Heard it through the Grapevine

In the future can the balanced calendar include a WEEK for Thanksgiving break?

2012-02-02T09:32:00.002-05:00

The calendar is reviewed each year before approval by the School Board and such feedback is taken into consideration, along with many other factors. One of the important benefits of the balanced calendar is aligning it with the end of grading periods, so students (and teachers) can end one and come back refreshed, ready to begin the next grading period. That being said, with this being so new to BCSC, it is likely to be carefully evaluated this next year.

Is it true that East and West students are not allowed to sit with or talk to each other during rival games?

2012-02-02T09:18:00.004-05:00

This practice is primarily enforced during the East vs. Westfootball game each year because of the sheer number of students attending(600+) and the large area that must be supervised.

It was not an expectation during the recent East vs. Westbasketball conference semifinal. However, in an effort to diffuse a potentialsituation some students were moved during that game due to specificinappropriate behaviors they displayed.

Where is the money for the mobile classrooms, kindergarten renovations, and the Stadium Dr. renovations coming from?

2012-02-02T09:11:00.001-05:00

Money for the placement of the used portable classrooms will come from the Capital Projects Fund, which cannot be used for instructional salaries.

The building additions for kindergarten rooms will come from one of two possible sources. The first choice will be application for a State Common School Fund Loan. That is a competitive loan awarded by the State Dept. of Education and it depends on the rank of Brownsburg's assessed value per pupil compared to other school applicants. The second possibility will be a loan created through the sale of General Obligation Bonds (GO Bonds) or a loan negotiated with banks. That second possibility will also be the planned finance method for the work on the facility at 310 Stadium Drive.

Will BCSC employees pay a shuttle fee if they bring their child to work and then the child shuttles to their home school?

2012-01-27T16:08:00.000-05:00

There will be no shuttles available to move children of staff from the parent's school to their home school.

Uncrustables at the high school, part II

2012-01-27T15:01:00.002-05:00

A while back there was a question wondering why Uncrustables were not available at BHS, and the answer was because they did not have high enough protein content to meet federal food guidelines. The Grapevine has recently learned that there is now an Uncrustable product that meets the protein requirement and it is available at BHS for lunch.

Is bringing outside food forbidden or just not recommended when we have lunch with our children?

2012-01-24T13:17:00.000-05:00

According to the student handbook available on the BCSC website (clicking on the question will take you to the elementary handbook),
"Fast food is not allowed to be brought to students for school lunch or events."

This policy is consistent with BCSC's "Healthy Guidelines" and reinforces the BCSC commitment to providing a school environment that enhances learning and developing lifelong wellness practices.

Will employees of BCSC also pay the $2.50/day to shuttle their children to their home school?

2012-01-23T17:01:00.000-05:00

BCSC employees who utilize shuttle service from a daycare provider to school will pay the $2.50 fee. The fee is not paid by individuals, but by the daycare providers and how families are billed is up to the provider.

I have heard rumors that Brownsburg buses will either not transport or charge a fee for transporting St. Malachy students during the 2012 – 2013 school year. Is there any truth to this statement?

2012-01-23T17:00:00.000-05:00

BCSC will continue to transport St. Malachy students that reside on a regular route that passes by the school at no cost. BCSC is not required to transport private school students who do not reside on a route that passes by the private school; however, BCSC will continue to work with any private school that would like to utilize BCSC transportation. Since BCSC is not required to transport those students, a fee will likely be assessed.

With an increase of enrollment of less than 100 students district wide, are all the additional kindergarten classrooms needed?

2012-01-23T16:58:00.000-05:00

There are three reasons why kindergarten classrooms are needed:
1. Based on local birth rates from 5 years ago, BCSC predicts the largest kindergarten class ever in 2012-2013.
2. As the economy improves our growth numbers in general will continue to rise.
3. The existing kindergarten classrooms were built when kindergarten was only a half-day program and twice as many students could be accommodated. The full day kindergarten program grew from 351 students in 2010-2011 to 468 in 2011-2012. In addition, it is likely that the state legislature will support full-day kindergarten at some point, which increases the urgency of having space available for growth in that area.

Where can I find a link to the new acceptable use policy including the signature form?

2012-01-23T16:40:00.001-05:00

The link is on the BCSC website under the "Schools" tab. Then click on "General Information". There you will find both the Student AUP and the new Staff Social Media Policy/Guidelines. You can also click on the question and it will take you to the policy.

When will families receive information about shuttling changes/options for next year?

2012-01-13T10:25:00.000-05:00

The families that will be impacted by shuttling changes for the 2012-2013 school year can expect to receive specific information before the end of January. Once that information has been sent, the Grapevine will respond to questions about those changes.

How can we get the full-time media specialists back and what would that cost?

2012-01-05T10:41:00.000-05:00

The transition to a licensed media specialist shared between two elementary schools and full-time support staff at each school has exceeded expectations. At this time any additional staff added for the 2013-2014 school year will be classroom teachers as we continue to reduce class sizes across the school corporation.

Returning four media specialists (three at the elementary level and one at the middle school level) could cost between $220,000 to $300,000 (including salary, benefits, etc.) depending on experience. While we agree media specialists play an important role in schools, reducing class sizes is a greater priority at this time, so any additional funds will be spent on those teachers.

We are unaware of any specific grants for this purpose, but constantly review publications for such opportunities.

Are the balanced calendar points considered and community comments available for review?

2011-12-08T15:33:00.000-05:00

The balanced calendar was approved Oct. 10 by the School Board for 2012-2013 after a great deal of discussion and surveying of both staff and the community. The superintendent held three public meetings to discuss calendar options and answer questions. Over 500 BCSC staff responded to a survey with 84% in favor of the balanced calendar. The community survey had 1250 responses - 76% of which also favored the balanced calendar.

The results/comments of the community survey were posted on the front page of the BCSC website for several weeks.

What happened to the Olweus anti-bullying program at the Brownsburg Schools?

2011-12-05T15:16:00.000-05:00

All Brownsburg schools now practice an expanded character education/anti-bullying program that maintains elements of the Olweus program. Olweus was the model that was initially implemented in 2006 at White Lick and Eagle then expanded throughout all of our elementary schools and with our elementary bus drivers. Being primarily an elementary program, however, made Olweus more challenging to implement with fidelity at the secondary level. To make certain all BCSC schools were practicing similar to identical programs the "Character Education" program was launched which provides an opportunity to teach/practice not only the anti-bullying message, but also what it means to be a good citizen.

Does the Pup Putt event benefit Reagan Elementary financially and why are so few students involved in it?

2011-12-05T13:46:00.001-05:00

PupPutt began at Reagan in 2010 as a service learning project of the Reagan and Brown 4/5 classes. In 2011, the project was run by the Reagan 4/5 and 2/3 classes. In both 2010 and 2011, all proceeds benefitted the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Hope Foundation. SCI Hope was inspired by the experiences of the late John Wassen, a Reagan parent and volunteer, and has helped to improve the independence and quality of life of several Brownsburg residents with spinal cord injuries.

PupPutt has been an amazingly successful project both in funds raised for SCI Hope and lessons learned by the students. In 2012, the Reagan student council and more staff will join the 4/5 and 2/3 classes in the PupPutt service project, and some proceeds will also benefit the school in addition to SCI Hope.

How is the opinion issued today by the Attorney General's office, regarding fees for transportation of students, going to affect the shuttling decisions being made for 2011-2012?

2011-11-10T16:00:00.000-05:00

BCSC does not intend to charge students who ride the bus from their home to their school.

The school corporation is not obligated to transport students from a day care provider (either public or private) to their school; however, BCSC has and will continue to work with local day care providers to find solutions to safely and effectively transport students to school.

The decision by the attorney general will not, to our knowledge, impact either practice.

Why are the majority of school functions scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays rather than Wednesdays?

2011-10-11T12:44:00.000-04:00

Out of respect to our local churches that had Wednesday services or functions, BCSC has tried to avoid scheduling anything on Wednesdays that might create a conflict for our families.

It might not be as much of an issue in the community today, however, school functions are usually scheduled on a similar date from year to year, so they don't conflict with other school's activities.

Why don't Brownsburg schools take many field trips?

2011-10-11T12:15:00.000-04:00

There are three primary reasons why the number of field trips have been curtailed:
1. Budget reductions over the past few years have required more restrictive use of resources including transportation. Yes, BCSC can and does charge a small fee, but there are a number of students who would find that a hardship.
2. Because of the emphasis on instructional time, principals must be very selective about approving only field trips that are tied to a very specific instructional goal.
3. Brownsburg schools are fortunate to have technology that can very effectively bring the field trip to the classroom - Skype, distance learning, video capability, etc. and therefore avoid both the transportation cost and the loss of instructional time in transit.

That said, BCSC recognizes there are some experiences that are simply better in person (a theater performance, for example) so teachers are encouraged to be discriminating with their field trip planning.

Why do all the schools do their fund raisers at the beginning of the year?

2011-10-10T17:36:00.000-04:00

Many fundraisers are scheduled at the beginning of the year to provide the clubs and organizations with the revenue they need for their scheduled activities. In addition, some fundraisers focus on gifts for the holidays and, for that reason, tend to be during the first semester of school.

What dollar amount and % of the BCSC budget for schools and ECA are from fundraising activities by the students?

2011-10-10T17:22:00.000-04:00

Fundraising events are not part of the BCSC budget at all. Determined on a school by school basis, fundraisers typically are for a specific purpose and may be driven by the school's PSG (Parent Support Group). The Yankee Candle fundraiser, however, is a Brownsburg Education Foundation event that all elementary schools and the middle schools participate in. Those funds are returned through BEF grants to classrooms for specific projects and to seniors in the form of scholarships. Last year, the BEF raised $54,000 from the Yankee Candle sale - over half of the $96,000 they returned to BCSC classrooms.

How are other high schools able to offer “outside” meals such as Subway, Arbys, Panda Express etc. when it seems that Brownsburg is limiting everything now, including condiments?

2011-10-10T17:19:00.000-04:00

We can't speak for other schools, but BCSC Food Service does not offer outside meals because of our wellness policy, which is guided by Indiana State guidelines.

When will the decision be made on the proposed 2011-2012 calendar?

2011-10-10T17:14:00.000-04:00

The Superintendent will make his recommendation to the Board on Monday, Oct. 10. The decision will be posted on the BCSC website and Facebook initially, then shared through newsletters and at parent/teacher conferences.

Why aren't Uncrustables an entree item at the high school when they are at the middle/elementary schools?

2011-10-10T17:10:00.000-04:00

Uncrustables only have 1 oz. of protein. The new State guidelines require middle school students to have 1 oz. of protein at lunch, but high school students must have 2 oz. of protein with their lunch. Therefore, they are no longer a viable entree option at the high school.

Why are new students added to Reagan Elementary?

2011-10-10T16:58:00.000-04:00

Students who were new to BCSC this year attend the elementary school in the area in which they live, so the only new students attending Reagan live within that school's boundaries.

Two BCSC goals are to allow all students to attend in their home schools and to maintain low class sizes, both of which we have accomplished. It is not the goal to have identical class sizes in all elementary schools since that would mean moving many students to schools not in their home boundary areas.

Are class sizes smaller this year? My third grader's class is bigger.

2011-10-10T16:54:00.000-04:00

The average class sizes at all elementary grades are smaller than last year. This is the average—which is an excellent indicator. There are a few classes across the corporation where class sizes did increase slightly, but all within reason. The numbers are provided below with the first number representing the 2010-2011 school year and the second number for 2011-2012.

Kindergarten: FDK 21.4/20.1
Kindergarten: ADK/ HDK 18.8/22
1st 23.6/21.3
2nd 23/19.4
3rd 26.6/22.4
4th 25.1/23.9
5th 28.2/25.5

In addition, enrollment is up by around 75 students this year.

Why are teachers not required to enter grades daily?

2011-09-30T16:19:00.000-04:00

Although students may have multiple assignments in a day, teachers, especially at the secondary level where they have six classes, could potentially have as many as 200 assignments on a single day. It is not realistic to think that any teacher has the time during the day to grade and update grades. More often than not teachers grade papers during their free time in the evenings, on weekends, at their children's events, etc.

Updating grades weekly is a more realistic standard.

On the student information forms sent home for updated contact infomation, why are the only choices for parents' marital status "together," "separated," or "divorced?" Where is married?

2011-09-13T16:12:00.000-04:00

The fact that the question requests "marital status" implies that there is a marriage involved. Although there may be many ways to define one's marital status, the intent is to determine if the parents are "together" under the same roof or "not together" under the same roof with the legal issues that either "separated" or "divorced" would potentially create for a school.

Are we going to go to year round schooling? And if so how will that affect activities such as summer camp?

2011-09-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

No, there is no plan to go to year-round school. What has been proposed is a balanced calendar that allows for 8 weeks of summer break with 2 weeks between quarters - 2 weeks for Fall Break, 2 weeks for Winter Break and 2 weeks for Spring Break. The year would begin the beginning of August and conclude at the end of May.

If the balanced calendar is recommended to the School Board and the Board approves it over the traditional calendar, local summer activities would still have 8 weeks. A number of area school districts - Avon, Danville, Plainfield - are contemplating the balanced calendar, and Wayne Township has approved it for 2012-2013.

BCSC encourages parents and community members to voice their preferences on the web survey at www.brownsburg.k12.in.us and/or to attend information meetings with Dr. Snapp on 9/19, 9/20 or 9/21.

Will January 16th and February 20th be used as snow make-up days if needed? If not, why are there no snow days built in the calendars for this year or next year?

2011-09-13T14:47:00.000-04:00

All snow days, if needed, are built in to the 2011-2012 calendar from May 21 to May 25 - the week ending with graduation - for two reasons:
1. Families often make plans for those three day weekends.
2. If more than two snow days are necessary, the year would be extended anyway. With graduation on the last day of school the dilemma became the possibility of having to change the graduation date for over 500 students and their families, or expect that graduates would come back for extra make-up days after graduation.

Are East Middle School students being charged for ketchup at lunch?

2011-09-13T14:38:00.000-04:00

No one has been charged for ketchup. It is worth noting, however, that students are discouraged from grabbing handfuls of ketchup: 1) because federal nutrition guidelines limit the amount of sodium available at meals; and 2)because students will throw away extra packets(or find other things to do with them besides eat them).

Why are the new department heads at the high school in the math, science, social studies and English departments all from the middle school?

2011-08-30T09:49:00.001-04:00

As far as the process, the secondary department heads (which oversee both middle and high school core content area teachers) were chosen from both internal and external candidates. Interviews for these positions were conducted by the high school and middle school principals. The final candidates interviewed with Dr. Snapp and Mrs. Jessup prior to being offered the position.

Two qualifications necessary, beyond excellence in the secondary classroom, were educational leadership and administrative licensing. While the four were outstanding teachers at the middle school level, all have had additional experience as educational leaders, essential to their effectiveness with the middle and high school teachers with whom they work. Secondary department heads must also have their administrative license as they will not only provide model lessons for teachers in their subject area, they will also observe and evaluate teachers.

Are there specific guidelines as to the kind of snacks can be sent to the school?

2011-08-29T15:15:00.000-04:00

Healthy guidelines for snacks can be found on the BCSC website under the "Schools" tab>General Information>Handbook Supplement Information.

Here is the direct link: http://www.brownsburg.k12.in.us/studenthandbook/documents/NutritionalGuidelinesELEM.pdf

Will there be a different drop off for car rider students while Hornaday road is closed for West, Cardinal and Delaware Trail Students?

2011-08-29T15:11:00.000-04:00

The Hornaday Road closure does not directly impact Cardinal, Delaware Trail, or West Middle Schools, as the closure is approximately ¾ miles south of the schools at the intersection of Hornaday Road & C.R. 300 N. Based upon information from Hendricks County, the schools themselves will remain fully accessible from Hornaday Road throughout the construction period, which is currently underway.

Is there a health risk from goose droppings on the athletic fields?

2011-08-29T15:09:00.000-04:00

In most cases, Canada goose excrement cannot cause bodily harm to people unless it's inhaled or ingested. However, BCSC is trying an experimental goose repellant that will be applied to BHS football practice fields, the BHS soccer main field, as well as both EMS and WMS main football fields. Three applications will be made during the fall playing season to determine its effectiveness. If effective, applications may also be made in the spring.

Why are sixth graders only allowed to participate in a select few sports and activities?

2011-08-22T17:08:00.000-04:00

There is considerable expense involved in adding teams and paying coaches, so given the expense (particularly during a time when millions of dollars have been cut from the BCSC budget), it makes little sense to duplicate sports that are readily available to that age group. The Brownsburg community offers many sports for students up through sixth grade and beyond. Some examples include Brownsburg Junior Football League, Brownsburg Junior Basketball League, Brownsburg Girls Softball League, Little League Baseball, Brownsburg Swim Club, and Fusion Soccer.

However, the middle schools do allow sixth grade students to play on teams that, in general, are not available in the community, such as: cross country(boys and girls,) golf (boys and girls), track (boys and girls), and wrestling (open to boys and girls). These are common teams among middle schools in the area.

How and when are kindergarten students tested for the high ability program?

2011-08-22T16:53:00.000-04:00

Every student was given the a nationally-normed kindergarten readiness assessment at registration. This screener helps identify generic kindergarten readiness in three areas: verbal processing, perceptual processing, and auditory processing. This screener is used predominately to identify at-risk students prior to kindergarten enrollment, but it’s also the first step in high ability identification as well. Candidates in the 90th percentile are invited to participate in additional kindergarten screenings for the K/1 high ability program. Those additional assessments include a local math assessment, an online reading assessment, and a non-verbal cognitive reasoning assessment. Scores on these four assessments are used in making placement decisions for the K/1 high ability program.

It should be noted that high ability identification is an on-going process. Students are brought into the high ability program, and exited out of it, based on new information as it develops. In fact, a requirement of the K/1 high ability kindergarten program is an administrative conference after the first quarter to review the K/1 high ability participants and evaluate the appropriateness of their placement.

Have the school counselors taken additional training/certification to assume the role of principal when he/she is not on site?

2011-08-22T16:50:00.000-04:00

Like most other school districts without assistant principals in the elementary schools, the school counselor functions as the primary contact when the principal is out of the building. In the event of a principal's extended absence, a central office administrator would step in as a temporary replacement.

Will the amount of time principals are not on site this year compared to last year be reduced due to the early Wednesday release schedule?

2011-08-22T16:07:00.000-04:00

Yes, the principals will be on site more, although they are rarely offsite during the school day. Additionally, they are crucial to the PLC process.

Why are some of the teachers meeting BEFORE school each Wednesday instead of after on early release days? I thought the purpose of my 3 children coming home early was so the teachers could meet at that time?

2011-08-22T16:04:00.000-04:00

Because elementary schools begin and end later in the day, some elementary schools opted to engage in their PLC time before the school day begins. The length of time, purpose, effort and expectation of PLC's are the same for all BCSC teachers' whether they meet before school or after the day ends.

Where can I find a map that shows who goes to East Middle School and who goes to West Middle School

2011-08-22T14:30:00.000-04:00

Corporation maps are currently getting an overhaul, but in the meantime you should know that middle school attendance is dictated by a student’s home school address. If a student’s home address designates that they attend Brown, Cardinal or some addresses at White Lick, that child will attend West Middle School. Delaware Trail, Reagan, Eagle and other White Lick student addresses attend East Middle School.

If you are interested in how White Lick neighborhoods are divided, please contact BCSC registrar, Brenda McCoy at 852-5726.

Since some of the elementary schools are at capacity, is redistricting being considered in the near future (before the district considers building)?

2011-08-22T12:54:00.000-04:00

The only building that is out of classrooms is Eagle, however, we are looking at projections for next school year to determine what we will need to do to meet population needs.

How many classrooms are available at the elementary schools?

2011-08-22T12:51:00.000-04:00

3 Brown Elementary
4 Cardinal Elementary
4 Delaware Trail Elementary
0 Eagle Elementary
3 Reagan Elementary
3 White Lick Elementary

Since Eagle is at capacity will students that move into their area be required to other schools?

2011-08-22T12:49:00.000-04:00

While there is no room for additional classrooms at Eagle, there is room to add more students to the current classrooms. We do not believe we will have to divert students to another elementary school at this time.

Will there be any review of the new bus routes based on parental complaints?

2011-08-22T12:46:00.000-04:00

The start of school is always a time to evaluate and adjust bus routes. Time and load become issues as students change schools and/or pick up/dropoff locations. Adjustments are taking place daily, which is why it is important to continue to check your child's transportation schedule frequently.

BCSC is committed to providing safe and free transportation for its students while being good stewards of the community's dollars.

Why are the 8th graders at EMS not allowed to wash their hands/and or use the restroom before lunch?

2011-08-22T12:41:00.003-04:00

Students are allowed to go to the restroom or their lockers quickly and then report back to the classroom prior to walking down to lunch. Every classroom has hand sanitizer that students are permitted to use if they prefer, and each cafeteria line has a hand sanitizer station available to students and staff. In addition, students are allowed to visit the restroom during the lunch period.

When will the sports players be updated on the website?

2011-08-21T16:20:00.000-04:00

From the Athletic Dept: We have been swamped with new team selections and the start of a new year, but we are catching up. Hope to have updated rosters on website soon.

Where can I find the detailed elementary curriculum?

2011-08-21T16:12:00.002-04:00

On the Indiana Department of Education website, there is a link on the left hand side titled "Parents". If you click on that link, it will take you to a page which has the question: What does my student need to know?

All of the standards can be found through that link. In Brownsburg we follow the Indiana Academic Standards and will be making the transition to Common Core State Standards over the next three years.

When will the staff directories and webpages be functional?

2011-08-21T16:11:00.000-04:00

Staff webpages are functional now, however staff are not required to have a webpage, so not all do. Some staff may also be in the process of updating their webpages.

The staff directory is functional. Be sure to type in the correct building.

When is fall break?

2011-08-12T10:34:00.000-04:00

Fall break is Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21. The BCSC calendar can be located on the website under the "Schools" tab and at this link http://www.brownsburg.k12.in.us/documents/general/calendar2011-2012Web012711.pdf

How are the "teams" developed in the middle schools?

2011-08-12T10:25:00.000-04:00

Students are assigned to teams based upon the courses taught on each team. The real driver of the process is the mathematics courses. The second driver of team placement is music courses and when they are offered within the master schedule. After the course framework of each team is built, students needing each type of math course and music course are divided equally among the teams with those offerings. This process repeats itself each year.

Students do have the opportunity to interact with other students throughout the day. However, staffing limits the frequency of these interactions. For example, in 6^th grade EMS has two four-teacher teams, one three-teacher team, and one two-teacher team. On teams that have four teachers, students have four times throughout the day where they can get their content offerings. On three- teacher teams students have three times for the main content and one time for social studies, and on a two-teacher team, students only have two times where each content is taught. Therefore, students on teams with more teachers will mix with other students more frequently in team courses than students with only two teachers. The best metaphor for this process is a deck of cards. Students on a team are represented by the cards. You take the deck, shuffle, and then divide them among the frequency a course is offered.

All related arts courses are blended with students from other teams, and lunch is scheduled by grade level.

Will Wednesday's class times change due to the early release at the high school?

2011-08-10T15:14:00.001-04:00

Class periods will be reduced by six minutes on Wednesdays. Lunch periods remain 30 minutes long.

Bell schedules are linked on the BHS webpage.
http://www.brownsburg.k12.in.us/bhs/pdf/HS_Bell_Schedules.pdf

Where can I find a district map that actually shows school borders/neighborhoods?

2011-08-09T14:21:00.001-04:00

This website will provide you with a district map. The date on the map is not current, however, the map is still accurate.

http://staffweb.brownsburg.k12.in.us/~jkodey/subdivision/district_map.pdf

What is the data on teacher, principal, and other faculty turnover?

2011-08-09T13:48:00.000-04:00

BCSC has seen a normal amount of turnover this year, but here is some data you might find interesting:
- 10 teachers and administrators were hired to replace the 20 that retired
- 15 additional teachers have been hired, in order to reduce class sizes as recommended by the EnVision Commision.

BCSC has almost 460 teachers, many of them young due to the growth that has precipitated hiring new teachers. By nature, younger employees are a very mobile group. This year:
- 6 teachers transitioned to positions outside of education or moved out of state
- 9 teachers made moves up the career ladder to administration, coaching or counseling positions in other districts
- 9 teachers resigned for reasons such as a spouse job relocation, or to stay at home with children, and one is writing a book
- 4 teaching positions were internal transfers to secondary department head positions
- there are also several temporary teaching positions due to maternity or medical leaves

Of the principal changes:
-1 retired (Cardinal/Delaware Trail)
-1 resigned (Reagan)
-2 moved to Central Office positions vacated by a transfer and a retirement (Brown and White Lick)

Is there any way to save the chicken biscuit sales for PSG fundraisers?

2011-08-08T17:24:00.000-04:00

Food sales, including PSG and other fund raisers, must comply with the applicable statutes, and specifically the nutritional limits set forth by IC 20-26-9-19 (d), which is included below:
A food item available for sale at a school or on school grounds may not exceed the following portion limits if the food item contains more than two hundred ten (210) calories:A Chick-fil-A Chicken Biscuit is specified by Chick-fil-A at 440 calories.

It is not the intent of anyone within BCSC to negatively impact the revenue potential of the PSGs. BCSC understands and appreciates the many beneficial activities and contributions made by the various PSGs, and will actively work to assist PSGs in their efforts wherever practical, including fund raisers involving the sale of food products.

Are the shuttle buses stopping with the 2012 school year? Will buses continue to pick up at day care facilities?

2011-08-08T14:12:00.000-04:00

There will be NO CHANGE to shuttling for the 2011-2012 school year, and YES buses will continue to pick up at daycares for this school year.

Changes are expected for the 2012-2013 school year and the Superintendent will begin discussions with community members about those changes after school begins. Please watch the BCSC website, BCSC-TV and the BCSC Facebook page for dates, times and locations of those meetings.

I heard teachers have been told that there will be “year round” school for the 2012-2013 school year. Is this true and when will it be communicated to students and parents?

2011-08-08T14:08:00.000-04:00

No decision has been made about next year's calendar, nor will it be made without feedback from staff and the community. Year round school is not an option that is being considered, however, a "balanced" school calendar is under consideration. The balanced calendar has been explained in previous "Grapevine" posts and still requires students to attend school 180 days with eight weeks for summer break and two weeks between quarters.

Has Brownsburg considered charging for bus transportation – like other school districts will now do?

2011-08-08T11:29:00.000-04:00

No.

Will Ironwood/ Hornaday Heights/ Robinwood neighborhoods still be bused to/ from the High School?

2011-07-20T12:34:00.000-04:00

There will be no significant changes in secondary student transportation in those subdivisions for the 2011-2012 school year.

Is the “balanced” school year something the community will get to vote on?

2011-07-20T12:29:00.000-04:00

There will be opportunities for community input on the option of a balanced calendar. More information will become available after the school year begins.

Why are we not able to view all board meeting videos on the website?

2011-07-06T13:37:00.000-04:00

All Board meetings should be available to the community on the BCSC website, generally within 5-7 days of the meeting. The only exceptions to that would be: 1) a delay during the summer months when staff that prepares the video for broadcast is not on contract; and 2) any technical issues with sound and/or reproduction that would interfere with broadcast quality.

Does the new pedestrian crossing at Hornaday and Sycamore have anything to do with the school corporation?

2011-07-06T13:11:00.000-04:00

The pedestrian crossing at Hornaday and Sycamore Streets is the result of a request by an Ironwood resident who is visually impaired. As a citizen who walks a great deal to events, the grocery, etc., this individual was hampered by the lack of a crossing in that vicinity that drivers would recognize in order to cede the right of way.

BCSC and the Town of Brownsburg believe that many citizens will benefit from having a pedestrian crossing at that location.

How does one apply to run for the school board?

2011-07-06T13:01:00.000-04:00

The Hendricks County Election Board can provide that information. Contact the Hendricks County Clerk's office at (317)745-9231.

Why can't the high school swimming pool be used in the most effective manner for all members of the community?

2011-06-30T16:47:00.001-04:00

BCSC has been working to accommodate the somewhat differing needs of two different groups within the Aquatic Center this summer, in particular, the placement of bulkheads. The Parks Department program ideally operates with the bulkheads in 25 yard setting, while this summer the Swim Club requested the 50 meter setting to improve training opportunities. Both programs are community-based, benefiting students in different ways, and both programs are equally deserving of the use of the facility.

Moving the bulkheads, while not overly difficult, is not done without a fair amount of effort by trained individuals to avoid injury to pool users or damage to the pool facility. The assistance of the using groups does help expedite the course change, especially when BCSC is short staffed as we are this week. Regardless, this assistance should not have occurred within the practice time period.

While at the start of the summer a bulkhead location schedule had been established and agreed to by both the Swim Club and the Parks Department, this past week there was a miscommunication as well as complaints from Learn To Swim parents that resulted in the bulkheads being reset to the 25 yard configuration.

Going forward we are working to further improve the process and coordination between the three largest users of the pool, the High School, the Parks Department, and the Swim Club, in an effort to meet the needs of each group to the maximum extent practical.

Is Mrs. Hicks leaving Delaware Trail?

2011-06-22T10:08:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Hicks has announced her retirement, so the search will begin for a principal for Delaware Trail.

Will Delaware Trail be getting the ED and some preschool programs and will there be an assistant principal?

2011-06-22T10:05:00.000-04:00

The emotional disabilities (ED) program will be housed at Delaware Trail, and the preschool program is exclusively at both Cardinal and Delaware Trail Elementary Schools.

Allison Moyes, most recently assistant principal at Brown Elementary, will oversee those programs as an assistant principal serving both schools.

Why is there a principal position posted for Brown Elementary? What happened to Mrs. VanLiew?

2011-06-22T09:59:00.000-04:00

Mrs. Van Liew will take the position of BCSC Coordinator of Curriculum and Special Programs. She is replacing Matt Walsh in that position, as Mr. Walsh will be the Dept. Head for Social Studies (6-12) next year.

Is it true that Brownsburg is considering switching to "year round" school starting with the 2012-13 school year?

2011-06-20T16:28:00.000-04:00

The calendar committee has not met, so there is no 2012-2013 calendar yet. There are no plans to switch to a "year round" calendar, but there is consideration of a "balanced" calendar as several area school districts have made that change; most recently Wayne Township. With a "balanced" calendar school starts at the beginning of August so that the end of the first nine weeks and a two-week Fall Break coincide. The second grading period ends at Winter Break, again with a two week break. And the third grading period ends at Spring Break, which would become two weeks also.

It's likely the decision will be made early in the new school year and will be widely communicated, so that parents can begin to make plans and adjustments.

Why wasn’t the decision concerning Mr. Starnes position made after the upcoming bench trial?

2011-06-16T13:32:00.001-04:00

There are two reasons why the decision was made prior to the bench trial. The State has established time-lines for the nonrenewal of a teacher contract; and because the results of the bench trial have no bearing on the Board's decision. BCSC has a higher threshold of expected behavior for their employees than the legal system. In general, the public places a much higher degree of accountability on persons in authority, such as teachers.

Why weren't the supporters of Mr. Starnes allowed to speak at School Board meetings? What about freedom of speech?

2011-06-16T13:23:00.001-04:00

Freedom of speech is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution and reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Mr. Starnes' supporters have taken full advantage of their First Amendment rights:
1. through peaceable assembly
2. by petitioning the government (i.e.. the school board) for redress of grievances
3. by providing information to the media and submitting to media interviews
4. by taking the opportunity to speak as much as was allowable by policy in Board meetings
5. by submitting affidavits for the hearing
6. by making full use of internet publishing via Facebook and e-mail
7. by submitting letters to the editors of local newspapers

What they could not do was:
1. discuss either the teacher or student involved in the incident at a public board meeting, which is a long-standing POLICY of this and almost every school board in the state, in order to protect the privacy of those individuals
2. speak before or after the Board voted on the recommendation, because LEGALLY the Board's decision was made based on testimony made in the June 10 hearing

Free speech is not absolute. There are limits, which the Board has exercised by following both policy and the law.

Will BCSC continue to offer bus service to/from the local daycares in Brownsburg for the 2011/2012 school year?

2011-06-13T10:21:00.000-04:00

As was stated in a previous post, there will be NO changes to shuttling for the 2011-2012 school year, including service to/from daycares.

There will be changes in 2012-2013, however, and BCSC will begin discussing those changes throughout the coming year, so that parents have ample time to plan and prepare.

I have heard the rumor that some BCSC employees only pay $1 a year for health insurance also. Is this true?

2011-05-23T15:54:00.001-04:00

Your question was actually answered in a Grapevine post back in January of 2010. The short answer is no. Over the last three years administrators are either paying more for their insurance or they have a significantly reduced benefit. As a cost-cutting measure administrative health insurance benefits were reduced in both 2009 and 2010. In 2009, the insurance benefit for administrators for which the Board paid was changed to a higher deductible policy. This reduction in administrative benefits saved the school corporation over $80,000.

In 2010, the insurance premium paid by the Board for all administrators was frozen at the 2009 level. Then, because the insurance premium went up in 2010, administrators either chose to go to the highest deductible/HSA (Health Savings Account) plan, or they chose to stay with the same policy which requires that they pay the premium increase in the insurance benefit themselves. The savings because of this reduction in administrative benefits in 2010 was an additional $12,744.

Throughout BCSC science classes, is there equal time given to the teachings of the theory of Evolution and Creation?

2011-05-18T15:45:00.000-04:00

The Indiana Academic Standards and the Common Core Standards do not address evolution and creation as specific topics. Our curriculum in science is based on these standards, so we do not teach specifically about either. However, standards do include what the Earth is made of, but not necessarily how it is formed.

Is it true that the Spanish teacher at East Middle School will only be teaching one of the two offered Spanish classes next year?

2011-05-16T16:32:00.000-04:00

Mr. Miller will be teaching one period at East, one at West, and the remainder at BHS.

Will Everyday Math be used again next year for the elementary level?

2011-05-16T16:26:00.000-04:00

Yes. BCSC is committed to this program due to the excellent results that have been achieved by other districts. Although we are seeing growth in our classrooms, it will require more than a single year to derive the most benefit. We will also continue to support the teachers with the trained experts.

On the 2011-2012 calendar, why are all Wednesdays shaded purple?

2011-04-28T10:50:00.000-04:00

Every Wednesday is an early release day for students so that teachers can collaborate in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Students will be released from school 30 minutes early on those days.

For more information on PLC Early Release days go to this link on the BCSC website.

How do we know if our child qualifies for the high ability program and how does that program differ from a regular classroom?

2011-04-22T17:02:00.001-04:00

Identification for the elementary high ability programs happens in the spring after the final round of NWEA testing.(This process will change next year as we will no longer be using NWEA.)Students whose scores for both reading and math are in excess of the 95th percentile may be given additional NWEA tests to help determine appropriate placements for the following year. In addition to the NWEA scores, we also consider classroom performance, teacher recommendation, and a non-verbal ability test. Following testing, parents will receive a letter letting them know of their child's placement for the following year.

In the past, we have been a corporation that has accelerated students through curriculum, especially in math at all levels, and in other subject areas at the elementary level. Our data is showing that the acceleration in math is not proving to be effective with students in their high school years. Best practices and research indicate that a high ability classroom should extend learning and enrich learning. Starting in 2011-2012, families will begin to notice a transition to this type of a high ability classroom--deeper, enriched instruction. This will occur at all levels.

Why is shuttling being eliminated?

2011-04-22T08:46:00.000-04:00

There will be NO CHANGES to shuttling for the 2011-2012 school year. However, there are two significant issues caused by shuttling students: 1. lost instructional time and, 2. transportation costs.

Parents of students who are being shuttled are invited to an informational meeting with Dr. Snapp to learn more about the future of shuttling:
- April 26 at Brown Elementary, 7 p.m.
- May 2 at Delaware Trail Elementary, 7 p.m.
- May 4 at Eagle Elementary, 7 p.m.

Is there any interest in school uniforms for BCSC?

2011-04-22T08:36:00.001-04:00

Requiring school uniforms is an area that has never had much support from parents in BCSC. Although, there are some real advantages to school uniforms, it has not risen to the level of interest or concern that would propel a change of policy.

Is it true that Brownsburg schools are going to a year round or "balanced" schedule for the 2012-2013 school year?

2011-04-22T08:35:00.000-04:00

The 2012-2013 calendar has not yet been discussed, let alone determined. There are area schools that BCSC tries to align calendars with that are considering the "balanced" calendar, however, so it is likely it will come under consideration.

The "balanced" calendar seems to be gaining some popularity in other districts and allows for two week breaks at the end of each nine-week grading period - two weeks for Fall Break, Winter Break and Spring Break.

Just wondering if the school principals are ever evaluated by anyone besides their superiors?

2011-04-21T13:58:00.000-04:00

Principals are only evaluated by their superior; however, parents, teachers and other staff often provide feedback that is a part of the process. The feedback is often insightful and provides opportunities for future growth.

Now that the Governor has pledged to fully fund full-day kindergarten, will that change the fees for next year?

2011-04-21T13:37:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately media has misinterpreted this information as full funding for full-day kindergarten (FDK) for the 2011-2012 school year, which is incorrect. Preliminary funding projections from the state increase the grant that Brownsburg Schools currently receive from $1,030 to $1,050—an increase in funding of $20 per student. This increase is not enough to fully fund kindergarten for our students.

The final State budget has not been approved by the legislature however, so the final grant amount could increase or decrease. In any event, it is extremely unlikely that there will be enough money to fully fund FDK, thereby eliminating any fees. Our plan at this time is to continue to collect the FDK fee as originally planned until the budget process plays out in the state legislature. Once the FDK fee has been finalized, which will likely take place at the end of the current calendar year, adjustments will be made for parents paying the FDK fee either through a refund or an adjustment in the final payment. Families will be notified as soon as BCSC receives final notice from the state.

Why does Brownsburg High School not offer open swim at all anymore? Wouldn't that be a good way to make money?

2011-04-06T16:44:00.000-04:00

The "open swim" program that has been offered in the recent past was actually a program of the Brownsburg Park Department. On its surface it may seem an easy fund generator, however, the reality is that keeping the facility available for open swim incurs costs - utilities, supervision, custodial time, and life guards. Unfortunately, there was not enough participation in and fees generated by open swim to offset the expense. BCSC continues to work closely with the Park Department to find ways to make such a program economically viable for all parties.

With only two elementary schools receiving 4-Star designation for 2009-10, can you list the areas in which the other schools failed?

2011-04-05T16:45:00.000-04:00

Only 188 schools in Indiana earned this distinction out of approximately 1,800 public schools.

An explanation of the criteria for reaching Four-Star status, which is tied to State and Federal accountability standards, is available at the IDOE website http://www.doe.in.gov/accreditation/fourstar.html

It takes no more than a single student in a single sub-area not passing one area of the ISTEP by a slim margin to cause a school to fail to reach Four-Star status.

In the School Board Meeting Minutes for 2/28 and 3/14 alone….there were 18 teacher retirements and or resignations. How does the school system plan to replace this onslaught of departure in the wake of the financial shortcomings? Will new teachers be hired?

2011-04-05T16:28:00.000-04:00

The "onslaught of departure" that you refer to was planned as one of the many ways BCSC is reducing the budget. A teacher at the top of the pay scale (which they have reached by the time they are eligible for retirement) earns significantly more than a teacher with less experience and/or education, thus an incentive was offered to encourage those retirements to save dollars.

In addition, 14 certified staff positions will be eliminated and those individuals moved to classroom teaching positions for next year, some at a reduced salary: 2 Technology Trainers,2 Elementary World Language Teachers, 5 Media Specialists, 5 Elementary Assistant Principals.

How do students qualify for the high ability kindergarten program?

2011-04-05T16:09:00.000-04:00

All students who test in the top 5% on their readiness assessment will be scheduled to take a second assessment the week of May 30. Those scores will be reviewed and parents will be notified of their child’s placement in mid-June.

What steps are necessary for a parent to have their child tested for placement in kindergarten?

2011-04-05T16:08:00.001-04:00

Appointments for kindergarten assessments will be scheduled between May 2 and 13, during the registration process, which is why children do not need to accompany parents to the registration.

The kindergarten assessment will be administered by a certified professional at each child’s home school. The assessment lasts about 15 minutes and parents do not accompany their child during the assessment. Parents who elect to submit registration materials electronically or by mail, will be contacted to arrange an appointment.

Where will the High Ability K-1 program be next year and will it be full day?

2011-04-05T15:53:00.000-04:00

The K-1 program remains unchanged for the 2011-2012 school year. The full day program will be located at White Lick Elementary School and students that qualify will continue to be shuttled to WLE.

What is the reasoning behind going from the kindergarten full day alternating schedule to the everyday 1/2 days?

2011-04-05T15:49:00.000-04:00

BCSC educators believe the full-day program is the best option for all students and every effort has been made to make this program affordable without the school corporation subsidizing the cost. When the state starts fully funding full-day kindergarten, thus eliminating any fee to parents, BCSC will only offer that program. The half-day program allows students to have contact with a teacher everyday to reinforce basic skills in reading in mathematics.

What is the cost to start the school year earlier, especially utility costs? What about the kids who are in 4H and involved in the state fair?

2011-03-14T15:07:00.000-04:00

The cost, if any is minimal, since the schools are open for staff to return. It is our understanding that the State Fair has moved 4-H events to the weekends allowing students to continue to participate without missing school.

I still do not understand why the entire corporation calendar changed to start earlier for the benefit of a minority of students who attend programs in other districts.

2011-03-14T15:02:00.001-04:00

Better alignment with the Area 31 Vocational Calendar was one of several reasons why the 2011-2012 calendar was changed. Another important reason includes balancing the semesters at the high school to allow the first semester to end prior to Winter Break. The later start guarantees that 2200 students return from two weeks of break to finish up the semester and take final exams. In addition, it was important to eliminate inconsistencies between K-8 and 9-12 calendars, which also saves on transportation costs and cuts out professional development days from the regular school calendar.

Why are four new positions being added to BCSC to oversee secondary math, English, science and social studies? I thought the plan was to do things to help keep more teachers in classroom?

2011-03-14T15:02:00.000-04:00

In 2008-2009 BCSC had 50 administrators. In the fall of 2011, that number will be reduced to 37, saving the district more than $1.6 million in salaries and benefits. Nearly 25% of those reductions were in central office positions. The positions referred to in the question are part-time teaching positions and part-time department leadership positions overseeing the curriculum in grades 6-12. The departmental leadership roles assume the functions once assumed by central office administrators and still teach classes. The high school lost two dean positions and added one assistant principal position--down one position.

How does BCSC enrollment compare to other Hendricks Co. school districts and are preschool students considered in those numbers?

2011-03-08T14:26:00.000-05:00

Brownsburg Schools had the greatest enrollment growth in the county in 2011. The Indiana Dept. of Education has ten years of enrollment information and much more available on its website which can also be linked from the BCSC website. Although the State requires schools to provide a developmental preschool program, those students are not included in any official State enrollment count.

Due to the budget / revenue shortfall, will Brownsburg be opening out of district (tuition paid) enrollment for any levels of school K-12?

2011-03-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

BCSC accepted tuition transfer students in 2010-2011 to a limited degree. The priority is to make sure that Brownsburg students have the classrooms, teachers and programs they need. When there is room and opportunity, transfer tuition students are enrolled.

The School Board usually revisits that question each year upon consideration of anticipated enrollment. It has not yet been discussed for 2011-2012.

Why has job shadowing been cancelled at the 8th grade level? Will students be excused if they have a school day job shadow opportunity?

2011-02-24T15:07:00.000-05:00

Curriculum and programs are always being evaluated to maximize the efficacy and quality of time spent in the classroom. And while BCSC believes there is educational value in shadowing a profession, that is easily something that can take place outside of the school day or when school is not in session.

If a referendum is successful, will it be for the operating budget?

2011-02-24T14:23:00.000-05:00

As directed by the EnVision Commission, BCSC has made the cuts necessary to avoid a referendum. There are too many variables right now, to be able to predict "if" and "what".

What is the federal stimulus money being used for?

2011-02-24T14:18:00.000-05:00

To save jobs.

Is it true that ALL shuttles between elementary schools are going to be stopped?

2011-02-24T14:17:00.000-05:00

There are NO CHANGES planned for shuttling students for the 2011-2012 school year. However, the situation is being studied due to two major concerns:
1. A great deal of instructional time is lost over the course of a school year because of shuttling.
2. During challenging financial times such as these, it does strain an already very lean transportation budget.

Does the small growth in student population necessitate even considering another school?

2011-02-24T14:16:00.000-05:00

Unlike building a home, school construction requires considerably more time from genesis to completion. The timeframe now(by State law)also includes the time involved in preparation for a referendum or perhaps two - one for construction (capital projects) and one to hire and support staff for the building (general fund). BCSC tracks enrollment through a variety of means (including local birth rates and housing starts) in order to anticipate when enrollment growth will reach a point where a new facility will be timely - ideally at 75% capacity the day the doors open. Had the economy continued growing, we would already be in the process of building the new Lincoln Elementary School. Growth has slowed, but BCSC continues to grow each year. Last year it was the fastest growing district in Hendricks County. As the economy picks up, growth is likely to pick up as well. So, yes, it is necessary to consider another school.

Are there considerations for restoring some of the budget cuts if revenue increases?

2011-02-24T13:53:00.000-05:00

It is possible some programs and/or positions may be restored if revenue increases, but that will be determined through a process of evaluation. We may find that doing things differently is equally or more effective.

What should middle school students do if they are unable to attend registration?

2011-02-24T13:22:00.000-05:00

Any student unable to attend middle school registration on August 4, can register on the first day of school. Make-up days are scheduled for school pictures, usually in September.