Annual Report

WHAT IS AN ANNUAL REPORT?

Public Act 335, the Quality Education bill requires that all school districts in Michigan issue an annual report. The purpose of this report is to inform our residents of the school district improvements and changes that have been taking place in the district schools. All Michigan public school districts are also required to report on their accreditation status, progress towards accomplishment of local and National Goals (Goals 2000), development and implementation of a local core curriculum aligned with the State Core, student achievement, and specialized schools. The Grant Public Schools Annual Report is designed to meet these requirements as well as provide useful and interesting information to our public.

GRANT PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ANNUAL REPORT

2005-2006

DISTRICT

Superintendent’s Message

The Michigan School Code requires all districts in Michigan to issue an annual report. The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of the programs and services offered by your school system. It is also intended to inform members of our school community about our educational goals, school quality and accreditation.

We have excellent school facilities and programs, but more importantly we have excellent students, staff and parents. The 2005-2006 school year was an outstanding school year. However, the Board of Education, Administration and staff are committed to the process of continuous educational improvement in 2006-2007 and beyond. We will continue to provide the best educational experience possible for all of our students.

We know that what we do would not be possible without the continuing support of the Grant Public School Community. We sincerely thank you.

Scott Bogner,

Superintendent

School District Data 2005-2006

2005-06 K-12 Enrollment……………………….2,470

Certified Personnel………………………………..139

Non-Certified Personnel………………………..…157

Administration……………………………………….9

Taxable Value…………………………..$195,289,886

Operational Millage

Homestead………………………………………6.00

Non-Homestead………………………………..18.00

Debt Retirement Millage…………………………..7.46

2004-05 Budget………………………… $19,722,182

FEDERAL CLASS SIZE REDUCTION PROGRAM

A special grant was awarded to Grant Public Schools for the express purpose of reducing class size at the lower elementary school level. These funds were used in the Kindergarten last year to keep class sizes at 18 students per class or lower.

MEAP Scores (Reported in %)

	2004-2005	2005-2006
HS Eng Lang Arts
Level 1	1	0
Level 2	30	67
Level 3	54	33
Level 4	14	0

HS Reading
Level 1	1	0
Level 2	49	81
Level 3	39	19
Level 4	10	0

HS Writing
Level 1	1	2
Level 2	21	26
Level 3	55	67
Level 4	21	5

HS Math
Level 1	2	0
Level 2	28	56
Level 3	23	23
Level 4	47	21

HS Science
Level 1	2	0
Level 2	32	72
Level 3	21	16
Level 4	46	12

HS Social Studies
Level 1	0	5
Level 2	21	49
Level 3	24	42
Level 4	55	5

% Proficient

State

Diff

Exceeded

Met

Basic

NYP

03-04

02-03

3rd Reading

3rd Writing

3rd Language Arts

3rd Math

4th Reading

4th Writing

-4

4th Language Arts

4th Math

5th Reading

5th Writing

-3

5th Language Arts

5th Math

-6

5th Science

6th Reading

-6

6th Writing

-9

6th Language Arts

-7

6th Math

-4

6th Social Studies

7th Reading

7th Writing

-1

7th Language Arts

-1

7th Math

-6

8th Reading

-5

8th Writing

8th Language Arts

-2

8th Math

-22

8th Science

9th Social Studies

PRIMARY CENTER

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

The Primary Center to is proud to present our annual report for the 2005-06 school year. We want our community to know and understand our building’s accomplishments. In addition to complying with the provisions of PA 335, this report will also increase communication regarding our continuous progress.

If you have any questions or comments, please call me at 231-834-7382.

Renae Galsterer

Principal

BUILDING PROFILE

At Grant Primary Center, we educate students from Young Five’s through Grade Two. This past year we had 420 students enrolled in our school. In addition, Special Education and Title I are also accessible to our students.

Primary Center Staff

24 Certified Staff
1 Counselor/School Social Worker
.25 School Nurse (shared district-wide)
22 Support Staff (non-certified)
1 Principal

The Newaygo County Regional Educational Service Agency provides specialized personnel for diagnosing and providing services for impaired individuals.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The following chart presents our attendance information for the previous two school years.

	2004-05	2005-06
Perfect Attendance	3%	2.8%
Average Daily Attendance	93%	92%

ACCREDITATION

Accreditation is a procedure that determines whether an organization or school meets a set of standards and criteria set by the association granting the accreditation. For schools this routinely means the organization and submission of programming information which is deemed necessary for a quality education. Then the association analyzes submitted information and determines whether the school has met the predetermined expectations.

The Grant Primary Center has been awarded the North Central Association Outcomes Accreditation (NCA) where we received full accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. This accreditation is recognition of our distinguished staff and programs, and the excellent support we receive from our parents, the Board of Education and the Grant community. This NCA process has been the guiding force in our school improvement efforts for the past ten years.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STRUCTURE

The Grant Primary Center Staff understands that school improvement is an uninterrupted procedure, which necessitates contribution from personnel at all levels as well as from community members. Our Building Improvement Group consists of one parent, seven instructional staff, one non-certified staff member and the building principal.

This assembly meets monthly to discuss ways to improve the Grant Primary Center, focusing on both short-term and long-term goals.

Mission Statement

"We encourage excellence and promote life long learning through discovery, relationships and study."

The following goals have been established for our current NCA cycle.

All students will explore the five elements of the scientific process and demonstrate this process when making scientific decisions.

All students will improve their ability to read apply comprehension to a variety of texts.

All students will show improvement in their ability to use problem solving, estimation and measuring.

2005-06 Accomplishments

· We have continually developed strategies to help us achieve our goals and reporting system to keep record of our progress.

· Our Child Study process has been refined with additional strategies and supports for students, parents and teachers.

· We continue to support our students in the Everyday Mathematics program in grades Young Fives through second.

· All students participate in the Math Moms and Dads supplementary basic math skills program.

· Young Fives and Kindergarten students receive individual gross motor time weekly.

VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers are fundamental in a schools ability to run effectively in providing a diversity of special services. Community members helped in many ways. Some examples were:

Assisting with day-to-day classroom activities
Facilitating our Math Moms and Dads program
Creating school and classroom materials
Tutoring students in academic areas as well as boosting their self-esteem through positive adult contact
Aiding with Student Picture Days
Providing refreshments for special days
Helping with Spring Field Day
Providing special displays and generating classroom presentations
Chaperoning field trips
Representing the school in the Parent Involvement Organization
Participating as members of the Building Improvement Group

We also have numerous high school students (from the Grant Learning Center and the Grant High School) who support through the National Honor Society and the PALS program as tutors and mentors. In addition, some elementary students are teamed with Primary Center students to explore mathematics concepts through educational games.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

One of the most significant conditions in each and every student’s achievement in school is the involvement of his or her parents or guardians in the educational experience. We are very proud of the dynamic participation demonstrated by the parents and guardians of our students at the Primary Center.

	2004-05	2005-06
Fall	93%	94%
Spring	86%	88%

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

We are pleased to present this annual report for 2005-06. In addition to complying with the provisions of PA 335, this report is also designed to increase communication of our progress in improving our schools.

It is our hope that you find this report helpful. If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call me at 834-5678.

Educationally,

Joel A. Schuitema,

Principal

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

The average daily attendance at Grant Elementary School for 2005-06 was 96%.

BUILDING PROFILE

Grant Elementary school houses grades two, three and four. In addition, Title I and special education services are available. Our student population this year numbered 420.

Staff

26 Certified staff

1 Counselor

22 Support staff

.25 Nurse

1 Principal

ACCREDITATION

Accreditation is the process by which a school is determined to meet a set of standards necessary to provide a quality education. Grant Elementary School has received accreditation by the North Central Association and interim accreditation by the Michigan Department of Education.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

Grant Elementary School began our school improvement process in 1992-93. The building improvement team consists of eight teachers, two support staff, two parents and the principal. We meet on a regular basis to discuss ways to improve the elementary program.

In 2005, Grant Elementary School finished the Final NCA Report and received the Outcomes Endorsement.

MISSION STATEMENT

We encourage excellence and promote life long learning through discovery, relationships and study.

In 2000-01 we started a new NCOA cycle, completed a parent survey, needs assessment and student profile. The following goals have been established for our second cycle.

GOAL: All students will explore the five elements of the scientific process and

demonstrate this process when making scientific decisions.

GOAL: All students will improve their ability to read apply comprehension

to a variety of texts.

GOAL: All students will show improvement in their ability to use problem solving,

estimation and measuring.

2005-06 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

We continue to implement strategies to help us achieve our goals, while monitoring our reporting system to keep record of our progress.

PARENT PARTICIPATION

One of the most important factors in every student’s success in school is the involvement of parent in the educational process. We are proud of the active participation of our parents at Grant Elementary School. Our student’s accomplishments reflect the support and interest of our parents.

Parent/Guardian Attendance

2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03

Fall Conferences 93% 90% 91% 88%

Spring Conferences Snow Day 89% 90% 85%

MIDDLE SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Ms. Carolyn Whyte and I are pleased to present this annual report for Grant Middle School. This report has been created to communicate the things that we are doing to improve the quality of your child’s education. It is the hope of the Middle School staff that the parents of our students, and the entire community, will find this report informative.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at 231-834-5910.

Educationally,

Lance A. Jones

Principal

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

During the 2005-2006 school year, we wrote our Final Report for NCA and we were awarded school improvement honors. This report consisted of data covering the last three years for our writing strategies and assessments for each of our four NCA goals. These goals, strategies, and assessments were formalized into our School Improvement Plan.

Goal 1:

All students will develop and improve reading skills throughout the curriculum.

· At least once per marking period in each content area, teachers will introduce a specific comprehension strategy. Students will practice the strategy in all core classes. The Gates-McGinitie and STAR test data is used as an assessment of growth.

· At least once per marking period in each content area, students will participate in a vocabulary development activity that uses definitions or context clues. The Gates-McGinitie and STAR test data is used as an assessment of growth.

· Students are given a minimum of twenty minutes a day during which the students will be read to, read with, or required to read independently so that the students are able to achieve their Accelerated Reader/reading goals. These goals are set by the teacher and the student at the beginning of each quarter. At the end of each marking period, the teacher and student review the student’s Accelerated Reader/reading goal. We use the Gates-McGinitie and STAR test data and the percentage of student goals that are achieved as an assessment of growth for this goal.

GOAL2:

All students will improve writing skills across the curriculum.

· Students are expected to practice their writing skills on a continual basis. This year all of our teachers used Power Writing (instead of John Collins) and many of our staff are using the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing to enhance the students writing.

· Students, in all subject areas at all grade levels, will write essays in all their classes.

· Teachers use proofreading activities within the classroom. The teachers of language arts administer a proofreading assessment early in the school year and then again at the end of the school year as a means of measuring progress toward this goal.

· We use the results from the MEAP writing scores as one of our assessments of our progress toward this goal.

GOAL 3:

All students will display responsible behavior.

· Teachers incorporate the RESPECT acronym into all classrooms and reinforce across the curriculum. There are visuals in all classrooms.

· All staff uses the Responsible Thinking Process to help students learn to take responsibility for changing their own behavior. Students are sent to the RTC (Responsible Thinking Classroom) to write their plans after they disrupt a class.

· This goal is assessed each marking period using the number of referrals to the RTC and to the office.

· Citizenship grades are calculated to assess behavior throughout the building.

GOAL 4:

All students will demonstrate responsible behavior by completing required

coursework in a timely manner.

· Teachers expect that students take seriously the production of quality coursework that is completed and handed in within timelines set.

· Teaching teams select a consistent method of informing parents of student progress toward this goal.

· Teachers document student late and missing work. This data is used to assess our building’s progress toward this goal.

ACCREDITATION

Accreditation is the process which determines whether a school meets a set of standards necessary for a quality education. The Middle School has also been awarded Outcomes Accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, a nationally recognized organization. This accreditation is in recognition of our outstanding staff and programs, our student achievement, and the excellent support we receive from our parents, the Board of Education, and the Grant community. Grant Middle School has been granted accreditation from the Michigan Department of Education.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

One of the most important factors in every student’s success in school is the involvement of parents or guardians in the educational process. We are proud of the active participation our parents / guardians interest and support.

Parent /Guardian Attendance 2002 2003 2004 2005

Fall Conference Number 573 558 513 475

Percent 76% 77.4% 75% 70%

Spring Conference Number 156 173 154 230

Percent 23% 24.5% 22% 34%

This year for spring conference many phone calls were made home due to the fact we had one day cancelled because of weather.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

A significant factor in student success is student attendance and participation. Grant Middle School’s average daily attendance for 2005-2006 is 96.5%.

HIGH SCHOOL REPORT

2005-2006

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

We are pleased to present this annual report for Grant High School. In addition to complying with the provisions of Public Act 334, this report is also designed to increase the level of communication about our programs in improving our schools.

It is my hope that you will find this report helpful. If you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call the high school at 834-5622.

Sincerely,

Tom Szocinski

Principal

ACCREDITATION

Grant High School was admitted to membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools in 1994. We have been accepted for Outcomes Accreditation as of March 1, 2000. We started the second round of the accreditation process during the 2002-2003 school years and finished it during this school year. In addition our high school was also granted Interim Accreditation status by the Michigan Department of Education.

RETENTION AND DROPOUT RATE

These statistics are based on the high school enrollment for the 2004-05 and 2005-06 school years. The following chart illustrates the percentage of students who remained in school (retention rate) or dropped out of school during each school year.

2004-05 2005-06

Retention 99.6% 99%

Drop Out .4% 1%

BUILDING IMPROVEMENT STATUS REPORT

During the 2002-03 school year, Grant High School started another cycle of the North Central process. We are in the process of developing new goals and strategies. The Building Improvement Team consists of the following members:

Mr. Scott Keelean, Mr. Kim Kennedy, Mrs. Jill Kuebler , Mrs. Kari Mahn, Ms. Beth Keloneva, Mr. Tom Szocinski, Ms. Virginia Wheatley, Mrs. Cindy Wilde and Mr. Scott Zerlaut.

Listed below are our target goals that we continued to develop during the 2005-06 school year.

Goal: Students will be able to demonstrate their ability to write in a clear, concise and organized

manner.

Goal: Students will improve reading comprehension.

Goal: Students will improve health and fitness.

ENDORSEMENTS

Graduating seniors may receive endorsements on their diplomas in Math, Science, Reading, Writing and Social Studies.

Percent of Seniors Earning

MEAP Diploma Endorsements (2005/2006)

READING WRITING MATH SCIENCE SOCIAL STUDIES

59.6 35.3 40.4 45.6 27.1

ACT RESULTS

TOTAL ENGLISH MATH READING SCIENCE COMPOSITE

79 19.0 19.5 20.6 20.9 20.1

PARENT PARTICIPATION

2004-05 2005-06

Parent/Guardian Attendance

Fall 473 463

65% 64%

Winter 336

48%

Spring 212 136

37% 20%

POST-SECONDARY ATTENDANCE

An option available to high school students is that of participating in dual enrollment or post secondary programs. Students each year are notified of these options and the requirements for participation. The following indicated the degree of participation in these program options for the immediately preceding year.

· Number of students enrolled in one or more post-secondary courses. (5)

· Percent of senior population. 3%

· Number of programs offered to students.

* District 0

* High school 0

* Cooperative programs 0

· Number of students in AP classes by grade level.

Grade 9 (0) Grade 10 (0) Grade 11 (7) Grade 12 (30)

· Percent of students in AP classes by grade level.

Grade 9 (0%) Grade 10 (0%) Grade 11 (5%) Grade 12 (19%)

· Number taking AP exam 5 Percent taking exam 14%

· Number achieving credit unknown Percent achieving credit unknown

SPECIALIZED SCHOOLS

The Newaygo County Career Center provides programs to develop quality career and technical education for all students in grades 11 and 12 consistent with their needs, interests and abilities. The procedures for enrollment in career and technical programs are outlined in the Admission Procedures document. Placement and program recommendations are carried out through the counseling department. During the 2005-06 school year, we had 165 students enrolled, representing 53% of the junior and senior classes.

The Learning Center in Grant provides an alternative for high school age students to finish their education. The students are enrolled at the school through an interview with the principal of the high school and the director of the Learning Center. The classes that are offered here are similar in nature to the regular high school. We had 14 students enrolled here for the 2005-06 school year.

2004-05 2005-06

Career Tech 165 165

Learning Center 22 14