In the Loop

Get Connected with Fremont Public Schools

You and I are busy people. We have no real opportunity to get together for a chat. Yet we do have new ways we can “talk.” That’s the point of In the Loop: a format for sharing with you regular insights of life at Fremont Public Schools.

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John Kingsnorth, Superintendent
jkingsnorth@fremont.net

 

May 2, 2008 In The Loop

In This Issue:

 

May 6 Millage is a Renewal

Some messages are worth repeating.

A few weeks ago I wrote about Fremont schools’ critical millage renewal request coming up on May 6. I told you about the twist in the law that requires school districts to ask homeowners to approve a millage that homeowners don’t actually pay.

It truly is one of the more fascinating ways we pay for public education, and four points I made earlier bear repeating.

1. Proposal A, passed in 1993-1994, requires the State to pay only the majority of the cost to educate our students. Schools receive the balance by collecting 18 mills on non-homestead property in the district.

2. While homeowners vote on the tax, the tax is not applied to them. Primary residences are exempt.

The tax is applied only on non-homestead properties. It is paid only by people who have second homes in the school district and by certain businesses: apartments, rental homes, vacant land, and commercial and industrial properties.

3. The 18 mills Fremont schools collect must be renewed every 5 years.

The revenue generated from the 18 mills means more than $2.5 million annually to Fremont schools - more than 10 percent of our budget - which explains the critical nature of the renewal vote.

4. If voters do not support these 18 mills, the state does not make it up. The State always assumes we will collect these 18 mills; their payment to us will always factor in this money.

Please vote on May 6. Your support for our students is essential to their education.

 

Benefit Will Help Teacher

At age 29, Angie Kurtz, a middle school special education teacher, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.  She is undergoing treatment at the Detroit Karmanos Cancer Institute. Angie is not able to work, and her treatment requires traveling and lodging expenses in Detroit.

A benefit dinner and auction for Angie and her family has been organized for Saturday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. at St Michael’s Church in Brunswick. Individual tickets are $7, family tickets $25, and may be purchased at the door or in advance at Fremont Middle School. Donations can be sent or dropped off to “The Angie Kurtz Benefit Fund” at any Fifth Third Bank or the Newaygo County Service Employees Credit Union.

 

Newaygo County Career and Technical Center students of the year

Fremont High School is proud to present 10 students that were named Newaygo county technical center students of the year in their respective programs. Congratulations to each of these students for their dedication to their career. We are very proud of them.

  1. Travis Pell – Heavy Equipment Technology Program – Retired School Personnel Scholarship Recipient
  2. Amanda Coyne – Business, Management & Administration Program – Newaygo County Area School Board Scholarship Recipient
  3. Erika Crawford – Child & Custodial Care – Newaygo County Area School Board Scholarship Recipient
  4. Allishia Clawson – Criminal Justice – NCCTC Outstanding Student
  5. Joe Deur – Construction Trades – NCCTC Outstanding Student
  6. Seth Finney – Automotive Technician–West – NCCTC Outstanding Student
  7. Jace Kamphorst – Heavy Equipment Tech. – NCCTC Outstanding Student
  8. Davis Lindsay – Commercial Art – NCCTC Outstanding Student
  9. Mitch McDonald – Machine Tool – NCCTC Outstanding Student
  10. Josh Thomas – Printing – NCCTC Outstanding Student

 

Fremont Public Schools Earns the ENERGY STAR for Superior Energy Efficiency  

By Rose Stariha, Energy manager

Fremont Public Schools has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. Commercial buildings and industrial plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy efficiency may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.

Fremont Public Schools is pleased to accept EPA’s ENERGY STAR in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts. Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs.

Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Fremont Public Schools improved our energy performance by managing energy strategically across our entire organization and by making cost-effective improvements to our buildings. Fremont Public Schools has saved  17.04% in energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions.

The District has avoided 17,275 MMBTU, removed 343 cars and planted 710 acres of trees since the program began Aug.2006.

“Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most out of your energy dollars – while reducing your carbon footprint – just makes sense,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

To earn the ENERGY STAR, Fremont Public Schools took the following actions:

              Energy Education Inc.to incorporate energy conservation.

              Implemented sophisticated software to document and analyze structure’ usage.

∙ Coordinated start-ups and set-backs in buildings.

   Retrofitted lights

   Light motion sensors in most buildings.

   Staff along with Grand Rapids Building Services and Community being Energy Conscious:

               Unplugging and shutting power off when not in use.

               Heat Recovery System at High School pool area.

               New efficient boilers at High School.

EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR. Commercial Buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retailers, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses.

  ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. In 2006, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $14 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 25 million vehicles.

Rose Starihaariha

Energy Manager/Educator

 

Golf Team successes

By coach Dave Wojicki

Be sure to congratulate the Fremont Golf team on their Lakes 8 Jamboree win last night at Briar Hill.  Fremont edged out a formidable Ludington team by two strokes.  The Ludington team features a player who has won a state championship and is exempt in the Michigan Open this summer.  This team also features another player who played in the Michigan Open last year.  Our kids hung in there and fought for every stroke.  Yesterday was a great example of how great things can happen to those who persevere. 

Team members in the match were…Nick Content, Rob Content, Joe Ermatinger, Tyler Krim, Ben Blamer & Zach McGinn

 

A.C.E.S. Day (All Children Exercising Simultaneously

By Herb Lindsay, Daisy Brook P.E. teacher

Come join in the celebration of physical activity

at A.C.E.S. Day 2008

Daisy Brook Elementary School, Wednesday, May 7

A.C.E.S. Day (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) is a non-competitive event involving millions of school children all over the globe who will exercise simultaneously in a symbolic gesture of fitness and unity. Over its 19 year history, A.C.E.S. has proven to be educational, motivational, and fun. It has reached millions of children, parents, and teachers all over the world, including participants from over 50 countries.

Daisy Brook Elementary School is celebrating its 10th year of supporting ACES! A.C.E.S. Day celebration at Daisy Brook is Wednesday May 7 starting at 10:15 a.m. The event is intended to promote awareness for the benefits of physical activity and the importance of being self-responsible for your fitness and health.

Children are being encouraged to invite family and friends to join the fun in motion! Adults who practice regular, healthy physical activity are valuable role models to guide children in choosing to live healthy lifestyles. Please join us and share in promoting the message that moving is good—and fun—for all of us!

This year’s event will again feature an activity called Roll-A-Dice Fitness Workout that challenges students to perform a variety of stretching, strengthening, and locomotor movements in a non-stop 15 minute total body conditioning workout. Each participant is encouraged to challenge themselves at an appropriate level for their current fitness. To add to the fun and challenge students are also encouraged to match their movement to their partners and the beat of the music. Music will again be provided by local business man, Doug Harmon.

If you decide to join us, please arrive before 10:15 a.m. and go to the office

to sign in. You can join your child and they will teach you how to perform the exercises. Do only those movements/exercises you can comfortably perform. If you prefer—come and just watch! All are welcome to share in spreading the message of the value and importance of physical activity in our lives.

Get yourself moving—for the health of it!

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a report on Physical Activity and Health of Adolescence and Young Adult. Key messages within the report are:

Other Facts presented in the report:

Participation in all types of physical activity declines strikingly as age or grade in school increases. 

To see the entire report go to: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/adoles.htms.htm

The intent of staging ACES Day activities is to work to reverse the trend of decreasing physical activity in our population.

Get yourself moving! Do it with your family or a friend. Do it—for the health of it!

helindsay@fremont.net

 

NCCS Art Show

By Kathy Sikanas, middle school art teacher

The annual NCCS Art Show will be on display at the NCCS building from May 1st-May 7th.  The show includes the artwork of students in grades 7-12 from Newaygo County.  We have many Fremont students who have pieces in the show, including a "Senior" show and portfolio pieces that students are hoping to win an Art Trip to Chicago this summer.mmer.

Tonight is the announcement by the Judge of the Ribbon and Art Scholarship Trip winners.  The reception at the NCCS begins at 6pm with the awards being given at 6:30pm.  Everyone is invited to this.  The show is available to the public during NCCS business hours (9-5) daily until May 7th.  Hope to see you there.  The kids love to see you take an interest in their work.  We have so many talented students and it is great to be there to see them shine!

 

Students work hard to celebrate Earth Day

By Laurene Homsher

A large group of students under the direction of Laurene Homsher worked in the mud to celebrate Earth Day. These Leo club members spent the day helping to clean up the environment.


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In the Loop

Get Connected with Fremont Public Schools

John D. Kingsnorth
Superintendent
Fremont Public Schools
(231) 924-2350
jkingsnorth@fremont.net