*Staff Bulletin/Clipboard February 9, 2023

Staff Bulletin | February 9, 2023

On Wednesday evening, Mrs. Brandi Mitchell Principal and Ms. Chelsea Evans, Technology Coach at Village Elementary along with student Eagle and Eaglets Leaders presented school highlights at the Board of Education Meeting.

District Events:

2022 W-2 and 1095 C Forms:

Employees who elected to print their own W-2 Wage and Tax Statements and 1095C Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage forms through Skyward’s Employee Access can now do so. Click here for a tutorial . For those employees who did not elect to self-print, your statements have been sent to your building.

W-4 and K-4 Forms:

If you would like to submit a new W-4 or K-4 form for the 2023 tax year, please use the links below to print and complete a new form. Additionally, you may want to use the “check estimator” in Skyward to look at different scenarios to adjust future withholdings. If you would like a copy of your current W-4/K-4 on file or have any questions please email payroll@usd253.net. 2023 K-4 Form, 2023 W-4 Form, Check Estimator Tutorial

Human Resources Reminders:

February 15th is the deadline to submit a new national board teaching certificate.
February 15th is the deadline to submit ESL certification to be included in the March paycheck.
New Directions Behavioral Health/Employee Assistance Program: This program often provides excellent benefits and support for life events that impact our physical and mental health. Some examples include stress management, elder care, finances, etc. You can find additional information at the New Directions Employee Assistance Program or by calling 800-624-5544 (the code to enter is - usd253)

District News:

National School Counseling Week:

Governor Laura Kelly proclaimed this week as National School Counseling Week. Please join the district in saying thank you to all of our school counselors and student support specialists for all they do for our students every day.

Logan Avenue Disc Golf Tournament:

5th annual Lion Launch disc golf tournament/fundraiser will be held on April 1st at Soden's Grove. Registration information will be coming soon.

Appointment, Resignations, and Retirements:

Use the link to review the employment recommendation.

Emporia High School senior Kaitlyn Velasquez during her interview for the district recruitment video.

On Tuesday afternoon several students and staff were interviewed by a team from Educate Kansas for a teacher recruitment video. The district will use the video to help recruit teachers and staff to Emporia Schools. Pictured here are students at Jones Early Childhood Development Center.

Board Approvals:

minutes of January 25, 2023
fiscal payments
grant of $15,000 from both the Jane and Bernard Reeble Foundation and the Hopkins Foundation for Heather Wagner, Student and Family Resource Specialist to provide basic needs for students PreK - 8th grade
Let bids for Furniture, Fixtures, and Equipment for Village Elementary and Emporia Middle School
Director of Food Service job description
Capturing Kids’ Hearts training for the 2023-2024 school year
Guaranteed Maximum Price for Riverside and Timmerman Elementary Schools from McCownGordon Construction for $3,892,006 and Build for the Future Executive Committee (BFEC) to choose Alternate and Unit Prices up to the Mazimum Master Budget Value of $4,478,904 and Build for the Future Executive Committee (BFEC) to choose Alternate and Unip Prices up to the Maximum Master Budget Value of $4,478,904
Negotiated Agreement and Tentative Agreement for Certified Staff for 2022-2023, 2022-2023 Salary Schedule

Board Updates and Information:

2022-2023 Logan Avenue Elementary School Improvement:

Mrs. Vanessa Hinds, Logan Avenue Elementary Principal, and several staff members reviewed their School Improvement Goals along with the action steps involved in meeting those goals. The teachers also shared many of the challenges that students face often making it difficult to meet School Improvement Goals. Learn more here by reviewing the Logan Avenue School Improvement update.

Capturing Kids’ Hearts Training Proposal:

Mrs. Judy Stanley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning and Student Services, Dr. Ryan Karjala, Director of Assessment and Accountability, and Mrs. Tara Glades, Director of Student Services outlined the training process and costs associated with district-wide staff training in Capturing Kid’ Hearts (CKH). CKH training provides staff with structures to build relationships to support students and their success. CKH has been in the district’s elementary schools since 2016 and was implemented at Emporia Middle School in 2013. The 2023-2024 school year proposal includes adding CKH training for staff at the Jones Early Childhood Development Center and Emporia High School. The cost to the district for CKH training is $182,750 with $159,850 of that being paid with ESSER III resources. Learn more here by reviewing the Capturing Kids' Hearts professional development proposal.

Survey and Informal Input on the 2024-2025 Academic Calendar:

Dr. Allison Harder, Superintendent, Mrs. Judy Stanley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Services, Dr. Ryan Karjala, Director of Assessment and Accountability, and Mrs. Tara Glades, Director of Student Services presented information regarding a four-day school week/five-day work week. The presentation was in response to calendar surveys and informal staff input. The presentation prompted several questions and discussions from board members including how this would affect student achievement and childcare needs for district families. In conclusion, the Board agreed that there is an abundance of areas that would require further exploration however, they determined that no additional information was needed at this time and a traditional calendar will be developed for 2024-2025. Learn more here by reviewing the Considerations for a Four Day week presentation.

Construction Update:

Mr. Eric Woltje, McCownGordon, Senior Project Manager, provided updates on the district’s current construction projects. Emporia Middle School is 48% complete. Painting has begun in the science wing and drywall is being hung in the administrative office and commons area. Village Elementary is also 48% complete. Framing has been started in the administrative office space and additional windows have been cut in. The multipurpose room/storm shelter is almost complete and should be turned over to the district for use following spring break. Programming continues to be scheduled to start in February 2023 at William Allen White.

Woltje also shared information regarding the Guaranteed maximum price for Riverside and Timmerman Elementary. The Board gave final approval to accept the Guaranteed Maximum Price for the Riverside and Timmerman Elementary Schools Renovations from McCownGordon Construction for $3,829,006. It also approved that the Build for the Future Executive Committee (BFEC) have the ability to choose Alternates & Unite Prices up to the Maximum Master Budget Value of $4,478,904. Learn more here by reviewing the Construction Update presentation.

Learn more here by reviewing the Guaranteed Mazimum Price presentation.

Future Board Calendar Dates:

Wednesday, February 22, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
Wednesday, April 12, 2023, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center