*Staff Bulletin/Clipboard December 12, 2024

Staff Bulletin | December 12, 2024

Over 300 students from Emporia Middle School and Emporia High School showcased their talents during the 89th Seasonal Celebration, creating a memorable evening of holiday music and creativity.

District Information:

Print Your W-2 & 1095C:

All active employees will print out their W-2 Wage and Tax Statement and their 1095C Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage forms through Skyward's Employee Access. Additional communication will be shared once forms are available to print. Click here for a tutorial on how to print your forms.

Flex Made Easy or ID Force products:

Employees who have enrolled in a Flex Made Easy (HSA, FSA, etc.) or ID Force product will receive communication directly from the provider. In some cases, coverage may not start until you have set up an account and provided them with additional information. If you have questions, please call AmeriLife Benefits at 1-833-675-2876, Flex Made Easy 1-855-615-3679 info@flexmadeeasy.com, or contact melissa.vogts@usd253.net.

Winter Weather:

Please be assured that the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority during all threatening weather conditions and emergency plans are in place. As we all know, Kansas weather can change quickly and become highly unpredictable and dangerous. Decisions regarding cancellations and delays will be based on what is safest for students and staff of Emporia Public Schools (EPS). While we work collaboratively, choices made by other districts or by local higher education institutions may or may not influence the final decision made by EPS because of districts and institutions that differ in size or the operational procedures of that institution. Highlights of the Emporia Public Schools emergency weather safety procedures are outlined below. Click here to review district inclement weather information.

December New Directions EAP:

As a USD 253 employee, you can 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. December Newsletter

New Directions EAP Name Change Reminder:

Beginning January 1, you will experience a new look and name for the district’s Employee Assistance Program. The new name will be Lucet Employee Assistance Program. Read more here.

EHS Greenhouse Club/Management Class Survey:

Do you love plants? Would you like to support the EHS greenhouse? If the answer is yes to at least one of these questions, please complete the following survey to help our students decide which plant mixes to offer in hanging baskets, and which types of tomato and pepper starts to offer. EHS Plant Sale Survey

Thought Box:

The district would like to hear from you. We appreciate your input and would like to hear your ideas, opinions, and questions to continue moving the district forward. If there is anything you would like to share anonymously, 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.

Early Resignation/Retirement Notification Incentive:

Any licensed teacher who has worked for more 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. See the Negotiated Agreement for more information. Licensed staff must provide written notification received by:

January 1st would receive $250

District Events:

Emporia Middle School Fine Arts Gallery Walk:

Make plans to attend the EMS Fine Arts Gallery Walk on Monday, December 16 from 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM in the EMS Cafetorium.

Blood Drive:

Emporia High School Student Council will sponsor a blood drive on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 12:30 PM. - 6:00 PM. The blood drive will be held at the Flinthills Mall. The drive is a part of the American Red Cross High School Scholarship Program. Students who help coordinate the drives are eligible for college scholarships based on donations at the drive. Click here to sign up.

Appointments, Resignations, and Retirements:

View employment recommendations here.

Congratulations and good luck to the Emporia High School Jones Premier Scholarship Finalists. The Jones Foundation, named after Walter S. and Evan C. Jones, provides six qualified, eligible applicants a full-ride scholarship to pursue a career in education or nursing at Emporia State University.

On Wednesday morning, Walnut Elementary's 4th and 5th Grade Orchestra students performed for family and friends. These talented young musicians filled the building with amazing sounds, showcasing their hard work and dedication.

Board Approvals:

minutes of November 13, 2024
treasurer’s report for October 2024
fiscal payments for December 2024
donation of $2,010 from Salon DelFive/DelFive Event Center/Mason and Amy Delgado to the EHS Lady Spartan Wrestling to offset team expenses
apply for grant funds from the New Early Childhood Block Grant Funding to offset childcare program expenses
grant of $1,611 from Healthy Habits for Life for William Allen White Elementary to purchase fourteen strider bikes for kindergarten and first-grade students to learn beginning balance and coordination skills necessary to learn how to ride a bike
grant of $2,000 from Healthy Habits for Life for Walnut Elementary to be used for the physical education department
payment of additional charges for the Special Education bus ordered in May
Village Elementary to use the Negotiated Agreement Provision for Flexibility to shift 30 minutes of Professional Learning Community (PLC) from January 15, 2025, to January 8, 2025
Timmerman Elementary to use the Negotiated Agreement Provision for Flexibility to shift 30 minutes of Professional Learning Community (PLC) from January 15, 2025, to January 8, 2025
retire policies EBBD, GARID, JBCC, GAOE, BBG, BCBK, CJ, CL and accept the updated and new recommendations of EBBD, GARID, JBCC, GAOE, BCBK, CJ, CL, EBBG as recommended and submitted by the policy committee

Board Information and Updates:

Emporia Middle School 2025-26 Course Catalog:

Mr. John Martin, Emporia Middle School Principal, presented an overview of updates to the 2025-26 Emporia Middle School Course Guide. The guide outlines the required core subjects—English, Math, Science, and Social Studies—along with a variety of elective offerings and course descriptions to assist students in their enrollment decisions. All students are also enrolled in an advisory period. Elective courses will be scheduled based on student interest, ensuring adequate enrollment numbers. During the Spring semester, staff will begin sharing course information, gauging student preferences, and preparing schedules for the upcoming school year. Read the summary of changes here.

Mary Herbert Education Center Structural Issues:

Mr. Cory Nicolet, Director of Grounds and Maintenance, addressed structural issues with Mary Herbert Education Center during Wednesday night's meeting. Nicolet reported that the building's southwest corner has sunk between 2.875 and 3.75 inches, causing significant structural concerns. Nicolet outlined two potential solutions: stopping the sinking at an estimated cost of $250,000, which would only serve as a temporary fix, or raising the building and making extensive repairs, projected to cost over $1 million. The district is currently exploring all options to determine the most effective way to address the issue.

Benefits and Open Enrollment Update from IMA:

Representatives from IMA, the district's insurance broker, and Benefits Direct, who handle benefits onboarding, provided an overview of the recent open enrollment for district employees. It was reported that participation in the district’s insurance plans was very similar to the previous year with only slight increases or decreases in each category. Additionally, the team shared that they were very impressed with our district staff and highlighted the positive feedback received through staff surveys. Read more here .

Strategic Plan Quarterly Report:

Superintendent Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder and Assistant Superintendent of Teaching, Learning, and Student Services Mrs. Judy Stanley presented the Emporia Public Schools Quarterly Report. The first portion of the report focused on triangulation of data with state assessments, FastBridge, and other student data. The second portion focused on celebrating a number of key accomplishments that reflect the district’s ongoing dedication to excellence. Highlights of the Quarterly Report included the Emporia High School Art Department's recognition at the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) District Showcase, extensive infrastructure improvements across district facilities, and an increase in staff retention rates at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.

Additionally, Mrs. Tara Glades, Director of Student Services, Dr. Erica Mickelson, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Mrs. Lisa Temeyer, Assistant Director of Student Services, reviewed highlights from the November 13, 2024 board study session. Their presentation offered a comprehensive summary of assessment results, emphasizing significant performance trends and identifying strategic areas for improvement. Review the Quarterly Report here.

Review the State Assessment Data Reflection here. Review the FastBridge Data here.

Future Board Calendar Dates:

Wednesday, January 8, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 5:00 p.m., StuCo Meeting/Dinner, Emporia High School
Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Emporia High School
Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center