2010 - Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Type of School: (Check all that apply) / []Charter / [X]Title I / []Magnet / []Choice
Name of Principal: Mr. Travis Wyatt, Ed.S.
Official School Name: Newton Elem School
School Mailing Address:
101 Maxwell St
Newton, IL 62448-1661
County: Jasper State School Code Number*: 120400010262002
Telephone: (618) 783-8464 Fax: (618) 783-4106
Web site/URL: www.jaspercountyschools.netE-mail:
I have reviewed the information in this application, including the eligibility requirements on page 2 (Part I - Eligibility Certification), and certify that to the best of my knowledge all information is accurate.
Date
(Principal‘s Signature)
Name of Superintendent*: Mr. Ron Alburtus
District Name: Jasper County CUD 1 Tel: (618) 783-8459
I have reviewed the information in this application, including the eligibility requirements on page 2 (Part I - Eligibility Certification), and certify that to the best of my knowledge it is accurate.
Date
(Superintendent‘s Signature)
Name of School Board President/Chairperson: Mr. Fred Huddleston
I have reviewed the information in this application, including the eligibility requirements on page 2 (Part I - Eligibility Certification), and certify that to the best of my knowledge it is accurate.
Date
(School Board President‘s/Chairperson‘s Signature)
*Private Schools: If the information requested is not applicable, write N/A in the space.
The original signed cover sheet only should be converted to a PDF file and emailed to Aba Kumi, Blue Ribbon Schools Project Manager () or mailed by expedited mail or a courier mail service (such as Express Mail, FedEx or UPS) to Aba Kumi, Director, Blue Ribbon Schools Program, Office of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Room 5E103, Washington, DC 20202-8173
The signatures on the first page of this application certify that each of the statements below concerning the school‘s eligibility and compliance with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) requirements is true and correct.
1. The school has some configuration that includes one or more of grades K-12. (Schools on the same campus with one principal, even K-12 schools, must apply as an entire school.)
2. The school has made adequate yearly progress each year for the past two years and has not been identified by the state as “persistently dangerous” within the last two years.
3. To meet final eligibility, the school must meet the state’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) requirement in the 2009-2010 school year. AYP must be certified by the state and all appeals resolved at least two weeks before the awards ceremony for the school to receive the award.
4. If the school includes grades 7 or higher, the school must have foreign language as a part of its curriculum and a significant number of students in grades 7 and higher must take the course.
5. The school has been in existence for five full years, that is, from at least September 2004.
6. The nominated school has not received the Blue Ribbon Schools award in the past five years, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 or 2009.
7. The nominated school or district is not refusing OCR access to information necessary to investigate a civil rights complaint or to conduct a district-wide compliance review.
8. OCR has not issued a violation letter of findings to the school district concluding that the nominated school or the district as a whole has violated one or more of the civil rights statutes. A violation letter of findings will not be considered outstanding if OCR has accepted a corrective action plan from the district to remedy the violation.
9. The U.S. Department of Justice does not have a pending suit alleging that the nominated school or the school district as a whole has violated one or more of the civil rights statutes or the Constitution‘s equal protection clause.
10. There are no findings of violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in a U.S. Department of Education monitoring report that apply to the school or school district in question; or if there are such findings, the state or district has corrected, or agreed to correct, the findings.
PART II - DEMOGRAPHIC DATAAll data are the most recent year available.
DISTRICT (Questions 1-2 not applicable to private schools)
1. Number of schools in the district: (per district designation) / 4 / Elementary schools (includes K-8)1 / Middle/Junior high schools
1 / High schools
0 / K-12 schools
6 / TOTAL
2. District Per Pupil Expenditure: 9783
SCHOOL (To be completed by all schools)
3. Category that best describes the area where the school is located:
[ ] Urban or large central city
[ ] Suburban school with characteristics typical of an urban area
[ ] Suburban
[ X ] Small city or town in a rural area
[ ] Rural
4. 10 Number of years the principal has been in her/his position at this school.
5. Number of students as of October 1 enrolled at each grade level or its equivalent in applying school only:
Grade / # of Males / # of Females / Grade Total / Grade / # of Males / # of Females / Grade TotalPreK / 0 / 6 / 19 / 33 / 52
K / 0 / 7 / 0
1 / 30 / 39 / 69 / 8 / 0
2 / 33 / 32 / 65 / 9 / 0
3 / 22 / 34 / 56 / 10 / 0
4 / 35 / 27 / 62 / 11 / 0
5 / 26 / 21 / 47 / 12 / 0
TOTAL STUDENTS IN THE APPLYING SCHOOL / 351
6. Racial/ethnic composition of the school: / % American Indian or Alaska Native
% Asian
% Black or African American
0 / % Hispanic or Latino
% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
97 / % White
3 / % Two or more races
100 / % Total
Only the seven standard categories should be used in reporting the racial/ethnic composition of your school. The final Guidance on Maintaining, Collecting, and Reporting Racial and Ethnic data to the U.S. Department of Education published in the October 19, 2007 Federal Register provides definitions for each of the seven categories.
7. Student turnover, or mobility rate, during the past year: 14%
This rate is calculated using the grid below. The answer to (6) is the mobility rate.
(1) / Number of students who transferred to the school after October 1 until theend of the year. / 24
(2) / Number of students who transferred from the school after October 1 until the end of the year. / 21
(3) / Total of all transferred students [sum of rows (1) and (2)]. / 45
(4) / Total number of students in the school as of October 1. / 319
(5) / Total transferred students in row (3)
divided by total students in row (4). / 0.141
(6) / Amount in row (5) multiplied by 100. / 14.107
8. Limited English proficient students in the school: 0%
Total number limited English proficient 0
Number of languages represented: 0
Specify languages:
9. Students eligible for free/reduced-priced meals: 49%
Total number students who qualify: 173
If this method does not produce an accurate estimate of the percentage of students from low-income families, or the school does not participate in the free and reduced-price school meals program, specify a more accurate estimate, tell why the school chose it, and explain how it arrived at this estimate.
10. Students receiving special education services: 9%
Total Number of Students Served: 30
Indicate below the number of students with disabilities according to conditions designated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Do not add additional categories.
3 / Autism / 0 / Orthopedic Impairment0 / Deafness / 0 / Other Health Impaired
0 / Deaf-Blindness / 10 / Specific Learning Disability
0 / Emotional Disturbance / 16 / Speech or Language Impairment
0 / Hearing Impairment / 0 / Traumatic Brain Injury
1 / Mental Retardation / 0 / Visual Impairment Including Blindness
0 / Multiple Disabilities / 0 / Developmentally Delayed
11. Indicate number of full-time and part-time staff members in each of the categories below:
Number of StaffFull-Time / Part-Time
Administrator(s) / 2 / 0
Classroom teachers / 16 / 0
Special resource teachers/specialists / 6 / 5
Paraprofessionals / 9 / 1
Support staff / 14 / 3
Total number / 47 / 9
12. Average school student-classroom teacher ratio, that is, the number of students in the school divided by the Full Time Equivalent of classroom teachers, e.g., 22:1 22 :1
13. Show the attendance patterns of teachers and students as a percentage. Only middle and high schools need to supply dropout rates. Briefly explain in the Notes section any attendance rates under 95%, teacher turnover rates over 12%, or student dropout rates over 5%.
2008-2009 / 2007-2008 / 2006-2007 / 2005-2006 / 2004-2005Daily student attendance / 96% / 96% / 96% / 96% / 95%
Daily teacher attendance / 92% / 91% / 93% / 92% / 91%
Teacher turnover rate / 13% / 7% / 7% / 7% / 7%
Student dropout rate / 0% / 0% / 0% / 0% / 0%
Please provide all explanations below.
Teacher turnover rate above 12% in 2008-09 is due to a Sixth grade section from St. Marie being moved to Newton Elementary which brought along this teacher as well as the expansion of 4th grade from 2 sections to 3 sections due to numbers in this grade in the building.
The teacher attendance rate is below 95% through all years due to the low number of staff members at Newton Elementary. If more thantwo staff membersare absent the number falls below 95% - this is life in a small rural school. Our staff is very good about attending and understand they can "make a bigger difference" for students through their regular attendance.
14. For schools ending in grade 12 (high schools).
Show what the students who graduated in Spring 2009 are doing as of the Fall 2009.
Graduating class size / 0Enrolled in a 4-year college or university / 0 / %
Enrolled in a community college / 0 / %
Enrolled in vocational training / 0 / %
Found employment / 0 / %
Military service / 0 / %
Other (travel, staying home, etc.) / 0 / %
Unknown / 0 / %
Total / %
PART III - SUMMARY
The staff at Newton Elementary is a 1st - 6th grade attendance center in Newton, IL. Newton Elementary is one of four elementary schools in the Jasper Co. CUSD #1 and is the largest student population elementary school in the district. The Jasper County CommunitySchool Distirct #1is the largest land mass school distirct in the state of Illinois with 462 square miles with the district owning 55 busses and running over 90 routes. Newton Elementary also houses the district's junior high called Jasper Co. Jr. High. Newton Elementary contains the district primary cross-categorical classrooms and has served as the district's summer school site for several years. Response to Intervention is utilized in all elementary grades with Tier II & III instruction in cooperation with Title I services. Positive Behavior Intervention Systems is used in 6th grade to help student grow and improve their behaviors and academic growth.
Newton Elementary's mission statement reads: "The mission of Newton Elem./JCJH is to encourage academic excellence in a safe, positive, respectful, and nurturing environment. Our goal is to help students become capable and confident learners."
Newton Elementary's vision statement reads: "We envision Newton Elem./JCJH as a place where all the students can experience academic success; practice good attendance; become self-confident and secure; show respect for all people and are respected in return; set and achieve their goals; become responsible decision makers and problem solvers; evidence self-discipline and good manners; and are comfortable in the school environment."
Newton Elementary has an ever growing free/reduced student population over the past several years with figures going over 50% last year. This situation was developing before the recent economic downturns in the state and nation.
Weekly collaboration time was added last year for teachers to meet and discuss items of interest to their students with a great deal of conversation involving RtI.
The biggest strength of Newton Elementary is our theme: "We (You) Can Make a Difference!" All staff including classified are a part of this approach. This is done by building relationships and making connections with students, parents/guardians, providing student mentoring programs, and taking time to be available when students need us. Communication with parents/guardians is accomplished through agenda books, phone calls, school news letter - Blue Note, classroom news letters, emails and home visits. This approach is a constant focus and provides the groundwork for a positive team (together everyone achieves more) - "Working Together - Pursuing Excellence" which is the district's vision statement. This truly is what makes Newton Elementarya special success.
Students receive core curriculum instruction in reading, math, science, and social studies as well as receiving weekly instruction in arts, music, library, and physical education. All of the school's curriculum is aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards.
In conclusion, the students are why we are here. Their growthand achievement as well as the staff's committment to "making a difference" for all stakeholders is what makes Newton Elementary a worthy school of Blue Ribbon School status.
PART IV - INDICATORS OF ACADEMIC SUCCESS1. Assessment Results:
Newton Elementaryunderstands the importanceof testing all students. Growth is also very evident in all grades inboth math and reading. Reading scores average at or above the adequate year progress standards for all students inall gradeswiththemostof the math scores for all students in all gradesaveraging above ninety percent, a tremendous accomplishment. This fact is also solidified by theoutstanding growth noted in the socio-economic category in both reading and math.