Marc Bluestone

The Three and Five-Year Plan for New Town Public School District #1, approved on June 14, 2022, serves as a comprehensive long-term planning document. It addresses the demographic impacts on academic and extracurricular programs, instructional and administrative staffing, facility needs, and district tax levies over the ensuing three and five-year periods. The plan outlines strategies for enhancing academic and extracurricular offerings, adjusting staffing levels, implementing significant facility upgrades, and managing district finances to ensure continued educational excellence and community support.

This document outlines a three-year demographic planning strategy for the New Town Public School District #1, covering the period from 2020 to 2023. The plan focuses on enhancing academic and extracurricular programs through initiatives like tutoring, STEM integration, and curriculum updates, while also strengthening social-emotional and behavioral support systems with programs such as Conscious Discipline and the Community Schools Model. Key priorities include instructional and administrative staffing adjustments, significant facility improvements including elementary school expansion and new athletic and arts facilities, and strategies for increasing district funding through tax levies. The overarching goal is to improve student outcomes, meet Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requirements, and provide a robust and supportive learning environment.

The meeting included presentations on student health statistics and the Backpack Program. An overview of the Tribal Consultation Plan was given, along with information on Impact Aid funding. Parent input was received regarding a student struggling in elementary school. The board reaffirmed the Relations with Tribal Communities Policy, approved open enrollment and tuition agreements, and approved a revised Classified Employee Pay Schedule.

The meeting covered presentations on the school district's bullying policy and the use of the StopIt application. Discussion included a possible elementary school name change, with presentations from various stakeholders. The annual tribal consultation plan was reviewed, highlighting monthly consultation and reporting to the tribe. The Impact Aid grant process and school programs were also presented. Parents provided input on various topics including the Eagle Feather Club, communication during testing windows, provision of snacks during testing, and a suggestion for a wall of recognition for educators. The meeting concluded with a motion to reaffirm the policy on relations with tribal communities.

The meeting covered ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training, a proposed GED preparation track, and the Tribal Consultation Plan (ESSA). Impact Aid funding and its allocation were discussed, along with parental concerns regarding excessive contact time, cultural integration in the curriculum, student isolation at lunch, and the number of Native teachers in the district.