KSSA Talk

Darin Headrick, Superintendent Kiowa County Schools

Join Bill Hagerman and Darin Headrick as they discuss the latest topics from the Council of Superintendent’s meeting.

Darin Headrick graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University  with a Bachelor of Science in Education. He received his Master of Science in Education Administration  and his School Administration Certification from Fort Hays State University.

Currently, Mr. Headrick is the chairman for the Council of Superintendents, Co-Chair for the KSSA Communications and Outreach Committee, member of the KSSA Board of Directors, and serves on both the KELI Advisory Council and Steering Committee.

Darin Headrick is now in his 11th year as Superintendent of Schools in USD 422 Kiowa County in Greensburg. In the wake of a devastating EF-5 tornado that decimated all district school buildings on May 4, 2007, he led the effort to construct temporary facilities and managed to open school on schedule on August 15, 2007. In addition, the district opened the first LEED Platinum K-12 School in Kansas in August of 2010. Darin, along with numerous other public officials, is working toward the construction of a model community with the latest in green design.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/remarkablechatter/KSSA_16_Darin.mp3

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Deb Haneke, CFO, ESSDACK

Deb joined the ESSDACK staff in 1997.  Before stepping into the role of CFO, Deb provided leadership as the Director of Professional Development.  She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Fort Hays State University.

 

 

http://traffic.libsyn.com/remarkablechatter/KSSA_15_Deb.mp3

2012 Sub House Bill 2333

* Increases employer contributions

* Increases current member contributions

* or possibly decreases benefits

* Creates a new Tier 3 cash balance retirement plan for new hires beginning January 2015

* Does not affect KP&F or Judges

Why is there a need for change?

* For 18+ years, there has been a gap between the actuarial and statutory funding levels

* Member benefit increases in the ‘90’s were mostly funded through actuarial changes that put off paying for them until later.

* Recession in 2008 caused unprecedented investment losses.

* Members are living longer and retiring earlier.

Employer Contribution Increases

* Part of a shared solution with members

* Contributions increase faster starting in FY 2014

* FY 14, 0.9% cap increase

* FY 16, 1.1% cap increase

* FY 15, 1% cap increase

* FY 17+, 1.2% cap increase

Projected Rates

State/School

Year Statutory Actuarial

* 2013 9.37% 13.46%

* 2014 10.27% 13.83%

* 2015 11.27% 14.34%

* 2016 12.37% 15.34%

* 2017 13.57% 16.59%

* 2018 14.77% 16.61%

* 2019 15.97% 16.62%

* 2020 16.87% 16.87%

* 2021 17.06% 17.06%

* 2022 17.15% 17.15%

* 2023 17.14% 17.14%

KPERS Tier 1 Changes

* Member contribution and multiplier increases

* Tier 1 Changes Contribution Rate Benefit Multiplier

* Now 4% 1.75%

* January 1, 2014 5% 1.85%

* January 1, 2015 and after 6% 1.85%

 KPERS Tier 2 Changes

* Take effect January 1, 2014

* Stay at 6% employee contribution rate

* Increase to1.85% multiplier for all service,  not just future service

* No longer have a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)

www.kpers.org/changes

https://essdack.org/pages/employee-benefits-districts

 

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Dr. John Heim

 Dr. John Heim is executive director of the Kansas Association of School Boards.  Dr. Heim came to KASB after serving as the superintendent for the Emporia Public Schools for 13 years.  Prior to that he was the executive director of the Educational Services and Staff Development Association of Central Kansas (ESSDACK) in Hutchinson. He also has been a superintendent in El Dorado and the Wichita County Schools at Leoti.  He was a building administrator in the Lawrence and El-Saline school districts.  He began his education career as a history and government teacher in 1981.

KASB, headquartered in Topeka, is the state organization that provides services, training and resources for local boards of education.  KASB members are governing boards for unified school districts, community colleges, area vocational-technical schools, special education cooperatives and interlocals, and regional service centers. KASB assists local board of education with professional development and goal setting, policy development, research, legislative advocacy, superintendent searches, insurance services and legal issues.

Dr. Heim has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas, a master’s degree in educational administration from Fort Hays State University, and a doctorate in educational administration from Kansas State University. He currently is an adjunct faculty member in The Teachers College at Emporia State University. He also has been a guest lecturer at Wichita State University and the University of Kansas.

Dr. Heim was selected as the 2008 Kansas Superintendent of the Year by the Kansas Association of School Administrators. He received the Outstanding Service Award from the United School Administrators of Kansas in 2006 and the Communicator of the Year Award from the Kansas School Public Relations Association in 2001.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/remarkablechatter/KSSA_14.mp3

http://www.kasb.org

http://www.corestandards.org/

https://essdack.org

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Deb Haneke joined the ESSDACK staff in 1997.  Before stepping into the role of CFO, Deb provided leadership as the Director of Professional Development.  She received both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Fort Hays State University.

Join Bill Hagerman as he talks with Deb Haneke about KPERS and some of their upcoming changes.

Dates you need to know.

January 1, 2014

Multiplier increase to 1.85% for future service

Member contribution rate increases to 5%

January 1, 2015

Multiplier continues at 1.85%

Member contribution rate increases to 6%

Why you may want to know those dates.

* Tier 1 KPERS: Hired before July 1, 2009

Benefit multiplier and contribution increase

* Tier 2 KPERS: Hired July 1, 2009 and after

Benefit multiplier increase & loss of COLA

* Employers: Contributions increasing

Deb also highlights the 403b plan which lets your money work for you as well as discusses the 125 benefit solutions.

http://Essdack.org

http://www.kpers.org/

Bill Hagerman can be contacted at:

Facebook

Twitter@BillHagewrman1

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Cheryl Semmel – Executive Director,

United School Administrators of Kansas and Kansas School Superintendents’ Association

Please excuse our technical difficulties.

 

Semmel currently serves as the executive director for USA|Kansas and the Kansas School Superintendents’ Association (KSSA).  She is also the president-elect for the Association of State Executives (ASE), which is affiliated with AASA, and a board member for Destination Imagination Kansas.  She is often invited to guest lecture on the “Politics of P-20 education” and volunteers as a mentor for high school students.  In 2009, Semmel volunteered as an international elections observer during the presidential elections in El Salvador and Bolivia.

Prior to joining USA|Kansas and KSSA in 2006, Semmel worked as a federal liaison in the State of Delaware’s Washington, D.C. office.  Her portfolio included policy and appropriations for education and the workforce, agriculture, energy, natural resources and aviation.  During her time there, she worked extensively with organizations like the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

Prior to that, Semmel worked in the undergraduate teacher education department at Nova Southeastern University.  While there, she was part of the administrative team and her responsibilities included program approval, new site development, department operations, budget administration and oversight for the Florida Fund for Minority Teachers scholarship program.

Semmel graduated from The George Washington University with a master’s degree in public administration – budget and public finance.  She earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies.  In addition to her leadership role with ASE, Semmel is currently a member of the Kansas Society of Association Executives, ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership and Women in Government Relations.

Cheryl L. Semmel

Executive Director

United School Administrators of Kansas (USA|Kansas)

Kansas School Superintendents’ Association (KSSA)

515 S. Kansas Avenue, Suite 201

Topeka, Kansas 66603

785.232.6566 office

785.224.1377 cell

785.232.9776 fax

http://traffic.libsyn.com/remarkablechatter/KSSA_Talk_13.mp3

 

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  Corey Shultz – PBA Architect 

Safe Rooms – Is Your Safe Room Safe?

The safest place for school children during severe weather is a designed/engineered storm shelter that meets Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines.  Corey Schultz is among the top designers in the country and has lead PBArchitects in designing 50 shelters, protecting the lives of thousands of students and residents of Kansas.

Corey is a member on the review committee in the establishment of FEMA 361 guidelines and associated benefit cost analysis software. He has recently served as a voting member on the International Code Council (ICC) Consensus Committee on Storm Shelters, which regulates “the design, construction and installation of safe, reliable and economical storm shelters.”  His advocacy of education to other professionals and consultants ensures many more shelters will be designed for the preservation of individuals and communities across the country.

Allan Milbrandt another PBA Architect, specializing in Educational Planning & Design, also discusses what can be created in new construction as well has transforming you existing structure into a safe room.

If you have a need to make the typical classroom into a safe room check out FEMA 361, which has an assessment checklist for comparing one space to another and compare one building to another.   There are also grants that you can apply for to help with funding of your safe room

For assistance in grant management and acquisition contact Clelia McCrory at Essdack, 1500 E. 11th Ave. Suite 200, Hutchinson, KS 67501        620-663-9566    

http://traffic.libsyn.com/remarkablechatter/Safe_Rooms_kssa.mp3

The webcast of Safe Rooms:  Is Your Safe Room Safe? can also be seen at www.essdack.org/saferooms.

 

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Sue Givens, Superintendent, El Dorado USD #490

Sue Givens is currently Superintendent of Schools in El Dorado – USD 490. A proud product of Kansas public education, Givens attended both Highland and Midway of Denton high schools, then earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Emporia State and Wichita State Universities, respectively.

Formerly assistant superintendent in Pratt – USD 382, she has also served as a middle and elementary school principal in Pratt, Garden Plain and Stafford; as Consulting Teacher for Instructional Computing in Topeka – USD 501; and as an elementary and middle school math teacher in Pratt, Stafford, Topeka, and Burlington. Her teaching career included coaching at middle and high school levels in tennis, volleyball, track, basketball and cheerleading.

Givens has served in professional organization leadership as secretary-treasurer and president of the Kansas Association of Middle School Principals, president of the United School Administrators of Kansas, and as chair of the Kansas Learning First Alliance. Professional recognitions include being named a Kansas Master Teacher, Keys for Networking Principal of the Year, and USA-Kansas Distinguished Service Award recipient. Givens is currently active in community organizations as a board member of the El Dorado YMCA and El Dorado Inc., as a Trustee for Trinity United Methodist Church, is Co-Executive Director of Miss Kansas Pageant, Inc, and is a member of the El Dorado Rotary Club.

Sue and husband, Bruce, have been married for 36 years and have one daughter, Megan, who resides in Lawrence with her husband Andy, and granddaughters Taylor and Connor.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/remarkablechatter/KSSA_11_Sue_Givens.mp3

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Dr. Doug Moeckel

Dr. Doug Moeckel is the Deputy Director at KASB. His primary duties include board of education training, superintendent searches and strategic planning. Dr. Moeckel’s experiences include 36 years in education including administration, teaching and coaching. His administrative experience includes time as superintendent of schools in Ellsworth as well as building level leadership at the secondary and elementary level.

Dr. Moeckel received his Bachelor’s Degree from Kansas State University, Master’s from Fort Hays State University and Doctorate from Kansas State University

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Jim McNiece

Bill’s KSSA Talk interview today is with Mr. Jim Mc Niece. Jim was elected to serve on the Kansas State Board of Education in November of 2012.  He represents District 10 which includes parts of South Central Kansas, as well as a portion of the City of Wichita.   Mr. Mc Niece has served for over 30 years as a teacher, coach and principal in the State of Kansas in both public and catholic schools ranging in size from class 2A to 6A .  In 2009 he retired from the Wichita School District following service at both Northwest and Northeast Magnet High Schools.  Mr. Mc Niece also served as principal at Bishop Carroll and Udall High Schools.

During his career Mr. Mc Niece served on numerous state committees along with professional and community boards.     He has presented at national and regional conferences on a variety of educational issues and topics and served on state, regional and national school evaluation teams.

His schools have been recognized for outstanding academic achievement at the national level (New American High School, US Department of Education), state level (Challenge Award, State of Kansas) and local level (Good Apple Award, Wichita).  Mr. Mc Niece was recognized as the Kansas High School Principal of the Year and was also awarded the “Excellence in Public Service” for his community involvement and service.

Mr. McNiece has a Bachelor of Science in History from St. Mary of the Plains College in Dodge City, Kansas and a Masters of Science in Secondary School Administration as well as a Education Specialists Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Ft. Hays State University in Hays, Kansas.  He and his wife Christina have been married for 35 years and have two children.  Christina is a high school Assessment Coordinator,  Josh works with developmentally disabled adults and Jamie is a Family and Consumer Science middle school teacher.

STATE BOARD DISTRICT 10

Mr. Jim McNiece

1214 Manchester Court

Wichita, KS 67212

(316) 729-9742 (home)

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Mr. Glen Suppes, Smoky Valley School District USD#400

Glen Suppes is the superintendent of schools of Smoky Valley USD 400 in Lindsborg.  He has been a physical education instructor, athletic director and served as high school principal for 14 years.  Prior to coming to Smoky Valley in 2000, Glen was principal at Hillsboro High School for 8 years.

As a high school principal he was very active in Kansas Association of Secondary School Principals (KASSP).  Currently Mr. Suppes is the president-elect of Kansas School Superintendents’ Association (KSSA).  In June of this year he will take over as the new president of the association.

You have heard Bill Hagerman say many times that KSSA is the powerful voice for education in Kansas.  Over the past few years KSSA has taken many steps to become more involved in legislative activities and weigh in on issues that greatly affect public education.  More and more superintendents are stepping up to the plate, serving on committees, contacting legislators, and testifying in Topeka.

The Kansas School Superintendent’s Association is being recognized more and more as that powerful voice.  Legislators are contacting association members for direction and support on new bills.  As our organization strengthens, we must be prepared to stand strong and take a firm position on matters that affect our districts and our children.

No longer can a school superintendent just stay at home and run his or her district.  We have another obligation.  We must be involved in the decisions in Topeka that impact our schools.  Major changes are occurring and new financial resources are scarce.  Our representatives need to know who you are and what you stand for.  Building relationships with our legislators is imperative, now more than ever.

We have some real challenges ahead of us, and many times we don’t know for sure what those challenges will be.  KSSA pledges to build stronger connections within the organization by improving communication and taking advantage of the internal strengths of individual members.  KSSA Talk is one example of connecting our members, as well as non-members.

Stay connected.  Stay-KSSA-Strong!

Glen discussing technology in Smoky Valley schools … http://youtu.be/UXPbTeEsIoI

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