Jane Larter, School Nurse of the Year

Jane Larter, our Licensed School Nurse, was named School Nurse of the Year on November 13 by the March of Dimes.

According to a news release from the March of Dimes, Jane "was honored for creating a model of school nursing that supports high-quality student services and promotes wellness for both students and staff. She is recognized for advocating for students with special needs and promoting wellness by providing health information to families and staff."

Congratulations!

Emergency School Closing Information

Winter will soon be upon us. School may be closed for the day, started late or dismissed early due to weather conditions or other emergency situations. Families are encouraged to have a plan in place should a change in the school day occur. Changes in the school day will be called into the following media outlets.

WCCO Television – Channel 4

KSTP Television –   Channel 5

KMSP Television – Channel 9

KARE Television – Channel 11

WCCO Radio 830 AM

Families will also receive a phone call and email from the school’s instant notification system if an emergency closing occurs.

Surplus Property for Sale

Delano Public Schools has various surplus property for sale, including the following:

·            Overhead projectors (20)

·            Overhead Projector carts (9)

·            Other carts (7)

·            Computer monitors (4)

·            Camera Monitors (2)

·            VCRs (4)

·            Televisions

·            Recumbent bikes (2)

·            VHS Cameras (3)

·            Used man-lift

·            Study Carrels

·            Wood chairs

·            Copy machine

Anyone interested in these items call 763-972-3365 x2111.

1981 Ford Tractor with nearly new front mounted brush and rear mount snowblower in good working condition.  Sealed bids will be accepted at the District Office until 12:00 noon on Friday, November 19, 2010.  This unit has a trade-in value of $5,000. The School District reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. Call 763-972-3365 x2111 to inspect this equipment.

Veteran's Day

Delano Middle School and High School will again be hosting a Veteran’s Day Program on Thursday, November 11 beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Tiger Activity Center. The winners of the “Patriot Pen” contest, a writing contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars for 7^th and 8^th grade students, will be announced. We will also recognize the winners of the Walter Grotz Essay Scholarship Contest sponsored by WWII Veteran and former Prisoner of War, Walter Grotz. This year’s speaker will be Major Patricia Osmon who is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and also a school board member. The public, along with all veterans, are invited to the program. 

Bussing will be provided for Veterans from the American Legion at 9:00 a.m.

Proposed Tax Levy Information

At the September 27 school board meeting, the school board approved its proposed tax levy for 2010 taxes payable in 2011. Click here for the proposed levy information. In accordance with state law, the school board will discuss the budget and tax levy at its December 20 school board meeting that will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Delano Middle School Media Center. (The meeting is held at the school because City Hall is not available so the meeting will not be televised live.)

You will notice a significant decline in the school portion of the property tax notice. This is due to a decrease in the debt service which is brought about by the pay-off of some previously issued bonds for facilities. The total decrease in the levy is $527,403 or 9.74%. If the pay-off of the bonds did not take place the levy would have increased by 1%. This will translate to a savings of about $49 per $100,000 of taxable value on residential homestead property.

Property owners will receive by mail a notice of their proposed property tax and notice of the above mentioned meeting between November 10 and November 25. Click here for a booklet titled Understanding Your Property Taxes, 2010 Edition for Taxes Payable in 2010. This publication can be of assistance in undersanding property taxes.

Another publication that is available is Fourteen Reasons Why Property Taxes Vary from Year to Year, which is also helpful in trying to understand why property taxes change.

China Visitors

We are very happy to be hosting visitors from our sister school in China, Zi Yun High School in Tanggu, this week. There are 12 students, three directors and one teacher that are hosted by Delano students, their families and Delano staff members.

                 Standing L-R: Mi Shuangjie and Meng Lingcai.
Seated L-R: Zhang Wenyan, John Sweet and Yu Yang

Education Jobs Fund Legislation

The Ed Jobs Fund bill was authorized by Congress in August. The purpose of the legislation is to save or create education jobs for the 2010-11 school year. This is one-time funding and the funds can be carried over to the 2011-12 school year. Delano Schools is authorized to receive $426,414 in one-time money under this legislation.

The School District intends to spend these dollars in a very prudent manner with an eye to the fiscal unknowns of the near future. A sixth grade teacher was added to reduce class sizes from 30 to 25. A part-time art position in the middle school was increased to full-time in order to provide one more grade with an art experience and to relieve the high school art teacher of a middle school assignment so he has time to work with high school independent study art students. A part-time vocal music teacher was added to the middle school to reduce choir sizes to a more manageable level. An Elementary Curriculum/Assessment Coordinator is also being added to assist the elementary school in the areas of curriculum, testing, and a myriad of other duties associated with a building containing 804 students and 94 employees, the highest number of any building in the district.

During the current fiscal year the School District is operating on approximately $430,000 of one-time funds that will not be available next year. It is the intent to carry over a portion of the Ed Jobs Funds to next year as a cushion for the one-time funds being utilized this year.