Staff Newsletter | September 2023

A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue

Dear Fantastic Staff Members,

Welcome to the highly anticipated 2023-2024 school year! As the Superintendent of our incredible school district, I would like to extend a joyous and enthusiastic welcome to each and every one of you.

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to all our amazing teachers. Your passion, dedication, and tireless efforts inspire and shape the lives of our students, and I stand in awe of your commitment. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to providing a top-notch education.

To our hardworking custodians, we appreciate your remarkable job in maintaining our schools. Your relentless efforts to keep our learning spaces clean, safe, and inviting create an environment where our students can thrive

A special shoutout goes to our incredible paraprofessionals. Thank you for your invaluable support and for going above and beyond to assist our students and teachers. Your presence in the classrooms helps create an inclusive and supportive learning atmosphere

To our bilingual resource teachers, bilingual paraeducators, Student and Family Engagement Specialists, and Multilingual Support Specialist, I want to express my sincere appreciation for your expertise and unwavering dedication to our multilingual students, families, and staff Your exceptional commitment contributes to bridging language barriers and ensuring that every individual in our district receives the support they need to succeed.

A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue

We cannot forget to recognize the hard work of our nutrition services team Thank you for providing nutritious meals that fuel our students' bodies and minds Your commitment to promoting healthy eating habits contributes to their overall well-being.

A huge appreciation goes out to our transportation staff. Your care and attention in safely transporting our students to and from school is crucial. Your reliability and professionalism significantly impact our students' daily routines.

Let us not overlook the remarkable efforts of our facilities crew. Throughout the summer, they have worked tirelessly to improve our facilities. Their hard work, dedication, and attention to detail have transformed our schools into even better learning environments for our students

Additionally, we want to express our sincere appreciation to the Business and Employee Services team. Your dedication to providing exemplary services, including onboarding support and other essential functions, plays a crucial role in creating a supportive and efficient work environment

Your efforts contribute to the overall success and well-being of our staff members, ultimately benefiting our students and families.

A special acknowledgement and gratitude goes out to our PSSP Office Staff. Your support, guidance, and advocacy for the well-being and success of our students and staff is of great importance. We appreciate your tireless efforts in maintaining a supportive and compassionate environment that is essential for our students to thrive

I want to recognize our extraordinary administrators, principals, deans, supervisors, and administrative assistants. Your leadership, organization, and support keep our schools running smoothly Your dedication to the success of our district is truly commendable.

A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue

We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the campus support staff. Through your tireless efforts, you help teachers navigate the challenges they face, provide critical support to our students and families, and foster a safe and welcoming school environment. We are grateful for your dedication and the impact you make each day.

Additionally, we want to acknowledge the invaluable contribution of our school resource officers who play a vital role in creating a secure learning environment. Your unwavering commitment to protecting the well-being of our students and staff is deeply appreciated.

We extend our gratitude to the technology department who ensure that our schools have access to cutting-edge resources and technological support Your expertise and assistance enable efficient and effective learning experiences for our students and educators

We also want to recognize the exceptional work of our Student Services team Your commitment to supporting our students in areas such as health services, attendance, community resources, mental health, social, emotional, and behavioral support is invaluable. Your dedication to addressing the various needs of our students ensures their well-being and enhances their ability to succeed academically

A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue

Finally, we want to recognize the contributions of our school board We appreciate their time and dedication to our district and the leadership they provide during times of crisis and times of calm.

Phew! That was quite a bit! We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to all members of our dedicated team. Your exceptional expertise and unwavering dedication contribute immensely to the success of our students, families, and staff Together, as a united team, we will continue to create an engaging and impactful learning environment for our students. I am filled with enthusiasm and optimism for all the incredible things we will achieve this school year.

Once again, welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! Let's make it an exceptional one!

With heartfelt gratitude and excitement,

Dr. Dana Monogue Superintendent

Must Know On The Go

On a time crunch? Check out this page for all your 'need to know' information this month. We invite you to read further when you are able to check out all of the awesome things happening within our District!

Key Dates

Flu Vaccine Clinic

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023

Time: 3:30pm - 6:00pm

Location: Elm Lawn Elementary School | Gymnasium Register here

Dean Health Plan Mammogram Event

Date: Monday, October 9

Location: Dean West Clinic

Time: 3-6pm

Please call 608-250-1560 to reserve your appointment

Date: Tuesday, November 14

Location: Dean East Clinic

Time: 3-6pm

Lunch Deliveries Provided By Nutrition Services

Did you know that you can order affordable and healthy lunches to be delivered to your building through our Nutrition Services program? Learn more on page 12

Complete Your Public Works Training By November 3rd

To acesss your training:

Click here to access the link Log in with your school email and password

Select the “My Safety Portal” tab to view your course list You must complete all courses listed

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is a vibrant and diverse community that takes great pride in its rich tapestry of cultures We recognize and celebrate the valuable contributions of our Hispanic students and staff during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Hispanic Heritage Month, observed annually from September 15th to October 15th, honors and acknowledges the historical, cultural, and societal impact of Hispanic and Latinx communities in the United States It is a time for us to reflect on our shared history, celebrate our achievements, and recognize the importance of diversity in our educational environment

Within our district, we are fortunate to have nearly 800 students and staff members who proudly identify as Hispanic. Their presence and contributions enrich our classrooms, bringing diverse perspectives, experiences, and traditions that enhance the educational experience for all

The Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District is proud to honor and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We stand together, united in our commitment to embracing diversity, promoting understanding, and creating an inclusive educational experience.

Articles

A Warm Welcome to Our New Educators

We are thrilled to welcome the nearly 80 new educators who joined us for the 2023-2024 New Educator Induction at Kromrey Middle School in late August!

Upon arrival, our new teachers were met with representatives from various district departments, including technology, employee services, communications, and the Middleton Education Association Throughout the week-long event, educators participated in various sessions and activities designed to prepare them for their initial weeks in the classroom.

The New Teacher Induction event showcased our district's unwavering commitment to providing new educators with a supportive and enriching onboarding experience. By strongly emphasizing professional development and mentorship, we aim to establish a solid foundation for their continuous growth and development

Welcome new educators to the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District! We are deeply grateful for your passion, expertise, and dedication, and we eagerly anticipate embarking on this educational journey with you.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to your new educator sponsors, Spencer Real Estate Group and Cherished Memories 360 Photo Booth. Their generous support contributed greatly to the success of the New Teacher Induction, allowing us to provide enhanced resources and opportunities for our new educators.

Circlescsape | 360 Virtual School Tour

The Communications Team has partnered with Circlescapes to provide 360-degree virtual school tours for each of our school websites! Over fall break, the team will be filming highlighted locations at our buildings. Each school has 10 rooms they can showcase!

Please note that security is a priority when filming, and only specifically chosen rooms will be shown, not the entire building or identifying locations such as hallways.

The team hopes to have virtual tours live on school websites by spring 2024.

Check out an example of a Circlescape 360 tour here!

Listed below is the following filming schedule:

GLACIER CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL

October 26, 2023

8am-11am

POPE FARM ELEMENTARY

October 26, 2023

12pm-3pm

KROMREY MIDDLE SCHOOL

October 26, 2023

3:30pm-6:30pm

4K/EARLY LEARNING CENTER/ CARDINAL ACADEMY

October 27, 2023

8am-11am

NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY

October 27, 2023

12pm-3pm

ELM LAWN ELEMENTARY

October 27, 2023

3:30pm-6:30pm

WEST MIDDLETON ELEMENTARY

October 28, 2023

8am-11am

SUNSET RIDGE ELEMENTARY

October 28, 2023

12pm-3pm

SAUK TRAIL ELEMENTARY

October 28, 2023

3:30pm-6:30pm

MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL/ CLARK STREET

October 29, 2023

8am-11am

PARK ELEMENTARY

October 29, 2023

12pm-3pm

My School Story

The Communications Team is working to answer the marketing dreams of each of our buildings and amplify their school voice! The campaign is called “My School Story (MSS).” Each school is scheduled for a 6-week window where the Communication Team will support an in-depth refresher to the school website, take photos, and provide marketing materials as needed, including an MSS promotional video and webpage.

Since the second semester of the 2022-23 school year, the team has led successful campaigns with:

MCPASD 4K/ Early Learning Center

West Middleton Elementary

Glacier Creek Middle School

Park Elementary

The Communications Team is proud to adapt the campaign to the unique community and support needs of each school and hopes to complete an MSS campaign for every school by the end of the summer

Check out the latest MSS marketing video here!

Celebrations

A Special Thank You To Our Support Staff

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and we agree! It is with sincere gratitude that we thank our support staff for all that they do to support our students and help our district run smoothly.

We know that working in education means that no two days are the same We are thankful for your positive attitude towards change and drive to continue improving each day.

Each of you brings a unique perspective and talent to our district. Please know that your skills and dedication are recognized and appreciated. We look forward to continuing to learn alongside each other and show one another the support and appreciation you all deserve Thank you!

Two MCPASD Staff Members Support School Safety

By Joining New Team Created By The Wisconsin Department Of Justice

Congratulations to Director of Student Services Chris Mand and Assistant Athletic Director/MHS Safety Director Brad Crandell!

Together they are bringing their in-depth psychology training and qualifications to benefit the brand-new Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) at the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Office of School Safety (OSS). The team will provide regional support to all public, private, charter, and tribal schools in Wisconsin, offering crucial assistance in critical incidents such as acts of violence, natural disasters, suicide, community turmoil, intruders, and hate crimes

Thanks to Chris, Brad, and the other CIRT members, the OSS can help ensure that student safety and well-being remain a top priority for schools across the state.

Celebrations

Middleton Youth Center Director, Gabrielle

Hinahara, Named 2023 Outstanding Youth Worker Of Dane County

Gabrielle’s passion for our students and families shines through her work, and we are proud to share that she has been recognized as one of 10 'Outstanding Youth Workers' in Dane County by the Madison-Area Out-of-School Time (MOST) initiative!

During her role as Director, Gabrielle has significantly increased enrollment for the youth center program, advocated for families in need, and started a mentorship program that offers students oneon-one learning time outside of school.

Congratulations Gabrielle!

You Deserve a Shout!

Give

There is a lot of invisible work that goes into making our district great, and we want to share our appreciation! Take a few minutes to complete our shout-out Google form to give someone you know kudos for their great work and passion for our students and staff! Submitters have the option to remain anonymous.

The form will remain open all school year, so let’s fill it with some great staff members who deserve a little extra love!

View the 2023-24 ‘Shout Out’ form here

Reminders

Updates To The Employee Handbook

Listed below are a few of the new updates to the employee handbook View the complete list of updates here.

Principals and supervisors met in early August to calibrate and align our leadership practices to address general leave requests in the same fashion.

Barb Buffington, the Director of Employee Services, will approve/deny unpaid leave requests. Please know that in most cases, unpaid leave requests will be denied. There will be rare exceptions for approval and Barb will review each request individually In order for her to process these requests your principal/supervisor will approve the request Please know that this approval is just a step for the approval/denial pathway for Barb to process.

Employees who have approved unpaid leaves will be responsible for the full premium of their health insurance for the time period on unpaid leave. See page 43 of the employee handbook.

We are working with Frontline/AESOP to create a universal tracking system so that we can monitor our employee attendance and sub-fill rates to determine the effectiveness of General Leave

Staff Lunch Order Form

Did you know that you can order affordable and healthy lunches to be delivered to your building through our Nutrition Services program?

How it works:

Create a My Payments Plus account and make sure you have a balance in your account that can cover the cost of your lunch.

Submit a lunch order form here

Reminders

All orders must be placed before 8:15am on the day of delivery

Staff meals will NOT be available on days that the students are not in the buildings

Reminders

Flu Vaccine Clinic | Staff Only

MCPASD is working with VaxPro to bring you this year ' s Staff Flu Vaccination Clinic. Please click here to register.

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2023

Time: 3:30pm - 6:00pm

Location: Elm Lawn Elementary School, Gymnasium

Reminders

Insurance subscriber number and/or a copy of your insurance card

When you complete the registration, you will receive both an email and text confirmation. Please save the confirmation as you will need it if you want to change or cancel your appointment

You will receive an appointment reminder the day before the clinic Drop-ins will be accepted on the day of the clinic.

For uninsured or non-covered employees

VaxPro will collect payment at the clinic at the rate of $36 per quadrivalent vaccination. ($40 for thimerosalfree vaccination)

Questions

Please contact Chris Acker with any questions

Learn More About 403(b) Plans Through Our Third Party Partner

Each year, Payroll notifies the district of their ability to access the 403(b) plans they have available through a third-party administrator (TPA). OMNI is our TPA for these plans, and they are ready to help anyone who is interested in saving additional money for retirement.

Universal Availability Newsletter

This document shares basic information about 403(b) plans. If you are looking for additional education about 403b accounts, please check out our district link

Questions

Please contact OMNI at their customer support line (877-544-6664). They would be happy to help you set up a new deduction towards a 403b account or make any changes to existing accounts you may have.

Reminders

Public Works Training Reminder

This is a friendly reminder to complete your Public School Works Training by November 3, 2023.

To acesss your training:

Click here to access the link

Log in with your school email and password

Select the “My Safety Portal” tab to view your course list

You must complete all courses listed

Facilities Use Reminders

Take a few minutes to review the rules, regulations, and processes for your classroom or work space here.

Key Reminders:

Please submit your work order entries to workorder@mcpasd.k12.wi.us

Please note that if you are entering your building outside of normal business hours, you must enter a security code to enter and exit. Please contact your head custodian or building office if you are unsure about the security code or office.

Please turn off all electronic devices before you leave for the night to help preserve energy

Dean Health Plan Mammogram Event

Dean Health Plan is inviting all Dean-insured Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District employees and spouses not currently up to date with their mammograms to their annual event.

Mammograms are being offered to those 40 and older, as part of your Dean Health Plan insurance.

Please call 608-250-1560 to reserve your appointment.

Date: Monday, October 9

Location: Dean West Clinic

Time: 3-6pm

Date: Tuesday, November 14

Location: Dean East Clinic

Time: 3-6pm

Reminders

Join The Literacy/Biliteracy Curriculum Renewal Team

The Teaching and Learning Services team is looking for applicants to join the Literacy/Biliteracy Renewal team as part of their goal of engaging in curricular program reviews to meet the changing needs of students, staff, and society.

Members for the committee will be determined based on those who are interested and will include a team of educators and leaders distributed across all grade levels, schools, and roles to plan, debrief, and analyze data and resources collaboratively.

Each representative on the team will have the following responsibilities:

Attend all meetings.

Read relevant materials and be prepared to discuss them.

Conduct site visits in innovative schools and classrooms

Review, critique, and pilot instructional materials and/or instructional strategies.

Visit/Observe team members’ classrooms. Conduct lessons others will visit.

Serve as a communication liaison with colleagues. Attend relevant professional learning. Design and conduct professional learning.

Please submit this form if you would like to express interest in being part of the Curriculum Renewal Committee. Certified staff will receive a stipend of $825 in honor of the time outside of contract hours for meetings and research. Dinner will be provided during the meeting hours.

Learn More here

Barb's Corner

A Note From Barb

I’d like to introduce our newest member of the Business and Employee Services team (BEST), Natalie Graham. She serves as the administrative assistant for Directors Dr. Barb Buffington (Employee Services) and Erin Wheeler (Fiscal Services). She comes to us with various experience in human resources, retail, and has had her own business teaching music lessons for over 10 years. Natalie is a resident of the Middleton area and has two elementary children at Elm Lawn Elementary We are thrilled that Natalie is part of the BEST team The following are areas where you may contact Natalie:

Employee Verification

School Volunteer Process and Background Checks

Student Teachers and Observation Students

Scheduling Time to Meet with the Directors

Updates

Employee Services Listening Sessions

Dr. Barb Buffington, Director of Employee Services, and Sherry Smith, Recruitment and Retention Personnel Specialist, will be making their way around the district starting in late September through November This is the 2nd year that Barb will be holding Employee Services listening sessions, and Sherry Smith is excited to join her and hear from staff on how the start of the school year is going thus far. The following example topics are areas that Barb and Sherry would love to hear your feedback:

Employee handbook

Employee contracts and compensation

DPI licensing and certification

Health Insurance

Employee working conditions

Employee attraction and retention ideas

Barb's Corner

Listening Session Dates:

SUNSET RIDGE ELEMENTARY

Monday, September 18th 2:00pm-3:30pm

SAUK TRAIL ELEMENTARY

Friday, September 22nd 11:30am-1:00pm

POPE FARM ELEMENTARY

Friday, September 22nd 1:30pm-3:00pm

PARK ELEMENTARY

Friday, September 29th 10:30-12:00pm

ELM LAWN ELEMENTARY

Tuesday, October 3rd 2:00-3:30pm

NORTHSIDE ELEMENTARY

Thursday, October 5th 11:00-12:30pm

WEST MIDDLETON ELEMENTARY

Monday, October 9th 12:00-1:00pm

GLACIER CREEK MIDDLE SCHOOL

Session 1- Thursday, October 5th, 8:30am-10:30am

Session 2- Thursday, October 19th, 1:30pm-3:30pm

KROMREY MIDDLE SCHOOL

Session 1- Wednesday, October 11th, 8:30am-10:30am

Session 2- Tuesday, October 17th, 1:00pm-3:00pm

MIDDLETON HIGH SCHOOL/ CLARK STREET

Session 1 - Wednesday, October 4th, 3:00-5:00pm

Session 2 - Tuesday, October 10th, 2:00-4:00pm

Session 3 - Friday, October 20th, 8:30-10:30am

District Operations Center- Friday, September 29th, 8:3010:00am

Transportation Center- Wednesday, October 18th, 12:30pm-2:00pm

District Services Center- Monday, October 2nd, 2:003:30pm

*Should the scheduled date/time not fit into your schedule, please contact Natalie Graham, and she can schedule a separate time for you to meet with Barb and Sherry.*

Wellness Website

Want to learn more about all things wellness in the district? Check out the wellness website.

Free Yoga at Inner Fire’s Fall Open House

Join Inner Fire for their annual Open House, celebrating 21 years in business! Enjoy free classes all weekend at both studios, snacks, refreshments, special offers, raffle prizes, and more on September 23 & 24. Sign up for a free class, bring your friends, and get ready for a fun time! Free classes are filling up fast! Book your spot and any guests’ spots soon before we sell out! (free cancellation up until 2 hours before each class)

Yoga & Other Fitness Opportunities

We’ll have opportunities for yoga in both Middleton and Cross Plains this year! More details on those and a sign up will be coming out soon.

Open Swim

The Bob Joers Aquatic Center is free for employee use during open swim times! You can get open swim times by going into your MCPASD Google Calendar and search for “MCPA Pool” under the “Meet with…” area to have the open swim schedule pop up. (Click here to view a reference photo). Please show your MCPASD employee ID for free use

3 X 20 Rule

Explore the 3 x 20 rule and encourage others to do the same. You have permission to take care of yourself. 3 x 20 means taking at least twenty minutes, three times a week for self-care As a reminder, you have permission to use time during lunch, prep, or breaks and, of course, before or after school to do what you need to take care of yourself.

Sharing Food (Policy Reminder)

It feels great to share laughter and camaraderie in the lounges If you choose to share food, please remember to bring along a healthy option for those with food sensitivities, allergies, or those who are trying to stay on a healthy track. This means you ’ re welcome to share whatever you’d like, but please grab a bag of apples, oranges, carrots or another simple option to make sure everyone is supported and included. Thanks for your help.

Free Fitness Center Access

The district has three fitness centers (MHS, GCMS, and KMS). Employees and their partners/spouses are welcome to use the fitness centers after they have taken the training in Public School Works (required once per year) and when they follow all of the procedures, including training with a partner present at all times. Please visit our website to learn more and find all the necessary forms.

Wellness Offerings Calendar

Make sure you have all wellness activities at your fingertips by adding the MCPASD Wellness activity calendar to your calendar: Open your Google calendar, left column under “Other calendar” where it says in grey “Subscribe to calendar”, type in “mcpasdwellness@mcpasd.k12.wi.us” and add that calendar. Now, all of the wellness offerings will be in your calendar as well. Please note that offerings will be added as they are scheduled.

Employee Benefits

Say Hello To New Hire Navid Kempka

Please welcome our newest member of the Benefits team, Navid Kempka. Navid started working for MCPASD in November as a Dispatcher for Transportation. She moved over to the DSC as our Bilingual Benefits Specialist in July and has hit the ground running. Navid has already proved to be a valuable asset to our team!

On or Near Site SSM Clinic

In partnership with SSM Health and Dean Health Plan, MCPASD is opening a clinic This clinic will be open to MCPASD group health insurance enrollees, including their spouses and dependents. Any services received at this clinic will occur without copays or coinsurance. We are working on the location and are hoping it will be operational by January 1, 2024.

High Deductible Health Plan

MCPASD is offering a High Deductible Health Plan starting on January 1, 2024 This plan comes with significantly lower premiums The annual deductible for this plan will be $3,000 for a single plan and $6,000 for a family plan. In a high-deductible plan, there are no copays or coinsurance. The member pays the full cost of the service, and that cost is applied to the deductible. Once the deductible is met, the insurance pays 100% of the charges for the remainder of the plan year. This is an optional plan in addition to the current HMO and POS plans. Link to informational video about HDHP.

Health Savings Account

In coordination with a High Deductible plan, the district is offering eligible employees a Health Savings Account (HSA) to help offset the additional out-of-pocket costs. The annual amount the district will deposit into an employee’s HSA is $1,690 for a single plan and $4,225 for a family plan Link to informational video about HDHP with HSA

LegalShield/IDShield

We have partnered with LegalShield to offer employees the chance to enroll in LegalShield and IDShield programs. These programs can be enrolled in individually or together. Benefit-eligible employees of MCPASD can receive a discounted group rate and pay the premiums through a post-tax payroll deduction. The opportunity to enroll will be during open enrollment, and the plan will start in January. There will be a virtual informational meeting on October 16 at 3:45pm. Link to information about LegalShield and IDShield

Employee Benefits

Subsitute Request Process

As the school year progresses, you may find yourself in need of a sub. Please review the following Frontline procedures and reminders:

If you haven't already created a Frontline account, please do so at your earliest convenience. Instructions can be found in your red onboarding folder You can also utilize the Frontline Employee Quick Start Guide. To schedule an absence, click on the following link - Frontline/Teachers On Call (TOC).

If you don't have access to a computer on the day of an unplanned absence, call TOC directly at 1-800-7134439.

You can request a specific sub by including their name in your Frontline absence request.

If you need guidance in entering an absence, you can use the Frontline Support page or you may reach out to your building AA or Navid Kempka at the DSC, but it is your responsibility to enter your own absences

Employee Personnel

First Payroll of the 2023-2024 school year is September 15th

How to access your check stub: Log in to your Skyward Employee Access. You can access your check stub by clicking on Employee Information, then Check History. Click ‘Show Check’ (right side of screen) to view check details

Double-check your pay and deductions!

How to access your check stub:

Salaried staff:

Total salary divided into *24 or 20 payrolls.

Hourly staff:

Annualized staff: Custodians, Para Educators, PSSP (Hourly rate x Days per Year x Hrs per day) / *24 or 20

Non-annualized staff: Food Service and Bus Drivers

Hours worked from the 1st to the 15th = Paid on the last day of the month

Hours worked from the 16th to the last day of the month = Paid on the next 15th of the month

*24 or 20 = If you are a 10-month per year employee, you completed a form to elect 24 pays or 20 pays 24 pays = 9/15 through 8/31

20 pays = 9/15 through 6/30 (no July or Aug pay)

Employee Personnel

Licensing Essentials:

Certified staff (including teachers, pupil services, administrators), did you know that if you have a Lifetime License you will need to submit a request for a background check at least once every 5 years?

The deadline to submit a request is June 30 of your fifth year. Therefore if you obtained your Lifetime License in 2017, it is time to request a background check. You can log in to the DPI's online educator licensing portal (ELO). From there, find the 'Manage Your Existing Licenses' section of the Quick Start Menu. Choose "Request Background Check - Lifetime License (5900)" in the drop-down menu and click "GO!". Review each page of the application for accuracy and click "SUBMIT," and you will then receive an email confirmation Lastly, you must complete the application by clicking the "GO!" button next to "Submit C&C and Payment to Complete Application". Here you will review your fees, complete the Conduct and Competency Questionnaire (14 questions), and then pay with a credit card or pre-paid card.

If you have multiple Lifetime licenses, you only need to complete a "5900-Lifetime Background Update" application for one of those Lifetime licenses It does not matter under which Lifetime license you submit

Should you have any questions regarding your license and how to proceed, please click here to submit a question to DPI and make sure that you have your ENTITY number. Listing your entity number assists DPI in responding to you sooner.

A frequent question is, "do I need to notify Employee Services once I complete this background check", and our very rare answer to that question is, " no you do not". For any other licensure renewal you DO, but for this, you do not.

Welcome to the 2023-24 school year! It is my sincere hope that you had a restorative and revitalizing summer break.

Our team launched the school year in August by offering the Continuous Improvement Summit in collaboration with our colleagues from the Systems and Structures Team. School Improvement Teams gathered to start the work of setting goals for the year The positive energy was palpable Later, we welcomed our new educators through a full week of New Educator Induction.

TouchingBaseWith TeachingandLearning MessageFromSilvia

We are relaunching both the Curriculum Renewal and Design Plan process alongside the Multi-Layer System of Supports Framework in the fall of 2023. Watch for more information on both in the coming days/weeks. If you are interested in joining the Literacy/Biliteracy Curriculum Renewal Team, please see the message from the Teaching and Learning Team to sign up.

This month we celebrate Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month. One of our district’s strengths is our diversity which we continue to grow into This year, our families have reported 64 different home languages, which is an increase over prior years. Have a great September!

Elementary Services

Our elementary work continues to focus on literacy Our goal is to learn more about science of reading based practices and ensuring that our teaching approaches and curriculum are in alignment with this research. Our Professional Development for the year supports this work, as we finish our PD on Shifting the Balance, and then move into focused standards-aligned literacy practices.

Our district also is working through our curriculum renewal process, and while this is work for all K-12, has a focused impact on our elementary learners for foundational literacy skills, and supports the work as outlined by our State in Act 20.

Other elementary-specific information can be found in our Elementary Newsletter Archive. Elementary Newsletters

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Secondary Services

Both Kromrey Middle School and Glacier Creek Middle Schools are continuing their literacy work and standardsbased grading work Both schools continue to learn and implement strategies around language comprehension (as found in Scarborough's Reading Rope), and they continue to deepen their understanding and usage of standards-based grading.

Clark Street Community School will continue to work with students on understanding of rubrics in order to deepen student understanding of how to use them as a tool to support perseverance and growth.

Middleton High School will be focusing on Developmental Designs during the first four PD days of the school year. The Developmental Designs approach brings everyday strategies for relationship building, social skillbuilding, safe community, cultural responsiveness, and intrinsic motivation to advisory, content area classes, and across the school, throughout the day.

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Multilingual Services

MCPASD continues to welcome new multilingual learners into our school district! THANK YOU to all of our staff who have played a part in greeting our newest students and families with warmth and kindness! We continue to be mindful of the brilliance and gifts these students and families bring to our schools and community

Bilingual resource teams are working hard to ensure our students and families have what they need to launch a successful school year. They are also collaborating with teachers to ensure our multilingual population is receiving linguistically attentive instruction throughout the school day.

This year, we are excited to have our bilingual resource teachers and instructional coaches participate in professional learning around how to make language visible within the context of academic content across the system. This learning will inform our work with individual teachers and PLCs/C3s and our districtwide professional learning in 2024-25.

Our Two-Way Immersion program has grown to sixth grade this year! The sixth-grade team is hard at work writing and implementing new curricula, while the K-5 TWI and SLA teams continue to refine and innovate to create engaging and impactful learning experiences for students learning two languages. We continue to plan for the grade levels yet to come.

We are once again using our Title III grant to partner with the Literacy Network to offer in-person English classes for adults in our community Classes are located at Sauk Trail Elementary School but are open to adults interested in learning and practicing English Please contact a BRT at your school if you want more information about the classes!

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Special Education

MCPASD partnered with WestEd last year to complete a comprehensive special education evaluation. The final report was shared with district leaders in August, and a plan to share the findings with stakeholder groups will be shared this fall

In addition, special educators will be together during the October PD day to participate in a legal counsel workshop and Fastbridge training to expand our progress monitoring tools.

Lastly, MCPASD is working on a new pre-referral worksheet and process, which will be rolled out this fall

Student Services

MCPASD is working to align our social and emotional practices to the DPI SEL Standards. We understand the importance of creating authentic school-family-community partnerships that establish learning environments grounded in trust and collaboration, meaningful instruction, and continuous improvement We have adjusted our SEL structures to ensure support in our schools as we develop this work. Additionally, we will utilize a universal screener at grades 4, 7, and 9 that will give us valuable information regarding our students’ social, emotional, and mental health strengths and needs. This screener will be facilitated in early November 2023.

In addition to our universal SEL practices, our District continues to foster partnerships with several community agencies to provide individual and group interventions One of those partnerships is with Building Bridges, a 90day wraparound program for 4K-9th graders who need more intensive mental health support (check out this brief video regarding BB). Another is with Children’s Wisconsin, which provides mental health therapists in several of our schools, breaking down waitlist barriers for students to access services. MCPASD also partners with FACE-Kids, which sends therapists to our schools to co-facilitate (with student services staff) small group intervention.

Lastly, our Student Services staff continue to update and develop procedures related to crisis response, mandatory reporting guidance, and attendance/truancy.

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DAC

We have added a new progress monitoring tool called FastBridge, to be used for math and reading. Psychologists and interventionists have been trained on how it works, case managers will be trained shortly

District assessment Star is undergoing some changes in practices. We have allowed levels to select when Star is done within the Star window. We have also altered the cut scores from Star to reflect a more logical MLSS distribution. Freckle has now been embedded within Star. Students can access this intervention as they would if they were taking the Star assessment, and teachers can access Freckle by logging into Renaissance.

The MCPASD assessment website continues to be updated It will endure an expansion and look overhaul to accommodate new assessments and be more user-friendly.