KCSD & Me
May 2024 / Klamath County School District
IMPORTANT DATES
May 3: No school for students. Grade preparation day.
May 27: No school. Memorial Day holiday.
May 30: Graduation Sensation Parade on Main Street featuring 2024 seniors and kindergarten graduates.
June 7-9: Graduation for all KCSD high schools
June 13: Last day of school for students
About the photo / Celebrating Chiloquin's Rita Hepper, Oregon's Elementary Principal of the Year, pictured center, are from left: COSA Executive Director Craig Hawkins, KCSD Elementary Curriculum Director Dr. Doris Ellison, Chiloquin Elementary Vice Principal Janelle Emard and KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak.
Dear KCSD community,
As school districts around the state enter the budget season, many are struggling with decreasing enrollment and funding issues. Despite the state’s struggle to adequately fund public education, Klamath County School District remains vibrant and healthy, planning for increases in student enrollment and thinking ahead to future needs.
The Klamath County School District Board of Directors outlined its priorities for the development of this year's proposed budget during its February board meeting. Some of these priorities are continued focus on reducing class sizes, retaining pre-school and the Play 2 Learn programs, expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, ongoing facility upgrades at our outlying schools, continuing free meals for students, and maintaining our teacher mentoring program.
Our 2024-25 budget reflects those priorities. We do not anticipate any staffing cuts and plan to present a strong budget proposal to our 10-member KCSD Budget Committee at its first meeting May 2. That committee includes five appointed community members -- Diana Otero, Bill Jennings, Jacen Jespersen, Melonie Parrish, and Tonia Miller – and our five school board members.
The committee reviews the budget, takes public input, and votes to recommend a budget to the school board for approval. Before June 30, the Board approves a budget, makes appropriations, declares the tax levy, and categorizes the tax levy. Adoption of the budget is expected at the June 20 board meeting.
We are proud of the work we have done over the past fiscal year. Our budget message spotlights numerous accomplishments from 2023-24. Capital projects include a construction trades building at the Henley Complex, a new gymnasium at Bonanza, and the Lost River Community Center. Another highlight is our continued expansion of Career and Technical Education programs. This expansion includes programs for our middle school and junior high students as well as new community partnerships with industry and pathways into pre-apprenticeship programs in construction and medical science.
As always, funding public education is challenging. Currently, Oregon's investment in K-12 education is 39th in the nation, a decline from its previous position at 34th. Our challenges include continued funding of PERS (Public Employee Retirement System), recruitment of highly qualified teachers and staff, keeping inflationary increases in line with revenue increases, and major cost increases for insurance.
If you are interested in following the budget process, please attend one of our budget meetings or go to our website -- https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/district/budget-information.cfm -- and click on the link to the 2024-25 proposed budget.
We appreciate your support. As always, please reach out with any suggestions or comments.
Sincerely,
Glen Szymoniak
OREGON ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR!!
Chiloquin's Rita Hepper touted for academic progress, investment in community
Rita Hepper, principal of Chiloquin Elementary School, has been named 2024 Oregon Elementary School Principal of the Year by the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators. She was chosen for the award by her colleagues from more than 1,200 elementary schools across the state. “What stood out about Rita was her deep connection to the community here, her deep investment, partnership, and collaboration with the Tribes and the work she did during the Two Four Two Fire to take care of families in Chiloquin,” said COSA Executive Director Craig Hawkins. “Also, academic achievement here has made real progress under her leadership. All of those things go into the mix, but I think her story just really touched hearts.” Read more
GRADUATION SENSATION CELEBRATION IS MAY 30
High school graduates from the Class of 2024, including all seven KCSD high schools, will be marching down Main Street at noon, Thursday, May 30 for the annual Klamath Promise Graduation Sensation. This year, the event also will feature our kindergartners. Following the parade is an awards ceremony and celebration at Veteran's Memorial Park.
Graduates must fill out an application to be considered for thousands of dollars in scholarships and gift cards. Seniors need to follow the link HERE to apply. Deadline is May 17.
Come line Main Street on May 30 and cheer on our soon-to-be graduates!!
PLANTING HENLEY'S EVERGREEN FOREST
Henley Elementary School students added 13 native trees to the school’s Evergreen Forest April 23. The forest, established in 2019 by Henley teacher Robert Nieman, is on a swath of land on the east side of the elementary school between the school building and the high school parking lot.
The trees were purchased with more than $700 in donations from parents so students and classmates could plant them during Earth Day week. Earth Day was April 22. Nieman uses the new forest as a learning opportunity for students, labeling trees with numbers instead of names so students can learn how to identify the different plants.
Nieman also established a webpage that provides information on each tree, including when it was planted. To see the webpage and the progression of the Evergreen Forest, click here: https://sites.google.com/view/henleyevergreenforest/home
ADAM RANDALL WINS STATE AWARD FOR CTE WORK
Klamath County School District’s Adam Randall has been named Oregon ACTE Administrator of the Year for his work expanding Career and Technical Education programs of study and securing industry and community partnerships so students can experience career connected learning.
Randall, a full-time CTE coordinator for Henley High School who also helps coordinate expansion of programs at other KCSD high schools, received the award in April during the Oregon Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)’s annual conference. Nominees were evaluated on their contributions to the overall success of educators and students, innovations in CTE programming, and their leadership in the CTE community.
“Adam’s ability to take one success, engage those around him in his excitement, and then build upon it for even greater success for all is unique,” said Brian Robin, CTE regional coordinator for Region 8. Robin has worked closely with Randall since September 2020. “Adam is simply irreplaceable.” Read more
MAZAMA STARTS NOURISHING FUTURE VIKINGS PROGRAM
Fifty Stearns Elementary School students took home backpacks full of healthy snacks and meals April 26 thanks to a new program offered by Mazama High School FFA and agriculture foods students.
The Nourishing Future Vikings Program aims to help families in need by providing food for the weekend. Students take home filled backpacks on Fridays and bring them back on Monday. Tuesday, the Mazama students collect the packs and refill them, sending them home again with the same students on Friday.
“We appreciate the partnership with Mazama to introduce our students to the food programs they offer and at the same time be able to help our families who need a little extra support,” said Janell Preston, principal at Stearns Elementary School.
In addition to store bought items, the backpacks also contained applesauce made that week in class by Mazama food students. The students dropped off the backpacks on Friday, meeting with Stearns students in the school’s community service learning class. Those students helped unload the backpacks and learned about the new program to help their classmates.
Plans are to include fresh produce grown in the school’s greenhouse when possible as well as other store bought and homemade items such as spaghetti sauce and soup mixes.
The program was started with a $2,500 grant. Myndy Holbrook, Mazama’s agriculture foods program teacher, hopes to eventually expand to other elementary schools with the help of additional grants and community support.
There are 165 students involved in Mazama’s agricultural foods processing classes, a part of the school’s CTE (career and technical education) programs of study.
CRYSTAL APPLE AWARDS GALA 2024!
Congratulations to our eight Crystal Apple Award winners, and a shout out to the community members, parents, and KCSD staff who helped us celebrate on April 23 during our annual gala at the Ross Ragland Theater. KCSD Superintendent Glen Szymoniak welcomed families and friends to the event, highlighting the lasting impact educators and school district staff have on a community. “The individuals we honor tonight have left an indelible mark on countless lives,” he said. “They invite curiosity and instill knowledge and foster a love for learning that lasts a lifetime. Behind every successful student stands a teacher or inspirational adult who believes in their potential and talents. It truly does take a village to raise successful children. Congratulations to each of you on this well-deserved recognition." Read more and see photos
KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP
If you have any questions please contact the school your child will be attending. Remember to bring immunization records, your student’s birth certificate, and proof of address.
If you miss your school’s roundup date, you can still register your child by calling the school or visiting the district website. If you are unsure which school is your resident school, use our boundary map.
Upcoming kindergarten roundup dates by school:
- Bonanza: May 2 / 2-3 p.m.
- Chiloquin: May 31 / 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Ferguson: May 2 / 5-6:30 p.m.
- Gearhart: May 7 / 3-4:00 p.m.
- Gilchrist: May 15 / 9:30-11:30 a.m.
- Henley: May 2 / 9-10:00 a.m.
- Keno: May 7 / 9-10:00 a.m.
- Malin: May 8 / 9:30-10:30 a.m.
- Merrill: May 7 / 9:30-10:30 a.m.
- Peterson: May 16 / 1-2:00 p.m.
- Shasta: May 23 / 5 pm - 6:30 p.m.
- Stearns: May 2 / 9 -10:00 a.m.
FFA TEAMS DO WELL AT STATE
FFA students from Bonanza, Henley, Lost River, and Mazama competed well at the Oregon FFA State Convention March 21-24 at Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. Congratulations to all our student competitors and special shout out to the students who will be representing their schools at nationals. Read more
HENLEY MATH CLUB ENDS SUCCESSFUL SEASON
The Henley High School math team ended its competition season April 16, taking top places at the 2024 OIT Regional Math Contest. Great job! Students placing in the top three include:
- Gaines Cleland - 2nd place in Algebra 1
- Issac Ramirez - 1st place in Geometry
- Sarah Redd - 3rd place in Algebra 2
- KJ Goff - 2nd place in Algebra 2
- Josh Rose - 3rd place in Calculus
- Erick Amador-Gonzalez - 2nd place in Calculus
'JOURNEY TO INFINITY'
Bonanza P.E. teacher featured in mountaineering documentary
Bonanza Elementary School students and staff traveled to the Ross Ragland Theater April 18 to attend a special showing of “Journey to Infinity,” a documentary film featuring their P.E. teacher, several hours before the film was scheduled to premiere to the public.
Bonanza Elementary P.E. teacher Jason Hardrath is an endurance athlete and mountaineer who shares his adventures with students as a way to inspire them to do hard things. He joined his students and coworkers at the Ragland.
Bonanza Principal Jessica DeLonge arranged for the showing to support Hardrath’s accomplishments as well as provide students a unique opportunity to see the film together.
“I wanted to provide a tangible experience for our youngest learners, something we could share together as a whole school community,” she said. “Bonanza has a very strong close-knit school community that supports one another.”
“Journey to Infinity” tells the story of Hardrath’s and his mountaineering partner Nathan Longhurst’s successful attempt to conquer the first international Infinity Loop on Pico De Orizaba, Mexico's tallest volcano at 18,491 feet above sea level.
Students and staff carried signs and cheered for their teacher as the film ended. Afterwards students had a chance to ask Hardrath questions about his experience.
KCSD's HEALTHY AND SAFE SCHOOLS PLAN
Every year Klamath County School District is required to complete a Healthy and Safe Schools Plan related to the following areas:
- Lead in the water
- Lead paint
- Asbestos
- Radon
- Integrated pest management
- Carbon monoxide detectors
The cycle for each area above varies and covers the original assessment, working with certified individuals during construction and remodels in the specific field, or yearly testing and review.
The cycle for testing for lead in the water is based on a six-year cycle, with testing occurring in different schools each year. Over the six years, all KCSD schools are tested. Each year, we are required to post and send out the Healthy and Safe Schools Annual Report and make available the lead in the water test results.
Click for this this year's Healthy and Safe Schools Annual Report . To find it on our website, go to https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/district/safety-risk-management.cfm
KLAMATH COMMUNITY HEALTH SURVEY
Klamath County Public Health has asked us to reach out to our families to gather information for a community health assessment. This survey is done every three years and includes a variety of points related to the social determinants of health:
- Economic stability
- Neighborhood and physical environment
- Education
- Food
- Community and social context
- Health care system
The anonymous survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.
In English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KCCHA2024
In Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KCCHA2024S
OUR NEXT SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
KCSD'S ANNUAL REPORT
Check out our 2022-23 annual report for fun facts, financial information, and progress towards our goals. You can find copies at the District Office or read it online here: https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/KCSD_Annual_Report_2022-23.pdf
2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
Click here for the 2023-24 school year calendar: https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/cms_files/resources/23-24%20School%20Calendar%20revised.pdf
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In our KCSD & Me district newsletters, we will provide updates as well as share news from across our district. If you need information between newsletters, go to our webpage at www.kcsd.k12.or.us and follow us on social media. Keep track of KCSD & Me newsletters at: https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/district/kcsd--me-newsletters.cfm. Follow district news here: https://www.kcsd.k12.or.us/district/district-news.cfm
Klamath County School District
Inspiring today's students to meet tomorrow's challenges!
Read our Strategic Plan
Email: kcsd_communications@kcsd.k12.or.us
Website: www.kcsd.k12.or.us
Location: 2845 Greensprings Drive, Klamath Falls, OR, USA
Phone: 541-883-5000