WPS News features: Employee Inside Information:
School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Welcome to the 2007-2008 school year!
I want to welcome back all of you to another fantastic year in the Wichita Public Schools! There is nothing like the excitement of the start of a new school year. The new year brings optimism and focus to do what is best for our students. You have to have a passion for children to work in this district, and we do. We have the opportunity to make the world a better place by giving our students a great education. Our community has a better educated work force because of you!
It takes all of us – teachers, paras, principals, custodians, food service workers and everyone else in this district – to help children be successful in school and in life. We don't expect you to do it alone. Share ideas and learn from your peers. Increasing student achievement and narrowing the gap is too complex to do by yourself. One of the reasons we are so successful is our ability to collaborate with each other.
We have many things to look forward to this year. Construction on the new K-8 school in northeast Wichita and the new Earhart Environmental Magnet will be complete by next fall. Our student achievement continues to increase. The Board of Education supported a 4-percent pay increase for employees. This allows us to continue our district’s commitment to being one of the top-paying districts in Kansas, and to hire and retain the best and brightest employees.
I want you to keep your enthusiasm throughout the year. I want you to interact with our students and challenge them. Even if you don't work in a school, when you're visiting one of our schools, smile or say hello to our students. Show them you care. Our kids need you.
Thank you for working with us and choosing the Wichita Public Schools; the greatest school district in America.
--Winston Brooks, Superintendent
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Our students are special and deserve the best
On behalf of the Board of Education, I welcome each of you to the beginning of another school year.
To those of you who are new to the Wichita Public Schools, I bring a special welcome to our district. We are pleased you were selected to work with us. For the returning employees, we are glad you are back.
The Wichita school district is unique in Kansas. Not only are we the largest school district but we are also the most diverse. Last year our 48,770 students brought with them a rich diversity in cultures, languages, and special needs. They also brought challenges as more than 65% qualified for free/reduced lunches, 11% were classified as ESOL students, almost 17% were in need of special education services, more than 900 were listed as homeless (without a permanent address) and they spoke 71 languages. No other district in Kansas comes close to these demographics.
Our students are very special people. They come to us with hopes, dreams, goals, and eager to learn. They also come to us homeless, hungry, hurt, lonely, afraid, angry, and insecure. For many of our students, their school is the only place where they feel safe and cared for. This is a heavy burden for us to carry. It is my firm belief that in order for a child to learn they must first be respected and treated with dignity and told they are important. It is also my firm belief that our students are just as good and just as smart as students in any school district in the state.
Wichita is a good urban district. We can stand tall among urban districts across the country. But this isn’t enough. We need to move from good to great. Wichita can and should be the school district that stands out above all other districts in the state.
This takes more than dollars. It takes everyone working together focused on improving student achievement and closing the achievement gap. The Board of Education, administration, principals, teachers, support staff, clerical staff, custodians and school service center people, security, technicians, everyone is part of the picture.
We are going to have a great year. Thank you for your efforts and for the part you play.
--Connie Dietz, Board of Education President
Teachers, SEIU and School Board settle contract negotiations
The United Teachers of Wichita and the Service Employees International Union (Local 513) have both reached tentative one-year contract agreements with the Wichita Board of Education for the 2007-2008 school year. The tentative agreements were announced on July 24. The negotiating teams have arrived at compensation and benefits packages that are almost identical. For all employee groups, the Board of Education will pay $552 a month per employee for health insurance, with teachers having the option of paying an additional $165 dollars a month for the premium health insurance package.
The salary and benefit package for teachers is valued at 6.51 percent and includes:
· 4 percent increase to the salary schedule;
· Raises for additional education and years of experience (Steps and Tracks); and
· One day per year for special education teachers to work on Individual Education Plans (IEP) for their students
“We are pleased with this agreement, said Paul Babich, UTW President. “It shows that the Board is willing to do what it takes to continue to provide a highly competitive salary and benefits package for teachers.”
The salary and benefit package for SEIU is valued at 6.05 percent and includes:
· 4 percent increase to the salary schedule;
· Step advancement on the salary scale for all eligible employees on numbered steps
“We believe we have negotiated a contract that will benefit all classified employees,” said Julie Martin, unit chair, SEIU Local 513.
“The ability to hire and retain quality employees for Wichita’s schools is essential,” said Superintendent Winston Brooks. “This salary and benefits package allows for this to happen.”
“Strong schools equal a strong community and if you want families to move to our community, you need to have strong schools,” said Connie Dietz, Board of Education President.
The Board of Education will vote on the agreements during its August 13 meeting.
The United Teachers of Wichita represent nearly 4,000 teachers in the Wichita Public Schools. SEIU Local 513 represents nearly 1,900 classified employees in the district.
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Education EDGE makes a difference
Employees and community members can show their support of teachers and students by contributing to the Education EDGE. The Education EDGE allows employees to voluntarily give contributions to the Classroom Mini-Grant, Fine Arts and/or Athletics Gift Funds. To learn more, go to Education EDGE's website. Employee donation forms are in the process of being delivered to all employees by Education EDGE representatives. Employees who pledged last year will not need to fill out a form to continue their support, unless they wish to change the donation amount.
So far, employees and community members have pledged more than $1.4 million to the Education EDGE. Twenty Corporate Founders, consisting of major businesses, foundations and philanthropic leaders in Wichita, have contributed $50,000 or more, with donations totaling $1,073,000. In addition, nearly 800 pledges totaling $366,972 have been received from district staff, retirees and volunteers. This major $1.4 million milestone was celebrated on February 12, 2007.
The Education Edge Steering Team’s goal for the 2007-2008 school year is to gather support from 40 additional businesses to contribute $25,000 or more.
Over the last two years the Fine Arts Gift Fund has been used to purchase 18 musical instruments, 12 kilns, 5 potters wheels, 3 digital cameras, 73 stage lighting instruments and devices for school auditoriums and a NEC projector.
Over the last two years the Athletic Gift Fund has purchased uniforms for one of the sports teams at each comprehensive high school. The Athletic Gift Fund Team is also continuing to accumulate funds for their top priority of improving track facilities, which will take a number of years to acquire the funds needed to replace the existing outdated cinder tracks.
In the last two years, fourteen Education EDGE classroom mini-grants have been awarded, totaling $50,215. The awards were presented to nine elementary teachers or teams, two middle school teachers or teams and three high school teachers or teams.
More Education EDGE gifts will be announced during the August 13 Board of Education Meeting.
The Wichita Public Schools would like to thank all who have contributed to the Education EDGE. The gifts are making a big difference for our teachers and our students.
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"Tech Focus" cable show highlights innovative teaching
A new television show, premiering August 14 on the district's cable channel, will highlight the way technology is used in our classrooms. "Tech Focus," a monthly show on Schoolhouse 20, will show fun and engaging ways technology is being used to enhance lessons. The show is also designed for teachers to learn new and innovating teaching ideas from their colleagues. The show is produced by Media Productions in collaboration with Instructional Technology.
The show is made up of four segments: a feature on how technology is used to engage students; Technology Tip of the Month, which gives helpful computer and software tips; Focus on the Internet, which looks at different internet issues; and Focus on the Classroom, a look at how teachers are using technology on specific projects. The first episode of "Tech Focus" will look at the Interactive Distance Learning classrooms and how it helps expand high school course offerings for students; will explain how to create a photo album in the latest version of PowerPoint; will look at internet safety and will highlight how fourth grade teachers at Pleasant Valley Elementary use technology to teach civics with the Classroom City Project.
The show will air on Schoolhouse 20:
Mondays at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays at 9 a.m.
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 9:30 a.m.
Sundays at 7:30 p.m.
“Tech Focus” will also be posted online to be viewed at your convenience. To find a show, click here.
Upcoming episodes of “Tech Focus” will highlight how teachers are using SmartBoards, Clickers, Airliners, and other instructional technology tools.
Anyone who has suggestions on innovative classroom projects to highlight can email them to techfocus@usd259.net.
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Former Payne student takes fifth-grader shopping
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| Wendell Thomas, fifth-grade student at Payne Elementary, tries to decide on folder and notebook designs for school. Former Payne student Tom Guild, left, purchased school supplies and clothes for Thomas. Payne principal Donna Welty assists with the shopping. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Payne Elementary fifth-grade student Wendell Thomas will have new clothes and school supplies for the first day of school, thanks to former Payne student Tom Guild. For the past few years, Guild has taken a student shopping to give back to the school. Guild attended Payne in kindergarten and part of first-grade in the 1960's.
"We didn't have enough food and clothing at home. The teachers at Payne brought me food and clothes that they paid for out of their own pockets," Guild said. "They were the only nice adults in my life at that time," he said.
Because of the generosity of his teachers, Guild has always felt a special connection to Payne. He credits them for giving him a foundation, which helped him grow into a successful adult. Guild received his law degree and is a Business Professor at Oklahoma City University.
Thomas was excited about being randomly selected to go on the shopping trip with Guild. After he put on a new pair of shoes, he ran down the aisle.
"I needed new shoes. My other ones are falling apart," he said.
Before the shopping trip, Guild talked with a few students about his days at Payne, the importance of receiving an education and being a leader at school. He told the students about Tommy's Fund, which he started at the school five years ago to purchase school supplies, clothing and other items to support the students and the school. So far, Guild has donated $700 to Tommy's Fund.
"I know what it's like to have nothing," Guild said. "It's nice have the means as an adult to give something back."
To donate to Tommy's Fund, contact the school at 973-7850.
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Employee Benefits Open Enrollment ends August 15
Online enrollment for benefits will be held until August 15. Because of changes to the health plan, online enrollment is mandatory this year. Every benefited employee must enroll online this year.
During Open Enrollment employees will be able to:
- Change health plans
- Add or remove dependents to your health plan
- Change beneficiary designations for district life insurance online and print a form to update KPERS beneficiaries
- Enroll in Flex Spending for 2007/2008 for medical or dependent care
Employees who do not go online to enroll, will not have medical, pharmacy or dental coverage.
Please do not neglect this important activity.
If you are enrolling from a USD259 network computer click here to enter the benefits enrollment program.
If you are enrolling from home or other non-district computer, click here to enter the benefits enrollment program.
If you need assistance, contact Employee Benefits/Risk Management at riskmanagement@usd259.net or call 973-4581.
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Pay date changes for monthly employees
Employees who are paid monthly will soon have their pay date moved. Starting in September, all monthly employees will be paid on the 20th of each month. If the 20th of the month falls on a weekend, the payday will be the Friday before to the 20th date.
"With monthly paid employees, at times there was a 6 week gap between pay," said Debbie Thomas, Payroll Supervisor. "At Winter break last year, a monthly paid employee received their pay on December 21 and their next pay was not until January 31. The new pay date will simplify this and they will receive their payments on a regular schedule."
More more information can be found on Payroll's portal site.
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Teachers: Transcript deadline is Sept. 10
Any certified teacher that has acquired college credit to move up for a Track increase in pay, needs to turn in his/her transcripts to Human Resources, attention Heather Ybarra, by September 10. Once the transcript has been received in Human Resources, a confirmation letter will be forwarded to the employee for verification.
The agreement with the United Teachers of Wichita states "All salary placements are subject to verification of experience and training and shall be adjusted in any direction for each school year to the level for which the teacher proves his/her entitlement on or before September 10 of each year."
If you have any questions, please call Heather Ybarra , Certification Technician, 973-4619 or email hybarra@usd259.net.
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Employees asked to keep old directories
Employee directories for the 2007-08 school year will not be available until late fall. Employees are asked to keep their copies of the 2006-07 directory until that time.
Employees who have home address and/or phone number changes, or who wish to have their phone numbers and/or addresses "unlisted" in the directory, should send a written request to Human Resources - Attn: Peggy Warrender by Sept. 7. A change of address/phone form is available from the Human Resources portal site. Requests will not be accepted over the phone.
Copies of the 2006-07 Employee Directory are available for $2.25 in the Marketing and Communications office, 5th floor of the Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center, 201 N. Water.
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School Supply Landslide taking donations
The 12th Annual KAKE-TV School Supply Landslide will collect supplies from now until August 26, 2007. The Landslide is co-sponsored by Credit Union of America, The Wichita Eagle, Radio Disney, Wichita Public Schools, The Salvation Army, and Arby’s. The Salvation Army will distribute donated items to locations throughout the Wichita area.
School supplies may be delivered to KAKE-TV, Wichita-area Credit Union of America locations, The Wichita Eagle, Radio Disney, and The Salvation Army. Monetary donations are also accepted. All checks should be made out to “The Salvation Army” with “School Supply Landslide” noted on the memo line at the bottom of your check.
The Landslide began in 1996 in response to concerns expressed by area educators and parents about children coming to school without the supplies they need. Since then, the School Supply Landslide distributed school supplies to over 55,000 qualified Sedgwick County students.
For more information and for distribution locations, click here.
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SCOPE students help with the greening of Wichita
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| Students in the SCOPE program show the seedlings they received from the Kansas Forestry Service. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students involved in the SCOPE summer enrichment program received a small tree on July 21 as part of the program's theme of "The greening of Wichita." Students involved in SCOPE, which stands for Summer Opportunities for Personal Expression, had been learning about the environment and recycling. The Kansas Forestry Service, working with SCOPE teachers Beverly Hoskins and Jill Locke, donated the trees. Each student was encouraged to plant the trees, therefore contributing to the greening of Wichita.
"We have a responsibility as teachers to encourage our students to become involved not only through recycling but through proactive activities such as the planting of trees," said SCOPE director Peggy Thorpe.
The students also received redbud and catalpa seeds. This is the nineteenth year for the SCOPE program in Wichita.
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