Selflessness

by Luke Francois, Superintendent A recent trip through North Dakota reminded me of a simple word.  Selflessness.  Acting with less concern for yourself than for the success of others. I pulled on to an off-ramp and stopped next to a white cross on the side of the road.  The cross was most likely from a… Continue Reading Selflessness

Let Your Kids Fail

by Superintendent Luke Francois Let Your Kids Fail What?  The Superintendent is suggesting parents let kids fail?  That’s right. I am.   A recent video on Twitter inspired me to write about letting kids fail.  As a wrestler in high school and college, I won many more matches than I lost.  Memorable matches I lost… Continue Reading Let Your Kids Fail

Farewell to Staff

Superintendent’s Corner by Luke Francois The graduating class of 2016 has departed into a world of endless opportunities. Students and staff now follow and enter a summer break to be followed by a recommitment to another school year this fall. Sadly, a few staff members will not be returning this fall and I take this opportunity to write… Continue Reading Farewell to Staff

A Thank You and Closing the Gaps

by Superintendent Luke Francois A Thank You Please permit me to express my personal appreciation to now past School Board Member Matt Lindsey for his six years of service to the Mineral Point School District’s Board of Education. Matt served as President during his tenure and his rational approach to the decision-making process was a… Continue Reading A Thank You and Closing the Gaps

The Opportunity of Conflict

by Luke Francois, Superintendent As the Mineral Point School District moves forward in the budget development process tough decisions will be made.  The board will listen to community stakeholders and make choices between spending money in attempt to impact student learning and reducing resources in demonstration of fiscal restraint.  Inevitably this delicate cross-walk creates conflict.… Continue Reading The Opportunity of Conflict

Technology

by Luke Francois As part of a four-part series, the fourth and final focus area of the District’s strategic plan focuses on technology. Technology is continuously changing, forcing the District to adapt to the ever changing needs of students and their abilities to enhance learning using the most current technology available. The District submits a… Continue Reading Technology

Academic Achievement

by Superintendent Luke Francois The Board of Education approved a strategic plan that includes four areas of focus: Fiscal Responsibility, Community Engagement, Academic Achievement, and Technology. Today’s column will focus on efforts to date surrounding academic achievement. The District has invested time and resources to embrace the concept of Professional Learning Communities. Professional Learning Communities focus on results,… Continue Reading Academic Achievement

Community Engagement

The Board of Education has created and approved a strategic plan with four areas of focus: fiscal responsibility, community engagement, academic achievement, and technology. The second area of the strategic plan, community engagement, is highlighted in today’s column. When hired as superintendent almost five years ago a large concern conveyed through the interview process was… Continue Reading Community Engagement

Fiscal Responsibility

The District has a strategic plan with four areas of focus:  fiscal responsibility, community engagement, academic achievement, and technology.  The first of four focus areas of the District’s strategic plan is fiscal responsibility.  One goal of the board is to create and implement a communication plan to inform the community on the school budget and… Continue Reading Fiscal Responsibility