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Pictured above is the latest addition to Bedford Community Stadium. This incredible sculpture of a Kicking Mule was designed and created by Bedford Alumn and owner of Toledo Twisted Iron, Dane Turpening. Dane and his family worked tirelessly, along with friends and family, to gather donations and support to help this amazing piece come together. Thank you to all that supported this project and the many others that we are blessed to have added to our great community.
8 Weeks Down...32 Weeks To Go!
Bedford Public Schools has enjoyed a great start to the 2024 - 2025 School Year. It may be difficult to believe, but we are already wrapping up the 8th week of school and nearing the Halloween Holiday. With so many incredible events taking place throughout the district, we invite you to come join us to celebrate our incredible talented students.
Reminder That The District Will be in Session on Voting Day!
Important District Highlights
2024 Financial Audit Reports That BPS District Finances Are Extremely Strong
- A substantial increase in the district's general fund balance (the amount the district has available after all expenditures are completed) to a record high $14,738,786 or 28% of district expenditures.
- An increase to the District's Capital Maintenance Fund of $808,012 (new balance is $2,618,892 or 5.1%)
- An increase in all major district fund's total fund balances.
- A designated clean audit report without any negative accounting findings
Bedford Public School's financial outlook has never been this strong. As a result, the district has been able to continue to offer new student programs and opportunities, appropriately increase compensation for all staff groups and add new safety and security upgrades. In addition, BPS now has grown a sustainable capital maintenance fund for the purpose of large expenditures on necessary replacements or repairs throughout the district.
Unparalleled Commitment to Keeping BPS Safe
Board of Education Unanimously Approves Plan for Additional School Resource Officers
At the September 26, 2024 Board of Education Meeting, The Board unanimously approved a plan to add two additional Monroe County Deputies as school resource officers (SRO) to our district's elementary buildings. This move will ensure that BPS has a dedicated SRO on each of our district campuses every day (secondary campus will continue to share Deputy Lestock). The additional deputies are expected to begin with the district in late January. This opportunity is made possible due to our continued strong partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. Bedford Public Schools will become the first district in the region to employ school resource officers at all district school campuses!
District Installs New Emergency Response Alert Systems in All Buildings
As a new addition to our district's layered school safety program, all district buildings are now equipped with an Emergency Response Alert System. When engaged, the system automatically locks all exterior doors including the main building entrances (safe entryways). An emergency alert with a specific security code is sent to 911 through our security monitoring company. Audible messages are played through our safety speakers inside the building(s) alerting students and staff of an emergency situation. This comprehensive system will ensure that immediate evasive actions are taken inside our buildings, while at the same time securing and alerting first responders.
New District Signage and Wayfinding Being Installed Throughout the District
As part of the findings of the recently completed district safety and security assessment, the district has begun updating the interior numbering systems in each of our buildings. These updates will include renumbering each interior room, office and closet, relabeling safety and security equipment and individual hallways. Exterior doors will also be renumbered following a protocol developed with our first responders. Once completed, each building will then have a new critical incident map of the facility created and shared with our local first responders. The updated numbering/labeling placards are designed to be safety minded and will stick out from the wall, making them easily viewable down each corridor. The placards are also backed by reflective inserts so that they will glow in case of emergencies without electrical power. Each hallway will be designated by a number/letter and additional wayfinding signage (navigational signage to direct visitors) will help direct visitors to where they are heading during events. The increased wayfinding signage will continue to the exterior of the campus to help further guide visitors arriving at the campus.
Finally, new protective safety screening is being added to the main entrance of each school building. The screens will be similar to the ones added to the back of the high school over the summer. Each building's screen will be specific to that school. The screens make it difficult to see inside of the entrance windows and doors while still allowing staff and students to see out. These upgrades will begin being installed within the next few weeks.
Bedford Public Schools Once Again Leads the Region in Academic Performance
Bedford High School Students Earn the Highest Average Scaled Score on SAT
Each year students from across the State of Michigan take national and state assessments in the Spring. Each grade level has a different assigned assessment(s) that they are required to complete. At the high school level, students in grades 9-11 take the College Board SAT Assessment. The pre-SAT (PSAT) is taken by students in the 9th and 10th grades. The PSAT helps prepare students and schools for the general SAT assessment that will be taken in the spring of 11th grade. Once again, Bedford High School students scored the highest average combined scale score in the region out of traditional high schools (Monroe ISD Middle College is a small magnet school) this past spring. As demonstrated in the graph below, the BHS SAT Scaled Score Average of 990.3 far exceeds the state and county average. This is significant because Bedford High School continues to assess 3-4 times more students each year in comparison to neighboring schools due to our size, once again demonstrating that smaller doesn't necessarily mean better! Congratulations to all of our BHS Students and Staff!
🗣 Spotlight on BPS Unit ✍🏽
FOOD SERVICE DEBUTS NEW PROGRAM AT DOUGLAS ROAD ELEMENTARY
During November/December, the SCHOOL cafeteria team will launch the Mood Boost program with an interactive event where students can taste new menu items that can help them understand how healthy foods and nutrients can positively impact their well-being. Some of the highlights of the program include:
-Emerging research has shown that the foods we eat most often may have an effect on how we feel, not just physically, but mentally.
-When a person eats Mood Boost foods regularly, especially nutrient-rich fruit and vegetables, it can help to elevate his or her mood and enhance their sense of well-being.
-Mood Boost foods contain vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that communicate with our brain to support personal characteristics such as happy, alert, strong, calm and confident.
Elementary students are the ideal groups for the Mood Boost program. This group of students, known as Generation Z, enjoy the fun and social elements of eating which Mood Boost delivers. Our aim is to create a fun food environment where students leave the cafeteria happier and healthier than when they came in.
Mood Boost encourages students to select and eat fruits and vegetables made according to recipes developed by our chefs that are colorful, delicious and enticing. When you combine the recipes with fun giveaways for students to enjoy, collect and take home, it creates a perfect opportunity to encourage students to eat more fruits and vegetables that can improve their health and mood.
The program is structured to take place over 7 weeks. Introduce the collection of Moodies or icons during the first week and then feature one mood per week for the remaining 6 weeks. This approach promotes the collection of moods and foods to the students, provides a taste test experience from each mood’s recipe set, introduces the connection of food and mood, and creates excitement for what’s to come.
It is important to note that some medical conditions such as depression and anxiety are very serious, and typically require more than a healthy diet to effectively manage and treat. These conditions are similar to conditions such as heart disease or diabetes where a healthy eating pattern can help to manage the condition, but medical interventions are recommended or required to fully treat and to maintain a high quality of life.
The following link is an example.
🗓Parent/Teacher Conferences Coming Soon
Parent/Teacher Conferences
K-5 Dismissal @ 11:30
6-12 Dismissal @ 10:30
Thursday, Nov 21, 2024, 07:00 AM
1/2 Day A.M. - ALL BUILDINGS - Check your respective school for procedures and times.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
K-5 Dismissal @ 11:30
6-12 Dismissal @ 10:30
Friday, Nov 22, 2024, 07:00 AM
1/2 Day A.M. - ALL BUILDINGS - Check your respective school for procedures and times.
IMPORTANT DATES 📆
NOVEMBER
1 NO SCHOOL - Professional Development for Staff
5,7,9 MHSAA District Volleyball Tournament - Bedford High School
11 Veteran's Day Program - Jackman Road Elementary
28/29 NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
DECEMBER
23 - Jan. 3 NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
Dr. Carl Shultz, Superintendent Bedford Public Schools
Email: carl.shultz@mybedford.us
Website: www.bedford.k12.mi.us
Phone: 734.850.6001