State of the schools St. Johns County School District

1. State of the schoolsSt. Johns County School District Joseph G. Joyner, Ed.D. October 5, 2009

2. MISSION STATEMENT The St. Johns County School District will inspire in all students a passion for lifelong learning, creating educated and caring contributors to the world.

3. HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 2008-2009 SCHOOL YEAR To continue the implementation of the District Strategic Plan

4. CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

5. STUDENT LEARNING Each year our student performance reaches new heights of achievement, thanks to the continuing efforts of our teachers, students, parents and all of our stakeholders.

6. STATE RANKINGS Out of 67 School Districts • First in the state in total FCAT points • One of only ten districts to earn an “A” for eight consecutive years • 27 “A” schools, with all middle schools scoring an “A”

7. 2008 DISTRICT FCAT SCORES FIRST IN THE STATE: 3rd Grade Reading and Math 4th Grade Reading and Math 5th Grade Reading and Math 9th Grade Reading 10th Grade Reading and Writing 8th Grade Science 2nd in the state 5th & 11th Grade Science 3rd in the state

8. AVID PROGRAM • Completed first year of AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at Pedro Menendez High School for 9th grade students • School received $50,000 grant to train staff • 75 students participated

9. COLLEGE PREP AND GRADUATION Increase Graduation Rate and Decrease Drop-Out Rate • Increased Graduation Rate to 89.4% • Increase of 11.2% from 2006-2007 • Well above state average of 75.4% • Third highest increase in the state • Decreased Drop-out Rate to 1.3% • Decreased from 1.8% in 2006-2007 • Well below state average of 2.6%

10. COLLEGE PREP • Readiness for College • 75.6% ready in St. Johns County versus 62.9% in the state • 2nd highest in Florida • SAT – District and state scores improved while national scores declined • Scored 94 points above state average and 60 points higher than national average • Student participation third highest percentage in state • 9-year trend • ACT - District scores second highest in state • Scores well above state and national averages • 18-year trend

11. ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS • 12.4% increase in number of test takers • Pass rate of 57.2% higher than state average of 45.4%

12. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT WITH FOCUS ON SUBGROUPS • Increased graduation rate for African-American students from 59.8% to 78.4% (5th highest gain in the state) • Increased graduation rate for Hispanic students from 74.7% to 88.6% (5th highest increase in the state) • Increased standard diploma graduation rate for students with disabilities from 42% to 54% (above state average of 45%)

13. RESPONSE TO INTERVENTION Used a team approach to assist students having difficulties in academics, behavior and social skills • Continued Response to Intervention (RtI) in all elementary schools • Received $100,000 grant from USF • Hired three RtI coaches • Trained all staff in RtI

14. CAREER EDUCATION PROGRAMS • Paws in Jobland offered to all elementary students • Utilized CHOICES Explorer, a web-based career exploration software for all middle school students • 37 Major Areas of Interest available to high school students • Over 1,800 students and 800 parents attended Middle School Blitz and High School Showcase • Over 3,460 students applied for a program of study

15. CAREER ACADEMIES • 15 academies in operation • 52 academy students interned with area businesses (Vystar, Stellar, Northrop Grumman, Airport Authority and others) • 50 academy students conducted clinicals at Flagler Hospital • Every academy to offer free college credits by 2010 • 3 teacher teams had externships in various businesses this summer

16. CAREER ACADEMIES • Obtained over $4 million in-kind, cash and grant donations for career academies • SAHS Aerospace Academy conducted a site review using National Standards of Practice for Career Academies obtaining a rating of “At Standard”

17. SJCSD VIRTUAL ACADEMY Offered online technology options for all students • Renewed franchise contract with FLVS • Contracted with K-12 vendor to provide full-time virtual curriculum • Offered 57 courses for 6-12 • Maintained staff of 21 teachers • (2 full-time and 19 part-time) • 891 successful completions in 2008-2009

18. REMEDIATION OPPORTUNITIES • Implemented secondary credit recovery and remediation system in all middle and high schools • 768 Credits recovered • 546 high school and 222 middle school

19. ADVANCED PROGRAMS • Increased placement of students in upper level classes (AP, IB, AICE, DE, Level 3 and Honors) • 841 students received Bright Futures Scholarships, with the percentage of minority scholars increasing from 17% to 19% • Increased number of minority students enrolled in AP classes to 20%

20. INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY • Tested all 8th graders on computer literacy • Continued support from Technology Coordinators and Technology Coaches • Provided Two-Minute Tech Tip video clips on District website • Developed and completed first online MOODLE course • Implemented instructional video conferencing

21. TRAINING AND MENTORING • Provided Character Counts! training • Provided training via New Teacher Induction in August and on-going sessions at Fullerwood Learning Center • Matched new teachers with mentors • Conducted Pursuing Victory with Honor learning sessions for new coaches and secondary administrators

22. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Provided Gifted Endorsement classes • Offered training opportunities for teachers to become Highly Qualified • Initiated “Schools by Design” by implementing the “Capturing Kids Hearts” model

23. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Developed training for Classroom Behavior Management Strategies • Coordinated implementation of Positive Behavior Support (PBS) at all middle schools • 7% decrease in classroom referrals • Held monthly meetings for PBS coaches to collaborate on successful strategies

24. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Enhanced Secretary/Bookkeeper Academy for New Staff (3 days) • Oracle: Budget, Purchasing and Accounts Payable • Payroll • Property • Internal Accounts: Heritage, Bank of America, Handbook and Chart of Accounts • Extended Day: Quick Books, Chart of Accounts and Handbook • P-Card • Audits

25. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT • Conducted training for parents and teachers on Parent Assistant • Conducted multiple training events for eSIS Teacher Trainers

26. FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS Creekside High School Liberty Pines Academy Ponte Vedra High School

27. FACILITIES PLANNING • Successfully implemented the School Concurrency system • Reviewed 15 applications to ensure available capacity • Updated the Five-Year District Facilities Work Plan • Includes 2 new elementary schools, a K-8 school and 3 elementary school expansions • Board approved Spot Survey to the Educational Plant Survey • Also approved architectural plans to accommodate Timberlin Creek and Wards Creek Elementary School expansions

28. FOOD SERVICE • Expanded the web site to include a nutritional analysis for major menu items • Upgraded all schools to the online point of sale terminals providing improved reliability, flexibility and efficiency • Restructured and streamlined the menu to decrease labor costs and increase participation

29. FOOD SERVICE • Provided eSIS training for all cafeteria managers • Access to student data has improved time management and productivity • Served 371,426 breakfast meals • Served 1,396,563lunch meals

30. MAINTENANCE • Continued Peer Review Committee meetings to inspect interior and exterior of facilities • Schools placed on a rotating basis • 14 schools were visited and inspected • Replaced gym lighting at all middle schools and four high schools with more energy efficient fixtures • Installed control systems that permit individual operation of the fixtures

31. NEW CONSTRUCTION • Revised current change order execution and approval process • Change order execution rates favorable • Completed all new schools, additions and remodeling projects on-time and within projected budgets • Awarded Professional Construction/Program Management Services contract to assist the District in the implementation of current capital outlay program and future needs

32. ENERGY CONSERVATION • Exceeded energy consumption savings goal of 20% • Actual cost avoidance 36% which equates to $3,540,575

33. TRANSPORTATION • Created a scan system to automate student data input • Remained in the top five counties in Average Bus Occupancy (ABO) ranking • Current ABO at 98.8 • Developed and implemented a web-based Field Trip Request form • Buses transported students over 4,000,000 miles

34. COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

35. COMMUNITY RELATIONS • Hosted 5th Annual Media Day training to assist school staff in enhancing media coverage • Held more than 20 focus group meetings with various stake- holder groups • Developed civility/customer service training of all staff • Trainings held at the district office and high schools to meet the needs for all employees

36. COMMUNITY RELATIONS • Provided bi-annual updates of the District Strategic Plan and began review of options for developing new plan • Held preliminary meetings with staff and sponsors in anticipation of fall launch of the “Be There” campaign encouraging parent involvement • Completed more than 150 Public Records requests

37. EDUCATION FOUNDATION • Held Second Annual Art Attack! to raise funds and awareness of school arts programs • More than 2,000 participants • Raised $9,200 • Sponsored Tools for Schools drive over summer to collect school supplies • Changed venue for Teacher of the Year Celebration and established partnership with the PLAYERS Championship • Initiated a quarterly Foundation newsletter

38. EDUCATION FOUNDATION • Successfully applied again to be the only foundation in the state to serve as a Supplemental Educational Services provider • 239 students completed the tutoring program, a 51% increase over last year • Increased number of students receiving Take Stock in Children scholarships by 20%

39. VOLUNTEER SERVICES • Nominated Outstanding Youth Volunteer of the Year for Region II, one of top five in the state • Held 16th Annual RSVP Chocolate Gala which raised $9,000 – the highest grossing event ever • Held second successful Volunteer Recognition Reception honoring school volunteer award winners and volunteer coordinators

40. VOLUNTEER SERVICES • Completed RSVP tri-annual grant assuring federal funding through June 2012 • Added all vendors to the KeepNTrack system • Updated Volunteer Services website with handbook, forms and guidelines to better serve volunteer coordinators and parents

41. NETWORK AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT • Ordered, configured and installed all computer, software and network equipment for three new schools and one remodeled school • Developed Computer Refresh Plan RFP, evaluated responses, and contracted with HP for a 3-year lease purchase for 2009 • Configured and installed a new email archival solution • Performed network install/de-installs for 110+ summer portables

42. NETWORK AND TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT • Configured and installed new IP phone network at all new schools • Established a district-wide warranty tracking system for all servers and storage equipment (saving $100,000 over 3 years) • Configured new software to back up district websites • Completed over 25,000 IT work tickets this school year • Virtualized many servers to lower costs and improve efficiency

43. STUDENT AND BUSINESS SYSTEMS • Supported the implementation of the PEER (online IEP) system • Implemented a new K-2 report card and provided teachers with training • Developed ethnic reporting capabilities in Oracle to support new DOE requirements • Implemented an automatic system to update Alert Now from Oracle, eSIS and Edulog data • Supported implementation of SmartFind Express

44. FINANCIAL PLANNING

45. FINANCIAL PLANNING • Absorbed new schools into Operating Budget • Planned for additional budget cuts of 1%, 2% or 3% • Researched eProcurement to determine feasibility, considering cost benefit analysis • Implemented the FICA Alternative Plan as a retirement plan for part-time, seasonal and temporary employees with savings of $256,000

46. FINANCIAL PLANNING • Implemented Payment Collection Gateway for employees and vendors to make payments online • Implemented ePayables solution with Bank of America allowing payment of vendors via credit cards • Earned approximately $230,000 • Continued to increase electronic payments through the ACH Payment process

47. HUMAN RESOURCES

48. HUMAN RESOURCES • Continued to update and improve electronic processing of forms for transfers and hires • Aligned year-end process with Oracle data • Fully trained all users on process and procedures • Made eight major improvements to the Portal

49. HUMAN RESOURCES • Visited local public sector Human Resource departments to view operation for ideas on improving current practices • Upgraded the fingerprinting process and improved the current service offered to vendors and new employees • Improved benefits communication and added additional newsletter or other communication process to offer information about benefits in addition to medical benefits

50. HUMAN RESOURCES • Improved participation in state level professional organization – Florida Educational Negotiators • Associate Superintendent attended many FEN sessions • Associate Superintendent elected to Board of Directors of FEN • Opened the first Health Center in the state for use by school district employees covered under the Self-Funded Medical Plan