News from the Superintendent: November 16, 2009

November 15, 2009

Good afternoon.

Gov. Richardson has signed some items and vetoed others that the state Legislature presented him on budget cuts following the special legislative session. He kept his word and limited cuts to public education to about 1 percent. We can live with a cut like that without affecting the classroom. No one will lose their job, and the mandatory five-day furloughs you’ve read about do not include school district employees.

Again, I would like to thank the governor and lawmakers for their hard work during the special session. We know they will still have their work cut out for them when they reconvene for the regular session in January.

Let me clarify something from last week’s message about self-directed professional development. The stipend of 1 percent of your current salary for completing that activity will be paid Nov. 24, but will be a separate check.

Here’s something exciting that we’ll be able to see the results of in January. APS will launch a new Web site that will offer a new look and much easier use for site visitors. It will be searchable and parents will be able to find information without the confusion and frustration they experience now.

A three-person team is in place now and they will complete the first phase—the district site—after the first of the year. They will spend the next year working with departments to help them with changes they would like to make and to give them a more uniform look. The third phase will come in the following year and involve upgrading individual school sites.

The district site is being done first because it’s the gateway to all other sites and information. It’s the first thing parents and other visitors see, so it must be convenient to use. The Web team is here to help everyone, but these three phases—in this order—are the priority for now. Department heads and principals will receive information soon on things they can do to help prepare for the change.

Along those lines, the team, along with members of the district technology staff, have been conducting user interviews and testing. There is more to come, so they will need additional help in making the site as user-friendly as possible. If they contact you, please assist them. Your input will go a long way toward giving APS a useful site that serves our customers the way they deserve.

Have a great week.

Winston Brooks
Superintendent