District News:
COVID Vaccine Boosters:
We have been notified that the community vaccination clinics the district emailed information out about yesterday are already full. With that in mind, you are encouraged to contact your health care provider, the health department, or local pharmacy to schedule a vaccine booster appointment. If additional community clinics are scheduled, we will provide the information to all staff by email.
- Certified staff may use short leave as outlined in the Master Agreement to receive the booster. Classified staff will be allowed to use short emergency leave to receive the booster. Staff are reminded to follow their principals’ or directors’ procedure for this leave. It is important to stagger times to allow for proper coverage at school; therefore, work with your principal/director before signing up if you are using short or short emergency leave.
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Click here for additional booster and vaccination information.
Insurance Reminder:
November 30th is the last day changes can be made for insurance elections for the 2022 plan year which is effective January 1, 2022. American Fidelity is meeting with employees face-to-face in each building. If you need to make a change after the American Fidelity representative has completed your building's enrollment please contact Melissa Vogts melissa.vogts@usd253.net.
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:
- Nov. 1st would receive $750
- Dec. 1st would receive $500
- Jan. 1st would receive $250
For additional information please see the master contract.
District Events:
Theatre Performances:
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EMS will present The Audition at EMS on Friday, Oct. 29th.
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EHS Theatre will present Fools on Friday and Saturday, November 19th and 20th.
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.
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.
- EMS - Oct. 29
- Maynard - Nov.15
- Riverside - Nov. 16
- Timmerman, Village, WAW, Walnut - Nov. 19
- Logan Avenue - Nov. 23
Student and Family Resources Clothing Drive:
Student and Family Resources 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 children'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 heather.wagner@usd253.net.
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Emporia High School Theatre students are busy preparing for their fall production of Fools! Fools is a comedy play that showcases an array of hilarious ensemble characters and a leading cast of a family that warms the heart. Tickets are available for November 19th and 20th at 7:00 PM by contacting Kacie Hastings. kacie.hastings@usd253.net
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Board Approvals:
- minutes of October 13, 2021
- minutes of October 20, 2021
- treasurer’s report for September 2021
- donation of $1,000 from Witten Construction to the Spartan Stop to support student needs
- donation of $500 from Cheryl Jamison to the Spartan Stop to support student needs
- 2021-2022 school site council membership
- dispose of district surplus via internet auctions
- $253,859 to address the improvements outlined by the state fire marshal to be taken out of the bond master budget
- list of students receiving remote instruction exceeding 40 hours due to COVID-19 and/or extraordinary circumstances
Board Updates:
District Enrollment Report:
Dr. Ryan Karjala, Associate Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, reviewed the district's enrollment and various demographic trends over the past several years. The district has seen a steady decrease in enrollment, however this year there was a slight increase. Additionally, since the 20th day reporting period, the district has had 37 new students enroll with very few students leaving the district during that same time. Karjala also pointed out that kindergarten enrollment numbers continue to drop. Last year there were 280 kindergarten students enrolled as compared to only 260 this year. This is a result of lower birth rates in Lyon county which continue to decrease. As the birth rate declines, so will likely the district's enrollment with fewer students coming to school. Click here to review the enrollment trends presentation
COVID Report:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, Dr. Brad Kempf, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and Jennifer Arndt, Director of Health Services, provided the board with updated information regarding the latest community COVID-19 trends, vaccine status reviews, and a look at the district COVID-19 dashboard. All three reported little to no change in any of the COVID categories over the past two weeks. Based on the current trends, the COVID Advisory Committee recommended continuing with the current Board of Education approved protocols. Anderson-Harder also shared that the COVID Advisory committee will begin meeting only once a month, unless changes in COVID warrant meeting more frequently. Click here to review the COVID presentation.
Construction Update:
Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager, provided information to the board regarding the construction at Walnut Elementary as it relates to requests from the state fire marshal. Due to a personnel change, a new state fire marshal provided the final walk-through and added requirements to bring the entire building up to current fire code. The changes will result in an additional expense of $253,859.00 and were not requested from the original state fire marshal. Woltje also reviewed the overall bond budget status and even with the additional expense at Walnut there is still over $330,000 available in the current master budget for the bond. Click here to review the construction presentation
District Capital Outlay Plan:
Rob Scheib, Assistant Superintendent of Business, reviewed the historical spending of the district Capital Outlay budget and the projected use for the next several years. Each year approximately $3 million is spent on district expenses including such items as building roofs, buses, technology, bonds, and classroom equipment and furnishings.
Future Board Calendar Dates:
- 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
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Appointments:
Dusty Hurley
paraeducator, 252 Olpe Elementary
Megan Alexander
paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary
Leslie Bond
school nurse, Maynard Early Childhood Center
Resignations:
Jennifer Hart
bus driver, Transportation
Lauren Bond
paraeducator, USD 417 Council Grove Elementary
Alejandra Dominguez
paraeducator, Maynard Early Childhood Center
Ahtziri Roetzer
teacher aide, Emporia High School
Makenzy Hearn
special education, Village Elementary
Kylie White
grade 1, William Allen White Elementary
Offer Rescinded:
Jessica Wilson
paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary
Retirement:
Regena Wysocki
paraeducator, Emporia High School
Shely Perez
family and consumer science teacher, Emporia Middle School
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