TO DO:

• A key piece to creating school staffing plans is the completion of the ACR process. The deadline for ACR’s has passed and you have met to approve these.  Please verify with me after your school has dropped and added all ACR students. Once I hear back from each of our middle schools I’ll let Brad know our student numbers are as accurately assigned as they can be and he can work on FTE allocation.
• Please take some time, if you haven’t already, to read over the two emails Jay sent you on Tuesday of this week regarding guidance for the March 14 student (17 min.) demonstration.  Let me know if you have any specific questions regarding this.

THIS AND THAT:

• There is plenty going on in our nation right now that does not build trust in our public education system. Many/most of the things occurring are out of our control, but you are continually acting or making decisions that either building or diminish trust from your stakeholders (whether you like it or not).  Some days I build trust with you and others I interact with (including some of your parents) better than I do on other days. I thought this article, A Principal Remembers How She Built Trust, had some simple and timely reminders for me – and hopefully for you as well – on ways to build trust with those you work with, alongside and for.
• A couple of updates around staff who are currently on leave.  Certified staff on leave this year have received a letter requesting their feedback (by March 15) as to whether they will be returning next fall, or resigning the portion of their FTE that they have leave for (some current leave employees are taking full-time leave, some part-time leave).  Classified staff letters, with the same requested feedback, will be sent out on April 2, with a requested response no later than April 30.  The timing of these leave letters are based on contract language with both of these bargaining teams. I have asked HR to communicate with you when they receive a return letter so you can prepare accordingly with your staffing plans for next fall.
• It has been reported by a few employees in our district that they have received a BLSend email recently that they could not open with their password.  What has been learned is that someone has created a “look alike” to our secure email system (they have not hacked into our system, but have created one that looks similar to the receiver).  If you look closely you will see that the web link is not part of our system and there is likely not a name attached of whom you are receiving this email from.  If you receive one of these emails, please delete it. If you try to enter this “look alike” with your password, it is very possible that your password is trying to be copied.  If this happens to you, it is advised that you change your password immediately.  I don’t know how prevalent this is occurring, but wanted to alert you.
• Spring conferences (for all but LPMS) dates are April 11 & 12.  You may, with your teacher vote, schedule yours as follows: 4/11 – regular SIW schedule, followed by “conference prep” for SIW time, followed by conferences 3:15 – 7:15pm; 4/12 – conference all day and end at 7:15pm; 4/13 – non contract day for teachers (due to the 8 hours of conference time they completed the two evenings prior).  Let me know if you have any questions regarding this.

REMINDERS:

• Tomorrow evening is the Education Foundation annual Trivia Bee at the Tower Theatre.  If you have never attended I can guarantee you there will be good food and fun to be had, starting at 7:00pm.  This is the major fundraiser for the Ed Foundation of the year, with dollars being given to schools in the form of athletic scholarships and teacher grants.
• This weekend is Daylight Savings Time… don’t forget to change your clocks!