Staff Bulletin | September 29, 2016
District News

Biometric Screenings,
Health Fair Reminder
Biometric screenings will be offered next week at four locations. If these times  conflict with your schedule, you can walk-in to Newman Regional Health  Oct. 10 - 14 . You must tell them you are with the USD253 Wellness Program to receive the free screening.   See details and screening schedule here.

Flu Shots Available
Newman Regional Health with give flu shots starting Monday. See details about requirements and costs here.

Important Deadlines
Today (Sept 30) is the deadline for the following:
  • Open enrollment for optional life insurance through KPERS
  • signing up for the personal illness pool (payroll office)
  • certified staff early notification of resignation or retirement for $1,000 bonus 
Rally for Education
Emporia educators are joining the Alliance to Reclaim our Schools with a walk-in from 7-7:30 am Thursday, Oct. 6 at Emporia High School. The event is open to all staff and interested community members.  The EHS band will play and donuts and coffee will be provided. For more information, contact  Erica Huggard  at EHS. 

Clothing Drive for Students
The annual Community Wide Drive for Student Needs starts Sept. 19 to collect clothing, hygiene products and other items for Emporia students.  See flier for a complete list.
Donations can be taken to Price Chopper, Flinthills Mall, Dillon's, Emporia State Federal Credit Union, and Emporia's Radio Stations through Oct. 14.  The drive is sponsored by the Student & Family Resources Office and all donations will be shared with our schools and offered directly to families. For more information contact  Heather Wagner at 341-2392.
Emporia Board of Education

Personnel Report

Appointments

Chantel Dunn
bus aide, Transportation

Mauricio Santos
Rule 10 boys' asst soccer coach, EHS

Lesley Goodrich
paraeducator/ESL aide, EHS

Karen Myers
paraeducator, EHS

Lindsey Riesselman
paraeducator, Timmerman

Resignations

Andrea Landis
paraeducator, EMS

Sabri VanFossen
bus driver, Transportation

Marisol Arciga
paraeducator, Village

Retirements (5/17)

Cheryl Barton
special education, FHSEC

David Mai
art, EHS

Shirley McCloud
grade 5, Timmerman

Ruth Vilander
gifted education, FHSEC

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#EmporiaProud Moments

Randy Watson Visits Emporia
Commissioner Watson visits Saul Trujillo's kindergarten class at Riverside.
Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson was in Emporia last week to visit schools and meet with the district administrative team and board of education members. Dr. Watson met with Maynard Early Childhood Center teachers before school and visited classrooms at Riverside Elementary. He concluded his visit after talking with principals, assistant principals, district administrators and board members about the importance of early learning, the need to look as learning as a community-wide endeavor that starts at birth. You can hear an interview with Dr. Watson on KVOE.

Emporia Showcase on KVOE
If you missed last week's Emporia Showcase on KVOE, you can still hear the program in the audio archives at KVOE.com.

The September program featured Emporia KTOY nominees Janine Dorr (EMS) and Ashlie Thomas (EHS), JAG specialist Ali Macias (EHS), and seniors Ivan Torres and Elvis Umana.

Emporia Showcase airs on the third Tuesday of each month on KVOE AM 1400 and FM 96.8. Superintendent Kevin Case highlights people and events in the district.
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Preschool Services
Dr. George Abel updated the board on the Mobilizing Literacy Grant that is being used to improve school readiness for preschool children. The district added a 3-year-old classroom at Maynard for 30 students and has established a Mobilizing Literacy Advisory Council. The council is collecting information on the number of preschool slots available in the community and how many are needed to serve all 3 and 4 year olds. Community conversations are being scheduled to raise awareness and determine gaps in service that need to be addressed. Work also is under way to reopen the lending library for parents and child care providers. The Mobilzing Literacy Grant comes from the Jones Trust and is renewable for up to five years. If successful, the grant may be extended. "This is a new area of interest for the Jones Trust and it has potential to impact an entire generation of children," Dr. Abel said.

Enrollment Trends
Dr. Ryan Karjala reviewed the preliminary headcount enrollment for 2016-17. The numbers are not final until audited by KSDE. Preliminary numbers indicate a continued upward trend in enrollment. Overall, elementary and middle school enrollment is down slightly and the increase is with high school enrollment.

Fair Labor Standards Act Changes
Dr. Andy Koenigs reviewed changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act that go into effect Dec. 1. FLSA rules determine who is eligible for overtime pay and who is not. The change does affect some district positions and Dr. Koenigs is meeting with individuals to review their status. Any changes required by the law will not result in a reduction in pay but may qualify more positions for overtime pay.

Other Board Business

The board approved the following:
  • school site council memberships for 2016-17
  • request to let bids for paper supplies
  • IDEA VI-B grant assurances
  Emporia Public Schools
1700 W 7th Ave
Emporia, Kansas 66801