|
Legislative wrap-up videoconference set for March 20
State legislators are heading home after concluding
a 59-day regular session that produced a
supplemental budget and a multitude of bills dealing
with education policy issues. Now the task is to
figure out exactly what it all means for each
district. To that end, the Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction will be offering its annual
post-session videoconference on Monday, March 20
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The briefing will be
available at 16 interactive sites (including 10 ESD
facilities) and at least six non-interactive sites.
A complete list is available on the
OSPI Web site. If you can’t make the briefing,
be sure to check the site on or after March 20 for
helpful presentation materials and documents.
Review and
comment on school environmental health and safety
rule
You may have seen Thursday’s
E-Clipping item from the Seattle P-I regarding
reaction to a draft rule on school environmental
health and safety released by the State Board of
Health earlier this week. School directors and
administrators should be aware that the state
Department of Health is holding a series of
workshops on the draft rule in conjunction with the
public comment period, which is open through March
31. The workshops will be held March 9-21 at 12
locations around the state. Comments must be
submitted via the Web, e-mail or regular mail. The
text of the proposed rule, submission information
and the workshop schedule are available on the
state Department of Health Web site.
Pandemic flu school
checklist now available
Here’s a must-view Web
page from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services —
a
School District Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist.
This useful tool will guide districts in completing key
tasks in areas such as planning and coordination, continuity
of student learning and core operations, infection control
policies and procedures, and communications planning. The
site also includes a link to the U.S. Department of
Education’s Guide to Practical Information on Crisis
Planning.
WSSDA spring
online courses begin this month
Online learning has tremendous advantages for busy
school board members. You can study on your own schedule in
a setting that works best for you. It’s also a great way to
network and learn from other school board members around the
state. WSSDA and Seattle Pacific University have again
teamed up to offer a number of excellent online courses,
covering topics such as Community Engagement, the Key Work
of School Boards, and Board-Superintendent Relations. These
courses begin in mid-March. For a complete schedule and
registration forms, visit the
WSSDA Web site.
Showcase
your student performers at the WSSDA Annual Conference
WSSDA is now accepting recommendations for student
entertainment at 2006 Annual Conference, which takes place
Nov. 15-18 in Spokane. This is a great opportunity for your
students to shine for an audience of 1,000-plus school
leaders from around the state. For more information and an
online recommendation form,
click here.
New WASL online
resource center for parents and students
Just
launched — a new online resource center providing students
and their families with a convenient source of timely and
important information regarding the WASL and the graduation
requirement taking effect with the Class of 2008. Key
features of the site include a schedule for this year's WASL
administration, information about the development and
scoring of the WASL, simple tips to help prepare students
for the exam, links to a sample 10th grade WASL test, and
background about alternative assessments. The new WASL
Resource Center is a joint project of the OSPI, Partnership
for Learning, Washington State Parent Teacher Association
and Association of Washington School Principals. Visit the
resource center today at
www.wasl2006.org.
Four from
Washington tapped for national network of school district
leaders
Congratulations to South Whidbey school
director Richard Parker and superintendents Barbara Grohe
(Kent), Glenys Hill (Kelso) and Dale Kinsley (Bellingham)
for their selection to the new
100 District Leaders for Citizenship and Service-Learning
Network. They were chosen by the Education Commission of
the States’ National Center for Learning and Citizenship (NCLC).
The National School Boards Association and the American
Association of School Administrators teamed up with NCLC to
create this new national network focused on raising the
visibility and importance of citizenship education and
service learning. The network members will hold their first
meeting April 7 at NSBA’s Annual Conference in Chicago.
State funds
available for outdoor classrooms
Is there a
special place bordering your school that would make an ideal
environmental classroom? Make sure your district knows about
state legislation passed last year that creates grants to
protect the state’s rivers, lakes, streams, and marine
environment. Under a new Riparian Protection category added
to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP),
any local government (including school districts) may apply
for grants to protect and/or restore shorelines, rivers,
streams, estuaries and other waterways. A letter of intent
for 2007 funding is encouraged by March 15, 2006, but it is
not required. Final applications are due May 1, 2006. For
more information, visit the state
Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation Web site.
Nominees sought
for 'American Stars of Teaching' awards
The U.S.
Department of Education's American Stars of Teaching program
recognizes and honors superior teachers with a track record
of improving student achievement, using innovative
instructional strategies, and making a difference in the
lives of their students. These teachers will be highlighted
as representatives of the thousands of teachers who are
making a difference in the classroom. Nominations will be
accepted through April 15, 2006. To nominate a teacher,
visit the
U.S.
Department of Education Web site.
RETURN TO TOP |
