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DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE KCSD

• Located in Knoxville, Iowa, 30 miles south of Des Moines.

• District is made up of roughly 1,800 students from preschool-12th grade, 141 teachers, and 130 non-certified staff members.

• There are five school buildings within the KCSD:• West Elementary: preschool-1st grade• Northstar Elementary: 2nd-5th grade• Knoxville Middle School: 6th-8th grade• Knoxville High School: 9th-12th grade• GOAL Alternative High School: 9th-12th

• Stepping Stones Early Learning Center: Preschool community partner

BACKGROUND OF THE LPP

• Four-year-old preschool grant was approved for 2010-2011 school year.

• Grant was written for 100 four-year-old students to receive free preschool.

• Stepping Stones ELC was named the district’s community preschool partner.

West Elementary:• District Expectations:

dress code, PD, contract hours, hired by district

• 2 classrooms• Brand new program• Full-inclusion

Stepping Stones ELC:

• Employees of private center: no PD expectations, no dress code, hired by private center

• Previous preschool building for 21 years

• No Special Education qualifications

• Funded by 4 year old grant

SYSTEM FLAWS

• Differences in the two programs has caused parent confusion and teacher turmoil.

• Due to requirements set by the private center, the groups of students at each building are very different from one another causing discrepancies of scores.

SYSTEMS CONNECTIONS

• Shifting the Burden: In attempt to solve the morale “problem,” the administrators required ample meeting time to compare data and plan. However, the comparison of the data has only provided more controversy.

• Success to the Successful: Since each building receives equal amounts of funding, SSELC, who has been established for years spent the money on games, technology, and additional resources. West Elementary, a brand new program, spent their funding on curricular resources, building maintenance, and furniture.

• I am Position: Administrators of both buildings place blame on others when interviewed about the issues at hand. Each claimed it was “out of their hands,” or “not their responsibility.”

POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS

• As administrators, dig into root causes and offer solutions.

• Demonstrate the ways in which each decision is affecting the other parties involved to all staff.

• Eliminate guidelines directly affecting students in a negative manner.