FRIDAY FAST FACTS for Friday, February 5, 2016
In this edition of Friday Fast Facts, you will find the following:
- Operation Snow School / Non Traditional Instruction next steps
- AdvancED /KDE Diagnostic Review scheduled next week
- Governor’s budget and a call to action from our FRYSC
- District to set visions on a Strategic Plan
- Members sought for Curriculum and Instruction policy review
- Operation Snow School (Non-Traditional Instruction) – Thank you to everyone who has made our pilot of non-traditional instruction very successful. The winter storm certainly caught us off-guard so early in the season, but you were able to accommodate the need to utilize three NTI days. Let’s all hope that Punxsutawney Phil was correct in his prediction of an early spring. Teachers, remember that your NTI assignments for Day # 4 and #5 are due this weekend.
- AdvancED/KDE Diagnostic Review – Next week (weather permitting), the District will undergo a Diagnostic Review from AdvancEd and the Kentucky Department of Education. The purpose of this visit is to see how we have addressed areas of improvement that were identified during the review in 2014. This is a time for our District to shine as we share with the team last year’s assessment results and evidence of improvements we have made across the District.
- Governor’s Budget and FRYSC Funding – We are continuing to learn about Governor Bevin’s proposed budget and the impact it will have locally. As you have heard, KDE is facing both current year and next year reductions. Contrary to the way this was presented, it will have an impact on local districts. A large percentage of KDE’s budget is funding that flows through the Department directly to school districts. One program that could be impacted is our Family Resource / Youth Service Centers. Please take a moment to complete their public policy survey for 2016 (click here). I will continue to monitor budget decisions and relay information to you on how it impacts Knox County students and staff.
- Strategic Planning – Our District has received an opportunity from the Kentucky Association of School Administrators to compose a 5 year strategic plan for KCPS. Watch your e-mail for opportunities to provide feedback as we take the Standards Based Instructional System (wheel chart) that I shared with you during our Opening Day in August and turn it into an action plan to have a System of Excellence. In the meantime, be thinking of the Knox County Public Schools of the future!
- Policy Revisions – Another important task that is beginning in Knox County is a thorough review of our policies and procedures manual. I am putting together a committee that will meet this spring to review the Curriculum and Instruction chapter of our manual. This is different than our annual review of the student and employee handbook. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please visit our website to learn more and to express interest in serving (click here).
Have a great Super Bowl weekend!