#KSD Reimagine
Update from Kuna Superintendent Wendy Johnson
8.13.2021
In this update:
- Increase access to COVID tests could help reduce quarantine times
- Working on online option
- Elementary teacher lists coming next week
- Middle schools sharing schedules before the start of school
- Bus route info will be posted Friday, Aug. 20
- How to help students, if you would like to
- Rumor Patrol: School districts accepting federal funds must mandate masks
- Rumor Patrol: Idaho has new common core standards teaching Islam
- Scholarships available for high quality preschool
- Immunization clinic Tuesday!
Increase access to COVID tests could help reduce quarantine times
Kuna Families
I have a very "newsy" newsletter for you this week!
You may have heard news that Idaho Governor Brad Little is making more COVID tests available for school districts to use this school year.
We don't know the details about this. We are optimistic that this could help us as we strive to keep students in school (and in activities) and out of quarantine. I want to assure parents that students will not be tested without parent permission.
We also will not vaccinate children without parent permission. We've shared information about our traditional vaccination clinic which is Tuesday. The event will have COVID vaccinations available for those families who want to access this for their children.
Working on online option
We had not planned for an online option, after interest waned last spring. However with the increase in COVID cases, we had enough families respond that we will be working on an option for them.
Families who signed up for this option can expect:
- Call from their child's school with more information
- Daily contact from a teacher assigned to their child
- Online lesson that must be completed
Again, schools will reach out to families that signed up for this option.
Elementary teacher lists coming next week
Elementary schools will share information with their families on Friday, Aug. 20 about who their children’s teachers are. Families will get to meet teachers Tuesday, Aug. 24 in person at the elementary open houses from 4 to 6 p.m.!
We appreciate your patience as our schools are adjusting class rosters as we accommodate new students to our community. Parents with questions may contact their school principal.
Middle schools sharing schedules before the start of school
Here's the plan:
- Kuna Middle School will post schedules the week of Aug. 16-20.
- Fremont Middle School will post schedules the week of Aug. 23-27. Students will receive a paper copy in advisory on the first day of school.
Bus route info will be posted Friday, Aug. 20
On Friday, Aug. 20, our transportation team will post morning and afternoon bus routes on our website.
Parents can find their child(ren)’s bus stop using these steps:
Log into your Tyler Parent Portal and find your bus numbers
Click the bus route quick link on our website
Find your school (s) on the morning and afternoon routes
Click on the bus number PDF and find the stop closest to your home
Check the website regularly for updates as we adjust routes to add new students
What if there is no bus number in Tyler?
Students must be assigned to a bus in order to ride. If you are new to our district or if your child is new to riding the bus, please call our Transportation Department as soon as possible at (208) 922-1013. Staff are available at 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The start of school is a high call volume time, we appreciate your patience and ask that you please leave a message.
Tips for the school year
Visit your child’s stop before the start of school and review expectations for behavior while waiting for the bus
Plan for your child to be at their stop 5 minutes before pickup
Expect to hear about evacuation drills. We do two each year as part of our safety work. They take about 5 minutes, students are not counted as tardy.
Reminder students that large items that cannot fit in a backpack -- including skateboards -- are prohibited on buses.
Do call if you have questions or concerns.
Pedestrian improvements make area walkable for secondary students
We are excited to see improvements in our community to make areas that are a mile and half from our schools more walkable so more of our students can safely walk to school.
The addition of sidewalks and other pedestrian safety improvements means the area shown in the photo above no longer meet criteria to receive busing services for students in high school and middle school.
The area impacted is bordered by Linder, Deer Flat, Meridian, and Ardell roads. The change impacts about 10 secondary students. Elementary students in this area are still eligible for bus service.
How to help students, if you would like to
We love our community!
This past Monday, the first day of a three-day event, we ran out of free school supplies for our families in need.
So many reached out and asked: “How can we help? Can we donate backpacks and supplies to help?”
The answer: Absolutely. Here’s how to donate:
Drop off at our Community Center
The center is located at Ross Elementary School, 610 N. School Ave. Donated supplies will be distributed to students in need across the district.
Contact: Terri Reno, 208 472-9736
Drop off donations for specific schools at the school
Drop off supplies at the school in care of the social worker, who will get them to students who need them. Social worker contacts:
Crimson Point, Ross, & Silver Trail elementary schools - Jeff Harry, 208 922-1000 ext. 3609
Reed - Shannon Shayne, 208 922-1000, ext. 4325
Hubbard, Indian Creek Sara Lawson, 208 922-1000, ext. 3302
Our school supply lists are posted at each school's website.
KSD Mask Policy Approved May 2021 in effect now
KSD Mask Policy Proposed Changes 2021-22
Rumor Patrol: School districts accepting federal funds must mandate masks
Answer: No. Confusion about this seems to come from an Idaho State Department of Education checklist that asks districts, also called LEAs, to complete. The checklist indicates that all safety measures were considered and does not require adoption of CDC Guidelines.
Here is the language from that document (LEA refers to school district): ""the LEA is not required to implement all strategies, but the LEA’s plan must include information about the LEA’s policy for each mitigation strategy."
We've reviewed the CDC guidance as well as other information as we developed our school-based mask use policy shown above.
Under either version of the policy, masks are optional for students and staff when the level of local community spread is "green" or "yellow" and required in "red. "The board will review the proposed changes, shown above, at its Sept. 14 meeting which will be held at the Kuna Performing Arts Center.
Rumor Patrol: Idaho has new common core standards teaching Islam
Rumor: Idaho has new common core standards teaching Islam
Answer: No. We're sharing this information proactively after residents in another school reported getting this false information. Learn more here. And, please, if you receive something like this in the mail please let us know with an email to ksdcommunications@kunaschools.org
Immunization clinic Tuesday!
- School Supply Lists
- Bell Schedules
- In Person Elementary Open House 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 24
- Bus routes, stops available a week before school
- School starts Thursday, Aug. 26
Superintendent Wendy Johnson
Email: ksdcommunications@kunaschools.org
Website: www.kunaschools.org
Location: 711 East Porter Street, Kuna, ID, USA
Phone: 208-922-1000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kuna-Jt-School-District-No-3
Twitter: @Supt_Wendy_J