January 28, 2011
volume 68
Public Forums for the 2011-2012 Budget are Underway
In the Know is produced by the Community Affairs & Marketing Department, and is recognized as an outstanding electronic newsletter by the National School Public Relations Association.
The Tempe Elementary public budget forums have begun, with the first of six forums recently held at Fees Preparatory Academy on Wednesday, January 26. TD3 Chief Financial Officer Liz Yeskey and Superintendent Dr. Art Tate presented, and will continue to present, the financial outlook of the District, the budget process, and how the budget recommendations for the 2011-2012 school year were made. The PowerPoint presentation being shown at the public forums can be found online at www.tempeschools.org/BudgetPlanning. More than 150 people attended the first forum, and about 35 people made comments or asked questions.
Here are some of the employee-related questions that were asked: How do we let the Governing Board know our thoughts about the budget reduction proposals? Feedback forms are available at each forum. You can also drop off your ideas at the District office, e-mail the Governing Board members, or submit your thoughts through the District website at www.tempeschools.org/ForumFeedback. All feedback will be given to the Governing Board members, who will make the final budget decisions.
How will we determine the staff for the campuses that are merging? Superintendent Dr. Art Tate announced Thursday he will appoint Ken White as the principal if Bustoz and Fuller merge and Barry Fritch as the principal if Meyer and Hudson merge. Current Meyer Principal Howard Oechsner is retiring at the end of the school year, and current Fuller Principal Rebeckah Winans will be moving to a new position. The principals of the newly merged schools will hire the certified and classified staff for the new school from the current certified and classified staff at both schools. Staff members affected by the mergers will have an early opportunity to apply for positions and interview. Should the Governing Board approve the recommendation to repurpose McKemy, the certified and classified staff will be reallocated to Connolly, Fees, Gililland, and Laird. The McKemy staff (with the exception of one-year only employees) will have a separate transfer and interview process to apply for any reallocated or vacant position at the four receiving schools. Any McKemy staff member or Bustoz/Fuller and/or Meyer/Hudson staff members not selected for the newly merged school will have their own voluntary transfer period in which they may interview for any vacancies throughout the District for which they are highly qualified and/or appropriately certified.
Remaining Public Budget Forums A discussion of budget reduction options will take place at the remaining public forums: • February 1 - 6 to 8 p.m. Connolly Middle School Cafeteria • February 3 - 6 to 8 p.m. Gililland Middle School Cafeteria • February 9 - 6 to 8 p.m. McKemy Middle School Cafeteria • February 17 - 6 to 8 p.m. Fuller Elementary Cafeteria (meeting intended for the Bustoz and Fuller communities)
• February 22 - 6 to 8 p.m. Hudson Elementary Cafeteria (meeting intended for the Meyer and Hudson
communities)
Also In This Issue...
Our Newest National Board Certified Teacher
What can we do to assure our parents that they need to stay in our District? Our hope is that the teachers will follow their students to their new campuses if Bustoz/Fuller and Meyer/Hudson merge and if McKemy is repurmore on page 2
Reward a Student for Exceptional Courage Frank Elementary Teachers ‘Master’ Teamwork
January 28, 2011
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A Message from Your Superintendent The preliminary planning for balancing next year’s budget is complete, and now we are entering the public stage of the process. There are six public forums which are designed to transmit information, answer questions, and get feedback from staff, parents, and the community. This process necessarily exposes the District and the leadership to probing inquiries and criticism. Because of the nature of some of the recommendations for reductions, the process has the potential for causing conflict among schools and between programs. We all must keep in mind that the purpose of the prioritized list for the budget is to help the Governing Board make decisions which will support student achievement first and foremost. We all must focus on helping the Govcontinued from page 1
Budget
posed. We will continue to provide high-quality programs in our District by spending less on operating buildings. To view other questions related to the 2011-2012 budget, read the Budget Q & A with Superintendent Dr. Art Tate on the homepage of the TD3 website. A Governing Board study session will be held on February 16 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the District office. On March 2, the Governing Board may vote on budget options including merging and/or repurposing schools at 7 p.m. at the regular Governing Board meeting. To stay informed on the 2011-2012 budget, visit www.tempeschools.org/BudgetPlanning. The District website will always have the latest information.
erning Board understand how each item on the reduction list will affect our classrooms. We must do this without maligning schools and programs. It is a matter of priority based on the impact on achievement, not one school or program being better than another. We have reduced our budgets so much in the last few years and we are at a point where any of the cuts being proposed will hurt education. Together, using accurate facts and data, we need to offer comments and recommendations to help the Governing Board make wise decisions so that the pain is minimized.
P Presenting ti O Our N Newestt N National ti l Board Certified Teacher! Congratulations to Molly Houghton, Scales fourth/fifth-grade ELD teacher for becoming TD3’s newest National Board Certified Teacher! Houghton joins 12 other current TD3 teachers who have received their certification. Houghton has been teaching for 1 11 /2 years. She began her career in Molly Houghton witnesses one of her student’s “ah-ha” moments as he proudly shows her a test Tennessee, and after six months she he successfully completed on his laptop. moved to Phoenix and taught fifthgrade at Thew Elementary starting in 1999. In 2006, she received one of five “Tempe Teachers of Tomorrow” classrooms (a laptop for each student) and enjoyed working with the technology so much that she moved to Scales Technology Academy in 2008. “I wanted to become a National Board Certified Teacher because I knew it would make me a better teacher,” said Houghton. “I think it is important for teachers to keep learning.” If you’re interested in receiving your National Board Certification, visit www.ade.state.az.us/certification/.
We welcome your input. Please e-mail story ideas and comments to intheknow@tempeschools.org.
January 28, 2011
Reward a Student for Exceptional Courage g The City of Tempe annually presents the Youthfest Courage Awards each spring. The purpose of the Courage Awards is to recognize the special effort it takes some youth to grow up and lead productive lives in this challenging world. The awards are designed to provide recognition to youth who might not ordinarily receive such recognition. Ten winners are selected within the Tempe and Kyrene districts. Winners receive a $100 gift card, a beautifully engraved award, a picture with the mayor of Tempe, and a complimentary banquet
dinner for the winners and their parents. Only sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade e students are eligible. Anyy TD3 employee can nomiinate students for this prestigious award. i i d The nomination deadline is Friday, February 18, 2011. For the nomination form and information, visit the Employee Portal at www.tempeschools.org/td3portal and click on Courage Awards under the District Resources & Info tab.
A Place in Aguilar School History (L to R) Language Arts Coach ch hD Do Donna onna Groseth, Principal JoLyn Gibbons, and Language Arts Coach Lorraine Peterson sign one of the beams that will be placed in the new Aguilar Elementary building. This beam, containing autographs and notes from staff and students, will remain exposed so the inscriptions can be seen for years to come.
Kid Zone Preschool at Getz Offers TD3 Employee Discount and Free Trial Day The City of Tempe Kid Zone Preschool at Getz is enrolling students to start now or next school yyear. The program is available to children ages two tthrough four and any child in pre-kindergarten. Fullaand part-time schedules are available. The program helps transition children from play into learning. TD3 h eemployees receive a discounted rate for the program. g Please call Rose Amaturo at (480) 350-5424 or o Kecia Walsh at the Kid Zone business office at ((480) 350-5427, and ask about the free trial day. You may also visit the Kid Zone website at m www.tempe.gov/KidZone for more information. w
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Frank Elementary Teachers ‘Master’ Teamwork After a year of dedication, hard work, and intense studying, five Frank Elementary teachers now have their Master’s degrees. Megan Hyde, Justin Jensen, MaryEllen Maxfield, Christina Moore, and Jodi Overkleeft decided as a group to get their Master’s degrees in Special Education: Teacher Leadership from Arizona State University. The group studied together and helped each other as much as possible while in the program. The group participated in a program called “Urban Planning Learning Schools Initiative,” which is designed to support the development of general educators and special educators simultaneously while earning their Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees. What they have learned has helped them become culturally responsive and inclusive in their approaches to teaching and learning. “As graduates we understand how to create opportunities for children from diverse urban settings to learn and develop in ways that are healthy, respectful, supportive, and challenging,” said Overkleeft. “As educators we now have a deep understanding of the cultural histories and traditions we bring to our teaching that will promote positive development and learning for all children.” Congratulations to the graduates!
We welcome your input. Please e-mail story ideas and comments to intheknow@tempeschools.org.