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PSD Connectivity
Dedicated to excellence
February 26, 2016
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Pictured above: Director Mark Vetter, Mackenzie Marcoe, Michael Masenheimer
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Board Highlights - February 22, 2016
During the District Highlights portion of the meeting the directors heard an overview of work completed by educators on the recent supplemental day, February 17. Photos provided by building principals and program directors were shown as part of this overview. See slideshow link at the bottom of this issue of Connectivity.
An update on March Gladness activities was provided by Executive Director of Communities In Schools Puyallup Jan Mauk. She was joined by student leaders Elizabeth Bullard and CJ Robinson. Read more about March Gladness later in this issue of Connectivity.
Action items:
- Having heard the written proclamation, directors declared the week of March 7 through March 11, 2016 as Classified Public School Employee Week. See the proclamation in full: Classified Employee Week Proclamation.
- Directors approved the 2015-16 District Student and School Success Indistar Plan as presented by Chief Special Services Officer Kathy Ehman.
- Directors approved revised Elementary Educational Specifications as presented by Mario Casello, director of educational planning.
- Directors approved the commissioning of a Bond Oversight Committee as recommended by Chief Operations Officer Rudy Fyles. This committee will oversee and make recommendations to the board regarding the implementation of the 2015 Bond Program. Learn more about this committee in the Connectivity article below.
- Directors heard an update from Director of Instructional Leadership, Technology and School Support Mark Vetter regarding the selection of a vendor for implementation of a learning management system in the Puyallup School District. Directors approved the recommendation of a three-year contract with Schoology Inc. as part of the Empowering Puyallup initiative.
Directors were presented with a first reading of several policies under revision and one new policy. They were apprised of the following:
- Policy 2107 - Comprehensive Early Literacy Plan
- Policy 2421 - Promotion and Retention
- Policy 3417 - Catheterization
- Policy 5275 - Civility in the Workplace
- Policy 6801 - Capital Assets/Theft-Sensitive Assets (NEW)
Directors heard a report about the communications plan promoting
alternative pathways to certification now available in the Puyallup School District. Presenters Dr. Ailene Baxter, director of human resources, staffing and school support, and Brian Fox, executive director of communications and information outlined efforts made to market the school district and attract potential teacher candidates to Puyallup. The results of collaborative efforts in each department were shared.
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Board approves new learning management system vendor
This article is second in a series on the Empowering Puyallup initiative which is a technology-focused project featuring the implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS) and the roll out of one-to-one devices for Puyallup students.
An important component of the Empowering Puyallup initiative is the implementation of a Learning Management System (LMS). An LMS is a digital communication tool for students, teachers, and parents to use for collaboration and communication. "A new LMS must be carefully selected with changing times in mind," says Mark Vetter, director of instructional leadership, head of the Empowering Puyallup initiative.
For teachers, an LMS will enhance collaboration with staff, allow for sharing curriculum and learning resources, enhance professional engagement and communication with parents, and also allow for professional development that would be digitally available.
Vetter went on to explain, "The new digital platform will give students, teachers, and parents the ability to interact at a depth that was previously unimaginable".
Choosing a new learning management system with this much potential to enhance teaching, collaborating, and learning must be carefully evaluated. Vendor presentations were made on February 6
at the Puyallup School District Education Service Center to an audience of staff, students and parents.
The vendors presented the technological background of the software to a group of the
Technology Services team, teachers, principals, and directors who will be working with the digital platform, and also to students and parents who will be using the platform.
"We aren't making this decision lightly" said Dr. Glenn Malone, executive director of assessment, accountability & student success. "And the evidence is in the work that went into all 40 of these people at this meeting".
One of the software vendors commented, "Most districts never get input from parents and students. This is what makes Puyallup School District different." Over the course of three years and hundreds of software presentations to different districts from the vendors, Puyallup School District was one of three districts to take student and parent input into consideration.
A student from
Rogers High School commented "You really never stop learning, and how learning can be enhanced with technology is really amazing". The student then went on to say "[A new LMS] will really enhance the way future students can learn. By being able to access information faster and collaborating more, it will keep learning from feeling boring."
Puyallup School District turned to the two leading vendors to present their software. They were commissioned to show how their product could enhance the education of students in our district and the way teachers collaborate with those students.
Having heard from the highly-regarded vendors Canvas and Schoology, the lead team unanimously decided that Schoology best fit the vision of Puyallup School District. It was agreed that Schoology will support the strategic direction of improving instruction, student growth, and achievement.
"On February 6 we had 40 people give their time on a Saturday to come listen to presentations from two different vendors," said Vetter. "After a full day of presentations and then gathering the feedback from everybody, the evidence was overwhelming, that the lead team would like to recommend Schoology as our LMS vendor. The lead team of teachers and principals were unanimous in their recommendation"
Later in the meeting the Board of Directors approved Schoology to be the provider of the new LMS digital platform.
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School Construction and Facility Improvements bond update
The school board took action at its February 22 meeting to approve the Standard Elementary Educational Specifications and to commission a Bond Oversight Committee as the district moves forward with work on the School Construction and Facility Improvements bond
.
The voter approved $292.5 million bond measure includes:
- Replacing Firgrove, Northwood, and Sunrise elementary schools with larger elementary schools that would have 30 home rooms (similar in size to the last two elementary schools, Edgerton and Carson, which opened in 2007). This school size generally supports four classrooms for each grade level.
- Building a new elementary school with 44 home rooms on undeveloped district-owned property on 144th Street near 80th Avenue west of Meridian on South Hill. This school size generally supports six classrooms for each grade level.
- Remodeling and expanding Pope Elementary with 44 home rooms, consisting of six classrooms for each grade level. The proposed expansion includes additional classrooms, a new gym that would also be used as a cafeteria, relocation of some play areas, removal of portable classrooms, and expansion of the bus loop and parking areas.
Elementary Educational Specifications
The educational specifications describe the district's standard for a wide variety of needs for appropriate physical spaces in order to deliver the educational program to students. The specifications are the communication between professional educators and design professionals. They provide the foundation from which architects will design the buildings and classrooms.
"District standard educational specifications will be used as the foundation for each of our projects," stated Mario Casello, Director of Educational Planning. He noted each individual project has some unique site-based characteristics. As a result, minor modifications will be made to the district standard for each individual project.
Construction project managers will be assigned to each of the projects to oversee the architects and contractors.
Bond Oversight Committee
A 13-member advisory committee will be commissioned by the Board of Directors to oversee the projects funded by the bond measure. The committee will make periodic reports to the board on the progress of the projects and can make recommendations for changes to the baseline of the scope of work.
The committee will consist of nine citizen members and four district staff members. The term will be from June 1, 2016 through September 1, 2021.
The four district staff members are the Assistant Superintendent for Instructional and Organizational Alignment, Chief Operations Officer, Director of Capital Projects, and Director of Educational Planning.
The nine citizen members will serve staggered three-year terms. In the beginning, the citizen terms will include three citizens serving one year, three serving two years, and three serving three-year terms.
The superintendent will make recommendations on citizen appointments for the school board's consideration.
The five school construction and renovation projects approved on the bond measure will address overcrowding and continued enrollment growth not only at the project sites, but also at other schools experiencing growth. School boundaries will be studied districtwide to reflect the larger schools and classroom additions that will be built.
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March Gladness
Students from around the district are volunteering and giving back to their community through the March Gladness annual community service program.
March Gladness runs January through March. This is the eleventh year that Puyallup students have participated, beginning in 2006.
"The vision of March Gladness is to make community service a part of every student's experience in the Puyallup School District," stated Communities In Schools of Puyallup Executive Director Jan Mauk during a report to the school board on February 22. "We want to create a culture in Puyallup of giving back in service to our community," she added.
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| Communities In Schools of Puyallup Executive Director Jan Mauk, PHS students CJ Robinson and Elizabeth Bullard |
So far this year there are 57 service projects registered at elementary, junior high, and high schools throughout the district. Nineteen of the projects have already been completed. The project list continues to grow as new service opportunities are registered by schools.
Examples of projects include collecting food and volunteering at food banks, a senior citizens ball, a diaper and baby item drive, American Heart Association fundraisers, and an animal rescue supply drive.
Last year more than 10,600 students from throughout the district participated in March Gladness, donating more than 3,980 hours serving those in need.
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Alternate Pathways to Teacher Certification
Continue to Draw Interest
Do you have an expired teaching certificate and wonder how to renew it? Have you had thoughts about changing careers or re-entering the work force? Are you a military spouse looking for a quicker way to a teaching career, or a college student thinking of changing majors? Maybe you are a parent or guardian of a Puyallup School District student who has observed great things in their classroom and hope to be a part of them? Are you currently a para-educator hoping for 'more'?
Many just like you are learning about Puyallup School District's
Alternate Pathways Certification Program and taking the steps towards becoming a classroom teacher. "Our biggest problem is keeping up with the volume of people interested, and getting them plugged into the right program," said Ailene Baxter, director of human resources, staffing and school support, at the school board meeting on February 22.
Within the next 3 - 5 years, our state will face a significant teacher shortage. Over 10,000 certificated teachers will be needed, and only 1,500 are anticipated to be available from college programs.
In preparation, the district has proactively entered into partnerships with three organizations:
Pacific Lutheran University,
Pierce College, and
Northwest Education Development, to create non-traditional routes to teacher certification. The district is hoping to invest in our community and grow our own teaching force in order to solve the upcoming shortages.
At last Monday's meeting,
School Board President Dane Looker said, "This is a double win for our community because we are being proactive by getting these teachers and filling these spots, but it's also empowering people within our community to aspire for something bigger."
For those interested, an important 'next step' will be to attend 'Candidate Day' on March 15, 2016 at the
Karshner Museum and Center for Culture & Arts.
At 1:30 p.m. there is an opportunity for a bus tour of the school district, led by district leaders. The bus departs from Puyallup High School on 7
th
Street with special parking across the street at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Details will be shared when you reserve your seat. Participants will be dropped off at the Karshner Center at 4:30 p.m. and welcomed by
Superintendent Dr. Tim Yeomans. Many valuable resources will be on hand to answer questions and get the processes started. Elementary and secondary principals will be there to conduct screening interviews (so bring your resume!). Human resources directors and technicians will be available to help with applications. Representatives from the
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will be on hand to help people wade through the certification process, including renewing expired certificates.
Human Resources staff will also be at the following locations this spring:
- Central Washington University, March 2, 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Evergreen State College (Tacoma), March 2, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Seattle University, March 7, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- University of Washington Tacoma, March 16, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- Tacoma Dome, March 24, All Day
- Seattle Pacific University, April 28, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Watch the district's social media for updates, and please help us spread the word!
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Supplemental day for teaching planning
On Wednesday, February 17 district staff participated in professional development activities at their schools. Photos provided by building principals and program directors were shown to directors of the school board at their meeting on February 22. View the slideshow at the link below:
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See what's happening on our social sites:
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Puyallup School District
302 2nd St. SE Puyallup, WA 98372 | Phone: (253) 841-1301 ww.puyallup.k12.wa.us
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Puyallup School District provides equal opportunities in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.
Questions or complaints of alleged discrimination may be directed to:
Puyallup School District
302 2nd Street SE
Puyallup, WA 98372
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