Dave Van Loo shared this resource: The Acceleration Imperative. In case you haven’t seen this, here is an incredible resource to assist with planning and prioritizing for the upcoming months and years. While elementary schools are the intended audience, there is a lot that applies to K-12. The organizations and people who have been building this are simply top-tier. The Executive Summary and Introduction tabs are a great place to jump in and get a flavor for the design principles and focuses of the work. This is an open-source, living document that will be continuously updated in response to new evidence, ideas, and feedback.
To Do:
There will be an upcoming BIAS in Hiring training for all building admin. and supervisors. Here is a heads-up on the date/time so you can pencil one in to your calendar now (more info regarding this training will be coming from HR). Of these two dates/times, you only need to ATTEND ONE (your choice): April 13, 7:30 – 9:00am, or April 15, 5:00 – 6:30pm.
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Canvas as our 6-12 LMS is here to stay…even post-pandemic! With the transition back to in-person instruction, our teams are getting many questions about the “future” of Canvas and expectations for the continued use of this system. Please help staff recognize that our implementation of the Canvas Learning Management System was accelerated by the pandemic. However, the need for a consistent LMS was recognized pre-pandemic, and training and implementation had started prior to last March. Please be sure your teachers understand that Canvas is our new LMS and will stay with us after the pandemic is in the rearview mirror! An LMS provides a consistent platform that teachers, students, parents, and support staff can rely on for communication, instructional support, and feedback. It is important that administrators develop and communicate a consistent expectation for Canvas use to teachers as we transition back to in-person learning. Our team has created this document that you can copy and/or modify to meet your own site standards for now. We are currently planning for some administrator training that will help us plan for district standards for Canvas use.
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If you haven’t had a chance to read Paul’s email earlier this week that contained some best practices around lunch, performing arts, school safety plans, and RSSL update, please do so. There is no doubt some information here that will be helpful to you (and a “to do” with updating your safety plan).
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In a recent, previous, blog I shared a return to athletics medical clearance informational letter with you (after a positive COVID result). That form has been updated and I’ve been asked to share this update with you and ask that you also share it with your families in future communication. Here is the English version of this letter. I was hoping to also share the Spanish at this time, but it is not quite ready – but will send it along to you when it is.
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Certified Bargaining: We have received a request to bargain from BEA as our last Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) concludes in 2021. We are interested in obtaining administrative input into confusing language or language that you’d like to see changed in the last Collective Bargaining Agreement 2017-2021.
If you can recall any experiences that you’ve had in the past four years where you tripped over some of the CBA language, then we can work with BEA to improve it. Please take some time before April 16th to fill out this google form with your ideas.
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Assessment Update from Dave Van Loo: This link should address the majority of questions pertaining to OSAS assessments this year. Be sure to read this and expect additional communication from the district next week.
In a nutshell:
- OSAS is happening which means ELA and Mathematics for juniors
- Opt-out procedures are the same as other years—it applies only to ELA and Math. Science remains a separate exemption process.
- The test window is April 13 – June 11.
- Training requirements are similar to previous years.
- Data will be reported publicly but not used for accountability.
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Dana Pedersen, earlier this week, sent you an email regarding FAN Advocate evaluation… and wanting your input. Here was the rubric that she sent – with the hopes of detailed feedback from you.
Information:
You may/may not yet be receiving inquiries regarding students wanting to return to your school now that the all-in announcement has been made. Juan shared the following communication (which now includes a date) with you on Wednesday via email, and I thought it is worth repeating. Please share with any staff who may be receiving these requests at your school:
As students from D CDL and BLPO share their interest in returning to their brick and mortar school for ‘all in’ please use the following party line …”Thanks for your interest in returning, there is a district process that must be followed to ensure all schools are allowing for adequate space in order to follow the safety guidelines, we are unable to address your request until we follow the process and get the green light. We will be back in touch with you after April 12 and we have a better idea of the allowable space in our classrooms”. Please start a waiting list for those making this request.
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We are saddened to announce that Amy Stafford, in our office, will be moving to California for the immediate future. [Amy will return to Bend in the summer of 2022 and again seek employment within BLS… keep her in mind!] Her last day will be next Tuesday, April 6. We are working on acquiring a sub to fill in (at least part-time) until we post and hire for her replacement. If you are in need of any support that Amy has been providing please reach out to me for a path forward. We have temporarily moved a few of the ongoing building supports that require Synergy access or confidentiality (expulsion hearing request, STAS documents, suicide risk screens, child abuse reporting, and principal leave sheets) to Janet Bojanowski (yes, this is Scott’s wife – who was just hired to work with our school board) until we hire Amy’s replacement. You can email Janet or give her a call at x1017. I’ll keep you posted as this hiring process continues.
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Starting Monday April 5th, UPS and FedX will be delivered directly to the schools and not diverted through the Distribution Center.
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We did order some of those steel outdoor tables we spoke of at our HS meeting this week. They will be delivered to the Distribution Center next week and then to your school by the following week (assuming the delivery does not get delayed). I will let you know how many tables your schools should expect to see, based on your requests.
Calendar:
Monday @1:30 Graduation WebEx for principals at comprehensive HS’s (others are welcome, but not required)
Tuesday @7:30 HS Admin Webex – SEL vision and discussion is the topic
Our regularly scheduled WebEx on Wednesday @10:30 is canceled this next week – I am attending CFEE Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of next week.