Crossing the BRIDGE to ExcellenceWhere we’ve been. Where we’re going.

StillwaterAREA PUBLIC SCHOOLSA report to the Shareholders of Stillwater Area Public Schools

2015-2016

Dear Pony Community,

Four years ago our community came together to build a strategic plan – a guide to bridge our strong traditions with the changing needs of our students in the 21st century.

We’re making great progress on the initiatives outlined in Bridge to Excellence (BtE), and our students are reaping the benefits.

BtE is focused on addressing the academic, social, emotional and physical needs of each and every student in our district. It’s about giving our students what they need, when they need it. It’s granting them access to the world, and providing them with the skills they need to succeed.

We might be the oldest district in the state, but that doesn’t mean we’re still your great-grandfather’s school district. We know we can do better for our kids, and we’re working hard to bring relevant, real-world experiences to life in classrooms across the district.

In this year’s Shareholder’s Report we highlight our many successes of the past year – focusing on the students and staff who make us great. We also share the many ways we’re innovating, changing and improving to further enhance learning for our students.

We know you make a personal investment in the education of our students, and you have the ability to help us ensure their futures are bright. We take our partnerhips with you very seriously and work hard to meet your expectations. We invite you to review the information in this report, become engaged in conversation with us, and share your thoughts and ideas.

Thank you for your continued support of Stillwater Area Public Schools.

Denise Pontrelli, Superintendent

Cros

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TABLE ofCONTENTS

3 Big, new opportunities for students

4 Preparing our students for the real world

5 Making way for the 4Cs

6 Academic achievement

7 Get to know Stillwater schools

8 Using our resources in smartest way possible

9 Engaging with our community

10 Celebrating our accomplishments

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Si usted tiene alguna pregunta acerca de esta hoja informativa, pro favor llame a la oficina de su escuela para hablar con un interprete.

BIG, NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

Stillwater Area High School127,369 square feet of new learning spaces

Will serve about 2,600 students (grades 9-12)

Features expanded science labs, new classrooms, flexible learning areas, activity spaces, and more

Brookview ElementaryFirst ISD 834 school located in Woodbury

Will serve about 450 students

Collaboration is the focus of the design. The school features three learning pods - preK-1, grades 2-3, and grades 4-5. Each pod will feature individual classrooms that open up to a common flexible learning space.

Other Bond Projects • Oak-Land science labs, HVAC

upgrade, special education classrooms

• Lily Lake and Oak Park HVAC update

• Afton-Lakeland, Lake Elmo and Stillwater Junior HVAC update

Special ProgramsGifted and Talented EducationGATE will be moving to Stillwater Middle School, and gifted and talented learning opportunities will be available district-wide for qualifying students in grades 4-8.

St. Croix Valley Area Learning Center (ALC)The ALC is moving to its own wing of the high school. Students will have more access to support services – like hot meals, mental health counselors and a school nurse – and will also have the option to take elective courses.

Special Education Clusters Two special education cluster programs will be moving. Students will see many of the same staff and classmates, and have similar classroom arrangement, furniture, technology supports, and curriculum in their new schools.

• Developmentally Cognitively Delayed (DCD) is moving to Rutherford.

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is moving to Lily Lake.

PreK-5 ELEMENTARY SCHOOLSWe’re offering preschool in all of our elementary buildings next year. This gives students an extra year in our buildings to get to know staff and experience the many learning opportunities available.

Children will learn group social skills while they also work on early math and literacy skills. Because our curriculum aligns with what is taught in kindergarten and beyond, you know your child is learning skills that will help them make a smooth transition to kindergarten.

6-8 MIDDLE SCHOOLS We know our middle school students have unique needs, and we’ll be here to support them every step of the way.

Our new middle schools will encourage students to explore their interests and passions. We will create small learning communities (or houses), where students get to know teachers and classmates personally. We will also give students more exploratory experiences and offer them real-world learning through hands-on projects.

9-12 HIGH SCHOOLOur high school is growing bigger and better than ever. Students will have all the benefits of a comprehensive high school – with hundreds of courses and activities to choose from – with the personal connections and deeper relationships of a much smaller building. Teachers will get to know students, and students will also develop close relationships with their peers by being part of the Pony community.

BUILDING OUR FUTURENew and/or improved learning spaces will be opening up for students in the fall of 2017.

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Preparing Our Students for the Real WorldWe aren’t just preparing our students for school; we’re preparing them for life in the world beyond classroom walls.

The World’s Best Workforce plan, which is part of a legislative mandate, aligns with the school board’s Students Results Policy, as well as our Bridge to Excellence plan. It sets goals and identifies the areas of focus - from school readiness to reducing the opportunity gap. It’s helping us to personalize learning, remove barriers that prevent or hinder learning, and create spaces and strategies that motivate students to be their very best.

What We’re Doing ...

School Readiness

Much of the foundation for a child’s education starts before they even begin school – that’s why we’re committed to early learning.

• We’re screening more students between the ages of three and four to identify any barriers that might impact learning – from vision and hearing concerns to learning disabilities. When concerns are identified, our early childhood staff works with families to provide the support necessary.

• We’re expanding access to preschool by offering classes in all of our elementary schools, providing transportation, and granting scholarships and sliding fees to make it accessible to all.

• We are meeting with children prior to kindergarten to help identify their individual growth and development so teachers are prepared for the first day of school.

Read Well by Third Grade

Research shows that a student who can’t read at grade level by third grade is four times less likely to graduate by age 19 than a child who does read proficiently by that time. Strong reading skills are necessary for learning in all areas – from science to math.

• Teachers in grades K-2 are connecting one-on-one with students on a regular basis to access their reading skills, and provide interventions when necessary. The FAST reading assessment allows teachers to know exactly where a child is struggling, and instantly implement strategies to help that child master the skills necessary – whether it is in recognizing letters or comprehending what they read.

Opportunity Gap

Minnesota has one of the largest gaps in achievement for its students of color, and our district is no exception. We’re working to combat that trend by:

• Training staff to use culturally-inclusive learning strategies. This allows teachers to provide different ways for students to learn based on their unique learning style, interests, personal experiences, culture and strengths. These strategies expose kids to different ways of thinking, and promote collaboration, respect and creative problem solving.

• Expanding support for English Learners.

College/Career Readiness and Graduation

We want our students to succeed beyond high school, and we have many things in place to help ensure they’re ready for whatever comes next

• Beginning in eighth grade, we work with students to plan out their high school coursework and begin to plan for college and career.

• Ninth graders take the ASPIRE test, which helps predict how well they’ll do on the ACT. The ACT is a test used by many colleges for admissions.

• Advanced Placement and College in the Schools courses are offered to challenge students and help prepare them for college-level studies.

• AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program offered beginning in seventh grade that helps students develop skills and behaviors for academic success. AVID is proven to help close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities.

Learn more at stillwaterschools.org/WBWF4

School ReadinessThe percent of children screened between their third and fourth birthday will rise from 40-45 percent

Opportunity GapThe percent of non-white students achieving proficiency (math/reading) will increase

GraduationThe four-year graduation rate will increase from 93 to 95 percent

Read Well by Third Grade100 percent of third graders will meet end-of-year proficiency levels

College/Career ReadyThe average cohort score of 11th graders taking the ACT will reach 23

Result:

80%

Result:

48%

Result:

22.7

Result:

93%

World’s Best Workforce

Once upon a time, education was built around the three ‘Rs’ – reading, writing and arithmetic. But in today’s classrooms you’ll hear educators talking about a new focus on the 4Cs – communication, collaboration, creativity and critical thinking.

These are the skills today’s employers are telling us students need to be successful in the workplace. While job tasks can be taught, the ability to work with people different than themselves and think outside of the box to solve problems are higher level skills that require years of experience and practice.

A more engaging, relevant 4Cs education is also what our students tell are they want. Students today have a world of information at their fingertips. Memorizing facts and figures is less important than it once was. Instead, students need to know where to go to find the information they need, and be able to better process and manage all of the information they gather. In recent conversations with Superintendent Pontrelli, students have said they want to be more engaged in their education. They want learning to be relevant and meaningful. They want to experience things hands-on and learn by doing.

“It doesn’t feel like school,” said high school student Anabel Gregg of a 4Cs education. “It feels like life and we are learning as we go.”

Here are just a few examples from our classrooms of what a 4Cs education looks like in action:

• A high school junior wondered how the quality of sound might differ between violins made of different materials. So she printed a plastic violin on a 3D printer, and used a computer to measure the sound waves of the plastic violin and a traditional wooden instrument.

• Kindergarten students are learning about coding by programing their own robots, shaped like bumblebees, to travel through an obstacle course. The five- and six-year-old students squeal with delight as they make the Bee-Bots move across the room – all while learning about sequencing, estimation, and problem-solving.

• Computer programmers and other community volunteers work alongside junior high students to design video games, create wearable technologies and more.

• Elementary students take apart old computers, clocks, radios and other devices to create entirely new innovations from the various parts.

Personalized Learning Making Way for the 4Cs

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Based on 2015-2016 WBWF goals

Math:

9.4%

Reading:

15.3%

Difference in percent proficient between white and non-white students

More students take advantage of Advanced PlacementDuring the 2015-2016 school year, more than 1,000 students in grades 9-12 challenged themselves by enrolling in one or more AP courses, and taking the AP exams to earn college credit or advanced standing. Students took a total of 1,616 exams, with nearly 73 percent receiving passing scores which could potentially earn them college credit.

Minnesota Comprehensive AssessmentsMinnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) measure students’ progress toward reaching state academic standards in reading, math and science. Our students continue to perform above the state average on these assessments.

Stillwater students continue to outperform peers on ACT TestThe spring of 2016 marked the first time every junior at Stillwater Area High School and across the state of Minnesota took the ACT, a national assessment that gauges how well prepared students are for college. The increased participation resulted in a slight decline in overall scores – yet Stillwater students still outperformed peers across the state and nation.

This year’s average composite score for Stillwater students was 22.7, compared to an average composite score of 21.1 in Minnesota and 20.8 in the nation. Minnesota is one of only 18 states requiring the ACT be given to all students, and the 2016 results place Minnesota students first among the 18.

2016 MCA Results

Stillwater State

Reading 70.8 59.9

Math 70.4 59.5

Science 64.3 55

Academic Achievement Post-High School PlansCLASS OF 2016

15%two yearcollege/

vocationalschool

73%four yearuniversity

5%employment

2%military

5%undecided

Proficiency on the MCA science test for Stillwater students has increased by six percent since 2012.

Oak-Land Junior High students scored 17.2 percent above the state average in math

proficiency on the MCA.

MATHMCA reading scores are higher in Stillwater than many of our comparable

districts, including White Bear Lake and Mounds View.

READINGSCIENCE

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Based on the 2016 SAHS graduate survey

Get To Know Stillwater Area Public Schools

8,176 STUDENTS*

7 of 10 students living within our boundaries attend a district school

StillwaterSTUDENTS

are moreDIVERSE than ever

75% of teachers have 10 or more years of experience

74% of teachers hold a masters degree

59% of staff live within our district

134 paraprofessionals

262 other staff

486 teachers

15.8%receive free or reduced price

meals

15%students of

color

30languages

spoken

14.2%identified for

Special Education

18 com

mun

ities Afton, Bayport, Baytown Township, Grant, Hugo, Lake Elmo, Lakeland,

Lakeland Shores, Lake St. Croix Beach, Marine on St. Croix, May

Township, Oak Park Heights, St. Mary’s Point, Stillwater, Stillwater

Township, West Lakeland Township, Withrow, and Woodbury.

One of the largest employers in the St. Croix Valley

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*Does not include ECSE, preK or post-12 enrollment Based on 2016 Minnesota Department of Education report card.

Stillwater State

Regular Instruction Classroom teachers, supplies, etc.

$ 4,970 $ 5,124

Special EducationSpecial Education teachers, supplies, etc.

$ 1,990 $ 2,179

Operations & Maintenance Custodians, building upkeep, fuel, etc.

$ 804 $ 879

Transportation $ 780 $ 678

Instructional SupportParaprofessionals, specialists (music, media and physical education)

$ 573 $ 606

District Level Administration Superintendent, directors and support staff

$ 473 $ 553

School Level Administration Principals, assistant principals, support staff

$ 394 $ 463

Capital Expenditures Building projects and equipment

$ 1,667* $ 677

Pupil Support $ 389 $ 343

Student Activities and Athletics $ 237 $ 304

Career and Technical Education $ 151 $ 149

Total Cost of Education $ 12,429 $ 11,956

*Includes proceeds from sale of Valley Crossing school

Investing in the ClassroomTaxpayer Receipt - 2016

Using Our Resources in Smartest Way Possible

Where our money comes fromIn Minnesota, public schools are largely financed by the state. During the 2015-2016 school year the Stillwater schools received 71 percent of its revenue from state aid and credits. Local property owners also contribute to schools through local levies.

12 years in a row! The district has received the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials every year since 2004.

Where a dollar goesWe’re committed to investing our limited resources in ways that benefit all of our students. As a service organization, the majority of our money is spent on people. We invest in outstanding employees who are focused on helping our students succeed.

22% local property

taxes71%

state aids/credits

4% other

3% federal aid

47₵salaries

15₵purchased

services

12₵capital

expenditures

1₵other

expenditures

3₵supplies/materials

22₵benefits

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Based on 2016 Minnesota Department of Education Profile Data

Caring Relationships

Making big schools smallerStudents learn best when they feel safe, comfortable and cared for. That’s why we’re working harder than ever to make our schools even more welcoming and personal. Here are just a few examples of how students are forging deeper relationships with one another and with adults:

• Community volunteers are meeting one-on-one with kindergarteners at Lake Elmo Elementary each week to act as mentors and help students practice reading skills.

• Teams of teachers in the 10th Grade Academy at the high school meet each week to talk about the students they have in common and discuss their academic, social and emotional needs.

• Eighth graders in the AVID program are serving as reading buddies for preschool students at the Early Childhood Family Center.

Even more teaming, peer mentoring, and small learning communities are planned for next year. Learn more at stillwaterschools.org/opportunities.

The school board has made it a goal to support student and community engagement. The community engagement plan includes a variety of opportunities for residents to meet with district leaders in person, and it also provides opportunities for people to provide feedback from the comfort of their own home.

Here are just a few examples of ways our community has been engaging with us in conversations about the future of our schools:

• More than 3,400 people took part in our first-ever Thoughtexchange, an online conversation that allowed residents to share ideas and provide feedback. stillwaterschools.org.thoughtexchange.com

• Nearly 30 community experts from a wide-range of professions took part in two Think Tank conversations about the challenges and opportunities facing our district and our students. Another Think Tank will be held this spring. Learn more at stillwaterschools.org/thinktank.

• We’ve formed several superintendent advisory committees and held meetings with about 50 community members and dozens of junior high and high school students.

• We’ve been meeting with leaders from parent groups, local elected officials and legislators, teachers and staff, and local businesses.

• We’ve been connecting with people one-on-one and in small groups, and we’re having meaningful dialogue about how we can ensure our schools are meeting the changing needs of our students.

The board has also established a Decision-Making Framework and a Public Participation Model. These two processes help identify how decisions will be made, while outlining the many ways the public can engage with district leaders. Learn more at stillwaterschools.org/engagement.

DECISION-MAKING

Developing Shared

Understanding

Engaging in Continuous

Improvement

Creating Options

• Proposals, initiatives

• Ideas, concepts, strategies

• Products, services

• Policies, procedures

• Specifications, assessments

Shared Reality• Focus questions

• Issue, problem, situation

• Facts, perceptions, myths

• Influences and Implications

• Stakeholder needs, wants

Choice Making

Made by those most accountable

for the implications of the choice

Refinement

• Measurement of performance

• Assessment, interpretation

• Refinement

• Standardization of practiceImplementation

• Planning, expectations

• Allocation of resources

• Development of structures

• Action

• Systems of measurement/

communication

Man

agem

ent

Go

ver

nan

ce

Co

nsu

ltat

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Copyright TeamWorks International, Inc., 2010

Part of the FrameWorks Series used for choice making, managing participant’s time and roles, clarification of authorityStillwaterAREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Engaging With Our Community

Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower

Our Goal

To provide our community members with information related to our schools and our district

To gather public feedback on school and district issues

To work with our community members to ensure their concerns and desires are understood and considered

To partner with our community members in developing options and identifying preferred solutions

To place final decision-making in the hands of our community membersOur

PromiseWe will keep our stakeholders informed

We will listen and acknowledge our stakeholders’ concerns, and consider their new ideas

We will work with stakeholders to reflect their feedback in decision-making

We will seek advice, and incorporate ideas, from our stakeholders into the decision-making process to the maximum extent possible

We will implement decisions made by our stakeholders

Our Methods

(examples)

• District and school newsletters• Factsheets and brochures • Websites• Social media• Open houses

• Listening sessions• Public forums• Community leader forums• Surveys and focus groups• Public meetings

• Community Conversations• Deliberative polling• Cross-district teams

• Advisory committees • Referendums/

elections

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTPublic Participation Model for the Stillwater Area Public Schools

Based on the International Association for Public Participation’s (iap2) Spectrum for Public Participation

Increasing Level of Community Impact

Our learning community is committed to building positive relationships,

and engaging with our stakeholders is an essential part of our mission. The school

board has adopted a Community Engagement Model to guide its work. While we will most often

consult and involve, different decisions will fall within different areas of this spectrum. This model

allows the district to clearly define community engagement for large-scale decisions.

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Academic letters were awarded to 466 high school students who earned a 3.75 grade point average last year; 85 of those students earned a perfect 4.0.

More than 40 percent of junior high students earned a 3.5 grade point average or higher

Two high school students graduated from the highly selective University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program. The graduation is the culmination of five years of accelerated coursework covering Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics and three years of Honors Calculus at the University of Minnesota.

Stillwater Area High School (SAHS) was named one of the best high schools in Minnesota, by U.S. News and World Reports. SAHS was ranked among the best in the state based on state math and reading scores, graduation rate, and high participation and pass rates on Advanced Placement exams.

For the second year in a row, SAHS made Newsweek magazine’s list of Top 500 High Schools in the nation. SAHS was one of only 17 Minnesota high schools featured in the ranking of nearly 16,000 public schools.

National Merit Scholars• 16 Commended• 1 Semi-Finalist• 1 Finalist

Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars• 131 AP Scholars• 67 AP Scholar with Honors• 82 AP Scholar with Distinction• 10 AP National Scholars• Average score on AP exams: 3.82

22.7 average ACT score compared to state average of 21.1

Orchestras from Oak-Land Junior High and Stillwater Junior High received ‘Superior with Distinction’ ratings during the Minnesota String and Orchestra Teachers Association Middle Level Orchestra Festival and were invited to perform at Orchestra Hall.

Minnesota State High School League Awards• 38 singers participated in the solo

and ensemble contest• 29 soloist received superior rating• Nine received excellent ratings• Select Women received Best of Site• Two students earned Best of Site

Superior Ratings:• Concert Orchestra • Con Amici Chamber Orchestra• Varsity Orchestra• Stillwater Choir• Belle Chanter• Varsity Women’s Choir• Varsity Men’s Choir

All State Concert and Jazz Bands: 7 students

All State Orchestra: 7 students

SAHS has the longest streak of superior ratings in the Minnesota State High School League in musical competitions involving the bands, orchestras and the choirs.

The Concert Orchestra was invited to perform at the 2017 National Orchestra Festival, organized by the American String Teachers Association.

High school thespians earned top awards at the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spring Spotlight Awards (the Tony’s of Minnesota high school theater). The cast, crew and orchestra earned six collective honors and eight individual honors.

ACADEMICS

FINE ARTS

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Student Success Stories from 2015-2016Our students accomplish amazing things every day – many of which go unreported.

The following is just a sample of accomplishments from the 2015-2016 school year, which represents the many student achievements occuring across the district every day.

Our students have won state and national awards for the Kabekonian (yearbook), the Pony Express (student newspaper), and the Stylus (creative arts magazine). Awards include the Minnesota High School Press Association Best of Show (first place), Journalism Education Association and Quill and Scroll Awards.

The high school’s FFA Chapter earned a blue ribbon in the Landscape Design and Construction Competition at the 2016 Minnesota State Fair. Stillwater has earned blue ribbons 25 out of the past 28 years.

Students from the SAHS marketing class dominated the Minnesota BestPrep Stock Market Game. Stillwater teams earned four of the top five places, including first place.

SAHS students won three of the eight awards given out at the High School Visual Arts Contest.

Stillwater Area Public School students took home gold medals in three categories at the SkillsUSA Minnesota Championships Conference.

SAHS students earned first and second place at the Twin Cities Regional Science Fair.

The high school Science Bowl team took fifth place in the state competition.

SAHS senior Max Ylitalo won a silver medal at an international science fair. He was one of 600 high school students from 62 countries competed in the prestigious invitation-only I-SWEEEP event.

More than 60 percent of students at both junior high schools participated in school-based athletics and activities.

SAHS placed 13th in the state in the Challenge Cup, which ranks all schools according to Athletics and Academic competitions.

State Tournaments• Boys Nordic: 2nd place• Synchronized Swimming: 2nd place• Girls Nordic: 3rd place• Girls Lacrosse: 3rd place• Boys Cross Country: 3rd place• Girls Golf: 4th place

True Team Champs• Girls Swim and Dive

Section Champs• Girls Nordic Ski• Girls Swim and Dive• Girls Lacrosse

Conference Champs• Boys Nordic Ski• Girls Nordic Ski• Girls Swim and Dive• Girls Lacrosse• Boys Cross Country

Academic Team Gold Award • Girls Nordic Ski• Gymnastics• Softball• Boys Cross Country• Boys Track and Field

Individual Student Achievements• All Section:10 students• All Conference: 86 students• All Conference Honorable Mention: 31

students• All State: 14 students• All State Honorable Mention: 8

students • All American: 5 students

Academic All State: 10 studentsAcademic All American: 3 students

ATHLETICS ACTIVITIES

Stillwater Area High School has had 59 Minnesota State High School League State team athletic championships, including adapted sports.

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Robots aren’t typically found in an English classroom, but Andrew Smith isn’t your typical English teacher. Smith, who teaches Language Arts at Stillwater Junior High, has always been an early adopter of technology.

This year he decided to add robots to his ninth grade literature unit. Smith utilized Dash and Dot robots that can be programmed and coded, respond to light and sound, and sense objects around them.

The lesson incorporated technology, reading, writing, art skills, and philosophy, using Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, which examines perceptions of the world around us.

Many students say they’ve never worked with robots, let alone in an English class, but the lesson enhanced their learning.

“Taking quotes from the book and using it with technology makes it easier to make sense for teenagers,” said ninth grader Campbell Reynolds.

Smith plans to incorporate more technology in his English classes to engage students in new and exciting ways. He recently received a grant from the Partnership Plan to purchase his own classroom set of robots. 651.351.8340 | stillwaterschools.org

Renewing Our Tradition of Excellence For The Next GenerationWe’re making great big changes to our schools - changes designed to bring even more opportunities to our students. We’re encouraging students to explore their interests and passions, we’re offering more relevant learning experiences, and we’re providing them with more support and deeper relationships with our caring staff members than ever before. Learn more inside this report or online at stillwaterschools.org/opportunities.

Caring RelationshipsPersonalized Learning

Real-W

orld Experiences

Academic

Social

Personal

Non-ProfitU.S. Postage

PAIDStillwater, MN

#192

StillwaterAREA PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Independent School District 8341875 South Greeley Street

Stillwater, MN 55082

ECRWSSPOSTAL PATRONReal-World

ExperiencesReading, Writing and Robotics