*Staff Bulletin/Clipboard November 10, 2022

Staff Bulletin | November 10, 2022

On Wednesday evening, students from the Emporia Middle School Student Council presented StuCo highlights and accomplishments to the Board of Education.

District News:

Jeans Week November 14-18:

In honor of American Education Week November 14th -18th, please consider wearing jeans the entire week for a minimum donation of $5. This jeans fundraiser will help support ENEA scholarships for future teachers. Join ENEA by celebrating all district employees and wearing jeans!

2024-2025 Calendar Input:

USD #253 would like to gather your input as we build the 2024-2025 calendar. The criteria listed in the Google Form have guided the development of past calendars. Please use the link to rank each question on a scale from 1 to 4 with 4 being high priority and 1 being low priority. Those that rank with high priority from our staff will be utilized to build the 2024-2025 school district calendar. Please submit by November 18th.

Click here to provide input for the 2024-2025 calendar

November New Directions EAP:

As a USD 253 employee, you have the opportunity to utilize resources provided by New Directions through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Additionally, New Directions offers a variety of free online webinars for all employees. If you or a family member are experiencing any stress or heightened emotions due to events going on in our world, please contact the EAP support line at 833-848-1764 or log onto the New Directions website and use the code usd253. November 2022 Newsletter

Thought Box:

The district would like to hear from you. We appreciate your input and would like to hear your ideas, opinion, and questions to continue moving the district forward. If there is anything you would like to anonymously share, please click here to complete the Thought Box Form. This form will also be located in the Quick Links section on the front page of the website.

Insurance Reminder:

November 30th is the last day changes can be made for insurance elections for the 2023 plan year which is effective January 1, 2023. 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 at melissa.vogts@usd253.net.

Early Resignation/Retirement Notification Incentive:

Any licensed teacher who has worked greater than two years in USD 253 and 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 Director of Human Resources. Stipends will be awarded according to the timetable below at the end of the contract year.

Certified staff must provide written notification received by:

December 1st would receive $500
January 1st would receive $250

See the master contract for more information.

District Events:

Emporia High School Theatre:

Emporia High School Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast on November 17, 18, and 19 at 7:00. This massive production is sure to be one everyone will enjoy! The show is exhilarating with its enchanting costumes, a large set, scenic projections, and other magical special effects. This is one you do not want to miss! Click here to purchase tickets. Click here to purchase tickets.

Logan Avenue 5K Fun Run & Virtual Run:

Logan Avenue is hosting its 4th Annual Running with the Lions 5k on Saturday, November 19th at 9:00 AM. In-person and virtual options are available. To guarantee a t-shirt, registrations must be in by November 1st. Any questions can be sent to Emily Joplin at emily.joplin@usd253.net. Click here to register.

Walnut Turkey Day Dash:

Walnut Elementary 12th Annual Turkey Day Dash, Thursday, November 24th, 7:30 AM Click here to register. For questions please call Walnut Elementary at 620-341-228

Appointments:

Ethan Zorn

support technician level 1, MHEC

Audelia Talavera De Moreno

custodian, Logan Avenue Elementary

Kathy Dreier

temporary worker, MHEC

Dawn Allen

custodian, Emporia High School

Tanner Schneider

assistant boys wrestling coach, Emporia High School

Emmanuel Bueno

temporary worker, Walnut Elementary

Mariama Mohammed

paraeducator - school psychology practicum student

Cole Wagner

temporary worker, Emporia High School

Kylee Marler

elementary, TBD

Kelly Olson

girls assistant wrestling coach, Emporia High School

Resignations:

Aaron Hammond

rule 10 head softball, Emporia High

Trinity Cagle

assistant cook, William Allen White Elementary

Nabilia Rangel

custodian, Emporia High School

Patricia Reyes

teacher aide, Riverside Elementary

Meagan Huston

paraeducator, Emporia Middle School

Yadiria Espino

paraeducator, Riverside Elementary

Jenna Erwin

substitute bus driver, Transportation

Mary Searle

grade 2, Logan Avenue Elementary

Dallas Shafer

disc golf club co-sponsor, Emporia High School

Emily DeJesus

grade 5, Village Elementary

Christine Parks

resource, Riverside Elementary

Tara Trear

cheer coach, Emporia High School

Rescind Resignation:

Tina Barrett

student support specialist, Walnut Elementary

Army Veteran, Leslie Hedges, recently presented a flag etiquette program to fourth-grade students from across the district. Highlights of the presentation included learning flag and National Anthem etiquette, how the flag has changed over the years, and how to fold a flag.

Board Approvals:

minutes of October 26, 2022
minutes of November 5, 2022, Special Board Meeting
fiscal payments
donation of $500 from KansasLand Tire and Service to Walnut Elementary for the Turkey Day Dash
donation of $500 from McCownGordon to Walnut Elementary for the Turkey Day Dash
donation of $500 from Next Level Nursing Solutions to Walnut Elementary for the Turkey Day Dash
donation of $1600 from SalonDelFive to the EHS girls’ wrestling program for expenses
donation of $500 from Paula Sauder to the EHS Theatre Program for expenses
donation of $1500 from Kansas Security to the Emporia Middle School Robotics club for expenses
the application for the Dyslexia/Reading Grant of $3,499.12 to the Emporia Community Foundation for the Heggerty Phonemic Awareness Curriculum for preK - Kindergarten students.
2021-2022 financial audit conducted by Varney & Associates, CPA, LLC as submitted
using the proceeds from the salad of the Maynard Building to offset the cost of the partial replacement of the Emporia High School roof during the summer of 2023
2023-2024 Emporia High School Enrollment Information and Course Descriptions

District Updates and Information:

Construction Update:

Mr. Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager, provided updates on the district construction projects. In the update, Woltje shared that Emporia High School and Logan Avenue Elementary are 100% complete. Both buildings were turned over to the district for occupancy during the last week of October. Emporia Middle School will see many changes over the next few weeks which will include the construction of the pre-cast walls for the new gym/wind shelter. At Village Elementary the masonry and roofing for the multipurpose room/wind shelter are slated to begin next week. Timmerman Elementary and Riverside Elementary continue in the design development phase with McCownGordon working with local trade partners to determine cost. Preliminary work at William Allen White is scheduled for February 2023. Click here to view the construction presentation .

FY22 Audit Report:

Ms. April Swartz, CPA with Varney and Associates, reviewed the Fiscal Year 2022 Audit. Swartz was pleased to report that upon the completion of the audit, no adjustments were needed and that no issues or concerns were found with the district budget. Click here to view the FY22 Audit Report

3-Year Budget Projections:

Mr. Rob Scheib, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations, shared a 3-year budget projection that is based on the district’s overall enrollment trends. The budget is determined by enrollment as well as state aid, and district weightings including Bilingual, Career Technical Education & Transportation, and At-Risk. Scheib stated that even though enrollment is projected to decline, the General Fund is projected to increase due to increases in state aid per student and an increase in weightings. Click here to view the 3-year budget projections.

Emporia Middle School Improvement Update:

Ms. Amanda Schild, Emporia Middle School (EMS) science teacher and Accreditation Chair, and Mr. John Martin provided an EMS School Improvement Update. Highlights included a review of EMS’s goals for social-emotional learning (SEL), reading, and math. To address the SEL goals EMS has worked to decrease tardiness, higher expectations for behavior, and celebrate student success. Reading and math goals are being addressed by implementing AVID strategies building-wide. Click here to view the Emporia Middle School Improvement presentation.

Future Board Calendar Dates:

November 11-13, 2022, KASB Annual Convention, Wichita
Wednesday, December 14, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
Wednesday, January 11, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
Wednesday, January 25, 2022, 5:30 p.m., StuCo/Board Meeting, Emporia High School

In honor of American Education Week, the Board of Education presented ENEA representative Traci Meyer, Student Support Specialist at Village Elementary, with an American Education Week Certificate of Proclamation.