 With fall conferences behind us and winter sports underway, the school year is moving quickly. Thank you for the effort you put in every day to support our students. Your dedication truly makes a difference. Let’s keep up the great work as we move forward together!
 The past few weeks I have had the opportunity to present to staff members the district’s facilities master plan. As part of the plan the district is considering funding the completion of the remaining projects in a future bond issue that could be as soon as April 2026. The district’s architect and construction manager are currently working together to determine the scope of work and cost of the possible projects. As discussed during my presentations with staff, the conversions regarding grade level configuration is complex and requires more research.
In the next week, district staff will receive an email that provides FAQs that I received from my staff presentations, as well as a format to provide additional questions that you might have. Please know that we are still in the research phase of planning. There are still several unanswered questions at this time, but we will continue to evaluate and research our options as we move forward. Thank you for your continued support and engagement of our students and their futures. We appreciate your engagement as we continue our research.  Fort continues to look for innovative ways to recruit talent. Recently we held a job fair for classified staff at the district office. All departments were represented for an evening of interviews and applications. For our first event we were pleased with having 15 in attendance. Our next event will be the Educator Experience on January 10th, 2025. We will host student teachers and teacher candidates for a day where we share what it is like to be a part of the Fort Family. The invitation has been shared on social media and sent to our university partners.
 Each year, the District gathers input to refine the practices related to Alternative Methods of Instruction Days (AMI) for students, families and staff. All certificated staff received guidance from administrators this month on the expectation for instruction and availability during AMI days. Families will receive District communication regarding expectations for students next week.
AMI expectations for all staff can be found at the bottom of your working calendar. These calendars can also be accessed by logging into the Employee Access Center (EAC) and clicking on the links provided. For District staff that work 146 or 179 days, half of the AMI days will be made up later in the calendar and the other half will be remote professional development opportunities. All other staff groups are scheduled to work on AMI days (either remotely or reporting to work as needed). More specific information will be provided by your supervisor this month, along with a comprehensive email from the HR Department.  For those of you interested, a $25.00 gift card to Yummy Donuts will be given away to one lucky winner. To enter, send an email to [email protected] with "Sweet” in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 a.m. on November 11.
Giveaway prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing.  This year the Fort Osage School District is celebrating its 75th year and we’re throwing a party! Join us on Saturday, December 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the high school as we commemorate this special milestone with a community celebration filled with fun and festivities.
Bring your family and friends to enjoy delicious food, engaging games, exciting activities, and a captivating history walk that showcases our district’s rich legacy. Plus, don’t miss the scavenger hunt—perfect for all ages! This celebration is open to everyone, and we can’t wait to share this moment with our community. Let’s make memories together as we honor 75 years of learning, growth, and school spirit. We look forward to celebrating with you!  Fort Osage has done a tremendous job providing Real World Learning opportunities for students. When we began this work five years ago only 29% of our 2020 graduates received a market value asset by participating in a Real World Learning opportunity. Through the dedication of our staff and engagement of our business partners, that number has grown to 93.7% with our 2024 graduates. This is a testament of the work being done across the district.
Since beginning this work five years ago a few of the things accomplished include:
On September 17, I presented at the National Real World Learning Conference held at the Embassy Suites in Kansas City. Additionally, on September 18 Fort Osage served as a site visit for the conference. We hosted guests from Annapolis, Boston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Kansas City to visit and learn how to replicate our programming in their schools. I truly appreciate your dedication for the opportunities you are creating for students to be prepared for life after high school.  On October 7, the District is hosting an information session with a representative from Cigna to review the three different health care plan options available to qualifying employees (30+ hrs/week employees). The session times are 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5:00 pm to be held in the Board of Education Room at the District Office. A general overview of plan differences, including copays, deductibles, HSA contributions and prescription costs will be presented, along with time for individual questions as needed at the end. These meetings can provide valuable insight to changes in our health care plans prior to the start of Open Enrollment (October 14th-October 25th).
 A $25.00 gift card to Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch will be given away to one lucky winner utilizing the random number generator (RNG). For those of you interested, please send an email to [email protected] with ‘Carolyn’s’ in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 am on Monday, October 7.
Giveaway prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing.  The 2024-2025 school year is off to an excellent start! Your efforts and ability to effectively educate students is incredible. It's amazing how everyone comes together to educate nearly 5,000 students on a daily basis. Thank you for everything you do!
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