Recognition of staff that has been employed with the district for those milestone years (10, 15, 20, etc.)  It wouldn’t have to be anything formal at a board meeting or anything, but maybe something like a pin for a lanyard or something.  Wal-Mart has buttons that their employees put on their badges.

I would like some thoughts on these computer programs we buy.  I think we need to make an understanding that we are going to keep a program for say 3 year cycles and that we are going to commit that the students are getting on these programs that we spend the money on.

Just wondering if any Staff Workdays in the future could be used for teachers to catch their breath and work in the classroom on IReady data, RTI planning, quarterly reports, program review, student growth goals, professional growth plans, parent contacts/conferences, instructional plans and prep, collaborative planning, etc...all the things we mostly do on our own time outside of school hours?  Just wondering?  A staff workday would not cover all of this but it would help.  We could even keep a log of what we work on in case administration thinks we would not use the time in a professional manner.

If I had a complaint, it would always be that these staff work days would be great to be able to work in your room on grades, planning, etc. for more than last hour.  I hate sitting through what is basically professional development and not getting to do individual work.   I don’t know if it is just our school, but I don’t see the harm in letting teachers work on what they need to do.  It would make me look forward to those days more. 

Our district early release policy needs to be amended. Early dismissal for students due to  inclement weather should mean early dismissal for faculty and staff as well. Yes, we are contracted but the faculty and staff in this district do not skimp on their days/hours. They go above and beyond their contracted days/hours. This is a district decision, not a state decision according to KDE.  Safety first for all. 

“The specials teachers had a question for Mr. Rowe.

Next year, will the district fund the preschool program so that the preschool teachers get their allotted duty free break without pulling specials teachers to cover those roles? We are teaching preschool lessons weekly and additionally, have been asked to come in and sit during nap time to give these teachers their well deserved break. Though we are filling in this year and are happy to help out, we feel it is the district’s responsibility to find a more appropriate way to fund the preschool teachers duty free break in the future.”

…I know in Garrard County all of their schools have this hash tag that says #GARRARDSHINES. They put it on any pictures that they post or any twitter things as their hash tag. Every school uses the same one for their district.  I have seen their high school and middle school and one of the elementaries use it for sure. So when they post pics on face book or twitter that is what is at the bottom of everything.  I think it looks like a unified district thing. All of the letters are in capital and it is pretty neat. I thought maybe we should encourage all of our schools in our district to do the same and post our hash tag on pics like them and maybe our could say #LINCOLNPRIDE all in caps.  Then we are positively promoting things and pictures with Lincoln PRIDE!!! I just thought it would be neat if we as a district all had a thing like that to put on anything we post like they do.I think maybe Rockcastle county does it as well and theirs is #ROCK. Just think that might be something new to do.  I know it’s not much but it looks neat on Garrard’s stuff. OK, there is my 2 cents worth.  Take it or leave it.”

Each year the order of make-up days is printed at the bottom of the school calendar.  However, it is not reliable that those will actually be the order of make-up days.  It seems that the decisions of make-up days changes, which makes it difficult to make plans.  For example, spring break is not listed until later in the list of possible make-up days, but is typically one of the first days to be utilized as make-ups.  With only two personal days, if you’ve made plans for spring break, you limited options.  There has been conversation about using Feb. 20^th as a make-up day, which is fine, but if you were planning on using that day for PD, it limits your options.