SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 Connect with Katie
Photo Credit: Becky Hand
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W E K L Y N W S
A N D I N F O R M A T I O N F R O M T H E S U P E R I N T E N D E N T
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Table of Contents Student Activities & Recognitions Staff Recognitions Staff Spotlight Superintendent's Message03 Leopard Life: Lovejoy Links 08 14 20 21 Leopard Life: Community News District Highlights 05 23 Voter Approved Tax Rate Election 27 Featured Job Openings28 Health and Safety29 12 District Calendar Board of Trustees22
On November 8, 2022, Lovejoy ISD will hold a Voter Approved Tax Rate Election (VATRE) to consider increasing the M&O portion of the 2022 ISD tax rate by 3.17 cents. Due to tax rate compression, Lovejoy ISD's 2022 2023 Tax Rate will decrease with or without the passing of the VATRE. The passing of the VATRE would generate approximately $640,000 in additional funding for Lovejoy ISD. Priorities for the VATRE are employee compensation and restoring the fund balance. Property tax rates for homeowners 65 years and older with the appropriate exemptions will not be impacted by the VATRE.
SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE $2 million deficit in fiscal year 2026 with 65 days of fund balance. A baseline of 90 days and target of 120 days of fund balance are benchmarks for addressing district cash flow needs.
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Lovejoy Community,
This short week has gone by in a flash. I hope you and your family had time to rest and reconnect over the long holiday weekend. It is an honor and privilege to serve as the superintendent of our uniquely special school district. An important part of my role is keeping you informed on significant issues facing our district. Current financial projections show a
Prior to calling for a VATRE, Lovejoy ISD engaged in a budget analysis which included:
There is only ONE LOVEJOY and we are ALL LEOPARDS!
In the coming weeks, we are eager to share Lovejoy ISD’s financial facts with you. We have already held two VATRE community information sessions and appreciate those that took the time to attend. Our next VATRE community information session will be held on Monday, September 12 at noon in the Lovejoy Child Development Center Library and additional options will be communicated soon. For more information or to request a presentation to your community group, please visit https://www.lovejoyisdvatre.net/.
Formation of a 40 Member Stakeholder Based Financial Sustainability Committee Assessment of Current State including the following: Demographic Study Staffing Efficiency Study Program Reviews Capacity Assessment Implementation of Zero Based Budgeting Development of a three year Financial Forecast
Superintendent's Message Continued
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Katie Kordel Superintendent
All meetings will be held in the library at the Lovejoy Child Development Center (LCDC) at 256 Country Club Road, Allen, TX on:
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VOTER-APPROVED TAX RATE ELECTION
Active communication, collaboration and community engagement is a priority for Lovejoy ISD. We hope you will join us at one of the above Parent/Community Information Meetings! Additional dates will be shared soon.
Parent/Community Information Meetings
September 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM Complete!
September 9, 2022 at 8:00 AM Complete!
September 12, 2022 at 12:00 PM (Noon)
Lovejoy ISD invites parents and community members to attend an upcoming VATRE Community Presentation. Following the presentation, there will be time for questions related to the VATRE.
The road to financial sustainability is a journey.
VATRE Weekly Fast Fact: Budget Development
A tax rate adjustment through a VATRE is one of many strategies Lovejoy ISD has implemented from our 2021 2022 budget assessment and Financial Sustainability Committee recommendations.
Website! FORMOREINFORMATIONVISIT... FORMOREINFORMATIONVISIT... WWWLOVEJOYISDVATRENET WWW.LOVEJOYISDVATRE.NET
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DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS
What do teachers do when students are on holiday? Learn, collaborate, and have a little fun! Hart Elementary teachers started off their Professional Development day with a fun Scavenger Hunt. On their hunt, they had to spell HART out with pencils and find a soccer ball. The winning grade level will receive a special lunch from Mrs. Craft!
Hart's Team Building
Scavenger Hunt
Here are our 1st and 2nd grade teams in action.
Puster mom, Cassie Webb, and her 3 year old future Leopard, helped Lisa Wilkins and the PTO throw out new wildflower seeds around Puster's property, including: Texas Bluebonnets, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Blue Gramma and a wide variety of other Texas native wildflowers. They hope to have a gorgeous prairie mix next year.
Prairie and wildflower benefits are huge. To name a few, wildflower areas provide critical habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects and wildlife, which is important for ecosystem function and pollination. Wildflowers can improve soil health, prevent erosion, improve water quality. Thank you to Puster PTO for making our schools a more beautiful place!
PTO Wildflowers
Our campus librarians serve as an excellent resource for parents should you have questions. Our school libraries are committed to providing extension and enrichment opportunities for students with library materials through school and home partnerships.
In an effort to support transparency and parental involvement, Lovejoy ISD school libraries are initiating a communication practice. Parents will receive a weekly notification from the campus librarian that includes library materials their student currently has checked out. Librarians are planning to begin notifications the week of September 12th. Parents should ensure email contact information is current in PowerSchool so to receive the weekly information.
Parents will also have the option to request limited access for their child to library materials. Campus librarians will post information on the campus website that provides guidance for parents to request specific book titles they do not want their child to check out.
Lovejoy ISD Campus Library Updates
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Lovejoy Advisory Committees
Lovejoy ISD Special Education Advisory Committee
Lovejoy ISD Gifted and Talented Advisory Committee
Lovejoy ISD Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee
To learn more about the Lovejoy ISD advisory committees, please reference the following links. Committee interest forms will be accepted through Friday, September 16th.
We are pleased to announce that Lovejoy ISD is launching Special Education, Gifted and Talented, and Career Education Advisory Committees. These committees will include parents, as well as campus and district staff representatives. The purpose of the advisory committees is to establish an additional layer of communication and collaboration, resulting in achieving positive outcomes for all students through strong home and school partnerships.
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DISTRICT CALENDAR
Campus, District, and Athletics Calendars are linked above for the convenience of our community
Board of Trustees Meeting - LCDC Library
September
Updates
*Please note event dates, times and locations are subject to change and should be verified by participants
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October 6
Board of Trustees Workshop - LCDC Library
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National IT Professional Day
September 2022
District & Campus Calendars Link Athletics Calendar Link
Month of October
September
September
October 2 5
Closed Session @ 5:30 PM in D100
LHS Homecoming - LOJO vs. Terrell
Texas First Responders Day
September 12 16 20 22 26
Open Session is expected to begin at approximately 7 PM
September
North Texas Giving Day
Open Session is expected to begin at approximately 6 PM
End of First Quarter
Closed Session @ 6:00 PM in D100
October
Ladies Night: Foundation for Lovejoy Schools October 2022 National Principals Month School Custodian Appreciation Day
September
District Calendar
Reading with the Leopards
Reading with the Leopards STUDENT ACTIVITIES & RECOGNITIONS
Athletes greet kiddos as they get to school, open the doors for them, and then they visit classrooms to read. Reading with the Leopards day is a favorite day for both the BIG and LITTLE kids!
Reading with the Leopards is a wonderful program that creates connections between our Lovejoy Athletes our littlest Leopards. Each sport gets the opportunity to read three (3) times per year.
Photo Credit: Becky Hand
The Cross Country, Track and Field, and Soccer teams were fired up about getting the opportunity to read with our little Leopards!
Pep Rally
The first LHS Pep Rally of season, Welcome to the Jungle, featured a decorative jungle atmosphere provided by the LHS Cheer program and boosters. The morning featured pep talks from football, volleyball, and cross country. The LHS Cheer and Majestics were featured performers wowing the student body with their great choreography. A Cappella and the Lovejoy Band also provided school spirit with the Fight Song and Alma Mater. The Lovejoy Band won the Leopard B o a very spirited year! The next ho er 16th and will feature Homecomin
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The elite group is made up of Parker, fellow senior Jaxson Lavender, junior Parker Livingstone and sophomore Daylan McCutcheon." Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News
Read the full article in the Dallas Morning News (member exclusive content).
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The front page of the Dallas Morning News Sport Section this week featured Senior Kyle Parker and three of his Lovejoy teammates.
Dallas Morning News Features Lovejoy Leopards
"Parker is one of four Power 5 caliber wide receivers in Lovejoy’s receiving room this season. Through natural ability and a team first mentality, the group has become arguably the best in Texas and one of the top rooms in the nation.
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The Leopard Volleyball program traveled to McKinney Boyd last Tuesday to take on the Lady Broncos! After some hard fought matches, the Leopards finished with another program sweep! Tonight begins our district play as we face the Melissa Cardinals at home,and it's Kids Night for our K 8 Leopards! We can't wait to see you there!
Volleyball
Texas Master Naturalist: Ms. Perez
"I just wanted to let you know how hard core your team is at Willow Springs. There was lightning and it was raining absolute buckets at carline today. All our windshield wipers were on max. This is not a very good photo of Ms. May because she is looking down, but she was directing traffic like a boss. With her boot on one foot, and going barefoot with the other…I assume her shoe was just completely waterlogged but she still got the job done. I hope you can give her a shoutout. Thank you for all you do. We love Lovejoy."
STAFF RECOGNITIONS
Willow Springs Middle School science teacher, Jenny Perez, recently earned her Texas Master Naturalist certification. Ms. Perez is a wonderful example of how Lovejoy science teachers are true citizen scientists, helping our community and children.
Picture and message sent September 1 from a Willow Springs parent:
Lovejoy ISD is home to the most incredible team of educators and staff! Their daily dedication, passion, and servant leadership can be hard to describe, quantify and convey. But as they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Rain or Shine #KidsComeFirst #TeamLovejoy
Coordinating social media for Counseling Department SAT & ACT Saturday Coordinator
College, Career and Military Readiness
Providing student and family support in the area of post high school planning
Community: I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with Lovejoy students and families. I am passionate about helping students (and families) prepare for their next steps whether it be college, career or the military! Please know I am here to help and serve however I can!
7 years teaching 8th grade in multiple content areas, including 5 years as lead reading and AVID academic support.
Born in Helena, MT and grew up in Sulphur Springs, TX
Roles and Responsibilities
Personal Highlights:
Sarah Thrash
Contact
I have a son that is 17 and a senior at Wylie East 2 fur pups: Maggie Mae and Emory Janie
Serving as a resource for our students, families, and educators
Email: Sarah Thrash@lovejoyisd.net Work Phone: 469.742.8799
Professional Background
STAFF SPOTLIGHT
Connect: Colleges, Trade Schools, Military Branches, students and families
Collaboration, Connection, Community Information
Collaborate: LISD Guidance & Counseling, my team, and LHS and LISD Administration
7th year as a high school counselor with a focus on College and Career Counseling .
College and Career Counselor 504 Coordinator
Education: Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree
Marvin Bobo, Trustee Jason Jaynes, Trustee
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Dear Lovejoy Community,
September 12, 2022 Board Workshop Public Notice
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
As a Board, we are committed to strong and proactive communication with our community. Part of this commitment is sending an email invitation to our community prior to Board Meetings with a sincere desire for you to be involved and fully aware, so we can come together as a community for our children.
You may find the full agenda with supporting documentation on our district's BoardBook Premier website HERE.
Anne Smith, Secretary
The Lovejoy ISD Board of Trustees
Julie McLaughlin, Trustee
Amy Smith, Vice President
Barrett Owens, President
Jeff Wood, Trustee
Sincerely,
Leopard LifeLOVEJOY LINKS LISD SAT PREP CLASS ORCHESTRA BOOSTER PARENTS NIGHT OUT ROBOTICS FUNDRAISER
LADIES NIGHT ANNUAL APPEAL LISD CHESS ACADEMY LISD CARD & BOARD Leopard LifeLOVEJOY LINKS
Leopard LifeLOVEJOY LINKS RED OUT BAND SPIRIT NIGHTGREEN TEAM LISD ALUMNI NIGHT
MINI CHEER CAMP FUTURE LEOPARDS Leopard LifeLOVEJOY LINKS Page 26
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Leopard Life
COMMUNITY NEWS
The Lovejoy ISD Community News website is intended to facilitate connections and raise awareness of local events, activities, fundraisers and organizations that might interest Lovejoy families. The information featured on the Community News website is submitted by community members. Lovejoy ISD is not affiliated with the organizations and does not claim to endorse them. Check out the new Community News format!
APPLY HERE! LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD - LOVEJOY ISD FEATURED JOB OPENING
Key Take Aways Covid-19
Current
Illness/Exclusion Protocols
TheTexasDepartmentofStateHealthServicesreleasednewguidance forthe2022 2023schoolyearregardingCovid 19andschools.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Students and/or staff who have tested positive for COVID 19 may return in 5 days if they have been fever and symptom free for 24 hours. (Change from 10 days for students) Students with a COVID-19 household member who has tested positive are no longer required to quarantine. The district will not maintain a local “dashboard”, reporting positive cases. The district is required to report positive cases to the state. A link will be provided on the website that reflects this information for the district. The health screener QR code will remain in place at each campus for volunteers and visitors to complete.
Connect with Katie . September 9, 2022 . Issue 6