Kirtland Schools Superintendent Chad VanArnhem recently delivered the 2024 State of the School Address. (Bryson Durst — News Herald)
Kirtland Schools Superintendent Chad VanArnhem recently highlighted the district’s academic performance in his 2024 State of the School Address, along with efforts to promote student health, good financial management, and community engagement.
A pre-recorded version of the presentation was shared on the district’s Facebook page on March 13. The next day, he also spoke at the Kirtland Community Center.
Van Arnhem began by talking about the district’s enrollment of 1,100 students this year. Although the district has “seen some declines,” its student population has remained “fairly stable” in recent years at 1,100 to 1,150 students.
However, he said test scores in the district have increased. Last year’s state test, Advanced Placement test and ACT scores were higher than pre-pandemic scores. Nine students scored above 30 on his ACT, and many students were recognized on his AP test scores.
Academic achievements also extended to the building and district level. Van Arnhem said Kirtland Elementary School received a Gold Award in 2023 for its Positive Behavior, Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program, which tracks and responds to student behavior and performance.
The district is also one of two in Lake County to receive a five-star rating on the 2022-23 state report card.
In addition to academics, Van Arnhem said students also participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, from sports to band to groups focused on STEAM subjects such as science, technology, engineering, art and math. Ta.
“We showcased the academic success we had there, but I think it’s equally important that our kids are well-rounded and have experiences outside of the classroom,” he said. Told.
The high school began holding school-wide luncheons for students this year, and Van Arnhem said during his time with the district he has seen “some of the most engaged students” at sporting events. .
He also highlighted ways the district promotes physical and mental health.
The elementary school has a wellness room for five to 10 minutes of exercise or exercise breaks, and Van Arnhem said students are “ready to learn” when they leave the room. A similar room will be added to the junior high school.
He added that the district also has a health committee, a high school health class that teaches “proper lifting techniques,” and weekly walking activities.
“Many studies have shown that getting kids moving and giving them short breaks improves their focus and attention, and improves their overall health,” Van Arnhem said.
As for mental wellness initiatives, she said a recent program with the National Alliance on Mental Illness focuses on teaching children the red flags of a friend who needs help and how to respond.
“Students often know about problems and situations with other students before adults do,” Van Arnhem said.
She added that the district also offers health assistance programs run by its staff.
“This is a layer of health,” Van Arnhem said. “It doesn’t take a huge amount of time away from schoolwork, but we know that if kids can’t concentrate and feel good, they’re not going to do well at school.”
Van Arnhem also shared how the district has invested in physical security.
“One of the new things we added, which we’re very happy with, is we installed a door alarm,” he said. “One open door on our campus puts everyone at risk.”
If the door is left open for a long time, the alarm will make a high pitched sound and send a notification.
“I used to always get calls and texts saying, ‘The door is open,’ but now I don’t have that anymore,” Van Arnhem said.
He said other safety measures include drills and drills, bulletproof film on first-floor windows, cameras on school buses and campuses, waiting areas and background checks at entrances, and communication with Kirtland police and fire chiefs. It said it will include quarterly safety meetings, school resource officers and school attendance. About police officers.
Van Arnhem added that the district “has a huge relationship with the Kirtland Police Department and Fire Department.”
The superintendent also emphasized the “strategic” use of district funds. He said Kirtland Schools has faced increased costs for staffing and equipment in recent years, while levies continue to collect the same amount.
The district initially expected to be in the red on spending this year, but Van Arnhem said, “There are some areas that are trending closer to a deficit and some that are not.”
He added that the district appears to be “on track” until the final fiscal year, 2028, but is currently expected to be in the red on spending by then.
Voters in the district chose to maintain existing funding levels by renewing the 3.44 million levy on March 19. Van Arnhem said the district requested a 10-year renewal instead of five years to “spread out” the funding request.
He added that he expects the next time the district will charge a renewal tax will be in 2026 or 2027.
One of the district’s major projects in recent years was the construction of a new stadium, which opened in August. Van Arnhem said that despite inflationary costs and labor shortages, the project was “completed on schedule and within 1 percent of the total budget.”
“If you’ve ever driven by a school, you’ve probably seen that it’s in continuous use,” he added.
Van Arnhem said the district has worked in recent summers to renovate K-12 classrooms with new furniture, paint and blinds. The final stages of work on the classrooms are expected to be completed this summer.
He concluded by mentioning the district’s community involvement, including the more than 3,000 hours of community service that the Class of 2023 completed during their high school years.
“This is my 10th year with this district and my fourth year as superintendent,” Van Arnhem said. “I love it here. I just feel lucky, but I don’t want to take for granted what we have.”
