Blue Valley Today - Winter 2022

A Messagefrom the Superintendent

The end of the first semester is quickly approaching, but it feels like yesterday we were welcoming our students back to school. I want to take this opportunity to highlight all the incredible happenings throughout the district so far this school year.

At the start of the school year, our elementary schools implemented a new math curriculum. Students aren’t just using a formula to arrive at an answer. The teaching and learning of math in Blue Valley have students engaged, working collaboratively, creatively and finding flexibility within a math problem. I am excited about the ongoing work that is creating enriching academic experiences for our students.

As I walk through our schools and attend after-school events, I see the heightened school spirit in every building. Our students are excited to be with their friends and educators. All of this is due to the positive school culture each school strives to create.

On pages 6 and 7, you will read about what makes us #BVTogether — support from the community, districtwide collaboration, positive school culture and staff-student relationships. All of this has been showcased throughout the school year.

I have seen an abundance of support from the community this semester, most recently at the Blue Valley Educational Foundation’s Women’s Giving Circle. Each professional learning day, our educators showcase districtwide collaboration.

Blue

Our schools continue to foster positive school culture and our extraordinary educators continue to build relationships with students in order to help them succeed. I could not be more proud of this community and the district as a whole.

I am looking forward to a great second semester. One important month to note is January 2023. The community will have the opportunity to continue to support schools through a no-tax rate increase mail-ballot bond election. I encourage you to check out pages 8 and 9 and visit www.bluevalleyk12.org/bond to learn more. In 2020, the community overwhelmingly passed a bond referendum that our students continue to benefit from daily. From new flexible learning spaces to upgrades in technology districtwide, the improvements reflect the strong community support that makes Blue Valley Schools such a special place.

Many great things are happening here in Blue Valley. Thank you for your continued support of our district. Let’s have a great second semester!

Sincerely,

Tonya Merrigan, Ed.D. Superintendent

For more information about Blue Valley Today, contact the Communications Department 913-239-4329.

News & Notes

12 Blue Valley students earn perfect ACT scores in June-September testing

Blue Valley continues to have a composite average ACT score higher than the state and national average. From June-September 2022, 12 Blue Valley students earned a perfect 36 on the ACT. This achievement is very rare. Less than 0.5% of test-takers in the nation earn a perfect ACT score of 36 each year.

Students who earned a perfect ACT score include: Luke Chen – Blue Valley North; David Mick – Blue Valley Southwest; Harvin Sandhu – Blue Valley Southwest; Parker Toman – Blue Valley Southwest; Shishir Vargheese – Blue Valley West; Edward Jiang – Blue Valley High; Eric Seo – Blue Valley West; Eric Garretson – Blue Valley North; Nancy Pei – Blue Valley High; Jonathan Subramanian – Blue Valley North; Mofei Wang – Blue Valley Northwest; Kayoko Thornton – Blue Valley North

Blue Valley teachers named district representatives for Kansas Teacher of the Year Award

Blue Valley’s elementary and secondary nominees for Kansas Teacher of the Year are Overland Trail Elementary teacher Katie Karst and Blue Valley Southwest teacher Brandon Hawks Blue Valley is known for having amazing educators. Karst and Hawks will represent the district in the regional competition for the award. Finalists for the award will be named in March 2023. The Kansas Teacher of the Year Award recognizes teachers who exemplify excellent teaching in the elementary and secondary classrooms. Every year, the Kansas State Department of Education names eight winners, one from each region.

Blue Valley High student achieves rare accomplishment on AP exam

Emily Clausen, a Blue Valley High senior, received the top score of five on the AP US History exam. She was one of only nine students from around the world to earn a perfect score (amounting to just 0.002% of 2022 AP United States history exam takers). Advanced Placement tests are college-level exams on specific subjects and are administered in May upon the completion of an AP course taken at a student’s high school. AP exams are scored on a scale of one to five. Earning a five on the AP exam is nearly impossible.

Blue Valley Schools named Best School District in Kansas, top-100 in America

Niche’s 2023 Best Schools in America rankings confirm that Blue Valley and its teachers continue to be the best in the state. The district and its teachers topped Best School District and District with the Best Teachers lists in Kansas. In addition, the district was named a top 100 School District in America, coming in at number 69.

Returning to the Classroom

Blue Valley grad returns home to program that changed her life

When it’s time for Natalie Stamper, a Mission Trail Elementary paraprofessional, to leave for the day, it’s not uncommon for her students to wrap their arms around her, cling tightly and beg her to stay.

That small action speaks volumes about the impact Stamper, a Blue Valley graduate, has had on students in the short time she’s worked at Mission Trail.

There are many reasons why students love Stamper — she’s a former Mission Trail student, relatable, humble, kind and calm.

But, maybe most importantly, she’s walked in their shoes. During Stamper’s time at Blue Valley, she was part of the special education program and on an individual education plan (IEP).

Stamper, 19, said her overall experience at Mission Trail as a student was positive.

That doesn’t mean she didn’t face challenges.

Stamper excelled academically, but socially she struggled. Realizing social cues, unwritten rules and maintaining friendships was difficult for Stamper.

Stamper’s teachers and paras at Mission Trail helped guide her through those early years, making accommodations for her — such as listening to music to help her concentrate when working independently — that would allow her to succeed.

“We had adults able to help her at the elementary level with executive functioning and some of the social things she wasn’t picking up on,” said Debra Bond, Mission Trail Elementary principal.

Stamper attended Overland Trail Middle and joined Navigators, a SPED program

that serves students with anxiety and social issues. She continued in the Navigators program through high school and graduated in 2022 from Blue Valley North.

“(Navigators) was really the change I needed,” Stamper said. “I was in class with other people who had similar struggles that I could relate to.”

Stamper said the lessons in middle school on social skills, emotions, triggers and stress stuck with her.

Camie Stamper, Natalie Stamper’s mom and a special education teacher at Mission Trail, said her daughter still keeps in touch with her teachers from Navigators. It’s not an exaggeration to say the program changed Natalie Stamper’s life.

“I think coming back to Mission Trail now and working here, she is so aware of other

Natalie Stamper, Mission Trail paraprofessional, spends her days working with students in the school’s special education program.

kids who maybe have some of the same kinds of struggles that she had with sensory needs and when they might be missing social cues,” Camie Stamper said.

Natalie Stamper, currently enrolled at Johnson County Community College, started working this year at Mission Trail. Before she got the job, she volunteered at the school. During that time, Bond realized Natalie Stamper had the skill set the school needed in a para.

“I think at that unconscious level she’s very relatable,” Bond said. “She’s also not that far out of school, and I think a lot of her demeanor is non-threatening. She knows not to embarrass (the students), she knows not to interrupt them.”

As a para, Stamper is working with kids on IEPs and has the opportunity to connect with students and guide them through the social, internal and external challenges they are experiencing.

“A little girl said that because of Natalie, she’s able to calm down and think and get her work done,” Bond said. “If she has a question or needs help, Natalie knows how to help her without doing her work for her and that Natalie always makes her feel safe.”

Stamper is just one of 470 paras employed in Blue Valley. The role of a para is critical to meeting the needs of students with disabilities. They assist teachers by delivering planned activities and monitoring progress to ensure students are receiving the needed support.

Bond credits the Navigators program for giving Natalie Stamper the skills she needed to be a successful para.

“Navigators taught her how to read the room, how to get the social cues,” Bond said. “Navigators taught her to be more aware of other people and their feelings. Those are the skills she uses as a para. It’s cool to watch that Navigators work pay off and give back to the elementary kids.”

Natalie Stamper now has the opportunity to change the lives of students the same way her paras and teachers did.

“My paras helped me stay on top of things,” Natalie Stamper said. “In elementary school, I had a really positive relationship with the staff. I have that positive relationship with kids at Mission Trail.”

Natalie Stamper pulls from personal experience, like fidget techniques such as a

We are hiring!

Paraprofessional positions offer flexible schedules, full benefits and retirement plans. If you are looking to make a positive impact in your community and in the lives of our children, we encourage you to apply for one of these support opportunities in the district, or share this information with someone you think would be a good fit to join our team. For more information and to apply for school-level openings, visit https://www.bluevalleyk12.org/ employment.

band on her chair, to help students.

While Camie and Natalie Stamper don’t have the chance to interact while at Mission Trail — aside from an occasional wave through the window — Camie Stamper is happy to know her daughter has found a safe and comfortable place to work.

“I was anxious about where she would work and who the people would be and how she would be accepted,” Camie Stamper said. “It’s really been a beautiful transition for her to be around people that know her and that she feels safe.”

When Bond thinks of the phrase “homegrown heroes” Natalie is the first to come to mind.

“I think it’s really cool when we have the people that grow up here, are invested here, and then come and give back,” Bond said. “I view Natalie working here as giving back. We’re benefiting from what she has to offer and she’s growing. Her confidence from the first day of this totally new experience and now her confidence in walking the building, helping kids, stepping in — that was not something that happened when she was younger.”

Mission Trail paraprofessional Natalie Stamper, left, and Mission Trail principal Debra Bond, right, look through a workbook. Bond encouraged Stamper to consider working as a paraprofessional at the elementary school she attended.

A DISTRICT STRONGER TOGETHER

Nestled in the heart of northeastern Kansas is a place not found on a map. It is not a city, a township or a village, but say the name to anyone in the area and they’ll know exactly where to find it. It is a community banded together. It is Blue Valley. From the support of local businesses, families and community members to the relentless work of our exemplary educators, support staff, administrators, coaches and sponsors, we work together toward a common goal to provide extraordinary educational opportunities for students.

Join us this year as we highlight the togetherness of this community in our classrooms, on the field and stage, and beyond using #BVTogether.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

The Blue Valley community provides a wide variety of support to the district. “Nowhere is this support more visible than the annual Blue Valley Educational Foundation community breakfast,” said Susan Tideman, Blue Valley Education Foundation Executive Director. “Drawing almost 1,000 guests, representing major employers, organizations and our schools, the community breakfast truly showcased how our community rallies around our schools.”

A successful school is not simply a place where teachers teach and students learn. Schools thrive when students, families, staff and the community work together to educate, uplift and support one another. Local businesses, parent organizations and the greater Blue Valley community truly make a difference in the lives of our students.

Blue Valley Schools has grown from three elementary schools and one high school in 1965 to now 35 schools — soon to be 36 with the addition of Elementary 24 — and four programs. Today we serve more than 22,000 students. While this district has continued to grow, one thing has remained the same. For more than 55 years, this community has worked together to provide extraordinary educational opportunities for students.

WHOLE SCHOOL. WHOLE COMMUNITY.

Moving to a new school can be difficult for anyone, but for Heartland Elementary fourth grader Diana, Oxford seventh grader Yuliia and the entire Fomichova family, the journey to Blue Valley was sudden and unexpected. Watch how Heartland Elementary, Oxford Middle School and our #BVTogether community helped a displaced family from Ukraine feel at home here in Kansas by scanning the QR code.

SCAN TO WATCH VIDEO

BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION

It’s one thing to build a school building, but it’s an entirely different task to build a school community and culture. In our first BV Unmuted podcast of the 2022-23 school year, Superintendent Dr. Tonya Merrigan asks three of our rockstar principals — Leawood Elementary’s Jenny Hayes, Oxford Middle’s Courtney Domoney and Blue Valley Southwest’s Dr. Tyler Alexander — what they and their staff do to build a positive school culture and how parents and the community can help get involved.

SCAN TO LISTEN TO PODCAST

as a well-run school district with the highest ratings available for public entities.

available for public entities. Moody’s Investors Service: Aaa Standard & Poor’s: AA+

Moody’s Investors Service: Aaa Standard & Poor’s: AA+

Mail-ballot no tax rate increase bond election set for January 2023

Blue Valley Board of Education has a strong history of refinancing debt and pre-paying debt to save taxpayers money.

Blue Valley Board of Education has a strong history of refinancing debt and pre-paying debt to save taxpayers money.

Sept. 2022: The Board of Education approved an overall mill rate of 54.870 for the tax year 2022, a decrease of over 4 mills from 2021, saving taxpayers money.

Sept. 2022: The Board of Education approved an overall mill rate of 54.870 for the tax year 2022, a decrease of over 4 mills from 2021, saving taxpayers money.

KEY DATES

KEY DATES

Oct. 2022: The Board of Education paid off $10.8 million of debt early, saving taxpayers $1 million in interest.

Oct. 2022: The Board of Education paid off $10.8 million of debt early, saving taxpayers $1 million in interest.

The Blue Valley community has an opportunity to invest in facilities, safety and technology through an upcoming bond election. Blue Valley’s Board of Education approved a resolution for a January 2023 mail-ballot election that will be a no-tax rate increase for Blue Valley taxpayers. Investing in quality public schools maintains strong property values and provides a positive economic impact.

BALLOTS MAILED

A ballot will be mailed to all registered voters in the Blue Valley School District. Please note that registered voters do not need to register separately for the Blue Valley bond election. Need to register? Go to www.jocoelection.org to begin the voter registration process.

REGISTER BY JAN. 1 automatically receive a mail ballot

JAN. 11

• Register by Jan. 1 to automatically receive a mail ballot

• Register between Jan. 2-11, request a mail ballot

• Ballots mailed around Jan. 11

BALLOTS DUE

2

JAN.

JAN. 2 - JAN. 11 need to request a ballot

• Ballots due Jan. 31 by noon

BY NOON JAN. 31

Community Bond Open House January 10 at BVSW at 6 p.m.

VALUE OF GOOD SCHOOLS

VALUE OF GOOD SCHOOLS

VALUE OF GOOD SCHOOLS

99% of district patrons surveyed strongly agree or agree that having good public schools maintains strong property values.

99% of district patrons surveyed strongly agree or agree that having good public schools maintains strong property values.

83% strongly agree or agree Blue Valley Schools can be trusted to spend local tax dollars wisely.

83% strongly agree or agree Blue Valley Schools can be trusted to spend local tax dollars wisely.

99% of district patrons surveyed strongly agree or agree that having good public schools maintains strong property values. 83% strongly agree or agree Blue Valley Schools can be trusted to spend local tax dollars wisely.

Blue Valley Board of Education has a strong history of re nancing debt and pre-paying debt to save taxpayers money.

Blue Valley is recognized by nancial industry leaders as a well-run school district with the highest ratings available for public entities.

Moody’s Investors Service: Aaa

Standard & Poor’s: AA+

Sept. 2022: The Board of Education approved an overall mill rate of 54.870 for the tax year 2022, a decrease of over 4 mills from 2021, saving taxpayers money.

Oct. 2022: The Board of Education paid o $10.8 million of debt early, saving taxpayers $1 million in interest.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Bond 2023

Q: HOW WAS THE BOND PROJECT LIST DETERMINED?

A: Over a 12-month public process that included a community survey, the Board of Education and district sta examined the needs of the district. The board feels that this bond package adequately addresses the immediate needs of the district. The majority of the bond will focus on facilities, safety and technology at all school campuses across the district.

Q: HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE BOND PROJECTS?

A: In planning for Bond 2023, there is a desire to continue to complete projects over a short timeframe to respond quickly to an ever-changing educational landscape. Most projects will be completed in three to four years.

Q: WHAT HAPPENS IF THE BOND ELECTION DOES NOT PASS?

A: If the bond election is not successful, funds to invest in facilities, update technology and enhance school safety will not be available. The school district has few options to provide for these needs should the bond election not be successful.

Q: HOW IS THIS BOND A NO TAX RATE INCREASE?

A: The 2023 bond referendum is a no tax rate increase for two reasons. First, both residential and commercial growth in Blue Valley allows for a greater tax base to address public financing needs. Second, as Blue Valley makes bond debt service payments, the new bond would replace the retired debt. Blue Valley has a strong history of refinancing debt and pre-paying debt to save taxpayers. Recent examples of pre-paying debt include in October 2022, the Board of Education paid o $10.8 million of debt early, saving taxpayers $1 million in interest. The no tax rate increase is also assisted by the tremendous stewardship o ered by the Board of Education by capitalizing on the district’s strong credit rating to ensure the lowest possible interest rates on its bond debt.

Q: IS $251 MILLION THE ENTIRE BOND PACKAGE?

A: The principal portion of the bond package is $251,250,000. Like a home mortgage, the principal portion along with interest is what needs to be paid back to investors purchasing the bonds. The published interest cost for the bond referendum is about $108 million. However, this assumes a conservatively high-interest rate and a full 20-year repayment time frame. Given projections of assessed valuations and scheduled debt retirement, the Board of Education is making the promise of a flat bond tax rate with this bond referendum. The bond tax rate is something that the Board can control, and will control for the life of this bond so that the rate does not rise above its present 12.6 mills.

general information

bond funds

Q: WILL MY BALLOT BE MAILED TO ME LIKE PAST BLUE VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOND ELECTIONS?

A: A ballot will be mailed to all registered voters in the Blue Valley School District around January 11 by the Johnson County Election O ce. Simply mark your choice on the ballot, sign and send it back in the postage paid envelope that will accompany the ballot.

Q: WHAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF VOTES REQUIRED FOR THE BOND TO PASS?

A: The bond requires a simple majority of votes, 51 percent, to pass.

VIDEO

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts about the January 31, 2023 bond referendum. View bond resources at www.bluevalleyk12.org/bond including an informational video, complete project list and more!

SCAN TO WATCH INFORMATIONAL BOND VIDEO

voting

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Questions? Talk to a local AFS KC representative about the AFS experience: Frank Russo at 913.948.2293 or frkjrusso@gmail.com 75163343

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Advertise to More Local Parents

Although it provides quality educational opportunities for its students, the Blue Valley School District knows that to achieve that goal, it needs patron support. Therefore, good communication in the district is necessary, which is why it publishes the Blue Valley TODAY four times a year. This full-color, all glossy magazine features important news and photos from throughout the district, as well as limited advertising space.

For more information, contact Teresa Morrow 913-706-8865 and teresa.morrow@miconews.com

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