Business Lab Students 'Show and Tell' at School Board

DAYTON-Last week, Superintendent Doug Johnson impressed upon those in attendance at the "Show and Tell" portion of the regular school board meeting the importance of high school business teacher Bob Cummings' work with students he teaches.

As part of his curricula, Cummings has incorporated the Visual Arts and Economics into studies for the students, and those subjects are related to life skills, which was listed as an important component of the District's Strategic Plan, going forward, Johnson said.

"Those are skills taught in two or three spots," Johnson said.

Johnson said that students are also getting some art instruction, through courses in Photoshop.

"Kids are excelling and doing more," Johnson said.

Cummings said that students in his classes are currently able to receive certification in Microsoft, Excel, Word, and Adobe, making them attractive to the business world, he said.

One of Cummings objectives is to have the FBLA students teach computer skills to older adults in the community, he said.

This time next year adults will be able to receive certification from course work through the school district. Adults will be able to work from home and be proctored at the school, Cummings said.

Cummings' students are currently working on rebranding the Bulldog, which is the school mascot, through a Microsoft program called Imagine.

In the near future, students will begin selling apparel with the new mascot logo. Dingle's Hardware Store is one retail location for those items, Cummings told the directors.

The project will be overseen by the ASB, Superintendent Johnson explained.

"The intention is for options for kids, and the Alumni Association to participate," he said.

"I'd like the kids to see the business aspect of it," said Cummings.

Every couple of weeks the class focus is on sales, he said.

"I want them up in front of the class, selling things, and selling themselves," Cummings said.

FBLA student Kiya McCaw and Josh Hartwell gave a short Power Point presentation to the board when they met in the business lab. The students are learning about using the video camera, editing and producing.

McCaw is excited to learn more, and she said she hopes to learn Photoshop in the near future.

"I learned how to do Word and Excel this year," FBLA student Josh Hartwell told the directors about his experiences in Cummings classes.

"I teach them how to use the pieces. I don't give them the answers," Cummings told the directors.

"Mr. Cummings is really good at working with different kids at one time," McCaw said.

Cummings said he teaches one hundred and twelve students, throughout the day, in his six classes at the DSD.

"He comes from the business world. He knows what businesses are looking for," Superintendent Johnson said.

Also at last week's meeting Superintendent Johnson gave a brief update on the asphalt project slated for 2017.

Johnson said that the engineering aspect of the project is more expensive than was anticipated.

"We'll have to take a look at it. We'll probably make some adjustments that will impact the bottom line. I'll have more information later," Johnson told the directors.

There are several efforts on the part of the governor, and the state legislators, to address the Supreme Court ruling concerning McCleary, Johnson said.

"The Senate Democrats have endorsed a flat rate per student plan," Johnson announced.

"The Republican plan numbers are off in a huge way," said Director Dave Bailey about Senate Bill 5607, the Local Effort Levy, otherwise known as the "levy swap".

"There are lots of moving pieces, out there," Johnson said about the efforts to tackle the Supreme Court's ruling requiring the state to fully fund public education.

"It's a very complex animal," he said.

Business manager Paula Moisio said the budget is "progressing nicely along".

"With higher enrollment, we will take in more money, and spend more. We may need to do a budget extension," she said.

Superintendent Johnson said the elementary staff will be included in a one or two day workshop, to be held in the Tri-Cities, that will focus on how to turn high poverty schools into high performing schools.

"We need to look and see if we're doing the kinds of things to help kids," Johnson told the directors.

Superintendent Johnson said that snow make-up dates are scheduled for March 3, and June 12, 13, and 14.