Superintendent's Weekly Update
to School Board Directors and Student Representatives
October 23-27, 2023
State of Public Education
Investing in Tomorrow's Possibilities
Dr. Josh Garcia and I served as K-12 panelists at the 2nd annual Foundation for Tacoma Students State of Public Education on Wednesday. The event was meant to explore strategies that enrich students' experiences and nurture their full potential. Other panels included early learning, expanded learning opportunities, post secondary, and workforce representatives. The highlight of the event for me was sitting with students from our district and feeling their support as I led the conversation about the ten dimensions of belonging, the need for adequate funding, and creating strategic partnerships and scalable solutions to meet student needs. Kaden, along with a WHS student, served as student panelists (see photo above).
South Sound Legislative Briefing
This year’s Legislative Briefing for the South Sound Legislative Delegation will be on Tuesday, November 28th at 5:30 PM at the Courthouse Square (the old federal courthouse and post office building), at 1102 A Street, Tacoma WA in the 4th floor ballroom. Charlie Brown has provided us with an advance copy of the 2024 South Sound Supt Legislative Priorities document.
As with last year, this briefing is open to our board president, legislative representative, and superintendent.
TeacherEast Grade Book Update
We continued to struggle with electronic gradebook imports this week. Several newly identified barriers are now resolved and we expect the system to be up and running on Monday. In tandem we are investigating other gradebook options for the long term. The plans for 1st quarter and trimester grade reports were provided to principals this morning so that grades can be properly provided to families whether TeacherEase is ready or not.
Novemberfest - Backpacks 4 Kids Fundraiser - Nov. 7
Join online and hear how B4K impacts our community, what it means to our volunteers, and why people just like you love to donate. All donations received by 11/30/23 will be matched!
WSSDA Annual Conference Information
On October 30, Mike Fong, Director of Washington State Department of Commerce will visit Harvard to view our solar panels and consider funding more of those types of projects in our district. The visit will include FPS staff, Director Fong, and potentially some local utility folks from TPU. We hope they will like it enough to figure out funding for the other four elementary installs😊.
Upcoming Events
- November 7 6:30 pm - Novemberfest Backpack4Kids Fundraiser (online)
- November 8 4:30-6 pm - GATES High School Open House
- November 14 6-8:30 pm - Work Session & Board Meeting
- November 16-18 - WSSDA Annual Conference (Bellevue)
- November 28 5:30 pm - Legislative Briefing (Courthouse Square) - For Board Presidents, Legislative Representatives, and Superintendents
School board events appear in bold.
Franklin Pierce Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to Brandy Marshall (bmarshall@fpschools.org), Compliance Coordinator for State and Civil Rights Laws; Wendy Malich (wmalich@fpschools.org), Title IX Officer; or John Sander (jsander@fpschools.org), 504/ADA Coordinator at 315 129th ST S, Tacoma, WA 98444-5099 or at (253) 298-3000.
Email:
- Superintendent: Lance Goodpaster lgoodpaster@fpschools.org
- Executive Assistant: Kristin Holten kholten@fpschools.org
Phone: 253.298.3010
Website: www.fpschools.org
Location: 315 129th St S, Tacoma, WA 98444, USA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FranklinPierceSchools/
Twitter: @FPSD402