Team,

I have heard questions from some of you over the last week asking about when a decision will be made regarding how to use the recently appropriated Jobs Bill monies. My answer lies in collaboration. Just as I encourage all of our employees to collaborate with one another to improve student achievement, I also see collaboration as the answer to making tough decisions, resolving conflict and finding answers to what appear to be no-win situations. The Negotiations Team is currently collaborating with me to develop a plan for the Jobs Bill monies. I depend on this team to represent all of the competing interests and work with me to find resolution on this and many other issues.

Serving on a Negotiations Team that works collaboratively is no easy task because it requires everyone to listen to all of the interests when finding a resolution which typically takes more time and more patience than the “I win and you lose” approach of traditional bargaining.

Although the team hopes to have an answer about how we will use the Jobs Bill monies by the beginning of October, we also want to ensure that we have the right answer for Kuna. Please continue to be patient with us as we work through our process. And the next time you see a member of the Negotiations Team, please let them know you appreciate their hard work.

We work in a good place. From our Board to our employees, our Kuna team values and appreciates the hard work that you do. Thanks again for your patience—more information to come soon.

Updates

• Update on Health Insurance:

The Insurance Committee has reached a solution with Blue Cross. The good news is that we will have lower premiums for the entire school year and no 1.1% increase to our premiums. The bad news is that we have a second $500 deductible to meet for the last four months of the year. The following is an overview of the outcome of our meeting with Blue Cross:

• Our new benefit plan started September 1, 2010
• We have a lower premium payment as a result of the increased deductible so we do not have to pay the 1.1% increase to the premium, and will have a premium holiday for the month of September 2010 (figure 1). Please note that the monthly rate increased compared to last year’s, but that is because we will be paying premiums for 11 months instead of our typical 12 months. We have a premium “holiday” in September.
• All insured employees and their families will need to meet an additional $500 deductible during September 1, 2010 – December 31, 2010 (figure 2).
• On January 1, 2011, the deductible resets to $1000 (figure 2).

Because the deductible resets to $1000 on January 1, 2011, you may want to wait until the new year, if you can, to have major medical procedures. So what have we learned? In order to maximize our benefits, mitigate future issues and come to an understanding of how the new federal health bill impacts us, the Insurance Committee is pursuing the idea of working with a health insurance consultant.

• District Office Closed September 23-24
  We will be closing the District Office on September 23-24 as we move to Support Services. We will reopen on September 27. Since we will be moving our entire office and equipment, you may not get a response when you call the office. Please leave a message until we are able to return you calls on Monday. If you have an issue that requires immediate response, supervisors will be able to contact us via cell phone. All of our office phone numbers will remain the same.
• Interested in Becoming a Future KSD Leader?
  One of my goals is to continue to build current and future leaders in our district. Teachers, if you are interested in furthering your leadership abilities, whether that be as a teacher leader or as a future principal one day, Wendy and I are coordinating several meetings where the focus will be on developing leadership skills, behaviors and attitudes. The meeting dates will be as follows:
  • October 26, 3:30 – 5:00
  • January 25, 3:30 – 5:00
  • April 19, 3:30 – 5:00
  If you are interested in participating in this year’s leadership cohort, please register at the following website: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/WEB22B6P3LETUR
• Apangea Support Many of our teachers are using a math program called Apangea which has been provided to us by the State Department of Education. Since this is not a program that we host, our technicians are unable to troubleshoot problems you may be having. The best way to get help is to do one of the following:
  • If you already have an Apangea account, select the “Live Support” button on the teacher homepage. You will have access to immediate support directly from Apangea Customer Service.
  • If you don’t have an account but need to set up an account, please contact Marisa Alan by email at malan @ apangea.com or by phone at 208-559-6298

Rumor Mill

Have You Heard a Rumor and Want to Know the Answer? Post your question at KSD News!It is easy for rumors to get started in light of all the questions and concerns employees and parents have regarding the future of the Kuna School District. If you've heard a rumor that you'd like to get an "official" response on, we encourage you to visit news web site. Select the "Rumors, Questions and Feedback" tab.

Rumor: I’ve heard the district has already decided which “staff” will be going to the new elementary school next fall.

False. We will work with the KEA, School Board and District Leadership team to establish a process to determine how we will staff the new elementary school. Once a process has been established, I will provide you with an update.

Rumor: Is it true that if your child misses 6 or more days that they will have to go to summer school? Do they go to the same number of days missed or what is the policy? What happens to a child who is sick with a doctor’s note or is in an accident but still can do their homework and stay current?

Recently, the State Board of Education adopted new rules governing middle school requirements. As a result, in August, the School Board adopted the following policy that reflects the new requirements:

The goal of Kuna Joint School District No. 3 is to ensure that each student exiting middle school demonstrates learning competencies prior to transitioning to high school. The required competencies will be in English, math, science, history, electives & physical education/health for all seventh and eighth grade students, as well as the successful completion of a learning portfolio. Additionally, as defined by the exit standards, it is expected that students will attend school on a regular basis regardless of their academic standing. Students that demonstrate difficulty in meeting one or more of the requirements will be required to follow an alternative route to completion, which may include an individual improvement plan and/or strategic interventions in order to be successful.

Commencing with the 2010-2011 school year, all seventh and eighth grade students are required to have met the following by the end of the school year:

• Attain 80% of total credits (including language arts, math, science, history, health/PE, and electives); a student may not fail a core subject for every reporting period in a year (i.e. 4 F’s in Language Arts or Math, 2 F’s in science or history).
• Successfully complete the learning portfolio.
• Have no more than 6 absences per semester.

Students not meeting (or in jeopardy of not meeting) credit requirements will be given an opportunity to recover credits or complete an alternate mechanism in order to be eligible for promotion to the next grade level. These alternatives could include summer school, after-school programs and digital programs such as IDLA and will be customized to each individual situation.

A written alternate promotion plan, developed by the Child Study Team must be on file for students with special circumstances (i.e. students with severe health problems, Individual Education Plans, etc.)