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CONNECTING.
LEARNING.
LEADING.
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Connections
Maize USD 266 Parent Newsletter - September 2019
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Thanks to community support, district begins work on bond projects, making a bright vision a reality for all students
BY DR. CHAD HIGGINS
Greetings!
Beyond the green light to pursue these much-needed projects, the bond election results also demonstrate the general support our OneMa1ze community has for our students, schools, and goals. In fact, the support came at an unprecedented level that set a record for Maize USD 266 in its bond election history dating back more than 40 years. That message energizes our employees, students, and families in a way that further encourages us to strive to be the best school district we can be.
We are forming teams to study design options for our two intermediate schools, with plans for them to hold 5th- and 6th-grade students beginning in the 2021-22 school year. The tight timeline will allow us to add space to relieve crowding as soon as possible in our five elementary schools and two middle schools. Additional teams will explore the new indoor pool-auditorium facility.
On Sept. 9, our
Maize Board of Education members approved bond project locations on district-owned land. The south intermediate school for fifth- and sixth-grade Mavericks will be on 37th Street North west of
Maize Early Childhood Center. The north intermediate school for fifth- and sixth-grade Eagles will be on 45th Street North west of 119th Street. The pool-auditorium will be at the southeast corner of Academy Avenue and 119th Street. I cannot wait to watch these projects take shape. Board members also voted to pursue a Construction Manager at Risk to be a contractor on bond projects, a process Maize USD 266 used in our last two bond issues.
Another vital element of the passing of the bond issue is the financial flexibility the district will have to responsibly address other ongoing maintenance and improvements, deferred projects, and any emergencies that may pop up unexpectedly, such as those related to storm damage or failed HVAC units. Maize USD 266 will proceed in efforts to continue to provide our students and employees with an ideal learning environment.
Fortunately, it also looks as if the market likely will be in our favor when we sell bonds for this bond issue, which sets up the district for success with projects and debt services.
On behalf of our employees and school board, thank you for your ongoing support and for joining us in believing in a limitless future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools
chiggins@usd266.com
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Parent-Teacher Conferences
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Parent-teacher conferences are just around the corner. Please note the following. Parents may contact their child's school if they have any related questions.
- Sept. 25: Conferences from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (School is in session for all grades except Maize Early Childhood Center, which will have no school. Their conferences will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.)
- Sept. 26: No school, conferences from noon to 8 p.m.
- Sept. 27: No school
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October:
- 17: End of term
- 18: No school, Professional Development Day
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Maize Board of Education Update
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Tax rate remains flat, competitive for 2019-20 district budget
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Maize Board of Education members during their Aug. 12 budget hearing approved the 2019-20 budget. The tax rate remains flat at 58.8 mills, competitive with area districts. The budget includes employee compensation increases reflected in current contracts.
There was a change regarding the Supplemental General Fund, also known as the Local Option Budget (LOB): The district faces a reduction in special education state aid, which means special education is underfunded and the district must make up the gap. To balance the budget, board members approved an LOB percentage increase from 30 to 32.08. To keep the tax rate flat, the board approved a change to Capital Outlay. The changes are not directly related to the bond issue, salary increases, or other budget components.
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- Student Handbook: During their August meeting, board members approved two changes to the 2019-20 District Student Handbook to update the carpooling policy and the homework/make-up assignment policy. Please click here to access the updated handbook.
- Next meetings: The Maize Board of Education meets next for a special meeting at 7 a.m. Sept. 23. Its next regular monthly meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 14. Both meetings are at the Maize Educational Support Center, 905 W. Academy Ave. The meetings are open to the public.
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Four Board of Education seats to be on Nov. 5 General Election ballot
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Voters will consider four Maize Board of Education seats during the Nov. 5 General Election. The last day to register to vote to participate in that election is Oct. 15.
Please click here to check whether you are registered to vote. Members of the Maize Board of Education are volunteer elected leaders who set school policy and help guide the district's vision. Your vote and your voice matter.
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See something? Say something! Speak Up! tip portal can help
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Safety is a top priority for Maize USD 266, and Speak Up! is a tool in conjunction with the Crime Stoppers in Schools program in Sedgwick County that accepts anonymous tips to help keep students and schools safe.
Click here to check it out.
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- School yearbooks: For parents who would like to purchase a yearbook this year, you may do so online via Skyward Family Access through Sept. 30. After that date, you have the option to purchase a yearbook through the vendor your school uses. Please direct any related questions to your child's school. Thank you.
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Use of student information in media, district publications, and social media: Deadline to opt out Oct. 23
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Information that may be shared with the news media or used in district publications or on district social media platforms, including official Maize USD 266 district
Facebook and
Twitter, is limited to participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, school activities, honors and awards received, grade level, and photographs.
Parents/guardians have the right to refuse or permit the designation of any or all of the above information for use in the media or in district publications (via both print and digital platforms), including official district social media accounts. Parents/guardians who do not want this information published must file written notification with Lori O'Toole Buselt, Director of Communications, Maize USD 266, 905 W. Academy Ave, Maize, KS 67101 by Oct. 23, 2019. If a parent does not file a refusal, Maize USD 266 assumes the parent to have no objection to the release of the above information for media or district publicity purposes.
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Educators celebrated at regional Kansas Teacher of the Year event
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Kansas Teacher of the Year is a program of the
Kansas State Department of Education
. It recognizes excellent teachers in classrooms across Kansas and builds a network of educators who are leaders in sc
hool improvement and student performance. Congratulations!
Top, from left:
Maize South Elementary School Assistant Principal Carrie Thrash, nominee Kristin Dooley, Principal Meg Thimmesch, and Dr. Chad Higgins, Superintendent of Schools.
Bottom:
Maize High School teacher and nominee Amy Hammett with Dr. Chris Botts, principal, and students.
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National Merit Semifinalists
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Congratulations to
Maize South High School
students
Ashley Pritchard
and
Jillian Tung
, named 2020 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists!
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Teachers selected as district's Horizon Award nominees
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The award recognizes exemplary new teachers in classrooms across Kansas.
The teachers were surprised in their classrooms recently with the news of their nomination.
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Teacher wins classroom grant
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Congratulations to
Maize South High School
teacher
Chris Morrison
, recipient of a Credit Union of America TGIF classroom grant. His grant for $500 is for Teaching Sustainable Gardening to the Next Generation. He is pictured with Credit Union of America's Tosha Klein and
Maize South High School
Principal Dave Hickerson. Special thanks to Credit Union of America.
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Eagles, Mavericks spread kindness across OneMa1ze
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Maize High Sept. 11 Service Day
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Maize South group lends a hand
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On Sept. 7,
Maize South High School CACOW students volunteered for the ICT SOS Race 4 Freedom. Proceeds benefit local groups that work with children who have been exploited.
CACOW stands for Community Adjuvabit Club of Wichita, and members participate in a variety of charitable activities.
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OneMa1ze Community Engagement Night
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On Sept. 10,
Maize South Middle School
hosted its OneMa1ze Community Engagement Night resource fair. The free event featured representatives from more than 50 businesses and organizations in the community, including those related to educational assistance, emotional health, family assistance, safety, and post-secondary education. The evening included food and carnival games. Thanks to all who were involved!
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New Teacher Feature:
Ashley De La Torre
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Meet
Maize High School
graduate
Ashley De La Torre
, who returns to Maize USD 266 as a
Maize South High School
Spanish teacher. She taught at Maize High and Maize South High schools from 2009 to 2011 and is happy to be back "home."
She lived in Mexico for four years, which gave her insight into language-learning and a unique perspective that she can share with our students.
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Maize Education Foundation
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Annual Golf Tournament raises nearly $40,000 for students, district
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On Aug. 19, 120
golfers teed off for the Maize Education Foundation's 11th Annual Golf Tournament, presented by
Hutton
and hosted at Reflection Ridge Golf Club. Thirty teams
and more than 50 sponsors helped raise nearly $40,000 to support the students and educators of Maize USD 266.
Thank you to everyone who made it a success! The event's proceeds fund grants and educational opportunities for students and employees.
Please click here to learn more about the Maize Education Foundation.
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Do you know a deserving Maize USD 266 student in grades 7 through 12? Please encourage them to apply for a Maize Education Foundation grant of up to $500 to assist with costs of a variety of enrichment activities, including leadership seminars, educational camps, national competitions, and more. Applications are due at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16.
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Student Enrichment Grant Application Workshop:
The Foundation is offering a free workshop for students interested in accessing coaching for the Student Enrichment Grant applications. The event is 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 9 in the Commons of
Maize South Middle School
, 3403 N. Tyler Road in Wichita.
For more information, click here.
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New! Improved salaries and benefits
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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
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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