BSD Staff Updates
2021-22 Issue #8: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
News, Information and Updates for Bremerton School District staff.
Retired Bremerton resident donates $62,500 to Bremerton School District
We invite you to share a note of thanks with the donor here (click on the pink + symbol in the bottom right corner to add your note).
New bonuses for guest teachers
The Bremerton School District, in an effort to increase the number of certificated substitutes, recently enacted the following incentives for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year.
The per diem rate for certificated substitutes is currently $145 per day ($165 per day if a retired BSD certificated employee).
- A substitute certificated employee who is not on a long-term assignment and completes the equivalent of 45 full days of employment will be paid a one-time $450 bonus.
- A substitute certificated employee who is not on a long- term assignment and completes the equivalent of 90 full days of employment will be paid a $900 bonus (additional to the $450 bonus paid earlier).
- A substitute certificated employee who is not on a long-term assignment and completes the equivalent of 135 full days of employment will be paid an $1,800 bonus (in addition to the $450 and $900 bonuses paid earlier).
Individuals who are interested in serving as a certificated substitute in the Bremerton School District will need to have a teaching certificate or a four-year degree which qualifies them to apply for an emergency substitute certificate. All new employees are also required to pass a fingerprint/background check.
This information is available on our website at BremertonSchools.org/GuestTeachers. Please help us spread the word!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Leesa Bowie: leesa.bowie@bremertonschool.org.
New! Free online tutoring for grades 3-12!
We are pleased to offer free online tutoring through TutorMe for all Bremerton School District students in grades 3-12. Students can access TutorMe through Clever.
More information is available on the District's Family Technology Support website.
Gaggle Teletherapy: confidential, free online therapy
Learn more at www.BremertonSchools.org/Gaggle. Resources for staff wanting to refer students can be found in this shared folder.
Teachers: Please consider adding a Gaggle Teletherapy graphic to your Google Classroom and Google Site. Please link to www.BremertonSchools.org/Gaggle or https://www.bremertonschools.org/Page/8609.
PCHS Clinic at Mountain View Middle School closed during winter break
Our PCHS clinic at Mountain View Middle School is now open Monday through Friday and provides services (including COVID testing!) for all Bremerton School District students and staff.
The clinic serves Bremerton School District students (preschool - 12th grade) and staff. Learn more at www.BremertonSchools.org/Clinic.
Highlights from December 9, 2021
Board Reorganization: Congratulations to the new officers for the 2022 calendar year:
President – Alyson Rotter
Vice-President – John Hurley
Auditor – Jonee Dubos
Thank you to our outgoing president and vice-president, Jonee Dubos and Carolynn Perkins for their leadership over the past two years, navigating through the pandemic and unimaginable changes to our educational setting and every aspect of our lives and the way we do business.
POLICY NEWS
Revised Policy 2255, Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) Programs was adopted. These WSSDA recommended changes remove the requirement to obtain parent signature documenting the understanding of the difference between home-based instruction and alternative learning. The changes further outline ALE attendance, assessments, and reporting requirements.
Policy 3246, Restraint, Isolation and other Uses of Reasonable Force was present for first read. The required updates align with the state laws related to isolation or restraint of students attending public schools in Washington and are recommended by the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA).
All school personnel who may be required to use restraint and/or isolation are trained annually using Right Response de-escalation techniques and protocols.
With these changes, the District will also be retiring Policy 3247, Use of Restraint and Isolation as the language was improved and included in the changes to 3246.
Updated Procedures include 2420P, Standards-Based Grading and Reporting, and 3112P, Social Emotional Climate.
All of these policies and procedures follow for staff review and sharing by building administrators, when necessary or practical.
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For planning purposes, the Board of Directors approved its regular Board meeting dates for 2022/2023 in order that other District and school events may be planned so as not to conflict with these meetings.
A new Collective Bargaining Agreement is in place with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for 2021-24.
Bremerton Education Association: The Board approved a Memo of Understanding (related to WYA staff) and Letter of Agreement allowing for bonuses to be paid to substitute certificated employees. This Agreement is expressly limited to the 2021-22 school year and is in recognition of the unique circumstances of the pandemic. The agreement will sunset on August 31, 2022.
A correction was made to the 2021/22 Substitute/On-Call Pay Rates updating substitute rates for classified positions.
Dr. Garth Steedman presented the General Fund Closing Report for the 2020/2021 school year, summarizing revenues, expenditures, fund balance and actual spending by activity, as well as end of month General Fund Status Report ending November 30.
To view any of these documents, you may also visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabrsd/Board.nsf/Public#.
Special Service Food Drive was a HUGE Success!
Thank you to staff and students for all of your generous donations to our First Annual Special Services Food Drive!
Shout out to the West Hills, View Ridge, & Crownhill teams - each of these teams collected over 100 pounds of food each! As a group we collected more than 700 pounds of food to give to our community this holiday season.
A special "thank you" to Daniel McInnis for helping collect and transport all of the donations to the District Office.
Congratulations, WST Director Shani Watkins!
Great news! The Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) announced this week that Shani Watkins, director of West Sound Technical Skills Center as the 2022 ACTE National Administrator of the Year.
This award recognizes administrative CTE professionals at the school, district, county, state, or federal level who have demonstrated leadership in ensuring teacher and student success and have made significant contributions toward innovative, unique, and effective career and technical education programs.
Congratulations, Director Watkins!
New inductees announced for the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame
Looking for COVID information?
Bremerton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions Annual Survey
The Bremerton Substance Abuse Prevention Coalitions invite you to participate in their annual community survey. The Coalitions are seeking 300 completed surveys by December 15, 2021.
The goal is to assess attitudes, beliefs, and practices related to youth substance use and behavioral health in our community.
The completed surveys will be utilized to guide our work, and to develop effective substance abuse prevention programs for our community.
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Background photo: BHS staff show their WSU and UW spirit on BSD Rivalry Day 2021.
View the highlight reel!
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