Mounds View Public Schools

News and Views -- October 27, 2009

Flu and schools
A handful of schools in the District have experienced periods of significant student absences this month caused by influenza-like illnesses. These schools have sent e-mails and letters to families explaining preventative steps and encouraging them to keep students home if they are showing symptoms of an influenza-like illness. Click the icon at left or visit www.youtube.com/user/MoundsViewSchools to view a brief video on flu and schools produced by Mounds View Public Schools. For more information visit www.moundsviewschools.org or call a toll-free line at 1-866-259-4655 for information and treatment options.

Enrollment surge
Remember last month's enrollment report describing a 12th consecutive year of decline? Thanks to some unusually busy first few weeks of school, more than 50 new students registered this fall, pushing the District's official October enrollment total to 9,662. (View report here.) That's an increase of 39 students compared to October 1, 2008. As a result, for the first time in 12 years, Mounds View's total K-12 enrollment in October shows an increase over the previous year. Factors contributing to this near stabilization include:

* A significant number of new student move-ins during the first week of school.
* Enrollment from non-public schools increased 54 percent.
* Enrollment from other public school districts more than doubled.

For more than a decade, enrollment declined in Mounds View Public Schools because of fewer school-aged children residing in the District. Yet every year, the District consistently enrolls 80 percent of all possible school-aged children. Officials will continue to monitor enrollment projections throughout the year to build the District's budget for 2010-2011.

Getting personal
All District middle and high school students and parents now have online access to students' Personal Learning Plans (PLPs). PLPs allow parents and Deans to monitor if their student is on track to achieve proficiency, to graduate and ultimately to tackle a plan for life after high school. How do they work?

* Throughout the year, middle and high school Deans will create unique goals for their students, drawing from academic data and personal connections.
* Students and parents can enter the parent portal SchoolView, click on a goal and view a list of recommended actions to meet the goal -- from course suggestions, to tutoring opportunities, to practice tests, to increased homework check-ins.
* Families can also view the student's progress made along the way, receiving performance benchmark data throughout the year.

To begin tapping this resource or to learn more about Personal Learning Plans, visit here.

School Board election
The November 3, 2009, School Board election will feature three vacant seats, serving four-year terms. The following residents filed Affidavits of Candidacy.
* Jack Brunell, 2133 10th St NW, New Brighton
* Timothy Husnik, 520 Lake Cove Ct, Shoreview
* Greg Madsen, 4255 Norma Ave, Arden Hills
* Marre Jo Sager, 1630 Daisy Ct, New Brighton
* Jon M. Tynjala, 1925 17th Ave NW, New Brighton
For more candidate information, polling locations or to view a broadcast of the October 22 Candidate Forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters, New Brighton, visit here.

New resource for families
Looking for some simple, easy-to-follow ideas about what you can do to keep kids safe, secure and healthy? The new "How are the children?" web site offers information and data specifically about how children in Suburban Ramsey County are doing and provides information on programs and organizations working with children and families in our communities. Visit www.howarethechildren.org. "How are the children?" is an initiative of the Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative which has partnered with Mounds View Public Schools earning the District and three neighboring school districts a four-year multi-million-dollar grant designed to reduce risk factors for students and their families.