Semi-annual school district report  brought to you

 by our superintendent, Dr. Stephen Piereson

I want to write to you to provide you with a midyear report on several items in our schools.

Teacher of the Year

Birchview School third grade teacher Trisha Smith has been named the District Teacher of the Year.  Mrs. Smith was selected by a committee composed of parents, Board of Education members, teachers, and administrators.  Mrs. Smith is noted for her work in reading and bringing out the best in her students.

District Web Site

School information is posted on the district web site at:

www.ishpemingschools.com

Highly Qualified Teachers

Federal and Michigan statutes require that all teachers meet the "highly qualified' standards.  All Ishpeming teachers have met the "highly qualified" standards for the grades and subject matter that they teach.

School Safety

We continue to emphasize school safety and security.  All school employees have been subject to a Michigan State Police/Federal Bureau of Investigation background check via electronic fingerprints.  In order to rapidly identify employees, all school employees wear a photo identification badge.  We have worked with the Ishpeming Police Department to have uniformed officers randomly visit the schools so that there is visible police presence.

Bus Inspection

All of our buses were inspected by the Michigan State Police in December 2008.  We have been notified by the State Police that we have a 100% pass rate.  Every bus meets the State Police inspection standards.

Board of Education

The Board of Education holds regular meetings at 7:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month.  The meetings are held in the Ishpeming High School library and are open to the public.  Periodically, the Board holds special meetings that are announced in the news media. 

Michigan State University

Ishpeming High School is one of three high schools in the state to be selected to work with Michigan State University on a program involving students in technology and community service.

Junior Kindergarten

As you may know, we have an excellent junior kindergarten program that meets for a half-day every day Monday through Friday.  The Legislature and Governor recently pass legislation that requires, in order to receive full State Aid funding, that developmental kindergarten programs, like our junior kindergarten and other programs called young fives, be all day/every day programs in 2009-2010.

An option for the Board of Education is to continue to have a half day every day junior kindergarten program and accept a 50% reduction in State Aid funds for the children in junior kindergarten.

The Board is working on making a decision as to whether to go to an all day every day junior kindergarten program or to maintain the half-day every day junior kindergarten program.  If you have an opinion on this please feel free to contact me either by calling 485-5501 or by emailing to superintendent@ishpemingschools.com

Inclement Weather

All of the schools in Marquette County were closed on January 15th and January 16th due to temperature concerns.  The key factor in these closings was that the National Weather Service had issued a formal Wind Chill Warning for the serious potential for frostbite, hypothermia, and death.  In all inclement weather situation the district superintendents consult with the National Weather Service personnel for detailed information on weather conditions.

Scholarships

Ishpeming High School seniors have access to more college scholarships than our neighbors combined.  There are 41 college scholarships that are open only to Ishpeming High School students.  In addition, there are some 30 scholarships and loans that are open to Ishpeming High School students as well as to students from other schools.  We also have a low interest loan program open only to Ishpeming High School students.  In a time of escalating costs for higher education there scholarships are invaluable.

Vocal Music

The Ishpeming High School musical "South Pacific" was a great hit with audiences of all ages in April 2008.  On March 19-22, 2009, the Ishpeming High School vocal music department will be presenting "Anything Goes" at the IHS W.C. Peterson Auditorium.

Character Education

Teachers and staff at the C.L. Phelps School have been involved with a character education program called "Languages of Love."  The training program for teachers and staff involves effective ways of communicating with students.  The training program has been supported by a grant from the Sprint Corporation.

Project Newborn Rock & Read

Every Monday morning the Project Newborn playgroup for preschool children meets at the Birchview School gymnasium form 9:30 - 11:30 A.M.  There are games and reading for the children and refreshments for parents and grandparents.  Early childhood specialists are available and IHS Key Club students supervise the children.  For additional information, contact Superintendent Stephen Piereson at 485-5501.

State Mandated Michigan Merit Curriculum

In March 2006, the Michigan Legislature and Governor enacted laws that establish the mandatory Michigan Merit Curriculum for all public high school students effective with the Class of 2011 (the current sophomore class).  By law, students must complete the state mandated Michigan Merit Curriculum in order to graduate. 

The state mandated high school graduation requirements include:

Schools will also have additional credit requirements to receive a high school diploma.

If you have questions or comments on any of these items, please feel free to call me at 485-5501 or e-mail me at superintendent@ishpemingschools.com.