COMMUNITY INSIDER

January 3, 2022

Salem-Keizer Public Schools news for our community

SKPS & The Community

A letter from Superintendent Perry:

As we start a new year, SKPS Superintendent Christy Perry wrote a special message for the SKPS community.

“Recently, I visited with students. Our kids know the world is changing, and they notice the world is divided. When asked what advice they would give to adults, they said be kind, set your differences aside and be there for each other. This was the answer from kids!”

Read the full message

Community Learning Session #2: Celebrating Black History - Stories from Oregon

The second Community Learning Session is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31 and will be hosted by Salem-Keizer School Board Chair Osvaldo Avila and SKPS Director of Student Equity, Access and Advancement Cynthia Richardson.

The online-only session includes an interactive presentation celebrating Black history in our state. Panelists include McKay Senior Grace Caldwell, who also serves as the student advisor to the school board, Oregon State Senator Lew Frederick, Oregon Black Pioneers President Willie Richardson and Gwen Carr who served on the board of the Oregon Black Pioneers for close to 20 years.

Learn more and register

Connect with SKPS community engagement

Community engagement at Salem Keizer Public Schools is a dynamic, ongoing two-way process of building relationships, working collaboratively and sharing resources creating transformative benefits for ALL students, families and schools.

SKPS encourages community partners to access the new community engagement webpage on the district website to access resources, connect with the office of Community Relations and more.

Access the community engagement webpage

Apply today – Stakeholder Relations and Engagement Specialist

Salem-Keizer Public Schools seeks qualified candidates for the position of Stakeholder Relations and Engagement Specialist. This position includes engaging families in district decision-making and ensuring disenfranchised communities and stakeholders feel connected to the district.

Learn more about the position

January marks fourth year of bond-funded construction

The district has finished three years of construction in the 2018 bond program and is ready to take on year four, starting in January 2022.

Construction first started in the spring of 2019 and to date, 54 of 60 school sites have experienced some phase of the construction process, meaning they are either under active construction, are in design and planning for construction, or are completed.

Overall, the bond program is on track to deliver the improvements promised to the community on time and on budget; and as of October 2021, the bond program has invested $455 million into work in the community.

Learn more

COVID-19 dashboard

The COVID-19 data dashboard was launched for the 2021-22 school year in order to keep the public informed on how COVID-19 impacts our schools. It is updated each weekend, so it is recommended community members check on Mondays for the latest numbers.

You can learn more about the district’s COVID-19 investigation and communication process on the online dashboard webpage.

View the COVID-19 dashboard

Spotlight on Success - December 2021

Richmond Elementary recognizes Court Street Christian Church as December’s Community Partner of the Month

Court Street Christian Church community supports Richmond families throughout the year by providing necessary supplies and donations. This partnership ensures the needs of our families are met and students have something exciting to kick off their winter break with.

Learn more about the December Community Partner of the Month

Community Resources

Salem-Keizer Public Schools is sharing information about community events and resources relevant to the diverse needs of students and families throughout the community. Information below is not necessarily co-sponsored by SKPS.

SafeOregon – Report confidential safety concerns

As a community, all of us -- students, staff, families and community -- play critical roles in maintaining safety within our school buildings. Report suspicious activity related to our schools to administration or anonymously through SafeOregon.

SafeOregon is a statewide confidential tip line maintained by the Oregon State Police. The tip line gives students, parents, staff and community members a confidential way to report safety threats or potential acts of violence.

Getting health coverage is now more affordable

Visit OregonHealthCoverage.gov to see what programs, plans, and savings are available. January 15, 2022 is the last day to enroll in or change plans for 2022 coverage.

Learn more

Special education listening sessions

A monthly meeting for parents and caregivers of students experiencing disabilities to connect with the district.

Learn more

News from Our Schools

School Board Appreciation Month

Each year during the month of January, SKPS recognizes School Board Appreciation Month. During this time, we spotlight the seven elected community members who volunteer their time to serve the more than 41,000 students in our 65 schools.

Join us on our social media channels all month as we share recognition and appreciation for the work of our school board directors and the 2021-22 Student Advisor to the School Board.

Follow SKPS on Social Media:
Facebook Facebook (Spanish) Twitter Instagram

Deadline for required school immunizations

As outlined on the Oregon Secretary of State’s website, students who are not up-to-date on required immunizations will be excluded from valuable instruction time due to the state-mandated immunization exclusion day on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022.

It’s important to know that SKPS does not require students to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Students will not be excluded on Feb. 16 for not having received a vaccination for COVID-19.

Learn more

How does SKPS communicate about emergency closures and delays?

As we begin to see cooler temperatures throughout our community, it’s important to know how SKPS will communicate in the event of a school closure or delay. In case of inclement weather, SKPS officials will work to communicate with families as soon as possible regarding impacts to school operations. Typically, communication to families begins at 6 am.

Learn more

Key Dates

January 2022

Jan. 11: School Board Meeting - Learn more
Jan. 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No school and district offices are closed
Jan. 18: School Board Meeting - Learn more
Jan. 25: School Board Meeting - Learn more
Jan 26-28: High school finals
Jan. 31: Community Learning Session - Learn more
Jan. 31: No school - Winter conferences

February 2022

Feb. 1-28: Black and African American History Month
Feb. 1: No school - Winter conferences
Feb. 7-11: National School Counseling Week
Feb. 8: School Board Meeting - Learn more
Feb. 17: National PTA Founders Day
Feb. 19-26: National FFA Week
Feb. 21: President’s day, no school
Feb. 22: School Board Meeting - Learn more

View the full 2021-22 calendar

@SalemKeizerSchools

@SalemKeizer

SalemKeizer.org

The SKPS Community Insider is a resource for the community to stay informed about districtwide news and community events.

Comments? We welcome feedback! The SKPS Community Insider newsletter is maintained by the SKPS Office of Community Relations and Communications info@salkeiz.k12.or.us

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