Fulton Focus
For the parents and patrons of the Fulton School District
October 11, 2019
A message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Patrons:
Student and faculty safety is of paramount importance to everyone in the community. The District strives to prepare all students, faculty, and staff for incidents that affect student safety. Last Friday our faculty, students, and area law enforcement responded to the report of a person with a gun inside the Fulton Middle School. Even though the threat proved to be false, fears did not subside until the individual that made the call was identified. Kudos to students, faculty, and law enforcement for quickly and properly responding to the threat! And a big Thank You to each of you for supporting our student safety efforts.
Continuing to think about student safety, the Missouri State legislature recently created new requirements for those wishing to volunteer in a school. The new definitions of a volunteer and screened volunteer follow.
Volunteer – Any parent or person in the community who provides uncompensated service to the district. As used in this procedure, a “volunteer” does not include students participating in a district-sponsored program, such as tutoring or acting as an office or teaching assistant.
Screened Volunteer – A volunteer who may periodically be left alone with students. Usually, screened volunteers commit to assist the school on a regular basis. Examples of a screened volunteer include persons who regularly assist in the office or library, mentor or tutor students, coach or supervise a school-sponsored activity before or after school, or chaperone students on an overnight trip.
The preceding definitions and other volunteer information are located in the Board of Education Policy Manual, file IICC-AP(1) School Volunteers. The policy manual is accessed on the FPS web site.
To continue volunteering in areas with school faculty immediately in your presence, such as class parties, providing classroom assistance, and field day assistance has not changed. Process for a volunteer:
Complete the Volunteer Application
Complete the Request for Child Abuse or Neglect/Criminal Record form
Upon review and approval by the Central Office, you may volunteer at activities with the approval of the Building Administrator and Classroom Teacher.
Should you choose to volunteer for an activity that you are the adult in contact with a student(s) and not in the immediate presence of school faculty, such as one on one tutoring and class field trips, you will need approval as a screened volunteer. Process for a screened volunteer:
Complete the Volunteer Application
Complete the Request for Child Abuse or Neglect/Criminal Record form
Receive preliminary approval from the Building Administrator to be a screened volunteer
Complete the Missouri Applicant Fingerprint Privacy Notice
Receive instructions and the FPS code ensuring FPS receives your background check results. (The check cost about $45 and is good for six years if the FPS code is used.)
Upon review and approval by the Central Office, you may access screened volunteer activities with the approval of the Building Administrator and Classroom Teacher.
We sincerely appreciate Volunteers in our buildings. Our common goal is student safety. Questions may be addressed to me or any building principal.
Sincerely,
Jacque A. Cowherd, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Facilities Planning Community Forum #4
At their October meeting, the FPS Board of Education approved the following list as the priority for projects when the April 2020 bond issue passes. This list will be the topic of discussion at the fourth and final Facilities Planning Community Forum at the end of October (see below for details).
In general, the District will seek to borrow $27,000,000 for the purpose of constructing, renovating, improving, furnishing and equipping school facilities of the District, including
• Secure Entries at all schools
• Security Camera Upgrades, Intercom Improvements, and various other Security Improvements
• High School Gymnasium Addition
• High School Theater Improvements
• Middle School Gym Renovation
• Middle School Classroom Addition
• New School for Kindergarten Students
• Athletic Complex Parking Lot Addition
• District-wide HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, Parking Lot and Sidewalk Improvements
Please plan to attend and give FPS your feedback. We appreciate the support received from the community as FPS has gone through this process. This community forum will also be broadcast through Facebook Live on the Fulton Public Schools Facebook page.
Superintendent Search Criteria
House Bill 300: 2018-19 Annual Interscholastic Youth Sports Brain Injury Report
Important Dates
Wednesday, October 30 - Superintendent Search Criteria 5 p.m. FMS Library
Wednesday, October 30 -- Facilities Community Forum 6 p.m. FMS Carl E. Lee Gymnasium
Friday, November 1 -- NO SCHOOL
Monday, November 4--NO SCHOOL-- Professional Development Day
Wednesday, November 13 -- Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. FHS Library
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29--Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 9 --NO SCHOOL-- Professional Development Day
Wednesday, December 11-- Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. FHS Library
Monday, December 23 -- Friday, January 3 -- Winter Break
Monday, January 6 --NO SCHOOL-- Professional Development Day
Tuesday, January 7 - Classes Resume for 2nd Semester
Fulton Public Schools
Email: ksnethen@fulton58.org
Website: www.fulton58.org
Location: 2 Hornet Drive, Fulton, MO
Phone: 573-590-8000
Twitter: @FPSHornets