Monroe County School Sytem MESSAGES

Week of August 29-September 2

MC Logo

Quick Links

 

A note from your Superintendent...

 

Welcome to another edition of Monroe Messages, Monroe County Schools e-newsletter. Keeping our stakeholders informed.

  

We are ending the first month of school.  I hope you and your students have had a productive first month!

 

As the new school year begins, there are often questions about homework.  Homework can bring parents and educators closer together. Parents who supervise homework and work with their children on assignments learn about their children's education and about the school.  Homework is meant to be a positive experience and to encourage children to learn.

 

Why Do Teachers Assign Homework?

Teachers assign homework for many reasons. Homework can help children

  • review and practice what they've learned;
  • get ready for the next day's class;
  • learn to use resources, such as libraries, reference materials, and encyclopedias; and
  • explore subjects more fully than time permits in the classroom.

 Homework can also help children develop good habits and attitudes. It can:

  •  teach children to work independently;
  •  encourage self-discipline and responsibility (assignments provide some youngsters with their first chance to manage time and meet deadlines); and
  •  encourage a love of learning.

 

Helpful hints for our parents about homework:

 Show You Think Education and Homework Are Important.

  • Do you set a regular time every day for homework?
  • Does your child have the papers, books, pencils, and other things needed to do assignments?
  • Does your child have a fairly quiet place to study with lots of light?
  • Do you set a good example by reading and writing yourself?
  • Do you stay in touch with your child's teachers?

Monitor Assignments.

  • Do you know what your child's homework assignments are? How long they should take? How the teacher wants you to be involved?
  • Do you see that assignments are started and completed?
  • Do you read the teacher's comments on assignments that are returned?
  • Is TV viewing cutting into your child's homework time?

Provide Guidance.

  • Do you understand and respect your child's style of learning? Does he work better alone or with someone else? Does he learn best when he can see things, hear them, or handle them?
  • Do you help your child to get organized? Does your child need a calendar or assignment book? A bag for books and a folder for papers?
  • Do you encourage your child to develop good study habits (example: scheduling enough time for big assignments; making up practice tests)?
  • Do you talk with your child about homework assignments? Does she understand them?

Talk With Someone at School When Problems Come Up.

  • Do you meet the teacher early in the year before any problems arise?
  • If a problem comes up, do you meet with the teacher?
  • Do you cooperate with the teacher and your child to work out a plan and a schedule to fix homework problems?
  • Do you follow up with the teacher and with your child to make sure the plan is working?

The excerpt above on homework can be found at the following link with more detailed information.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/A+Parents+Guide+to+Helping+a+Child+with+Homework-a01074100479

 

Respectfully submitted,

Anthony Pack

Superintendent

Monroe County Schools

 

 

 

 

A note from the Board of Education...

 

At a called meeting of the Board of Education on September 1, 2011, the Board set the millage rate for calendar year 2011.  A tentative millage had been set at 15.667 on August 9, 2011 with the Board charging Superintendent Pack and his staff with trying to bring the millage increase down from the 1.717 millage increase to stay under 15 mills total.

 

The Board heard from several community members during the millage hearings held on August 25th at 6 p.m., September 1st at 12 p.m., and September 1st at 6 p.m.  After several iterations of the CY 2011 Tax Digest, the administration recommeded a millage of 14.987 instead of the tentative millage proposed on August 9th.  The Board approved the recommedation.

 

The tax digest is down from CY 2010 due to a decline in property values.  To raise the same funds that the CY 2010 School Board tax of 13.95 mills raised in CY 2011, the Board would have to had increased the millage to 14.441 (the roll back rate).  The administration recommeded an increase of 1.037 mills or a 7% increase over last years millage rate.  The administration was able to make this reduction from the tentative millage rate of 15.667 by moving $1,625,189 from the fund equity to the FY 2012 School Board Budget.

 

With money from the fund equity being moved to the revenue side of the FY 2012 Budget, the school system will show a fund balance of just over $2.1 million for FY 2012.  The fund balance is not a savings account but is the fund used to run the system from July 1st until taxes are received (usually by December).

 

At this time the school operations millage rates for neighboring counties are not available for CY 2011.  During CY 2010, Monroe County Schools had the 5th lowest millage rate at 13.95 of twelve counties.  Putnam County was the lowest at 11.15 mills while Butts County was the highest at the legislative maximum of 20.00 mills.  Other counties used in this comparison were Houston, Crawford, Pike, Upson, Lamar, Jones Jasper, Peach and Bibb.

 

The next meeting of the Board of Education will be on September 13, 2011 at 7 p.m.  The agenda will be posted by the afternoon of the Friday before the meeting on the School Board's website at https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/index.aspx?S=4117.  At this site you can also view agendas and minutes from previous meetings.  Board policies as well as many other important pieces of information are available at this site by clicking on the various tabs.

 

A note about our Numbers...

 

Monroe By the Numbers is a document that shares with you, our stakeholders, vital information about our school system. Monroe By the Numbers provides general information on:

  • Our Schools
  • Our Budget
  • Our Students
  • Our Faculty & Staff
  • Our Academics
  • Our Student Achievement Data
  • Our Support Services

 Click on the blue underlined link above to view MCS by the Numbers.

 

 
A note from School Nutrition...

 

MEAL PRICES - In January 2011, a federal law was passed that requires school systems to increase the

price of school lunches to help close the gap between the federal reimbursement rates of a fully-paid meal and a free meal.  Therefore, Monroe County Schools are being mandated to gradually increase our lunch prices until we meet the target identified by the law. The 2011-2012 meal prices will be as follows:

 

Breakfast

 

Lunch

Elementary:

$1.00

 

Elementary:

$1.85

Middle/High:

$1.25

 

Middle/High:

$2.10

Reduced:

$0.30

 

Reduced:

$0.30

BOE adults:

$1.75

 

BOE adults:

$2.85

 

Adults can purchase a single entr�e for $1.50 (same as student entr�e price).  However, if an adult selects an entr�e and side item, he/she will be charged the full meal price ($1.75 for breakfast and $2.85 for lunch).  This price includes tea/lemonade.  You will be able to prepay for meals by the week, month, or year as you did last year.  We ask all BOE staff to keep charges minimal. 

 

NEW POINT OF SALE (POS) PROGRAM - We have upgraded to a web-based POS program.  This is the program that tracks our meals and accounts.

                                                                                                                                   

MY SCHOOL BUCKS - If you are familiar with Cafeteria Cash that allowed you to view your account balance (or your child's balance) online, you will love My School Bucks!  Like Cafeteria Cash, My School Bucks will allow you to view account balances and receive low balance email alerts at no cost.  You can also make a payment into your account for a small convenience fee.  However, you will now be able to see exactly what meals and extra items have been charged to your account.  In addition, this program is web-based so all activity posted is within a 24-hour period. To learn more about My School Bucks or to set up an account id, visit www.monroe.k12.ga.us/nutrition or www.myschoolbucks.com

 

CHECK US OUT ON THE WEB - If you have not visited our website (www.monroe.k12.ga.us/nutrition), please do so.  You will find the nutritional analysis of the foods we serve, monthly menus, health inspection scores, educational websites related to nutrition and health, contact information for school nutrition staff, and other helpful information. 

 

 

A note from Student Services...

 

There is a powerful link between successful learning and regular school attendance as shown in numerous research studies.  Students who are absent are missed by their classmates and their teacher and they miss a lot of learning!

Using One Call Now, Monroe County School System is calling the parent's primary contact number the same evening of the day that the child is marked absent.  This automated call is another effort to remind parents and guardians of the importance of attendance, but it is also a safety measure that helps our parents and guardians stay informed of their child's whereabouts.  Questions regarding attendance need to be directed to the school's attendance clerk.