·        The School Board work to refine its governance procedures and clarify board and superintendent roles continued during a workshop in October.  The reviewed and revised policies developed last school year and ask for your best thoughts about how well those new policies set direction for the district, define board work, and set standards for the superintendent.  You can see the revised policies on the School Board’s governance policies page.

 

·        The District Advisory Team (DAT) is in its third year.  The 20+ members of this representative body provide a venue for stakeholders to confront any issue that concerns the District’s ability to achieve its mission.  They meet monthly to foster school district communications.  You can see the work of this year’s DAT and the work and results of the last two years on the School Board pages of the district website.

 

·        FOCUS is the district newsletter mailed on a quarterly basis to district residents.  The November issue reached district homes this week.  Expanded articles and related links are available within FOCUS on-line where you will also find archived issues of the newsletter.

 

·        The latest listing of parent seminars is available on line.

 

·        The Issaquah Schools Foundation has launched its annual application process – opening the possibility for school programs to earn $10,000 Kateri Brow grants or individual classroom grants of lesser funds but no less impact on student learning.  Staff will find those applications on the staff pages of the district website.  Applications are due by February 3, 2006.

 

Thanks again to the Foundation for their work on behalf of students and congratulations for their record-breaking luncheon last month!  After the first of the year watch for news of the Foundation Phone-a-thon in May!

 

·        For residents in the Newcastle area – a message about road closure from the City of Newcastle: “136^th Ave SE is closed between 144^th Place SE & SE 79^th Street.  A small boulder slid down the hillside on October 31.  The City of Newcastle hired a licensed engineering geologist to evaluate the hillside.  As a result of this evaluation a contractor was hired to remove the loose rock from the hillside.  Also, some trees had to be removed because their stability was threatened after the rock foundation was disturbed. This resulted in another rock slide.  The week after Thanksgiving the City of Newcastle will reevaluate the slope to ensure that any new loose rocks have been removed.  Until the road is reopened it is closed to all traffic, cars and pedestrians.  For safety reasons, the City asks that this closure be strictly obeyed.  We understand what an inconvenience this is and we appreciate your patience. We want to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

 

·        Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

 

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