District News:
Technology Acceptable Use Policy:
On September 22, the board approved a new Acceptable Use Policy that will need to be reviewed and signed off on each year by all staff members. Please read the full Acceptable Use Policy and complete the Google Form. A link to the AUP is also embedded in the form.
|
General Election:
All staff members are encouraged to vote before or after their scheduled work time. However, if that is not possible, please work with your principal or supervisor to determine a suitable time for you to exercise your right to vote. Please use the following information for voting in the Tuesday, November 2, general election for city commission and school board races.
Personal Illness Pool:
The deadline to start your involvement in the Personal Illness Pool is Monday, November 1. All employees on contract or work agreement are eligible to participate. Please take a minute to check your status in Skyward. If you are already participating in the pool, it will remain in effect as long as you are with USD 253, unless you inform the Payroll Office that you no longer wish to participate. New staff for the 2021-2022 school year had the opportunity to enroll in the Personal Illness Pool as part of their new employee paperwork. If you did so, you will not yet be able to see the Personal Illness Pool box displaying "yes" in your Skyward Employee Access. Anyone not participating and wanting to join should notify Payroll by November 1. Click here for a tutorial that shows you how to go onto Employee Access and see if you are currently enrolled in the Personal Illness Pool. If you have questions, email Amy Larson at amy.larson@usd253.net, Stephanie Morgan at stephanie.morgan@usd253.net.
Early Resignation/Retirement Notification Incentive:
Any licensed teacher who has worked greater than two years in USD 253 who is planning to resign or retire at the end of the school year is eligible to receive an early notification stipend.
A written resignation or retirement notice must be submitted to the assistant superintendent of Human Resources. Stipends will be awarded according to the timetable below at the end of the contract year.
Written notification received by:
- November 1st would receive $750
- December 1st would receive $500
- January 1st would receive $250
For additional information please see the master contract.
District Event:
Athletic event tickets for staff:
A reminder that your staff ID will get you and a guest into district athletic events. If you have not yet had your photo taken, please do so on the picture retake day scheduled for your building.
- Emporia High School/FHLC - October 28
- Emporia Middle - October 29
- Maynard - November 15
- Riverside - November 16
- Timmerman, Village, WAW, Walnut - November 19
- Logan Avenue - November 23
Student and Family Resources Clothing Drive:
Student and Family Resources is collecting donations for the annual clothing drive. Please bring new or gently used clothing items to the Flinthills Mall, back entrance by the Cinema, or front entrance between Claire's and Bling until November 1st. In addition, there is a tan shed for donation drop-offs anytime, located behind EHS back by Food Service. It is in the far NW corner of the gravel directly behind the bleachers. With the pandemic and all of the financial struggles that have accompanied it, there is an overwhelming need for Kid’s clothing of all sizes this year, especially winter coats. Thank you for your donation and for helping serve the students and families of our district. If you have questions, please Contact Heather Wagner at heather.wagner@usd253.net.
Flu Shots:
Once again flu shots will be available throughout the district. Contact the school secretary or school nurse of the location of where you would like to receive your shot.
|
Logan Avenue 5K Fun Run & Virtual Run:
Logan Avenue Elementary is hosting their 3rd Annual Running with the Lions 5k on Saturday, October 23. In-person and virtual options are available. There is still time to sign-up however t-shirts are no longer guaranteed. Any questions can be sent to Emily Joplin emily.joplin@usd253.net
Timmerman Howl-O-Ween Costume Contest:
Timmerman Elementary is having its 7th annual dog costume contest on Tuesday, October 26, at 5:45 pm. The contest will be held on the back patio at Timmerman. If you would like to enter your dog, please turn your registration and $10 entry fee in to the office. Your paid registration fee provides you with a picture of yourself with your dog and a dog treat. Money raised will be donated to FEAS which will provide assistance to the community and shelter animals. The contest will be canceled if there is inclement weather.
Walnut Turkey Dash:
The 11th Annual Walnut Turkey Day Dash is just around the corner! It will still be happening this year, but virtually. What does a virtual race mean? Our virtual fun run/walk will take place between Wednesday, November 24th, and Sunday, November 28th. Pick a time that works best for you during our racing window and then you will run the course on your own! We will be using the same course as last year (see the map attached). For those of you that are out of town and aren't able to drive in, you may participate by running or walking a 5k course of your choice in your location. If you have ever wanted to do the Walnut Turkey Day Dash and couldn't because it landed on Thanksgiving Day, now you have more dates to take part in the fun tradition and flat course. Click here to register. Click here to view the course.
|
|
Third-grade students in Mrs. Forbis’s class at Walnut Elementary enjoyed participating in the Safari Adventure Day at the David Traylor Zoo.
|
Board Approvals:
- minutes of September 22, 2021
- fiscal payments
- donation of $938.00 from Zoetis to EHS Future Farmers of America to offset the cost of supplies
- donation of $500.00 from Eagle 4LLC to EHS swimming to offset the cost of posters
- donation of $850.00 from Camso Manufacturing Company to EHS Cheer for morning activities
- donation of a used iPad Pro 12 with pen and tripod and $400 for a subscription to Matboss to EHS Women's Wrestling to film their matches
- participation in the National Clean Diesel Rebate Program 2021 School Bus Replacement and Retrofit Funding Opportunity, $40,000 ($20,000 for each bus)
- Memorandum of Agreement for 2021-2022 by and between USD 253 and the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center Interlocal No. 609, participation in the Parents at Teachers consortium
- Memorandum of Understanding for the illness pool and increase the district paid health insurance fringe from $402 to $450 per month
- Bumblebees as the new mascot for the Jones Early Childhood Development Center
-
Memorandum of Understanding to change the language of the illness pool definition of “extraordinary circumstance” to include COVID-related events, individuals have until November 1, 2021, to donate to the illness pool to be eligible for the illness pool, MOU sunsets on the last day of the contract 6/30/22 Click here to view the MOU Illness Pool
- increase the district paid health insurance fringe from $402 to $450 per month
- premium pay for staff using ESSER II funds, guidelines for premium pay include:
- actively employed from 11/10/2021 to 2/23/2021 - $500.00
- actively employed less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $250.00
- starting after 11/10/2021 - $200.00
- staff hired after 11/10/2021 for less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $100.00
- stipends will be paid to certified and classified on March 15, 2022, and administrators on April 1, 2022
- actively Employed from 2/24/2022 to Last Day of School - $500.00
- actively Employed less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for Classified) will receive $250.00
- starting after 2/24/2022 - $200.00
- staff hired for less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $100.00
- staff hired after 2/24/2022 for less than .5 FTE (less than 20 hrs for classified) will receive $100.00
- stipends will be paid to certified and classified on June 15, 2022, and administrators on July 1, 2022
Board Discussions:
Student Academic Achievement Report (FastBridge):
Mrs. Judy Stanley, Interim Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Ryan Karjala, Associate Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, provided an academic report on the recent FastBridge assessments in reading and math. The data reported, shows that a large number of students at both the elementary and secondary level are at some risk or high risk in both assessed academic areas. The district plans to identify additional resources and increase the level of continuity in teaching methods from each grade level and school to help combat the learning loss that students have experienced.
FastBridge meets the requirements for screening students for characteristics of dyslexia in reading as well as screening information in Math. The FastBridge assessment replaces MAP testing that has been used by the district in the past. Click here to view the FastBridge presentation
COVID Update:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, and Dr. Brad Kempf, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, provided the board with updated information regarding the latest community COVID-19 trends and reviewed the district COVID-19 dashboard. Based on the current trends, the COVID Advisory Committee recommended continuing with the current Board of Education approved protocols. Board members had a discussion regarding possible changes in the district’s current mask policy but ultimately decided to make no changes to the policy at this time. Click here to view the COVID presentation
Construction Update:
Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager provided updates on the district’s construction projects. Walnut Elementary is basically complete with the exception of renovations to the final three classrooms which will be completed by the end of the year. The State Fire Marshal has added some additional requirements at Walnut which McCownGordan is reviewing with the HTK Architects team. Emporia High School is 55% complete while the Jones Early Childhood Development Center is 75% complete.
At EHS, students and staff are enjoying the Music and Art rooms which have been completed while work continues on the pool area and Science wing. Both EHS and Jones are on schedule and anticipated to be completed in October of 2022 and January of 2022 respectively. Upcoming projects include Logan Avenue which has a tentative mobilization date of November 1st, followed by Emporia Middle School and Village Elementary. Click here to view the construction presentation.
Future Board Calendar Dates:
- Wednesday, October 20, 2021, 5:15 p.m., Strategic Planning Meeting, Bowyer Building @ Lyon County Fairgrounds
- Wednesday, October 27, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 5:15 p.m., Strategic Planning Meeting, Bowyer Building @ Lyon County Fairgrounds
- November 5-7, 2021, Kansas Association of School Board Annual Convention, Overland Park Convention Center
- Wednesday, November 10, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Wednesday, December 8, 2021, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
|
Appointments:
Brenda Heins
payroll clerk, Mary Herbert Education Center
Liberty Belote
assistant debate/forensics coach, Emporia High School
Logan Herrera
paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary
Joscelyn Urschel
assistant cook, Food Service
Elsa Flores
teacher aide/child care provider, Flint Hills Learning Center
Erica Cammarn
paraeducator (speech), Riverside Elementary
Jaime Diaz-Minon
AVID tutor, Emporia High School
C. Eli O’Farrell
paraeducator, Maynard Early Childhood Center
Robert Herrera Contreras
teacher aide, Emporia Middle School
Jessica Wilson
paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary
Mark Bueno
custodian, Emporia High School
Abigail Haas
paraeducator (speech), Timmerman Elementary and Emporia High School
Resignations:
Taylor Stuart,
food Service, Logan Avenue Elementary
Lacey Rodriquez
teacher aide/office aide, Timmerman Elementary
Melissa Mejia
paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary and Emporia High School
Milagros Rodriguez
teacher aide, Flint Hills Learning Center
Bailey Stines
paraeducator, Emporia Middle School
Isabel Slate
paraeducator, USD 253, Olpe Elementary
Jason Hart
bus driver/maintenance, Transportation
Paul Rangel
bus driver, Transportation
Elizabeth Cline
grade 8 math, Emporia Middle School
Hanna Anderson
grade 3, Timmerman Elementary
Stephanie Perez
kindergarten, Riverside Elementary
Jace Wilson
special education, Riverside Elementary
Retirement:
Cindy Krisman
paraeducator, Emporia Middle School
Curtis Simons
athletic director/assistant principal, Emporia High School
Jeanette Sliter
early childhood special education, Maynard Early Childhood Center
Tamara Torrens
instructional coach, Logan Avenue Elementary
|
|