KSD3 News
Weekly Update from Superintendent Wendy Johnson
2/17/2023
In this update:
We've been in the news this week; here's what's happening
- ✅ Our schools offer great choices
- 🗳️ Yes, there is a school election on March 14
- 🚀 Idaho Launch would help our kids pursue post graduation plans
- 🖊️ Parent permission needed for some books to be checked out
- 🙋Board seeks teachers, students, parents for policy committee
- 🗓️ Looking ahead in our schools
We've been in the news this week; here's what's happening
Kuna families
The Kuna School District does often make the "news." This week, we were featured four times.
I wanted to share some additional information to round out what you may have seen or read in our local media.
✅ Our schools offer great choices
State lawmakers are debating options for school choice and I appreciate that a statewide media outlet featured many of the choices already available in public schools. One of the choices featured was our very own K-12 Dual Language Program, which begins at Reed and continues through middle and high school. We also offer the Synergy Program for middle school. Both of these programs are enrolling for 2022-23 school year.
We also offer "open enrollment" which allows families to choose a school other than the one that serves their residential address. Families use this option most to help juggle afterschool child care.
We've found that while special focus programs serve a niche, our families and students appreciate choices within a traditional school experience.
Earlier this month, I shared that our students are making class choices for the coming school year. Our fifth graders will complete their first middle school requests and our 8th graders their first high school elective choices. Next week, high school counselors will begin talking with students about their elective choices for 2022-23.
You may have already received information on registration from your child's school. Please also plan on attending some of our upcoming events to learn more about the high-quality choices we offer our students.
➡️ Monday, Feb. 27 - Kuna College & Career Fair (two-page flyer below)
➡️ Wednesday, March 8 - Pathway Preview Night
Some of the participants
🚀 Idaho Launch would help our kids pursue post graduation plans
I appreciate this proposal for our students because as I talk with students and their parents -- paying for education is a major barrier to pursuing education after high school. While we are proud of the options that are available in our schools to prepare students for life after high school, we realize that many students may still require additional education beyond the credits and certifications they earn in high school. This scholarship would help Idaho students fill in-demand jobs.
I would encourage you to join me in reaching out to your state lawmaker to share your thoughts about what this could mean for your child and family.
➡️ Read the news story about Governor Little's visit
🗳️ Yes, there is a school election on March 14
We appreciate one of our local television stations reporting this week on the upcoming March 14 school elections.
If you are an avid reader of this update and the monthly report from your school board member, you know Kuna School District is asking voters to consider a bond to pay for the first phase of a 10 year plan to provide more learning spaces for students in our community.
Since the Board authorized the election last December, our team has been working to get the word out. This week, we spoke at the Kuna Senior Center, Kuna Chamber of Commerce, and the Spring Sports Parent meeting putting us over the 34 mark for in-person presentations. We also held a virtual session last night. You can watch it here. We are offering another overview of the bond on March 1 via Facebook Live.
🙋 Help us get the word out. We will gladly meet with anyone in the community who has questions about the bond. Likewise, with the election growing closer, we expect and welcome your questions and invitations to meet. Please email ksdcommunications@kunaschools.org
❓Did you know? The Idaho legislature established the second Tuesday of March as one of four possible dates for school elections. For nearly 15 years, most school district bond elections have been held in March.
🗳️ Request your ballot today at: https://voteidaho.gov/absentee-voter-information/
🖊️ Parent permission needed for some books to be checked out
We were asked this week by the media about a social media post claiming the district banned 25 books. We didn't ban books. We did identify some books as requiring parent permission for students to check out. Here are some more details.
We received a list of 25 books that have become a point of controversy in our state as lawmakers discuss whether to create laws around the content of books in libraries.
Our past practice with controversial books is to require students to get written permission from a parent before they can check them out, so I shared the list with our secondary schools to determine if these books were in our library collections.
Of the 25 books, one middle school has one of the books and the other has two of the books. The books at these schools had already been identified as requiring parent permission to check out.
Kuna High School's library has nine of the 25 books. These nine will require parent permission for students to check them out. School leaders also shared the list with teachers so they were aware that parent permission would be needed for these books.
🙋 Board seeks teachers, students, parents for policy committee
➡️ Get involved: In your Monday school board report, you'll find more information about the policy committee and how to apply. The deadline will be Thursday, March 9. The board will consider applications at its March 14 meeting.
🗓️ Looking ahead in our schools
For details please check our online calendar at www.kunaschools.org
- Feb. 20 - No School: President's Day
- Feb. 21 - Negotiations
- Feb. 23-25 - KHS Musical Monty Python's SPAMALOT
- Feb. 27 - Superintendent's Advisory Council meeting
- Feb. 27 - College and Career Night, 5 to 6 p.m. 5th-8th grade; 6:30 to 8 p.m. 9th-12th grade
- Feb. 27 to March 10 - Weekdays early voting
- March 1 - Facebook Live - March 14, 2023 Bond Presentation Q&A
- March 1 - KHS Spring Dance Showcase
- March 2 - All district choir concert
- March 3 - End of the elementary second trimester
- March 3 - Last day to request a mail in ballot
- March 4 - HOSA Daddy-Daughter Dance
- March 7 - Negotiations meeting
- March 7 - All district band concert
- March 8 - Calendar Committee meeting
- March 8 - Freshman Pathways Showcase Night
- March 13 - KHS Spring Choir Concert
- March 14 - KHS Spring Orchestra Concert
- March 14 - Election Day
- March 14 - Kuna Board of Trustees meeting
- March 20 - Superintendent's Advisory Council
- March 27-31 - Spring Break