maps state of the district

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 1

STATE OF THE DISTRICT REPORT2010-2011

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District2 Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 3

DEAR COMMUNITY MEMBERS,

Before we begin another promising academic year, we must remember that reflecting and building on the successes of the past is the key to future improvement. Over the last several years, we have made significant progress by taking advantage of the opportunities presented to us and by overcoming the many challenges our district has faced.

I am continually reminded of what a special place Merrill is and how much the community contributes to our schools and students. Our community members not only provide support to our students, but also take pride in the successes of the district and the strong quality of education provided to our young people.

Community members also understand that we must push our students to excel academically, and provide them with facilities and an education that will lead to future success, while also finding ways to become more efficient and save taxpayer dollars.

Our district has achieved success by renewing our partnership with the community and working side-by-side on innovative problem-solving to create a culture in which challenges are addressed in a positive manner. The Merrill Area Public Schools expect to encounter challenges similar to other Wisconsin districts, but we plan to overcome them and continue to move forward.

As we approach the new school year, I am excited to strengthen the trust and bond between our district and the community, increase efficiencies and continue the success of our great schools.

Sincerely,

Dr. Lisa L. Snyder

A LETTER TO CITIZENS OF MERRILL

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District2

MISSIONThe Merrill Area Public School District, in partnership with our community and families, is committed to providing the best education for every student in a safe environment.

VISIONThe Merrill Area Public Schools will be a leader in providing a quality education for all students through effective community family and staff partnerships.

MERRILL AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Central Office1111 North Sales Street Merrill, WI 54452 715-536-4581

Merrill High School1201 North Sales Street Merrill, WI 54452715-536-4594

Prairie River Middle School106 N Polk StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-9593

Jefferson Elementary School1914 West Jackson Street Merrill, WI 54452715-536-5432

Kate Goodrich Elementary School505 West 10th StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-5233

Maple Grove Elementary School290 Highway FHamburg, WI 54411715-536-7684

Pine River Elementary SchoolW4165 State Highway 64Merrill, WI 54452715-536-6101

Washington Elementary School1900 East 6th StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-2372

Little Learners Head Start and Early Childhood1111 North Sales StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-2391

Merrill Adult Academy1111 North Sales StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-1431

Community-Based Four-Year-Old Preschool 1111 North Sales StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-4581

Wisconsin Rural Virtual Academy1111 North Sales StreetMerrill, WI 54452715-536-4581

TailWind Imaging

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District4 Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 5Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District4 Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 5

MERRILL AREA SCHOOLS: CENTERED ON SUCCESS

The Merrill Area Public Schools utilizes a model of continuous improvement to guide its work, based on the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Criteria for Education. This philosophical, research-based approach to organizational leadership and management ensures that the district is defined by its mission, guided by its vision and focused on its strategic goals. The MAPS model is systems-thinking orientedand based on a belief in improvement throughincreased accountability and a focuson excellence.

MAPS has clearly defined the components of success and consistently uses them to guide decisions and monitor its progress toward precise targets.

MissionThe Merrill Area Public School District, in partnership with our community and families, is committed to providing the best education for every student in a safe environment.

Vision The Merrill Area Public Schools will be a leader in providing a quality education for all students through effective community, family and staff partnerships.

BeliefsWe believe in transparency with our community. We believe we are educational leaders. We believe all students can learn by raising achievement and engagement. We believe our staff should be empowered through shared decision-making.

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District6 Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 7Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District6 Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 7

These goals and the action plans that support them, guide our continuous improvement. Our school leaders and board members monitor the progress toward the identified targets through their “District Dashboard.” This dashboard includes academic measures such as the Wisconsin Knowledge a Concepts Exam, the ACT and local assessment data as well as perception measures such as the student, staff or parent annual survey.

The district monitors their financial stability through key indicators such as open-enrollment, summer school attendance, level of fund balance and the district’s bond rating. Other measureable indicators on the dashboard are graduation rates, level of staff education, positive media coverage, post secondary enrollment and staff development data.

The most important aspect that district and board level leaders are concerned about is that there is continuous improvement in all areas. In many cases, we

have set the targets quite high fully knowing it may take a few years to ride to the level of excellence we expect. An example of this is our stakeholder satisfaction data. Our target of 90% satisfied in all areas measures is lofty for sure, but we were able to achieve it in a number of areas. Students reported high levels of satisfaction with technology, and feeling safe in the classroom. Staff members and students alike reported high levels of satisfaction with their building administration and communication systems.

MAPS leaders will continue down the path of continuous improvement so every student can achieve their full potential and so that MAPS can realize their vision of being “a leader in providing a quality education.”

On September 30, 2009, MAPS Board of Education voted to adopt the following strategic goals:

Strategic Goal #1

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT & RESPONSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTStrategic Goal #2

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY (ALIGNED AND INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM)Strategic Goal # 3

COMMUNICATION- (CONNECTED LEARNING COMMUNITY)Strategic Goal #4

ACCOUNTABILITY-(HIGH QUALITY WORKFORCE)Strategic Goal #5

21ST CENTURY SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

MERRILL AREA SCHOOLS: CENTERED ON SUCCESS


With approximately 230 students from kindergarten to fifth grade, Jefferson Elementary School has a strong tradition of academic success and a sense of school spirit reflected in the students, staff, parents and community.

Jefferson Elementary teachers pro-vide students with quality education-

al experiences, allowing them to reach their true potential and lead them on a path of being lifelong learners. Jeffer-son aids students in achiev-ing both individual and team success, and staff members are dedicated to cultivating a passion for learning. Jeffer-son’s dedicated teachers and support staff make providing a safe, stimulating, child-cen-tered learning environment for the students a top priority.

For the 2011-2012 school year, Jef-ferson Elementary has the privilege of offering students and their fami-lies many new opportunities through funding awarded our school through appropriated grant funds from the State of Wisconsin.

The After School Enrichment Pro-grams focus on six types of involve-ment: parenting, communicating, volunteering, learning at home, deci-sion making and collaborating with the community. The three programs include the following: the After School Tutoring Program, the Light-ed School House, and the Jefferson Jags Enrichment Program.

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1914 West Jackson Street

Merrill, WI 54452

Principal: Jeff Damrau

(715) 536-5432, ext. 4301

GRADE 3 4 5

WKCE Reading 92% 69% 90%

WKCE Language Arts 71%

WKCE Math 87% 82% 90%

WKCE Science 80%

WKCE Social Studies 96%

TESTING “PROFICIENT” + “ADVANCED”Levels based on Total FAY Enrolled*

*Note: Source DPI full academic year (FAY) WKCE test score data.Shaded cell indicates subject not tested at that grade level.

DID YOU KNOW:• All Jefferson Elementary classrooms are equipped with 21st century technology, including

interactive white boards, integrated sound system, and ELMO image projection devices.

• Jefferson Elementary is a SAGE (Student Achievement Guarantee in Education) school,

meaning all classrooms in grades kindergarten through third grade have a student to teacher

ratio of 18 to 1 or less. This helps ensure that individual student needs are met by having

teachers work with smaller class sizes.

STAFF DATA

Education Assistants 3.7 Administrator(s) 1

Paraeducators 1.7 Principal 1

Spec. Ed. Paraeducators 2

Clerical/Technical 1.3 Other .2

Office Secretary 1.3 IMC .2

Custodial/Operations 1

Custodian 1

TOTAL: 7.2

NUMBER OF TEACHERS

20.79AVERAGE EXPERIENCE (IN YEARS)

15.24PERCENTAGE WITH ADVANCE DEGREES

64%

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011

Free/Reduced Lunch 119 54.1%

Eng. Lang.Learners 0 0%

Special Education 33 15%

AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE

2009-2010 95.8%

2008-2009 95.3%

2007-2008 95.8%

KG 1 2 3 4 5

28 30 33 48 48 33

ENROLLMENT BY ETHNICITY

African American 4 1.8%

Hispanic 2 .9%

White 214 97.3%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



Named after the first teacher of the town’s original elementary school, Kate Goodrich Elementary is also Merrill’s newest elementary school. Since it was built in 1998, the school has been the educational home to ap-proximately 400 students from kin-dergarten through fifth grade. Kate Goodrich’s staff, parents and other community members work hard to create a vibrant, caring and nurturing

academic environment.

Kate Goodrich Elementary takes great pride in its diver-sity, strong Parent-Teacher Or-ganization, high level of family involvement and friendly, co-hesive staff, which come to-gether to create an ideal learn-ing atmosphere for students.

The school’s facilities also contribute to the educational environment. A beautiful li-

brary, well-equipped computer labs, state-of-the-art technology class-rooms and two large playgrounds are some of its highlights. Other fea-tures include beautiful art and music rooms, providing students with spa-cious environments to fully express their artistic and musical talents.

Kate Goodrich also participates in the school breakfast program, healthy afternoon fruit and vegeta-ble snacks and provides after-school programs for students.

Over the past 13 years, we have worked to maximize the educational experience for all of our students, and we welcome your visit. Come and see how we focus on working together to build a strong educa-tional community that benefits the young people of the Merrill area.

KATE GOODRICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

505 West 10th Street

Merrill, WI 54452

Principal: Mark Jahnke

(715) 536-5233

GRADE 3 4 5



WKCE Math 71% 80% 83%

WKCE Science 74%




DID YOU KNOW:• We have implemented a new after-school program, Kate’s Café (Children and Families Excel)

– Kate Goodrich was fortunate enough to be awarded a two-year grant to help support after-

school programming for students and families. The staff at Kate has totally embraced this

opportunity and is in the beginning planning stages for next year already.

• Kate Goodrich was awarded the five-year 21st Century Grant. This grant was a very

competitive one and we feel very privileged to have these extra funds to help with after-

school programming.

STAFF DATA


Paraeducators 2 Principal 1

Spec. Ed. Paraeducators 7.4



Custodial/Operations 2.68

Custodian 1.68

Head Custodian 1

TOTAL: 14.98

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



75%

KATE GOODRICH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011


Eng. Lang.Learners 1 .3%

Special Education 68 19.4%


2009-2010 95.6%

2008-2009 96.5%

2007-2008 96.2%

KG 1 2 3 4 5

51 68 55 65 55 56



American Indian 4 1.1%

Asian 1 .3%

Hispanic 4 1.1%

Pacific Islander 1 .3%

White 324 92.6%

Other 4 1.1%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



One of the most unique rural schools in the state, Maple Grove Elementary is committed to providing academic excellence to students. Built in 1904, Maple Grove has stood as a land-mark, representing the many genera-tions of families who have walked the halls and called the school home.

The school’s long history has also provided a successful teach-ing model to follow. The Maple Grove staff is known for its en-thusiasm, teaching excellence and commitment to students.

Young people are held to high expectations at Maple Grove, and success is achieved through the motivational learn-

ing environment created by teachers. With the help of the Maple Grove Parent-Teacher Organization, the staff also provides a variety of opportuni-ties for expanded and enriched learn-ing. Maple Grove is small in size, but that certainly does not hinder its abil-ity to foster big ideas.

Maple Grove School has a strong sense of community. We are proud Maple Grove Foxes and our school mascot is Fromm the Fox. Our caring learning environment can be best summarized by our student-generat-ed school motto: Be Caring, Be Shar-ing, Be Kind, Be YOURSELF!

MAPLE GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

290 Highway F

Hamburg, WI 54411

Principal: Tammy Steckbauer

(715) 536-7684

GRADE 3 4 5



WKCE Math 82% 92% 100%

WKCE Science 100%




DID YOU KNOW:• Built in 1904, Maple Grove Elementary has the unique distinction of being one of the oldest

elementary schools in the nation. It is steeped in a rich history of providing academic

excellence, and is a reflection of the commitment of the families in the Hamburg community

to their school.

• Maple Grove Elementary has a “family” atmosphere like no other school. Maple Grove

Elementary offers one classroom at each grade level (grades K – 5) which fosters a learning

community where all the teachers and staff know all the students by name.

STAFF DATA

Education Assistants 0 Administrator(s) .5

Paraeducators 0 Principal .5

Clerical/Technical 1 Other .1

Office Secretary 1 IMC .1


Custodian 1

TOTAL: 2.6

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



54%

MAPLE GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011



Special Education 12 13.6


2009-2010 96.3%

2008-2009 96.8%

2007-2008 96.1%

KG 1 2 3 4 5

12 19 20 11 14 12


Hispanic 1 1.1%

Native American 2 2.3%

White 85 96.6%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



Pine River Elementary School, lo-cated directly outside the Merrill city limits, is the educational home to ap-proximately 130 students from kin-dergarten through 5th grade. Staff, students and their families all quick-ly become a part of the Pine River family atmosphere.

In keeping with the school’s vision of “Inspiring All to Dream and Achieve,” staff member are continually involved in gathering student achieve-ment data in an effort to en-sure success for all. Through-out the year staff gather as a Professional Learning Com-munity to analyze and make decisions based on this data. Tracking student growth in lit-eracy and math allows school

staff to take a collaborative approach to instructional decisions.

Pine River Elementary School is a warm and inviting place for students, parents and community members and is fortunate to have a very ac-tive and supportive PTO. The school holds students to high academic standards while building on their four core values found in the ‘Pine Rive Panther Pledge’: Caring, Cre-ativity, Respect, and Responsibility.

PINE RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

W4165 State Highway 64

Merrill, WI 54452

Lead Teacher: Ruth DeJarlais

(715) 536-6101

GRADE 3 4 5



WKCE Math 75% 100% 100%

WKCE Science 88%




DID YOU KNOW:• Pine River was recognized by www.schooldigger.com as one of the Top 10 elementary

schools in Wisconsin based on student achievement data.

• All Pine River classroom teachers participated in offering weekly after-school tutoring to our

struggling learners. In summer 2011 these same students will be offered tutoring sessions

twice per week.

STAFF DATA

Education Assistants 2 Administrator(s) .5

Paraeducators 2 Principal .5




Custodian 1

TOTAL: 4.6

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



64%

PINE RIVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011





2009-2010 96.1%

2008-2009 96.3%

2007-2008 96.4%

KG 1 2 3 4 5

27 26 22 24 20 23


African American 1 .7%

Asian 1 .7%

Hispanic 1 .7%

Pacific Islander 2 1.4%

White 137 96.5%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



Located at 1900 E. 6th Street, on the east side of Merrill, students from Gleason, Irma, the city of Merrill and the surrounding areas all attend Wash-ington Elementary School. The school has a diverse population of approxi-mately 300 students, including English as a second language learners.

A Washington Elementary education starts by establishing a posi-tive relationship with children and their families. Washing-ton’s “School Families” ac-tivities, “Positive Actions with Students” reward system and “Positive Behavior and Inter-vention Support” discipline system are some examples of the school’s student-centered focus.

Conservation, environmental awareness and compassion for

others are also incorporated into the Washington curriculum. Students re-cycle paper, turn food scraps into com-post and participate in “green” activi-ties throughout the year. The school even has an outdoor classroom, which staff members use to promote science and environmental care. In addition, food drives for the local food pantry and fundraisers to support UNICEF, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and local disaster relief efforts are led by both students and teachers.

Activities and programs continue after school day at Washington. After-school tutoring, enrichment and “Lighted Schoolhouse” night programs are fa-cilitated by a grant. And the PTO pro-motes family involvement through special events such as the Aloha Hop, Bingo Night, Secret Santa and Family Fun Day at the school forest.

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

1900 East 6th Street

Merrill, WI 54452

Principal: Paul Klippel

(715) 536-2373

GRADE 3 4 5



WKCE Math 83% 82% 88%

WKCE Science 75%




DID YOU KNOW:• Washington operates an after-school tutoring and enrichment program four days per week

during the school year funded by a 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant.

• Washington is the district magnet school for Hispanic families.

• Washington has a “Green Team” which has organized projects such as the outdoor

classroom, community garden, and earth day activities.

STAFF DATA




Eng. Lang. Learner Aide 1




Custodian 1

TOTAL: 11.3

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



66%

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011


Eng. Lang.Learners 11 3.7%



2009-2010 92.2%

2008-2009 95.9%

2007-2008 95.7%

KG 1 2 3 4 5

49 53 52 54 51 37



American Indian 4 1.4%

Asian 1 .3%

Hispanic 14 4.7%


White 273 92.2%

Other 2 .7%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



Prairie River Middle School educates sixth, seventh and eighth grade students, allowing them to develop as part of a personalized learning community. Prairie River incorporates restorative practices to build and enhance positive relationships throughout the school.

Each grade begins the day with a morning meeting. These small-

group environments set the tone for the day by providing a sense of belonging, and help to address students’ social and emotional development.

Sixth and seventh graders learn from dynamic two-teacher teams that focus on individual learning, improving student engagement and achievement. One teacher offers instruction in math and science, while the

other helps students learn literacy and social studies.

Eighth grade students participate in an extension of this program, working collaboratively with a four-teacher, content-specific team.

The Connected Math Program and the Full-Option Science System make up Prairie River’s core curriculum. To improve reading, writing and language skills, the school is in the first stage of implementing the research-based Literacy Collaborative model.

Applied academic course offerings include a music program, which has produced the state’s best middle school band. Additional courses consist of vocal programming, technology, art, foreign language, physical education, health and computer education.

PRAIRIE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Principal: Gerald Beyer

(715) 536-9593

GRADE 6 7 8



WKCE Math 87% 88% 88%

WKCE Science 85%




DID YOU KNOW:• The middle school is the first time when all of the district’s students come together.

• Prairie River Middle School has the highest math scores in the conference.

• The school has two-person teaching teams starting in 6th grade.

STAFF DATA

Education Assistants 6 Administrator(s) 2

Paraeducators 1 Principal 1

Spec. Ed. Paraeducators 5 Assoc. Principal 1



Administrative Secretary 1


Custodian 5

Head Custodian 1

TOTAL: 18.9

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



69%

PRAIRIE MIDDLE SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011


Eng. Lang.Learners 2 .3%



2009-2010 94.9%

2008-2009 95.2%

2007-2008 95.5%

6 7 8

214 221 222



American Indian 4 .6%

Asian 1 .2%

Hispanic 6 .9%


White 635 96.7%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



Merrill High School (MHS) provides a fantastic environment in which to learn, work and grow. It is large enough to of-fer a comprehensive, rigorous curricu-lum that meets the diverse needs of all of its students, and small enough to al-low learners to build relationships they will value for a lifetime.

Merrill offers demanding core academ-ic classes, a strong vocational and tech-nical education program and a wealth

of extracurricular activities. Ad-ditional instructional opportuni-ties in the areas of technology, world languages and online learning are also available to students.

All MHS students make up the Blue Jay community and have the opportunity to take part in a variety of outstanding activi-ties, organizations and teams. Whether they take part in the

National Honor Society, Debate Fo-rensics and Skills USA, or a state-level competition with the Marching Jays or the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletics Association, students have the chance to excel in a wide array of areas.

Throughout their time at MHS, students acquire all the knowledge and skills nec-essary for college, and introducing stu-dents to research-based instructional practices and strategies prepares Blue Jay students for the future. Innovations like the Flex 14 schedule offer students the opportunity to attend large lectures and presentations, participate in rigor-ous lab work and engage in meaningful small-group discussions.

We encourage you to take advantage of everything MHS has to offer, and in-vite you to discover for yourself what makes MHS a great place to learn, work and grow.

MERRILL HIGH SCHOOL

1201 North Sales Street

Merrill, WI 54452

Principal: Shannon Murray

(715) 536-4581 ext. 3008

GRADE 10

WKCE Reading 72%


WKCE Math 76%

WKCE Science 77%




DID YOU KNOW:• Thanks to the generosity of the Merrill community as well as outside groups and

organizations, the Merrill High School Class of 2011 earned nearly $1.7 million worth of

scholarships this year.

• Merrill High School continues to expand the opportunities for its students to earn college

credits while attending high school. This fall will see more transcripted credit courses

(courses that count for college credit at Northcentral Technical College) and more Advanced

Placement courses than in any time in the school’s history. In fact, one MHS student from the

Class of 2011 earned nearly 50 college credits while attending MHS.

STAFF DATA



Spec. Ed. Paraeducators 4 Assoc. Principal 1

Clerical/Technical 6.45 Other 3

Office Secretary 5.45 IMC 1

Admin. Secretary 1 Athletic Director 1

Dean of Students 1

Custodial/Operations 7.56

Custodian 6.56

Head Custodian 1

TOTAL: 24.24

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



68%

MERRILL HIGH SCHOOL2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011


Eng. Lang.Learners 12 1.1%



2009-2010 97.7%

2008-2009 95.0%

2007-2008 95.3%

9 10 11 12

260 265 282 285




Asian 15 1.4%

Hispanic 12 1.1%

White 1059 97%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE



The MAPS Head Start/Early Child-hood building is located on the cor-ner of 10th and Sales Streets. The two separate programs housed with-in the building have been melded into one coordinated experience for three-to five-year-old children and their families. Four-year-olds are also enrolled in the Four Year Old Kinder-garten Program.

The Head Start program is fed-erally-funded and designed to provide low-income families and their children with just that - a head start. The Early Child-hood program meets the needs of children with disabilities.

Both programs follow the MAPS district calendar, with children coming in for either a morning or afternoon session

four times a week. Once a week, staff members visit students’ homes or do family activities that involve family members in their children’s education.

The curriculum is based on individual student needs, Wisconsin Common Core State Standards, Head Start Framework and the Creative Curricu-lum. Our mission is to engage, edu-cate and empower all young children and their families.

These programs believe that strength lies in effective partnerships that are non-judgmental, and we work to foster each individual’s unique assets. Most importantly, they are based on the belief that children learn best through play and hands-on exploration. Con-tinuous growth is an essential part of our programs.

HEAD START/EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM


Merrill, WI 54452

Head Start/Early Childhood

Director: Beth Tepper

DID YOU KNOW:• There were 114 three- to five-year-olds enrolled in the combined Head Start (low-income) and

Early Childhood (children with disabilities) Program at the end of the 2010-11 school year

• Head Start/Early Childhood clocked over 3,000 volunteer hours for the 2010-11 school year.

• The average staff longevity is 12 years of experience for the 17 staff members at the program.

• Head Start/Early Childhood has a unique fenced-in environment with traditional playground

equipment; as well as, “natural playscape” features that is open to the public.

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District22

THIRD GRADE WKCE DATA 2010-2011The goal for Head Start students is to be at or above level, when compared to students without a disability and who are not low income, by third grade. This is when students are formally assessed, for the first time, by the State of Wisconsin. The data serves as a predictor of future success of HS/EC students.

STAFF DATA




Clerical/Technical 1

Office Secretary 1

Custodial/Operations .67

Custodian .67

TOTAL: 9.27

NUMBER OF TEACHERS



70%

HEAD START/EARLY CHILDHOOD2010-2011 PERFORMANCE

2010-2011



Special Education 45 22%


2009-2010 92.2%

2008-2009 93.4%

2007-2008 93.3%

PK

205




Hispanic 3 1.5%

White 194 94.6%

ENROLLMENT BY GRADE

Merrill Area Public Schools: 2010-2011 State of the District 23

State Avg District Avg HS/EC Stu. HS: No Disab All non HS/EC Not Low income No Disability

Low Income NOT HS/EC No Disability

# of students 34 23 163 92 61

Reading 457.8 458.4 441.5 444.5 461.4 466 450.5

% of Goal 94.7% 95.3% 96.67%

Math 431.9 437.3 428.2 431.2 436.1 448.3 423.8

% of Goal 95.3% 96.1% 94.5%


MAPS special education teachers thrive on engaging students by creating a learn-ing environment which fosters academic growth, as well as meeting behavioral needs. Students within the program currently surpass state standards for educa-tion received in a regular education environment with special education support. MAPS’ special education program has an above-average graduation rate and a below-average dropout rate. The Special Education Department of Merrill Area Public Schools currently employs more than seven speech/language clinicians, more than 27 special education teachers and three psychologists.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES


Merrill, WI 54452

Pupil Services and Special

Education Director:

Dr. John Sample

39 Special Education Certified Staff25 Special Education Teacher Aides

During the 2010-2011 school year, MAPS contracted with CESA 9 for occupa-tional and physical therapy, serving approximately 41 students with disabilities.

PRIMARY DISABILITY 2010-11

Autism 48

Cognitively Disabled 43

Deaf-Blind 0

Emotional Behavioral Disability 55

Hearing Impaired 6

Orthopedically Impaired <5

Other Health Impaired 55

Significant Developmental Delay <5

Specific Learning Disabilities 168

Speech or Language Impaired 149

Traumatic Brain Injury <5

Visually Impaired <5

TOTALS 534

FOUR YEAR OLD KINDERGARTEN PROGRAM

Our First YearThe 2010-2011 school year was the inaugural year of the four-year-old Kindergarten (4K) program in Merrill Area Public Schools. 4K is offered in over 85% of the school districts in the State of Wisconsin. Participation is voluntary for 4-year olds at no charge.

MAPS 4K uses the community based approach, which means we have set up 4K centers in existing agencies where young children are already receiving services. This past year MAPS had 4K programs located at Merrill Child Care, Parkside Preschool, New Testament Church School, and Trinity School in addition to Head Start/Early Childhood. This is designed to lessen the transitions and increase learning as students are able to experience the four year old curriculum in a place that is comfortable and familiar to the child. All teachers in the 4K program are DPI Certified to teach in Early Childhood classrooms. The half-day program runs five days a week for the same school year as the older children. Bussing is also provided. There is a parent education component provided to compliment the curriculum delivered to the students.

As a quick note for the 2011-12 school year, MAPS is excited to have St. Francis Elementary School join the community based 4K initiative and will be offering a morning session.

2010-2011 Performance MeasuresEarly Childhood Environmental Rating Scale (ECERS).The ECERS requires the use of a trained observer to assess 37 different components of a quality early childhood classroom. It has a world-wide reputation of quality as it’s been translated into 14 languages and is in use in 18 countries. All nine MAPS 4K classrooms were assessed. On a scale of 1 to 7 the average score of the classrooms was 5.77. This rating puts MAPS 4K in the top 20% of 1538 classrooms assessed in the United States.

Parent SurveyAt the conclusion of the school year parents were asked to assess the 4K program on six components. On a scale of 1 to 5 parents rated the first year of the MAPS 4K at an average score of 4.7.

Merrill Child Care

601 South Center Ave.

Merrill, WI 54452

715-539-2477

New Beginnings Day Care

and Preschool (NTC)

N2519 Hwy K

Merrill, WI 54452

715-536-6855

Parkside Preschool

207 East First Street

Merrill, WI 54452

Trinity Lutheran Preschool

611 W. Main Street

Merrill, WI 54452

715-536-7501

St. Francis Elementary

School

1708 East 10th Street

Merrill, WI 54452

715-536-6083


ADVANCED PLACEMENT TESTING

ACT TESTING RESULTSPARTICIPATION NUMBERS

SUBJECT STUDENTS PERCENTAGE WITH 3 OR BETTER

Calculus 11 64%

Lang and Comp 17 82%

Lit and Comp 18 78%

Psych 44 90%

Stats 19 73%

Studio Art 3 100%

AP Econ WVS Online 1 0%

Physics Independent Study 1 0%

TOTAL 114 80%

TOTAL ENROLLMENT GRADE 12

NUMBER TESTED

PERCENTAGETESTED

AVG SCORE(COMPOSITE)

2009-10 278 140 45.9% 21.7

2008-09 299 140 45.9% 21.7

2007-08 300 139 46.3% 21.9

2006-07 323 142 44.0% 21.7

2005-06 301 154 51.2% 21.7

2004-05 301 143 47.5% 21.7

2003-04 280 118 42.1% 22.5

2002-03 331 158 47.7% 21.9

2001-02 321 150 46.7% 22.1

2000-01 307 164 53.4% 22.6

1999-00 283 130 45.9% 21.7

1998-99 286 141 49.3% 23.1

1997-98 298 133 44.6% 22.6

1996-97 301 135 44.9% 22.0

The Advanced Placement (AP) Test is designed by the College Board of Princ-eton, New Jersey. The programming allows 9th through 12th graders to earn college credit while still in high school.

ACT results are provided for public school students in grade 12 who took the ACT either as juniors and seniors. In the 2004-05 school year, there were significant changes implemented in WI student enrollment collections. As a result, the en-rollment data for that year may not be comprehensive, so these test participation rates should be interpreted with caution.

Girls Swimming .....18Girls Basketball ......32Girls Soccer ............34Girls Tennis.............43Girls Track ...............39Softball ...................38Cheer/Dance ...........16Volleyball ................29Baseball ..................31Boys Basketball ......40Boys Soccer ............52Boys Track .............33Football .................106Golf .........................21Hockey ....................18Wrestling ................37Cross Country ........26Debate .......................7Forensics ..................5Kemo .......................19Fall Play ..................24Natl Honor Society 45Skills USA .................6FBLA ........................34Musical ...................37FFA ..........................15Student Council .....20Solar Olympics .........0Art Club ...................22Special Olympics .....8

2010-2011 results not available until August 2011.

CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION

The Merrill Area Public Schools continues to be a leader in the area of providing students with a rich, well-rounded learning experience. Among Curriculum and Instruction accomplishments are:

• Adoption of the National Common Core State Standards

• Implementation of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) as part of MAPS shared leadership model

• Adoption and utilization of Moodle course management software in grades 6-12

• Refinement of assessment and grading processes

• Expansion of Response to Intervention (RtI) services

• District-wide utilization of Student Intervention Monitoring System (SIMS), for holding and tracking student learning interventions

• Assistance in writing for a middle school charter grant

• Support for writing a Carol M. White Physical Education grant

• Formation of PLC “Boot Camp” for continued support of PLC initiative

• Continued use of Baldridge Performance Criteria as structure for continuous improvement

• Finalized partnership with University of Wisconsin – Marathon to offer college level English and math courses to be taught during the 2011-2012 school year

• Continued work with district’s dashboard of quality indicators and community, staff and student perception data as decision-making data

• Refinement of partnership status with Bridges to Learn home-school families

• Instituted Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) for grades 3-10 and piloted grade 2 as proficiency indicators in reading and math

• Adoption of Coursework Completion System State reporting software

• Development and structured district-wide data retreat

• Technology Courses offered weekly for district staff. Approximately 400 staff attended 2010-11


Merrill, WI 54452

Director Curriculum

and Instruction:

Carole Witt Starck


Reading Language Mathematics Science Social Studies


WISCONSIN KNOWLEDGE AND CONCEPTS EXAM-CRITERION


100

80

60

40

20

0

100

80

60

40

20

0

100

80

60

40

20

0

10TH GRADE RESULTS

8TH GRADE RESULTS

4TH GRADE RESULTS Performance Level Advanced Proficient Basic Minimum

ATTENDANCE RATES

TRUANCY RATES

Attendance is face-to-face instructional contact between a student and a teacher. It is collected for the entire school year. The attendance rate is actual days of atten-dance divided by pos-sible days of attendance, expressed as a percent-age. The smallest report-able unit of attendance is one-half days.

A habitual truant is de-fined by Wisconsin state statute as a student who is absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more days on which school is held during a semester. Ha-bitual truancy is report-ed for grades K-12. The rate is the number of truants divided by the K-12 enrollment, count-ed on the third Friday.

1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

97

96.5

96

95.5

95

94.5

94

93.5

93

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0


2010 -2011 FACILITIES & MAINTENANCE PROJECTS

MERRILL HIGH SCHOOL • Sawtooth on commons area• Misc. roof repairs • Repair asphalt on service road• Install guardrail on service road• Replace metal halide light fixtures

in IMC• Repair and upgrade bleachers• Install security fence around

dumpster

PRAIRIE RIVER MIDDLE SCHOOL

• Durolast roof system – fieldhouse, pool and auditorium

• Roof on the 3rd street hallway• Roof on band area• Roof on computer lab• Roof on concession stand• Tuck pointing on masonry walls• Repair and upgrade generator• Repair pool pump and replace

motor• Repair and upgrade bleachers

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• Misc. roof repairs

KATE GOODRICH ELEMENTARY

• Install security fence around dumpster

• Repair and upgrade bleachers

MAPLE GROVE ELEMENTARY

• Install new sinks, cabinets and countertops in grades 3/4 and 4/5 classrooms

• Install C & A carpet in the grades 3/4 and 4/5 classrooms

• Carpet for the classrooms• Replace water treatment system• Add intercom and monitor for

building security• Replace water nitrate tanks and

reroute plumbing• Install new vinyl tile in gym, stage

and hallway

PINE RIVER ELEMENTARY• Misc. roof repairs• Install C & A carpet in classroom

WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY

• Install security fence around dumpster

HEAD START/EARLY CHILDHOOD

• Install storm drain under new asphalt

• New asphalt in parking lot• Install new door in classroom

CENTRAL OFFICE• Replace bathroom doors and

remodel • Replace door in sup. office and

back room • Install new bathroom sinks and

counter tops • Replace east side entrance door • Replace heat tape • Window replacement

JAY STADIUM• Replace water heater in stadium

concession stand• Bleacher rental for high school

football games

SPECIAL EDUCATION• Install swinging door in special ed.

room at PRMS

COMPARABLE DATA FOR WKCE PERFORMANCE

MERRILL AREA Antigo Medford Area Mosinee Rhinelander


100

80

60

40

20

0

100

80

60

40

20

0

100

80

60

40

20

0

10TH GRADE RESULTS

8TH GRADE RESULTS

4TH GRADE RESULTSPerformance Level Merrill Area Antigo Medford Area Mosinee Rhinelander


MERRILL AREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 1111 N. Sales Street, Merrill, WI 54452

2011-12 DISTRICT CALENDARSeptember 1First day of school

September 5Labor Day No School

October 4 Staff DevelopmentNo School

October 27-28 No School

November 9 Staff Development No School

November 23 Teacher Inservice No School

November 24-25 Thanksgiving Recess

December 23 Start of winter break

January 2School resumes

January 20Teacher Inservice No School

March 12 Start of spring break

March 19 School resumes

March 30 Staff Development No School

April 6 Good FridayNo School

April 9Easter MondayNo School

May 28 Memorial DayNo School

June 7Last day of school

SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD

Board members from left to right: Meredith Prebeg, Board Treasurer; William Jaeger; Keith Schmelling, Board Vice President; Jen

Seliger, Board Clerk; Jeff Verdoorn, Board President; Loretta Baughan; Brad Kanitz; Lin Kautza; Chuck Bolder

maps state of the district

Documents

special place merrill

great schools

district report2010

dear community members

effective community

quality education

best education

future success