Tonasket School District

Weekly Update ~ 8/30/2019

"Focused on Learning and Linking Learning to Life"

One School

One Team

One Purpose - Student Success

As I walked around the school this week I was impressed by the level of excitement and the positive feel in every building. It is wonderful to be part of this school!


The link below is a short talk that is a good follow up to my opening remarks on All Staff:

SCHOOL DISTRICT GOALS:

Capital Project Update

  • On our first day of school our air chillers were functioning. However, they are not operating consistently throughout the buildings. Staff is working hard to mitigate these issues.

  • On the weekend of October 4 and 11, MacDonald Miller staff will be replacing the chillers (Oct. 4th) and then running school-wide system tests (Oct. 11).

Powerful Teaching and Learning

  • It was a great start to school this week. I especially appreciate all of the staff I saw greeting students in front of the school and in the hallways.

District Culture and Climate

I am starting work on a culture and climate survey for staff, students and parents to be given in the fall and spring. Instead of using a purchased service, we are creating our own survey.

TEA and PSE Updates

  • At Wednesday’s school board meeting the school board approved the new contract with TEA (Tonasket Education Association) which TEA membership had ratified earlier in the week. It is wonderful to have this completed.

  • On August 21, the district and PSE (Public School Employees) have a tentative contract agreement. The PSE will meet on September 11 to vote on ratification of the agreement, and then it will go to the school board for their approval if the PSE ratifies. Again, this is great to have a tentative agreement prior to the start of school.

Staff Updates

The following personnel items were approved at Wednesday’s board meeting:

Resignation:

  • Teanna Wilson – Special Education Paraeducator

Hiring:

  • Svetlana Kushnerchuk – HS Spanish/Elective Teacher

  • Berta Villa – Part-time ES Outreach Teacher

  • Cayla Monroe-Sellers – ES Counselor – Conditional Certified

  • Kate Forest - Paraeducator

  • Jayden Hawkins – HS Head Volleyball Coach

  • Brent Baker – MS/HS Assistant Cross Country Coach

Other

  • We are changing our driver’s ed provider this year and will be contracting with Walt Arnold, a retired Oroville teacher. We are still working out the details, but are anticipating offering two class sessions, one in November/December and the other possibly in April/May and probably no summer session.
  • The Choice High School and the Tonasket Outreach School have become their own separate schools. The Tonasket SD is now home to five schools within the district. Thanks to everyone involved in making this change happen.

  • Another big change that happened this summer was applying for and becoming eligible for the foodservice CEP (Community Eligibility Provision). This program allows all our students to eat breakfast and lunch at no charge irregardless of their economic standing. The district is pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to the families of the district as appreciation for their support of the school and its programs. Qualifying for the CEP program means there are no more free/reduced meal applications, instead, our school families need to fill out the Family Income Survey. Information from this survey is used to ensure our students receive the services they are entitled to when free/reduced meal applications are not collected. It impacts federal and state funds we receive (Title I, Migrant, Bilingual, and LAP). It even impacts our WIAA classification status for our Athletics program. Please take a moment to fill out the survey; the information that impacts many aspects of our school.

  • Board Policy & Procedure Update: Board Policy and Procedure 3241 Student Discipline

What Every Employee Needs to Know - Reminders

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