Dear parents,

As part of our AdvancED District Accreditation, our district will undergo an External Review next week. A review team made up of educators from around the country will visit and evaluate our district and school improvement processes. As part of the External Review, the team will meet with various groups of stakeholders and visit several of our schools to review our district practices.

At the conclusion of the External Review, the team will provide a report to the Board of Education on Wednesday, December 9. This report will include areas for improvement, district opportunities, and powerful practices. As we continuously work to make Howell Public Schools the first, best, and only option for families, I am excited to hear the recommendations.

In addition, along with an extensive amount of stakeholder feedback already gathered, the external review feedback will further inform the ongoing strategic planning process.

I’d like to once again thank you for your support of the district’s technology bond. At the November 23 Board of Education meeting, the board approved a "Bond Parameters Resolution" authorizing the district to fund the first of three series of bonds for technology. This is the first step in the bond implementation process.

Additionally, the district’s 21st Century Technology Committee has met to prioritize the established list of technology needs. The immediate needs are infrastructure upgrades (wiring, wireless, and network connections) and providing a benchmark 21st century classroom (projection, document camera, teaching podium, audio amplification, classroom Wi-Fi) across the district. We are also working on the development of a comprehensive staff professional development plan to support the implementation of the new instructional technology.

I will keep you updated as we continue to work through the bond implementation process.

In the past few weeks, we have had some exciting news from around the district. On Tuesday, November 24, we named our 2015-2016 Support Person and Service Person of the Year. Earlier this week, we learned that the Highlander Way Middle School band earned the “Best Use of Music” award at the 32nd Annual Fantasy of Lights Parade. You can read more about all three of these below.

Linda Cunningham Named Support Person of the Year

Each day Linda Cunningham works to ensure that Southeast Elementary is a positive and welcoming place for students, staff and visitors. Cunningham who is Southeast’s Library Services Coordinator often does above and beyond her job requirements to support the school’s students and staff. Read more at http://goo.gl/5psRcG.

Penni Faucher Honored as Service Person of the Year 

Penni Faucher a paraprofessional at Southwest Elementary does not just support the learning environment, she jumps right into it. Faucher is assigned to work with students who have special education needs, however, she often goes above and beyond that responsibility. Read more at http://goo.gl/VYkgOi.

Highlander Way Middle Schools Receives “Best Use of Music Award”

Mr. Andy Jarema and the Highlander Way Middle School band received the 32nd Annual Fantasy of Lights Parade “Best Use of Music Award.” The band was selected for the award by parade officials for their outstanding performance. This year, awards were given to 13 floats and bands.