Commissioner's Newsletter
July 7, 2003
| Administrators Conference | Background Check Fees Will Increase |
| Status of MAP Testing | DESE Staff Changes |
Dear School Administrator:
In recent months, I have communicated with you almost entirely by e-mail. Those messages, unfortunately, all dealt with budget withholdings and other unpleasant news. By the time you read this letter, I hope things have settled down for you and that you can spend a few minutes with snail-mail from Jefferson City.
Enclosed is a letter from Tom Davis, president of the State Board of Education, summarizing the Board’s most recent meetings. I encourage you to note Tom’s detailed report on the Board’s in-depth discussion of issues related to school finance and the future of the Foundation Program. This letter also includes information on several other important and timely topics.
AUGUST SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS CONFERENCE
If you have registered to attend our Department’s annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators but have NOT received confirmation from our office, would you please call us (573-751-3563) so that we may verify your registration?
The annual conference will be held August 3-5, 2003, at Tan-Tar-A. For more information about the conference and the program, visit our main Web site: http://dese.mo.gov and click on the "Register Now" link. I think this year’s conference will be important for all school district administrators as we prepare for a challenging year ahead. I look forward to seeing you there.
INCREASED FEES FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS
Beginning in August, the Highway Patrol is instituting new or increased fees for services related to background checks. This action is necessitated by the continuing squeeze on the operating funds of all state agencies. I am sorry that this decision will mean higher costs for school districts and applicants, and it is likely to cause inconvenience for your staff and mine.
The following fees and/or increases will become effective August 28:
The fee for a fingerprint check, conducted through the Highway Patrol and the FBI, will increase from $22 to $38.
The fees for an "open records" check will increase from zero to $5.00 per individual. An open records check is conducted directly by the Highway Patrol; it reviews open criminal records within the state. This is significant because all applicants for substitute teaching certificates must undergo this background check.
Many school districts have elected to conduct an open records check on all job applicants and/or all employees by giving us a list of names, dates of birth and social security numbers. Now, there will be a charge of $5.00 per name if your district wants to conduct this type of general background check.
See the Educator Certification Web site for more details. Our Department must collect these fees from applicants and/or school districts and forward the proper amounts to the Highway Patrol on a monthly basis. These new or increased fees will apply to all applications received on or after Thursday, August 28.
We are working on our accounting procedures now, so we can collect the necessary fees from school districts for the large number of applications we receive for substitute certificates and the other background check services we provide. Very likely, the addition of these fees will slow down our process of issuing substitute certificates.
Please share this information with any personnel who are involved with handling certification matters or employee background checks. You will need to decide how to handle this matter locally. For example, you may decide to collect the $5.00 fee from each person for whom you submit an application for a substitute certificate. We will provide more information about the mechanics of submitting applications and payments as soon as possible.
STATUS OF "MAP" TESTING IN SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES
As you know, the legislature did NOT approve the restoration of funds in our budget to cover the cost of administering the MAP exams in science and social studies next spring (2004). This spring, the vast majority of districts administered these two subject areas voluntarily and absorbed the cost. Given the state’s current budget situation, we did not expect that many districts would continue to pick up the cost of testing for another year.
I am delighted to report, however, that about 230 school districts have informed us that they intend to administer either the science or social studies exams, or both, next spring. We expect this number to grow. In order to justify the expense of printing and scoring these exams, we must have a commitment from districts that a minimum number of students will be tested. Based on the responses we have already received, it appears that about 25,000 or more students will take part in the science and social studies exams at each grade level.
With the financial problems that many school districts are facing during the coming year and the anticipated withholdings of additional state funds, we think it is remarkable that so many school districts are willing to pay to maintain a comprehensive academic assessment program for their students.
You may be aware that the legislature recently approved an early-retirement incentive measure as part of the overall effort to trim the state’s total budget. Because of this incentive, normal end-of-the-year retirements, other resignations, and the fact that we have been unable to fill most vacant positions for months, our Department will be experiencing an unusually large wave of staff changes this summer and fall. Under the budget just signed by Governor Holden, for example, we are allotted 59 fewer positions (FTEs) than we had authorized in fiscal year 2003.
We have lost or will soon be losing some highly experienced and talented people whom many of you know and have worked with for a long time. They include:
Deputy Commissioner Orlo Shroyer is retiring September 1.
Ruth Flynn, director of early childhood education, retired at the end of June.
Joan Solomon, coordinator of school improvement initiatives, retired at the end of June.
Dale Carlson, director of school finance, recently transferred to the Division of Special Education as coordinator of administration. He replaced Rick Hutcherson who retired in May. We have promoted Denise Pierce to be the new director of school finance.
Dewayne Cossey, the long-time superintendent of the State Schools for Severely Handicapped, retired at the end of December. Pam Schaefer, the long-time assistant superintendent of the State Schools, served as interim superintendent until her retirement at the end of June. Gary Schroer became superintendent of the State Schools on July 1.
Harry Kujath, coordinator of community and career education, will retire September 1.
Gene Reed
Judy English
John Miller
Rusty Rosenkoetter
Employees who are eligible to take advantage of early retirement must do so by September 1, and more staff may choose to retire by then. Not only are we losing some very gifted and dedicated professional and support staff, but we also are limited in the ability to replace them because the recent legislation restricts the number of these retirees who may be replaced. In addition to that limitation, the governor recently ordered a hiring freeze (with very limited exceptions) for all state agencies.
As you can see, our Department is dealing with some of the same staffing challenges that many school districts are now confronting. We, too, will work hard to continue to provide prompt and accurate responses to your inquiries so that the kids you serve can be provided the best education possible.
I hope you have a good, relaxing summer. Let us know how we can be helpful.
Sincerely,
D. Kent King