A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools
July 6, 2011 (NewsLinks articles are now archived on Docushare)
IN THIS ISSUE
· You can still take the annual staff communications survey
· School board approves 2011-12 school year budget
· School board OKs Community Resource Center and new tracks for Cascade and Jackson high schools
· Only one more month of paper pay stubs
· Opportunities for students and staff
· Policies and Procedures – are always online
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK – annual staff communications survey
If you missed it, there is still time to take the annual Zoomerang survey to let us know the information you want most about the district and the ways you’d like to get that information.
SCHOOL BOARD ACTION – 2011-12 budget, Community Resource Center and two high school tracks
1. Since last fall, the board has been involved in 16 different meetings leading up to its approval on July 5 of the 2011-12 school year budget. More details about the funding cuts made by the state Legislature and the federal government are online as is a chronicle of the community process used to help establish a budget for next school year.
Director Russell lamented the impact that years of funding cuts have had on the district, noting that there are more than 100 fewer staff positions than there were just three years ago.
He complimented all staff on their continued emphasis to ensure each student learns to high standards and noted that all can be proud of the impressive graduation rates, test scores and achievements our students are making.
2. The board’s decision to replace CHS and JHS tracks and construct a Community Resource Center (CRC) followed a public hearing on June 28 and a series of previous meetings by this board and decades of planning and effort by previous boards and district staff.
During its June 28 and July 5 meetings, board members heard from nine constituents who spoke in favor of the CRC and four who spoke against it. Those who spoke in favor included former board members who attested to the district’s recognition decades ago of the need to consolidate instructional and operational support services in one location. Their comments included descriptions of the district’s rapid growth and need to build new schools before building a CRC.
Those who spoke against the CRC spoke to the need for sports stadiums, fields and swimming pools and questioned whether the funds were being used properly for a CRC.
More details about the Community Resource Center are available on the district website. Included in that information are answers to such questions as:
· Why can’t this money be used to pay teachers and add school programs?
· Why doesn’t the district rent space?
· Why doesn’t the district use schools for office space?
On July 1, the CRC project was endorsed in an Everett Herald editorial.
AUGUST IS THE LAST MONTH FOR PAPER PAY STUBS – payroll is going “green”
Starting with the September 2011 payroll, Everett Public Schools is going green by eliminating paper payroll stubs. Also called earning statements, these stubs will no longer be printed or distributed to staff. The accounting office will continue to issue paper checks.
Not sure how to use Employee Online? Check out the instructional videos online. You can see your payroll stubs online now.
NEWS AROUND THE DISTRICT
06.29.2011 H.M. Jackson High students selected
as Washington Aerospace Scholars
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
1. Support Everett’s kids and have a great time doing it: The Friends of the Everett Public Library and the Board of Trustees invite you to participate in the second annual Spelldown: A Spelling Bee for Grown-Ups.
It’s as simple as recruiting a team of three spellers – friends, neighbors, colleagues, or business acquaintances, and paying the $100 entry fee. Don’t worry about stage fright – you work as a team.
Our goal this year is to support programs for children and teens. Buying book prizes for Summer Reading Program participants, funding author and performer programs, and purchasing early learning activity centers are all things the Friends would be able to do if the Bee continues to be successful.
For additional information, please call 425-257-8022, email esimmons@ci.everett.wa.us, or visit the webpage.
OPPORTUNITIES IN BRIEF – quick reminders from past issues
1.
FREE summer
technology workshops (offered by
Everett Public Schools)
If you have
thought about having your students collaborate online or set up an electronic
student portfolio, join Everett Public Schools teachers as they learn about
Google Apps. To find out more about these and other courses available free to
in- and out‑of‑district teachers, go to Discovery Ridge. Questions? Contact Everett Public Schools
information systems and technology department at 425-385-4200 or LauriBeth Hull
at lhull@everettsd.org.
2. Recycle electronic items at Eisenhower this summer. Eisenhower’s recycle program accepts almost all electronic items, including but not limited to cell phones, ink and laser printer cartridges, laptops, notebooks, GPS units, iPhones, BlackBerrys, electronic games/players, CD/DVD’s and players, electronic books, USB drives, and portable hard drives. TV’s and desktop computers are not accepted. Items can be left at the front office. The money from the recycling is put back into the school program. Contact Karen Stolworthy at 425-385-7534 with questions.
3. A new approach to principal preparation. UW Bothell is now accepting applications for its new master’s program, Leadership Development for Educators Program (LEDE) for autumn quarter. LEDE is designed for teachers who work as instructional leaders in either formal or informal roles, and provides a pathway from teacher leadership into the principalship.
Autumn quarter 2011 application deadline is Aug. 11. For more information, contact Nick Brownlee at nbrownlee@uwb.edu or 425-352-5369.
4.
KPLU is
releasing the School of Jazz
CD, Volume VII. For the second year in a
row, Jackson High
School Jazz Ensemble 1 is featured! KPLU
selects 10 top high school jazz bands, provides a professional jazz musician as
a mentor (this year’s mentor was trombonist and composer David Marriott) who
works with the students and performs on the CD with the band. CDs may be
purchased for $10 from any Jazz 1 member or Lesley
Moffat.
5. Is your student’s backpack making the grade? Backpacks are one of the best ways to tote homework and books, but overloaded or improperly worn backpacks can cause injury to a child’s growing musculoskeletal system. Read more about backpack safety tips.
6. Teen depression research study. The University of Washington and Children’s Hospital hope to learn more about how the teen brain processes rewards and responds to emotions through a teen depression research study. For more information, contact Christina Derbidge at 206-221-7264.
POLICY & PROCEDURE INFO – links to all policies and procedures are online
Everett Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. Designated to handle inquiries about nondiscrimination policies are: Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4106; Title IX Officer and 504 Coordinator, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett, WA 98201, 425-385-4104; ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 4730 Colby Ave., Everett, WA 98203, 425-385-5250.
(Email address for each is FirstInitialLastName@everettsd.org)
Diane Bradford
Communications Dept.
Everett Public Schools
425-385-4040