Edition 2 | May 1, 2017
  
  • Negotiations Are Underway: Representatives from the Idaho Falls Education Association and the district began negotiations today, May 1. The teams are scheduled to meet again on May 8, and hope to quickly come to terms and settle the 2017-18 contract. Watch for updates as they become available
  • Promoting Student Voice and Choice: In just a few weeks we will be debuting Class Choice, a scheduling software that will allow high school students to make their own schedule changes. Students will have access to their 2017-18 class schedules in Class Choice, and if they’re not happy with their schedules they will be able to research other options, including all the sections of a class offered during the day or all the available offerings in a particular hour. Using this information students can consider options, weigh alternatives and make trade-offs based on what classes are most important to them, and build a schedule that best meets their needs. If students aren’t successful resolving their scheduling issues students will still be able to meet with a counselor and make changes in August. Seniors will have access to Class Choice beginning May 15, and then juniors, sophomores and freshmen. Class Choice is very similar to the scheduling programs used at many colleges around the country so using the system also prepares them for success beyond high school. 
Learn What Community Thinks About HS ReDesign Project: We have officially launched the DISCOVER Phase, the third and final phase, of our community outreach effort to gather input on efforts to update and modernize our high schools. More than 1,200 people took part, sharing 2,757 thoughts and assigning 61,787 stars to their top priorities. You can learn more about what our community thinks about this project by clicking on the link in the email you should have received last week or  going to the district website. 

The Board of Trustees will consider this valuable input as they decide the best way to move forward with the HS ReDesign Project. Board members are expected to make final decisions some time in May, including finalizing the plans, setting the amount of the bond needed to pay for the improvements and setting the date for the bond election.
  • K-3 Reading Work Continues This Summer:
    As we continue to help students improve their reading skills, we will be offering a number of new, special summer programs as part of the state's K-3 reading initiative. Students in K-3 who receive a 1 or a 2 on the spring IRI will be invited to participate in a special jumpstart 3-week program in August. In addition, students will receive books to take home and read over the summer.
    Dora Erickson is piloting a program that will send Chromebooks home with students for the summer. Before they take the computers home students and their parents will take part in a workshop teaching them how to use the Chromebooks and the Waterford smart start online program. These summer initiatives were based on recommendations from our K-3 Reading Committee, which has been working for the last year on the best ways to implement the state's new reading initiative.

Plans Under way for Eclipse Event at Ravsten: We are working with the INL, the Museum of Idaho and several other community groups to create an event for D91 families that will be held on Monday, Aug. 21, the day of the eclipse at Ravsten Stadium. There will be areas to view the eclipse, as well as many hands-on activities for children and their parents.

  • In addition, the Museum of Idaho has arranged for D91 to receive 11,000 pairs of Eclipse glasses, which we plan to hand out at the event and maybe during August registration. Stay tuned for more details as we finalize plans. (If you are doing a special class project related to the eclipse or if you have ideas on how we could distribute the eclipse glasses, please contact Margaret Wimborne.
  • New Administrators Named for 2017-18 School Year: Some schools will be welcoming new administrators next year. Bill Cairns will be returning to Skyline High School as the Grizzlies' athletic and activities director. He will be replacing Jeff Sanders who is taking a leave of absence. Dave England will be leaving Linden Park to join IFHS' administrative team as the new assistant principal. Kris Smith will be replacing England as the principal of Linden Park. The principal position at Longfellow has been posted. Please watch for more updates.
  • Say Hello to C-TEC And Goodbye To EIP-THS: The Career-Technical Education Center is the new name for the advanced career and technical education programs offered in D91, and the Firth, Shelley and Ririe school districts. The name change from the Eastern Idaho Professional-Technical High School works to align the programs more closely with how they are known nationally.

    Current C-TEC offerings include: the Academy of Finance, Automotive Technology, Computer Science & Information Technology, Culinary Arts and Hospitality, Early Childhood Professions, Education Assistant, Emergency Medical Technician, High School of Business, Nursing Assistant, Pharmacy Technician in Training, and Pre-engineering/Manufacturing/Construction. In all, about 270 students are enrolled in the different programs, which are currently housed at different schools including Compass Academy, SHS and IFHS. Questions? Contact Bobbi Crosser
  • Wilson, Lent Continue Service On The Board: Larry Wilson and David Lent will continue to serve on the Board of Trustees representing Zone 1 and Zone 2 respectively. Lent and Wilson were up for election in May. Since no candidates filed to run against them, the Board of Trustees during its regular meeting on April 12 declared Wilson and Lent as the elected trustees and cancelled the election per Idaho Code 33-502B.   
  • Get Ready To Celebrate Our Graduates!
    We are making our plans for our graduating seniors to once again visit their elementary schools in their caps and gowns, and this year they will also visit Eagle Rock and Taylorview middle schools. SHS and Compass graduates will visit schools on May 31. IFHS and Compass graduates will visit schools on June 1. This year, we also will be handing out 'Proud Future Graduate' D91Proud stickers.
  • Remember Time Off Requests: Full-time classified employees need to request leave through their Skyward accounts. This includes any leave - sick, personal, death in family or comp time. Not sure how? Follow these step-by-step instructions: http://www.d91.k12.id.us/documents/True-Time/SKYWARD-TIME-OFF.pdf

    Timing is everything when requesting! Leave must be requested and approved by your supervisor BEFORE you submit your timesheet in True Time. Once your supervisor has approved your request, you will receive an email letting you know your leave has been approved, then, and only then, should you submit your time sheet. If you submit your time card before your leave is approved, it won’t show up on your time sheet, and you would be charged for leave without the benefit of paid time off. When you submit your leave request, don’t forget to request the hours and minutes needed.  If no hours are requested, no leave will be added to your time sheet. If you have questions about requesting leave or True Time contact the Payroll Department at [email protected] or [email protected].

  • Flex Plan Changes Coming Next Year: We are changing our flex plan provider beginning with the 17-18 school year. Watch for more details about the new provider and open enrollment in September. This means full-time employees will NOT have to meet with an American Fidelity representative this spring, although American Fidelity will continue as an approved provider of supplemental insurance products. Contact Carrie Smith ([email protected]) with questions.

  • Seniors & Departing Employees Must Download & Save Google Files: Employees and students who are leaving the district, including graduating seniors, should make time to download and save any documents or files they currently  have stored in their Google accounts. As we rollover student/employee records in preparation for the new school year, those accounts will be deactivated and the records will not be accessible anymore. Please spread the word to seniors! Questions? File an IT Help Ticket.

  • Register NOW For D91 University: Classes for this year’s D91University on June 7 & 8 are finalized and registration is under way. These courses fulfill teachers’ PD requirements for their individual professional learning plans. Learn More.

  • Take Note Of These Year-End Dates: As the school year winds down, please be aware of these end-of-the-year deadlines. And, be sure to check with your secretary about P-card deadlines for your school or building.
    • Warehouse Orders: The last day to place custodial supply orders is May 31, while June 14 is the final day to place other warehouse orders.
    • Travel and Other Reimbursements:  The final day to submit travel reimbursement and other reimbursement requests is June 14 so payment can be made in June.
  • D91 Making Switch to Amazon Business Accounts: In order to streamline our Amazon ordering, the business office is in the process of setting up an Idaho Falls School District 91 Amazon Business account. P-card holders will receive an automated email invitation from Amazon Business with a link allowing them to join the district Amazon Business account by using their school district email. Users need to accept their business invitation by clicking "Accept this invitation" box in the email.  The invitations expire after 7 business days.  Each person affiliated with our Amazon Business account will have their own business-user account accessed by their district email & password. Purchases will be tax exempt, orders of $49 or more will get free shipping and the business account will discontinue the practice of associating district credit cards with personal accounts. Questions? Send them to Brandi Moreno 
Finish The Year Safe!
As the year winds down and you start your end of year cleaning, please remember to work safe ….
 
  • 1st Week in May: Kindergarten RoundUps at all elementary schools
  • May 4: Please support D91’s Education Foundation during Idaho Gives, a day of online charitable giving.
  • May 16, 17 & 18: All 4th graders will take part in the annual Rendezvous at Tautphaus Park
  • May 17: Board’s regular business meeting, 7 pm at the district office
  • May 18: The IFEA’s annual education and retirement celebration is at 6 pm at the Willard Arts Center downtown. Tickets are $15. They are available from IFEA reps or you can email Marcia Bingham to reserve a spot by May 10, and then just pay at the door.  Learn more here.
  • May 23, 24 & 25: All 6th graders will test their speed and their skills in the annual track meet at Ravsten Stadium
  • May 29: Memorial Day 
  • May 30: Compass Academy & Emerson Graduations
  • May 31: SHS Graduation
  • June 1: IFHS Graduation
  • We are D91Proud of IFHS! Girls Fed at Idaho Falls High School took the initiative to plaster Rigby High School with hundreds of Post-it notes with encouraging words and supportive messages after the deaths of two Rigby students.
  • Congratulations to the almost 40 elementary school students who took part in the district’s first ever One District, One Book Writing Contest. 

            Winners included: 

            K –Chase Evans; 
            1st – Brooklyn Hosford;
            2nd – Connor Tremayne;
            3rd – Elizabeth Dickerson;
            4th – Carter Cannon,
            5th –- Camille Hiltbrand;
            and 6th – Olivia Rocknak.

The winners will be recognized at the May 17 board meeting.

  • Congratulations to Skyline Principal Aaron Jarnagin who was recently recognized as the American Legion Educator of the Year!
  • We are D91Proud of the yearbook staffs at IFHS and SHS high schools. They just learned their yearbooks again will be featured in Jostens Look Book, which celebrates the best-of-the-best in yearbook design and coverage. Only 418 yearbooks nationwide out of 3,000 were recognized. Nice job!
  • We are D91Proud of Skyline Drama! Students recently competed against 16 other schools from all over Idaho and Utah to take first place/Best in Show at ISU's annual One-Act Competition. Gabe Watrous also earned Best Supporting Actor honors. Whoohoo!! 
  • We are D91Proud of Longfellow for receiving a $9,987 Ultimate STEM Grant from Battelle Energy Alliance.The money will be used to create a STEM Maker space at the school.
  • Nathasia Christensen of Temple View Elementary School received a STEM mini grant of $274.50 to fund a classroom STEM garden. Congratulations!!
  • Erickson Receives 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant: Dora Erickson has been awarded a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant which will  provide federal funding for an after-school program. The name of the community learning center will be Beyond the Bell, and it will offer students academic, artistic and cultural enrichment opportunities after school four days a week. The grants are generally awarded to high-poverty schools as a way to increase student achievement. Principal Sheila Walter and her staff spent several weeks working on the grant, and are looking forward to implementing the program in fall 2017.


  • Chase Meyer and Jeremy Smith would like to thank all the volunteers who helped make the Tiger Grizz Track Tournament a great success last weekend. More than 50 adult volunteers helped out with the meet, as well as lots of students. "We couldn't have done it without you,"
    they said.

  • Thank you to everyone who helped support the United Way's Children's Book Drive! The United Way collected more than 7,000 books during this year's campaign. We are starting to make plans on how best to deliver those books to children in an effort to help stop the summer learning slide. Stay tuned for more details.
Annual Fun Run/Walk is June 5:
D91’s annual Strut, Stroll, Run into summer Fun Run begins at 7 a.m. at Freeman Park. All employees will receive a special edition D91Proud t-shirt. Tons of prizes will be given out or raffled off thanks to the generosity of many local businesses. Thanks to our Wellness Committee for organizing the fun run!
Idaho Falls School District 91  | (208) 525-7500  | http://www.d91.k12.id.us/