HERE's the Scoop 5.16.24
radio refresh
Please remember to send your Kenwood radios to Security Systems and Operations (SSO) at the SSC for their annual cleaning and check-up.
Thank you to those schools that have worked hard to upgrade their radios, monitor the dates on their batteries, and help us improve radio coverage.
We recommend OEM batteries be purchased because they last twice as long and cause far fewer issues. One option for battery purchase is Gateway Wireless (316-264-0037). They keep these batteries in stock year-round. We have a supply of batteries that will be used to replace as many old batteries as we can when we service them.
We realize some of you use radios over the summer for latchkey, so if you would like to send half at a time, we will try to get them done quickly and returned so you can send us the other half. If you are sending only half of your radios, please put a note in the box letting us know. If a certain radio is having a problem, please label it with a note so we can pay extra attention to it. Please do not send chargers unless there is something wrong with the charger or there is something wrong with the radio that is attached to the charger.
HERE's the Scoop 5.3.24
New Building and Classroom Key Standards
District Leadership Team (DLT) has approved the District’s new key standards as it relates to interior and exterior keys. Below are details of the new standards, as well as our plan to assist with collection of keys. This is a follow up to communication sent in November.
New district standards will allow each building a maximum number of building master keys. Building Administration will then be responsible for distributing those keys as they deem necessary. Schools will not be given master keys in excess of the approved quantities without DLT approval.
DLT’s approved key allocations:
High Schools – 20 Exterior, 25 Interior
Middle Schools – 12 Exterior, 15 Interior
Elementary – 8 Exterior, 8 Interior
Team members from Glass, Locks, & Doors (GLD) plan to be at your building briefly between May 28th and May 30th to collect master keys in excess of those numbers above, as well as quickly answer any general “key” questions you may have. You can assist us in making the process faster by having keys and questions ready to go.
Thank you for your support as we work together to enhance safety in our buildings.
Charles Harris
Supervisor Glass/Locks/Doors
charris@usd259.net
Changes to Loaner Vehicle Program
During District Council, we have been meeting with small groups of building principals to help shape our “model school” concepts, which will play an integral role in our final master plan. Our draft concepts are now ready for review, and we would greatly appreciate your feedback! Please take some time to review the concepts and provide your thoughts and insights through the survey at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VSZQW5K
The survey will be closed, and responses collected next Friday, May 3, 2024. Thank you!
HERE's the Scoop 4.4.23
Changes to Loaner Vehicle Program
Unfortunately, due to budget cuts, we are facing the loss of four vehicles from our loaner vehicle program. As a result, we will have only one vehicle available for loan.
We understand the importance of these vehicles in facilitating your work and the activities of our students. While we regret the necessity of this decision, we want to assure you that it was made after careful consideration of all available options. We understand that this adjustment may require some flexibility and adaptability, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this situation together. We want to assure you that despite these challenges, our commitment to providing support to you and our students remains unwavering.
Thank you for your understanding, patience, and dedication to our students.
HERE's the Scoop 12.14.23
Facilities Sign in Sheets
We are transitioning away from the Facilities Division Sign In Sheets that have historically been kept at the front desk of your building. We are now using Hall Pass and Tririga to verify when our technicians are in your building. Please feel free to discontinue use of the paper copies of the Facilities Division Sign In Sheets at your front desk. If the sheets are beneficial and you would like to continue using them you may do so.
Winter Break - Energy Management Announcement
This message is to inform you that the District will be implementing our standard energy savings protocol for the coming Winter Break by running our buildings in unoccupied setback mode. In order to maximize these critical energy savings, we will be limiting our heating/cooling system usage from Friday December 22, through midnight on Monday Jan 1, 2024. This means no utilization of our buildings during the timeframe specified except for the following small number of exceptions that District leadership has deemed necessary:
Rental groups
Grace Med locations
Athletic practices, as approved by building administration & Energy Dept. (only the HVAC System associated with the practice area(s) will be scheduled)
Brief periodic entry to feed/check live animals/reptiles in science area(s)
Any other use or entry of district Facilities must be approved by a member of the District Leadership Team
**We also ask that ALL milk coolers be left plugged in
We will have the buildings back to normal temperature for In Service Day on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Please remember to turn off all electrical equipment as you leave for break. This includes lights, computers, printers, monitors, copiers, personal heaters, personal refrigerators, coffee makers, toasters, fans, radios, and other non-essential electrical equipment.
Lastly, our unoccupied building temperature setpoint will allow the building temps to drop to 55F before the heating systems cycle back on, so please consider any plants and animals that may be affected, and take them home with you if their survival is jeopardized by temperatures below 55F.
Thank you for your attention to this memo and for your continued commitment to our students---enjoy the break and Happy Holidays!
HERE's the Scoop 12.1.23
Radios
Please return any 2-Way or 400 Radios you are not currently using to Safety & Security Operations (SSO) at the School Service Center through inter-school mail. We will use the returned radios for parts and backups to keep functional radios available to you. If you have radio specific questions you can call 3-2069.
HERE's the Scoop 11.9.23
Master Keys
In the interest of safety and security, Facilities will be making a concerted effort to reduce our number of master keys in the District. Doing so will help prevent loss, and minimize the associated re-keying measures that result from it. Our buildings are now equipped with card readers at multiple entrances, which has greatly reduced the need for so many master keys. Key personnel such as: administrators, head custodians, building engineers, office staff, and athletic directors will be permitted to retain their master keys. More information will follow in the spring semester, but we are making you aware now so you can begin to prepare.
Fire Drills
Attachment: Fire Drill Process
By following the process outlined in this PowerPoint, your building should be able to do a fire drill and have your heating or air conditioning resume normal operations afterwards. Please continue to contact Dispatch (3-2100) and the Work Order Desk (3-2035 or workrequest@usd259.net) for fire drill notifications.
HERE's the Scoop 9.21.23
Having a scheduled fire drill?
Please contact the Work Order Desk (3-2035 or workrequest@usd259.net) a day or two in advance of any scheduled fire drills. In addition, if you have an unplanned fire drill, please contact the Work Order Desk (3-2035 or workrequest@usd259.net) as soon as your building has returned to normal activities. When the fire alarm system is activated in your building, it closes dampers to shut off air flow. This helps to slow an actual fire event, but it also interrupts air conditioning and, in cooler months, heating. The sooner we know about fire drills, whether they are planned or a surprise, the more quickly we can get your building temperature back to normal.
HERE's the Scoop 8.3.23
Energy Department
ENERGY DEPT MEMO: 2023-2024 Instructions/Details for submitting Energy Exception Requests (EER’s)
From Previous Scoop 7.20.23
Requests for excess furniture to be delivered to your building
Facilities has a large, constantly changing inventory of furniture available for placement in classrooms, offices, and other school spaces. Items include bookshelves, chairs, teacher desks, tables, and many other items in great condition. If teachers and staff are in need of a particular item, please follow this process:
- Request approval from your Principal to check excess furniture for the item.
- Once you have your Principal’s approval, email Brian Carroll (bcarroll@usd259.net) in the SSC Furniture & Fixtures department. Be as specific as possible with your request, for example:
- How many drawers in the filing cabinet?
- Horseshoe table or regular?
- Short bookshelf or tall?
- How many of the item do you need?
- We will review your request and compare it to our inventory as quickly as possible.
- If we have the item, we will contact you to make an appointment to see the excess furniture.
- If you find a suitable item in excess furniture, we will deliver it to your classroom.
- If we do not have an item that matches your description, we will let you know.