| The
position I hold at the Yosemite Joint Union High School District as
Director of Special Projects is one that changes regularly because
of the many reports, plans and projects that are required by the state.
I was very surprised when I started working here in 1996 to find out
how much goes on behind the scenes that most people do not realize.
While the
primary purpose of a school district is to educate students, there
are many other things that have to be done.
For example, we have recently completed a handbook for our staff on
HIV/AIDS, the Yosemite High School Site Plan was just completed, soon
we will be working on the Accountabil-ity Report Card for each of
the schools in the district.
There are annual reports on almost all of the funding we receive.
And there are applications for the funding. In December the application
is due for the categorical funds we receive from the state and federal
government.
Today the district expulsion report is due in Sacramento.
The No Child Left Behind legislation has brought several new requirements
to districts. A massive project that was completed for the first time
last summer, and has to be updated annually, is the Local Agency Education
Plan (LEAP). This was over 80 pages of detailed descriptions of how
the district will address such issues as highly qualified teachers,
making sure all students are proficient or better in math and English
by 2013, how we will meet the needs of English Language Learners and
how we will assure that our students are educated in a safe environment.
Numerous other plans are required, including technology, a site plan
for each school, safety plans and emergency plans for each campus.
Few weeks go by that there is not a deadline, sometimes there are
several in one week.
All of this requires the efforts and cooperation of a lot of people.
No one person can have all of the information available for all of
the reports and plans.
Everyone has to work together to provide what each person needs.
No one person files all of the reports. Many people have to file various
papers that the state requires from their specific area.
Other duties that go with my position include grant writing and public
relations.
Superintendent Bill McCabe and the school board are very far-sighted
to have created this position. Having a person responsible for all
of this mandatory work allows the district to maximize its funding
opportunities.
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