Seagraves ISD Team
Udpate - Week of July 24th, 2017
Seagraves Schools in 2017-2018
I am so excited about the coming school year with all of the changes and challenges in store. We will continue to focus on serving our community well and preparing students to be successful in the ever-changing 21st century. The opportunities are as numerous as the challenges for those who will give it a shot!
We are developing our goals for the new year and continue to focus on academic improvements, student productivity, and school-wide character development for all staff and students. Some of the themes that always come to mind with a new school year include calling out some of the classics that worked so well in the past as we strive to enrich our Seagraves Eagle tradition.
Without neglecting traditional values and learning, we also seek to push forward in pursuit of an unknown future rich in technology applications. We are expanding Google Apps for education with one-to-one Chromebook implementation in grades 3-12. PK-2 will continue to work with technology in the Apple suite with iPads in all classes.
Student showcases will be a big part of SISD this year. We will strive to develop exciting media for students, staff, and community to enjoy student learning outcomes and successes throughout the school year. All staff will be able to manage their online site with showcase items for all to see. I have no doubt that great things will be evident all year long and can't wait to see all of our accomplishments in May of 2018!
I am so blessed to continue working with SISD in my new role of superintendent and am excited about our leadership team. Glenn Thompson (6-8 principal) and Junior Martinez (3-5 principal) are back for more. Along with the addition of Daylan Sellers (9-12 principal) and Rusti Blount (PK-2 principal), I am very excited about the learning experience in store for our staff and students. We will miss many who have moved on, and are glad to see a number of familiar and new faces ready to work on our 2017-2018 team.
Many of you are going to be trying new things with changes in positions and or duties, but all have an opportunity to start anew. I will expect each and every member of our team to display the highest levels of enthusiasm, while providing the very best service to students, colleagues, and stakeholders of SISD. I hope that every team member will be up for the challenge as this expectation is lofty given the charge of public education in this day and age. I will challenge all to reflect on your priorities related to this job and prepare to bring your very best from the start. We are one month away!
We are developing our goals for the new year and continue to focus on academic improvements, student productivity, and school-wide character development for all staff and students. Some of the themes that always come to mind with a new school year include calling out some of the classics that worked so well in the past as we strive to enrich our Seagraves Eagle tradition.
Without neglecting traditional values and learning, we also seek to push forward in pursuit of an unknown future rich in technology applications. We are expanding Google Apps for education with one-to-one Chromebook implementation in grades 3-12. PK-2 will continue to work with technology in the Apple suite with iPads in all classes.
Student showcases will be a big part of SISD this year. We will strive to develop exciting media for students, staff, and community to enjoy student learning outcomes and successes throughout the school year. All staff will be able to manage their online site with showcase items for all to see. I have no doubt that great things will be evident all year long and can't wait to see all of our accomplishments in May of 2018!
I am so blessed to continue working with SISD in my new role of superintendent and am excited about our leadership team. Glenn Thompson (6-8 principal) and Junior Martinez (3-5 principal) are back for more. Along with the addition of Daylan Sellers (9-12 principal) and Rusti Blount (PK-2 principal), I am very excited about the learning experience in store for our staff and students. We will miss many who have moved on, and are glad to see a number of familiar and new faces ready to work on our 2017-2018 team.
Many of you are going to be trying new things with changes in positions and or duties, but all have an opportunity to start anew. I will expect each and every member of our team to display the highest levels of enthusiasm, while providing the very best service to students, colleagues, and stakeholders of SISD. I hope that every team member will be up for the challenge as this expectation is lofty given the charge of public education in this day and age. I will challenge all to reflect on your priorities related to this job and prepare to bring your very best from the start. We are one month away!
Inquiring minds want to know...
When do I go to work this fall?
What about all of the staff Comp Days?
When do students start school?
How are SISD finances, especially counting the impact of the 85th legislative session?
What changes can be expected regarding paychecks?
- 10 month employees will report to day 1 of in-service August 21st @ 8:00.
- 10.5 month employees will report August 14th @ 8:00.
- 11 month employees will report August 7th @ 8:00.
What about all of the staff Comp Days?
- In May, 3-5 days were recommended for all instructional staff. We have 7 days for the 2017-2018 school year. If you were able to accomplish all 7 days, great job!
- Not to worry if you need a few more days...we will have a series of opportunities to obtain professional development during the school year, up to 4 days credit. A schedule and topics will be presented the morning of in-service day 1.
- ESC 17 is hosting the 3rd annual Back-to-School conference with a keynote speaker each day and a variety of breakout sessions each of the three days, the week of August 14th. This would be a great way to obtain professional development credits.
- If you have questions please ask Josh or your principal.
When do students start school?
- All students will begin regular classes on August 28th.
- Elementary summer school students will begin this week, July 24th. (see Mr. Martinez and Mrs. Blount for details)
- Incoming 9th graders and below will have sports camp next week, July 31st. (see Coach Humphries for details)
- HS summer band marching practice will begin August 1st. (see Mr. Rangel for details)
- HS athletics will begin football and cross country workouts August 7th. (see Coach Humphries for details)
- Registration schedules for each grade level will be finalized and announced soon...
How are SISD finances, especially counting the impact of the 85th legislative session?
- SISD plans to receive $1,025,000.00 less than last year from state funding. (SISD received $1.8M last year for ASATR which ended when no action was taken last session. We hope to get a little help from the special session currently underway, but it is unlikely.)
- SISD hopes to reduce payroll costs, which is the bulk of our budget, through attrition to help offset this loss of funding. (We are still looking for a little help if you know any good educators that would be available!) We estimate saving between $250K-$500K with this strategic plan.
- The school board has proposed to keep the tax rate at current rates of 1.00 M&O and .3484 I&S for taxpayers. (Sorry if you were hammered with value increases, that was not in our hands...)
- 2017-2018 budget adoption will include revenue from the SISD fund balance to make up the difference. Our school board has established a healthy fund balance to allow flexibility during this time. We will adopt the new budget next month.
What changes can be expected regarding paychecks?
- Staff who are not on the teacher salary schedule will see salaries remain the same in the coming year.
- The new salary schedule is set at 10,000 above state base +1,000 for a masters degree with an additional local 5 year extension to the 20 step system.
- New employees and those that were at a step that paid less than 10,000 above base on previous schedules will be adjusted to the new salary schedule.
- Employees who were receiving more than 10,000 above base according to previous schedules will not see a reduction in salary, but will have their salary level frozen until the schedule catches up in coming years.
- ESL stipend will continue at all levels, science and math stipends for teachers in these fields will continue in secondary grade levels, and extra duty stipend schedules will continue.
- There were a few teachers receiving stipends such as Master/Lead teacher stipends that will be absorbed into the new schedule and dissolved as these extra duties have not occurred in recent years.
- The school board members adopted a new contribution rate of $400.00 monthly per employee. Unfortunately this amount will not keep up with rate increases.
- Insurance premiums are going up this year, of course the service is decreasing in most plans as well :(, which will impact take home pay for most.
- TRS ActiveCare plans for employee only range from $351-$714, and $1,316-$2,004 for employee and family, depending on level of service selected.
- TRS FirstCare plans range from $514 for employee only - $1,298 for employee and family.
- Supplemental plans can still be purchased through our co-op during enrollment.
Seagraves ISD
A Great Place to Learn!
Email: josh.goen@seagravesisd.net
Website: www.seagravesisd.net
Location: 1301 16th Street, Seagraves, TX, United States
Phone: 806-387-2035