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8.24.15 School Board Brief
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Shakopee School Board Business Meeting

August 24, 2015
The Shakopee School Board held a business meeting on Monday, August 24. The Board meeting started with Chair Bowerman sharing the following Good News Items from across the District:
  • On August 13, teams from our 11 sites composed of 120 staff members, came together for our annual data retreat to set goals and develop school improvement plans for 2015-16.
  • The High School is excited to welcome the members of the Excellence with Equity team! They've been in the building for 2 weeks, and we are working hard and working together to serve our students. 
  • Our East Junior High 9th Grade Band will have the honor of performing at this year's Minnesota Music Educators Association Midwinter Conference in February. They were chosen out of a ton of competition as an exemplary band that will perform in downtown Minneapolis at the Convention Center. 
  • Pearson 6th Grade Center had more than 350 parents attend our iPad information nights over the last few weeks! Sixth grade parents are excited about the advances in technology at Pearson. 
  • Pearson 6th Grade Center staff has been reading Mindset and Drive over the summer and have been posting on a discussion thread in Canvas. Their discussions have been very reflective and meaningful!  Principal Turry reports that it’s been a great learning time for her staff.  
  • Sweeney is working to create a more inviting environment for parents, students and staff to build relationships with our families differently than we have in the past but also become more visually appealing. The front office, entry areas, and staff lounge have gone under a few updates with paint, a new desk in the front office and a good cleaning. Principal Zahn reports that her and her staff are working hard to build Sweeney pride!
  • The Shakopee wrestling program was well represented at the USA Wrestling ASICS/Vaughan Junior & Cadet National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota in late July. Alex Lloyd, an incoming sophomore won the 132-pound cadet Greco-Roman national championship by defeating an opponent from Utah, 5-4. Several other Shakopee wrestlers made it on the podium in their respective weight classes including junior Brent Jones, senior Owen Webster, sophomore Sam Webster and freshman Max Crowe. 


School Board Approves Strategic Plan 
 
After a brief presentation by Superintendent Dr. Rod Thompson, Director of Teaching and Learning Nancy Thul, and Data and Testing Administrator Dave Orlowsky, the Board unanimously accepted the District's 5-year strategic plan. The plan came together out of a grassroots process involving input from teachers, administrators, community members, and parents. The plan will be presented districtwide to teachers and staff next week in their staff meetings and will be communicated to the broader Shakopee community in the coming months.
 

Superintendent's Review

School Board Chair Reggie Bowerman spoke regarding the annual Superintendent review of Dr. Thompson:

"We are fortunate to have someone the caliber of Rod leading our District. The learning process that we collectively went through the last two years with your leadership both internally and externally has been phenomenal. You've never lost sight of the fact that quality education for our kids is priority number one. We've had many major initiatives come to fruition under your leadership including all-day Kindergarten and the redesign of our curriculum. Your leadership is not underestimated." 
 
Upcoming Meetings and Important Dates

Monday, August 24 - Friday, August 28, 2015
New Teacher Workshop Week
District wide

Monday, August 31 - Thursday, September 3 2015
Teacher Fall Workshop
District wide

Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Student 1st Day of School

Monday, September 14, 2015
School Board Business Meeting
6:00 p.m.
District Office (1200 Town Square)
 

Design Committees and Core Planning Team (teams formed after the successful May 5, 2015 referendum) will meet throughout the summer. To learn more about the teams and their meeting schedule click here.
Copyright © 2015 Shakopee Public Schools, All Rights Reserved.

www.shakopee.k12.mn.us

Our mailing address is:
1200 Town Square
Shakopee, MN 55379

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