FMS Strategic Plan: During this week’s Board of Education meeting, we delved into the details of our Strategic Plan and several key goals. Here's a more in-depth look at what four of our schools discussed:
Ladera Elementary School: Principal Heather Henegar, along with teachers Kimber Crabtree and Kristina Starr, shared their insights on how the school environment is perceived. They emphasized the importance of creating a safe, supportive, and orderly school environment (Goal 1.1), by identifying the best practices and expectations and organizing around them.
Heights Middle School: Principal Chris Jones and Assistant Principal Casey Kelly elaborated on their efforts to ensure that students, parents, and the community view the school as a safe and orderly place (Goal 1.2). They've been working on new initiatives and reimagining established events and festivals to foster stronger connections with the school community. Additionally, they've allocated 30 minutes each day for students to have access to their teachers for extra support. They also discussed their commitment to accommodating gifted students and student-athletes while minimizing class time disruption.
Tibbets Middle School: Principal Chris Argotsinger and teacher Michele Ryan provided insight into how teacher teams and collaborative groups work together to address common issues related to curriculum, assessment, instruction, and student achievement (Goal 1.4). They emphasized the need for a unified approach to teaching and have been visiting classrooms to revise their teaching and learning model accordingly.
Northeast Elementary: Principal Candace Young and teachers Kelley McKinney, Kimberley Carlson, and Karina Ramirez presented their approach to communicating a clear vision for instruction (Goal 2.1). They explained how they leverage data to assess student learning and support those who need additional help. Teachers also benefit from peer-to-peer learning, and sharing best practices, all without compromising valuable classroom learning time.
You can find more information about our Strategic Plan here.
In addition to the strategic plan discussions, the Piedra Vista High School Chamber Choir under the direction of Mr. James Golden gave a stunning performance of “Inveniam Viam,” “Goodnight, Dear Heart,” and “Lacrimosa” during the regular meeting. In the video, you can see the choir perform “Inveniam Viam,” which means “I shall find a way” in Latin.
Celebrating Excellence: The Board recognized our FMS Teacher of the Year, Jaime Long (Piedra Vista High School, third from left), and acknowledged the finalists for the award: Cherisa Suender (Mesa Verde Elementary), Nate Thompson (Rocinante High School, fourth from right), Kelly Henderson (Tibbetts Middle School), and Carol Mayes (Ladera del Norte Elementary). You can read more about the finalists and the Teacher of the Year here and here.
The Board celebrated Ms. Grace Blackwater and Ms. Carmelita Lee, recipients of the prestigious NJOMA Teacher of the Year and NJOMA Honorary Teacher of the Year awards, respectively. The Board also celebrated Farmington Municipal Schools receiving a Program Recognition Award at the Navajo Nation Johnson-O'Malley (JOM) Conference. Diane Arrington, our FMS Director of Multicultural Programs, presented the awards and provided an update on the remarkable progress of 53 students who have successfully exited the English Language Learner program, showcasing their excellent academic development. You can read more about these recognitions here.
Funds Approved: The Board approved the allocation of Capital Outlay funds, amounting to $1,828,019 for Career and Technical programs and $988,313 for school security enhancements.
The FMS Safety Department is planning to use $988,313 for various safety improvements. Here's a breakdown of what the funds will be used for:
- Automatic School Zone Timers: We will install automatic timers in the school zones of all elementary schools and the combined Mesa Verde and Heights campus to help ensure traffic safety during drop-off and pick-up times.
- Signage for School Safety: We will provide important signs at all schools, including ones that say "Report to the Office," "Drug-Free Zone," and "Visitors Report to the Office" to enhance security.
- Radio Replacement Program: We will make sure that all school staff members have access to functional radios for better communication during emergencies and day-to-day operations.
- Video Camera Replacement and Expansion Program: We will upgrade and expand the video camera system to enhance surveillance and improve safety across our school campuses.
- General Safety Equipment: This includes the provision of ID cards and other safety equipment to further enhance the overall safety of our schools.
- Security Vestibule: One school will be upgraded with a new vestibule to ease the check-in/check-out process for students and families.
- Additionally, $500,000 will be set aside to match possible grants for safety initiatives. FMS plans to apply for three safety grants to fund projects involving fencing, shatter-resistant glass treatment, and an electronic access system update. The funds will be used over a three-year period, with the grant application process starting in April 2024. This investment will help us make our schools even safer places for our children to learn and grow.
Policy Readings Update: The Board discussed potential changes to district policies (A-0352, 0400, B-0025, E-3100, and E-3111) and voted to table these changes for further consideration. For more details, please refer to our website.
Mask Guidance: Dr. Brad J. Scoggins provided a presentation on mask guidance, sharing his valuable insights. You can find Dr. Scoggins' notes for more information here.
The next Board of Education meeting will be on November 14, 2023.