Upcoming Fulton Middle School Principal Beth Houf, currently the principal at McIntire Elementary School, presented her thoughts on how to make improvements at the middle school during the Fulton Public Schools Board of Education meeting on Wednesday.
With communication as a focus, Houf has sent a welcome letter to parents in order to introduce herself, received anonymous feedback forms from staff and will send family feedback forms home with students. The middle school has its own Twitter page: @FMS_Hornets. She also held a meet-and-greet event with the staff where they could give feedback on communication, parent-family involvement, student engagement and more.
Her engagement has not only been with the staff, however. Houf has taken time to get to know the students, meeting with the middle school student council.
Based on the feedback she's received so far, culture and climate areas of importance include: effective behavior support system, celebrations, positivity, mutual respect, morale boosters for students and staff, communication, trust, accountability, visibility and consistency.
For family and community engagement, Houf said communication, trust, volunteers, involvement of local stakeholders, family engagement nights and more are on the middle school's priority list. The middle school also hopes to implement a sixth grade boot camp for incoming middle school students in the 2015-2016 year.
In his report, Superintendent Jacque Cowherd reported to the board that 138 seniors will graduate this year - an increase of 11 students from last school year. Business teacher and A+ Coordinator Jody Troesser said that 302 of 587 total high school students have participated in the A+ program for the 2014-2015 year. That's 51 percent of the student body. There are 67 percent of seniors and 63 percent of juniors participating. Troesser said 59 students should complete the program this year.
"We are far above what we've ever been before," Troesser said.
Assistant Superintendent Suzanne Hull said the majority of summer school staff has been solidified and the district is still accepting applications.
The board also approved the drafting of a policy that will allow a past or present board member to present his or her child with his or her diploma at the graduation ceremony. Board members Todd Gray, Kristi Donohue, Dennis Depping and President Andy Bonderer voted yes for the motion. Rodney Latty, Ruth Burt and Kevin Habjan voted no. Details of a policy will be worked on prior to this year's graduation ceremony.
Before its formal meeting, the board recognized the district's Special Olympics athletes with awards. Director of Special Services and Federal Programs Barbara Reid said 39 athletes competed in the event at Hermann earlier this month. The district also recognized and presented awards to students who placed at the district and state levels in their respective fields: 22 band students, 14 choir students and 14 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students.