ARROWPOINTTHE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS

VOLUME 38, ISSUE ONE • BACK TO SCHOOL 2012

SEE INSIDESuperintendent’s Message

School Year Calendar

Construction Update

New Administrators

Budget Basics

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It seems only days ago that I was speaking at graduation, and now we are but weeks away from a new school year. Perhaps the speed at which summer flew by can be attributed to the fact that it was an extremely busy summer for Broken Arrow Public Schools.

If you live in Broken Arrow and drove past any of our 25 sites this summer, you likely saw construction crews, orange cones and fencing around many of our schools. In all, 19 of our 25 sites were under some sort of construction this summer, all thanks to the bond issue approved by our patrons in 2009. Three new elementaries – one of which will be open in just a few days – are under construction. A spacious, state-of-the-art middle school is in progress, nine of our existing elementaries received additions and or renovations, and the high school is undergoing a complete facelift along the 61st street property line. As with any construction project, there have been and will continue to be inconveniences along the way. To those of you who have packed boxes, moved locations, or searched for parking spaces that were limited in number, I appreciate your patience as our district grows and expands. If you are at one of those sites that has gone through the growing pains and lived to tell the tale, I ask you to be an encouragement to those still facing the frustrations of construction. The daily disruptions can be a challenge for students, staff and parents alike but the results will be well worth the temporary inconvenience.

In addition to the new facilities, there is much to look forward to this year. We welcome more than 100 new teachers to our district, as well as several new principals and administrators. Broken Arrow continues to lead the way on many fronts, including adoption of the new Common Core State Standards, the implementation of a new digital learning program called !nspire21, and the expansion of our Career Exploration Program in which seniors can gain real-world experience in business settings thanks to the help of our local business partners. Increasing literacy among students remains a priority, and through the partnership of our Curriculum and Instruction Department with our BATV crew, our district has even developed its own, original TV program that encourages students to read.

Our district has a history of excellence, now is not the time to stop and rest. I will encourage our staff, parents and students to continually raise the bar of achievement, because while last year was successful, I expect even bigger and better things during the 2012-2013 year. We will continue to seek out opportunities for improving our district and ensure that every day is a great day to be a Tiger.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jarod Mendenhall, Superintendent of Schools

VOLUME 38, ISSUE 1 | BACK TO SCHOOL 2012

PublisherCommunications DepartmentBroken Arrow Public Schools

Editing/Content/PhotographyTara ThompsonPublic Information Officer

Layout/Design/PhotographyAdam J. ForemanGraphic Artist/Publications Specialist

Superintendent of SchoolsDr. Jarod Mendenhall

Board of EducationCheryl Kelly, PresidentSteve Allen, Vice PresidentJerry Denton, ClerkShari Wilkins, Deputy ClerkSteve Majors, Member

The ARROWPOINT is published by the Communications Department of Broken Arrow Public Schools and is distributed to approximately 45,000 households in the Broken Arrow school district. The ARROWPOINT is printed at Printed Products, Inc., and is the official communication tool for parents, students, staff and patrons of Broken Arrow Public Schools. Any information, content and photos contained herein are property of Broken Arrow Schools and are to be used by outside sources only with permission of the Communications Department. All contents are copyrighted.

Broken Arrow Public Schools (BAPS) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following people at BAPS have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: The Executive Director of Human Resources should be contacted for all non-student and/or employment related issues at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. The Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services should be contacted for all student issues except those related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. The Director of Special Education should be contacted for all student issues related to Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 at 918-259-5700 or at 701 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012. Inquiries concerning non-discrimination can also be made to the United States Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

Broken Arrow Public SchoolsEducation Service Center701 South Main StreetBroken Arrow, OK 74012(918) 259-5700 | F: (918) 258-0399www.baschools.org

ARROWPOINTTHE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF BROKEN ARROW PUBLIC SCHOOLS}

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SUPERINTENDENT

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Get the year started right with news concerning you and your student

Need toKNOWParents’ Right To Know

In accordance with the No Child Left Behind Act, parents have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct their children. Federal law allows parents to ask for certain information about their children’s classroom teachers, and requires schools to give parents this information in a timely manner if requested. Specifically, parents have the right to ask for the following information about their children’s classroom teachers:

1. Whether Oklahoma State Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches,

2. Whether Oklahoma State Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualifies under state regulations because of special or emergency circumstances,

3. The teacher’s baccalaureate degree major: whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and, if so, the subject of the degrees, graduate certification, and field of discipline, and

4. Whether any teachers’ aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications.

Additionally, parents will be notified if their students have been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by a teacher that is not highly qualified.

To receive any of this information, please contact Celia M. Armstrong, Assistant Director of Human Resources, at (918) 259-5700.

Directory InformationThe Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act allows a district to designate certain student

data as directory information. Broken Arrow Public Schools has designated “directory information” to include a student’s name, parents’ names, address and telephone listing, date of birth, class designation (i.e., first grade, tenth grade, etc.), extracurricular participation, achievement awards or honors, weight and height, if a member of an athletic team, photograph, as well as the school or school district the student attended before he/she enrolled in Broken Arrow schools. BAPS will continue to disclose student directory information for the purposes of printing student names in yearbooks, honor rolls, athletic programs and publications. Parents or eligible students should advise the school district in a letter to the Public Information Officer of any or all of the items they refuse to permit the district to designate as directory information about that student. The designation will remain in effect until it is modified by the written direction of the student’s parent or the eligible student.

Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response ActThe Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 requires that all buildings within the

school system be inspected for asbestos and a document management plan be written. A copy of this plan is available at individual school sites. All school buildings that contain asbestos are periodically reinspected. Any action taken, whether inspections or repairs, will be published in the Arrowpoint. If you have any questions or concerns, contact David McNutt, Director of Maintenance Services, at (918) 259-4530.

Child Find NoticeThis notice is to inform you that Broken Arrow

Public Schools is maintaining an ongoing Child Find search to locate, identify and evaluate any child age 3-21 with an established or suspected disability. Child Find efforts include all individuals age 3-21 not enrolled in school, as well as those who attend public and private schools, Head Start, state institutions, and other child care or treatment facilities. Children not of school age must reside in the boundaries of Broken Arrow Public Schools to be included in the child find efforts.

Broken Arrow Public Schools has established and maintains a comprehensive screening and multidisciplinary referral, evaluation and eligibility process for the identification of children with suspected disabilities. Child Find activities contain a mandate for public awareness of contact, location and established screening procedures. Information regarding evaluation procedures is available at no cost to parent/guardian upon request by contacting Broken Arrow Public Schools Special Services, Education Service Center, 701 S. Main, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. Phone contact is available at (918) 259-5700.

As mandated by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Broken Arrow Public Schools is required to fully inform parents that information is maintained on all children who are referred and evaluated under the provisions of Child Find. This information may include but is not limited to parent concerns, developmental, adaptive behavior, socio-cultural, health/medical, vision, hearing, motor, perceptual/processing, behavior, psychological, vocational and information gained through observations in the classroom or other environments.

It is the responsibility of the Broken Arrow Public Schools to inform parents/guardians of their rights under the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The FERPA rights can be accessed on the Broken Arrow Public Schools web site at www.baschools.org under the Special Education tab.

Should you have any questions please contact Phyllis Stout at (918) 259-5700.

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ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE FOUR

With the first day of school fast approaching, Broken Arrow Public Schools is excited to welcome students and parents back into the fold with exciting new changes, upcoming events and familiar programs.

CHILD NUTRITION INFORMATION

As a participant in the National School Lunch Program, BAPS offers free and reduced rates on breakfast and lunch for students of families that meet certain income guidelines.

Students who wish to participate in the program must re-enroll for the 2012-2013 school year by filling out an application, which is available at each school site. In addition, parents may obtain Free/Reduced applications online at www.baschools.org.

2012 -2013 School year applications are due by Oct. 5, 2012. On this date, the students that were on free and reduced lunches for the 2011-2012 school year will be cut off the program if a new application has not be processed.

Online payments for school meals will continue this year with MySchoolBucks.com. Parents may visit the website to set up a child’s account, as long as they have their child’s student ID number. Each transaction results in a $1.95 fee. On the site, parents may see their child’s balance, view purchase history and sign up for email notifications if balances become low. Although a great option for parents, the online system is not required as parents may still send money with students for lunch and breakfast purchases.

The BAPS Child Nutrition Department makes every effort to accommodate special dietary needs. In order to do so, BAPS Child Nutrition must have documentation for the

special dietary need from a licensed physician. An assessment of the dietary needs must be made by the physician and an original copy of the assessment must be on file with the Child Nutrition Department.

Questions regarding free and reduced applications, online meal payments and special dietary needs can be directed to the Child Nutrition Department at (918) 259-4565.

BEFORE & AFTER CARE

B&A Connections, the before and after care program for Broken Arrow Schools, is still accepting enrollments for the 2012-2013 school year. The B&A Connections planned curriculum reflects both the developmental interests of children in grades kindergarten through fifth grade and the opportunity for children within these age groups to play and learn from one another. Key elements of the program include social and emotional development, physical development, intellectual development and a warm and caring staff. Children who participate in B&A Connections during the academic year are provided breakfast during the Before School Program and a snack during the After School Program. The B&A Connections Summer Care Program provides both a snack in the morning and a snack in the afternoon. The B&A Connections office is located at 210 North Main Street at Central On Main and is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Before OR after care is $130 per month per child. Before AND after care is $217 per month per child. Additionally, there is an annual registration fee of $40 per family. For specific information about your child’s school, contact the B&A Connections office at (918) 259-7413.

July 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Independence Day (ESC Closed)Aug. 20-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professional DaysAug. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . Elementary Meet Your TeacherAug. 23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Day Of SchoolSept. 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Labor DaySept. 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Middle School Open HousesSept. 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . Intermediate High School Open HousesSept. 13. . . . . . . . Senior High School and MHP Open HousesSept. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professional DayOct. 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End of First Nine WeeksOct. 18-19. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fall BreakNov. 21-23. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thanksgiving BreakDec. 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Semester EndsDec. 24-Jan. 4. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter BreakJan. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Second Semester BeginsJan. 21. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martin Luther King, Jr. DayFeb. 18. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Presidents' DayFeb. 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Professional DayMarch 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . End of Third Nine WeeksMarch 18-22. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring BreakMay 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Class of 2013 GraduationMay 27. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Memorial DayMay 31. . . . . . . . . . . . Tentative Last Day of School

{2012-2013}ACADEMIC CALENDAR

• August 15, 20112 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 9th Grade Schedule Pick-Up

• August 15, 2012, Noon to 6 p.m. 7th & 8th Grade Schedule Pick-Up

• August 16, 2012, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 10th Grade Schedule Pick-Up

• August 16, 2012, Noon to 6 p.m. 6th Grade Schedule Pick-Up

• August 16, 2012, 6 p.m. New Middle School Parent Orientation

• August 21, 2012 Elementary Meet Your Teacher

BACK TO SCHOOL DATES

welcomeBACKSCHOOL YEAR BEGINS AUG. 23

NOTE:Senior High

schedule pick-up cancelled. Schedules will be mailed to all

students.

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ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE FIVE

Multiple projects across the district are ready for business for the new school year

CONSTRUCTIONIn 2009, Broken Arrow patrons approved

a $295 million bond issue to make major improvements to facilities throughout the district. In October of 2011, voters overwhelmingly approved a reallocation of $73.5 million of those original funds to better meet district needs identified through various data sources, including a demographic study that predicted enrollment growth for the next 10 years. Construction moved at a rapid pace this summer and has resulted in a number of projects completed in time for the 2012-2013 school year:

• Arrowhead – New classrooms, media center, interior renovations and secured entry

• Country Lane Primary – Interior renovations and secured entry

• Indian Springs – Remains open for one more year. Construction of a new elementary has begun at the 111th street property which will also house a Pre-K center to open the 2013-2014 school year.

• Leisure Park – New classrooms, media center and connection to gym

• Lynn Wood – New classrooms, media center, gym, interior renovations and secured entry

• Park Lane – closed, students and staff will attend the new Highland Park, old facility will be renovated into new Pre-K Center

• Rhoades – New classrooms, media center, gym, cafeteria and kitchen, interior renovations and secured entry

• Spring Creek – New classrooms, media center and interior renovations

• Vandever – New classrooms, media center and interior renovations

• Westwood – Remains open for one more year. Construction of a new elementary has begun

ON PAPERat the 61st street property which will also house a Pre-K center.

• Wolf Creek – Secured entry and renovations• Centennial - Secured entry and renovations• Haskell – Remains open for one more year

until students and staff move to the new middle school at Highland Park. Following renovations, Haskell Middle School will be repurposed to better serve district needs.

• Oliver – Secured entry and renovations for ADA compliance

• South Intermediate – Fine arts and classroom addition and resurfacing of the track

• High School – Construction ongoing on a new media center, administration offices, science labs, secure entries and eating areas for students. A Fine Arts addition will include a black box theatre and other classroom/rehearsal

The original purpose of the 2009 Bond

Issue was to eliminate the modular buildings. Not all have been eliminated, but the number

continues to dwindle: No. of modular buildings in

2009: 108No. of modular buildings

today: 59

space, new locker rooms next to the auxiliary gymnasium, and a remodeling of existing locker rooms and gymnasium.

In addition to these projects, a number of other construction projects will begin during the next phase of construction. These projects include:

• Arrow Springs – Remains open for one more year, and will be closed for renovation into a Pre-K center during the 2013-2014 school year.

• Oak Crest – Renovations to the front of the building will eliminate the multiple levels within the building making it accessible to all students.

• North Intermediate – Renovations• Performing Arts Center – Practice rooms

and dressing rooms• Childers – Secured entry and renovations• Sequoyah – Classroom and locker room

renovations

Interior and exterior shots of the new Highland Park Elementary School

ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE SIX

New facesBAPS welcomes new administrators at various sites

eNEW PLACES

Each year brings new students and staff members to Broken Arrow Public Schools, and among those new faces are several principals and administrators at sites throughout the district:

Margaret Coates will lead the students and staff of Centennial Middle School, along with new assistant principals Scott Kiker and Beth Gilbert. Coates and Kiker come from administrative positions in Owasso and Oologah, and Gilbert was a classroom teacher at Centennial.

Former Centennial Assistant Principal Linda Ricks has joined the Senior High School faculty as the Digital Learning Coordinator to lead the implementation of the new online instruction program, !nspire21. Pat James, also a former assistant principal at Centennial, has joined the administrative team at the Senior High School, and his experience and knowledge at the high school level will be of great benefit in his new role.

Sarah Gooldy, formerly a teacher at North Intermediate High School - is moving across town to assume the position of assistant principal in the leadership team at South Intermediate. Joining her at South will be Steve Schwab, who brings a wealth of knowledge in student leadership from his years of experience at the Senior High School. In addition to assistant principal at South Intermediate, Schwab will continue to serve students and staff in his existing role as principal of Broken Arrow Virtual School.

Tammy Strickland, who recently completed her first year in administration at South, is moving to the Senior High to serve as assistant principal. Her knowledge of the Professional Learning Community process and curriculum

design will be an asset to the Senior High. Curtis Green will be joining the leadership

team of Haskell Middle School, where his extensive administrative experience will be a tremendous resource for new building principal, Mickey Replogle. Oliver Middle School will have an additional assistant principal position this year, and former OMS teacher Steve Dunn was selected to fill that leadership role alongside current Principal Mark Officer and Assistant Principal Jill Whitaker.

At the elementary levels, Jennifer Peterson joins the district as the new principal at Arrowhead Elementary, and will be partnering with new assistant principal Elora Orr to lead

the Arrowhead students and staff. Stacy Strow comes to the Wolf Creek Elementary team as the new principal, and the students and staff of Country Lane Primary will welcome Julie Gately as their new assistant principal.

In order to better serve students and parents in the Special Education Program, Gena Taylor joins the Broken Arrow team as the Secondary Special Education Coordinator. Carol Gruben will remain in her role with the Special Education Department, but will now be able to focus on elementary services, while Taylor focuses her skill set on serving secondary students and parents.

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ARROWPOINT MAGAZINE • PAGE SEVEN

BUDGETBASICSUnderstanding the in’s and

out’s of educational funding1. What are the major funding sources for

public schools?Revenue sources for the budget include

state aid, ad valorem taxes and various state and federal grants. The majority of the budget comes from state aid, which accounts for nearly half of the total budget, and one quarter of the budget comes from local taxes. The remaining budget comes from mortgage taxes and federal revenue, as well as other local revenue like interest and facility rental.

2. How is the budget structured?There are several major categorizations

of district funding, and each has specific restrictions on how monies can be spent. The General Fund is used to pay all employee salaries, and other expenses such as textbooks, classroom materials, utilities, and insurance. The Child Nutrition Fund is used to account for the collection of all local, state, and federal monies dedicated to the District’s Child Nutrition Program. The Building Fund can be used for repairing or maintaining school buildings, purchasing furniture, equipment or computer software and purchasing telecommunication services. The Sinking Fund is a fund for the repayment of outstanding debt, and bond funds are for the sole and specific purpose of constructing the projects approved by the voters in a bond election.

3. What are the district’s major annual expenses?

On an annual basis, roughly 60% of the General Fund is spent on instructional items such as teacher salaries, textbooks and classroom materials. Maintenance expenses such as repair and replacement of facilities account for about 8% of the budget as do student support services such as the salaries and expenses of counselors and media specialists. Transportation expenditures require about

6% of the budget. For a complete breakdown of expenses, visit the district webpage at www.baschools.org and download the annual report.

4. Why does the district run bond issues? Bond issues are used to fund new school

construction, other building construction, additions, renovations and classroom equipment. Bond Funds are used to account for the spending of District bond issues, once the issue has been approved by the voters. There is little to no room in the General Fund for these “brick and mortar” expenditures, therefore bond

issues are critical for providing facilities and technology needed to support district growth. The General Fund cannot be used to construct buildings, and bond funds cannot be used to pay salaries and other expenditures covered by the General Fund.

5. What is Net Assessed Valuation and why is it important?

Net Assessed Valuation (NAV) refers to the local property wealth. Ad valorem tax revenue is apportioned to the General, Building and Sinking Funds. The importance of NAV is that this figure is utilized to establish the tax rate for the Sinking Fund and dictates the size of future bond issues. The local tax that is distributed to the General Fund is then charged (reduced) against the state aid of the district, meaning that whatever districts collect locally is taken away at

the state level through the funding formula.

6. What is the timeline for preparing the budget?

Preparation of the Operating Budget begins in January, with the

gathering of current year data and preparation of the budget calendar. The budgeting cycle takes place during the spring and summer

months, with final allocations and funding confirmed in the early fall.

7. What is the funding formula? The funding formula is the state’s

calculation utilizing student data, property value and other revenue items to establish the amount to be distributed as state aid. The formula is designed to equalize funding for all

districts across the state.

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