Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Administrators' Desk logo

Action Items

For All Principals

New Custodial Services Scorecard  for the 2022-23 School Year

from Facilities
We will start off the new school year with a Custodial Services Score Card. This Google Doc is used by principals to identify their custodial staff’s performance level and will allow us to see where improvement is needed within the district.

The Score Card is sent monthly to all principals and others administrators for completion. Click here to view it.

Informational Items

For All Administrators

Erasing the Red Lines: Are Our Schools Embracing the Future or Embodying the Past?

from Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Join Mrs. Canise L. Salinas-Willich and Dr. Zakry Akagi-Bustin on Thursday, April 28, 2022 as they will be panelists at the Erasing the Red Lines: Are Our Schools Embracing the Future or Embodying the Past? event hosted by the American Public Square at William Jewell.

Topic: Erasing the red lines: Are our schools embracing the future or embodying the past?

Many community members believe no area is more urgently in need of change than education. The socio-economic impact and varied access to resources directly affects students based on the demographics of their student bodies. As we move forward, we are challenged with how to make long-lasting change and whether education is indeed a pathway to a more equal and equitable society.

Join American Public Square at Jewell and its Student Ambassadors for a conversation about education reform. Our panel will discuss whether our schools are designed to prepare students for success in the 21st Century, and highlight what role diversity plays in students’ vision of the ideal school.

The program will be moderated by:

Mará Rose Williams, Writer- The Kansas City Star Editorial Board.

When and Where:
Thursday, April 28, 2022
The event will be held at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Public Library: 4801 Main St., Kansas City, MO.

Doors open at 6 PM and the formal program will run from 6:30 to 7:45 PM a live streaming option is also available.
Admission is free, but please register at the event page here.

For All Principals

Masks are Optional Circle

from Student Services
Our school staff have been faced with helping students use masks during this school year. With masks now optional in our schools, having a discussion about this to ensure that everyone feels safe and supported may be beneficial in our classrooms. The goal of this document is to provide a tool for classroom teachers to hold a proactive conversation and safe space to discuss their thoughts and feelings about masks being optional.

Reminders

May Supplemental Payment

from Human Resources
This is a reminder that names for the May 31, 2022, supplemental payments are due to HR by Friday, April 29, 2022. Here is a link for Elementary entries. Please work with your building Athletic Director to submit Secondary entries. You may reach out to Ana Perez-Matthews if you have any questions.

Assessment Updates

from DERA
Important Dates

  • KAP General Summative Assessment: Monday, March 21 – Friday, April 29
  • DLM: Monday, February 7 – Friday, April 29
  • FastBridge Screener:
    • Early Childhood:  Monday, April 25 – Friday, May 20
    • K-12: Monday, May 2 – Friday, May 20
    • Review Assessment Schedule for further details

KAP Completion & Scores

  • Keep an eye on your building’s KAP completion rate:
    • KITE > Dashboard > Testing Summary
  • Which kids have not been tested?
    • KITE > Reports > Data Extracts > KAP Test Administration Monitoring
  • Student Scores Report will be available during the week of May 2nd except for Grade 10 Math. Grade 10 Math will not be available until Fall 2022 as standard setting and cut scores are completed in Summer of 2022. KSDE is putting a note in the Parent Portal why Grade 10 math is not available. 

KAP/DLM Special Circumstance Code Deadline: Friday, April 29, 2022.

See directions on how to enter SC Codes

  • No Special Circumstance Codes can be entered once the window closes on Friday, 4/29.  The page will become unavailable.
  • Failure to enter SC codes will result in a zero being recorded for those students’ assessments.  This will directly impact your campus aggregate scores and/or participation rates.

HGSS

  • Scores should be collected and entered into Infinite Campus by the classroom teacher (click here to download instructions for score entry). We are still allowing the elementary and middle school scores to be added through Friday, April 22nd, 2022. The window for the high school HGSS assessment closes on Friday, May 20th, 2022. Please note that all K-12 students should be assessed using the HGSS scoring rubric before the window closes. Please contact the DERA Team with any questions you may have at dera@kckps.org.

Guidelines for Supervisors/Principals for NHO

from Human Resources

 New Hire Orientation

Suggested Responsibilities of Supervisors/Principals 

Research shows that there is a direct correlation between a quality onboarding experience and employee retention. This is the reason for the changes we are making to orientation.

The intent of the changes is to increase the quality of the experience and retention of employees in KCKPS, as well as allowing new hires to start the morning following BOE approval.

The schedule for orientation is three half-days held on the Friday, Monday and Tuesday prior to each BOE meeting. (Schedule is below) In addition to the trainings provided by the district, the expectation is for supervisors/principals (or their designee) to provide training at their work site during the hours they are not attending required orientation. This training should include job and site-specific training.  A list of possible trainings is provided to assist you in your planning.  

Before the New Hire’s First Day on the Job

  • Notify new hire when and where to arrive during their job and site-specific training
  • Where they are required to park
  • Person they should be meeting with at their worksite
  • Making sure their working area is set-up and ready
  • Materials and equipment issued (as appropriate) 

Fundamentals

  • Introduce new hire to key staff
  • Explain hours of work/shift
  • Grooming and dress code
  • Explain training procedures and expectations
  • Performance evaluation
  • Employee handbook
  • Illustrate the “big picture “– how each position relates to the others on the team
  • Share your school’s/ department’s vision, mission and values
  • Assign the new hire a “buddy” who can answer simple procedural questions
    • NOTE: First/Second year teachers require a mentor; that name should be given to Ms. Lindsey Schneider

The Basics

  • Point out the location of the restroom, work room, break room, etc.
  • Provide a tour of the facility
  • Show where new hire is to store personal belongings 

Policies and Standards

  • Review policy on internet and phone usage during work time
  • Discipline philosophy
  • Reporting absences
  • Harassment and bullying-free workplace
  • On-the-job training
  • Overtime practice for non-salaried employees
  • Personal use of equipment and supplies
  • Negotiated agreement for instructional staff

Workplace Security, Safety and Emergency Procedures

  • How to lock/secure work place
  • How to call for help
  • How to deal with a threatening employee or parent
  • Fire procedures
  • Personal safety procedures
  • Reporting accidents
  • First aid room/resources
  • COVID-19 Health & Safety Plan
  • COVID-19 Health & Safety protocols, procedures and policies
  • Personal protective equipment

Set Job and Site Expectations

  • Probationary period and performance-appraisal timelines
  • Review the job description, pointing out employee expectations in regards to:
    • Major duties and responsibilities
    • Performance standards
    • Hours
    • Staff meetings
    • Workload
    • Training

New Hire Orientation Dates (remaining this year)

In-Person * Zoom** Zoom**
May 6 May 9 May 10
May 20 May 23 May 24
June 10 June 13 June 14
June 24 June 27 June 28
July 15 July 18 July 19

* Location at Central Office computer lab (268).
** Location to be determined by supervisor (home vs. site) 

Leadership EDIT Summit

from Student Services

Hello!

We are thrilled to invite you to attend the Leadership EDIT Summit on Friday, June 17, 2022. Along with our partners from around the country, our goal is to create a cohort of building and district leaders who are focused on creating equitable and trauma-informed systems.

Leadership EDIT Summit poster

Participants will leave the Leadership EDIT Summit with increased capacity to engage in transformative change within their systems. Additionally, our networking sessions will build a foundation for building and district level leaders to consult, collaborate, and connect with one another.

This conference includes keynotes, multiple breakout sessions and two networking sessions for leaders. Highlights Include:

Opening Keynote: Mr. Jim Sporleder, Consultant and former Principal of Lincoln HS in Walla Walla, WA
Closing Keynote: Dr. Lateshia Woodley – Assistant Superintendent of Student Support, Kansas City (MO) Public Schools

Building Leader Networking Session: Led by Jim Sporleder, Consultant and former Principal of Lincoln HS in Walla Walla, WA
District Leader Networking: Led by David Spellmon, Behavioral Specialist, HipHop Pedagogy Coach, Positive Archer Solutions

Crowdcast Link

Connector Deadline Approaches

from Diploma+
The use of Connector is going very well this spring. Please remind your teachers time is almost up to submit their live session request-the deadline is Friday, April 29th. FA week for Diploma+ Careers is May 2nd so lots of fun Connector sessions are right around the corner.
Connector Goals (Word document)

Trauma Sensitive and Resilient Schools MiniGrant

from Student Services

Reminder about mini-grant funding:

– $500 to spend by August 1, 2022
– Funds must support your implementation of Trauma Sensitive and Resilient Schools.
– You must be able to articulate how these funds will help you achieve your TSRS Goal (or BSEL Goal)
You must request funds BEFORE you spend them. Student Services will no longer approve the use of mini grant funds without prior approval.

As always, please let Brittany Talley know what questions you have, or how she can  support your work!

Trauma Sensitive PD Scholarships (please share with your staff)

from Student Services

The Trauma Sensitive and Resilient Schools Initiative is offering PD scholarships this summer! Student Services will pay the registration fee for any staff member who is interested in attending a training related to: trauma, social-emotional learning, or diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trainings must be completed over summer break and attendees will provide a 15-20 minute presentation on their learning.

Please have staff complete this form if they are interested!

Art Uploaded – Digital Student Art Show

from IARC

KCKPS launched our digital art show – Art Uploaded. Please see the postcard for the link. This link will be shared on the district’s social media. Additionally, art teachers shared with their students. Please take time to view the show and share on your respective school platforms.

Use the menu in the upper left to quickly find your respective school.

Lump Sum Information

from Communications

Please share this with your certified staff:

This year’s Lump Sum Request/Rescind form is available now through April 29th. You can find the information at the top of the Staff Links page on the website.

3rd-5th Grade Student Surveys Open April 1 – April 30

from Federal Programs

The window is open for the 3rd-5th grade student survey!  Surveys will run 4/1/22 through 4/30/22 to gather data on culture, climate, equity & inclusion, and instructional programs.

DATA will be used for KESA, District Strategic Plan, and in your School Improvement Plans. It’s important for all elementary schools to have strong participation rates in order for the responses to be a valid data source.

Please work with your teachers to make sure ALL 3rd – 5th grade students have an opportunity to participate in the survey.  The first page of the survey includes drop down menus where students will select a language in which to complete the survey, their race/ethnicity, and also their school.

English, Spanish, Hakka Chin, Hmong, Kiswahili, Nepali, Somali, Arabic, Burmese Survey Link

Karen Survey Link

Thanks for your help in collecting this important data! For questions, email or call Lisa Walker.

New Staff Intranet Launching Soon/Review of District Forms and Departmental Pages

from Communications

Due to new and ongoing issues with the old intranet system, we are launching a temporary (but more user-friendly and accessible) staff intranet for everyone’s use.  The new, temporary intranet will also have a section titled “Administrators’ Corner,” with links to this newsletter’s homepage, admin-only form links, and more.

Before we launch this temporary intranet, however, we need a lot of old data updated or even removed.  To start, there is a page that housed a number of all-purpose forms and manuals; if your department handles any of these forms (or used to), please visit this link and send any changes needed to forms or links directly to Mike Keener as soon as you can, as it will help speed along the live launch of this new intranet page. Additionally, let him know about any other content on either the live site (or old intranet) that needs to be edited for inclusion on the new site.

New District Letterhead

from Communications

Please use this letterhead template for district communications.

Electronic Reporting Forms for Injuries and Incidents

From Communications & Marketing

Just a quick reminder that many of the forms you need when it comes to incidents are now electronic.

Student injury forms have now been included to the list.

To find the reporting form for students go to this link: https://form.jotform.com/212366215525047

To make the reporting of workman’s compensation accidents less time consuming, the Supervisors Accident Report is now an electronic form.

Regardless of severity, immediate supervisors & directors are required to report all work-related injuries within 48 hours to Risk Management.

To do so, please use the following link: https://form.jotform.com/212304621025035

The Incident Report helps document any incident involving non employees.

This includes our students, visitors, parents and guardians.

The incident form is to be filled out for a number of situations including: a child is missing, if a student is injured in a way that could require medical attention in the future, police have to be called during an incident,  there is a fight,  or even to report property damage.

An example of a fight that needs to be recorded- a fight that breaks out that others are around and it may have been recorded. A fight that someone may not realize they are injured immediately but could later on in the day. Fights that do NOT need to be recorded: two kids on the playground hit each other in the arm over a ball.

There may be other incidents that could also require use of this form.

If you have questions about whether an incident falls into this category, please reach out to your IIO.

Here is a link to the Incident Report form:  https://kckps.org/incident-report/