To Do:
Probationary Teachers: Here is info from Jon regarding the processes we need to follow in working with probationary staff:
It is time to start thinking about the renewal/non-renewal process. If you have an employee that you don’t want to renew, then we have some work to do in this area before the public board meeting February 12th.
By Jan. 9th: Please have a conversation with me about any certified employee that you have some concerns about. If you have a concern about an employee, we need to start making a plan for how to move forward with that person. We may decide to start with informal supports or go to our formal process.
We have several options when we are talking about probationary employees of concern. One option is to non-renew a probationary contract. This is formally done at the Board Meeting in February. If we decide to move toward non-renewal, we will need to have some discussions with the teacher, with the BEA, and with the board during Executive Sessions. If you are having concerns with a probationary teacher, please make sure we talk about it. Once a teacher becomes contract it can be a much harder process.
I also need to know about contract teachers that you have a concern about. You may only be supporting the person informally, which is great, but I still need to know about them. If you have started the formal support system, which includes Focus Performance Review, Support Strategies, and/or a Plan of Assistance, you must contact me so that we can work through it together.
Due by Jan. 21st: Probationary three letters of support. We need to be hiring and putting the best teachers in front of students. It is an important decision when moving an employee from probationary status to contract status. After participating in the board process last several years, I have a better feeling for what the board is looking for in these letters. The board takes moving a probationary employee to contract status very seriously. They really want to know that each of you have specific reasons why each one of these employees should move to contract status. I have attached a spreadsheet of probationary three employees and a sample of a stellar probationary letter from Matt.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give Jon a call.
- Here is an important note from Steph Benett applications for Base Camp: We are posting our teaching positions for Base Camp so they can have a table at the 9th grade Orientations scheduled for the end of January. We will leave it open until Jan. 8th and can keep it open if we don’t have applicants for your school. We have heard very good things from students that attended camp last year. They felt much more prepared and less anxious starting the year. Counselors will be referring 30 students from each MS and then we will open it up as a lottery for others to attend. Please notify your teachers ASAP and include this link:
https://portal.bend.k12.or.us/employee-info/content/base-camp-teacher
MORE ABOUT BASE CAMP: Base Camp is a two- week program for incoming 9th graders. Base Camp will run from Aug 5th-Aug 15, Monday through Thursday from 8:00-1:00. Base Camps will take place at all large comprehensive high schools, with two-three teachers from each high school. Preferred teachers would be teachers from the high school to ensure students will have a connection to staff members at the start of the year.
Base Camp teachers will concentrate on these categories: tours, introductions of staff, common mistakes freshman make, teamwork activities, journaling, organization and study habits, college visits and field trips. Students will earn 1/2 credit called ”Study Skills” and it will go on their transcripts in September.
There will be two planning days prior to the camp, and eight (7-hour) days of teaching, for a total of 72 hours at per diem teacher rate. Each teacher will get a 1-hour prep per day. This would be adjusted if there were 3 teachers at each HS. If there are three teachers, each teacher would work 48 hours instead of 72.
Application Process- Short cover letter describing why you are interested in the position, and confidential recommendation form from your administrator. (Teachers who have previously applied, can send a letter of interest and do not need a recommendation form.)
Please submit originals to Human Resources, Bend Education Center. Deadline January 8th, 2019.
Information:
- For the past few weeks, the principals have gathered input from their staff related to the question of whether to offer early bird classes and/or athletic practices during the 2019-20 school year. As a team, they made recommendations to Shay and Jay, which have been approved for the 2019-20 school year:
Early Bird Classes:
- No classes will be scheduled prior to the regular 8:45 start time. We will consider offering early bird courses the following year after living with the new schedule for a year.
Early Bird Athletic Practices:
- Each sport has the option of offering no more than two practices each week prior to the school start time of 8:45.
- Practices will end by 8:00, so teacher-coaches are available to assist students in classrooms, participate in meetings by 8:15 and/or prepare for the day. This allows students to access teachers for help and get ready for their day.
- Swim practices can continue in the am due to impacted facilities usage at Juniper Swim and Fitness.
- Research related to our Start Times: Staff is the most important communicator in regards to how we message our schools and the practices we follow. As questions come to us related to the Start Time change for next school year, it may be helpful to have easy access to research and thinking related to the Start Time committee work and discussion. Here is a link to the Start Time website, which describes the district process we followed and media related to the discussion: https://www.bend.k12.or.us/survey2018 Here is a link to Shay’s note to staff: https://spark.adobe.com/page/xnRolUehLw0VJ/
- Also, here is an article Michael Hicks shared with his staff about early, positive results related to start times changes in Seattle. Here is another article about Seattle.
- Every five years, each Oregon high school is required to go through the accreditation process. AdvanceED oversees this process and part of the committee involved is made up of administrators from other schools. AdvancED is currently looking for administrators to volunteer to serve on teams around the state. If you are interested in assisting, please respond on this link for expressing interest to be a part of an AdvancED Review Team.It will take less than 5 min. to fill out and will go directly to the person responsible for setting up the review teams across the state. Travel and meals are covered and being on a team is a great way to take a peek behind the curtain prior to one of our schools hosting their own review. Another benefit is the opportunity to learn about the good work other high schools are doing in our state.
Reminders:
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Just a reminder that Skip Offenhauser oversees our Health Advisory Board which is responsible for reviewing and approving materials used in our schools related to many topics such as suicide awareness, tobacco cessation, sex trafficking, sexuality, etc. materials must be approved for use as well any guest speakers on these topics. Please reinforce with your teachers that if they have materials or speakers that they would like to see approved, have them share these resources with Skip and the team. Teachers should not be using materials or inviting speakers of these topics to their classrooms without this approval from the Health Advisory Board.
Calendar:
- Dec 24-Jan 4 – Winter Break!
- Jan 7 – Begin Choice School communication
- Jan 22 – District Multicultural Night – MVHS
- Jan 22 – HS Admin Meeting – SHS @3:15
- Jan 31 – HS Principals Meeting – Ed Center, room 312 @7:15
- Jan 23-31 – Orientations for Incoming 9th grade students
- Feb 8 – Choice School apps due