Friday, December 4, 2015

Winter of 2015 - Conditions and Snow Calls

Each winter I think about the courses I took to become a superintendent. I learned to lead and manage issues related to school finance, school law, school district governance, data analysis, and various other topics that have supported my work over the past 5 years. One area that I did not study but rely on each winter to make countless decisions is meteorology.


On this early December day, the afternoon temperatures are expected to reach into the low 50s. I thought without the threat of snow, sleet or freezing rain it would be a good day to brief you on what lies in store for us this winter and how I prepare for and make decisions about school delays, cancellations or early dismissals.


Last month the Eastern Pennsylvania Weather Authority (EPAWA) released their winter weather outlook for 2015-2016. You can access the full report here. If you read their seasonal outlook you will have learned a great deal about the Siberian snow cover, the impact of the Quasi-Biennial Oscillation (QBO) on the strength of the polar vortex and the strengthening El Nino in the Pacific Ocean. Again, I have not taken any courses in meteorology so I was grateful for the final summary titled, "Plain English Summary."


A summary of the summary looks like this:
  • we are in for a snowy winter with February being the coldest of the winter months and showing well above normal snowfall totals (Quakertown average snowfall total = 31” and 46-54” is predicted)
  • we won't have as many storms as last year but the ones we do have (particularly the coastal storms) will be slower and bigger which equals more snow
  • in general it won't be as cold as last winter but there will be some colder snaps


Frequently Asked Questions about Snow Calls


How do you prepare for the winter months?
To make sure I am able to reach you in the very early hours of the morning, I sent out a recorded message to make sure our phone contact list was accurate. Information about where we post weather-related information is also posted on the Palisades School District website.


Speaking of those early calls, why do you send them out so EARLY?  I strive to get information out to the Palisades community prior to 5:15 am. We have employees that start their day at 6:00 am and I want them to have delay or closure information prior to starting their drive to work. I also want to provide families with sufficient time to make alternative arrangements for childcare if necessary .


Why don’t you make snow calls at night and give us as much notice as possible? It is rare that I can be 100% certain of what the travel conditions will be in the morning. There are times when the snow or ice predicted in the evening does not materialize in the morning which is why I wait until 4:00 am. If for example, snow starts falling right after school, remains heavy through the early evening and is predicted to continue through the night, I would likely start with an evening call of a delayed opening. In the morning I would reassess the situation and discuss the conditions with our Director of Transportation, Director of Facilities and the Superintendents from Pennridge School District and Quakertown Community School District.


Why do you talk with the superintendents from Pennridge and Quakertown prior to making a snow call?
Palisades, Pennridge and Quakertown all send students to the Upper Bucks County Technical School and we also have have students attending programs in each other’s districts. We strive to keep programming consistent for all of our students; however, occasionally weather conditions vary across the region and districts make different decisions. As a result of the possible variation, please focus on the decision for the Palisades School District.


So what do you consider when making a snow call?
There are numerous factors that go into making a decision to delay or cancel school.


Short story: accumulation, timing of storm, and road/facility conditions


Long story: I wake up at 4:15 am when inclement weather is expected. My first call is to our Director of Transportation for an update on road conditions. He has often already talked with the Transportation Directors from Pennridge and Quakertown to see what conditions look like in their areas. I then talk with our Director of Facilities for an update on the condition of the buildings, sidewalks and parking lots and finally I talk with the superintendents from Pennridge and Quakertown.


If there is already a significant amount of snow on the ground at 4:15 am, the forecast is for additional accumulation throughout the morning, the chance that snow crews will have an opportunity to clear the roads with a 2-hour delay is minimal and the chance our facilities crew can clear sidewalks and parking lots with a 2-hour delay is also minimal then school will be cancelled. If there is some accumulation on the ground, the snow has already stopped, crews are already out clearing, then we will likely have a 2-hour delay.


Timing is everything. On a normal day the first buses roll out of the bus garage to start their routes at approximately 5:45 am. On a two-hour delay, the buses roll out of the garage at 7:45 am so road conditions have to be in good shape by that time otherwise a decision will likely be made to cancel school.


What if it is really cold outside?
As noted in the 2015-2016 forecast, there will be several significant snaps of cold temperatures this winter. When it is clear the temperatures are going to drop I remain in contact with our Director of Facilities who monitors building temperatures overnight and into the morning. If our schools are warm and the buses are ready to transport students then school will open. In rare occasions, however, conditions may require a closure.


Why don’t you make more early dismissal calls?
I am greatly concerned about calling early dismissals because it causes havoc for parents/guardians to find coverage for their child(ren) when they arrive home early or to pick their child(ren) up if they normally do parent pick up.  If snow is expected to arrive during the afternoon I continually watch the hour by hour forecasts and watch the radar to see when the snow is set to arrive. If our buses can safely get students home with light snow falling or a small amount on the roads I will keep students in school for a normal dismissal.

Friday, November 6, 2015

School Performance Profiles Released

This week, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) released the 2014-2015 School Performance Profiles (SPP) for all public (including charter) high schools in Pennsylvania. The SPP is the federal accountability measure used in Pennsylvania to replace the previous accountability requirements under No Child Left Behind.    

The final grade or score for each high school is based mostly on standardized test scores (AP, SAT, NOCTI), with the Keystone Exam accounting for 80% of the overall score. Other indicators of school performance include: attendance, graduation rates, and student participation and performance in Advanced Placement courses. Although the score for Palisades High School has decreased over the past three years, this is not due to a dip in performance, rather to the inclusion each year of additional pieces of data into the calculation. To access Palisades High School SPP, please click here.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education did not issue 2014-2015  SPPs for elementary and middle schools due to the fact that the 2014-2015 tests were aligned to the PA Core Standards for the first time.

PDE is interested in expanding the measures they use to grade schools and I fully support this initiative. Later this month, Dr. Kate Kieres (Assistant Superintendent) and I will be meeting with representatives from PDE to discuss expanding measures of performance for elementary, middle and high schools.

Ideas that we will propose to PDE for a revised school report card will include indicators such as daily attendance rates, access to technology, class offerings (options beyond tested subjects), hours spent on high quality teacher and administrator professional development, number of students involved in dual enrollment (college) classes while still in high school, number of students engaged in an internship experience while still in high school,  freshman to sophomore persistence in college, and results of community satisfaction surveys. I will offer these as suggested criteria  not because I believe that we would hit 100% in each area but because I believe these are worthy measures to assess our performance as a district in educating Palisades students and preparing each of them for success after high school.

If you have other ideas that you would like me to share with PDE regarding criteria to use for a school report card I would appreciate your feedback.  Please email your ideas to me at boconnell@palisadessd.org; or Kate Kieres at kkieres@palisadessd.org

Our principals will be sharing their school improvement plans based on PSSA and Keystone data at the Education Programs and Services Meeting on January 13, 2016 from 7pm to 9pm at in the Palisades High School Audion. All are welcome to attend.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

School Board Elections

Each election is an exciting time for school districts as they prepare to potentially welcome new school board members.

School districts in Pennsylvania are governed by nine elected school board members that volunteer their time for a four year term. The four year terms are staggered so one election will have four open seats and the following election will have five open seats. In the Palisades School District, board seats are divided into three regions based on population (Region 1: Bridgeton and Tinicum, Region 2: Durham, Nockamixon and Riegelsville and Region 3: Springfield). 

So once a Board member is elected, what do they do? 

According to the National School Boards Association, local school boards are elected—or occasionally appointed in the event of a mid-term vacancy —to be leaders and champions for public education in their states and communities.  

In more specific terms the Palisades School Board's key responsibilities are to:

  • Set the vision and goals for the Palisades School District
  • Adopt policies that govern programs, pupils, employees, finances, property, operations, community engagement and Board procedures
  • Adopt and oversee the annual budget
  • Engage in negotiations and develop collective bargaining agreements
  • Hire and evaluate the superintendent 

Does an effective school board increase student academic achievement?

Yes! Research from The Center for Public Education identified characteristics and habits in high achieving district that were markedly different from boards in low-achieving districts.   

Boards in high-achieving districts:

  • maintained a commitment to a vision of high expectations for student achievement and quality of instruction
  • maintained a strong shared belief about what is possible for students and their ability to learn, and of the system and its ability to teach all children at high levels
  • led as a united team with the superintendent, each from their respective roles, with strong collaboration and mutual trust
  • aligned and sustained resources to meet district goals
For a complete list of effective school board characteristics please click here


Election Day is November 3, 2015 

For more information on School Boards at the national, state and local level please refer to the following resources:

National School Boards Association (NSBA) 

Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) 

Palisades School District School Board 




Friday, September 11, 2015

Program Highlight

Palisades Middle School Watershed Integration Program (WIP)

Students in the Palisades School District are engaged in so many exciting learning opportunities! This school year several of my blog post will highlight overall programs, specific classes and extra-curricular activities so you can see what learning looks like at Palisades. 

Recently, Dr. Kate Kieres (Assistant Superintendent) and I visited the Video Production class at Palisades High School, received a crash course in camera work, learned some video lingo and headed to a local stream to film Palisades Middle School WIP students. After we collected the A-roll and B-roll footage (video lingo) our talented student editors created this video (please click here). 

Enjoy!




Friday, August 28, 2015

Welcome Back to Palisades!

As the summer draws to a close, I am looking forward to another school year in Palisades that individualizes and inspires learning for each of our students. This year is very exciting as we embark on another new and innovative Comprehensive Plan for our district. It also marks the 25th anniversary of educational excellence at Palisades Middle School.

Our new Comprehensive Plan, coupled with the ongoing guidance and direction of our School Board Members, continues to steer our work in helping all students achieve college and career readiness.  I am thrilled to see the excitement surrounding this new plan and am proud to announce the focus areas that have been identified by the 30-plus member Comprehensive Plan Steering Team, which is comprised of parents, students, teachers, administrators, support staff, board members and other leaders from throughout our community.

The focus areas of our new Comprehensive Plan include: 

     Academic Excellence - We will continue to place strong emphasis rigorous, individualized instruction that leads to high levels of student achievement.
     Community Engagement - We will continue to pursue avenues to further engage and serve the Palisades Community.
     Enriching Environment - We will also continue to support and encourage student wellness in the areas of nutrition, physical fitness, social and emotional wellness.
     Technology Integration - We will continue to support students in developing 21st century skills through emphasis on equipment/infrastructure as well as integration of technology into all of our classrooms.

In the work that we do to support and educate students, the factor with the greatest impact on overall student success is meaningful relationships. Students must have opportunities both in and outside of the classroom to make connections that matter - connections that enhance their growth and development and positively affect their lives.  Connections with teachers, support staff, administrators, parents, other students, community members, coaches and other organizational leaders that are productive and supportive help to enhance the student’s ability to learn in a healthy, nurturing environment.

Through partnerships between district staff and our educational partners, community members, parents and other business leaders, the Palisades School District has been able to provide experiences for students of which we are very proud. Some examples include:

     Medical Career and Business Pathways with partners like St. Lukes, Bucks County Community College and Inspire Credit Union
     Cybersonics and First Lego League through our affiliation with F.I.R.S.T. and Carnegie Mellon Robotics Academy
     Sports, marching band and other extra-curricular activities with the help of organizations like the Sports Boosters, Band Boosters and other parent volunteer groups
     Odyssey of the Mind, Reading Olympics and Scholars Bowl competitions
     Fitness Center and Evening School Classes which are open to the public
     Arts, music and theater programs with partners like Penn State Lehigh Valley, DeSales University and Martin Guitar
     Gardens and nutrition programs with the help of parents, other interested community members and businesses such as Home Depot
     After school activities like roller skating, bowling and swimming through the support of our Palisades Community Foundation
     Vocational/technical programs through our partnership with UBCTS
     The Strengthening Families Program through the support of Partners in Action for Community Togetherness (PACT) and Upper Bucks Healthy Community Healthy Youth

“Making connections that matter” helps our students to become leaders who are successful contributors wherever their journey takes them in their lives.  I encourage all of our community members – parents, students, staff, volunteers and others – to continue to make connections with and on behalf of our students to assist them in achieving their goals.

Have a fantastic school year!

Elementary Bottle Cap Art Project