July 11, 2024 Maize Pulse

July temps are heating up, and we are gearing up for back-to-school! One of the events I am most excited about for the 2024-25 school year is our new Super Coffee Chats, and you're invited!

For each of the past two years, I have hosted an Employee Listening Tour in schools and departments across Maize USD 266 to hear about what's going well, what questions they have, and what we need to improve. This has helped us identify existing needs and identify next steps for improvement.

This year, our Super Coffee Chats will be part of a Parent Listening Tour, which will take a similar approach but, this time around, with our parents. We will host a series of free come-and-go events, and the first one will be from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 at Wichita State University's WSU West, 3801 N. Walker Ave. in Maize. We're also planning a session in October and finalizing the schedule beyond that, so please stay tuned for additional opportunities to connect! I would love to meet you and listen to your feedback and ideas on how we can continue to grow.

Connecting with various stakeholder groups, including employees and parents, is a vital part of a much larger District Needs Assessment process. On Monday, I presented to the Maize Board of Education about this important annual process, through which we identify barriers, prioritize needs, and approve our budget for 2024-25. This needs assessment is organized according to our Lead Forward district strategic plan and the following focus areas:

• Nurture a Cohesive Culture
• Attract Expert Educators
• Elevate Student Learning
• Build for the Future

Please click here to view my presentation and learn more about our top priorities for 2024-25, recommended budget plans, survey data, assessment results, and more. We will continue to tell these stories through the upcoming school year, as well. So stay tuned as we make Maize even better!

Thank you, and enjoy your last weeks of summer. We have a great school year ahead!

Dr. Raquel Greer

Maize USD 266 Superintendent

• On Twitter/X: @rockigreer
• Email: rgreer@usd266.com
• Online: www.usd266.com/superintendent

Click here to access our 2024-25 District Calendar and mark your calendar for important dates for the upcoming school year, including parent-teacher conferences, terms, no school days, breaks, and more.

July

• July 30: School offices open

August

• Aug. 12 and 13: Back-to-school nights and parent-teacher conferences (See complete schedule below.)
• Aug. 14: First day of school and start of Term 1 (See complete schedule below.)

September

• Sept. 2: No school, Labor Day

Our educators are excited to meet their new students and families! Please join us for these upcoming events.

Monday, Aug. 12

• Maize Early Childhood Center and all elementary schools: Individually scheduled parent-teacher conferences, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Intermediate schools: Open House, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Middle schools: Open House, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• High schools and Maize Career Academy: Open House, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Complete High School Maize: Parent-teacher conferences, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• Maize Early Childhood Center and all elementary schools: Individually scheduled parent-teacher conferences, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Intermediate schools: Open House with assigned times available, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Middle schools: Open House with individual parent-teacher conferences scheduled on request, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• High schools and Maize Career Academy: Open House with individual parent-teacher conferences scheduled on request, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Complete High School Maize: Parent-teacher conferences, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please note that Maize USD 266 observes a staggered start day for students as follows:

• Wednesday, Aug. 14: First day of school for all of grades 1 through 9 and pre-K and kindergarten students with last names beginning with letters A through K. Please note that, as with all Wednesdays, Aug. 14 will observe early release for professional development time for educators.
• Thursday, Aug. 15: Second day of school, with school in session for all of grades 1 through 12 and pre-K and kindergarten students with last names beginning with letters L through Z.
• Friday, Aug. 16: School in session for grades K through 12. No school for pre-k.

Click to find individual school bell schedules on each school's web page on the district website at www.usd266.com.

Welcome to our Maize family! Maize USD 266 proudly and courteously serves more than 8,000 students who live in Maize, Northwest Wichita, and the surrounding area. The district and community have grown continuously while maintaining the feel of a small-town atmosphere. We look forward to connecting, learning, and leading together in 2024-25!

Ready to enroll? Enrollment is available online at www.usd266.com/enrollment or at our Enrollment Center, 201 S. Park in Maize.

• Students must live in the Maize USD 266 district.
• Kindergarten students must be age 5 on or before Aug. 31, 2024.
• Pre-K is available to children who are age 3 or 4 by Aug. 31, 2024 and is first-come, first-served. Contact the Maize Early Childhood Center after Aug. 1 for additional paperwork.

Translation services are available at the Enrollment Center.

For students entering preschool through 8th grade, click here to access school supply lists for the Maize Early Childhood Center, elementary grade-levels, intermediate schools, and middle schools.

For students in grades 9 through 12, there are no formal school supply lists. High school students can plan to bring some pens, pencils, and notebooks/paper to school. Once they are in their classes, students will learn from their teachers about any additional specific school supply needs.

Need school supplies? Maize USD 266 works with families who need assistance providing supplies to their children. Please contact your child's school for details.

Check out these updates from Maize USD 266 Food Service:

1. The Free and Reduced Application will be available beginning July 15 in Skyward Family Access. A new application is required each school year. Families wishing to waive curriculum fees must complete both the 2024-25 Free and Reduced Application and the 2024-25 Consent for Disclosure form.
2. To prepare for the 2024-25 school year, families can add money to their child’s school lunch account now in Skyward Family Access under the Food Service tab. Download our menu app in Google Play by clicking here or in the Apple store by clicking here, and view school meal menus by clicking here.
   
3. Watch for an email to come soon about the 2024-25 free and reduced meal benefits. The application will be available later this month on the district's Food Service web page. Those who qualify for free and reduced meals also will have that benefit applied to school fees if they fill out the form and are approved.
   

Looking for a part-time or full-time position that makes a huge difference in our community and in the lives of our students? Join our team! We are hiring for the 2024-25 school year.

Please join us for either of our upcoming Maize Recruiting Events at the Maize Educational Support Center, 905 W. Academy Ave. in Maize:

• 8 a.m. July 24
• 5 p.m. Aug. 1

Most positions start Aug. 12. Please click here to RSVP. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with principals and supervisors who are recruiting for substitute teachers, classroom assistants, and other non-teaching positions. This is a great opportunity to learn about what “a day in a life” looks like to see if it is something you are interested in. On-site interviews will be available. Earlier this month, the Maize Board of Education approved pay increases for all positions! Learn about compensation and benefits.

Paraeducator benefits:

• Pay based on education, experience, and assignment
• College degree not required
• Part-time or full-time hours
• Health coverage (subsidized), dental, vision, life insurance, and other benefits for working only 25 hours/week
• Work when school is in session and four extra days

• Some summer hours may be available
  
• KPERS retirement plan
• 16 leave days per year
• Paid holidays
• Many buildings to choose from located in Maize and Renwick school districts
• Click here to learn more.

• Pays $135 per day
• Choose when you work and what assignments you want
• Only work when school is in session
• Part-time or full-time hours
• Requires a valid substitute license
• Click here to learn more.

Crossing guard benefits:

• Several drive and intersection locations available
• Training and equipment provided
• Part-time hours
• Morning and afternoon shifts available
• Primary need is 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. on school days
• Click here to learn more.

Maize USD 266 drivers education is open to students ages 14 and older. Those interested in participating in the first term session must attend a mandatory enrollment meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 5 in the commons at Maize South High School, 3701 N. Tyler Road in Wichita. Please click here for additional information.

The Wichita Business Journal recently named Maize USD 266 as No. 13 in its list of Wichita's top 50 employers in 2024. Manufacturing companies topped the list, and educational institutions were the second largest category of employers.

Maize USD 266 employees by the numbers

• 1,357 full-time Wichita-area employees
• 676 part-time Wichita-area employees

The Maize Board of Education's next regular monthly meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center, 1155 W. Academy in Maize. 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.

Earlier this month, school board members approved the new 6:30 p.m. start time for monthly meetings. They also elected John Harrison to serve as president and Andrew Johnson to serve as vice president for the 2024-25 school year.

Fill the Bus with us at Chick-fil-A, 10515 W. 21 St. North in Wichita, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 6! Donate school supplies in exchange for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich, and help Maize USD 266 collect the most donations. Want to volunteer at the event? Contact Maize Education Foundation Director Emi Simmons at esimmons@usd266.com. School supplies will be distributed to students and classrooms across the district as needed.

We are just under 10 weeks out from the 16th Annual Maize Education Foundation Golf Tournament! Presented by AT&T, we'll tee off Sept. 16 at Reflection Ridge Golf Club.

Who will have the longest drive? Will someone get a hole in one? You'll have to be there to find out!

Want to get involved? Contact Maize Education Foundation Director Emi Simmons at esimmons@usd266.com or or Foundation Board Member Cristy Kerbs at cristykerbs@reecenichols.com for remaining sponsorship and volunteer opportunities.

Money raised at the event supports Maize USD 266 students, employees, and schools via Foundation grants, projects, and more.

Congratulations to the 2024 Celebrating Excellence winners! This annual Maize USD 266 award program recognizes excellence across multiple categories of our talented employees.

Congratulations to our classroom teachers who use effective strategies for improving student performance, interact positively with parents and patrons in the community to promote education, provide leadership and mentoring to fellow teachers, and work as a team player in the district to provide quality educational experiences for students.

• Maize Early Childhood Center: Jessica Botkin
• Maize Central Elementary School: Courtney Merseal

• Maize Elementary School: Emilee McCoskey
  
• Maize South Elementary School: Olivia Hugo
• Pray-Woodman Elementary School: Kim Diaz
• Vermillion Elementary School: Ashley Best
• Maize Virtual Preparatory Academy: Sara Finley
  
• Maize Intermediate School: Dawn Morrow
• Maize South Intermediate School: Gabrielle Montes
• Maize Middle School: Norris Poole
  
• Maize South Middle School: Shelbi Self
• Maize High School: Skeeter Rankins
• Maize South High School: Ashley Wilmott

Congratulations to our paraeducators who support teaching and learning across Maize USD 266!

• Maize Early Childhood Center: Holly Lomibao
• Maize Central Elementary School: Davina Willis
• Maize Elementary School: Jill Hobbs
• Maize South Elementary School: Caitlyn Haynes
• Pray-Woodman Elementary School: Bibiana Villalobos
• Vermillion Elementary School: Norma Snodgrass
• Maize Intermediate School: Indiana Flores de Carias
• Maize South Intermediate School: Jo Bohm
• Maize Middle School: Teresa Johnson
• Maize South Middle School: Carol Ralls
• Maize High School: Nichole Zachary
• Maize South High School: Dane McDonald
• Hope Learning Center: Tristan Anderson

Congratulations to our support services winners, whose commitment and dedication keep Maize USD 266 achieving its best!

• Clerical: Chrissy Leabo
• Custodial: James Crandall
• Fleet Maintenance: Johnny Poland
• HVAC: Daryl Layton
• Food Service: Karissa Kramer
• Library/Media: Trish Shields
• Maintenance/Grounds: Scott Morgan-Boone
• Nursing: Lisa Turner
• Technology: Janet Delanty
• Transportation: Debra Boucher
• Maize Performing Arts and Aquatics Center Facilities Manager: Duayne Charles

Congratulations to our students who were recognized during the June Maize Board of Education meeting for recent state- and national-level successes!

• Congratulations to Maize South High School Business Professionals of America members who had an outstanding showing in several events at the National Leadership Conference in Chicago. Eight members of the team placed in the Top 10 in the nation. Kaitlin Kelley placed fourth in Basic Office Systems and Procedures. Tate McNew, Dallen Marshall, and Cannon Reed placed fifth in Podcast Team. Connor Anderson, Connor McCluskey, and Dane Dehncke placed sixth in Economic Research Team. Tate McNew also placed ninth in Interview Skills.

• Congratulations Maize High School debate team members Payten LaPoint and Laney Payne, who placed in the Top 4 in the nation for Policy Debate at the 2024 NCFL National Conference.

• Congratulations to Maize South High School Forensic team member Kai Laffoon, who won the state championship in Impromptu at the 5A Forensics Speech Tournament.

• Congratulations to Maize South High School's Ashley Singhateh, who won the 5A girls 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles at the state track meet.

• Congratulations to Maize High School's Alan Hanna, who won the 6A boys high jump at the state track meet.

Thanks to our community members, including our youngest ones, who participated in Tuesday's annual Super Story Time event with Maize USD 266 Superintendent Dr. Raquel Greer! She read stories to preschool-age children and to elementary-aged children in two separate sessions. Thanks also to MOXI Junction for hosting the event!

Join district leaders in celebrating Maize School employees represented by the following recent appreciation days:

• Speech language pathologists
• School business leaders