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November 2008
If you are reading this newsletter, you know that the St. Francis School District has launched a new and improved website. The schools and District share a common format, making it easier for you to navigate and locate information. Please take a few minutes to visit our schools and classrooms.
We are very excited about the recent passage of the Basic Needs School Referendum. The citizens of St. Francis have demonstrated their support of the schools by approving a $14.9 million dollar referendum. Planning for the renovations and repair of our buildings will begin this month. To stay informed and follow the progress of our referendum projects, you can click on the following link: http://64.198.4.55/referendum/referendum.htm. On behalf of the students and staff, I want to thank the voters of St. Francis for their commitment to the education of our students.
Every September, the District is required to count and report student enrollment to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Our total enrollment in September 2008 was 1,326 compared with 1,353 last year. For eleven years, the District has been steadily losing resident students. In 1997, the District had 1,235 resident students and this year we have 880. The goods news is that our rate of resident student decline is as low as it has been since 1997. Each resident student brings approximately $10,000 into the District. To make up for losing these students and to maintain our school programs and services, the District has accepted students under the Open Enrollment Program. Each of those students generates revenue of approximately $6,500.
The safety of our students is always our first priority and this year we are taking additional steps to ensure student safety. Mr. Mark DiStefano, St. Francis High School Principal, has been appointed the District's Safety Coordinator. He is working with Mr. Peter Pachowski, Executive Director of the National Association of School Safety and Law Enforcement Officers, to conduct a District-wide safety assessment. We have held one table-top training exercise with the St. Francis Police and Fire Departments and another training session is forthcoming. We are also updating our Crisis Prevention and Response Manual and, using funds from the referendum, will be improving school safety by creating secure school entrances.
Once again, thank you for your support. Please do not hesitate to visit, call or e-mail us with your ideas, concerns or questions.
Carol R. Topinka
Superintendent of Schools
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