Staff Bulletin |May 24, 2019
The board recognized Walnut Elementary for receiving Enhanced Spotlight Recognition for implementing the Bee Hive to strengthen social-emotional character development
The board recognized Village Elementary for receiving the Capturing Kids Hearts National Showcase Award for 2018-2019
--------------------------
Follow our #EmporiaProud stories on
Facebook Emporia Public Schools and on Twitter @Emporia253
District News
Technology Alert:
We have had some active scam attempts where the caller requests access to your computer as they are working with our technology department.  If you receive these calls please disregard them and hang up.  If you have further questions contact the technology department at  [email protected]

Reminders from Payroll:
  • employees requesting lump-sum checks, payments will be made June 28
  • employees making Section 125 changes for the summer need to notify the Business Office by June 1, 2019
  • If you need to update your direct deposit account, those changes must be made in person with payroll at Mary Herbert Education Center. For security reasons, these changes cannot be made by phone or email. Please contact Erica Markley 341-2428 or Stephanie Morgan 341-2228 if you have any questions.
Reminders from Human Resources:
June 1:
  • beginning penalty period for late resignations
  • staff members resigning on the last statutory day to resign shall pay the district $500
  • any staff member resigning after the last statutory day to resign shall pay an additional $25 per day until the written resignation is received in the central office
July 1:
  • staff members resigning on July 1st shall pay the district $2000
  • any staff member resigning after July 1st shall pay an additional $50 per day until the written resignation is received in the central office
August 1:
  • staff members resigning on or after August 1st and thereafter shall pay the district $5000

Earn $250 by referring a new bus driver:
Emporia Public Schools needs bus drivers for the 2019-20 school year. This is a perfect opportunity for people who may be retired or want flexibility in their schedule and school days off. USD 253 employees can earn a $250 referral bonus when new bus drivers include the district employee's name on their employment application.  The $250 referral bonus will arrive after the driver has been on the job for six months. Additionally, new drivers will receive a $250 bonus on their first paycheck and another $250 bonus once training and CDL endorsement are complete.   For more information contact Amy Larson at 620-341- 2330. Click here to apply!

Blue Cross Blue Shield Employee Benefit:

Mental Health Awareness Month:
May is mental health month, and New Directions, our employee assistance program, offers a variety of resources and key information. Click here for your resource guide.

Preschool Enrollment:
Preschool enrollment continues for Emporia Public Schools.  Simply go online to www.usd253.org to print the application for 3 or 4-year-old students and return it to Maynard Early Childhood Center.  Also, stop by Maynard at 19 Constitution to 
fill out an application from 
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday. Call 341-2260 if you have questions.

District Events
Save the Date:
Mark your calendars and make plans to attend the 2019-2020 Back-to-School Convocation and Breakfast, August 12, 2019 at 7:30 am, located at Emporia High School. This will be an exciting time that you won't want to miss including a professional keynote speaker, prizes, and lots of food. 

Mary Herbert Education Center: 
Summer hours will start on June 3rd, and will be  7:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday-Thursday. 

Crayons for Kids:
If you are planning to discard old crayons at the end of the school year,  please consider donating them to Communities in Schools.  Click here for more information.

Kindergarten Ramp-Up:
If you know of children who will be attending kindergarten this fall and they did not attend preschool, please encourage their parents to sign them up for Kindergarten Ramp-Up. Kindergarten Ramp-up will be held July 22-26, at Riverside, William Allen White, and Village. Two sessions will be offered: one from 10:00 am - 11:45 am and a second session from  12:15 pm - 2:00 pm.  To register, contact your student's school of attendance for fall 2019.

Appointments:
Brian Smith
teacher, Riverside

Bianey Dorantes
teacher aide, Flint Hills Learning Center

Audrey Ibarra
paraeduactor, Timmerman Elementary

Brittany Barnard
special education, Emporia High School

Dacey Telfer
behavior support specialist, Riverside

Kendra Bloomquist
assistant principal, Emporia High School

Resignations:
Jennifer Casey
school psychologist, Flint Hills Special Education Cooperative

Mindy Clark
special education, Village Elementary

Sarah Second
K-2 primary teacher, William Allen White/Turning Point Academy

Jennifer Sandoval
special education, William Allen White

Bailey Davis
grade 1, Timmerman

Laurinda Raney
computer applications, Emporia Middle School

Retirement:
Frances Wecker
science, Emporia High School

Sabbatical:
Joann McRell
instructional coach, Emporia Middle School

Find Emporia Public Schools on Facebook
 
Follow Emporia Public Schools on Twitter


Board Approvals:
  • minutes from May 8, 2019 
  • treasurer's report for April 2019 
  • donation of $2,041.04 from Village PTO to Village Elementary to pay for transportation costs for student field trip 
  • donation of $15,000 from the Jane and Bernard Reeble Foundation to provide basic necessities for students in need 
  • price increase of five-cents for breakfast and ten-cents for lunch for the 2019-2020 school year 
  • the low bid from Central Equipment to install a bus lift in the Transportation Department service and repair shop 
  • $45,000 grant from the Jones Foundation to be used to fund Camp Hope, an extended school year program for students with autism.

Board Information:
  • Dr. Ryan Karjala, Associate Director of Assessment and Accountability presented a summary from the recent visit from the Outside Visitation Team. The presentation provided feedback on Emporia Schools' year three Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) and offered recommendations for year four. OVT Report
  • Emporia Schools continues to work with HTK Architects to discuss details relating to the upcoming bond elections. Topics currently being discussed include:

Future Board Calendar Dates:
  • Friday, May 24, 2019, 8:00 a.m., Logan Avenue Assembly, Logan Avenue Elementary School 
  • Wednesday, June 12, 2019, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center 
  • Wednesday, June 26, 2019, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center

Members of The Emporia Board of Education

  Emporia Public Schools
1700 W 7th Ave
Emporia, Kansas 66801