Staff Bulletin | August 24, 2017
District News

Important Reminders

* September 1 is the deadline for several items of note. Certificates of ESL endorsements for October bonuses are due as well as verification of hours, degrees, endorsements or transcripts that may lead to additional pay or changes in your placement on the salary schedule. Please see Fiscal and Bookkeeping Clerk Kathy Dreier or email kathy.dreier@usd253.net with questions.

* Labor Day is September 4. There will be no classes that day.

Emporia Board of Education

Personnel Report

Appointments

Logan Redeker
Teacher aide, Flint Hills Learning Center

Dee Ann Magathan
Paraeducator, Village Elementary

Felicia Edson
Paraeducator, Village Elementary

Marilu Avila
Paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary

Alex Lundry
Teacher aide, Village Elementary

Riley Lane
Paraeducator, Logan Avenue Elementary

Erica Cammarn
Paraeducator/aide, Logan Avenue Elementary

Jennifer Sandoval
Paraeducator, Logan Avenue Elementary

Kristi Carter
Paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary

Alice Brandon
Paraeducator, Riverside Elementary

Kassandra Gonzalez
Teacher aide, Riverside Elementary

Tiara Hansel
Paraeducator, Riverside Elementary

MaKenna Lane
Paraeducator, Maynard Early Childhood Center

Corlene Miller
Bus paraeducator, Transportation

Genesis Gonzalez
Paraeducator, Neosho Rapids Elementary

Hanna Anderson
Paraeducator, Olpe Elementary

Emily Crabtree
Paraeducator, Emporia Middle School

William Austin
Teacher aide, Walnut Elementary

Kalese Warfield
Rule 10 coach - Debate/Forensics, Emporia High School

Ashley Mendoza
Paraeducator, Olpe Elementary

Tarra Machado
Rule 10 coach - Gymnastics, Emporia High School

Angela Nunley
Title I services provider, Sacred Heart

Resignations

Cathy Kingery
Paraeducator, Madison Elementary

Crystal Sanders
MIS Clerk, Mary Herbert Education Center

Toni Delgadillo
Paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary

Retirement

Bonnie Morrow
Paraeducator, Council Grove High School

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1700 W 7th Ave
Emporia, Kansas 66801

Moments

History in the Sky


* Students and staff across the district experienced the solar eclipse Monday. Kids venturing outside could watch the event using special eclipse glasses or pinhole projectors. Students inside, meanwhile, could watch on TV or online to learn more about the event. Several classes also had additional projects or learning activities linked to the eclipse. Some classes are donating their special eyewear to different organizations so schools in Asia and South America can watch the next solar eclipse on July 2, 2019.
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Board Business
 
The Board of Education held a budget review. Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Rob Scheib led the workshop on the proposed 2017-18 budget estimate and gave a history of district funding over the past decade. Scheib also discussed changes in the funding formula, base state aid per pupil and special needs funding that were approved by lawmakers this spring and are awaiting approval from the Kansas Supreme Court.

As a separate but related agenda item, the board approved publication in the Emporia Gazette of a notice of public hearing for the 2017-18 budget to be held September 6 at 7 pm at Mary Herbert during a special board meeting.
 
In other business, the board:
  • Approved the treasurer's report.
  • Received updates on summer maintenance and technology projects at each USD 253 school or facility.
  • Approved a memorandum of understanding between Emporia High School and CrossWinds Counseling and Wellness for case management services and therapeutic interventions.
  • Approved a memorandum of agreement between the district and Flint Hills Technical College for concurrent enrollment at FHTC and Emporia High.
  • Approved a partnership between Logan Avenue Elementary and the Kansas Masonic Foundation to begin the Kansas Masonic Literacy Center at the school.
Working After Retirement

If you are considering retirement but want to continue working in a KPERS-affiliated position, click here to see all the rules that govern educators who want to "Work After Retirement" in KPERS-affiliated jobs. While the link explains the law in full, a few highlights include:
  • There is a mandatory 12.01 percent reduction in the first $25,000 in pay for 2018 (the percentage is adjusted yearly by KPERS). After earning $25,000, KPERS requires a 30 percent penalty on all earnings. These penalty payments are paid by the employee, not the employer, and come directly out of employee earnings.
  • Earnings do not impact your KPERS retirement calculations.
  • If you are under age 62 and retire after January 1, 2018, you must wait 180 days before working in a KPERS position. The wait is 60 days if you are age 62 or older. Districts must sign off that there have been no pre-arrangements for work after retirement positions, so district office staff cannot discuss future employment options with retirees until after the 180/60 day waiting period.
  • If employees choose to retire and accept the USD 253 early retirement benefit, they can only return to USD 253 as a Rule 10 coach, adjunct faculty, substitute teacher or classified position.
Choosing when to retire and what possibilities exist after retiring can be confusing. Please contact MHEC for more information that may apply to your unique situation.

In Addition

* License renewals from the Kansas State Department of Education are currently taking six to eight weeks to process.  Please plan accordingly by checking My Learning Plan to see when your license may expire and begin renewing your credentials three to six months before the expiration date.

* The United Way of the Flint Hills started the Pacesetters portion of its annual fundraising campaign. Building captains have been chosen and will be contacting you in the next few weeks. Donations benefit around 20 community partner agencies in Lyon County, all surrounding counties and Woodson County.