Leading with Faith

6/14/24 Complete 2024-25 Professional Development Plan (Recommended)

6/16/24 Complete 12 Required Drills; Four must be Lockdown Drills

6/27/24 NYSED Nonpublic Safety Equipment (NPSE) Claims Due

7/1/24 First day 2024-2025 Textbook Orders are allowed

TBD NYSED Elementary School AIS Claims Due

8/1/24 NYSED MST/STEM Grant Submission Deadline

MST Grant, Year 7 Forms Now Available: The 2023-2024 school year Program Guidance, Application, and Online Application Instructions and other forms for Year 7 of the NYS Mathematics, Science, & Technology (MST) Teacher Reimbursement Grant for Teachers in Religious and Independent Schools has been released and can be found at https://www.nysed.gov/nonpublic-schools/mathematics-science-technology-teachers-mst . In Year 5, our WNY Catholic Schools received just over $2.7 million in reimbursement, with the 18 participating elementary schools averaging almost $52,000 in reimbursement while the 10 participating high schools averaged just over $178,000 in reimbursement (median of $134,000). With another increase in funding to the MST Grant program in last year’s NYS Budget, I highly recommend that you apply for this grant if you have any qualified teachers. The application may be submitted online using the SED Business Portal (under “SED Monitoring and Vendor Performance System”) or via email, mail, or fax if you are submitting a paper application (not recommended). Directions on how to access the online application can be found here; there is also a Frequently Asked Question website available. Although they are encouraging schools to submit via the Business Portal, the paper applications will also be accepted (please only send the applications once via the portal or by email, mail, or fax). All applications must be RECEIVED by NYSED by Thursday, August 1, 2024 (A postmark date of August 1, 2024 will not substitute for this).

Here are some of the more important items I gleaned from the guidance documents over the years:

1. Note: “Incomplete or incorrect applications will be deemed ineligible and may not be reviewed” (from paper application); you may want to double and triple check your submission before submitting your claim. Page 6 of the Guidance states: “NYSED will review the application in relation to the requirements set forth in Education Law § 3037(2). If after initial review, NYSED has additional questions or identifies a need for more information or clarification, NYSED may issue a Request for Information (RFI). Applicants are typically given 30 days to provide the additional information or clarification requested in the RFI. NYSED reserves the right to issue as many separate RFI’s as are needed to come to a determination about the application. Additionally, NYSED may elect to conduct an on-site review at the applicant’s proposed location.”

2. It looks like for the first time you can (and must) submit all qualified teachers together on one application! This is great news and should make this process much easier for you. The system can only process one application per school.

a. You will not be notified by NYSED that your submission has been received; you can email ORISS@nysed.gov to request confirmation.

3. Even though the deadline is 8/1/2024, reimbursement for the MST grant may take 12-18 months after all submitted applications have been reviewed. Payment for approved applications will not likely arrive until at least August 2025 and could be as late as March 2026.

4. When proving that a teacher is certified, you may submit a screen shot from the Office of Teaching Initiative TEACH website or the NYSED Teacher Certification Lookup website – this might help obscure any personally identifying information that might show on a printed certificate.

a. Similarly for those without a certificate who are following the Master’s/PhD route, you can submit a memo from their college instead of their transcript.

5. When submitting the school’s master schedule, include

a. all courses taught by all teachers;

b. names or initials of every teacher teaching each course;

c. If teachers have the same initials, please list names in full.

d. individual classes specifying the grade level and subject/course name; and

e. the final 2023-2024 full year schedule, including all courses/duties across all terms/quarters over the entire school year

f. Template is available here

6. They will need to see your course descriptions for the MST courses you claim, with evidence that curricula are guided by the New York State learning standards.

7. Teachers claimed may not teach religion (as a separate class) at any time during the school day.

8. Signed 2023-2024 employment agreements, signed by both the employer and the teacher, must be submitted. This agreement must include:

a. Indication that the agreement is for the 2023-2024 school year

b. The 2023-2024 yearly salary

c. Part-time or full-time status

d. Teacher’s start and end date for the 2023-2024 school year

e. Teacher and school leader initials next to any changes made to this agreement

f. An addendum signed and dated by both the teacher and the school leader for any of the above information not included in the original employment agreement

g. If you do not have these on file, be sure to get an agreement signed by all parties before the end of the school year (before teachers leave).

9. The certification section requires original signatures of the nonpublic school chief administrator and the person completing the form. (For 2023-2024, schools can submit electronic or copied (scanned) signatures in the certification section, if necessary).

a. Teachers must sign the “Teacher Attestation Form,” so I recommend you print this out and get their signatures before their last day of work. This form must be submitted with both the online and paper applications. The Principal also must sign this form.

10. Read the FAQs and the MST Guidance Documents.

Government Services Quarterly Update via Microsoft Teams, 6/13/24: On Thursday, March 5th at 3:15pm, I will host the final quarterly online Government Services Update for school board chairs, principals, business managers, chaplains, and pastors. This quarter’s meeting will cover the MST Grant; Mandated Services HR Teachers vs. Students Suggestion; Title Consultation Support; Records Retention; and the End of Year Checklist. Our first three meetings lasted about 40 minutes so I hope those invited can carve out some time to attend. Invitations to the meeting along with the Microsoft Teams link were sent out on 6/10/24.

Government Programs Checklist for 2024-2025: Since there will be no “Leading with Faith” newsletters in July, I thought I would send out my updated “Government Programs Checklist for Principals” for 2024-2025. Please consider posting this list in your office or saving a copy to your computer to help you stay on top of important deadlines for this coming school year.

Records Retention List: As the year draws to a close, you may want to think about destroying some of the records you have been retaining from prior school years. Please refer to the attached NYSED list of records that must be retained and the number of years you must keep them before you securely destroy them.

End of Year Checklist for Government Programs: Click here for 6/4/24 post.

High School Attendance Guidance: NYSED released a memo for public school leaders for dealing with students over age 16 who have missed more than 20 days of school. I thought you might be interested in the public school mandate related to student disenrollment. NYSED Attendance Memo for Public Schools - May 16, 2024.pdf

Embracing Change: A Journey of Faith, Leadership, and Renewal

Change can be daunting, but it's a necessary part of growth. Before delving into discussions about using data to inform instruction and crafting an engaging curriculum, it's crucial to address recent developments, particularly those concerning the Road to Renewal. As someone deeply rooted in Catholic education, with three children attending Catholic school, and actively involved in leadership within our Catholic community, I'm wholeheartedly committed to my faith, even amidst the challenges facing the Diocese of Buffalo.

The closure of my alma mater, St. Andrew’s Country Day School, brings forth a mix of emotions - sadness, anger, and disappointment. Yet, in the face of adversity, I have a choice: to harbor frustration and anger, or to respond with love and action. Having navigated the complexities of leading St. Gregory the Great School during the COVID pandemic, where plans were in constant flux and adaptation was paramount for student and staff safety, I found solace in the

Serenity Prayer:

“God grant me the Serenity To accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the Wisdom to know the difference.”

As our department gears up for the summer, my focus shifts towards personal growth and learning, as a lead learner for the Diocese of Buffalo Catholic Schools. Recognizing the importance of self-leadership, I'm committed to sharpening my skills. Recently attending a conference hosted by the Road to Renewal team, I gleaned three key steps for the renewal of our faith and Church: fostering a welcoming environment, prayer, and healing.

This summer, I'll reflect on how I can embody and foster a spirit of hospitality. Do I greet my colleagues daily? Do I take the time to check in with them?

Prayer is integral to my daily life. How can I deepen my prayer life further? And how can I integrate prayer seamlessly into my daily routine with my children?

Lastly, healing stands as a pivotal aspect of my leadership journey. How can I extend forgiveness to those who've caused me pain? How can I reconcile the hurt caused by those in the past in the Diocese of Buffalo and actively contribute to the solution?

These questions will guide my path towards personal renewal and healing, positioning me to be an agent of positive change within our Catholic Schools. Gratitude extends to all the leaders involved in our Catholic schools and parishes. Together, may we remain steadfast in our support for Catholic education, nurturing students to live, learn, and lead as disciples of Christ.

All job postings need to be sent to Laurie to be put up on our website. Please add your school logo to the top if possible replacing the section that says “Job Posting” through date posted. Go to our website and click on School Job Posting Request Form. The form opens in your downloads and you can edit it from there.

Last week I attended a conference sponsored by Renaissance. I learned about a couple new products and some upcoming changes to their platform. I look forward to sharing the news with you all this summer.

The Character Virtue for June is Joy. Please submit your names here by June 14th.

Our calendar for the 2024-2025 year is ready, but is subject to change as the year progresses.