by ops
3. May 2010 17:25
Alamo Elementary Principal Melissa Koenig, Washington Street Elementary teacher Sue Raven, Alamo Elementary teacher Kristen Glerum, and Dix Street Elementary teacher Kim Seger traveled to San Luis Obispo, California last week for training through the Lindamood-Bell Institute. They attended a conference called Visualizing and Verbalizing to learn how to help children who are having trouble with reading comprehension. They will serve as leaders in their buildings and will train other staff members to use these new techniques.
Left to Right: Kim Seger, Kristen Glerum, presenter Phyllis Lindamood, Sue Raven and Melissa Koenig.
by OPS
12. October 2009 16:07
Congratulations to the following students of the month for September: Michael Moore (Mrs.Trahan), Vaughn Mehler (Mrs. Badiner), Michelle Dutton (Mr. McMullen), Julie Taylor-Kirsch (Martin), Matt Artis (Mr. Haase), Sierra Frasier (Mr. Belton), Danielle Molenaar (Mr. McMillin), Michael Warner (Mrs. Grile), Kyle Cagle (Mrs. Hemann), Melissa Marcum (Mrs. Cleypool), Dennis Vyletel & Caitlyn Colasanti (Mr. Fox), Jessica Cramer (Mr. Cleypool), Caleb Gallup & Justin Schwartz (Mrs. Soisson), Jessica Hollman (Mrs. Laughlin), and Ella Beuttner (Mr. DeVary).
by Dkemp
9. September 2009 15:29
For information please contact:
Dennis Patzer, Otsego, 269.692.6076
Jennifer Rogers, MASB, 517.327.5908
Sept. 9, 2009
For Immediate Release
Otsego Public Schools’ program top in the state
LANSING, MI – Nine school districts across Michigan are starting the school year off with a celebration of success. The Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) recently announced the recipients of the 2009 Michigan’s Best Award. While schools face many challenges, the Michigan’s Best award is an example of the quality education taking place in Michigan schools each day. Otsego Public Schools’ Rewiring the Brain program has been selected as a recipient of the 2009 Michigan’s Best Award. Otsego will accept its award Oct. 24 at an awards ceremony co-sponsored by MASB and SET SEG School Insurance Specialists, the program’s exclusive sponsor. Otsego’s winning program earned the honor in the Professional Development category for its innovativeness and impact on student achievement. Teachers, administrators and school board members will be on hand to celebrate the prestigious award. “We’re being challenged at the state and local level to develop innovative approaches to education,” said Kathy Hayes, MASB executive director. “These districts have a proven record of success, and should be thought of as models for other districts across the state.”
In Allegan County, a literacy initiative has the goal of having all students read at grade level as prescribed by No Child Left Behind. In Otsego, it became evident that there was a wide-range of teacher knowledge and comfort regarding teaching literacy. Countywide assessments were administered by Title I staff, leaving teachers without a clear understanding of the measurement and results. Therefore, Otsego Public Schools adopted Rewiring the Brain, a mandatory, intensive professional development program. A global presentation of curriculum content is represented using half-day trainings, while explicit instruction is addressed within weekly grade level meetings.
Programs are judged by an independent panel of experts in each area, based on uniqueness, the critical need served and evidence of impact on student achievement. More than 150 entries were received from districts across the upper and lower peninsulas. Each winner receives a trophy for display at the school and $1,500 to sustain their efforts. These programs won round-two judging and represent the top honor in each of nine categories of MASB’s Education Excellence program. MASB provides quality educational leadership services to all Michigan boards of education, and advocates for student achievement and public education. # # #
by Dpatzer
14. July 2009 16:27
by Superintendent Denny Patzer
With all the recent focus on budget woes in the state of Michigan, I want to take this opportunity to explain how OPS is going to allocate and spend the Federal Stimulus dollars that will be coming to the district for the next two years. The Stimulus Funding can be very confusing because it comes to local districts in different pots or categories and each one includes specific rules and guidelines for spending. The main categories are Title I funds, which are tied to free and reduced lunch numbers, Title II funds which are designated for technology and staff development, IDEA funds which are tied to Special Education interventions and programming services, and Stabilization Funds which are tied to State aid.
In Otsego, we have been working with other county schools and the Allegan Area Educational Service Agency to coordinate some of the programming with IDEA funds. The ESA staff is involved because they will receive the money and disburse it to local districts. The main level of responsibility for reporting and accounting of funds will be done by ESA staff. This relieves local staff from the liability in reporting and provides us with checks and balances by an oversight organization.
Our areas selected are: technology purchases of equipment and software, equipment to outfit the new kindergarten classrooms, student intervention programs like our new after school programs that will be held in each of our five buildings beginning this fall and a staff professional development program titled Capturing Kids' Hearts. It is important to note that these funds are to be used in the next two years and must be designated toward programs that will have a lasting effect without the need for long term funding.
I hope you agree that we are using a multi-faceted approach to get the "best bang for the buck" with this stimulus money. We were required to submit an application in June 2009 and we have received initial approval from the state regarding our plan for spending the funds.
by ops
28. May 2009 12:00
(Left to Right) The school district has received an Education Excellence Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards. Otsego Public Schools Board of Education trustee Renny Ransbottom, Washington Street Elementary kindergarten teacher Sue Raven, Dix Street Elementary Principal Tim Allard, early literacy trainer Trish Martin, Dix Street Elementary third grade teacher Kim Seger, Superintendent Denny Patzer and Board of Education trustee Wendy Stafford received an Education Excellence Award from the Michigan Association of School Boards for professional development initiatives involving the district’s Rewiring the Brain literacy.
by ops
8. May 2009 18:00
Bryon Campbell, who serves as the President of the Otsego Public Schools Board of Education, received the district's Outstanding Alumnus Award at Honors Night on April 23. He has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is the Chief Information Officer for The VanAndel Institute in Grand Rapids. He is co-director for the Bioinformatics for the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor. At VanAndel, Bryon assists researchers with informatics and technology needs. He is a member of the International Honor Society for the Computing Sciences. He has coached soccer, football, basketball and has been an active volunteer. Bryon is a lifetime resident of Otsego. He and his wife Kandy have two sons and they are currently hosting a foreign exchange student.
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