#Proud2bMPS

As our community moves through the surge of cases from the Omicron variant, we are working to keep our schools staffed and open. This has grown increasingly difficult. Last Thursday we experienced more than 160 staff absences due to personal and family illness. This puts increasing pressure on our school staff as they try to cover classrooms without an adequate number of substitute teachers available.

To ease this impact, we will move to remote learning for the following days:

• Friday, January 28th

• Monday, January 31st

• Friday, February 11th

Spreading these days out allows for four day weeks and includes a four day weekend at the anticipated peak of the surge. This will ease the building pressure on our system and give students and staff who do contract the virus a chance to recover and come back to school with fewer missed days. These days will be asynchronous, just like inclement weather days.

The process for the new superintendent is well underway. Here is what has happened so far:

• October 27th to November 15th - The online survey link went to all Millard stakeholders to gather input on characteristics desired for the new superintendent.

• November 10th and 11th - The search firm, Ray & Associates, met with constituent and stakeholder groups to gather input about what the community is looking for in a new superintendent.

• November 18th - The flier and job description were finalized. The application window for the job opened.

• January 3rd - Deadline for all application materials.

The timeline moving forward is as follows:

• January 20th - The top candidates are presented to the Board and the consultant assists the Board in selecting finalists for the interviews. This will be a special Board meeting that will be held in Executive Session for Personnel.

• January 31st and February 1st - The Board will interview selected top candidates and determine the finalists. This will be a special Board meeting that will be held in Executive Session for Personnel. After finalists are determined, they will be announced to the public.

• February 9th and 10th - Finalists will meet with constituent groups, tour buildings, and have final interviews in an open session meeting on February 10th. Board will vote on new the superintendent.

We thank our sponsors of the Employee of the Month, the MPS Foundation and DJ's Dugout, for making their recognition extra special!

The following employees will be either joining the district or moving into the following positions next year:

• Kristin Dolezal - Principal at Norris Elementary School.

• Meredith Schneider - Principal at Abbott Elementary School.

The following employees will either retire or resign at the end of the school year:

• Brian F. Begley – Principal at Millard North High School

• Laura L. Cork – Fourth Grade Teacher at Ackerman Elementary School

• Emily A. Cozad – Special Education Resource Teacher at Neihardt Elementary School

• Barbara G. Moore – Special Education Teacher for the Young Adult Program
  

• Trina A. Switzer- Science Teacher at Andersen Middle School

Email: MPSCommunicates@mpsomaha.org
Website: www.mpsomaha.org
Phone: 402.715-8200
Facebook: facebook.com/millardpublicschools
Twitter: @MillardPS

Know an outstanding teacher, staff member or volunteer? Nominate them for the Millard Public Schools Foundation 2022 Awards of Excellence. Click here: MPS Foundation 2022 Awards of Excellence Goes Here