School News

April 10, 2018

Dear McKay Parents, Guardians and Community,

As principal of McKay, I want to inform you about a possible student walkout that may occur on Friday, April 20. I hope that this communication allows you to better understand what may occur that day and to give you an opportunity to have discussions with your student about this event.

First, any type of student led demonstration/walkout that occurs is not a McKay High School sanctioned or endorsed event. As always, our students are allowed to exercise their right to freedom of speech. Student and staff safety is always our top priority. We work with our partners at the Salem Police Department and with our own security team to ensure our students and staff are safe and that we can maintain a learning environment during any student led/demonstration or walkout.

Back in March, some of our students participated in a national walkout that honored the 17 victims of the Parkland, Florida tragedy. That demonstration was peaceful, remained on campus and students returned to class after the 17-minute walkout. The reason I write to you today is that our students organizing this walkout have informed me that they will be leaving campus to join others at the Oregon State Capitol. I want to give you as much information as I have so you can be informed.

• The walkout will begin at 10 a.m. on April 20 with students who choose to participate.
• The demonstration is to call for Gun Policy Reform.
• There are no plans to conduct the walkout on campus. Students have a planned route that they will walk to get to the Oregon State Capitol.
• The McKay High School staff and security will work to ensure that our students are safe from the point of walkout to exiting campus. None of our McKay staff or security will supervise the demonstration at the Capitol.
• When students leave campus for the demonstration, it will be an unexcused absence.
• We encourage students to prearrange this unexcused absence so we can best account for all of our students that day.

Here are some important things to know and talking points with your student if your student elects to participate in the April 20 walkout off campus.

• As this walkout is not a McKay sponsored event, it is important to know that if students leave campus, they are choosing to enter an uncontrolled environment where there will not be supervision from staff at McKay High School or Salem-Keizer Public Schools. This is why we feel it is extremely important for students to stay on school grounds.
• The District’s transportation policies and schedule will not be altered for this event. SKPS will not be liable for any incidents that may occur from non-approved forms of travel during this non-sponsored activity.
• The District will work with local law enforcement to help keep students as safe as possible while off campus. It is important to understand that students leaving campus will no longer be the responsibility of Salem-Keizer Public Schools.

Please call or email me if you have questions or want to discuss this in further detail at 503.399.3080.

Sincerely,

Rob Schoepper
Principal, McKay High School

Dear McKay Parents, Guardians, Community and Alumni,

McKay High School has an exciting opportunity to teach computer science to our students starting in the 2018-2019 school year, see attached.

Hello McKay Community:

I would like to update our community on the 2018 Proposed Bond on the May 15th Ballot.
The School Board has finished its work on a bond package and has referred it to the May 15 ballot for the community to consider.
Before finalizing the bond, the Board heard feedback through a community survey, through the Community Facilities Task Force and through listening sessions with staff and community members held in every high school neighborhood. The Board twice asked staff to revise the bond package to make sure it aligned with the feedback they received and still addressed the needs of facilities.
Highlights of the proposed bond include:
• Increasing safety and security, including seismic safety of schools
• Adding/expanding space to relieve crowding and prepare for future enrollment, including general education classrooms and space for music programs
• Adding/expanding space for career-technical (vocational) education at all six traditional high schools as well as Roberts High School
• Adding/renovating science labs at middle and high schools
The proposed bond package totals $619.7 million and if passed by voters in May, is estimated to increase the current property tax levy rate by $1.24 per $1,000 of assessed value.
To be eligible to vote in the May election, you must be registered voter and reside in the district. To register or to update your voter registration, please visit the Oregon Secretary of State’s website: http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=en
You must be registered by April 24. Ballots will be mailed to voters on April 25. For more information about the proposed bond measure, please visit www.bondinfo.salemkeizer.org.

Sincerely,

Rob Schoepper
Principal
__________________________

Estamida communidad de McKay,

La propuesta de ley que aparecerá en la boleta electoral del 15 de mayo de 2018

La Mesa Directiva Escolar ha concluido su trabajo con respecto a la propuesta de ley sobre la que la comunidad tomará su decisión en la boleta electoral del 15 de mayo.

Antes de darle los últimos toques al contenido de la propuesta de ley, la Mesa Directiva Escolar recibió las opiniones de la comunidad mediante una encuesta, a través de la Comisión de Ciudadanos Dedicados al Estudio de las Instalaciones Escolares y por medio de reuniones destinadas a recoger las opiniones del personal y de los integrantes de la comunidad celebradas en todas las escuelas preparatorias. La Mesa Directiva Escolar le pidió dos veces al personal que revisara el contenido de la propuesta de ley para cerciorarse de que reflejara las opiniones recibidas y de que abordara los problemas presentes en las instalaciones escolares.

Aspectos destacados de la propuesta de ley:

• Incrementar las medidas y los procedimientos de seguridad, con inclusión de instalaciones y alarmas antisísmicas en las escuelas.
• Agregar aulas nuevas o agrandar las existentes para aliviar el problema de la superpoblación estudiantil y prepararse para la matrícula futura, con inclusión de aulas de educación general y salones de música.
• Agregar aulas nuevas o agrandar las existentes para la docencia técnica-profesional (vocacional) en las seis escuelas preparatorias tradicionales y en la Escuela Preparatoria Roberts.
• Agregar laboratorios de ciencias nuevos o renovar los existentes en las escuelas intermedias y preparatorias.

La propuesta de ley tiene un valor de $619.7 millones. En caso de que los votantes la aprobasen en mayo, se calcula que incrementaría el impuesto actual sobre bienes inmuebles en $1.24 por cada $1,000 del valor de tasación.

Únicamente los votantes inscritos y residentes del distrito tendrán derecho a votar en mayo. A fin de inscribirse o de actualizar su inscripción de votante, visite la página Web de la Secretaría del Estado de Oregón: http://sos.oregon.gov/voting/Pages/registration.aspx?lang=en

El plazo para inscribirse vence el 24 de abril. El 25 de abril se enviarán por correo las boletas electorales. Para informarse a fondo sobre este asunto, por favor, acceda a la página web siguiente:  www.bondinfo.salemkeizer.org.

Gracias,

Rob Schoepper
Director, McKay High School