FRIDAY NOTES 2022-2023
Notes from the Superintendent
January 6, 2022
2022-2023 Goals
G2: Student-Centered Programming
G3: Staff Support and Development
G4: Parent and Community Engagement
G5: Facilities and Resources Align with Vision
My Weekly Progress Towards Priorities:
With the board this will be part of a two part presentation, with the first presentation being on Monday. During part one of the presentation I will share with you information I have received from KSDE regarding what scores on the state assessment mean. We hear all the time from the legislature about scores need to be level 3 or 4, but KSDE has found significance success from students with scores of level 2. So, I will be sharing a presentation on Monday that I have been given by KSDE.
General Information:
- During the winter break I was able to gather the data and complete the District Comparisons Profile again for your viewing. This document is attached below in the attachment section. As a reminder this is annual report that I complete that provides important pieces of data comparing our district with other district with similar enrollment sizes. The first task is always to complete #1 which is the like sized districts. For the entire report I compare the five closest districts in enrollment to USD 495. This year I went back to using the headcount enrollment as it reflects the total number of students we are educating. The headcount enrollment is based on what each district reported after count day, so it has not been audited as of yet. We had some changes in the districts that we are comparing this year, as we gained four new districts. The only district that stayed on the list was Prairie View. At the end of the report I provided some key points that I gathered in reviewing the data. If you have any questions or if their is some additional piece of data that you want me to gather please let me know. This report is confidential in that we don't share it with the public, it is all available off of KSDE to gather for themselves. There is always a risk when you start presenting comparisons with others, some points of data reflect positive for USD 495 and others reflect negative.
- On Thursday during the KSDE update zoom we received our first preliminary general fund estimates for the 2023-2024 school year. I have attached the excel spreadsheet below along with the cover memo. One key point with the estimate is the BASE for 2023-2024, which is $5,103. This is only an estimate as this will not be set until April 1st. Also, another key take away is the special education increase of $0. Right now there is no budgeted increase by the legislature for special education. That could change during the session, but this is the forecasted budget with current legislative statute.
- This week we had two different accidents involving our transportation department. The first occurred on Tuesday in Ellsworth at the basketball game. One of our activity drivers encountered a park vehicle in front of the Ellsworth school. Richard is working with the owner to get quotes on the damage, the preliminary information looks as though it will be lower then our deductible. If that is the case we will just pay for the damage without make a claim. The second accident occurred on Thursday in town, on Topeka street where a bus struck a parked car. No students were on board at the time of the accident. This resulting damage from the parked car will require a claim as the damage is more extensive. Richard and myself had a conversation on Thursday about conducting a meeting with the drivers. He is scheduling a meeting to review safety protocols and reiterate being more aware of our surroundings when operating the buses. He stated that he will inform them that they have 10ft halo around the bus and if they can't make a turn without getting in that bubble then find an alternate route.
- I will be out of the office next week Wednesday afternoon and all day on Thursday attending my grandmothers funeral.
BOE Meeting Preview :
- KASB Board Policy Updates
- ESSER III Plan
- Athletic Facilities Progress Update
- State Assessment Data Overview
- City Housing Study and Market Analysis
- Baseball/Softball COOP
- Negotiations Team
Attachments/Reading Materials:
My Schedule Next Week:
Monday 1/9:
9:30-10:30 am Directors Meeting
12:30-1:30 pm School Walks
1:30-2:00 pm Pre-BOE Mtg Prep
6:00 pm Board of Education Meeting
Tuesday 1/10:
9:00-10:00 am Weekly Chat Denise
10:00-11:00 am Weekly Chat Shane
11:00 am-12:00 pm Weekly Chat Dustin
Wednesday 1/11: (Out of Office in PM)
7:30-8:00 am Donuts with Grownups
10:30-11:30 am Pawnee County Safety Meeting
12:00-1:00 pm Noon Lions Club
1:00-5:00 pm At Funeral
Thursday 1/12: (Out of Office All Day)
8:00 am-5:00 pm At Funeral
Friday 1/13:
9:00-10:00 am Dirty Dozen Meeting
10:30-11:30 am School Walks