Bulldog Bytes
A Newsletter for Employees of the Mexico59 March 2, 2016
Project Lead the Way
HCC League of Legends team update
National Honor Society Inductees
McMillan tours HCC
Duck Dynasty Day at Hawthorne
Eugene Field hosts PTO Movie night
Bulldog welcome to Kael Reeves
Congratulations to Katy (HAW) and Darryl Reeves, on the birth of their third child, Richard Kael Reeves 2/29/16 at 6:58 pm. Kael and momma are doing great. He weighed 7.4 lbs and 20 inches long. Kael is joining a 5-year-old brother Nolan and a 4-year-old sister Maggie.
University of Missouri - Columbia Occupational Therapy Student at ECC
Elementary Students receive Pedometers as part of a health grant
It Is Time To Speak Up For Public Education
It Is Time To Speak Up For Public Education
February 26, 2016
From the Missouri Education Roundtable which includes these organizations:
AFT Missouri
Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals
Missouri Association of School Administrators
Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals
Missouri Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA)
Missouri National Education Association
Missouri School Boards’ Association
Missouri State Teachers Association
To: School Board Members, School Administrators, Principals, Teachers, Parents and Public Education Supporters
Earlier this week, the Missouri House Budget Committee was presented with a proposed budget for K-12 education that has the potential to short-change Missouri school students. This budget, as presented for K-12 education, is built, in part, on assumptions for revenue that historically has not met expectations. The House Budget Committee is leading Missouri school districts and residents to believe that an increase in the foundation formula has been made.
An additional $61 million is needed to prevent state funding cuts to many school districts due to changes to the formula the legislature made two years ago that went into effect this year. The committee is proposing utilizing a "Surplus Revenue Fund" to pay for a large portion of the necessary formula increase. Unfortunately, this funding only kicks in after general revenue grows more than 3.1%. It appears that the state will not know if there will be ANY money in this fund until the school year has already ended. Missouri school districts must be able to budget based upon solid information and not risky accounting assumptions.
It is imperative that school board members, administrators, principals, teachers and parents contact their state representative(s) and ask them to provide a solid and significant increase to the foundation formula that will prevent any student from being short-changed by Jefferson City politics.
All certified staff received a memo on this last month. https://docs.google.com/a/mexico.k12.mo.us/document/d/1GnMqiOKjVF0C0OUblXaUyQxoD3luH_RH9SrS-F8Aydk/edit?usp=sharing
Request from Margie Vandeven, Commissioner of Education, DESE. Deadline March 4, 2016.
To all Administrators:
I wanted to provide you with a quick update on where we are with the Missouri Learning Standards and ask for your assistance. At the State Board of Education meeting last week, staff presented updated proposed Missouri Learning Standards for English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies based on the standards from the work groups. We are down to the wire and are doing all we can to ensure that these proposed standards are designed to better prepare Missouri students for college, the workforce and life. The State Board is expected to vote at their board meeting on March 15, 2016.
Things you should know:
- The proposed standards include changes from our current standards in all four content areas, i.e. the Common Core State Standards are not being recommended in English language arts and mathematics.
- Revisions were made in accordance with state statute. The Department's attempt to get input from stakeholders went above and beyond the dictates of state statute.
- Upon receipt of the work group recommendations, Department staff made necessary alignment and formatting changes drawn from the 3,000 comments received from educators, the public, the Joint Committee on Education and academic researchers.
Request for assistance:
I am requesting that you ask your staff to review the proposed standards this week. If concerns are identified, please provide specific recommendations for rectifying. Comments may be sent to 1490Comments@dese.mo.gov by Friday, March 4. The proposed standards are posted here: https://dese.mo.gov/sites/default/files/ProposedStandardsFeb2016.pdf. You will be linked first to the board presentation for an overview; the proposed standards follow in their entirety.
Thank you for your continued support of this critical work. Many of your staff have already contributed countless hours to the work group product, while others have provided valuable input through the commenting process. We are grateful for the many dedicated educators working on behalf of Missouri students every day. I am very aware of how busy schools are at this time of year. Yet, it is critical that you have the opportunity to review the proposed standards before they are adopted in March. Thank you in advance for any help you and your staff can give. As always, feel free to contact me or Blaine Henningsen atblaine.henningsen@dese.mo.gov if you have any questions.
Thanks again,
Margie Vandeven
Commissioner of Education, DESE
Transfers Request Process (updated 2/24/16)
Teachers -- it is nearly hiring season again. There is no longer a March 1st deadline to request a transfer to another building. Instead, all openings will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Process: (Transfer requests are now done on TalentEd. No paperwork needs to be sent to the principal)
A. If an opening becomes available in your own building that you are interested in, you just need to talk to your principal about the process.
B. If an opening becomes available in a different building, then you need to fill out an internal application in TalentEd so that principal and Central Office know you have an interest.
There are no guarantees on transfer requests. Every situation is different and we will try to do what is best for kids in the long run.
Please contact Bethany Collins if you have questions on filling out an internal application. x2401.
Administrative Policies regarding social media
If you would like a Facebook page of your own, for your classroom/need, please fill out the form, have your building administrator sign it, and return to Jo Ann Diffenderfer.
Considering Retirement?
In order to be paid for your sick leave (maximum 100 days); anyone wishing to retire must have their notice into the Superintendent's Office by one of the following days, per Board Policies GCPC and GDPC:
Certified Staff: March 1, 2016
Support Staff: March 21, 2016 (for those retiring on the last day of school).
Those retiring on any other day then the last day of school will need to give 60 days notice in order to receive payment for sick leave.
Mexico School District 59 Position Openings
2015-2016
CERTIFIED
Part-Time Evening welding
Speech Pathologist/Speech Language Pathology Assistant(4)
SUPPORT STAFF
Summer Paint Crew
Bus Drivers & Substitute Bus Drivers
Substitute Food Service Workers
Substitute Nurses
Substitute Teachers
2016-2017 School Year
CERTIFIED
Mathematics Teacher - MHS
Spanish - MHS
English - MHS
Science - MMS
Early Childhood Teacher- ECC
SUPPORT STAFF
Food Service Worker
Bulldog Bytes
Email: jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.us
Website: www.MexicoSchools.net
Location: 2101 Lakeview Road, Mexico, MO, United States
Phone: 573.581.3773
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mexico-School-District-59/692521830775778
Twitter: @MexicoMoSchools