District News:
Payroll Deduction Reminder:
The December 15 paycheck will be the first payroll with new deductions for the 2022 benefit plan year for classified and certified staff. The January 1 paycheck will be the first payroll with new deductions for the 2022 benefit plan year for administrative staff. With that in mind, please review the information below regarding how your upcoming paychecks will be affected and make plans accordingly for the changes.
- On October 13th the Board of Education approved for the district to increase the employer-paid fringe benefit from $402 to $450 per month for employees who selected a BCBSKS health insurance plan. This employer-paid contribution is equal to a health insurance fringe benefit of $450 per month or $5400 for the year.
- BCBSKS is offering a premium holiday, meaning health insurance premiums will be collected for only 11 months and no health insurance premiums will be paid by the district or employees for the month of January. Note: the insurance premiums each month are higher but, when they are averaged over 12 months, it is a smaller percentage of increase. Unfortunately, it is not possible for the Business Office to average the premiums over 12 months and this option has been thoroughly explored. It is recommended that employees take advantage of the premium holiday and budget for the remaining premiums.
- Since there are no health insurance premiums being collected in January, the employer-paid fringe benefit for January will be disbursed over the remaining 11 months. This will result in an additional $41 employer-paid health insurance fringe benefit for the remaining 11 months of 2022.
- All other benefit premiums will be withheld as scheduled.
- Classified staff will not pay health insurance premiums in the December 15 and January 1 paycheck. Premium deductions will return on January 15.
- Certified staff will not pay health insurance premiums in the December 15 paycheck. Premium deductions will return on January 15.
- Administrators will not pay health insurance premiums in the January 1 paycheck. Premium deductions will return on February 1.
- If you have any questions please contact Brenda Heins at 341-2428 or Stephanie Morgan at 341-2228 any questions.
Print Your W-2 & 1095C:
Employees can elect to print out their W-2 Wage and Tax Statement and 1095C Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage forms through Skyward's Employee Access. Employees have until December 31 to make this selection.
Early Resignation/Retirement Notification Incentive:
Any licensed teacher who has worked more than two years in USD 253 who 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 assistant superintendent of Human Resources. Stipends will be awarded according to the timetable below at the end of the contract year. Written notification received by:
- January 1st would receive $250
- for additional information please see the master contract
Winter Weather:
As we all know, Kansas weather can change quickly and become extremely unpredictable and dangerous. 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. We have a team of administrators that watch the weather and monitor weather predictions. A decision on any cancellations or late starts will be made based on the team’s observations for the safety of our students and staff.
District Events:
Superintendent Listening Tour:
The superintendent would like to hear from you. If you have topics you would like to discuss or comments you want to share, please schedule a time to meet with Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder on Wednesday, December 22 at Mary Herbert Education Center. Click here to schedule a 15 minute individual discussion time with Dr. Harder.
Blood Drive:
Emporia High School Student Council will sponsor a blood drive on January 4, 2022, from 12:30 PM-6:00 PM. The blood drive will be held at the Flinthills Mall. Click here to sign up.
|
Thank you to Doug Epp, Melissa Ogleby, and Mike Crouch for your service to the students and staff of Emporia Public Schools. We appreciate all that you have done and the sacrifices you have made for our district. Together they have 28 years of combined service as members of the USD 253 Board of Education.
|
|
On Wednesday evening the Board of Education recognized students whose names were drawn as a result of their parents/guardians completing the household economic survey during enrollment. Due to the significant number of families completing the survey, the district was able to retain a high percentage of state funding. This funding allowed our schools to continue many of the educational programs that impact each of our students.
|
Board Approvals:
- minutes of November 10, 2021
- treasurer’s report for October 2021
- fiscal payments
- donation of $1,000 from Aunt Fred’s Hollow LLC to the class of 2023 for helping with the haunted house
- donation of $500 from Gregory Ek to the EHS girls' basketball team for expenses
- Mobilizing Literacy Family Liaison job description
- let bids for furniture, fixtures, and equipment for EHS general classroom space, study space, and break room
- return to the semester system and end the use of the trimester system at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year for all grade levels
- interagency agreement for student support specialist between Kansas Department of Children and Families and USD 253
- District Support Liaison job description
- bid from Modern Business Interiors for Emporia High School Science and Chemistry furniture, fixtures, and equipment
- recommendations to update district-level administrative position titles, corresponding job descriptions, and administrator salary guidelines as well as change administrator contract renewals to one year and conduct a district facility study
Board Information:
Academic Report - Kindergarten Readiness, Graduation Rate, and Postsecondary Success:
Mrs. Judy Stanley, Interim Executive Director of Teaching and Learning, Dr. Ryan Karjala, Associate Executive Director of Assessment and Accountability, and Mr. Jared Giffin, Interim Associate Executive Director of Teaching and Learning reported on district data that shows advancement towards the State Board of Education outcomes. The outcomes discussed included kindergarten readiness, graduation rate, and postsecondary success.
Semesters and Trimester:
Mr. Dathan Fischer, Emporia High School Principal, presented information for the board to gain an understanding of the impact of trimesters versus semesters for district secondary students. Fischer reviewed details of why the district originally moved to trimester starting the 2016-2017 school year including hopes of improved academic data as well as decreasing the number of students failing classes. Although there are some positives in a trimester schedule the district has not seen an increase in test scores and the number of students failing classes has remained flat.
Over the past year, Fischer has spoken to many students and parents as well as staff members who have all expressed an overwhelming majority in favor of returning to a semester schedule. With last night's support from the board, the district will now move forward in transitioning back to a semester schedule for the 2022-2023 school year. An exact semester schedule will be determined in the upcoming weeks along with changes to the calendar and the course schedule. Click here to review the semester/trimester presentation.
Emporia Middle School Course Catalog:
Keith Glotzbach, Emporia Middle School Assistant Principal, reviewed the 2022-2023 course catalog which will remain unchanged from this year. Since the board voted to transition to semesters, the EMS counseling department and administrative staff will make updates reflecting semester courses and bring them back to the board for approval at a later date.
Construction Update:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, and Rob Scheib, Assistant Superintendent of Business, provided updates on the district’s construction projects. Currently, there are 3 projects under construction which include Logan Avenue Elementary, Emporia High School, and the Jones Early Childhood Development Center. All 3 projects are on schedule and the construction crews have appreciated the current weather patterns which have been helpful during the past several weeks. Additionally, Walnut Elementary is enjoying its new and renovated spaces. Walnut still has a few projects that will be completed over winter break and construction related to the building fire code that will be wrapped up this summer. Construction will begin next at Emporia Middle School and Village Elementary. Both buildings are currently in the design development stage of preconstruction. Click here to review the construction updates.
COVID Report:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, Dr. Brad Kempf, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, and Jennifer Arndt, Director of Nursing, provided the board with updated information regarding the latest community COVID-19 surge. Unfortunately, all COVID gating criteria have increased drastically over the past few weeks. These trends are challenging for district nursing staff and the volume of active cases and testing is requiring a great deal of time.
On a more positive note, the health department is now following KDHE guidelines and the Lyon County quartine periods have been reduced to 10 days, or 7 with a negative PCR test. This immediately allowed several of our students to return to class and reduces the time away from school for students who do have to quarantine. Dr. Kemp reviewed the KSHSAA guidelines that were adopted in September of this year regarding student-athlete return to participation guidelines. Emporia Schools follows these recommendations for student-athletes who have tested positive for COVID. Click here for KSHSAA Guidelines. It was recommended by the COVID Advisory Committee to continue current protocols and the next update will be provided on January 26th. Click here to review the COVID updates.
Administrative Organizational Structure:
Dr. Allison Anderson-Harder, Superintendent, reviewed the administrative organizational structure that will be implemented beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. The change is due in part to the natural decline in enrollment over the past several years as well as the staffing and administrative efficiency study that was conducted by KASB. Recommendations that are included in the new structure and approved by the board are.
- update district-level administrative position titles, job descriptions, and corresponding administrator salary guidelines
- change administrator contract renewals from “rolling two years” to one-year
- conduct a facility study as another factor of “right-sizing” the district
Future Board Calendar Dates:
- Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Wednesday, January 26, 2022, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Wednesday, February 9, 2022, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
- Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 7:00 p.m., Board Meeting, Mary Herbert Education Center
|
Appointments:
Destiny Brown
bus driver, Transportation
Deanne Swan
teacher AIde/Office Aide, Timmerman Elementary
Alexandra Schubert
teacher aide, Village Elementary
Bailey Lane
paraeducator/teacher aide, Logan Avenue Elementary
Josselyn Rios
paraeducator, Riverside Elementary
Dessey Lomeli-Ruiz
paraeducator, USD 386 Madison High School
Hayle Deaton
paraeducator, USD 252 Olpe Elementary
Richard Plato
bus driver, Transportation
Resignations:
Grisela Miranda
custodian, William Allen White Elementary
Rachel Dresselhaus
AVID Tutor, Emporia High School
Stephanie Morgan
payroll clerk, Mary Herbert Education Center
Faith Thompson
AVID Tutor, Emporia High School
Shyanne Ledford
paraeducator, USD 252 Olpe Elementary
Allie Christensen
assistant volleyball coach, Emporia High School
Rachael Urban
paraeducator, Emporia Middle School
Hailey Pittman
paraeducator, Timmerman Elementary
Claudia Carranza
office aide, Village Elementary
Hunter Senn
paraeducator, Emporia High School
Elizabeth Salazar
paraeducator, Walnut Elementary
Jessica Bollig
grade 6 math, Emporia Middle School
Valerie Patterson
grade 5, Logan Avenue
Donovan Hamilton
science, Emporia High School
Blair Falldine
English, Emporia High School
Erica Miller
school nurse, Emporia Middle School
Retirement:
Carla Fessler
student support specialist, Riverside Elementary
Termination:
Jessica Clements
paraeducator, Village Elementary
Patricia Del Alba
paraeducator, Maynard Early Childhood Center
|
|