School Highlights: Points of Pride:
Bond issue builds 60 safe room storm shelters
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| Washington Elementary students participate in P.E. class in the school's multipurpose room that is also a safe room. Photo by Margery Hannah |
One component of the $370 million bond issue would build 60 safe room storm shelters for schools that do not have them. Currently, 37 schools have safe room storm shelters. Most students in the district have to shelter in place in hallways, locker rooms and rest rooms during bad weather.
The Board of Education will hear a report about the safe room additions for the bond issue during its Sept. 8 meeting. To see the list of schools that will receive a safe room storm shelter, and where that shelter will be designed in the school, click here.
The Wichita Public Schools had three schools that were hit by two separate tornadoes in 1999. Jefferson Elementary was struck by a tornado on April 5, 1999. Greiffenstein Special Education Center was destroyed and Chisholm Life Skills Center was heavily damaged on May 3, 1999. All three schools now have safe rooms.
"I can still remember the morning of the tornado at Jefferson and arriving that morning and seeing the devastation," said Julie Bettis, principal at Washington Elementary and former Jefferson Elementary staff member. "I can't imagine going through that again where the kids come to school and their classes are blown away."
"When you're at a school without a safe room, where students are using books to cover their heads during severe weather, is not a confident situation. Being at a school with a safe room, where my students can be learning, teachers can do activities with them, I feel so much more confident as a principal," Bettis said.
Other uses besides shelters
Safe rooms are not solely used as storm shelters. Safe rooms are constructed as multipurpose rooms, classroom wings, physical education spaces and libraries. Many of the new additions that will be built with the bond issue will also be safe rooms.
"The rooms are being used throughout the day and are not just used during bad weather," said Julie Hedrick, Director of Design and Construction. "It's a good use of taxpayer dollars to have safe rooms as instructional spaces and not just shelters."
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| Jefferson Elementary was hit by a tornado in 1999. Photo courtesy Jefferson |
"A proactive school district"
FEMA standards for safe rooms didn't exist when the district passed its 2000 bond issue. The district was involved from the beginning on the creation of safe room standards for schools. After the standards were created and as FEMA grants became available, the district used the money to support new construction that was already taking place.
"When we saw the opportunity for those FEMA grants, we jumped on it," Hedrick said.
A case study conducted by FEMA in 2002 called Wichita "a proactive school district" for implementing a school shelter initiative, and stated other districts are following the Wichita Public Schools' lead.
"After tornados hit our district, and after tornados that recently hit schools in Greensburg and Chapman, we know it can happen and we want to have a safe places for our students and staff to go during a storm," Hedrick said.
A critical need
Many parents with children in schools without safe rooms say having shelters at their schools is their top priority. A survey conducted by Wichita State University in the fall of 2005 showed more than 93 percent of the 6,000 respondents supported the construction of safe rooms in the 2000 bond issue.
Other critical needs of the bond issue are to reduce class sizes and address overcrowding; support the end to forced busing, upgrade technical education programs and renovate or rebuild aging and unsafe physical education, athletic and fine arts facilities.
More information about the bond issue can be found on the Wichita Public Schools' website.
It's about Our Kids, Our Schools and Our Future!
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How FEMA grants support safe room construction
The safe rooms in the bond issue will be built as multipurpose rooms, classroom suites, physical education spaces or libraries. In order to receive funding from FEMA for safe room construction, school districts must use their own funds for basic construction. FEMA then provides funds to reinforce that area to meet FEMA tornado-safe standards. Only new construction can be reinforced as FEMA safe rooms; the district cannot use FEMA funds to reinforce existing spaces.
The cost of construction for the safe rooms to the district is $60 million, while FEMA pays $18 million to harden the safe rooms. The total cost is $78 million. Many of the new fine arts and physical education spaces in the bond issue will be reinforced as FEMA safe room storm shelters.
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Participate in a survey about the next superintendent
The Board of Education is asking community members what they think are the most important qualities in the next superintendent. Employees and community members are encouraged to participate in an online survey to help guide the BOE’s selection of the next superintendent. The survey can be found on the Wichita Public Schools’ website.
The questions follow three key topics identified by the BOE:
- Direction of the Wichita Public Schools
- Upcoming challenges and priorities
- Characteristics of the next superintendent
There is also a section for patrons to share their own opinions. All information shared will be anonymous.
The BOE will host its annual Board’s Night Out on Sept. 29, 6:30 - 8 p.m. to gather additional feedback about the superintendent search. The Board's Night Out locations will be Jackson, Southeast and South. Feedback from the survey and Board's Night Out will be shared with the BOE on Oct. 13.
The BOE plans to have a list of candidates by the beginning of December and have a superintendent hired by the end of February.
To sign up for email updates on the superintendent search, click here.
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United Way/Friendship Fund campaign begins
The United Way/Friendship Fund campaign is underway. The United Way kicked off its annual drive on Sept. 4th at Century II with the $16.8 million campaign goal was revealed. Those who attended the Kick Off breakfast were welcomed by the music of Wilbur Middle School's Jazz Band under the direction of Bret Goter.
“Live United” is the theme of this year’s United Way/Friendship Fund campaign in the Wichita Public Schools. Each employee will receive a pledge form for an opportunity to give to the campaign. Last year, district employees pledged a total of $248,625, up $7,856 from the previous school year.
Approximately 30 percent of the annual campaign is directed toward USD 259’s Friendship Fund that assists our own employees. Each year, around 100 district employees receive financial assistance from our Friendship Fund.
An application form for the Friendship fund can be found on the district’s portal site. The Friendship Fund committee is comprised of active and retired USD 259 employees and meets monthly to hear and act upon employee requests.
Joe Hoover, Facilities Technician, has been selected to be the district's United Way Loaned Executive, to assist with the overall campaign. Mary Whiteside, Executive Director of Personnel and Jackie Farha, Title I Improvement Supervisor, participated on a volunteer United Way Allocations Review Panel to ensure 2008 donations will be invested for maximum community impact.
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Ron Clark inspires teachers
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| Nationally known teacher Ron Clark shares his upbeat story to inspire teachers. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Hundreds of teachers from the Southeast feeder pattern were inspired by listening to nationally-known teacher Ron Clark, author of The Essential 55. Clark, who teaches in Harlem, shared stories about how he inspires his high school students and raised their test scores.
He told the teachers that they need to find creative ways to get students interested in learning. He demonstrated how he taught his students the basics of algebra with a song and dance to a popular pop song. The teachers laughed and applauded at his high-energy performance.
Clark told teachers that their students need to have manners and rules, but classrooms need to be a place for students to be creative.
"Have high expectations for your students and they will rise to the occasion," Clark said.
"We (educators) have more power than anyone," he said. "We have the power to teach children and shape the future. We have to use that power every day."
"He was phenomenal," said Southeast principal Leroy Parks. "I could have listened to him all day."
Clark has been honored at the White House, featured on Oprah and had a TV movie made about him.
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Cadets participate in Black Arts Festival Parade
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| Photo courtesy Robert Hester |
More than 50 Leadership cadets from Jardine, Mead, Marshall and Curtis marched in the Black Arts Festival Parade on October 30. The cadets’ Color Guard led the parade, which started at Wichita State University and ended at McAdams Park.
This was the first event for Marshall Leadership cadets. Marshall began its Leadership program this year.
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Retroactive pay coming the end of September
Retroactive pay for A-J and K-Z employee groups will come on the September 26 paycheck. Employees will receive retroactive pay culinating from July when pay raises took effect.
The Board of Education voted to approve the agreements during its August 25 meeting.
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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 Linda Wagner, 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 Linda Wagner, Certification Technician, 973-4619 or email lwagner@usd259.net.
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Reception thanked student teachers for their work
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| Shelly Martin, Director of Licensed Personnel, talks with student teachers about working for the district. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Fall semester student teachers had an opportunity to network and be thanked for their work during a reception held on August 28. District officials thanked the 65 student teachers for their dedicated service and devotion to Wichita students.
Shelly Martin, Director of Licensed Personnel, talked about the advantages of teaching in Wichita and encouraged them to apply for jobs in Wichita when they complete their student teaching. Martin also explained the hiring process and benefits the district offers to its employees.
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Book study helps shrink the urge to eat
Employees are invited to participate in a book study for tips on how to lose weight. The district is offering a four-session book study of Dr. Roger Gould’s book, Shrink Yourself. The book helps participants examine why overeating occurs and what can be done to break the cycle of dieting and effectively achieve long-term weight loss.
Classes are held every Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and run from September 11 to October 2. You can choose to attend from the following locations:
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School Service Center, Conference Room
3850 N. Hydraulic
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Wilbur Middle School, Library
340 N. Tyler
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Coleman Middle School, Library
1544 N. Governeour
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Enterprise Elementary, Library
3605 S. Gold
Employees can sign up at MyLearningPlan or by calling Risk Management at 973-4581 or email riskmanagement@usd259.net.
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North is a finalist for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art
North High School has been selected as one of 24 finalists for the 8 Wonders of Kansas Art by the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Community members can vote for North and other finalists online at www.kansassampler.org/8wonders/vote.php. The finalists that receive the most votes will be selected as the 8 Wonders.
Votes will be taken now until October 15. The top 8 Wonders of Kansas Art will be announced on October 31.
The Kansas Sampler Foundation’s 8 Wonders campaign is designed to let others learn about Kansas and to encourage the exploration of the Sunflower State.
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Teachers attend beef preparation workshop
Six high school ProStart teachers attended a beef culinary training sponsored by the Kansas Beef Council and hosted by Cargill Meat Solutions on August 5. Bonnie Olson, Southeast; Bev Swisher, West; Carla Poole, Heights; Barbara Cowles, South; Alison Hoffman, Northwest, and Kathy Tevebaugh, District Coordinator for FACS, attended the training to learn tips on how to best prepare beef. They learned about how certain cuts can be made into dishes suitable for serving in high-end restaurants.
ProStart is a program for high school students pursuing a career in the foodservice industry. ProStart is a partnership with the National Restaurant and Hospitality Association and the Kansas Restaurant and Hospitality Association.
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