Weekly Update from the Office of the Superintendent
Volume 2, Issue 29 (March 22, 2022)
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Planning for the
2022-23 School Year
A great deal of work is taking place behind the scenes to plan for the upcoming school year. Each year, we look at enrollment projections and make critical decisions on programming. Thankfully, we have Board or Education guidelines establishing a barometer to create equity across our district. Many years ago, the Ken-Ton School District was very proactive in implementing these research-based class size guidelines to best serve our students and provide for low, reduced class sizes. These guidelines are the basis to help ensure that our district is remaining fiscally responsible while providing a rich academic experience. These reduced class size guidelines are as follows:
- Gr. K-2: 22-24
- Gr. 3-4: 24-26
- Gr. 5-7: 26-28
- Gr. 8-12: 27-29
Staffing is always driven by enrollment, therefore it is critical to have as accurate projections as possible for the upcoming year. This is exactly the process our Human Resources Department follows for all our schools and grade levels. We must always operate strategically to ensure the long term sustainability of the district. Class sizes are dependent on two factors: the number of students enrolled and the number of different classes that are offered for any given grade level in elementary schools or any given course in secondary schools.
Staffing is reallocated based on enrollment trends. It is important to remember that the number of classes or sections we can offer is limited. Additionally, if our school district does not right size from year to year, we will inevitably will be faced with insolvency and major cuts and lay-offs in the future.
All of our projected class sizes for the 2022-23 school year will be at or below our Board of Education's reduced class size guidelines. Although we always seek to maintain low class sizes, we must also ensure that class sizes are not too low, as this would mean we are not using our resources in the most efficient manner possible and we may not be able to meet staffing needs in other areas.
By operating in the most efficient manner possible, we are able to offer great programming for our students that is unmatched in other school districts, everything from Gifted/Talented Education to targeted instruction.
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Each week, we will highlight some of the exciting things taking place in our schools. Be sure to follow the Ken-Ton School District on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ktufsd) for more school highlights! |
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ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: The Ken-Ton School District was excited to welcome celebrated author/educational consultant Dr. Jan Richardson, considered to be the nation’s foremost expert on guided reading. Dr. Richardson visited Ken-Ton and worked with teachers, administrators and support staff from all five elementary schools during the district’s March 18th Superintendent Conference Day to further support the implementation of Scholastic Literacy and small-group guided reading instruction. Dr. Richardson’s book, “The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading,” is a key resource used by Ken-Ton elementary teachers. It is a nationally acclaimed work that includes planning and instructional tools to teach guided reading in the classroom. Guided reading is a central component of literacy instruction in Ken-Ton elementary schools which has had a significant impact on students’ academic progress. It focuses on differentiated reading strategies to further students’ skills as readers and help them to better understand, appreciate and enjoy a book. Read more about Dr. Richardson’s visit here.
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KENMORE WEST: In the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, Kenmore West students and staff in the Young Women's Empowerment Program reflected on a female role model from middle or high school who has had a positive impact on their life then created and sent them creative "You're My Lucky Charm" gift messages. They also wrote "Make Your Own Luck" advice to the current Hoover Middle Gr. 7 class (the Kenmore West Class of 2027) to ease their transition to high school next year. These seventh-grade students will now be assembling the green hearts into shamrocks to display in the Hoover Middle counseling center.
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KENMORE EAST: Four Kenmore East band students showcased their amazing talents at a local bookstore on Saturday. Tessa Mihelbergel, Syria Natarajan, Megan Heigl, and Erika Patkalitsky entertained children and other visitors for the “Saturday Story Time” event at the Alice Ever After bookstore located at 295 Parkside Avenue on Saturday. The children enjoyed a reading of "First Notes of Spring" followed by an indoor and outdoor performance by the ensemble. All four students did a phenomenal job. It was an experience the children and their families won’t forget.
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HIGH SCHOOLS: Great job to everyone involved in the recent Kenmore East and Kenmore West musicals! The Kenmore West production of "Chicago: High School Edition" took place March 10th-12th and the Kenmore East production of "Mamma Mia" took place March 17th-19th. Both shows were phenomenal, showcasing the amazing talents of dozens of our students on stage, behind the scenes and as part of the musical ensembles. Many staff were involved in the productions including John Vogt, Mary Jo Leslie, Bryan Sibbitts, Laura Eisenhauer, Karah Krajewski, Janine Tocke, and Alyssa Germano from Kenmore East and Philip A. Jarosz, Cathleen Riso, Jessica Leary, Kenneth W. Belote, and Michael Brown from Kenmore West.
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RECOGNITION: ABHISHAK MANGAR |
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We were extremely proud to learn that Kenmore West High School senior Abhishak Mangar was selected by Erie 1 BOCES for the CTE (Career and Technical Education) Student Spotlight for the year. Abhishak is enrolled in Web Technologies and Game Programming at the Erie 1 BOCES Potter Career and Technical Center. Under the instruction of Linda Rohloff, Abhishak has learned about game design, networking and more. Using the platform GameMaker Studio 2, Abhishak has learned to develop his own video games.
“I enrolled in BOCES because I loved video games and wanted to create my own, so people can enjoy what I enjoy,” Abhishak said. “This program has provided me an advantage to reach my goals by teaching me code languages and programs. GameMaker 2 was fun to work with and has a lot of potential to create amazing games.”
Ms. Rohloff had wonderful things to say about this talented student. “Abhishak is a very hard worker and manages his time very well,” she said. “He is very dedicated to his projects and enjoys developing software and coding games.”
In the fall of 2022, following graduation, Abhishak plans on attending the University at Buffalo for Computer Science.
Great job Abishak!
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CELEBRATING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH |
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For our final celebration of Women's History Month, we highlight Marian de Forest, another Buffalonian inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame for her groundbreaking work as a journalist, a civic leader, and the founder of Zonta International.
Ms. de Forest was born in Buffalo in 1864 and suffered a debilitating eye injury at a young age which made schooling difficult. With determination and persistence, she overcame the injury and graduated from Buffalo Seminary in 1884. She began a career as a news reporter for the Buffalo Evening News, becoming one of the first women to work in that capacity in Western New York. She soon became City Editor for a competing publication, the Buffalo Commercial, and then editor of the Women's Department and a theater critic for the Buffalo Express. She was an accomplished playwright and well known in the international theater industry. She wrote/directed the stage adaptation of "Little Women."
It was a time when women rarely held leadership positions and Ms. de Forest was determined to change that. In 1919, she set out to create an organization of women who played prominent roles in the professional world. This became Buffalo's Zonta Club, a service organization composed of leading female professionals dedicated to advancing the status of women. Within a few years, chapters were established in cities throughout the nation and Zonta International now has grown to include approximately 30,000 members in countries across the globe.
Ms. de Forest made many other contributions to Buffalo and Western New York as well. She founded the Buffalo Musical Foundation which coordinated symphony concerts for children and then played a major role in founding the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in the early 1930s. She also played a leadership role in many different civic organizations including the SPCA and Humane Society and became the only woman to serve on the Buffalo Public Library Board of Trustees at the time.
Throughout her life, Marian de Forest served as a role model for working women. It has been commented that "Marian understood how important it was to break through the 'glass ceiling' long before the term was ever used."
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- Monday, March 28: Elementary School Parent/Teacher Conferences & Early Release Day (12:40 p.m. Dismissal)
- Tuesday, April 5: Board of Education Meeting
- Friday, April 8: End of Third Marking Period
- Monday, April 11-Friday, April 15: Spring Recess
- Monday, April 18: Superintendent Conference Day (No Student Attendance)
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Thank you for reviewing this information. As always, we remain Ken-Ton Proud, Ken-Ton Strong, and Ken-Ton Moving Forward!
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