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District News:
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.
Written notification received by:
- November 1st would receive $750
- December 1st would receive $500
- January 1st would receive $250
See the master contract for more information.
Voter Registration:
If you are not yet registered to vote or need to check your voter registration status, please click here. Click here to view the 2022 Election Calendar.
District Events:
October 24, 2022, District PLT:
On Monday, October 24th, all certified and twelve-month staff members will attend the scheduled PLT which is being held at William L. White Auditorium, 111 E. 6th Avenue. Our speaker, Dr. Jenni Donohoo, a professional learning facilitator, will present on “Building Collective Efficacy” from 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM. Doors will open at 7:30 AM. Staff are required to sign in with their Principal/Director who will be located near the front entrance. Schools and departments are welcome to sit together but it is open seating so staff members may sit where they choose, once they have signed in. Additional information will be provided by email.
Student and Family Resources Clothing Drive:
Student and Family Resources will be collecting donations for the annual clothing drive. Please bring new or gently used clothing items to the Flinthills Mall, back entrance by the cinema thru October 28th. Thank you for your donation and for helping serve the students and families of our district. If you have questions, please Contact Heather Wagner at heather.wagner@usd253.net.
Blood Drive:
The Emporia High School Student Council will be hosting their annual fall blood drive on Thursday, October 27th from 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM in the JV gym. To sign up, visit the Red Cross website at redcrossblood.org
District Flu Shot Schedule:
- October 18 - 11:00 am - EMS
- October 27-7:30 am-Timmerman
- November 1 - 7:30 am - WAW
- November 1 -3:15 pm-Riverside
- November 2 - 3:15 pm - Walnut
New for this year, you must fill out a pre-registration form. Turn this form in at the school where you are receiving your flu shot before the scheduled date. Click here to complete the pre-registration form
- Staff and their family members ages 9 years and older are eligible to receive their flu shot.
- Private insurance and Medicare are accepted; Medicaid is not accepted.
- Cash payments are not accepted as it would be cheaper to go elsewhere such as Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS.
- The high-dose flu shot will not be offered.
- You may sign up at another location besides your own school. Please contact that school to get on the sign-up sheet. Remember to send your pre-registration form over to the school you are receiving your flu shot before the scheduled date.
- Remember to wear short sleeves on the day of your flu shot.
Logan Avenue 5K Fun Run & Virtual Run:
Logan Avenue is hosting its 4th Annual Running with the Lions 5k on Saturday, October 23. In-person and virtual options are available. To guarantee a t-shirt, registrations must be in by October 4. Any questions can be sent to Emily Joplin at emily.joplin@usd253.net. Click here to register.
Walnut Elementary Open House:
Walnut Elementary will be hosting an Open House, on Thursday, October 20th, 2022 from 11:00 AM-1:00 PM. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to take a self-guided tour of the complete construction additions and upgrades as a result of the November 2019 Bond.
8th Annual Timmerman HOWL-O-WEEN Dog Costume Contest:
Thursday, October 27th, 2022, Timmerman Elementary back patio, begins at 5:45 PM, If you have questions contact Connie Coleman connie.coleman@usd253.net
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Appointments:
Sadie Moore
Spartan Xtra, Emporia Middle School
Rylie Medina Reyes
bus paraeducator, Transportation
Anele Jaimes
sub bus paraeducator, Transportation
Hanna Beitz
paraeducator, USD 390
Walter Fernandini
temporary worker, MHEC
Mary Rodriguez
temporary worker, MHEC
Daniel Rios
temporary worker, MHEC
Marina Zeller
temporary worker, MHEC
Danielle Plue
paraeducator, Emporia Middle School
Paige Highley
paraeducator, USD 417
Amanda McDonald
paraeducator, USD 390
Arasely Castillo
paraeducator, Emporia High School
Julie Perez
paraeducator, Emporia Middle School
Samantha Mattas
custodian, Timmerman Elementary
Patrick Sweet
SPED, Emporia Middle School
Resignations:
Amanda Watts
paraeducator, USD 390
Kamryn Dold
custodian, Timmerman Elementary
Ileen Carter
assistant cook, Emporia Middle School
Jamie Hull
assistant cook, William Allen White Elementary
Leah Kathman
paraeducator, USD 251
Buffy Garrick
paraeducator, Emporia Middle School
Shelly Hammond
administrative assistant (athletics)
Tara Bess
paraeducator, USD 390
Ana Hernandez
paraeducator, Village Elementary
Rita Osborn
SPED, USD 386
Holli Hoelting
instructional strategist, Emporia High School
Retirements:
Susan Miller
SPED, USD 252
Terrance Taylor
counselor, Emporia High School
Michele Wells
SPED, Emporia High School
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On Monday, Emporia High School students participated in the annual College and Career Fair. Students had the opportunity to meet with 20 community employers and over 65 Colleges & Universities from across the state. | |
Board Approvals:
- minutes of September 28, 2022
- fiscal payments
- donation of $500 from the Lyon County Attorney’s Office to the Emporia High School Theatre program to offset expenses
- donation of $500 from Newman Regional Health to be evenly split between Emporia High School football, boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, volleyball, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, gymnastics, cheerleading, and forensics
- let bids for partial roof replacement at Emporia High School
- Memorandum of Understanding with Emporia State University TRIO services and USD 253
- contract with Finalsite to develop a new website
- purchase of 4 pedestrian crossings, 1 each at Emporia High School, Emporia Middle School, Walnut Elementary, and Village Elementary, to be installed by the City of Emporia
- contracting with McConnell & Associates to replace the curbs and parking lot in front of Emporia High School
Enrollment Study Session:
Mrs. Sue Givens, Kansas Association of School Boards Field Specialist, facilitated the third and final Enrollment Study Session with the Enrollment Study Committee. Committee members worked in small groups to discuss potential priorities that had been generated at the June study session. Group members determined possible solutions that included redrawing elementary school boundaries, childcare opportunities for staff, staff retention/recruitment, alternative school options, and efficiency studies. From the recommendations at the study session, Givens will prepare final conclusions and bring back recommendations to the October 26 meeting for the Board to consider.
Board Discussions:
Construction Update:
Mr. Eric Woltje, McCownGordon Senior Project Manager, provided updates on the district construction projects. Emporia High School and Logan Avenue Elementary are both in the final stages and are on track to be completed by the end of October. Both buildings have Fire Marshal inspections scheduled for next week.
At Village Elementary, walls for the storm shelter/gymnasium are being constructed.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held at Emporia Middle School on September 29th. Concrete has been poured and steel for the new wing is being added.
Programming for Timmerman Elementary and Riverside Elementary is underway while William Allen White Elementary is on track for design development in February of 2023. Click here to view the construction presentation.
CEL Marketing - Website Update:
Ms. Cindy Leines, Founder and Strategist for CEL Marketing Company, presented the results of the district's website steering committee. The committee’s goal is to create an updated website that better serves district families while promoting the district to new students and recruiting new staff. The committee determined the district’s website needs as well as conducting a review of the current website. The committee concluded that the new website should be mobile-friendly, easy to use, meet federally mandated compliances, and support translations in multiple languages. Four vendors, Apptegy, Blackboard (Blackboard was purchased by Finalsite in September of 2022), Edlio, and Finalsite submitted proposals and provided a review of their website platform. After meeting with each vendor, the committee recommended Finalsite. Finalsite is an established company that boosts a 96% client retention rate and a 98% customer satisfaction for support services. After the presentation, the Board voted to approve a contract with Finalsite. Work on the new website will begin in November, with a goal of launching in April 2023. Click here to view the website presentation.
Emergency Operations Information - Lockdown Levels:
Mr. Jared Giffin, Director of Human Resources, provided a review of the district’s three levels of lockdown and what would cause each one to be implemented. Level 1 is for a threat located outside of a school, Level 2 is for a concern inside of a building, and Level 3 is for a serious threat to student and staff safety. Giffin also stated that all threats are taken seriously and thoroughly investigated. Everyone has a part in school safety, if you see something say something. Click here to review the Lockdown presentation
Future Board Calendar Dates:
- Wednesday, October 26, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Saturday, November 5, 2022, 8:00 a.m., Board Retreat, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 6:30 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- November 11-13, 2022, KASB Annual Convention, Wichita
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