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#DigitalTransformation

Over the past few years, I’ve discovered something faster than the speed of light! In fact, it’s possible you’ve made the same discovery over the past several years. So, what’s faster than the speed of light? The digital age is faster. Technology continues to improve, evolve and increase in speed. Whether it is the way we communicate with technology or that the newest device is out of date within a year, it’s hard to keep up. As I watch people interact with technology, I begin to wonder about the impact of technology in our daily lives. How has technology changed your life? Did it change how you operate in business? Did it change how you communicate with your kids or spouse? What impact has technology had on you? More than likely, if you have used any form of technology in the past couple of years, technology has changed the way you live. Sometimes it’s for the better and sometimes it might be for the worse. Last year, we found 90% of our families have some form of home internet access and more than 85% of our families believe technology benefits their children. I agree. Technology does benefit students during the learning process. (Ultimately, a piece of technology cannot replace a great teacher, but does serve as a gateway to extending the classroom.) Lincoln County R-III Schools has a digital transformation team and has met for more than a year. We’re busy devising a plan of how we can effectively transition into a digital world to keep our students engaged and give them a competitive edge. We’ve also been researching tools for our teachers to assist with a digital conversion. As a member of the transformation team, I can tell you planning for the technology and the transformation doesn’t travel faster than the speed of light. And that is okay. This is not a metamorphosis that can happen quickly. Mooresville Graded School District, in North Carolina, best illustrates the power of a digital transformation for students. Dr. Mark Edwards led an innovative digital conversion initiative and believes a “digital conversion” allows public education to “equalize” conditions and serve students regardless of socio-economic status or special needs. Below are some of the staggering changes that happened in MGSD: In four years: Graduation rate increased from 77% to 90% Student enrollment in advanced placement classes more than doubled *Poverty rates increased 25% in Mooresville, NC In six years: Proficiency in performance in high school biology increased from 68% -95% Post-secondary scholarships TRIPLED (a 300% increase!) Out of school suspension decreased 64% Attendance rate increased to 97% As an educator, we have to adapt to change. Why? The simple answer is to stay relevant with our audience. More importantly, keeping up with the times in the classroom means reaching our students and “keeping up with the Jones’” or the Mooresvilles in the world.

Update on Construction

Plenty has happened since the last time you read this column. I would like to get you up to speed on the myriad of construction projects throughout the district. First, the Troy Buchanan High School field house, devastated by fire, will be rebuilt. The facility was fully insured. After the fire, high school leaders and district administration received various calls of support and offers to help “in any way possible.” Ultimate Fitness Plus reached out and gave students enrolled in weight lifting a temporary home. For approximately two weeks, our buses shuttled these students to the local fitness center. Weight lifting students are now back at TBHS utilizing a re-purposed space. We are blessed to live in such a generous community. It is difficult for our next project to go unnoticed. On the east side of Troy Buchanan, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) matching grant safe room, which will also be a performing arts center, is coming along nicely. The project is now ahead of schedule. Our goal is to have this facility ready for the busy holiday season for our student groups. This certainly is an exciting time for the performing arts and our community as a whole. If you have driven by the Troy Middle School campus lately, you may have noticed tennis courts. These courts along with a one mile long walking trail called Veterans Trail was funded by a state grant. With the assistance of the Lincoln County R-III Education Foundation, the district received a $75,000 grant through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Land, and Water Conservation Fund. The trail and tennis courts will be utilized during school operating hours by the District for physical education classes and competition related activities. It will be open for public use in the evenings, weekends and anytime school is not in session. As the weather begins to warm, I would encourage our community to take advantage of these areas. The district plans to apply for this grant again in hopes of improving accessibility at Clonts Field and ball fields across from Central Office. Both of these facilities are used frequently by our physical education classes and our community. Finally, the Troy South Middle School project is continuing to make progress. The walls that were deconstructed are now nearly complete. If you drive by the campus on Adelhardt Road, you’ll see a beautiful building. We believe the second middle school will be complete by the end of first semester. As always, I am proud to be your superintendent of schools and look forward to celebrating many completed projects with you in the next year.

Walls down, walls up

Lincoln County R-III has several projects in various stages of the construction process. In late September, we hosted a groundbreaking for our future safe room, which will also be a performing arts center. Much like a second middle school, this facility has been a “long-time coming” for a number of community members as well as our students and staff. Dirt is now moving and our goal is to have the safe room and performing arts center open for the holidays for our student groups to perform for the community! The construction of Troy South is well underway. Crews overcame the floods from this past summer and experienced even more flooding in December 2015. Now, we are working to overcome another obstacle (as you may have already read in today’s paper). Some of the walls on our Troy South Middle School project had to be removed because they didn’t meet the requirements of the engineered plan. Fortunately, we have a contractor that stands by their product and service. Lawlor Construction is tearing down the walls necessary and rebuilding them. This will take time, of course, and more than likely our second middle school will not physically open in August 2016. I assure you that in August 2016, even if a building isn’t completed, we will operate TWO middle schools. This district has operated two schools under one roof prior to my arrival. The Ninth Grade Center was also a delayed opening. Our team has been busy working on “Plan B.” Employees for both middle schools will be ready to go on August 15 whether or not the Troy South location is ready. When the building is able to open it will be safe for our students and another district can have the largest middle school in the State of Missouri.

#construction TroySouth lincolncountyRIII

Penny's Podcast: On the Road in April 2015

#Pennyspodcast #Lincoln County R-III #Mark Penny #McDonalds #Project prom

R-III Summer Journey 2015

TBHS SPRING PLAY "THE ODD COUPLE" (Female Version)

Summer Journey 2015 - Registration forms are NOW online - www.troy.k12.mo.us

Great job, Lincoln Elementary Media Club! Hand washing 101 is a great piece!

The deadline to apply for the 13th Annual Missouri Youth Leadership Camp is approach on March 1st. If you know of a high school student with a disability, age 16-21, that would benefit from this five-day leadership camp be sure to pass it on.

Buddies for Buddy Bags

Over the last few weeks, I have watched in awe as students, staff members, compassionate volunteers and generous local business grow the Buddy Bag program. For those new to the community or unfamiliar with Buddy Bags, it is a donations-only weekend food program.

We began in February of 2012 with approximately 60 “buddies.” Prior to launching the program, Operation Food Search estimated there would be 400 students in food-insecure homes in a community of our size. We grew the program slowly in order to make it sustainable. This month, we sent home approximately 375 buddy bags one weekend. The number fluctuates from week to week as parents notify us when they are back “on their feet.”

We couldn’t have hit this Buddy Bag milestone without the help of many giving people in our community. Here are just a few of the moments I’ve witnessed:

Four Cuivre Park Elementary students raised $300 for Buddy Bags by creating and selling bracelets.

John Whitmire, an employee in our Technology Department, created a GoFundMe account to raise money to support Buddy Bags.

Aiden Vickrey built Buddy Boxes to be placed at area businesses, so you can donate any time.

Troy Furniture, Troy Flower Shop, Behlman, Imo’s and Verizon all became our first Buddy Box drop-offs.

And the list continues to grow

How great to live in a community that supports our children! Thank you to all who have donated to Buddy Bags, which now falls under the umbrella of our Education Foundation. Without your support, the Buddy Bag program would not have grown more than 60% since the beginning of the 2014-15 school year.

#weekendbackpack #weekendfoodprogram #hunger #BuddyBags

The students of Lincoln County R-III "Got One More Snow Day" for Tuesday, February 17th, 2015.

I'm so proud of our leaders at Main Street Elementary. They are an impressive group of students! #proud2br3

Artist rendering of the second unnamed middle school in Lincoln County R-III opening in August 2016.

Planning for two

When voters approved the no-tax increase bond issue for a second middle school in April 2014, I was relieved. The campaign trail is always a long and winding road that requires hours of planning and months of hard work. The months of work leading up to the day the bond issue passed have truly paled in comparison to the planning of a second middle school.

This is the second bond issue and construction project since my arrival in the R-III District in 2011. The first project was the construction of the Early Childhood Education Center and renovating Claude Brown; however, that project was pre-engineered, so much of the post-election planning was completed prior to voter approval. With a smaller (three million) project and a tight timeline, the Board of Education allowed the R-III District to “pre-plan” the project. With a larger more cotsly project ($20.5 millon), the R-III District didn’t set out to pre-engineer a second middle school prior to voter approval.

After 11 months of planning with staff, students, and the design team the schematic design phase for the new middle school has concluded. Architects and engineers are 85% complete with their drawing walls, placing the utilities and, calculating the structural support for the facility. At 106,850 sq. ft. the facility is nearly equal to Troy Middle School in size. This new home to nearly 600 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will occupy approximately 35 acres of the 125 acre parcel at Crooked Creek off Adelhart Road.

Lincoln County R-III employees submitted suggestions for a name of a second middle school. After reviewing submissions, I will make a recommendation to the Board of Education. As we continue to finalize plans for a second middle school, I will keep you updated in Penny’s Two Cents.

Tech Tips with Superintendent Penny for parents & teachers!

It's Missouri School Board Appreciation Week. Thank You Board Of Education! #proud2br3

January Penny's Podcast 2015 - more from Troy Middle School and the second middle school!

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