#271 News & Notes
2019-20 School Year
Coeur d'Alene Public Schools — August 29, 2019
Welcome from our Superintendent
District adds ninth Resource Officer, plus campus safety officers, in school safety enhancements
One goal of this year's school levy increase was to enhance school safety in the District. We have added six safety positions over the summer to accomplish this.
Officer Nathan Herbig with the Coeur d'Alene Police Department is a School Resource Officer who will work in Borah, Ramsey and Skyway elementary schools. Officer Herbig also will be assigned to our new elementary school when it opens next year on Prairie Avenue.
He is our ninth SRO working in our schools. We have two other elementary SROs, three for our middle schools, and three for our high schools.
In addition, we created the new position of Campus Safety Officer to provide additional security services at our two large high school campuses.
Edwin Couoh and Charles Keisel work at Coeur d'Alene High School, while Stacy Westberg and Connor Wilson work at Lake City High School.
Our Campus Safety Officers will be integral in our approach to building a culture and climate of safety in our high schools. They provide interior and exterior school safety services, working closely with the school administration and in collaboration with the school SRO.
Their focus is on enforcement of school rules and regulations, and prevention of problems. They will be a visible presence throughout the school campus and at school-sponsored activities, including at entryways and in parking lots.
The Campus Safety Officers also will build positive relationships with students and staff, work to discourage rule violations such as use of electronic cigarettes, and provide de-escalation of conflicts. In general, they provide more eyes and ears in these large schools to help with the safety of students and staff.
Finally, the District has hired John Pilmore as its Technology Security Technician. John will work to maintain our extensive systems of security cameras and alarms in our 18 schools and other District facilities.
Meet our new school safety personnel
SRO Nathan Herbig
Campus Safety Team
John Pilmore
25 important things to know before the first day of school
New way to register for riding the bus, and how to find your route, schedule and bus stop
ATTENTION KINDERGARTEN FAMILIES
If you have a kindergarten student who will attend a half-day program (morning kindergarten or afternoon kindergarten), please be aware that bus service will be limited in the first two weeks of school:
- AM Kindergarten: We will provide bus service to school in the morning, and a parent or guardian will need to pick up the student at the end of the morning session.
- PM Kindergarten: A parent or guardian will need to drop off the student at the start of the afternoon session, and we will provide bus service from the school back home in the afternoon.
Again, this is a temporary schedule for the first two weeks of school only. Beginning September 16, full bus service will be provided for both morning and afternoon kindergarten.
Schools will contact kindergarten parents regarding individual transportation needs.
Online payments for school meals easier than ever using e-funds
Our e-Funds online payment system has been updated to reflect your payment to Nutrition Services almost immediately. Parents can make a payment right from their smartphone as their child is making their way to the cafeteria. Also, e-Funds now reflects your current balance, immediately.
We realize that parents may avoid using e-Funds due to the convenience fee added to each transaction. Here's how to avoid the fee! Load your check routing information into the system to choose the option of "Direct Debit" payment method. This way, no transaction fees are charged to your account!
You can link to e-Funds directly through our district website and all our school websites via the "Online Payment" button at the top of the page. Or use the e-Funds button on the Coeur d'Alene Public Schools mobile app. It's fast - you can make a payment in less than 1 minute!
Your child may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals. Apply now for the new year
This easy meal support is completely confidential; even teachers do not know which students participate. A family of four with a pre-tax household income of $47,638 or less qualifies for this service.
New meal applications MUST be turned in for all recipients each school year, even if you qualified earlier in 2019. Though we accept applications throughout the school year, completing the application process by the start of school ensures your benefits are applied immediately upon approval.
To view the complete income eligibility chart, download an application and instructions for filling it out, or learn how to submit the application online through your SKYWARD FAMILY ACCESS account, go to www.cdaschools.org/mealapp. You also can pick up an application at any of our school offices or at Nutrition Services, 1242 E. Best Ave., Coeur d'Alene.
Don't forget about late start mondays
Our preschool program now operating in new location near Ramsey school
All of the developmental preschool classrooms in the school district have been combined under one roof. All students in the district's developmental preschool qualify for special education services. (The district does not provide general preschool services.)
The new preschool center has four classrooms in a 12,752-square-foot facility at 4800 N. Ramsey Rd. The district is leasing the space. The district's Kinder PLUS program also will be housed in this location.
There are several benefits to housing our developmental preschool classes in a single location. It will give the district a greater ability to monitor these programs to ensure we are meeting the needs of our developmental preschool students, while at the same time continuing to deliver high-quality preschool programs. Transportation will continue to be provided for those students who qualify.
The first day of preschool will be Tuesday, September 10. Families are invited to an open house/meet and greet on Wednesday, September 4, from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. If you still need to register your child, you may do so on that date. Bring a copy of your child's birth certificate, immunization records and proof of residence.
Boundary review update: Phone surveys planned for September
Our comprehensive review of school zone boundaries will begin in September, and families in our district will have their first opportunity to provide input.
FLO Analytics, a consultant specializing in data-driven boundary review services, will conduct a phone survey of parents and guardians of current students starting the second week of school. The survey will focus on what you value most about where your child attends school, your expectations, and concerns you have if your student will need to attend another school.
Your responses to the phone survey will help us shape an initial look at potential school boundary changes to consider. FLO Analytics also is preparing to conduct an assessment of student enrollment and future enrollment forecasts, as well as analyze community demographics and land use trends.
School zones may be revised in the coming year in a process that will include multiple opportunities for parents and community members to provide their feedback on the changes. The boundary review is in response to growth and population shifts in the 318 square-mile school district, as well as plans to open a new elementary school on Prairie Avenue in 2020.
Under a preliminary timeline for the work, FLO Analytics will develop initial recommendations by mid-October. Stakeholder and community engagement will occur between mid-October and January. Deliberations and development of final recommendations will follow in January and February, and the recommendations will be presented to trustees in March 2020. Approved changes would take effect the following school year (2020-21).
This is the right time to look at adjusting school boundaries.
- Rapid growth continues to bring more students into our district.
- Construction of new housing in some zones is putting stress on existing schools.
- Many of our 17 schools are at or over capacity.
- In the fall of 2020, we will open a new elementary school on Prairie Avenue. Establishing the attendance zone for this school will affect the zones of neighboring schools.
Questions or concerns? Let us know at boundaries@cdaschools.org
Bond update: Work wrapping up at Lakes Middle School
The new profile of Lakes Middle School is coming into focus as Ginno Construction Company approaches the finish line on the new media center, main entrance and front office at Lakes Middle School. The new choir room in the former library space also will be finished for the first week of school.
Ginno will continue work this fall on the other components of the Lakes project. Those include the second gymnasium, a new band room, a new shop, and an additional parking lot in front of the school.
Up north on Prairie Avenue, Ginno is building forms for the foundation of our newest school.
The K-5 elementary school will serve around 600 students and serve as the new home of Northwest Expedition Academy when it opens one year from now.
Ensure your t-shirt for sources of strength color run - Register by september 9
Interest is growing in our first-ever Sources of Strength Color Run in support of our middle school and high school students. The event will be held Saturday, September 21, from 8-11 AM, at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. The 1-mile will start at 9 AM.
Make sure you purchase your event T-shirt by registering no later than September 9! Register now via eventbrite.
The 1-mile, untimed Color Run is open to runners and walkers alike. We will provide organic, biodegradable colors for the run. Individual packs of chalk will be available for purchase as well.
By participating, you can help promote healthy and happy living among the teens in our community. All proceeds will benefit the Sources of Strength program that we introduced in our secondary schools earlier this year. This program involves students from all walks of life coming together to create a school culture that empowers change through diversity and compassion. Sources of Strength is a student-led effort to help all students find their personal strength and focus on healthy activities.
Event packet pickup will be Friday, September 20, from 4 to 8 PM at Woodland Middle School.
Questions? Contact event director Azure Wilson at cdasourcesofstrength@cdaschools.org
A big thanks to all of these amazing sponsors for their support of the Color Run:
Kootenai County Fairgrounds
Northwest Specialty Hospital
Parker Subaru and Parker Toyota
Idaho Central Credit Union
BioLife Plasma Services
Lakeside Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, PLLC
Coeur d'Alene Pediatrics
Riverstone Orthodontics
Kootenai Health
Jan Jesberger Insurance
DutchBros Coffee
Curtis Orthodontics
Premiere Big Screens
Back to School immunization clinics at panhandle health district
Panhandle Health District is offering Back to School Immunization Clinics every Thursday evening through September 12, between 5 PM and 7 PM, at the Panhandle offices on Atlas Road in Hayden.
Panhandle accepts all major insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid. For those without insurance, the cost of the vaccine will be waived, and only a small administration fee will be charged. Please bring a copy of your child’s immunization record to the clinic for the Health District to review.
Please take a few minutes to review the Idaho student immunization requirements our Health Services & Nursing staff has posted on our website. This includes the Tdap booster (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis) and Meningococcal vaccine for students entering seventh grade.
Need help with your school supplies?
scenes from our Open Houses
Ramsey Magnet School of Science
Canfield Middle School
Coeur d'Alene High School
High school students invited to serve on city committees and boards
- Childcare Commission
- CDA TV Committee
- Parking Commission
- Ped/Bike Committee
- Urban Forestry Committee
- Parks & Rec Commission
- Library Board
- Arts Commission
To be considered, submit an application and letter of recommendation no later than Sept. 30. Questions? Email amyf@cdaid.org or call (208) 666-5754.
2019-20 parent calendar is available
Our parent calendar for the 2019-20 school year is on our website under "Find it fast." You also can access it directly here. The calendar includes parent-teacher conference days, no-school days, winter and spring breaks, SAT test day and more.
Reading Stars Book Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities
Thomas, age 8, describes his favorite book, "Keeper of the Lost Cities," by Shannon Messenger. Thank you Opening Books, Opening Doors! Watch his book review and see how many stars Thomas gives it.
Stay Connected
Email: info@cdaschools.org
Website: www.cdaschools.org
Location: 1400 N. Northwood Center Court
Phone: (208) 664-8241
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cdaschools
Twitter: @cdaschools