Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Twenty-six Stillwater Area School District employees retired this year, leaving behind a combined total of 600 years of experience.
Another school year has come to an end. Stillwater area schools said good-bye to 26 retirees this year who have provided a combined total of 600 years of service to the students and families the district. Below is a list of the district's employees who are retiring: Janet Ames Years with the district: 14 Position: Work Coordinator of Special Needs students at Stillwater Area High School. Ames also spent more than 15 years working in the Washington County Workforce Center where she coordinated youth programs. Greatest accomplishment at SAHS: “Construction of trails, amphitheater and docks in environmental learning center through work at Washington County in collaboration with SAHS.” She also spearheaded the food and refuse recycling …
Monday, June 6, 2011
After the 2011-2012 school year, the days of living off of a fund balance will be over for Stillwater schools, and will need to start cutting back on what can be offered to students, Superintendent Tom Nelson says. "This is our reality."
In a recent school-district wide survey, the question was asked: “Do you think the Stillwater Area Schools are adequately funded?” Sixty-five percent of those answering the survey said yes. In the same survey, the question was asked: “Do you think the state legislature provides adequate funding to the Stillwater Area Schools?” On this question only 37 percent of those surveyed said yes, 48 percent answered no and 14 percent were not sure. These are very interesting and somewhat contradictory results. What these results tell me is that I need to do a better job of explaining how school funding works in Minnesota. In general, our public schools receive about 70 percent of our revenues from the State of Minnesota. We get another five percent …
Friday, May 20, 2011
The change will provide school leaders with new opportunities for professional growth.
School District 834 will be doing the principal shuffle next year. Four long-time principals in the Stillwater Area Public School District will be moving to different schools as part of a change designed to expand the principals’ leadership skills and allow for professional growth. “This is a school district with many outstanding principal leaders,” said Tom Nelson, interim superintendent. “I think we all understand the desire we feel as professionals to expand our horizons and try new things. It is exciting to see our principals seeking new opportunities, and it is even more exciting that we can allow them to grow professionally without having to leave our district.” The four principals involved in the reassignment include Andy Fields of …
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The school's Interim principal for the past year was selected as the school's new leader.
After serving a year as interim principal of Stillwater Junior High School, Chuck Ochocki has been offered the position on a permanent basis. “Chuck has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving student achievement and building positive relationships with students, staff, parents and community members,” said Chris Lennox, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning. “His enthusiasm, intelligence, commitment to excellence and understanding of the unique needs of each child will serve all of our students very well. We look forward to him continuing to build upon the school’s long-standing tradition of excellence.” The school board is expected to vote on the recommendation later this month. Ochocki stepped in as interim principal …
Randy Marsh
11:11 am on Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Fine then, invest in educating our students rather than the excessive number of fat cats sitting in their air conditioned offices at central services. You can support education without being wasteful and it's clear the board and administration does not manage the taxpayers dollars like most people would manage their own finances. more ›