Staff Bulletin | April 28, 2016

District administrators hosted an end-of-year celebration for 30 first-year teachers and the instructional coaches who served as their mentors. Our new teacher retention rate is now at 85.5 percent, a three-year high!
District News

Tour de Village Run/Walk & Bike Ride May 21
The Village PTO is sponsoring the third annual Tour de Village on Saturday, May 21.  This includes a 5K run/walk and a 30-mile gravel bike ride. The event will be held annually in May in future years. See more details and registration information here

District Staff Recognition
The District Staff Recognition Program is scheduled for 5 pm Wednesday, May 18, at Emporia High School. All district employees are invited and may bring a guest. Sign-up sheets are in all buildings. Please RSVP by noon Monday, May 9.

Retirement Celebrations
These public retirement celebrations are being planned across the district:

Board of Education
Wednesday, May 11, 6-7 pm, MHEC Board Room
Honoring Theresa Davidson

Emporia Middle School
Thursday May 12, 3:45-5 pm
Honoring  Kay Carl, Karen Hudson, Mary Beth Janssen, Christina Pletcher & Diana Wilhite

Timmerman
Monday, May 16, 3:45-5:30 pm
Honoring Jackie Medina & Carol Mitchell

Mary Herbert/FHSEC
May 26, 1-2 pm, MH 114
Honoring Linda Baumann

Mary Herbert Education Ctr
June 1, 3-4:30 pm
Honoring Geralyn Arndt, Pam Brunner, Brenda Kahle, Jane King, Ann Fullen & Theresa Davidson

EMPAC Newsletter
Read this month's employee newsletter from EMPAC.
Emporia Board of Education

Personnel Report

Appointments

Chloe Cowen
grade 4, Walnut
 
Melissa Sears
grade 1, Walnut

Nikki (Danielle) Albert
grade 2, Riverside

Kristen Herrick
grade 1, Riverside

Shelly Hoyt
adaptive special education, Madison

Jessica Inlow
adaptive special education, Chase County

John Martin
asst principal/athletic dir, EMS

Glory "Jean" Decker
elementary lead cook, Walnut

Forrest Peterson
district shop foreman, Transportation

Caitlin Rangel
paraeducator, Northern Heights
 
Resignations

Brittany Hase Barrett
paraeducator, So Lyon County

Tresa Pierce
paraeducator, EHS

Aaron Trelc
social studies, EHS

Carolyn Hein
special education, EMS

Carrie Davis
instructional coach, EHS

Emily Overton
grade 2, Logan Avenue

Jared Kitselman
grade 2, Logan Avenue

Jan Cisneros
paraeducator, EHS

Katie Mathews
student support specialist, Riverside


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1700 W 7th Ave
Emporia, Kansas 66801
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Good Things!

During Wednesday's meeting, the Board of Education adopted a proclamation in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6, 2016.

Successful Blood Drive
The Emporia Middle School Human Biology classes held a blood drive last month, collecting 24 units of blood for the American Red Cross. The class is taught by Nicole Schmidt-Blakemore.
Many students participated in this event, and learned more about the need for blood donations, and how much donations help. One bag of blood can save up to three lives. That means the blood drive at EMS saved 72 lives!
- submitted by Sydnee Fowler, grade 7

EHS Teacher Runs in Boston
Emporia High math teacher Mike Robinson was among the runners in the Boston Marathon last week. It was his third marathon but first run in Boston. He completed the 26 miles!

EHS Teacher to Travel to Israel
Barbara Fowler, social studies and language arts teacher in the EHS Turning Point "ALIVE" program, has been selected to attend an educational seminar in Israel this summer. The 10-day 2016 Echoes and Reflections Advanced Learning Seminar at Yad Vashem will take place in Jerusalem July 31-August 9.
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Watch for good things happening in USD 253 on the Teaching & Learning Facebook page. Regular reports & photos from classrooms will brighten your day.

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Emporia Public Schools
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Revenue & Financing Options
Greg Vahrenberg of PiperJaffray presented a financial and debt analysis for the board, showing how new bonds could be issued in the future with no increase in the mill levy. Current bonds issued after the 2000 bond election will be paid off in five years. A combination of low interest rates and a slightly increasing assessed valuation give the board some options for issuing new bonds to pay for some of the capital improvement needs in the district. Vahrenberg noted the district is in a good position with a healthy balance in the Bond & Interest Fund. The district's rate of state aid on any future bonds would be 36 percent, based on the new legislation from the 2016 session. 

Marketing Textbooks
The board approved the purchase of textbooks for a new marketing pathway class at EHS.

Network Equipment
The board approved adding 80 wireless access points in the schools to better support the 1:1 Chromebook initiative.

Board Policy Updates
The board approved a change to board policy regarding use of surveillance cameras in the district.

Computers for CADD Lab
The board approved a request to purchase 25 computers for a CADD lab at EHS.

2016-17 Athletic Handbook
The board reviewed updates to the student athletic handbook for 2016-17. The board will consider final approval of the handbook in May.

Board Reports
Flint Hills Technical College- Grant Riles updated the board on a recent $1.5 million gift to the FHTC Foundation for student scholarships. The annual Foundation fundraiser also raised $90,000 for scholarships earlier this month.
Recreation Commission - Mike Helbert informed the board the commission may seek a mill levy increase in the next budget to pay for deferred maintenance projects.

Consent Agenda
The board approved the following:
  • Student fees and meal prices for 2016-17
  • Summer Food Service Program plan
  • Membership dues and fees for KASB and NSBA for 2016-17
  • Use of flexibility clause for scheduling building PLT at WA White/TPA
  • A $1,120 donation to Walnut from the the Doris Peters Memorial Fund