The Riverview Reader
Updates For The Week of September 4
Principal's Corner
Riverview Families,
We are so excited to welcome our students back to Riverview on Tuesday! We have been looking forward to this day for a long time! Here are a few things to know to ensure the first day is a successful day for your child:
1. Make sure your child gets to bed early so they can come to school rested and ready to learn.
2. Make sure your child knows if they should eat breakfast at school when they arrive or if they should go directly to their classroom. If they are eating breakfast, they will go directly to the cafetorium rather than to their classroom first. Except for kindergarten. Kindergarten students will go directly to their classroom each day and eat in their classroom. Having them know the plan will help with eliminating any confusion during the "arrival rush". There will be a lot of teachers, staff, and volunteers helping with this process as well.
3. If you have one, make sure your child has a water bottle to keep at school to help them stay hydrated. Remember, there are no carbonated/sweetened drinks allowed at school. It's ok if they don't have a water bottle, but we want our students to stay in the classroom as much as possible. Taking a trip to the water fountain can potentially lead to missed learning.
4. If your child's teacher is allowing snack time, please send your child with a healthy snack. Please do not send candy, pop, juice, etc., for snack.
5. Have your child leave their cell phone at home if possible. If you feel the need to have them bring a phone to school, remind them that it must be turned off and left in their locker from arrival to dismissal at the end of the day.
6. If you are dropping off in the morning, please keep these procedures in mind to ensure a safe and efficient process:
- Make sure your child has all of their belongings accounted for prior to dropping off.
- Give your child any words of encouragement and love prior to dropping off.
- Pull as far forward as possible if there is room to do so. The supervising staff will direct you.
- Stay in your car and pull forward immediately after your child exits the car.
- Have your child exit the vehicle on the passenger side.
I truly believe that your child is going to have an amazing first day. We have done a lot of work as a staff to ensure every learner feels safe, welcome, and confident. It's going to be a great year of learning and growing!
Shawn Peck
Principal
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, September 4 - NO SCHOOL; Labor Day
- Tuesday, September 5 - 1st day of school
- Wednesday, September 13 - Levy Information Session For Community Members 7:00-8:00 at North Trail Elementary School
- Friday, September 15 - Fun Run Kick Off
- Wednesday, September 20 - Levy Information Session For Community Members 7:00-8:00 at Boeckman Middle School
- Thursday, September 21 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS; Family Fun Night at RVES
- Thursday, September 28 - Picture Retake Day
- October 2-7 - Homecoming Week
RVES Staff Enjoys Fun & Focused Workshop Week to Prepare For the Return of Our Students
Thank You To Weng's Kitchen For Providing a Meal For Our Teachers! It Was Delicious!
All Bussing Information Is Available to Parents on Infinite Campus
Daily Drop Off & Pick Up Information
- Student learning hours are 7:40 AM – 2:10 PM
- Students should arrive each morning between 7:25 AM - 7:35 AM so they can make it into their classrooms before the second bell rings at 7:40.
- Please do not drop students prior to 7:25 AM. Also, pick them up before 2:15 PM unless you’ve registered for Kid Connection. Our school staff members have several meetings before and after school, so there’s no supervision outside of these times. Your child’s safety is our highest priority.
We Are Proud to Be Tigers! Watch this 4 Minute Long Video to Hear Why!
Referendum Election Set For Tuesday, November 7; Learn More in the Message From Superintendent, Jason Berg
Dear Farmington Area Public Schools Parents and Families:
At the school board meeting on August 18, the Farmington Area School Board made an important decision that will significantly impact our students and the future of our district. I wanted to directly share the details of this decision with you.
The board voted to schedule a referendum election for November 7, 2023. The decision to schedule the referendum came after months of consideration and discussion. After the need to make budget reductions totaling $4.2 million for the 2023-2024 school year along with facing a projected deficit of approximately $3.5 million for the 2024-2025 school year, it was important to offer district residents the opportunity to consider increasing funding for the district rather than facing additional reductions in the next few years. The proposal on the ballot will ask voters to:
- Revoke the district’s existing operating levy of $677 per pupil and replace it with a new levy in the following amounts per pupil for taxes payable in the years specified:
- $1,239.92 per pupil for taxes payable in 2024 which will provide $9 million ($5 million from previous levy and $4 million from new levy) per year for the first three years of the new levy ; and
- An additional $562.95 per pupil for taxes payable in 2027 which will provide an additional $4 million per year for the remaining seven years of the new levy.
If approved, the revenue from the new levy will help the district to:
- Maintain excellent learning opportunities, programs and services for district students.
- Offset a portion of the costs associated with new literacy and learner support initiatives required by the state.
- Stabilize funding.
The district is choosing to bring the ballot question to the community at this time because of the following factors that will significantly reduce the tax impact on local property owners:
- Expiring debt - As a result of the district paying off two building bonds previously approved by voters, local property owners will see a reduction in property taxes of about $553 annually or $46 per month (on a home valued at $350,000). Specifically,
- In the 2024-2025 school year, the first building bond will be paid off, reducing the district’s overall debt and resulting in a decrease in local property taxes. For a home valued at $350,000, taxes will be reduced by about $134 annually or about $11 per month.
- Similarly, the second building bond will be paid off in the 2027-2028 school year, which will cause another drop in property taxes for residents. For a home valued at $350,000, taxes will be further reduced by about $419 annually or about $35 per month.
- In the 2024-2025 school year, the first building bond will be paid off, reducing the district’s overall debt and resulting in a decrease in local property taxes. For a home valued at $350,000, taxes will be reduced by about $134 annually or about $11 per month.
- Fiscal Stewardship - If the operating levy is approved in November, the school board will proactively act to allow taxpayers to experience the savings of the debt being paid off. To accomplish this, the district will only levy $9 million of the new operating levy for the first three years (i.e., 2024-2025, 2025-2026, and 2026-2027) and then levy the entire amount, about $13 million, for the remaining seven years.
Because of this action, school property taxes for district residents with a home valued at $350,000 will increase by about $13.25 per month for the first four years and then be reduced by $10.50 for the remaining six years of the levy. Thanks to strong financial planning from the district, we are taking advantage of these upcoming changes to our tax base and finding ways to maximize the impact on our learners and schools while reducing the tax burden on our community.
If the operating levy is not approved, the district likely will need to make additional budget reductions for the 2024-2025 school year and beyond. Budget adjustments would include discontinuing educational programs and reducing learning opportunities for students. As noted above, the district is currently projecting a budget deficit of about $3.5 million for 2024-2025.
Throughout the next several weeks, we will share additional information about the referendum question. You can also go to our website for more information or email referendum@farmington.k12.mn.us with any questions.
With the start of the school year in a little over two weeks, we are excited to welcome learners, parents and families back to our schools. We look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
Jason Berg
Superintendent
Mark Your Calendars! Join Us at Riverview For Family Fun Night on Thursday, September 21
Learning Apps Now Available Through Self Service on District Issued Student iPads
Opt-In to Text Messages For Emergency Notifications
In addition to emails and phone calls, you can opt to receive emergency notifications in the form of text messages from ISD 192. ISD 192 will utilize the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages straight to your mobile phone with important information about school closings and safety alerts.*
You can participate in this free service* just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our school’s short code number, 67587. You can also opt out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our messages with “Stop”. SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy PledgeTM so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.
*Terms and Conditions: Message frequency varies. Standard message and data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel. Mobile carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages. See schoolmessenger.com/tm for more info.
Please Complete the 2023 Annual Infinite Campus Update
At the beginning of each school year we ask parents and guardians to update their information in the Infinite Campus parent portal. This includes reviewing important contact information as well as providing information which the Minnesota Department of Education uses for planning purposes. Please take the following steps to review the Annual Update in your Parent Portal account.
1. Login to Infinite Campus Parent Portal (Campus Parent) through following Link: https://farmingtonmn.infinitecampus.org/campus/portal/parents/farmington.jsp (If you do not yet have a Campus Portal account, please contact your child's school to be sure we have your correct email address on file. If you have children in multiple schools, only one school needs to be contacted. This must be done either in person or by phone (not email) so your identity can be verified. Thank you for your understanding and support. Please reference this web page for more information about the Parent Portal.)
2. Select the icon in the top left corner to display the menu of options.
3. Select More from left slide-in menu.
4. Select the Annual Update menu item on the right.
5. Click on Start button
6. You will see a list of your enrolled student(s) and then click on Begin Registration button. You will be able to complete the Annual Update in either English or Spanish to walk through the entire process.
7. Ensure you use the “Next” or “Save/Continue” buttons on each screen if you have issues moving from one section to another. You will not be able to advance to the next screen until all required fields fields have been completely filled out.
About the Annual Update Questions
- The Minnesota Department of Education requires the district to ask additional questions, including:
- Race/Ethnicity as the state categories have changed within the past few years
- Digital Access (NOTE: enrolled students will be provided an iPad from their school so these two questions are pre-answered but can be changed if incorrect)
- Race/Ethnicity as the state categories have changed within the past few years
- Only portal users listed as legal parents/guardians in the Primary Household are allowed to update the portal. Legal parents/guardians in Secondary Households have the ability to view but not modify an Annual Update that is in-process.
- Only one annual update can be completed per primary household each year. Information can continue to be updated/changed until final submission is completed.
For additional help with Infinite Campus Parent Portal:
- For New Accounts, call the main school office for your student
- For Existing Accounts: email campusportal@farmington.k12.mn.us or call our Student and Family Tech Helpline 651-463-5090 for help with username or password issues.
- For help with your Annual Update or Online Registration application, please contact the MARSS office (MARSS@farmington.k12.mn.us or 651-463-5052).
Please Consider Joining Our Team as a Substitute Teacher or Paraprofessional!
If you would like to sign up to sub as a teacher or paraprofessional for the Farmington Schools you will have to apply through Teachers on Call (TOC). Please email or call TOC directly to sign up as we will no longer be filling these positions through Farmington Schools. TOC also offers many benefits including, weekly paychecks, ability to easily sub at multiple districts and many insurance benefit options.
To Apply Click Here: teachersoncall.com
For more information contact Teachers On Call (TOC): 800-713-4439
Breakfast & Lunch Information For 23-24
School Meals will be free to all students during the 2023-24 school year. Breakfast will be available when the first bell rings at 7:25am -7:45am. Students who choose to eat breakfast should go directly to the cafeteria when they arrive at school before heading to their classroom.
Each family should receive a welcome packet from the Food Service Department within the next week containing your child’s pin number, account balance, and more. If you do not receive a welcome packet from Chartwells or have questions about any Food Service related information, please contact Chartwells main office at 651-460-3822.
To help your child practice their PIN number before the first day of school, use the following key pad image: PIN Key Pad.docx.pdf. Practicing in advance will be tremendously helpful for our K-2 learners especially.
To view the breakfast and lunch menus throughout the year click here: Nutrislice Menus | Farmington Area Public Schools.
All Families Are Encouraged To Complete Educational Benefits Application
Even though meals are free for all students in 23-24, we still would like all families to complete the application for Meal/Educational benefits. These applications benefit in many ways including allowing us to access more state & federal funding that we use to benefit our learners. They can definitely benefit families as well as those who qualify for meal benefits automatically qualify for iPad insurance coverage. Please make sure to complete your paperwork and submit it to Chartwells at:
- Mail: ISD 192 Educational Benefits, 510 Walnut Street, Farmington, MN 55024.
- Email: foodservice@farmington.k12.mn.us
- Fax: 651-460-3810
Free/Reduced Lunch Application: 2023-24 Application for Educational Benefits Packet - English ISD 192.pdf
Free and Reduced Lunch Application - Spanish: 2023-24 Application for Educational Benefits Packet - Spanish ISD192
Families can also opt to apply online by logging into their food service account. The person applying must be the primary account holder and should log-in to their meal account to submit an online application.
Register For Kid Connection School-Age Child Care
Kid Connection offers quality, before and after school care at each elementary school in the during the school year. Kid Connection provides enriching out-of-school-time activities before & after school, on non-school days, and during the summer. We’re staffed with dedicated and trained professionals who have a combination of education and experience specific to school age children!
Click here to learn more, check out available dates, see rates, and to sign up.
Join Us For a Free Viewing of "LIKE" and the Activities on Monday, September 18
On Monday September 18, 2023 ISD 192 will be hosting a free viewing of LIKE: A Documentary About the Impact of Social Media on our Lives. We invite you to be part of this educational opportunity in our community. During this evening, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with various resources, hear from a panel of experts, and view the documentary together. We encourage early learning and elementary parents or guardians to attend along with secondary students, parents, or guardians. See the flyer below for more details.
Stay Connected To Riverview
Email: speck@farmington.k12.mn.us
Website: https://rves.farmington.k12.mn.us/
Location: 4100 208th Street West, Farmington, MN 55024, USA
Phone: 651-460-1600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rve192