BCSD Superintendent Gary Pflueger's
Supt Scoop for End of School Year 2017-2018 |
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June 26, 2018 |
Gary Pflueger
Superintendent of Schools
Boundary County School District 101
June 11, 2018
The statement, “This was an interesting year!”
evokes many thoughts to different people. I
started teaching in 1977; that equals 41 school
years! 2017-2018 in BCSD gets the title of the
Most Interesting!!
This is not to say it was a bad year, very far
from that! As synonyms for “interesting”
explain: absorbing, engrossing,
fascinating, riveting, gripping, compelling,
compulsive, captivating, engaging, enthralling
and my favorite—intriguing! I will stick with
interesting. If you want to know any more, wait
for the book...............names will be changed
to protect the innocent (and the interesting!).
The following are a few notable events I am
happy to remind you of:
• BFHS: Over 1 million dollars in scholarships
earned by the graduating class of 2018. On
Career Day (Feb. 22) over 30 local professionals
spoke to our students about career
opportunities, needed responsibilities and
skills. Robotics earned “Worlds Competition” and
competed with the best. Badger Baseball won
State. Lady Badger Softball won State last year,
earned second this year! Individuals excelled in
track and field. All programs remain
competitive!
• BCMS: Reality Town: students take a first look
ahead at the world to come; advance
opportunities to earn Associates Degree with a
HS Diploma; record numbers in extra-curricular
with strong future coming in all activities,
especially wrestling, basketball and track.
• VVES: Curiosity Fair opens doors to
future careers; new bleachers seat 500 for 5th
grade promotion; student enrollment necessitates
growth; Summer Reading Program open to all!
• Mount Hall: Building administrator
established full-time; Positive Behavioral
Intervention and Supports (PBIS) has been fully
adopted by the parents, staff and students.
Under PBIS clear behavioral expectations are
established. With this in place, teaching and
learning takes center stage!
• Naples: Building administrator established
full-time; H.A.T.S. Program is TOPS! During this
two hour block, students are given the
opportunity to focus on a curriculum of choice
in Humanities, Art, Technology and/or Science
(HATS).
In all of our school programs: ISAT and writing
test scores have improved; student involvement
has increased; band, drama, dance and cheer all
get stronger and our community becomes more
involved.
• District: The budget is clearer than ever. At
5:30 p.m. on June 25th, a budget hearing will be
held right before our regular board meeting at
6:00. The BCEA and the district have already
tentatively agreed on contract issues, a first
in many years! A 10 year Facilities Plan has
been addressed and is close to publication. Many
building needs have been completed; others are
planned. Our High School bond will expire in
2023. The emergency needs of Valley View
Elementary School must be discussed, as repairs
are outweighing the cost of replacement. The
Board of Trustees has a dedicated focus toward
fiscal responsibility and supporting student
program growth.
• Community Service: As Superintendent, this
category is where I am most proud. We are
teaching our students to give back to the
community that supports their schools!
Leadership Classes in all buildings remain
active: elementary schools are donating to local
food banks; the MS “Penny War” raised and
donated $1,254 to three local Veterans
organization and the MS/HS Leadership Classes
collected close to 200 turkeys and hams to
support the Ministerial Association Christmas
Baskets. This work will continue!
As I have said many times and I will say again,
the Admin Team in BCSD is excellent. Our Special
Education Director Sara Yoder is no exception! I
would like to share this message from Sara, “The
special education department would like to
celebrate our growth as a team; growth in
collaboration with the community, in staff
support, in parent participation, and in student
achievement. We celebrate our schools and their
inclusion of our students and families in all
activities. From field trips to talent shows to
extracurricular activities, students are
involved and enjoying their experiences. We
celebrate our preschool which has 41 students
with 30 moving on to kindergarten this coming
year. What a successful program we have for our
youngest learners. On the other end, we
celebrate our graduating seniors who have worked
hard for many years to meet this goal.
Congratulations on receiving your diploma. Thank
you to all the staff who have supported these
students throughout the years. We have a
tremendous special education team that
continues to grow, learn, and make students
success a priority.”
As I enter what might be my last year in this
proud profession, I must admit I love the
challenges this job
has to offer! As we head into the 2018-2019
school year, student and staff safety will
remain my number
one priority. This summer our admin team and
local law enforcement will complete a
vulnerability
assessment. Plans will be made but as we all
know, this will never be enough. We must
encourage
everyone to remain vigilant. The “See and Say”
campaign is not just rhetoric. Anyone who hears
or reads
of a concern must verbalize it to another; the
school authorities must be notified. We will
address all valid
concerns. We are all responsible for the safety
of each other in this beautiful community.
Program growth will continue. We must continue
to validate our advanced opportunity programs
and
strengthen the vocational tracks. We must
continue to prepare our students for their
future. This will be
seen in our new math adoption which will focus
on the use of technology. This and many more are
the
challenges as we prepare a safe, civil and
productive environment for our kids!
Next year is another “Levy Year”. Please stay
involved and informed. If you do, I am sure you
will be proud
and impressed by the work of your district. Our
kids are our future and our future is bright!
Please keep the written word in front of your
children this summer. VVES has a summer reading
program
open to all elementary school children on
Thursdays from 11:00-2:00 at no cost and with
lunch provided.
Our Public Library is an open door with many
summer opportunities. On-line sites are
plentiful! Have a
safe, civil and productive summer!
Gary P.
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