Contents
New Items
Meet and Confer Process – for All Staff
Teaching Opportunity through Kansas State University – for All Staff
Taste of 500 – for All Staff
Upcoming Beginning Teacher/Mentor Meeting – for All Principals
Previous Items
Special Education Special Day – for Principals
Coach It Right! – FREE Football Clinic – for Middle/High School Admin, Athletic Directors, Football Coaches
Most Likely to Succeed Screening – for All Administrators
Performance Evaluation Due Date Reminders – for All Administrators
PACT Program – for All Administrators
Teacher Transfer – for All Administrators
HR Related Board Items (Corrected) – for All Administrators
New Items
Meet and Confer Process
From Dr. Cynthia Lane
Dear Staff,
On March 8, 2016, the Board of Education approved our recommendation to rescind participation in the Public Employer-Employee Relations Act and authorized me to establish a “Meet and Confer” process with all employee groups not represented by the Teacher’s Bargaining Unit. It is important that we form our group and begin the process this spring.
I would like for each employee group to select their own representatives to be part of the Meet and Confer Team. Representatives must commit to attend all meetings, discuss topics, communicate and gather information. The team will assist in framing recommendations or considerations designed to shape my decision making and recommendations to the board.
Prior to our initial meeting, each group is asked to identify two representatives, and at least one alternate that will serve on the Meet and Confer Team. Names of the selected individuals are to be submitted to Susan Westfahl by Wednesday, April 20.
We have attempted to find a balance in the total number ofrepresentatives, while maintaining a committee size that can be productive. To get the process started, the represented groups are as follows:
- Administrators
- Classroom Aides, Translators, ISS Monitors
- Central Office (not represented by secretaries group)
- Custodians
- *KCKPS Law Enforcement Officers
- Maintenance (Shop)
- Nutritional Services
- *Paraprofessionals
- Parent Liaisons
- *Transportation (drivers and aides)
- *Secretaries
Our initial meeting will be at 4:30 on Monday, April 25, 2016 at the Central Office and Training Center, room 333. Our agenda will include determining frequency, date and time for meetings, reviewing purpose, submitting items for the agenda, and discussion of duties and responsibilities of representatives.
Sincerely,
Dr. Cynthia Lane
KCKPS Superintendent
Teaching Opportunity through Kansas State University
From Shelly Beech
The Kansas City Kansas School District has been selected to participate in a grant called Kansas Transition to Teaching. This grant is in partnership with Kansas State University and focuses on potential elementary classroom teachers. This is a great opportunity for an individual who may have a bachelor degree outside of education but has always wanted to teach. The K-State Program allows the potential teacher to ???fast track??? and earn a Master???s degree in teaching in one year. Upon successful completion of the program, the individual would be licensed through the State of Kansas with a teaching license. The KCK district is selected as one of six districts and will have the opportunity to hire these individuals once certified.
Please share this information with any individual who may be interested in this program. The details are listed below.
Have a bachelor???s degree? Want to be an elementary school teacher?
Kansas State University’s College of Education is now offering an online Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program that delivers affordable, high-quality teacher preparation in just 12 months.
MAT combines online coursework with field experiences arranged in elementary schools convenient to you. Upon completion, you???ll be eligible to apply for K-6 teacher certification.
Interested students in Great Bend, Kansas City (Kansas) Topeka, Dodge City, Garden City and Liberal are eligible to apply for the Kansas Transitions to Teaching (KTTT) project. The KTTT provides $6,000 fellowships and additional funding to purchase necessary technology for 30 students. KTTT fellows must complete the program, obtain the necessary licensure, and engage in full-time teaching.
Other scholarships are available through KSU???s Global Campus http://global.k-state.edu/students/services/scholarships/.
Cohort 1 begins May 2016.
Interested students should visit KSU???s Global Campus http://global.k-state.edu/education/mateaching/ or call Rosemary Boggs (785) 532-5724 for more information about the MAT and/or the KTTT.
Taste of 500
From Josh Mathiasmeier
Today is the day we have all been waiting for, the Taste of 500. Beginning today at 12:00 at F.L. Schlagle HS, students and staff are invited to participate in testing many different items that are under consideration for the 2016-17 School Year. Students from schools across the district will attend from 12:00-1:45. From 1:45-3:00, all staff, students, parents and community members are invited to participate as well. We look forward to seeing you there for our 19th annual Taste of 500!
Upcoming Beginning Teacher/Mentor Meeting
From Taneka Brown
Note to all Principals: The message below was sent to all beginning teachers and mentors. Please remind your staff of the upcoming meeting dates. Thank you!
Greetings Mentors and Beginning Teachers.
Welcome Back!
I hope your Spring Break was fun and relaxing! Please let this email serve as an invite to the upcoming Beginning Teacher/Mentor End-of-Year Meeting.
We will be communicating some very important information regarding KSDE changes for upgrading your licensure and reviewing all requirements to successfully complete the Beginning Teacher/Mentor Induction Program.
Plan to attend your appropriate session.
ECH/Elementary Beginning Teachers & Mentors
Date: Monday, April 11, 2016
Time: 4:30-5:30pm
Location: Central Office, 1st Floor-Room 131/132/133
Middle School/High School Beginning Teachers & Mentors
Date: Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Time: 3:30-4:30pm
Location: Central Office, 1st Floor-Room 131/132/133
We look forward to seeing you! Your attendance and participation are greatly appreciated.
Kind Regards,
Taneka Brown
Professional Learning Specialist
Kansas City Kansas Public Schools
913.627.2414
Previous Items
Special Education Special Day
From Michelle Colvin
As a reminder, Special Education Special Day is Wednesday, April 6. All special education staff will participate in professional learning provided by Special Education Administrators and Teacher Leaders on that day.
High School Special Education Teachers, OTs, PTs, MTs, Adaptive PE Teachers, Teachers of the Visually Impaired, and the Audiologist will attend PL at South Branch Library at 3104 Strong Avenue from 1:00 to 3:00.
Middle School Special Education Teachers, Bridges and New Directions Teachers, SLPs, and Secondary Teachers of the Gifted will attend PL in Rooms 132 and 133 at Central Office from 1:30 to 3:30.
Special Education Teachers at Early Elementary Schools, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers will attend PL in the East Wing on 3rd floor of Central Office from 2:00 to 4:00.
Special Education Teachers at Late Elementary Schools, and Elementary Teachers of the Gifted will attend PL in Room 131 at Central Office from 2:30 to 4:30.
Early Childhood Teachers will attend PL at KCK ECC from 1:30 to 3:30.
All Special Education Paras will receive PL at the Technical Education Center at 6565 State Avenue during their regular two-hour PL time (some time between 1:00 and 4:30 depending upon the para’s schedule).
Please contact Michelle Colvin at michelle.colvin@kckps.org or 627-2614 if you have any questions.
Coach It Right! – FREE Football Clinic
From Brandon Gillette
Saturday, April 2, 9am to 1pm (includes lunch)
At Pembroke Hill Upper School
5121 State Line Road
Kansas City, MO 64112
Head football coach of Avila, Justin Berna, will talk about the importance of character-driven athletics.
Dr. James Roberson will discuss football-related injuries and conduct a Q&A session.
Joe Headen, head football coach of Susquehanna Township High School in Pennsylvania, will discuss what it takes to maintain a successful football program.
This event is free (and lunch from Joe’s KC BBQ is provided) but you must registered to attend.
Register at www.championsofcharacter.org. Click on the Coach it Right picture.
Flyer PDF
Most Likely to Succeed Screening
From Jan Thomas
Greetings!
You are cordially invited to join KCKPS and a host of Kansas City area professionals on Wednesday, April 27, at the Schlagle High School Auditorium, for a special screening of the new education documentary, Most Likely to Succeed, based on the book by the same title. Doors open at 5:00pm, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be provided. The screening will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Please plan to stick around after the screening for a short panel discussion.
Sal Khan from Khan Academy said, “the 21st century is going to be all about building, creating, and innovating. This remarkable film shows a path of how we can empower all of our children to do that.” For more information on the movie, please visit http://mltsfilm.org/.
Admission to the screening is free, but space is limited. Please Register by April 14 using the following link:
http://tinyurl.com/mlts-kckps
We hope you are able to join us to preview one of the ???best edu-documentaries ever produced??? (Education Week).
Sincerely,
Dr. Cynthia Lane
KCKPS Superintendent
Performance Evaluation Due Date Reminders
From Gail Taylor
Certified Staff: 1st and 2nd year teacher evaluations must be completed by April 7, 2016.
Classified Staff: Evaluations are due May 1, (will accept on May 2nd since May 1st is a Sunday for 2016)
PACT Program
From Rosie Rodriguez
Attention Administrators, the last day to refer students to the PACT program will be on April 15. If you have any questions please direct them to Rosie Rodriguez, Truancy/PACT Program Specialist. Thanks!
Teacher Transfer
From Lisa Wilson
The window for certified voluntary transfer requests will be open from March 1, 2016 through April 15, 2016.
To access the request form teachers can log in to the employee portal and see the link on the left.
The window to request a transfer closes on April 15, 2016 and requests submitted after this date will not be accepted.
Teachers who wish to be considered for a transfer, even if a vacancy does not currently exist, must submit a request to be considered.
All voluntary transfers will be completed by the last working day for elementary principals. If you do not receive notice of a transfer you will remain at your same site unless notified otherwise by Human Resources.
Board Items
From Lisa Wilson
Correction ??? All Human Resource related board agenda items must be turned in to Lisa Wilson the Tuesday before the board for the regular agenda and the Thursday before the Board for the addendum. In the case of an emergency add, please let Lisa Wilson or Dr. Kelli Mather know, but understand these will be exceptions.