D93 Family Update
1. For the Support of My Family
November has been an exceptionally busy month, and it seems that more often than not, my wife and kids get to see me for about an hour each evening. I cannot express enough appreciation to them for their understanding and support with all of the demands that come with this job. I could not do this job without their patient and understanding support.
2. For the Service of Our School Board Members
D93 is blessed with an incredible Board of Trustees. Each of our Board members spends many unpaid hours each month working to support our schools. Last week, they traveled to Boise to participate in the annual Idaho School Boards Association convention where they engaged in professional learning and collaboration to support our schools. They help us to work through the inevitable challenges and difficult decisions that we have to make. And most importantly, they love our students, our schools, and our community and strive to make decisions always have the best interests of our students foremost.
This Thanksgiving season, we invite our community to come together and help support families in need by contributing to our Thanksgiving Dinner Boxes. Your donations will provide a full holiday meal for those who may otherwise go without. Let’s share the warmth and joy of the season by making sure every family can enjoy a special meal together. Thank you for any support you can give to help make Thanksgiving brighter for all.
New and Approved District Calendars
Thank you for taking the time to participate in the District Calendar survey! We’re excited to share that the Board has approved the school calendars for the next three years. Here are a few highlights:
- Teacher Collaboration for Elementary: Scheduled on the 2nd and 4th Mondays each month.
- Spring Break: Set for the fourth Monday in March.
- November Election Day: This day will be a holiday for students and a dedicated collaboration day for teachers.
To view the full calendars, please click the links below. Thank you again for your input and support!
NOTE: The calendars on the website have not been updated. The links below are the approved calendars and will be added to our website shortly.
Tis the season to be thinking about emergency closures. While we monitor forecasts regularly for potential situations that could cause schools to close, we have learned to not make decisions for emergency closures based solely on forecasted weather conditions. Instead, there are several district employees who begin driving roads between 4:30 and 5:00 am to evaluate the conditions of our roads and the outside temperatures.
When we experience difficult weather conditions, we have a conference call around 5:30 am to evaluate conditions across the District and decide whether or not to close schools. If we decide to close schools, we will send a message home to families as a text, email, and phone call. We will also post the information on our school web pages and social media channels, and notify the media. Our goal is to communicate this information by 6:00 am.
Our cold weather policy states that we will have outdoor recess as long as temperatures remain above zero degrees Fahrenheit. We also consider the wind chill when deciding whether to hold indoor recess. Because few of our elementary schools have dedicated gym space, indoor recess presents its own set of unique challenges for students and teachers. Please be sure to send your children with gloves and hats and warm coats to be ready for the cold temperatures. If your children do not have warm outdoor clothing, please let your school's counselor know so that we can find community resources to help.
Thunder Ridge Student is Par (actually 9 under) for the Course
The Results are In
Following last week's Executive Order 2024-11, which encourages school district and charter school boards to adopt policies on cell phone usage in schools. we asked our families and employees to share your thoughts on this issue. We received more than 3,00 responses. Jason Lords the Executive Director of Learning and Instruction reviewed the results with the Board, categorizing responses by parents, employees, and parent-employees, as well as classified and certified groups. While there is strong support for restrictions, specific measures are yet to be determined. Mr. Lords reviewed the current policy and requested authorization from the Board to form an advisory committee to review Policy 3265 Student Owned Electronic Communication Devices.
Enrollment and Capacity in D93
Heath Jackson, Director of Planning and Personnel, presented a report on enrollment trends and building capacities. He reviewed current enrollment numbers across the district, noting steady enrollment in most schools, with some declines in specific areas like kindergarten and high school. Mr. Jackson discussed the challenges posed by open enrollment under new state laws, emphasizing the need for annual reviews and capacity assessments, particularly in schools with specialized programs. As he highlighted growth projections, he identified areas with potential capacity strain, such as Rimrock and Discovery, due to residential developments. He proposed monitoring these trends closely as the district plans for future boundary adjustments and the opening of a new elementary school.
We Are D93 Podcast
On this week’s episode of the We Are D93 podcast, Lori sits down with Ucon Elementary Principal John Murdoch, a true community hero and longtime member of the Idaho National Guard. 🇺🇸 John joined the Guard back in 1991 and has been faithfully serving our country ever since. Listen in as he shares insights on balancing his role as a principal with his ongoing commitment to the National Guard, his journey over the years, and the values he brings to D93 every day. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation! #WeAreD93 #CommunityHeroes #IdahoNationalGuard
The D93 Extra Mile Award celebrates those whose hard work and positive attitudes make a significant impact on our students, staff, and community. Thanks to our amazing friends at Rusty Taco, we’ll be recognizing those who go above and beyond with this special award! 🌮🙌
In next week's newsletter, we will catch up with a number of our outstanding employees who have been recognized for going the extra mile.
