April 17, 2024 Maize Pulse
Maize USD 266
As you drive around our school district, the sight of many commercial and residential construction projects serves as a tangible reminder of our community's growth. To gain deeper insights into what this means for Maize USD 266's future, we recently collaborated with Davis Demographics. The firm conducted research and prepared a Resident Student Forecast, projecting student enrollment trends through the 2033-34 school year. Davis representatives presented this important information to the Maize Board of Education during the recent regular April meeting. Here's a condensed overview:
Projected enrollment: Student enrollment is forecasted to be about 7,400 students next year, with an expected rise to around 7,533 by the 2028-29 school year. This number is projected to stabilize around 7,359 for the 2033-34 academic year. Taking these projections into account, I'd like to share two significant updates with you.
1. Nonresident student enrollment: On April 8, board members unanimously voted that Maize USD 266 will not have open seats available for nonresident students next year. Our current student-teacher ratio across all grade levels is at capacity within the ideal range. Given our commitment to optimizing learning outcomes while remaining financially responsible, coupled with projections for continued growth, our district simply cannot accommodate students who live outside of our school district boundaries. A new state law mandates that school districts publish this information. Please note that this does not affect the current practice regarding students of employees, as according to school board policy, children of school district employees will continue to be welcome to attend Maize USD 266 schools.
2. Next steps in planning: As outlined in our Lead Forward strategic plan, Build for the Future is one of our core focus areas through 2028. Within this framework, Accommodate Expected Enrollment Growth is a key lead measure. To address this goal, we will establish a committee tasked with studying our facilities' needs. This committee will integrate the latest demographic data with our current facility usage to devise a comprehensive facilities plan to Build for the Future.
I look forward to working with our leaders, staff members, parents, and community members to develop a robust plan that champions the excellence in education that our students deserve!
Dr. Raquel Greer
Superintendent
Maize USD 266
Maize School Board designates April 26, 2024 as a no school day
During the regular April Maize Board of Education meeting, board members unanimously approved to maintain Friday, April 26, 2024 as a day off for students and staff. This day was originally designated as a day off should we not use a snow day.
Leaders calculated that the district can still meet the state-required hours by maintaining this as a day off and therefore wanted to continue to provide this day off for staff and students. We appreciate all the hard work of our students and staff this year.
Half day schedule for last day of school on May 21
The Tuesday, May 21 last day of school will be a half day, with dismissal times varying per school as follows and based on normal staggered start times. Lunch will be served, and after-school bus routes will be provided as normal.
- Maize Central Elementary School: noon dismissal
- Maize Elementary School: 12:10 p.m. dismissal
- Maize South Elementary School: 12:15 p.m. dismissal
Pray-Woodman Elementary School: noon dismissal
Vermillion Elementary School: 12:10 p.m. dismissal
Maize Intermediate School: 11:15 a.m. dismissal
- Maize South Intermediate School: 10:50 a.m. dismissal
- Maize Middle School: 10:55 a.m. dismissal
- Maize South Middle School: 11 a.m. dismissal
- Maize High School: 11:05 a.m. dismissal
- Maize South High School: 11:05 a.m. dismissal
- Complete High School Maize: 11:45 a.m. dismissal
Next school board meetings
The Maize Board of Education's next monthly meeting will be a special meeting with the City of Maize at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 29 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. The next regular monthly meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 13 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center. 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.
Michael Boykins named next Maize South High School principal
We are excited to announce that Michael Boykins has been selected to be the next principal of Maize South High School. Boykins grew up in the Maize community and is excited to return home. With his return, he brings a wealth of experience and a passion for excellence. He began his career as a high school history teacher and then spent seven years as a high school guidance counselor. This is his fifth year as an Assistant Principal at East High School in Wichita, where he has overseen several programs, including International Baccalaureate (IB), Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), and advanced placement courses. Boykins is known for his creativity, passion for student success, shared leadership, and strong communication skills. We look forward to seeing what he, along with the excellent students and staff at Maize South High School, can achieve together. Boykins officially begins in his new role on July 1.
Teri Dow named new Pray-Woodman Elementary School Principal
We are excited to announce that Teri Dow has been selected to be the next principal of Pray-Woodman Elementary School. She is an experienced school administrator who has worked as the principal of Wamego School District's Central Elementary, home to preschool through second grade students, since 2011. Her work history also includes teaching grades three through five in Wamego and middle school math in the Hill City School District. She won the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2006, the Intel School of Distinction Award in Elementary Mathematics in 2010, and was a Teacher of the Year nominee in 2007, 2008, and 2011. Dow officially begins in her new role on July 1.
New feature allows parents to set up auto replenishments for food service payments
Parents interested can now sign up in RevTrak to auto replenish their children's food service account. RevTrak is the national credit card payment processor the district uses for online food service payments. To sign up, just sign in to RevTrak and fill in the fields to indicate the dollar amount you would like to automatically add when the student's account balance falls below an amount of your choosing. Select your payment method, agree to the reoccurring payments, and save.
We are hiring Low Incidence special education teachers
The Maize Special Education Cooperative is seeking candidates for anticipated openings for the 2024-2025 academic year. These candidates should have a Low Incidence endorsement or be interested in obtaining the endorsement. The anticipated openings are in Structured Learning and Functional Applied Academic classrooms. The positions are available at all grade levels and offer:
- Competitive salary, supplementals, and tuition assistance
- Low student-to-staff member ratios
- Supportive work environment
- Four Individualized Education Program (IEP) planning and development days
Wanted: Summer workers to help spruce up our district
Please consider applying for the following open summer positions. Click the links to access additional information and to apply! Positions pay $10 per hour, and applicants must be at least 16 years old.
District communications specialist's STEAM series wins first place in state contest
Congratulations to Multimedia Communications Specialist Monica Springer, a member of the district's Communications Department who recently won first place in a Kansas Professional Communicators annual communications contest. Her Full STEAM Ahead series, which the district published last fall, included stories and photos highlighting the district's STEAM program. Her series won first place in the contest's public service campaign or program category and advances to the National Federation of Press Women’s communications contest.
Part of the district's 2019 bond issue involved moving fifth grade classes from elementary schools to the two new intermediate schools, Maize Intermediate School and Maize South Intermediate School, which opened for the 2021-22 school year. The then-vacant elementary school band rooms were converted into dedicated space for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math teaching and learning.
Donate boxes of cereal for Maize Central Elementary School's Dominos of Generosity
Imagine the scene where domino tiles are lined up on end, and knocking one down sends all the others falling in a complex and lengthy line. That's the general concept behind Maize Central Elementary School's upcoming Dominos of Generosity event. Instead of domino tiles, the school will use as many as 1,460 boxes of cereal for a its "domino run" course to help teach students about STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). The school will donate the unopened boxes of cereal after the event to 14 local organizations/food pantries, including Maize High School's Maslow's Food Pantry, the Kansas Food Bank, and Paxton's Blessing Boxes. The school has collected more than 1,000 boxes already but needs your help.
If you would like to donate, please deliver your boxes of cereal to Maize Central Elementary School, 304 W. Academy Ave. in Maize, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. on school days until May 1.
Big Truck Night draws big crowd, big smiles
Our Maize Early Childhood Center welcomed community members and vehicles of all shapes and sizes for its recent Big Truck Night event at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center. Thank you to all of the participants who geared up for kids and helped support the great event! Families attended and enjoyed the big trucks, activities, resource fair booths, food trucks, performances, and a parade!
