Southwest MN Christian High School Town Hall Meeting

1. Southwest MN Christian High School Town Hall Meeting April 5, 2011

2. Welcome and Devotions Psalm 78:1-8 5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. 7 Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. 8 They would not be like their ancestors— a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. 1 My people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth with a parable; I will utter hidden things, things from of old— 3 things we have heard and known, things our ancestors have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.

3. Southwest’s Excellence and Legacy Mission: Challenging students to grow in knowing, loving, and serving God and others. • Christian Life • Christ-centered Worldview – Jesus is Lord over every square inch of His creation. • Defense of faith, apologetics • Quality education • ACT scores above national, state, and local average • 5 year average is 23.8 (out of 36) at SW (2006-2010) • For 2010: 22.9 – MN, and 21 – national • 88% of our students have taken the ACT on the 5 year average • For 2010, 47% national average, 70% state of MN • Life and college readiness – last three years • 4-year College acceptance – 76% • 2-year College/Technical School acceptance - 17% • Entering workforce or military- 7%

4. Southwest’s Excellence and Legacy • Over 2,455 alumni around the world • Strong curricular and co-curricular programs • Academics, liberal arts • Fine arts, music, drama • Activities, athletics • Strong parental involvement • Strong community support

5. The Board’s Concerns • Declining enrollment = reduced income • Increased expenses = increased tuition cost • Continuing to maintain and improve quality of education

8. Considering three things: Excellence in education Financial stability Increased enrollment Eagle Vision – the board plan E – Educating students in a Biblical worldview A – Attaining diverse academic excellence G – Generating funds to support families L – Leading school improvement E – Enhancing student and family enrollment

9. Southwest School Improvement GoalsDeveloped as part of the 2007 MNSAA Accreditation Goal 1: To have an enrollment of 200 students from Christian families. Goal 2: To develop discerning Christian servant-leaders who understand and express a biblical worldview. Goal 3: To maintain academic excellence in a Christian setting. Goal 4: To offer affordable Christian education to more families in SW MN Goal 5: To strengthen our Christian community and accountability. Goal 6: To maintain safe, modern, functional facilities.

10. Southwest Financials • Present Situation: • Tuition is $5,600, likely $5,700 next year • Budgeted $106,000 in fundraising, $85,429.61 of this raised to date • Possible $43,000 deficit due to slow tuition income, families with significant tuition to pay • Present Funding Efforts: • Carry the Light Celebration: $41,592.46(budgeted $35,000) • Grain Drive: $45,568.52 • Individual Donations: $39,861.09, some of these funds were donated to support the administration development work • Rummage Sale set for April 29 and 30; outside money • Sign up sheet to volunteer will be passed around • Researched the Thrift Store

11. Financial Future – the vision • Eagle Farms: Southwest is starting a pilot model this spring. • Donated use of 48 acres for one year • 48 ac x 160 bu/ac = 7,680 bu x $6 bu corn = $46,080 likely • Field work has been donated • $14,000 of inputs need to be paid – seeking donations • Science and accounting class involvement possible • Looking for long term lease for sustainability of Eagle Farms • Individual Donors: alumni, supporters, community members • Foreign Exchange Students – host families (separate handout if interested) • Grant exploration and awards • STEM Grant (MN Independent School Foundation), Greg Dyk’s agricultural education + community pumpkin patch efforts ($7,127.35 for science department efforts) • Alliss Educational Foundation – need-based tuition assistance

12. Financial Management • 2010-2011 - .33 position reduction • 2011-2012 – 1.5 position financial reduction • Salary freeze (CSI recommendation) and tuition freeze for 2010-2011 school year • 1% average base pay increase for each of the last three contract years • Cost of living increase is 1.67% national average per year • Salary increase of 2% for 2011-2012 - CSI recommendation of 1.25%-1.75% • Tuition increase of $100 likely for 2011-2012

13. Administrative Job Descriptions Paul Bootsma Principal/Administrator: • Board: reporting to and from, accountability, agendas for committees • Committee membership: executive, staff, finance, education, promotions (chair), building, United Christian Schools collaboration committee (chair), SW foundation (school representation, no direct affiliation with foundation for legal separation) • Average of 2 evening meetings or events per week during school year • Staff: supervision, organization, representation • Students/Parents: communication, support the vice-principal • Curriculum: program goals, course curriculum, PSEO/dual enrollment research • Building: financing improvements, planning, repairs • Finances: supervising budget, foundation • Qualifications: working toward an advanced degree as required by the board Development: fundraising and friendraising • Community/Public Relations: committee work, event planning, public attendance, meeting with pastors in the area, potential family contacts • Thrift store research, grain drive administration, Eagle Farms, individual donor contacts, building fund drive • Education research – PSEO/dual enrollment, curriculum

14. Administrative Job Descriptions Darrel Ulferts Activities director: ½ time • Coordinate and approve all athletic, fine arts, and other education program schedules. • Responsible for assessing the school's activities program including working with teachers, coaches, directors, and advisors. • Conducting ongoing coaching assessments and providing guidance for coaches • Responsible for administering all National Federation, MSHSL, and Red Rock Conference regulations and activities. Teacher: ¼ time • PE/Health, possible accounting next year Vice-principal: ¼ time • Daily student discipline, attendance, and eligibility • Student and Parent communication

15. Administrative Job Descriptions • Denise DeKam, administrative assistant: full time • Bookkeeping: 6 accounts including payroll, general, lunch, class, activity, and building fund • Tuition and lunch accounts, including free/reduced lunch reporting (federal and state) • Correspondence: written, electronic, telephone • Student records, attendance, registration, billing • Support of activities: athletics, drama, music • Event Planning Support: Pumpkin Festival, Carry the Light, Promotional events

16. Administrative Job Descriptions • Debbie Swier: ½ time • Technology coordinator: server, computers, monitoring • Librarian: magazines, newspapers, books • Occasional secretarial work: phones, technology work, Donor Trak

17. Administrative Job Descriptions • Other High Schools’ Administrative Models: • Unity (285 students): Principal; VP/AD/Finance/Maint; secretary; Development Director; Technology coordinator; Library Secretary; Librarian/counselor • FTE = 5.5 - approximation • Western (298 students): Principal; Development Director (part-time); secretary; business manager; vice-principal; activities director; librarian; technology is covered by existing staff • FTE = 5 - approximation • Pella Christian High School (292 students): Principal; VP; AD; 3 secretaries (2 part-time, 1 full time); technology (part-time); Development Director; librarian – 1 full time and 1 part time • FTE = 7 - approximation • Southwest MN Christian (119 students): Principal/Development, VP/AD, Secretary, technology/library • FTE = 3.25 • 2009-2010 CSI recommendation to Southwest to branch out with existing staff in development work, not feasible for SW to hire someone else

18. Staff Information and Changes • Moving from 2 sections to 1 section for many classes • 11 teachers/administrators, full time; including Mr. Bootsma and Mr. Ulferts • In general, 6 classes taught next year by each full time staff person • This is a common school standard.

19. List of Teaching Staff and Courses • Mr. Bootsma: Communications, Writing – college/high school • Mr. Busker: History, Bible, Math • Mr. Dyk: Science • Mr. Mattheis: Band, Choir, and Math • Mr. Mische: Industrial Arts, Art, Physics, and Math • Mr. Top: Business, English possible, Math • Mr. Ulferts: PE/Health, accounting • Mr. Vanderaa: Counselor, Bible, Speech • Mrs. Vanderaa: Student assistance, resource room • English teacher: English 9, Am Lit, English 12, AP English • Spanish teacher: Spanish, Geography, English 10 possible

20. Effects of Changes • Approximately 1 less teaching staff – approximately $50,000 budget reduction; absorbing Dan Broekhuis’s and Heidi Uilk’s positions. John Top will teach full time. Darrel Ulferts and Paul Bootsma will each be adding a class or two. • Jim Mische and John Top will be the main math teachers. Qualifications: • Jim Mische has 20 years math experience, a math degree, and math certification • John Top has a business education degree and will be taking College Algebra and Geometry this spring/summer. • Art teacher and Spanish teacher were shared/contracted one period with Edgerton Public. They will be full time at Southwest next year. • Computer Science will be eliminated; Mechanical Drawing might be offered every other year opposite Industrial Arts • Student Population History: 7 students average in each class each year over the last 4 years.

21. Dual Enrollment/PSEO Opportunities • High school juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to take college courses for college and high school credit. • Online: Northwestern College (St. Paul), independent study • In school: Dordt College credits, taught by Dordt adjunct professor/Southwest staff; some student expense • Courses will transfer to other area colleges

22. The Feedback/Input/Conversations • What do we need to be pursuing? Concerns? Direction? • What are you pleased with at Southwest? • Does EAGLE Vision address your concerns?

23. Conclusion • Praise in public, criticize in private • Confidentially discuss problems with board or staff as appropriate • Raise enrollment – everybody needs to support and promote quality, Christian education