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CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.
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Connections
Maize USD 266 Parent Newsletter - April 2019
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Momentum drives Maize USD 266 forward on important key issues
BY DR. CHAD HIGGINS
Greetings!
As we find ourselves in the final term of our 2018-19 school year, I continue to be excited about the momentum of so many important issues. I would like to update you on those today:
Facilities and growth:
To accommodate the student enrollment growth we continue to experience, manage class sizes, and meet student needs, the district is adding 27 new instructional positions for 2019-20. Recent action by the Kansas Legislature ensures adequate and consistent funding for the next several years and provides the district with the confidence needed to add these teaching positions.
Looking ahead further to our future,
the facility committee continues to review options for a potential bond issue, which may include updates to
Maize High
and
Maize South High
schools, as well as safety and security upgrades and construction of two new intermediate schools for grades 5 and 6.
The committee is considering the option to include an auditorium and swimming pool. Needs also are space for special education and a
Complete High School Maize
storm shelter. A new development is that a legal opinion related to the bond cap imposed by the Kansas Legislature has created a queuing system for districts seeking bond funding approval. This has forced the district to accelerate the timeline to seek approval for a bond election and not risk delaying construction of necessary facilities another year.
I appreciate your ongoing support.
If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, please e-mail facilityplanning@usd266.com.
OneMa1ze, OneVision:
There has been much work with our strategic plan going on across the district in recent weeks and months since our Maize Board of Education approved the plan in November. The chairpersons of our 16 focus teams have been meeting with members who represent various buildings, departments, and perspectives to identify goals and action steps in our following four key areas:
- World-Class Academic Preparation
- Professional, Civic, and Social Development of Students
- High-Quality Employees
- Responsible Operations
We currently have about 100 people involved throughout the district and will continue to engage others. We view this process as an ongoing initiative to make OneMa1ze the best it can be for our students, employees, and community. The overall strategic plan does not have an end date, as the work will continue as needed and as we reach various successes and identify additional needs.
This work continues to represent the vision and desires of our employees and our community, in part as shared via last year’s ThoughtExchange online survey. This work has developed from a plan that initially began to take shape in 2018 thanks to the work and insight from a large, comprehensive group from our greater OneMa1ze school community. Please click on the OneMa1ze, OneVision logo below to access our strategic plan summary sheet.
Thanks to all involved and for your going support of our district.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools
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Your opinion needed in state Parent Perception Survey
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To address needs of current and future students, the Kansas State Board of Education wants to know: How do you as a parent or guardian define success for your child?
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April:
- 17: Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- 18: No school & Parent-Teacher Conferences, noon to 8 p.m.
- 19: No school, Conference Comp Day
May:
- 7: Last day of school for seniors
- 9: Maize South High School graduation, 6:30 p.m., Hartman Arena
- 10: No school, Professional Development Day
- 12: Maize High School graduation, 6:30 p.m., Wichita State University's Koch Arena
- 22: End of term and last day of school
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Reminder:
No school
April 18 & 19
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Maize Board of Education Update
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Student music instrument rental fee, adult school lunch cost to increase in 2019-20 school year while other school fees remain unchanged
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During its regular monthly meeting April 8, the
Maize Board of Education approved curriculum and food service fees for 2019-20. Most fees are unchanged. The fee for use of district-owned musical instruments will increase from $70 to $100 a year to help cover costs, including maintenance. The adult lunch cost will change from $3.60 to $3.75.
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Maize, area districts reviewing possible changes to special education
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Under this plan, which would aim for more efficiency and effectiveness, Maize USD 266 would partner with Renwick USD 267 to form a cooperative. The process has several steps it must clear first, including majority approval by the special education board, which consists of a board of education member from each of the Interlocal’s nine member schools.
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Board members celebrate employees for their life-saving heroism
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In January, Keegan was choking on a chicken nugget during lunch and could not breathe. His heroes took turns administering the Heimlich maneuver until they successfully dislodged the nugget, allowing Keegan to breathe.
Maize South Elementary School Principal Meg Thimmesch told board members that several other people helped, including a classmate who went to get water, students who remained calm, and an employee who called 911.
Keegan’s mother Kristina Dalton, a Maize substitute teacher who was working in the school that day, was present at the board meeting to celebrate the happy ending of a critical situation.
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Maize High School Cheer recognized for ongoing support of veterans
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Maize High School Cheer gave a presentation during the April 8 Maize Board of Education meeting about its ongoing support of Kansas Honor Flight.
This includes themed football games and welcoming veterans home from visits to Washington, D.C. In some cases, they are homecomings veterans never received.
Herb Duncan with Kansas Honor Flight said the students’ patriotic support helps veterans with the healing process.
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Maize High School
Cheer gave a presentation April 8 to the Maize Board of Education about its support of U.S. veterans and the Kansas Honor Flight. Volunteers with the organization attended the meeting and thanked the cheerleaders for their work to raise funds and awareness.
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Next meeting: The
Maize Board of Education meets next at 6 p.m. April 22 with the City of Maize at the Maize Educational Support Center, 905 W. Academy Ave. in Maize. Its next monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. May 13 at the same location. The meetings are open to the public.
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District deploying one:1 Chromebooks in middle schools next year
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In line with the district's five-year technology plan, the Maize Board of Education on April 8 approved the purchase of 2,100 Chromebooks for $420,000 for
Maize Middle and
Maize South Middle schools for one:1 deployment.
As occurred this year with high school students, this will allow the district to pair middle school students with lightweight and affordable laptop-type devices designed primarily with web access and digital sharing in mind.
This is the latest step in the district's ongoing commitment to connect students to the vast world around them with the help of technology and resources. Secondary students then have the opportunity to use district Chromebooks in the classroom and at home to delve deeper into hands-on multimedia learning. The device will accompany the student rather than the student seeking out the device. Our students will have the ability to more easily access creative learning in a variety of formats. The district has worked for years to reach this point, building infrastructure and professional development for teachers to support this move.
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Five Maize schools earn national character education designation
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The award comes from the Flippen Group, which developed the program, which emphasizes teachers' and staff members' connection and relationships with students, as well as social-emotional learning that welcomes openness and acceptance. The award recognizes schools across the country that have demonstrated through the program improvement in attendance, discipline, climate/culture, or academics.
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Teacher named Golden Apple winner
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Celebrating Excellence in Education Award
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Congratulations to the Maize USD 266 2019 Celebrating Excellence in Education winners!
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They have been recognized by their peers and administrators as professionals who use effective strategies for improving student performance, interact positively with parents and patrons in the community to promote education, provide leadership and mentoring to fellow teachers, and work as a team player in the district to provide quality educational experiences for students.
Kristen Dooley and Amy Hammett also have been selected as the district's nominees for the Kansas Department of Education's 2020 Kansas Teacher of the Year.
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Celebrating Excellence in Education Support Staff Awards
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Congratulations to the most recent winners of the Celebrating Excellence in Education Support Staff Awards! The award celebrates Maize USD 266 support staff members for the amazing work they do for the district and its mission of connecting, learning, and leading. This award is intended for any non-teacher employee who works with Maize USD 266 students. Nominees were surprised with a recent visit from Dr. Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools, at their workplaces.
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Also pictured from left: Dr. Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools; and
Maize High School
Principal Dr. Chris Botts
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Also pictured are
Maize South High School
Principal Dave Hickerson, Director of Technology Clark Fichtl, Dr. Higgins, and Maize USD 266 technology staff members
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Bus Driver Karen Znamenak
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Also pictured: Director of Transportation Becky Andrews,
Maize South Elementary School
Reading Interventionist Shelly Jennings (who nominated Karen), Dr. Higgins, and student passengers
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Maize Education Foundation Update
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Spring Breakfast event raises more than $14,000 to support USD 266
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A huge thank you to everyone who attended, sponsored, and/or supported the March 28 inaugural Maize Education Foundation Spring Breakfast event, which raised more than $14,000 to support educators and students!
It was a special morning with friends new and old as we celebrated successes and partnerships, honored a dear friend, and challenged OneMa1ze to continue to work together toward what is best for our students.
Guests enjoyed breakfast provided by the
Maize Career Academy
Culinary Arts program, met the students and teacher who make the
Complete High School Maize
General Store possible, and listened to Foundation Executive Director Travis Bloom; Dr. Chad Higgins, Maize USD 266 Superintendent of Schools; and Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education.
Thank you also to the students who helped create such wonderful and clever centerpieces for the inaugural event.
We'd like to recognize and thank these major sponsors:
- Presenting Sponsor Hutton
- Gold Sponsor Textron Aviation
- Buffet Sponsor Credit Union of America
- Red Sponsor City of Maize
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Kansas Commissioner of Education visits Maize USD 266 schools
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Thank you to Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, for speaking at the
Maize Education Foundation
inaugural Spring Breakfast March 28 and then visiting Maize USD 266 schools and speaking with employees and students!
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Maize South High School this school year received a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas' Habits for Life program to create the new Mav-lows Calming Room at the school. It is a multi-purpose space for students to cope with stresses or anxiety, regulate their emotions, and return to the classroom, ready to learn.
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Interested in joining our Maize Schools team? Many openings are part-time jobs with full-time benefits, including:
- Group health insurance
- Summers off
- Fall, Winter, and Spring break off
- No evenings or weekends
- Bonuses
Maize USD 266 also is looking for:
Come and work in our OneMa1ze community, supported by parents, graduates, and Maize and Northwest Wichita. This would be a great opportunity to participate in the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System.
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The mission of the Maize School District
is to inspire students to discover their potential through
connecting, learning, and leading.
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