Cindy Vujea
Superintendent |
Excellence in Action –
Centering our work on excellence isn’t something we do periodically, it is a way of living in Lakeshore. This fall there were MANY examples of excellence in action (by individuals , teams, and groups of people) that could be brought to your attention: some in the area of athletics, others in the fine and performing arts and yet others in the scholastic areas. |
This month I have chosen to highlight a special award being given to our ninth grade students in the area of scholastic achievement.
Bridge Magazine has named our current 9th graders Academic State Champs for their stellar performance on the 8th Grade MEAP Reading test last year…State champs in Reading! Bridge Magazine decided to elevate the importance of student achievement by staging an “Academic State Championship Playoff Series.” Using a database of school statistics, Bridge is honoring champions in academic categories ranging from fourth-grade reading to college readiness and graduation rates.
On November 1st the magazine announced 213 school districts that made the “quarterfinals” for eight academic categories with schools split into divisions based on community type and socioeconomic status. Those 213 school districts were then narrowed down to one champion in each category. School districts in the quarterfinals in Division Four were: Grandville, Edwardsburg, Lakeshore and Grand Haven. Lakeshore was named the champion in their division for 8th grade Reading.
Bridge magazine will present our Middle School with an award. In the meantime, our 9th grade students enjoyed being photographed for the magazine layout…running out of the Lancer football helmet with books in their hands!
Congratulations to these students and to the kindergarten through eighth grade teachers who contributed to a remarkable 96% proficient rating in Reading!
(Bridge Magazine is published by The Center for Michigan, a 501c3 nonprofit, independent, nonpartisan, citizen-led organization.)
A New Community-Driven Facility Study is Underway –
After reflecting on the May 2011 bond election results and comments from staff and the community-at-large, the Board of Education has decided to “go back to the drawing board” and take a fresh look at the district facility issues. The facility improvement study process for the next year is very different than the process that was used in the past. This process has been designed to include our community as much as possible – in fact, we reference it as a “community-driven/community-engagement” process. (See chart below for further explanation.)
A new architectural firm (Kingscott) and construction management firm (Granger) have been hired to assist the Board with this initiative. The first step was completing a comprehensive study of the physical condition of our school buildings. This process began in mid-November and will continue into the first part of December.
While that study is taking place, representatives from Kingscott, Granger Construction, the Board of Education, and I are meeting with staff and members of our community to learn more about their concerns, questions and recommendations for future facility improvements. These meetings are being held in a variety of places, and at many different times (morning, afternoon, and evening), in an effort to reach as many people as possible. The schedule for these gatherings can be found on the district website and were advertised in the Herald Palladium. Thank you to Berts Breakfast Korner, Baroda Tap, Big Boy, Martins, South Shore Racquet Club, Hometown Deli in Baroda, Ruthies, and the Lakeshore Rotary for allowing us to meet with folks in their businesses. Thanks too, to the Lakeshore school staff, the various booster organizations, the Lakeshore Alumni Association and the executive boards of the elementary and middle school PTO organizations for sharing their perspectives on potential facility improvement plans. Minutes from these meetings can be found on at
> www.lakeshore.kingscott.com. If you want to know what is being said, you are encouraged to visit this website.
There will be three phases to this project:
- The first phase runs from October of 2011-December 2011 and will focus on
“Understanding the Past.”
During the first phase the Board will develop a charge for a Facilities Improvement Team (FIT), establish the FIT and invite community feedback about the past by going out into the community and speaking with our residents.
- The second phase runs from January of 2012 through May of 2012 and will focus on “Looking to the Future.”
During the second phase the FIT will review and prioritize Input Group feedback, review and prioritize the facility report, share that information with the Board of Education and then present the results to the Lakeshore staff and community members.
- The third phase runs from June of 2012 – November of 2012 and will focus on “Identifying the Right Project.”
During this phase, the Board and Fit Team will take all of the information gathered in phase one and two and begin to develop options and associated costs. At the conclusion of this phase, the Board will make a decision about whether to ask the community to support another bond project and to determine (based on the recommendations of the FIT) what the scope of that project would be.
Please see the chart below for further explanation of the Facility Master Planning & Community Engagement Process.
I strongly encourage you to get involved in this process and share your thoughts, your hopes, and your vision for the future of Lakeshore Schools. You have the opportunity to set the stage for future educational opportunities for our children.
Very sincerely,
Cindy Vujea |
The March 6 preschool registration date has been POSTPONED until details become available from Berrien county. > more details
Join us on Facebook for information on the New Community-Driven Facility Study and more.
Visit
lakeshore.kingscott.com
to view meeting minutes and up-to-date information on the Facility Study.
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