Inside 271
Staff Newsletter
Coeur d'Alene Public Schools — April 29, 2019
join us: Profile of a Graduate workshops
We are engaging with our community about the knowledge, skills and dispositions we aspire to see in graduates of Coeur d'Alene Public Schools. We are eager to include your voices in this endeavor.
District staff are encouraged to join us this May as we create our Profile of a Graduate, which will guide development of a new strategic plan for the school district.
In the coming weeks we will lead three workshops (each two hours) with a mix of educators, employers, parents, community leaders and others. The purpose of each workshop is to imagine the ideal qualities we want to see in our graduates.
You have three opportunities to help us shape our District Profile:
- Morning: Thursday, May 9, 8-10 AM
- Afternoon: Thursday, May 16, 12-2 PM
- Evening: Thursday, May 23, 5-7 PM
Each workshop will be held at the Hospice of North Idaho Community Room, 2290 W. Prairie Ave., Coeur d'Alene.
Professional leave is available for staff who wish to attend. The District Office is able to cover the cost of a limited number of substitute teachers (up to 20 per workshop) for those who wish to attend the morning or afternoon workshops.
Please RSVP by this Friday, May 3. Email your preferred date to Pam Westberg pwestberg@cdaschools.org
Questions? Contact Scott Maben, ext. 10009.
On May 7 we toast our retirees and celebrate employees of the year
"You are my Sunshine" is the theme for this year's Employee Retirement and Recognition Dinner presented by the Coeur d'Alene Education Association and Coeur d'Alene Public Schools.
The dinner is at 6 PM at The Coeur d'Alene Inn on Appleway Avenue. Social hour begins at 5:30 PM.
If you wish to attend, please buy your ticket by 3 PM this Wednesday! The cost is $30 per person. Tickets can be purchased at your school or at the District Office.
The program includes our seven retiring classified employees, the nine classified employees of the month (Shining Star awards) for this school year, and our classified employee of the year.
We also will recognize our rookie of the year. Six elementary teachers, three middle school teachers and two high school teachers have been nominated.
Then we will honor our teachers of the year. We have 23 nominated for elementary teacher of the year, nine for middle school teacher of the year, and nine for high school teacher of the year. From those names, one will be crowned our District teacher of the year!
Questions? Please email Kirsten Pomerantz at kpomerantz@cdaschools.org
have you taken the accountability survey yet?
We've seen 421 District employees take the Idaho State Department of Education staff survey so far. (Thanks everyone!) The survey window is open through May 17, and our goal is to have 95 percent participation. So we have a ways to go. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey here.
This survey asks for your opinion about school culture, resources that support student learning, and staff support. This is an important piece of the state’s accountability system for public schools, and the intent is to help us improve our schools. Your responses are anonymous and confidential. The survey is around 20 questions.
Benefits: Open enrollment begins july 15
The District now uses an online benefit portal, HR Connection, for your benefit needs. All benefited employees will need to re-elect their benefits through the portal during the open enrollment period this summer.
Reminders will be coming, but please mark your calendars now so you don't miss this opportunity and risk losing your coverage. You will not be able to make any new elections until the window opens on July 15. The open enrollment period will run through August 10.
Questions? Contact Shelley Hanzen, Benefits Specialist in our District Office, at ext. 10032 or shanzen@cdaschools.org
Volunteers needed for Family day in the park
Family Day will again be downtown at City Park from noon to dusk. The District and our Hope on the Homefront team are planning some family-oriented activities and information to share with our community.
If you can join us for an hour, we are looking for a few more volunteers to staff our tables. Please contact Scott Maben, smaben@cdaschools.org, if you can help out.
Long Range Planning Committee needs members
We are looking for members to serve on the School Board's Long Range Planning Committee. The committee especially is in need of members representing the Borah Elementary and Venture High school zones. But anyone from any zone is welcome to apply.
This group of volunteers creates and reviews the District's long-range plans for facilities. Participation is a four-year commitment. The committee meets once a month, generally on Mondays, from 4:30 to 6 PM at Midtown Center. More information about this committee is available on our website.
To apply, complete and submit this form. All applications will be reviewed by a subcommittee of Long Range Planning.
Bus driver Joe Sommars takes his honor flight
Joe served as a Navy medic during the Vietnam War in 1964-67. He was shot down twice and injured, and he received the Purple Heart. After he was honorably discharged, Joe worked as a truck driver and owned a custom paint and body shop.
He and his wife Kerri, who also drives bus for our district, have been married 20 years.
We honor Joe’s service and wish him a safe and memorable tour of the memorials dedicated to the service and sacrifice of our veterans.
Before you raise money, don't forget to get approval
District procedure states that all employees applying for a grant or planning a fundraiser must complete the Fundraiser and Grant Authorization Form prior to submitting a grant application or planning a fundraiser.
When you complete this Google form, a summary of your planned grant or fundraiser is emailed to your school's Principal and Assistant Treasurer. They will review and approve the submission via email.
Bookmark this form for future use, or find the link at my.cdaschools.org under:
Departments | Finance | Misc Finance | Fundraiser and Grant Authorization Form
Your school Assistant Treasurer can help if you have any questions.
key dates: Mark your calendar
- May 7 - District Employee Retirement and Recognition Dinner, Coeur d'Alene Inn, 5:30 PM
- May 9 - Profile of a Graduate workshop, Hospice of North Idaho, 8-10 AM
- May 16 - Profile of a Graduate workshop, Hospice of North Idaho, 12-2 PM
- May 16 - Collaboration and Problem Solving Session (CAPSS), District Office, 4-6 PM
- May 17 - State accountability staff survey deadline
- May 22 - Native American Graduation and Academic Awards Celebration, Woodland Middle School, 6-8 PM
- May 23 - Profile of a Graduate workshop, Hospice of North Idaho, 5-7 PM
- May 28 - First session of Interest-Based Bargaining, Midtown Center, 9 AM-4 PM
- June 1 - Run for 271, McEuen Park, 7 AM
- June 5 - Project SEARCH end-of-year presentation and celebration, Kootenai Health-Health Resource Center, 4-5:30 PM
- June 6 - Venture High School Commencement, 6 PM
- June 7 - LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!
- June 7 - Family Day in the Park, City Park, noon to dusk
- June 7 - Coeur d'Alene High School Commencement, 7 PM
- June 8 - Lake City High School Commencement, 11 AM
- July 15 - District benefits open enrollment begins
Stay Connected
Email: info@cdaschools.org
Website: www.cdaschools.org
Location: 1400 N. Northwood Center Court
Phone: (208) 664-8241
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cdaschools
Twitter: @cdaschools