SLP Superintendent's Newsletter
Week of March 9, 2020
UPCOMING EVENTS
SUPERINTENDENT PATRICK JENKINS
Coronavirus Preparation
Principals,
The staff and I are working to develop a contingency plan with regards to the Coronavirus (COVID -19). We met last week with representatives from the Department of Public Health to discuss the virus and possible options. I will approach the virus in four phases if needed:
1. Communication and preparation
- We have started this phase by providing information to staff, students and the community via email, social media and television interviews. In addition, we have had several meetings with local officials, department of public health, doctors and SBO head nurse.
- Establish an open line of communication with LDOE and health agencies
- Communicate with school community
- Find and purchase additional supplies and provide proactive cleaning
2. Active implementation of the contingency plan
- Develop Alternative Learning (ALE) plans
i. Online
ii. Paper, pencil, novels and project-based lessons
- Review special education services for students
- Apportionment and school district waivers
- Emergency school closures
- Waiver school days and check state policies or protocols
3. Implementation of the plan
4. Reunification, reconstitution, and recovery of staff and students
- If we should close the district for an extended period of time, I will recover essential personnel (12-month employees) first. This will allow us to prepare to receive staff and students (cleaning, preparation, etc.).
- Second, I will recover teachers for at least one day for professional development and preparations, then students will return.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-for-schools.html
For information regarding the Coronavirus, you may wish to consult the Louisiana Department of Health website, which has regularly updated information about the disease, prevention, and any occurrences in Louisiana. The Department of Education has also created a brief Frequently Asked Questions document that is specific to the concerns of school systems and that will be regularly updated as the Coronavirus impact becomes better known.
District 2019 - 2020 Theme: Become What You Believe!
Mission
Vision
LSBA LEGISLATIVE REMINDERS
DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM - ANGELA CASSIMERE
New: 2019-2020 Teacher Roster Verification for VAM
Please share with teachers.
The Curriculum Verification and Results (CVR) Reporting Portal roster verification ensures that teachers are assigned to the correct courses and classroom rosters of students for the purposes of value-added (VAM) analyses. The data in CVR will be used to calculate a teacher’s VAM score even if the teacher and/or the principal do not verify the roster. Teachers instructing ELA, math, science, social studies (grades 4-8), and Algebra, Geometry, English I and English II courses (all grades) should verify their rosters as they are eligible to receive VAM scores.
March 3–16 (2 weeks): CVR Open for View-only
● Users can view and check the roster data for accuracy and make changes in the source system (SIS, CUR, PEP). The CVR Help Desk will be able to assist with any issues that a school system must correct in the source data systems.
May 4–22 (3 weeks): CVR Open for Roster Verification
● This process is required and allows teachers and principals the ability to verify and correct records for specific courses and students. Data managers will track verification completion at the school level in the system.
An updated user guide for CVR is now available.
2020 Spring Counselor Institutes
Please share with professional school counselors.
The semiannual Counselor Institutes are an opportunity for professional school counselors to receive important information from the Department and other agencies and meet with other school counselors in their region. Topics to be discussed during the Spring 2020 Institutes include school counseling resources, middle and high school updates, and Jump Start 2.0. Registration for the Department’s Spring Counselor Institutes is now open.
Please click on the date in the chart below to register for the Spring Counselor Institutes. All events are from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Please note that the date of the Counselor Institute in Acadia Parish has changed.
Date Location
St. Charles Professional Learning Center 12727 US-90 Luling, LA 70070
Tangipahoa Parish School Board Office 59656 Puleston Road Amite, LA 70422
date change Acadia Parish Education Center 2402 N. Parkerson Avenue Crowley, LA 70526
Bossier Parish School for Technology and Innovative Learning 1020 Innovation Drive Bossier City, LA 71111
Ouachita Parish School Board 1600 North 7th Street West Monroe, LA 71291
St. Landry Parish School Board 1013 E. Creswell Lane Opelousas, LA 70571
CLAUDIA BLANCHARD - DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Reminder
1. Lawn care products may be picked up beginning March 2nd from the Maintenance Department.
2. AHERA inspections are scheduled to begin within the next couple of weeks. Asbestos management plan book must be available upon inspection.
SCOTT CHAMPAGNE - DIRECTOR OF TITLE 1
Reminder
1. Although Tom was able to re-upload your Title I Folders, I have noticed that there are numerous folders that are missing. Therefore, the Computer Center is in the process of trying to re-upload again to see if all folders can be restored. Consequently, please delay uploading any of your folders until I send confirmation to you that it is ok to begin uploading your documents. Obviously, I do not want you to have to go in again and upload documents that you had uploaded prior to the cyber attack if it can be avoided. Please be reminded to always maintain hard copies of your Title I documents. As a recipient of Title I Funds, you are responsible for maintaining all required documentation for 5 years. Please utilize the 2019-2020 Title I Compliance Checklist that is located in the Title I Handbook (pages 12-13) to ensure that you have all required documentation.
2. The deadline for expending Title I funds (Supplies and Equipment) has been extended until Friday, March 13, 2020. After March 13, requisitions for supplies and equipment will no longer be accepted. If any principal does not have a hard copy of their current budget, you may contact my office to determine your current balance.
3. If principals are planning to utilize some of their remaining Title I funds for tutoring prior to LEAP 2025 assessments, please make certain that your budget reflects the tutoring. Also, please notify my office to acquire stipend forms. Attendance forms must accompany the stipend forms by the 5th of the month that follows the tutoring.
4. Recipients of Title I Direct Student Services After-School Tutoring were asked to e-mail Mr. Champagne the days and times that tutoring is occurring at your school by Thursday, February 27, 2020. Please include the room numbers for each tutor. District personnel will be visiting classes in the near future to conduct monitoring of DSS guidelines. If you have not done so, please forward the requested information as soon as possible.
5. Several schools have not utilized their Title IV STEM allocations. Please note that the deadline for submitting requisitions has been extended until Friday, March 13, 2020.
6. Several schools have not utilized their Title IV Safety allocations. If you are planning to utilize your school's safety allocation on cameras, please note that the procedures for acquiring quotes have changed. Recently, these procedures were shared with our administrators:
Title IV Safety
Procedures for Requesting Quotes for Cameras
1. Estimate the number of cameras that you can fund with the allocation that your school received. Please note that a camera with wiring and labor can be estimated to cost about $300 to $400 dollars. Obviously, when adding additional cameras, you must have enough channels on your DVR. If not, you would have to purchase an additional DVR to allow more cameras to be viewed. Currently, a new 16 or 18 Channel DVR costs approximately $600.
2. Determine where you want your cameras to be placed. If you have received an allocation of $1200, you probably can do 4 cameras if you have the available channels on your current DVR. If you are required to add another DVR, you probably will only be able to do two cameras.
3. Contact three different vendors. Do not tell them what your allocation is! By doing so, they already know how much you can spend. Therefore, you may get three quotes with the same amount. Therefore, let them know how many cameras you would like to add. Show them where you would like for the cameras to be placed. Make certain that each vendor receives the same information.
4. Require all three vendors to submit a sealed quote. (Schools are not allowed to open sealed quotes.)
5. As soon as you have received all three sealed quotes, submit them to Scott Champagne.
6. Quotes will be reviewed to determine if all quotes are providing the same materials and if so, the vendor with the lowest quote will be awarded the job.
7. Mr. Champagne will inform the principal of the awarded quote.
8. The principal will submit a federal requisition to Mr. Champagne
· If the quotes are well below the allocation, we will ask the awarded vendor to provide an additional cost for another camera.
· If the quotes are above the allocation by only a small amount (5% or less), the district will move forward with the job and pay the difference.
· If the quotes are substantially above the allocation (6% or greater), the district will ask the awarded vendor to provide a revised quote for fewer cameras to be installed.
7. Please be reminded to submit names of any parents that you would recommend as interpreters for the district to contract with when schools are in need of an interpreter for SBLC Meetings, 504 Meetings, Discipline Hearings, etc. Please send a contact number with the names. I will do the rest!
8. Please be reminded that our English Learners that scored (Proficiency Not Demonstrated `` or''Emerging `` were provided with an Imagine Learning license. This is an excellent literacy program. Please promote the usage of this program by your students.
JUNE INHERN - DIRECTOR OF PREK PROGRAMS/HEADSTART
REMINDER
Early Childhood Reminders:
· LA 4 Classes
o Please be reminded that the LA-4 classes should be filled to capacity (20 children). Funding this year is sent to parishes on a quarterly basis and is contingent upon the number of children in the classes as well as their attendance each month.
o The State Department is monitoring this very closely and will amend allocations based on these two factors. Should attendance drop below 74%, reimbursement will be reduced for those reporting periods. Please encourage the teachers to follow up on all absences and to obtain doctor0/parent excuses for excused absences. It is crucial that we keep the classes filled and the attendance at maximum so that we may receive our appropriated funds. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
· CLASS Observations
o CLASS observations for the spring semester began Monday, February 3, 2020 and will end Friday, May 8, 2020.
o Please be reminded that Picard Center observations are also underway. Prior to the beginning of each month principals will receive notification in the mail from the Picard Center indicating that a CLASS observation will be conducted in one or more of their pre-k classrooms. Principals are responsible for communicating to the Picard Center any conflicting dates such as picture day, field trips, etc.
· 2020-21 Pre-K Registration
o The first round of Pre-K registration has begun and will end at the end of the business day February 21, 2020.
o Pre-K students do not have school on Thursday, February 27 and Friday, February 28, 2020. The Pre-k teachers and paraprofessionals will use these two days to gather and copy the registration information as well as screen the children for possible placement.
o Pre-K teachers who do not have enough registrants to fill these two days with and registration and screening are required to complete their second round of Home Visits.
· Teaching Strategies Gold
o 2nd Checkpoint data is due online by Friday, February 21, 2020.
RAMICA ROBINSON - SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
NEW
REMINDER - Student and Teacher of the Year Banquets
St. Landry Parish Awards and Recognition Banquets - Students, Teachers, and Principals
a. Banquet tickets - No tickets will be sold for the event. An RSVP list will be utilized to ensure that our guest list is concise. Please submit the names to Mrs. Barbara Roberson via email.b. Students of the Year Banquet Attendees - Only 4 per school. Attendees should include the honoree, 2 honoree guests, and one school level representatives
c. Teachers and Principals of the Year Banquet - Only 1 guest per honoree. Teachers - Attendees should include the honoree and 1 guest. In addition, a school level representative is invited.
Principals of the Year honorees are allowed one guest per honoree.
d. Financial Donation - a $50.00 donation is requested of each site in order to defray the costs of the event. Make checks payable to St. Landry Parish School Board and specify "Banquets" on the memo line. Mail to the attention of Jennifer Semien.
Thanks to all who have already sent in donations.
e. Students of the Year banquet - April 8, 2020
f. Teachers and Principals of the Year Banquet - May 6, 2020
*** Both events will begin at 6:00 at the Opelousas Civic Center
Again, feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or ideas that you may have as the goal of the committee is to make this a memorable experience for our St. Landry Parish honorees.
MILTON BATISTE - SUPERVISOR OF TRANSPORTATION
REMINDER
1. Our district's routing software is functional once again. Your routing person can enter routing requests in the Request Management Tool like they were doing prior to the Cyberattack.
2. Keep in mind that bus drivers should be held to the same standards as any other staff on your campus. This applies to staff expectations and corrective discipline policies/ procedures.
3. We conduct quarterly random drug and or alcohol screenings for bus drivers. You may be contacted in order to notify a driver assigned to your campus that they must report for screening. Screenings are held at the central office immediately after morning bus routes.
4. Have a great Spring Semester!
JONEL LEGER-SUPERVISOR OF MATH AND SCIENCE
NEW
World Pi Day not only commemorates the irrational number pi, but it also celebrates the birthday of the great scientist and mathematician Albert Einstein. While Pi Day is celebrated on March 14 (3.14) which falls on a Saturday this year, I am encouraging each school to celebrate a day early--Friday, March 13. In the past, schools have allowed students and teachers to wear math-themed, pi-themed, or Albert Einstein-themed t-shirts (created or bought). Please consider encouraging your students and staff to wear such a T-shirt next Friday. It is also encouraged that math teachers use that day to engage students in grade-appropriate circle activities. Teachers may have a bellringer activity related to circles or to pi or they may choose to create a lesson or use one of the activities listed in the attachments below or similar activities to engage students in this international celebration. Obviously, altering next Friday's math lesson is optional, but I would hope that in some way each school recognizes Pi Day.
Please send pictures of students and staff in their t-shirts as well as any of the activities that teachers may use in their math classes to celebrate with their students. Remember, the activities are to be educational not just fun; however, it is a celebration so it should be fun too. The goal is to bring school-wide attention to mathematics, so the activities need to be mathematically rich!
The instructional specialists will follow-up this email by reaching out to the math teachers they serve to provide this information to them.
See the attached documents for possible Pi-Day classroom activities.
REMINDER
The biology PD that was scheduled for January is canceled. If your teachers would like to discuss standards, achievement level descriptors, or the assessment guide, please have the department head or lead teacher contact Jonel Leger, Supervisor of Math and Science, to schedule a day and time to discuss.
Ready Louisiana Mathematics was selected by the middle school math curriculum team as the Tier 1 mathematics curriculum for grades 5 - 8. Initial training will take place in May with full implementation beginning August 2020. We are excited about the program and the benefits our middle school students will gain from this top-rated program. You can find more information about Ready Math at edreports.org. There will also be a Ready Math session for school leaders this Spring so that you will be aware of the program and how to best support and lead implementation on your campus.
MATTHEW SCRUGGINS - SUPERVISOR OF PERSONNEL
REMINDER
1. STAFFING – it is now time to begin formulating plans for next school session. Projected enrollment will be due prior to scheduled staffing meetings. Be reminded that when we meet for staffing, you should be prepared to communicate who will/will not be returning. Note: sufficient documentation is necessary to dismiss an employee, or that person will be with you again next year. Information relative to staffing is forthcoming.
2. Please be certain you have a copy of a current teaching license/certificate for each professional staff member assigned to your school/site. Also, please remind certificated employees to update teaching certificates/licenses as necessary and to submit a copy of such to personnel.
3. COMPASS INFORMATION SYSTEM (CIS) – Reminder: CIS is not accessible throughout the month of February. Also, PGPs, SLTs, and observation data are to be entered into CIS. (Observation data is to be entered on CIS by April 15, 2020.) If you are in need of assistance with CIS, please contact Ms. Malbrough or me.
4. Please remember - in the event an observation is scored ineffective, notify me immediately so that we can begin intensive assistance.
5. Please direct employees to utilize the Separation of Employment Employee Resignation form for any and all resignations. This document is to be accessed via the district’s website.
6. EMPLOYEE ATTENDANCE/ABSENCES – please be timely and accurate in reporting to payroll. This is especially important as we near the end of the school session/fiscal year.
7. ITINERANT TEACHERS – please remember to monitor sign-in sheets.
8. Timesheets are mandatory for all support personnel. It is the responsibility of the employee to keep accurate timesheets and the responsibility of the principal or immediate supervisor to maintain these records. Please note: support employees are not allowed to work over 40 hours a week (without permission).
9. Prior to allowing someone to substitute, require that the individual present to you her/his substitute card. In the event the individual does not have her/his substitute card, contact my office to verify the individual’s employment status.
GLORIA MALBROUGH - PERSONNEL FACILITATOR
Reminder - CIS/SAFE SCHOOLS
CIS is open for data input.
Please conduct all observations and meet with teachers for post observations, keep hard copies.
Safe School is not accessible at this time. Thank you
THERESE ELLENDER - SUPERVISOR OF STEAM
Reminder: 2020 Super Summer Institute – Save the Dates
Please share with CTE supervisors, professional school counselors, CTE teachers.
Super Summer Institute (SSI) will be offered regionally across the state to secondary and post-secondary educators. SSI provides educators the opportunity to attend training sessions with many offering the opportunity to earn statewide industry-based certifications aligned to Jump Start pathways.
Registration is now open in Eventbrite and will close on May 11. Registration for National Emergency Services Academy (NEMSA) only will end on April 17. Registration costs must be paid through Eventbrite at the time of registration by credit card only. Lunch will be provided for educators attending SSI.
School systems are responsible for all travel expenses, textbooks, and the registration fee of $250 per session. School systems may use their Career Development Funds (CDF) or 2019-2020 Carl Perkins Funds to pay the fee.
Information regarding locations, dates, and trainings currently scheduled are listed below.
REMINDER
REMINDER: Perkins Core Indicator Reports are available for the 2018-2019 school year
Please share with and counselors.
2018-2019 Perkins Core Indicators reports are now available in the C.A.T.E. portal. These reports can be found under the Reports tab by selecting published reports.
Accidents
In an effort to expedite to student accident claims please make sure the attached form is filled out and sent in with the student accident form IF you believe the accident will warrant an investigation or it required medical attention.
Parents/guardians would only get a copy of the regular student accident report—the attached supplement is for our adjuster only.
TAMMY LAVERGNE - SPED SUPERVISOR
Reminders
*LEAP 2025 Testing
1.) Verify all IEPs
a. Check that appropriate accommodations and modifications are marked
b. Make sure the correct assessment is checked
*End of Year Preparation
1.) SPED teachers should begin preparing IEP folders for the End of Year Check-Out
a. Progress reports should be current and up to date in SER
*IEP Reminders
1.) Copies of progress reports should go home every 9 week grading period
2.) IEPs are due to the parish 30 days before the state due date
3.) IEPs should be submitted to PAC within 5 days of the meeting
4.) Teachers need to complete Failure Tracking Forms in a timely manner
5.) SPED class walk-throughs daily
****Any students transferring into the district a Child ID Form must be completed and emailed to Alicia Higginbotham in order to request jurisdiction from other parishes or states to provide SPED Services to students.
IEP DUE DATES
Tonia Eaglin
Reminders:
As we move forward from the cyber attack and prepare for testing, please be reminded of the following. Many of these documents were due prior to the Christmas Holidays. Many deadlines have already passed. Your help in making sure that these requirements are fulfilled are greatly appreciated.
504 School Chairperson must review and verify accommodations in SIS/JCampus & Individual Accommodation Plans (IAPs). During this review, make sure that BOTH Online and Paper accommodations are listed on the IAP and SIS/JCampus.
If a student is to receive Extended Time for Testing, Part H (09) should be indicated on the IAP and SIS/JCampus.
Any other testing accommodation is checked correctly in SIS/JCampus and matches the IAP. Discrepancies will need an amendment.
Submit the Data Verification Form to Tonia Eaglin
Please keep in mind the following as you check the validity of accommodation information in JCampus/SIS, e-Direct, and IAPs:
CBT: If the accommodations on the plan(s)(IAP) DO NOT match what is evidenced on SIS/SER and eDirect, tests are voided and the school gets the applicable zeros for accountability for each content area.
PBT: If the accommodations on the plan(s) (IAP) DO NOT match what is evidenced on SIS/SER and each test booklet for the applicable content areas, tests are voided and the school gets the applicable zeros for accountability for each content area.
Any accommodation listed on IAP MUST be provided in the classroom and on ANY graded assignments.
Documentation of Accommodations provided MUST be handwritten, stamped, or attached (sheet or label) on any graded assignment.
IEPs should not have both small group and individual testing checked
A decision must be made as to whether the student needs individual testing or small group testing.
Discipline of Students with Disabilities (SPED and 504)
If a student’s behavior interferes with the student’s learning or that of others, the IEP or 504 Team MUST consider the use of positive behavioral supports and interventions, and other strategies, to address that behavior
34 C.F.R. §300.324 (a) (2) (ii)
Please remember to adhere to the following:
When a student with a disability violates the code of student conduct where the disciplinary consequences being considered involves a day of removal from the current educational setting.
1. Input in JCampus
2. Send e-mail to Tonia Eaglin (SPED and 504)
3. After 2 suspensions, meet in SBLC, move student to Tier 2; Implement Intervention, collect data, analyze data; determine if series of removals are representative of a pattern of behaviors.
(SPED and 504)
When long term suspension (10-30 days) is being considered,
1. Contact Tonia Eaglin (SPED and 504)
2. Contact Pupil Appraisal Liaison (special education only)
3. Provide Prior Written Notice (PWN) of the proposed change in placement the day of the incident: indicate “consider disciplinary action”
Provide Copy of Rights Booklet or Form
4. Send in Form A or B with suspension/expulsion recommendation
TRESSA MILLER - DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Reminder
1095Cs will be available by 3/2. Employees will access through the employee portal and retiree forms will be mailed.
January monthly bookkeeping reports are now due. When reviewing the bank statement you should see that deposits are being made timely. You should also be reviewing the checks that cleared the bank to make sure they have your signature and you're familiar with them.
You should be reviewing and approving the following bookkeeping reports monthly. And your bookkeepers should be submitting these to Angie Marks monthly by the 15th.
- General Ledger Activity Report for the month
- Bank Reconciliation Report
- Outstanding Check Listing
- Copy of Entire Bank Statement (including copies of checks and deposits)
INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY FACILITATOR/WEBMASTER TRICIA FONTENOT
*******REMINDER -NOMINATIONS FOR SUPPORT PERSONNEL OF THE YEAR******
NEW - Census Activities for Students
Principals' E-Binder
https://www.slp.k12.la.us/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=371733&type=d&pREC_ID=1651247
Login Credentials:
Username: slpsb
Password: principals
*Send me an email if there is something specific that you would like included in the e-binder.
SUPERVISOR OF INSTRUCTION, SCHOOL CHOICE, & SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT- TRINA PRESTON
ASSESSMENT CALENDAR
DISTRICT ASSESSMENT CALENDAR
Submitting Content for Administrative Reminders
Email: TOF9686@SLP.K12.LA.US
Website: www.slp.k12.la.us
Location: 1013 E. Creswell Lane, Opelousas, LA 70571
Phone: 337.948.3657