Letter regarding district budget concerns.

Dear Kyrene Community,

As you probably know, the Kyrene School District is nationally recognized for its excellent reputation.  The District is located in established vs. growing neighborhoods and has experienced declining enrollment in the past. State funding is based mainly on student enrollment.  However, for the first time in many years enrollment is stable and on the increase.  This is a positive development but, due to the state’s economic crisis, the Kyrene budget has decreased by over 10% in the past three years. In 2008-09 it was approximately $107 million and is predicted to be approximately $95 million for 2011-12.

You can learn about the 2011-12 budget at Governing Board Meetings and upcoming Community Forums: 

• Tuesday, 4/26 at 7:00 p.m. – Next Governing Board Meeting, District Office Ben Furlong Center Board Room, 8700 South Kyrene Road, Tempe, 85284

• Wednesday, 5/4 at 6:30 p.m. - Community Forum, District Office, Ben Furlong Center Board Room, 8700 South Kyrene Road, Tempe, 85284

• Thursday, 5/12 at 6:30 p.m. -  Community Forum, Centennial Middle School, 13808 S. 36th Street. Phoenix, 85044

While other districts have closed schools and eliminated special programs like Art, Library, Music and P.E., Kyrene values experiences for children in all content areas including the special area classes.

Kyrene has been able to avoid cuts like these by:

• freezing employee wages

• using available Cash Reserves (savings account)

• reducing staff

Kyrene has had amazing community support to raise funds through bonds and overrides. These funds help us:

• reduce class size

• provide state-of-the-art technology learning tools that are integrated into children’s learning, making Kyrene’s technology program a national model

• secure our campuses

• maintain our buildings

• purchase buses

During the Kyrene budget process, over 130 efficiency ideas were brainstormed.

Which of these considerations would specifically affect your child’s school?  Things being considered include:

1. Cuts to Administration

2. Program Reductions/Efficiencies

a. Elementary School Special Areas scheduling**

b. Transportation – Middle School Start & End Times

c. Gifted Program scheduling

d. Prevention Services

e. Substitute Budget

3. Class Size Range Adjustments*

Other ways to gather information on the budget process include:

• Governing Board Meetings and Study Sessions in person or via video - (Next meeting is Tuesday, 4/26)

• The Superintendent/Kyrene parent Video Sessions

• The Budget Pages (which include FAQ’s, Facts and Myths and a Feedback section)

• Talk with your Parent Superintendent Council (PSC) representative.  (On a monthly basis each school sends a person to a meeting with me and we have provided them with facts on the budget)

Thank you for being a part of the Kyrene Elementary School District. While budget struggles have forced us to operate with reduced revenue for some time now, we are working hard to ensure that, despite those reductions, the community can continue to be proud of the education our children receive.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Schauer

Superintendent

*Class size is determined by ranges (Kindergarten is 23-25, 1st grade is 25-27, etc.) and if we raise that range by one or two then some classrooms could be larger.  However, we do have some dollars that will be applied specifically to the primary grades to lower class sizes in K-3.

**We are studying possible changes in scheduling for Elementary Library, Music, Art and P.E.  However, none of these programs will be cut out of the student experience.  For more information on this study, visit www.kyrene.org/k8

PUEBLO SUPPLIES: How to donate a free ream of paper! (Act by this Saturday, 4/16)

Public schools increasingly rely on donations for many basic school supplies.  While everyone's pocket-book is feeling the economic pinch, you have a way to help donate that won't end up costing you a cent. 

Now through this Saturday, April 16th, Staples (the office supply company) is offering a rebate that covers the entire cost of a ream of multi-purpose paper.

Here are the easy steps to follow:

Link to Staples Coupon
1) click on the link above-- this will redirect you to a Staples webpage (note: you may have to temporarily allow pop-ups on your computer);
2) print out the "FREE HP multipurpose paper ream, 8-1/2 x 11" coupon;
3) redeem the coupon at any Staples store & purchase the specific $5.99 ream of paper;
4) go online (or mail-in) following Staples rebate instructions;
5) turn in the ream of paper to your child's AcLab teacher (you will make them very happy!)
6) pat yourself on the back for taking the time to do something to help our school, while you wait for your rebate check to arrive in the mail from Staples!

Thank you for supporting Pueblo!

Seussical theater experience for grades 4 - 8

Students in grades 4 - 8 can participate in Kyrene School District's summer production of Seussical the Musical Jr., whether as a cast or crew member. It will be a memorable experience!

Auditions are coming up April 25 and 27 at Akimel Middle School in Ahwatukee. Performances are June 28 and 29 at KMS. All who audition will be part of the production.

Details:

http://www.kyrene.org/commedfhb/SummerTheater.html

Stock Up!

Our librarians have shared a great opportunity for families to buy books for their personal collections or to DONATE TO THE LIBRARY! :)

The sale advertised below is a great way to get new reading materials for the summer months. Please also consider a donation to our library. With ZERO FUNDING this year, they would love the opportunity to update the library with the latest and greatest books for our kids.

PTO will gladly facilitate donations to our library. Just send in a check made payable to: Pueblo PTO and put library donation in the memo line. We will get the money to our librarians before the sale. Allowing them plenty of time to get great books at great prices.

The flier does not seem to be working! The sale is May 4-7 & 11-14 at the A+ Book Fair Warehouse (45 N Sunway Dr, Gilbert, AZ 85233) open 9am-5pm Wed-Fri & 9am-noon Sat. BONUS BOOK WITH EVERY $25 SPENT. 480-632-0440 or www.aplusbookfairs.com

This sale DOES NOT benefit Pueblo, the library or the PTO. We are just passing along information shared with us from our amazing librarians!

HELP Kyrene 8th Grade Girls

One of the four initiatives of the Kyrene Foundation is clothing for needy students.  Wishes Come True is a project in which several 8^th grade girls from each of our middle schools will be invited to come to the D.O. on Friday, April 29 to pick out a summer dress to wear to their 8^th grade promotion activities.

Everything will be donated, including gently-used dresses and new accessories such as simple jewelry, nail polish, lotion, hair ribbons, gift cards to Claire’s Boutique at the mall, etc.  Please bring in any items to donate during the week of April 11 - 15.   Donations will be accepted during regular business hours  (7:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.)  at Kyrene District Office, Ben Furlong Center, 8700 S. Kyrene Road, Tempe 85284. 

If you have questions about the work of the Kyrene Foundation go to www.kyrenefoundtion.org,  email kfvolunteer@cox.net, or call 480-783-4070.

Clarification on My Coke Rewards

We wanted to clarify HOW to donate your Coke points to Pueblo. There are 4 options:

1. Go to www.mycokerewards.com/schools and look for the “Find a School and Donate Points” area about halfway down the page. Enter in our zip code: 85226. Scroll through the list that appears and click on “KYRENE DEL PUEBLO MIDDLE SCH – Registered” and select “Continue”. Look under “SCHOOL FACT SHEET…” to sign in and donate your points. Everything you enter will be credited to Pueblo.

2. Drop the actual codes off in Pueblo’s front office

3. Email the codes to Amy Dawson adawson@kyrene.org

4. Email the codes to PTO and we’ll get them to the correct person Pueblo-PTO@hotmail.com

Volunteers will enter all codes turned in using option 2,3 or 4.

Thank you for helping Pueblo!