Communications Central

Budget Information

Now you can follow the latest information regarding our budget, staffing and enrollment on Twitter. We will be providing periodic updates about our finances and support operations. To read the comments or to become a “follower” go to http://twitter.com/PSDFINANCE.

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Collaboration Wednesdays

In 2008-2009 we implemented collaboration time across the district, almost every Wednesday morning for one hour. The purpose of this time was to provide staff the opportunity needed to move their school improvement plans forward. We are beginning to see positive changes in student achievement across the district. As a result we will continue to reserve Wednesday mornings for a one-hour late start for all students K-12.

The YMCA will continue to provide Before School Supervision at each of the elementary schools for late start Wednesdays FREE of charge. The one-hour program will emphasize health and wellness. You can register your student for this program by accessing Onsite Childcare.

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Communities In Schools/Peninsula

Communities In Schools Peninsula (CISP) is an independent non-profit organization that was incorporated in 2000 and serves children and families residing within the boundaries of Peninsula School District. CISP builds partnerships with schools, local community members, businesses, and other social service agencies to help ensure that every child has what they need to be successful. CISP eliminates barriers to learning so each child has the opportunity to build a bright future for themselves. Services such as academic mentoring; after-school programs; educational assemblies; parenting education classes; math literacy offerings; dental care for non-insured students, and school supplies are coordinated through a single point of contact. Resources are then tailored to the school and the student, and are also linked to academic outcomes. Backed by a national organization operating in 27 states, this structure provides an essential depth of expertise and technical assistance that strengthens the ability of each CIS affiliate to successfully serve its community. For more information about CISP, please contact Colleen Speer at cispeninsula@centurytel.net.

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Nonprofit Flyer Distribution

Nonprofit flyers are posted to our district website for “one stop shopping” for students and families to view what community organizations have to offer. The flyer link is accessible from our front page and all school websites.
Click here to view
Postings are updated frequently so please check back often!

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Food Services: Real Healthy Choices Menu

Sid Taylor, Director of Food Services, has worked with the Pierce County ACHIEVE committee the past two years to improve our lunch program choices. As a result, we recently piloted the “Real Healthy Choices Menu” at Discovery and Harbor Heights. This program will be expanded for the 2010-2011 school year at all of our elementary schools. At our secondary schools, Sid is busy surveying students/staff, revamping menus and providing choices which meet or exceed all FDA standards for nutrition. Sid continues to be proactive in providing healthier choices for our students in the face of these difficult economic times. The “Real Healthy Choices Menu” is an additional expense to our food services program. We will continue to collaborate with organizations such as Parent Council, ACHIEVE, YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, PAA, PYF, Harbor Soccer and many more in fighting childhood obesity through exercise and improved nutrition.

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Going Paperless

Our final initiative of going paperless for the Peninsula School District will save us printing and postal costs. Please assist us with this important endeavor by providing your email address through the following link: Going Paperless

From this point forward, I plan to discontinue mailing information home. It now becomes vital to check personal email, school websites, the District website, Master Calendar, and The Gateway and Key Peninsula News for updates and information. Upon request, a hard copy of my periodic correspondence to parents and staff will be available at each school office.

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Inclement Weather

Weather information is reviewed the day and night prior to making the decision to delay or close schools. A review with our transportation department and neighboring districts is also done. Starting at 3 a.m. or sooner, the superintendent, deputy superintendent and transportation department personnel drive emergency bus routes throughout the district’s 120 square miles. The district may choose to operate on a normal schedule, a late start, or close entirely.

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Partners in Learning

Peninsula School District teachers, Tacoma Community College staff, Gig Harbor Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce members, and the Key Peninsula business district provide support for our students to learn basic business and life skills for becoming productive successful citizens through the Junior Achievement Program. The annual Partners in Learning event is part of the kick-off meeting for the school district staff in August. It gives the teachers the rare opportunity to visit the local businesses to discover services that are available to them in our community. Funds raised during this event enable our elementary and middle school students to annually participate in financial literacy offerings at JA World.

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Peninsula School District Refinances Bonds

Peninsula School District has refinanced its outstanding 1999 bonds in order to take advantage of lower interest rates. The recent refinancing will save the District’s taxpayers a total of over $85,000 during the next three years. Superintendent Bouck emphasized that these savings flow directly to taxpayers through reduced tax levies and are not available for District expenses. “This is a direct savings to our community members in the form of taxes they expected, but will not have to pay,” Bouck said.

The Peninsula School Board accomplished these savings by approving the issuance of $2,385,000 in refunding bonds at its meeting held on September 16, 2009. The District has been monitoring bond market conditions and recent low interest rates allowed the District to exceed its savings target. Interest rates averaged 1.35% on the new bonds compared to 4.20% on the old debt.

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Peninsula Schools Education Foundation

PSEF is an independent non-profit community organization which provides additional sources of funding for educational projects in the Peninsula School District and works to enhance educational opportunities within the district. Each year the Foundation presents district teachers with requests for grant applications, including program criteria, deadlines and funding information. Since its inception in 1995, the PSEF has provided over $100,000 to programs for area students.

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Safety

A safe learning environment for all students and staff is the utmost priority of the Peninsula School District. All schools in the district schedule fire drills, earthquake drills and lockdown drills regularly throughout the year. Each year procedures for these drills are reviewed and revised as necessary. If you wish to view your school’s drill schedule, please contact your school’s main office.

The SafeSchools LifeLine is a completely anonymous, toll-free tip line students, parents and community members can access any time they need to alert school administration about a potential crisis. When you call 1-866-LIVE-TIP: You will be asked to enter your district code of 162. You will always speak to a live operator, who is trained to take immediate action. You will also have the option of calling 911 directly. All callers are assigned a code, allowing them to call back and check on the status of their issue.

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