During our November 26th Institute Day, Diamond Lake School District welcomed speaker and author Julie Adams. Julie Adams has worked with schools both nationwide and internationally to support their understanding of the adolescent brain and student learning. In her presentation, she shared the importance of a student’s basic safety and psychological needs being met prior to their being able to learn. Much of what schooling involves today is ensuring that a student’s basic social and emotional needs are supported in order for students to engage in academic content. Julie Adam’s tagline “You have to Maslow before you Bloom,” reminds teachers and parents that a child must have Maslow’s Hierarchy of Basic Needs met before they can approach Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Facilities Update

The district approved to issue $3.7MM of General Obligation Debt Certificates at the December 17th Board of Education Meeting to fund future construction projects. Debt Certificates allow the district to receive funding via a bond issuance that is repaid through the Operations & Maintenance and Working Cash Funds. This will allow the district to use existing reserves to pay for future projects over a 10-year period. The district plans on continuing its facility work from summer 2018 and 2019 and replace sections of West Oak’s roof and transform classrooms into future focused learning spaces throughout the district.

Finance