Tulppo rates high, efforts commended

By JAN TUCKER

[email protected]

Ewen — The Ewen-Trout Creek School District principal and superintendent Alan Tulppo has been rated “highly effective” by the E-TC Board of Education at its recent meeting. The rating followed a closed session to discuss the evaluation. The board commended Tulppo on the positive outreach he has established with parents and community as well. They also commended Tulppo’s efforts to expand student programs and opportunities. The board also said the district enrollment has stabilized under the superintendent’s leadership. The board unanimously approved a new two year contract with Tulppo.

Tulppo and the dean of students attended a recent School Safety and Student Protest Workshop sponsored by the Michigan Association of School Administrators and the Thrun Law Firm. Officials said the workshop focused on the legal requirements of districts to protect the First Amendment rights of students and balance those rights with a safe and productive school environment. Officials also noted the presentation also focused on safety policies and procedures.

Tulppo told the board that E-TC is doing many things right in the eyes of law enforcement and safety officials. The district will plan to make some minor changes to building access in the mornings, which will be implemented over the next few months.

The Superintendent reported the Governor’s budget proposes an increase in basic per-student aid by between $120 and $240 for districts. Under the governors proposal the E-TC school would have a $240 increase per student or about $48,000 for the 2018-2019 year. The state legislature must ratify the budget and their proposal is slightly different with an approximately $45,000 increase.

The school board also heard about the state’s new school index values, released earlier this year. “Michigan has moved away from ranking schools  based on a grade or color in each district,” Tulppo explained. The school now receives a “school-level index value” based on seven factors: growth, proficiency, school quality, student success, graduation rate, EL progress, participation and EL participation. The E-TC index value for the reporting period was 64.41 and the superintendent will provide a detailed report at the April meeting.

In other action the E-TC Board:

—heard the scheduling for the 2018-19 school year is underway and the school will continue to offer Spanish I and Psychology by long distance learning.

—Heard the Robotics Team is competing in Escanaba at their first competition and have done a “fine job in the development of their robot.” The team will be competing at Lake Superior State University over spring break.

—Students from E-TC, Ironwood, Bessemer and Watersmeet traveled to Grand Rapids for state HOSA Competition.

—Kindergarten registration is currently underway and the district has received enrollment paperwork from some new families. ETC is projecting 15 students in Kindergarten.

—And the board approved awarding a contract to Computer Success to complete a network wiring and wireless access point during the month of July 2018.