4/20/11 - Tulsa Public Schools

Keith Ballard, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
3027 S. New Haven Ave.,Tulsa, OK 74114
918-746-6800
www.tulsaschools.org
April 20, 2011
Volume 83
Dr. Ballard's message
Issue Number 37
Teacher takes top arts award
Greetings,
I could say that I was shocked
when we received notification
last week from the State
Superintendent of Instruction
that the state would not be
honoring its obligation to
pay for the Flexible Benefit
Allowance, but I wasn’t.
By refusing this obligation,
the Oklahoma Legislature cut state schools by over
$17 million. They cut TPS by $1.34 million. When
the Oklahoma Legislature instituted the Health
Insurance Benefit, they clearly said the state would
pay for the benefit. They have now defaulted on that
obligation and are leaving TPS with a huge shortfall
in the middle of the year. The saddest part is that they
could have easily honored this obligation. The state
funds are there, the benefit could be paid, but it isn’t.
Now the Legislature will continue their debate as to
how much to cut Oklahoma schools in the upcoming
budget year.
The fine arts have Tulsa Public Schools in the
spotlight this month. TPS is proud to announce that
Leslie Alden, visual arts teachers at Will Rogers High
School, has been chosen as a recipient of the Fine Arts
Educator Award from the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts
Education. Ms. Alden has been an educator for 33
years and is also a professional artist. Her show record
includes works hung in the Tulsa Artist’s Coalition
Gallery, Mayfest, the Oklahoma State Capitol, the
Philbrook Museum and many more.
“We at TPS are very fortunate to have a teacher and
human being of the caliber of Leslie Alden,” said Ann
Tomlins, TPS fine arts coordinator, “she is more than
worthy.”
Project Schoolhouse forums continue through this
week. The public and TPS employee feedback has
been extremely valuable and is under consideration as
we continue to work on the final plan. It is my intent
to release that plan this coming Friday.
The TPS Board of Education held a retreat last
Saturday at Centennial Park. They discussed concepts
about Project Schoolhouse and also discussed the
recently adopted Strategic Plan. Members of the
executive staff have applied measurements to each
component of the Strategic Plan. This means that the
goals will be measured on a regular basis. It is truly
groundbreaking work. Kudos to the board members
for their selfless dedication to TPS.
I will close by placing everything into perspective. I
attended two fantastic performances last week. The
first was The Ladybug Ball at Disney Elementary
(continued on page 2)
Ms. Alden will be recognized at the State
Superintendent Awards for Arts Excellence, scheduled
for Tuesday, April 26 in Guthrie. Several TPS students
will also be receiving awards that evening. Kelsey
Alden-Cox and Joseph Kinsman from Eisenhower
will receive awards in band. Alexis Renaud, Scott
Solomon, Lexi Tollefsen and Sue Ann Whitelock from
Booker T. Washington will receive vocal awards. We
congratulate Ms. Alden and all of the students on
their outstanding achievements.
Superintendent’s Bulletin
Dr. Ballard's message (continued)
where the kindergarteners performed while dressed as
ladybugs! It was fantastic and thanks to Marcia Crosse
who directed the program. The second was Sunday
afternoon when I attended the matinee performance
of Grease at Memorial High School. Under the
direction of the very talented Tresa Waggoner, it was
a fabulous performance. The students are so talented
and dedicated and these two performances reminded
me that all we do is about the students.
TPS transition team hosts 2011 district fair
The TPS transition team recently hosted the annual
Transition Fair at Memorial High School. The event
was bigger and better this year with more than 45
vendors from colleges, technical institutes, service
organizations and providers, state agencies, and
learning programs. The purpose of the Transition
Fair is to provide information to special education
students, families and educators; assist students in
reaching their post-secondary goals; and assist them
in navigating life after high school. There were over
700 attendees including students from alternative
sites and every TPS high school.
April 20, 2011 - Page 2
Metro Honor Jazz Concert
April is Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM). The
Smithsonian Museum started this tradition in April
2002, and uses the occasion to shine the spotlight on
the history of jazz and its importance in American
culture. Through concerts, lectures, films and other
programs, JAM encourages people of all ages to
attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings,
read books about jazz, study the music and support
institutional jazz programs.
In celebration of JAM, Tulsa Public Schools is once
again presenting our Metro Honor Jazz Band concert.
This concert will showcase three jazz bands comprised
of TPS students selected by audition. Guest clinicians
are Vernon Howard and Jeff Newsome from the
University of Tulsa, along with our own select TPS
music faculty. Please join us on Tuesday, April 26 at
7 p.m. in the Hale High School auditorium for this
FREE concert celebrating our American Jazz heritage
and our talented TPS students!
Contact Paige Godfrey at godfrpa@tulsaschools.org for
more information.
(www.smithsonianjazz.org)
Celebrity chef
The transition team would like to thank Chris
Johnson, Memorial principal for hosting the event. His
amazing custodial staff, special education department
and athletics department were efficient and supportive
of the event. The TPS transition team would also
like to thank the transportation department, print
shop, TPS security and public information for their
assistance in the culmination of this important event.
The transition team consists of extremely talented
career teachers throughout the district who represent
all high schools and alternative sites. For additional
information on the fair please contact Leesa Nelson at
918-746-6326 or whitlle@tulsaschools.org.
TPS Executive Chef Mikael Harp
showed potential star quality as she
worked with 11-year-old cooking
sensation Remmi “The Culinary
Kid” Smith for an upcoming
episode of Cook Time with Remmi.
Mikael’s connection with the child
star became apparent as the two worked closely during
Sodexo’s Future Chef Competition back in March. The
chemistry led to the child star inviting Chef Mikael as a
guest/mentor chef on Cook Time with Remmi. Mikael
gladly accepted and the pair wrapped up shooting for
the episode last week. The episode will air April 20 at
6:30 p.m. and April 23 at 11:30 a.m. on Cox Channel 3. It
will also be available online at www.cooktimewithremmi.
com. We welcome you to tune in!
Superintendent’s Bulletin
Celebrating Earth Day
April 22, 2011!
The EPA reports that
the following levels of
greenhouse gas emissions
are produced in our
region:
• pounds of carbon dioxide per kWh of electricity
• pounds of carbon dioxide per therm of natural gas
Tulsa Public Schools has saved more than:
• 16,500,765 million kWh of electricity
• 154,669 MMBTUs of natural gas
These savings are equal to:
• 17,616 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions
being prevented, or
• 3,162 automobiles being removed from the highways
annually, or
• the amount of CO2 sequestered by 450,587 tree
seedlings planted and grown for 10 years.
Being good stewards of both our money and our
environment gives us a great sense of satisfaction as
we celebrate Earth Day 2011.
Thank you for all you do to help.
For more information contact Bob LaBass, Energy Ed
Reporting Senior at labasbo@tulsaschools.org.
(www.earthday.org)
Project Schoolhouse
update
View all three proposals
at www8.tulsaschools.org/4_
About_District/project_sh_
proposals.asp.
TPS released the results of
the parent, school faculty,
and parent and citizen surveys. All survey summaries
are available at www.tulsaschools.org.
Dr. Ballard plans to publicly announce the final
proposal Friday, April 22.
Dont' miss the final Project Schoolhouse Community
Forum hosted by The Tulsa Council of PTAs Thursday,
April 21, 6 p.m. at Clinton Middle School.
The Board of Education will host a Project
Schoolhouse Public Hearing Tuesday, April 26, 6 p.m.
at Eisenhower.
April 20, 2011 - Page 3
Webster’s Eco Night
Webster High School is going green to save green! It’s
all part of the school’s Eco Night Magnet Celebration
on Tuesday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m. Webster’s PTSA,
magnet and green team partnered together in honor
of Earth Day to create the event. There will be a free
dinner, information booths and great door prizes.
Webster’s green team will give a presentation on
how their findings could save the school and district
thousands of dollars in energy costs. Also on hand will
be representatives from the Harley Hollan Companies,
the M.E.T., Tulsa Master Recyclers and many more.
To find out more you can contact Mary Beth Turner
at turnema2@tulsaschools.org.
Zarrow Run benefits TPS
students
Lace up those shoes! The
annual Zarrow Run is set for
Saturday, April 30, 8:30 a.m.,
at 41st and Riverside, River
Parks.
The Zarrow Run features a five-kilometer road race/
walk and a one-kilometer fun run benefiting the
Foundation for Tulsa Schools. Early registration costs
are $20 for the 5K, $10 for the 1K.
For more information contact Cheryl Murphy at 918746-6453 or murphch@tulsaschools.org.
TPS District Art Show features student works
The Tulsa Public Schools
District Art Show features
thousands of pieces of art
created by students in
K-12.
The show is open to the
public April 18-22, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Fulton
Teaching and Learning Academy. All schools have
been invited to showcase the art work of their
students.
Employee Appreciation Banquet
The annual TPS Employee Appreciation Banquet
is coming soon. This year’s theme is the 50s. (See
previous bulletins for more details.)
This year’s banquet takes place May 5 in the Exchange
Building at the Tulsa Fairgrounds, 4145 E. 21 St.
Reservations are REQUIRED to attend.
Superintendent’s Bulletin
2011 Secondary Day Summer School
Applications are now being taken for the following
positions for secondary day summer school at Whitney
Middle School; June 13-July11 and July 12-August 8;
Monday–Friday, 7:45 a.m.– 12:15 p.m. (time subject to
change).
Positions available are (pending board approval):
• principal $2,300 per semester
• traditional classroom teachers $1,890 per semester
• virtual & on-line teachers $200 per class
• secretary $11.00/hr or current rate of pay
• classroom teacher assistants 10/hr or current rate
of pay.
Applications are available in the secondary school
offices. Any questions, please contact Lynda Russell
at 918-746-6287 or russely@tulsaschools.org.
Summer pay for teachers
Remember that any changes to certified employees’
insurance, bank accounts, addresses, or W-4s need to
be completed by May 1. Summer payrolls for certified
employees are being processed early with the June and
July payrolls processed in May. The August payroll
will be processed in June as soon as the final absence
reports are submitted. If you are on direct deposit, the
June and July stubs will be sent to your school before
you leave for the summer, but the actual deposit will
be made on the regular pay day of each month to your
account on file as of May 1.
If you change bank accounts or close your account
over the summer, notify the payroll department
immediately. If you receive actual checks, they will
be mailed to your home address on the regular
pay days. August checks and stubs will be sent to
schools since you’ll report back by the August pay
date. Any work performed in the summer (submitted
on timesheets) will be paid on separate checks. If
you have any questions call 918-746-6232 or email
payroll@tulsaschools.org.
April 20, 2011 - Page 4
April 21, 6 p.m.
Project Schoolhouse Forums
Clinton Middle School
April 26, 9:30 a.m.
PTA Council Meeting
Fulton Teaching and Learning
April 26, 6 p.m.
Project Schoolhouse Hearing
Eisenhower Gymnasium
May 2, 7 p.m.
Board of Education Meeting
Eisenhower Gym
Retirement notification extension
At the April 4 Board Meeting, the Board of Education
agreed to extend the notification date from January
31, 2011, to April 29, 2011, for retiring teachers
and administrators to be paid a $1, 000 stipend for
providing Human Capital an irrevocable, written
notification of retirement to become effective no
sooner than the end of the 2010-2011 contract year
and no later than October 1, 2011.
If you are contemplating retirement at the end of this
school year, you will need to let your principal and
HC know of your plans, in writing, prior to April 29,
2011, in order to be paid the stipend. To qualify you
must have been employed with TPS for seven years
and be eligible to retire according to the requirements
set forth by the Teachers’ Retirement System of
Oklahoma. Those who qualify will receive the stipend
in their May paycheck.
Approved for distribution
All Nations Fellowship – Easter Egg Hunt
Memorial Drive United Methodist Church – Egg
Hunt
Red Fork Baptist – Easter Egg Hunt
Red Fork Church of God – Egg Hunt
Wesley Church – Project Transformation
Tulsa Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, genetic
information, veteran status, marital status or age in its employment, programs and activities. The following person has been designated to
handle inquiries regarding the Tulsa Public Schools' non-discrimination policies:
Dr. Pauline Harris, Human Rights Coordinator
Tulsa Public Schools Human Capital Department
3027 South New Haven Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74114-6131
918-746-6517