September 2024 Maize Pulse

For the third consecutive year, I am excited to work with a dedicated group of high school students on my Superintendent Student Advisory Team. Their insights are crucial as we establish direction on key issues, giving them a unique opportunity to influence decisions that affect our community.

This school year, these student leaders will participate on district committees to review our cell phone policy and establish a long-range plan for district facilities. They also will have the opportunity to serve on the District Site Council, a collaborative group of parents, students, employees, and community members who provide input on initiatives and policies to support the educational goals of our Lead Forward Strategic Plan.

The Superintendent Student Advisory Team consists of 24 students—freshmen through seniors—from across the district, ensuring representation from all grade levels. Between September and May, we’ll meet seven times for meaningful conversations that help me better understand our students’ needs and how we can best support their growth for healthy, successful futures.

I am proud of what this team has accomplished. Two years ago, they raised awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, a potent opioid that can be deadly even in small amounts. Last year, they mentored younger students in leadership roles on managing stress and mental health awareness. These initiatives are decided annually by the team and reflect our amazing students’ commitment to their learning environment and the well-being of their classmates.

As we pursue our Lead Forward Strategic Plan goals, I look forward to guiding these students as they take ownership of this process and continue to shape our schools and community. I am proud to provide them with a platform to share their ideas, and I am so inspired by them.

Sincerely,

Dr. Raquel Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

• On Twitter/X: @rockigreer
• Email: rgreer@usd266.com
• Online: www.usd266.com/superintendent

As student voices play a key role in shaping the future of our district, so do parent voices. We invite Maize USD 266 parents to join us for the next Super Coffee Chat, part of Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer's Parent Listening Tour! Following the first session at WSU West in July, the next chat will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21, at Heartland Credit Union, 3777 N. Maize Road in Wichita. This come-and-go event is a chance for parents to share feedback, ask questions, and get district updates directly from Dr. Greer. A special thank you to Heartland Credit Union for generously hosting and providing complimentary refreshments for attendees. We hope to see you there!

October

• Oct. 9: End of Term 1 and Parent-Teacher Conferences, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Oct. 10: No school and Parent-Teacher Conferences, 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.
• Oct. 11: No school
• Oct. 14: No school
• Oct. 15: Beginning of Term 2

November

• Nov. 1: No school, Professional Development
• Nov. 25-29: No school, Fall Break

December

• Dec. 20: End of Term 2
• Dec. 23-31: No school, Winter Break

January

• Jan. 1-3: No school, Winter Break
• Jan. 6: No school, Teacher Work Day
• Jan. 7: No school, Professional Development
• Jan. 8: Start of Term 3
• Jan. 20: No school, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

As part of the Lead Forward strategic plan, the district aims to increase its reading proficiency rate from 73 percent to 80 percent on the Kansas State Assessment by 2028. To achieve this, each school has established a Wildly Important Goal (WIG) related to literacy and another WIG of their choice that helps support a need in their building. Between September and January, each school will present to the Maize Board of Education about their goals. The following are summaries from September school board presentations.

Maize South Intermediate School leaders are implementing vocabulary and comprehension strategies to enhance student performance, with a goal of improving literacy by 2 percent each year. Common strategies are used across classrooms, and visible scoreboards track progress to keep the school community engaged.

Boosting attendance is the school’s second WIG. With 71 percent of students attending 95 percent of school days, the school prioritizes reducing chronic absenteeism. Defined as missing more than two days per month, chronic absenteeism can lead to academic struggles. To combat this, the school has weekly meetings to track unverified absences and identify at-risk students. Principal Karen LaMunyon said the school recognizes that students who are chronically absent often struggle with a sense of belonging. Counselors create positive attendance plans for struggling students, while teachers focus on knowing students personally and building meaningful relationships to help them feel connected to the school community.

Vermillion Elementary School is dedicated to achieving a reading proficiency rate of 80 percent or above by investing in professional development for teachers and fostering a culture of shared success stories among educators. The school’s second goal is to enhance student engagement, aiming for 80 percent of students to actively participate in their learning. Students are taught the importance of taking ownership of their education—not just sitting and listening. When students are engaged and responsible for their learning, it positively affects their behavior, academics, and attendance.

Engaged students are more likely to ask questions, enjoy their learning, think critically, and set intentions for their growth. Likewise, teachers are encouraged to reflect on their practices and set achievable goals. Principal Jenny Nash said this approach has been a game-changer in the classroom, creating a more dynamic and effective learning environment.

Maize Virtual Preparatory School: The K-12 school is emphasizing student-centered learning and goal-setting, utilizing state assessment scores to inform their strategies. Each student will create their own two SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound), fostering a sense of ownership in their learning and prioritizing meaningful educational experiences. One will be related to literacy, and another will be an individual impactful goal. For example, a student might set a goal to read 100 books across different genres or focus on foundational skills like phonics.

The initiative already has yielded significant results, with students becoming more engaged in understanding their learning needs and asking, “Where am I? What do I need to learn?” Back-to-school professional development included training for teachers and administrators on setting and achieving SMART goals, reinforcing their collective commitment to student success and accountability. Principal Melinda Holmes said that 90 percent of students are expected to reach their WIG goal by May.

Recently, 3rd-grade students from all five of our elementary schools experienced an exciting day at our Maize Career Academy. They explored agriculture, aviation, manufacturing, construction, and engineering. The students had a blast coding robots, riveting into pre-drilled sheet metal, and building cool projects with ArcKits. They explored different careers and career pathways while having fun with hands-on learning. Thank you to Peoples Bank and Trust for providing Ozobots for this event, offering students a great introduction to coding.

Kindergarten students at Vermillion Elementary School had a special treat recently: a visit from Miss Kansas 2024 Alexis Smith! Alexis, a talented ventriloquist, shared her skills with the students and even introduced them to her puppet friend, Aalyiah. Together, they sang nursery rhymes, crafted their own sock puppets, and learned how they—and their puppets—can be kind and healthy friends. It was an afternoon full of creativity, learning, and smiles!

The Air Capital High School Football Series has been canceled this year by the Wichita Wing Surge. Therefore, our Maize South High School-Maize High School football game this year will be Oct. 11 at Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Wichita. We’re still looking forward to the energy and excitement for this much-anticipated matchup!

Stay tuned this fall for more details on how to gear up and be part of this fun school-community event. Let’s keep the spirit high and show our support!

Maize USD 266 Food Service and MOXI Junction, a coffeehouse and bakery in Maize, are making Mondays a little easier with MOXI Mondays during school breakfast. Check out our breakfast menus to see when your student will have the opportunity to select a freshly baked carmelita bar from MOXI Junction as a part of their school breakfast. Students can select a carmelita and add choices of fruit, juice, and milk.

The Maize Board of Education's next regular monthly meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. Meetings are open to the public. Find a link to meeting agendas and minutes, school board member information, and policies at www.usd266.com/schoolboard. Regular monthly meetings are broadcast live at bit.ly/Maize266YouTube.

At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, the school board will meet for a work session to set goals for the facility steering committee. The future committee will be a group of community members, district employees, and students who work together to assess and plan for the future needs of the district’s buildings and spaces.

During the September monthly meeting, the Maize Board of Education approved the 2024-25 budget, which was published in the Wichita Eagle on Aug. 16. The budget includes no increase in the mill levy—the tax rate used to calculate local property taxes—which remains the same as last year at 60.131 mills. This means there will be no tax rate changes for our community members. For more information on how assessed valuation affects local taxes, please click here to watch a helpful video.

Key points from the budget:

• The Local Option Budget (LOB) is set at full authority, with no change in the total overall mill rate from last year.
• The Special Education Cooperative saw no changes in its assessments from last year.
• Our Capital Outlay Fund is allocated for $19.6 million in expenses for building and equipment projects.
• The General Fund budget is $67.8 million, and the LOB budget is $21.7 million, for a total operating budget of $89.5 million.
• These figures are built on estimates during the summer months and ensure the district maximizes state aid, with some flexibility built into both the General and Supplemental General funds to capture any additional state funding for which the district is eligible.

Congratulations to our teacher nominees for the Kansas State Department of Education Horizon award! This honor recognizes outstanding new teachers in Kansas classrooms.

Congratulations to our teacher nominees for the Kansas State Department of Education Kansas Teacher of the Year award! The award honors outstanding educators statewide.

Help support students’ learning and growth by becoming a substitute teacher. This position is essential in providing instructional continuity when regular classroom teachers are away. You’ll have the flexibility to select the assignments you prefer—whether that’s choosing specific days, schools, grade levels, or subjects. Our automated system notifies you of opportunities, allowing you to accept assignments that fit your schedule. On the day of your assignment, simply arrive 20 minutes early, follow the teacher’s lesson plan, connect with students, and leave helpful notes for the teacher. Our substitute teachers enjoy flexibility, the opportunity to work with a dedicated team, and a daily rate of $135 to $200.

Maize USD 266 partners with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas for before- and after-school care. Please consider joining their team to help support this important program, which many Maize USD 266 families utilize. Click the buttons below to learn more about and apply for their open positions. Thank you!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the Maize Education Foundation Golf Tournament happen on Sept. 16! Our sponsors, volunteers, and golfers came together on a beautiful Monday afternoon to pull off an incredible tournament that raised more than $50,000 for the Maize Education Foundation! These funds benefit Maize USD 266 by allowing the Foundation to provide grants for students and educators, scholarships for students, and employee appreciation programs. Save the date for next year’s tournament on Sept. 15, 2025!

The Birds and Bulls Gala is back for its second year on Feb. 13, 2025 at Prairie Hill Vineyard! Tickets are on sale now, so make plans to join us. Funds raised at the Birds and Bulls Gala impact the Maize Education Foundation’s efforts in scholarships, grants, staff appreciation efforts, and more. Last year’s guests said it was an unforgettable and beautiful event.

This year, guests can expect:

• Plated three-course dinner
• Dessert buffet
• Silent auction
• Live auction
• The Newlywed Game, featuring Maize USD 266 couples.

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Director of Community Relations and Maize Education Foundation Emi Simmons at esimmons@usd266.com or 316-350-2029.

Student Enrichment Grant applications are due Oct. 25! Students in grades 7 through 12 can apply for a grant of up to $500 to help cover the costs of experiences such as leadership seminars, educational camps, community service projects, career exploration projects, and more. We can’t wait to hear your big ideas! Remember, all grant applications must have parent and mentor approval.