Superintendent’s Message “We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson May has begun with April showers. Strange weather has continued throughout the Spring. However strange the weather, a constant [...]

Superintendent’s Message “We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson The District relies on state and federal funding for 60% of its revenue. Both of these entities are reducing [...]

Read the Rock Island-Milan Lines: Superintendent’s message, Around the District – Student success in Math Counts competition, Students working to aid tornado victims, Teacher recognized as 2012 STEM Teacher of the Year, Linking Danielson Framework for Teaching with District Core Values, IMSA teacher training program, Whatever It Takes recognitions, Health and Financial tips…

As has been reported in the media, the District is facing a $4,600,000 operating deficit for 2012-13. This deficit has been mainly caused by a loss of Federal and State revenue: over $3,500,000. Another component is increased labor costs through steps, lanes and health insurance increases. Rising costs and lower revenues are a toxic combination. Unlike the State and Federal governments, we must operate with financial integrity. This will require adjustments to expenditures.

Superintendent’s Message “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” -Hamilton Wright Mabi Congratulations for completing the 1st semester! Through your daily efforts students and parents received effective instruction, nutritious meals, clean buildings, parent involvement activities, and support team members focused on high quality customer service. This team effort [...]

Superintendent’s Message “Keep Calm and Carry On” – British government poster, circa 1939 This past Thursday, November 10, all schools in the Rock Island-Milan school district went into a lock down after some of the buildings received telephone calls of a threatening nature. Read the entire edition of Rock Island-Milan Lines (PDF) >> The protocols [...]

Superintendent’s Message “You must be the change you wish to see in the world” – Mahatma Ghandi Welcome back to the second quarter! Earlier this week, the Board of Education received the Annual Yearly Progress and ISAT/PSAE reports. The results indicated a level performance on ISAT and a decline in PSAE results. At the Nov. [...]

Superintendent’s Message “To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” – Donald Laird In the past few weeks I have had the opportunity to visit the buildings in the District and see the high quality instruction being delivered in the classrooms. Every minute of each period and day being used strategically [...]

Superintendent’s Message “High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” ~ Jack Kinder Providing a safe caring environment for our students is one of our priorities. A focus on developing a respectful climate is being undertaken at each school. Each building has been implementing strategies and training to create a culture of [...]

Superintendent’s Message “Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”-John Wooden As a District, improving our systems to help students and staff be successful is a core value. Several improvement strategies are currently underway: Implementing the Acuity electronic assessment system, transitioning from the Illinois State Standards to the recently adopted Common Core standards and focusing on strategies to improve respect in [...]