 24th, her first official day. Welcome aboard Mrs. North!

A communication tool called Blackboard Connect will be utilized by the administration this year to communicate directly with you. This "all call" phone system will be used for important messages to families in the district, such as notification of school closings, events and other important information. Please make sure your telephone numbers on file with the school are up to date and accurate, and promptly notify the main office in your child's building any time this information changes. I hope the system proves valuable to you as a communicative tool, as opposed to a nuisance!

I hope you enjoy the early days Autumn—before all the leaves fall and the snow flies!