Welcome to KAIRS Today!

This is the monthly electronic newsletter of the Kansas Association of Religious and Independent Schools (KAIRS). KAIRS TODAY is sent as a service to KAIRS members across Kansas.

Our goal is to keep you informed about legislative, regulatory and national news and educational issues. Please look for this on the 20th of each month.

Contact Corey Reese, editor, with questions or concerns – .

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!

THE DECEMBER ISSUE:

1.KEYNOTE SPEAKER: RAE NILES, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND TECHNOLOGY FOR

SEDGWICK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2. KAIRS ANNUAL MEETING NOTES

3. REGISTER TODAY FOR THE KAIRS ANNUAL MEETING

4. NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES PROPOSAL APPROVED

5. KAIRS WEB SITEIS LIVE!

6. PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE

7. IMPORTANT 2004-05 KAIRS DATES

8. KAIRS 2004-05 OFFICERS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: RAE NILES, DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SEDGWICK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

You won’t want to miss this year’s keynote speaker, Rae Niles, director of curriculum and technology for Sedgwick Public Schools. An outstanding educator who specializes in technology integration throughout her school district, she will deliver the keynote address entitled, "Understanding the Digital Student" on Monday, February 7 at 1 p.m.

The familiar adage, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink---unless, of course, you salt the hay!" exemplifies the approach Rae Niles uses. From Ms. Rae’s website, “With 526 students in a wireless environment K-12, Sedgwick students enjoy a rich relationship with technology.” She will share how the students are daily integrating technology in grades K through 12 and how technology is being used on a regular basis to ‘salt the hay!’

Directly following her address, Ms. Niles’ students will present, "Wireless Laptop Learning from Students' Perspectives”, beginning at 2 p.m. Ms. Niles has been in her current position for the past decade. She earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from Wichita State University and her master’s degree from Friends University. She obtained her Principal and Superintendent certificates from Wichita State University and is currently pursuing a doctorate from the same institution.

KAIRS ANNUAL MEETING NOTES

Our annual meeting is the highlight of our year and you won’t want to miss it. The meeting will follow much of its traditional format with check-in beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 7. The morning will include a brief welcome and educational sessions. The vendor exhibit hall will be open with ample time for viewing.

After exhibits and lunch, Rae Niles will deliver her inspiring keynote address and afterwards will present technology integration from her students’ perspectives. The afternoon will also feature additional breakout sessions, with the Hall of Fame Banquet following at 6:30 p.m.

The Hall of Fame dinner on Monday evening will feature the presentation of the 2005 KAIRS Distinguished Teachers and our inaugural Hall of Fame awardees. It will be an inspiring evening for all who attend.

Tuesday, February 8 will begin with breakfast and the annual business meeting. Roundtable discussions, a legislative forum with a Kansas School board member and a member of the Kansas legislature will complete our meeting.

The two days – February 7 and 8 - will be filled with knowledgeable speakers, good fellowship and spirited dialogue. You won’t want to miss it.

Send in your registration today!

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE KAIRS ANNUAL MEETING

The Executive Committee is putting together another terrific Annual Meeting in Topeka. Registration forms have gone out. Please contact Judy Pitts, Annual Meeting Secretary, at judypitts@earthlink.net , if you haven’t received one. Please call the hotel to make your hotel reservation AND then return the meeting form to Judy by mid-January.

NEW COLLEGE GRADUATES PROPOSAL APPROVED

Good news for KAIRS members! Karen Norton has indicated that the proposal to allow new college graduates to teach in schools accredited by certain alternate agencies (rather than only in state-accredited schools) has been approved by the Professional Standards Board and will be presented to the State Board of Education. Karen says, “This is very good news for us and is a direct result of our meeting last year with Andy Tompkins. We should beencouraged!” KAIRS Today will provide the membership with any progress on this issue.

KAIRS WEB SITE IS LIVE!

The KAIRS Web site is up and running!!! While there are still a few kinks to be corrected, we hope you’ll be pleased. Please send any suggestions or changes to Corey Reese at .

Thanks for everyone’s patience!

PUBLIC POLICY UPDATE

From Bob Voboril, KAIRS Public Policy Liaison

(Note from Bob: I was named to represent religious and independent schools on the KSDE Title I Committee of Practitioners that advises KSDE regarding that program. I suspect I have Karen Norton to thank for that privilege, and I will try to represent all of your interests fairly. The first meeting was December 6, and the report follows.)

KSDE Title I Committee of Practitioners Meeting Report:

Bob Voboril, superintendent of the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wichita, and Pat Brekunitch, principal of Sacred Heart (Cathedral) Grade School in Salina represented KAIRS member schools on the Kansas Committee of Title I practitioners. The committee met on Monday, December 6.

At the meeting, Pat and Bob learned that non-public schools that are state-accredited and served by Title I have access to considerable staff development resources for teachers of language arts and mathematics. A number of districts that include KAIRS members also have sizable Reading First, Even Start, and Migrant Even Start grants, which must include non-public schools.

Beginning in 2006, all state-accredited schools will be accredited annually, based on Kansas Assessment results. Dr. Alexa Posny, Assistant Commissioner, has offered to speak at the KAIRS Annual Meeting so that all non-public schools understand exactly how No Child Left Behind legislation impacts their schools.

In late November, Congress adopted a new budget that includes $200 million for Title V, restoring the program that the House and Senate appropriations committees had earmarked for elimination. This occurred even though budget negotiators decided to scale back all non-defense and non-homeland security budgets by 0.83 percent. The $200 million is almost one-third less than the amount budgeted for the current school year, and thus your Title V allocations next year will likely be one-third less than currently.

Update on National Legislation:

CAPE's Joe McTighe is urging all religious and independent school leaders and liaisons to take time soon to send a letter of thanks to their congressional Representatives and Senators for listening to our needs and responding to our concerns. It will only take a minute, and you can use CAPE's Legislative Action Center (LAC) to send your note.

In addition, Congress also voted to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA 2004), which includes some important provisions relating to services for children with special needs. I will mention two.

First, assessment and service will be provided in the district where the child's school is located; not the district of residence. This is a provision KAIRS has fought long and hard for, and it will be of great benefit.

Secondly, if the district disagrees with the school about how and where services will be provided, the district must give a reason in writing. Just as with the Title programs, there must also be written documentation of timely and meaningful consultation about the provision of services.

IMPORTANT 2004-05 KAIRS DATES

Jan 11 - KAIRS Executive Committee Meeting, The Independent School, 9 a.m.

(To finalize Annual Meeting plans.)

Feb 7-8: Annual Meeting, Topeka

April 5: KAIRS Executive Committee Meeting, The Independent School, 9 a.m.

April 12: General Membership Meeting, Topeka, 10 a.m.

KAIRS 2004-05 OFFICERS

President: Karen Norton, The Independent School, Wichita

Vice President: Nick Compagnone, Salina Catholic Diocese

Secretary: Bill Dieckhoff, Holy Cross Lutheran School, Wichita

Treasurer: David Swank, Trinity Academy, Wichita

Annual Meeting Secretary: Judy Pitts, Bethel Life School, Wichita

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