Click "View entire message" at the bottom of the email to view all the information included in the Warrior QuickNews.
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On April 9, 2020, Governor Mike Parson announced that Missouri schools shall remain closed through this school year. As a result, Smithville Schools will be closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. Our
Continuation of Learning Plan
and
free meal service
will continue through the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.
We will continue to update families and staff as information becomes available. We miss you, Warriors!
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In light of the school closure and wrapping up a very difficult time, our 2019-2020 school calendar will be adjusted to reflect Thursday, May 21 as the last day of school.
Smithville High School seniors' last day is Friday, May 8.
Let’s finish strong, Warriors!
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Meal Pick-up & Delivery Services
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To meet the needs of our families during this time, SSD will provide FREE school meals for all school-aged children (PK-12). These meals can be picked up at Horizon Elementary from 7-8 am or 11:30-12:30 pm each day or we can deliver them to homes. Please complete
this survey
to sign-up for meals. If you sign up after 5 pm, your delivery will start the day after next.
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April 22 Chicken Patty Wednesday Sign-up
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Are your kids craving Chicken Patty Wednesday? Help us support our community and feed this craving all at the same time!
- If you are not receiving school meals on a regular basis, sign up by completing the April 22 Chicken Patty Sign Up
- If you are able, bring a non-perishable food donation to support our weekly family food boxes. Check out suggestions by clicking here
- Drive through at Horizon Elementary from 11:30 AM -12:30 PM to pick up your chicken patty lunch and support our community at the same time!
If you do not sign up, we will not be able to serve you. Reserve your chicken patty today!
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Warriors Explore Summer School (incoming K-8)
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We are still holding out hope for a traditional K-8 Warriors Explore Summer School program in July, June is off the table at this point. At this time, our planning continues for this program to run from July 6 through July 31. The traditional high school online summer school programming will take place during its normal time frame as no adjustments will be necessary.
We will continue to stay in close contact with our local health officials and will follow their recommendations. Stay tuned for more information about registration coming in May.
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Kindergarten Registration, Screening & Placement Reimagined
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Hello, Class of 2033!
An exciting and fun system for screening and assigning kindergarteners to classrooms will take place when school starts this fall. For the first few days of school, children will rotate through the kindergarten classrooms and Encore classes (art, music, PE, technology and innovation, and library) and be mixed in large and small groups with a variety of new classmates. Each student will also be screened by school staff during this time.
Through observing and assessing students in the school at the start of the 2020-2021 school year, teachers will have enough information to make informed decisions on class assignments. During the Welcome to Kindergarten Program, teachers will come to know the whole child, not just their academic strengths, but their personalities and character.
We recognize that some children are nervous when beginning school. Teachers, principals, and our entire elementary school staff work hard during these first days to help your child feel safe, secure and valued. Students will be able to make many friends and meet many caring adults. Please watch our elementary school websites for updates on the Warriors Explore Summer Program and to view additional information about the 2020-2021 Welcome to Kindergarten Program.
If you have not already contacted your child's elementary school, please call your neighborhood school. Please go
here
to view which elementary school your child will attend based on where you live.
Children who reach the age of five (5) before August 1, 2020, are eligible for kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year. Click the image for details.
Eagle Heights Elementary: 816.532.5959
Horizon Elementary: 816.532.4566
Maple Elementary: 816.532.0589
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Administrator Announcement
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Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Ashley Doll to the Warrior Family. Mrs. Doll will serve at the assistant principal at Eagle Heights Elementary and Maple Elementary.
Read the full news release
here
.
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These are the highlights from the April 15th meeting of the Smithville School District Board of Education (BOE).
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- Approve Bills for Payment
- April Supplemental Pay
- Food Management Contract Extension
- Approval of Contractual Agreement for Panor
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- Our communication efforts have increased, both internally and externally, with weekly video presentations (BOE Priority #1).
- Virtual interviewing practices are proving efficient and at this time, we believe effective (BOE Priority #3).
- Budgeting decisions are being made with the anticipation of future withholdings from the state (BOE Priority #5).
- It is time to consider Board priorities for the 2020-2021 school year. Attached are this year's priorities.
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Mr. Krueger shared that staff open enrollment for benefits is scheduled to begin April 27 through May 8. Due to the school closure, staff will enroll via a telephone conference with an enrollment specialist from BeneBloc. Six on-line informational webinars are set up for staff to learn more about the benefits available which will go into effect on July 1. Effective June 30, Hickman Mills School District is exiting the SIPGKC self-insurance pool leaving Blue Springs, Grain Valley, and Smithville as members. While the goal is to expand membership, we will experience a reduction in stop loss premium for next year. Smithville is currently experiencing a 153% loss ratio for the year ending June 30 but due to the COVID-19 closure, claims have slowed, possibly reducing the need for special funding before June 30. It was a very prudent decision on behalf of the Board of Education to increase the Board of Education paid cap 11.87% for next year to maintain a fully paid benefit option for staff. On behalf of all staff, Mr. Krueger thanked the Board of Education.
It was also shared that work continues on current year FY20 budget and next year’s FY21 budget. A financial workshop will be held on Monday, May 4, at 7:00 p.m. (format to be determined). We are in strange times when it comes to school finance. School districts across the state are trying to get a handle on the impact of the school closures and impact of COVID-19 not just from a learning perspective but from a financial perspective also. What we assume at this point: there will be Federal stimulus dollars, possibly based on Title I prorations. We anticipate a drop in state funding for FY20 of approximately 2-3% and as much as 5-6% for FY21. The district receives 38% of its funding from the State of Missouri all based on “seat time” and in FY20, we projected to receive $12,500,000. We also received funding from state sales tax (Prop C) and gaming (Classroom Trust Fund) based on attendance, obviously both are going to be lower for the current year and possibly next year, how much is to be determined. Right now, it's too early to determine the financial impact on local revenue which is based on real and personal property. We anticipate little impact for FY20 but will keep a close eye on FY21 projections. The FY20 final budget revision and preliminary FY21 budget will be presented at the June 17 Board of Education meeting by Dr. Schuetz and Mr. Krueger.
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Comments from the Assistant Superintendent from Academic Services
Dr. Michelle Kratofil
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Dr. Kratofil provided an update on food support for families and students. We are currently serving about 500 students on a daily basis either through deliveries or drive-thru pickup at Horizon. In addition, we are providing food boxes for over 80 families. Dr. Kratofil thanked the following groups and individuals for their contributions to these efforts:
- Chris Donnelli and feednorthlandkids.org for providing food donations and financial support for the weekly food boxes.
- Price Chopper for generous pricing for the weekly food box items.
- The community of Smithville for their generous donations of money through feednorthlandkids.org or food items to supplement our food bank.
- Wayne Krueger for coordinating the large donations and purchases for the family food boxes.
- Jennifer Cramer, Kim Nitsche, our OPAA Managers, and Jasan Kraus for preparing the meals for our students and getting them ready for delivery and pickups.
- Coulter Bus, especially Kelly Dearinger and the drivers, who are delivering meals each day along with the following employees and board members who are also delivering meals each week - Len Matthies, Ashley Jones, Denise Harwood, Kim Davis, Jennifer Stanley and Dave Kratofil.
- Jennifer Robinson, Callie Downey, Christina Hough, and Ronda Boyd who are sorting the food donations in preparation for creating the food boxes for families.
- Tony Slack, Lisa Manz, Susan Argotsinger, Andrea Ambroson, and Christy Gilley for packing the food boxes for families.
The district is hoping for and planning for a July Warriors Explore program. The dates are set for July 6-31. A new registration form will be shared with families by the end of the month. If we are able to have a face-to-face summer school we will dedicate a portion of the school day to catching up on content that was missed due to our extended absence especially in the elementary grades. Online summer classes for high school students will begin on June 1 and end on July 31. Personal Finance, Health and ACT Prep will be offered. A registration form has been shared with all students in grades 9-11. Registration will close on April 26.
For the past three and a half weeks, we have been implementing our Continuation of Learning Plan. Kudos to our teachers, administrators, students and parents for their flexibility and perseverance throughout this time. Most students are working online but those who need paper lessons are receiving them.
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During the month of March, we received $2,098,261.80; making a total of $27,597,184.78 received since July 1, 2019. Expenditures for March were $8,544,099.14 making a total of $28,980,062.76 expended since July 1, 2019.
Patrons can access the revenue report, expenditure report, and check register for the district on the district
webpage
under Departments and Business & Finance.
While our current circumstance causes one to give pause as it relates to putting an issue on the August ballot, the administration recommends that we move forward with placing both questions on the ballot for the following reasons:
- This is the first phase of the new Master Building Plan and our students need and deserve the space.
- Both questions result in a no-tax rate increase.
- Moving money from debt service to operations is only more important now that the economy is taking a hit due to the virus.
- Construction is an economic simulator.
- We are informed that bids are coming in low in the industry and we will likely get more bang for our buck.
Dr. Schuetz and Mr. Krueger recommended a resolution calling an election authorizing the District to issue $14,100,000 in general obligation bonds for the purpose of constructing, improving, renovating, furnishing and equipping school facilities on August 4, 2020, as defined in the district's master facility plan.
To meet the deadline established by the Missouri Secretary of State, the approved resolution must be to the County Board of Election by May 26, 2020, for the August 4, 2020, election.
The Board approved the ballot language as presented but will consider submitting the question to the election officials at their May 4 workshop or their May 20 regularly scheduled meeting.
The recommended resolution, if approved, will allow $0.10 to be transferred from Fund 3 (debt service) to Fund 1 (operating/incidental) resulting in a NO TAX RATE INCREASE. It is estimated the $0.10 will generate approximately $250,000 in additional operating funds while still leaving the district's debt service levy at a level to meet the district's debt obligation and in compliance with state law. The funds will be used for technology, supplies, operating expenses, and personnel expenses.
Dr. Schuetz and Mr. Krueger recommended a resolution calling an election on August 4, 2020, authorizing the District to increase its operating tax levy ceiling by $0.10 per $100 of assessed valuation to provide funds for the purpose of paying general operating expenses for the District.
If this question is approved, the adjusted operating property tax levy of the District is expected to increase from $3.9465 to $4.0465 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation of real and personal property and the District expects to make a corresponding reduction to its debt service property tax levy of $0.10 resulting in the estimated overall District adjusted property tax levy to remain unchanged at $5.1000 per one hundred dollars of assessed valuation.
To meet the deadline established by the Missouri Secretary of State, the approved resolution must be to the County Board of Election by May 26, 2020, for the August 4, 2020, election. The Board is awaiting ballot language changes to be presented at the May 4 Board workshop.
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Mr. Krueger recommended the Board authorize administration to continue wage payments for all regular employees, contractual and non-contractual, salaried and non-salaried - whose duties may be modified as a result of the emergency COVID-19 closing for the purpose of maintaining morale, reducing turnover, and ensuring continuity of staffing when school resumes to full operations. Recommendation is through the remainder of the FY20. The Board approved the continuation of compensation as stated above.
Mr. Krueger recommended the Board approve the enclosed architectural contract from ACI/Boland, timeline, and fee proposal for six additional classrooms at Eagle Heights Elementary. The Board will consider this for a vote when a determination is made regarding submitting the ballot question to fund the construction in question to the state for inclusion on the August ballot.
Dr. Kratofil recommended the Board approve the adjustment of graduation requirements for the class of 2020. The Board approved reducing the total number of credits required for graduation to 24 and the total number of English Language Arts credits required for graduation to 3.5 for the graduating class of 2020 only.
The Board approved personnel recommendations and administrator contract renewals as presented.
DESE is still requiring schools to complete 1044 hours of instruction, however, this may be achieved with a waiver in light of the circumstances. Commissioner Vandeven has indicated such waivers will be granted.
Our originally scheduled last day of school was May 22 but that date was pushed back to May 29 as a result of snow days. In light of the school closure and wrapping up a very difficult time, Dr. Schuetz proposed our 2019-2020 school calendar be adjusted to reflect May 21 as the end of our term. The Board approved the adjustment of the 2019-2020 school calendar so that May 21 is the last day of school for students.
Miscellaneous
- The state auditor's office has confirmed that a petition with signatures has been submitted requesting the state audit the Smithville School District. They are currently in the process of verifying signatures. This additional expense will likely come at a very bad time should the audit become active.
- The April 7 general election was postponed by the Governor until June 2. That is still wishful thinking but we'll see. The terms set to expire will continue until the election. Likewise, your reorganization will need to wait until after the election.
- Mr. Krueger and Dr. Schuetz are still planning a virtual budget workshop for the Board on May 4.
Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
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Congratulations to seniors John Weis and Delaney Hirst for being awarded the Smithville Sons of the American Legion Scholarship. John was awarded $1000. He plans to attend the University of Missouri - Columbia and major in Actuarial Science & Mathematical Finance. Delaney was awarded $500. She plans to attend Missouri Southern State University and major in Biology/Pre-Med.
Sydnee Flowers placed 2nd in the Mid Continent Library’s LitUp Festival! Her piece, “Death,” is a short fiction with an ominous tone and sophisticated style! She will receive a new Kindle 10 and publication in the LitUp 2020 Anthology.
Katelin Meek was awarded 1st PLACE for her essay in the Law Day Essay Contest for the Missouri Bar Association! Her topic was the impact of the 19th Amendment. Katelin will receive a plaque, bragging rights, AND $300!
Delaney Hirst and Eastlyn Koons are the recipient of a $2000 Elizabeth Spelman Health Career Scholarship from St. Luke's North Hospital. Delaney plans to major in Biology/Pre-Med and Eastlyn plans to major in Communication Sciences & Disorders.
Tucker Sharpe has been named to the MBCA Academic All-State Team! This is a very prestigious award and is a testament to Tucker's hard work in the classroom! He is the first Warrior to receive this award since 2013 and only the 4th in school history (Howe '13, Townsend '13, Townsend '10).
The Missouri Association of Student Council recently held a live streaming event where they announced the 2020 Distinguished Student Leaders. 9 Smithville High School students applied and were chosen as meeting the qualifications for this honor. The students selected were: Rylee Ambroson, Molli Atkinson, Jaedra Hopkins, Eastlyn Koons, Brianna Lewis, Rachel Maples, Ella Marshall, Delaney Odneal, and Lydea Snarr.
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Follow along on social media as we celebrate the Class of 2020!
- Facebook - @SHSWarriorStrong
- Twitter - @WActivities
- Instagram - @warriors_shs and @warriorstrongshs
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Shop AmazonSmile & Support SSD's Foundation
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Customers shop. Amazon gives.
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.
Consider supporting SSD's Foundation when making your next Amazon purchase. Click the image for details.
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DISTRICT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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We are frequently approached by members of the business community wanting to promote their business to the staff of the Smithville School District. We appreciate the services local businesses offer to our community and staff and would like to work together to promote businesses while supporting the students and staff of Smithville School District.
For this reason, we provide a format to assist in the promotion of businesses through our District sponsorship program. The sponsorship dollars will assist in providing staff and student activities, services, or awards in addition to creating ways for you to share and promote your business and services.
Sponsorship and support of the District is available at various levels – bundled or separately.
To learn more about our sponsorship program, click
here
.
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Smithville School District
655 S. Commercial Ave.
Smithville, MO 64089
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