September 2017 Newsletter
Upcoming Training Class
Interested in learning more about continuous improvement? Introduction to Continuous Improvement training will teach you Lean principles, methodology, tools and terminology. The day will consist of a series of training modules, interactive exercises/simulations, and discussion/reflection times. At the end of the training, you should be able to start thinking Lean and apply the tools to your work. The next training class is scheduled for Friday, October 6th from 8:30-3:30pm at Fleur. Register here.
Interested in learning more about continuous improvement? Introduction to Continuous Improvement training will teach you Lean principles, methodology, tools and terminology. The day will consist of a series of training modules, interactive exercises/simulations, and discussion/reflection times. At the end of the training, you should be able to start thinking Lean and apply the tools to your work. The next training class is scheduled for Friday, October 6th from 8:30-3:30pm at Fleur. Register here.
Student Attendance Kaizen Update
This summer a team gathered to create attendance guidelines for all schools to follow. The purpose of updating the attendance procedures and guidelines is to be more equitable and work toward proactive interventions in order to decrease chronic absenteeism. Over the last 90 days, the team has worked diligently to complete their action plan. The 2017-2018 attendance procedures and guidelines can be found here.
Noteworthy changes:
This summer a team gathered to create attendance guidelines for all schools to follow. The purpose of updating the attendance procedures and guidelines is to be more equitable and work toward proactive interventions in order to decrease chronic absenteeism. Over the last 90 days, the team has worked diligently to complete their action plan. The 2017-2018 attendance procedures and guidelines can be found here.
Noteworthy changes:
- Tiered approach to intervene with students.
- Defined attendance as a behavior and incorporated monitoring into Tier 2 teams, no need for separate attendance teams.
- Updated tardy minute limit to be aligned to bell schedule and automated dialer calls.
- Increased communication to explain importance of attending school. Find the first of many articles and videos here.
Family Engagement Project
Families are one of the most important stakeholder groups and we believe in the full engagement of them to support our students' education. What do we mean by engagement? Family engagement is an ongoing responsibility shared between schools and families in which they participate in decision-making and create consistent and open two-way communication to support student success. Schools and families will partner together to build trusting relationships and work toward maximizing the individual strengths, background abilities, and interests of all students and families.
A team is currently working to design a system and toolkit for schools and families.
Families are one of the most important stakeholder groups and we believe in the full engagement of them to support our students' education. What do we mean by engagement? Family engagement is an ongoing responsibility shared between schools and families in which they participate in decision-making and create consistent and open two-way communication to support student success. Schools and families will partner together to build trusting relationships and work toward maximizing the individual strengths, background abilities, and interests of all students and families.
A team is currently working to design a system and toolkit for schools and families.
THANK YOU!
Thank you to everyone who has actively participated in Lean process improvements! Because of all your hard work and dedication, Des Moines Public Schools was recognized as a Lean Quality Practitioner by American Society of Quality for our application of effective Lean practices and principles in government.
Thank you to everyone who has actively participated in Lean process improvements! Because of all your hard work and dedication, Des Moines Public Schools was recognized as a Lean Quality Practitioner by American Society of Quality for our application of effective Lean practices and principles in government.
Technology's CI Board
The Technology department is staying engaged and tracking their continuous improvement efforts using this amazing bulletin board. Next time you find yourself at Prospect, be sure to stop upstairs to see it! #LeanerEveryDay #TogetherEveryoneAchievesMore
The Technology department is staying engaged and tracking their continuous improvement efforts using this amazing bulletin board. Next time you find yourself at Prospect, be sure to stop upstairs to see it! #LeanerEveryDay #TogetherEveryoneAchievesMore
Shout Outs!
Way to go Lisa Irey for transferring all Technology's paper forms to electronic!
Awesome work Amy Fritz for moving toward paperless processes and helping the other bookkeepers do the same!
Great job Business and Finance for uploading the Certified Annual Report two days early AND publishing a new procedural manual!
Fantastic work Mary Noring creating the CI bulletin board for Technology!
Awesome work Amy Fritz for moving toward paperless processes and helping the other bookkeepers do the same!
Great job Business and Finance for uploading the Certified Annual Report two days early AND publishing a new procedural manual!
Fantastic work Mary Noring creating the CI bulletin board for Technology!
