The above quote comes from Ann Morriss and you can hear it in it’s context in this quick (11 min) and inspiring TED talk. Thank you Michelle Wilson for passing on this gem of wisdom and opportunity to take a different perspective on solving problems one step at a time.
From Tammy and Karen
A quick shout out and thank you to PLCs 1 and 2 this week. We had a great time facilitating your groups and watching you start to come together as a PLC, connect as colleagues to bounce around ideas, and grow into friends to share the ups and downs with. PLCs 3 and 4 will be meeting this next Tuesday and we look forward to doing it all again with you!
We will soon be sending out the next round of site visit sign ups and this time we will be coming to visit you together. When you get the link, please put it on the urgent and important quadrant of priorities, as they start on September 29!
Important Links
- September 10th Elementary TLC Update
- SPECIAL EDGE LINK SEPTEMBER 18, 2025
- 1-Page Student Management guide
- Topics of Interest/Problem of Practice *New space for the 25-26 school year
- FAQs for Special Education Inclusion Topics—Keep checking in here! BEA and BLS supported
- Dates to recognize groups
Notes from our Team:
From Andrea in Human Resources
Certified Personal Leave Request Process Change
Human Resources is making a change to how certified employee personal leave requests are processed for the 2025-26 school year.
Historically, HR has been responsible for approval / denial of all certified employee personal leave requests. This created an unnecessary step for both sites and HR, especially since the BEA collective bargaining agreement does not require it.
Beginning this school year, HR review will only be required when a certified employee personal leave request falls within the restricted time frames outlined in the BEA contract.
Approval or denial of all personal leave requests that are outside of the restricted timeperiods will be the responsibility of building principals. Please familiarize yourself with the criteria outlined in Article 7.8 regarding Personal Leave and ensure these guidelines are followed when processing requests.
- Personal Leave
7.8.1 The District recognizes that a Certified Employee may need time off for personal reasons. Two (2) working days paid leave of absence may be used as personal leave. If a bargaining unit Certified Employee works less than ninety-five (95) workdays (not including unpaid leave), the District shall provide only one (1) day of personal leave. Personal leave may be used for personal reasons if a qualified substitute is available. Personal leave may also be used for the employee’s illness/injury and the illness/injury of the employee’s immediate family. Personal leave shall be used in increments of at least four (4) hours when a substitute is required by the district. If a substitute is not required by the district or if the district approves internal coverage, personal leave shall be used in increments of one (1) hour. Certified employees scheduled for less than eight (8) hours in a particular workday will not have personal leave deducted more than the number of hours scheduled.
7.8.2 No more than five percent (5%) of the bargaining unit Certified Employees in a school or two (2) bargaining unit Certified Employees, whichever is greater, may take personal leave on a given day. The Superintendent or their designee may make exceptions due to unusual or highly extenuating circumstances. Exceptions made by the Superintendent, or their designee will not be revoked.
7.8.3 Leave shall not be taken during the first week of the students’ school year, the last week of the semester/trimester or the last two weeks of the school year. Leave shall not be taken during parent conference days. The Superintendent or their designee may make exceptions due to unusual or highly extenuating circumstances. Exceptions made by the Superintendent, or their designee will not be revoked.
7.8.4 The District will not rescind personal leave once approved by the Human Resources Department or Superintendent/designee.
7.8.5 The District will allow the following options for the use of personal leave:
7.8.5.1 Certified employees will be allowed to bank up to two (2) days of unused personal leave for future use, but no more than four (4) days of personal leave (two current year personal leave and two banked personal leave) will be available in any given year.
7.8.5.2 Reimburse Certified employees for unused personal leave up to two (2) days at the daily sub rate of pay. The District shall provide Certified employees payment within thirty (30) days of the last workday of the contract year.
We shared this information with Office Managers on Friday, September 5, along with some more detailed instructions. Please reach out with any questions. We hope this change will help make the process easier and more efficient for everyone!
Reminders from Kayla in Safety
STAS & SIRC Training
This week, an invitation to attend a training about Student Threat Assessment went to all new hires who are likely to be involved in this process at your site (Admin, Counselors, Psychs, etc.). Participants can choose one of two training days (October 2 or October 6). Training will be from 8-4 and lunch will be provided. If you yourself, or you have a staff member who you believe should participate, please simply sign up using THIS LINK. Questions? Contact Scott or Kayla in Safety.
- All new admin and counselors have been asked to attend one of the 8-hour sessions. REGISTER HERE.
- Training dates are:
- Thursday, October 2 -location TBD
- Monday, October 6- Pacific Crest Middle School
Safety Cadre Invites have been sent out. Reach out if you have been missed.
- Dates are October 22, December 3, March 11, April 29
- Secondary will be 8:00-9:30am, Elementary will be 1:30pm-3:00pm
*8888 Extension Reminder
- When schools have an incident, we want to send a friendly reminder to use the *8888 voicemail. See handout attached you can share with any admin and front office staff. Handout here.
From Kinsey in the Office of Policy and Advocacy:
Complaints: Recommended action item:
Please go into your Complaints Dashboard and ensure you have either resolved the incidents submitted to date or are actively working on them. (Looking for your Dashboard? See my email titled “Complaints” sent Aug 14.)
Take time with your admin team to notice trends so far: what is and isn’t showing up in your dashboard? How is complaint response going for your team? What feedback or opportunities are showing up there? If you have questions about complaint process, timelines, etc, reach out.
From Lisa our Deputy Superintendent
Action Needed: Tier I Start-of-Year Check-In
Please take some time with your ICCL team to complete the survey below before the end of the day on October 3rd. The survey should be done together as a team (one survey per school) and will help the Task Force understand the roll-out of Tier I processes across the district. The Task Force will use this information in our first meeting together to recognize bright spots across the district, share trends back to our educator groups, understand consistency, and identify areas that may need more support as we move forward. You can access the survey using THIS LINK.
Amplify Math Update:
A few weeks ago Kerry Morton forwarded an email to be shared with kindergarten teachers regarding missing items from their Center Kits. Amplify Desmos Math had a delay in their production, so we will not receive those for another 7-10 days. Please alert your kindergarten teachers that items are delayed. If they need the items immediately, they can find the pdfs in the Unit Prep Packet (log into Amplify before clicking on the link).
From Sara in the Student Services Department:
Questions regarding this? Please reach out to Sara Young, who can answer your question or help facilitate a team to problem-solve.
From Jennifer in Student Well Being
The required Waypoints summative assessment is now open for 3-12! The K-2 teacher observed will be ready October 1st.
Please review the help documents, from blog #2.
Please make sure that all teachers understand the “Why” behind the assessment and that the student results will help us to identify intervention skill building groups. Teachers need to read the instructions from the implementation guides to the students. This will ensure that we get quality data to inform interventions. Wayfinder will also recommend additional skill building activities based on what students in their specific classroom need.
Guest Speakers in the school: If your school is considering an outside speaker or organization for a classroom presentation or assembly, please submit a Guest Speaker Application at least three weeks before the event (instructions, application) . If you have any questions about the application process, please reach out to Dean Richards. All outside speakers and organizations must be vetted by district leadership to ensure they align with our curriculum and support programs.
Through Adi’s Act, the district has significantly invested in our Sources of Strength Peer Leader programs at our secondary schools, including funding for extended contract stipends and a site budget for activities.
To plan school-wide assemblies and activities that promote a positive school climate and culture, please collaborate with your Sources of Strength adult advisors, public health specialist, or district advocacy coach. (elementary counselors are our Sources contacts)
You can also partner with your public health specialist and/or district advocacy coach to review data from your School Health Improvement Process (SHIP) and Youth Truth surveys that are tied to student needs.Additional resources, such as the belonging curriculum and activity library in Wayfinder or materials from our advocacy coaches, are also available for planning ideas.
Action Items
- Have you completed your Safe Schools yet? Has your staff? There was another one that just showed up, so double check if you think you are done. Due October 31
- Did you catch the new change with personal leave?
- All signed up for safety cadre dates if your are the appointed admin at your school?
- Are you new and need STAS/SIRC training?
- Check your Dashboard for any complaints you need to resolve or update–check even if you don’t think you have any…just in case! (Kinsey’s Aug 14 email for directions)
- Alert your K teachers about the Amplify Center Kits delay.
- Calendar time for your ICCL team to take the survey shared by Lisa by the end of the day on Oct 3.
- Make sure that your staff give the Waypoints assessments within the assessment window
Important Dates
- September 23: PLCs 3 and 4, 3:00-4:30 (PLC 3 @ Ponderosa and PLC 4 at Elk Meadow)
- September 22-24: Rosh Hashanah–no scheduling of evening events on these days.
- October 1: All Admin PD 3:00- 4:30 at Perseverance Hall
- October 7: Elementary Leadership Meeting, 3:00 – 4:30 at Education Center Board Room
- October 14: PLCs 1 and 2, 3:00-4:30 at (1 @ Rosland and 2 @ Lava Ridge)
- October 16: TAG Admin ICCL 3:30 – 5:30 Education Center Board Room
- October 21: PLCs 3 and 4, 3:00 – 4:30
- October 22: Elementary Safety Cadre 1:15 – 3:45 at Silver Rail Elementary
- October 29: Teacher work day (8 hrs) Conf. (4 hrs.) Admin will have a ½ day Amplify training on this date.
- October 30: Parent Teacher Conferences
- October 31: No School
And finally… Congratulations to our Next Duck Drawing winner, Dan Wolnick!
Dan is the Principal at Juniper. He has held several positions at BLS at the elementary and middle levels and is a resident expert on creating and maintaining a positive school culture and technology integration. You can also catch him riding the trails on his bike, hiking the PCT, or summiting the Dolomites in Italy! Dan, let us know your drink of choice and we will deliver this next week!
