Dayton School Board Summary

DAYTON—The Dayton School Board heard about enrollment numbers from Superintendent Doug Johnson at their regular meeting on Sept. 7.

Johnson said that school enrollment on the first count day was right at four hundred, higher than it was in September, 2015 and he said it is only the second time in the past nine years the count has been higher than the end of the prior year enrollment.

“This is a very good sign for us,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he is concentrating on the goal of making Dayton the school of choice, and that some students have come back to Dayton schools from other districts. “We’re happy if they come back. We’ll be happy to work with them, and meet their needs,” he said.

Johnson said the district will make an effort to survey students about their reason for choice of school, in or out of the district, in order to help the district identify and make changes where necessary.

Johnson said the district is considering potential dates for two community meetings to solicit public input on what the district should look like ten years from now.

He also updated the directors about which projects to expect to happen first from capital levy dollars.

The district will continue efforts to upgrade the outdated phone and communication system, Johnson said. Some cable has already been pulled throughout the building using M&O dollars, he said.

Johnson said that the big question is whether to go with voice over internet protocol or analog. “It’s too early to tell,” he said. Johnson said he has contacted seven vendors and spoke with one of them this week. He speculated that some of the work could be performed over the 2017 spring vacation.

The asphalt project is on track for bids beginning in January or February, for a summer of 2017 project start, Johnson said.

Athletics

Johnson said that the Dayton-Waitsburg combine for sports is going well. “Things are going well. The coaches are working well together. We’re excited to give community members and parents the opportunity to get to know each other,” Johnson said.

Elementary School

Elementary School Principal Pam Lindlsey reported that current enrollment in the elementary school is higher than it was at the end of last year, and that class sizes are meeting state requirements with optimal teacher to student ratio. “We’ve had a busy start. I’m excited,” she told the directors.

Lindlsey also reported on a new art curriculum being offered through the Office of the Superintendent of Public Education, and supported by Title I funds, that will focus on basic art elements, including principles, techniques and skills. The program will be integrated into the curriculum, and teachers received training in August on how to integrate those lessons into the curriculum, she said.

Teachers will participate in a survey and discussion on the impact the art lessons have on student achievement, Lindsley said.

Lindsley also said that teachers will participate in a book study titled “Number Talk: Helping Children Build Mental Math and Computation Strategies.

Secondary School

Secondary Principal Paul Shaber told the directors, ”Some of the negativity present at the beginning of the school year last year was not present on the first day of school.”

Shaber talked about giving students another opportunity to see what is great about living in Dayton. Shaber is creating a backcountry club for students to get involved in outdoors activities, such as skiing, hiking, rafting, and mountain climbing.

Superintendent Doug Johnson said that those experiences can be tied in with curriculum, and he gave the example of how writing poetry could be connected to participation in outdoor activities. Johnson also said this is one way to help define the Dayton School District as being unique, and attract more families to Dayton schools.

Shaber talked about a new Dayton Bulldog Logo contest in the works. He said students will begin submitting ideas for consideration at the end of the month.

Work is continuing on the beautification of the front of the high school, with planters and benches made by students planned. And after the logo contest is over, banners bearing the new logo will be displayed on Third Street, he said.

Also, office space has been created in the high school for law enforcement to use during the day, to increase their presence on campus, Shaber said.