Dom Giangrasso always wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps since he was child.
     His father, Charlie, was a longtime college football coach, making stops at multiple NCAA Division II and Division III teams around the nation as an assistant and head coach.
    That was always Giangrosso’s dream to be a coach. His path to that goal was through becoming an educator.
     “Watching my dad be around players and watching him interact with the kids and seeing the relationships he was able to build made me want to become a coach,” Giangrosso said. “I never really branched out to anything else. Coaching is always what I wanted to do.”
      “My dad was a huge influence on me. He was coaching me up without knowing that he was coaching me up.”
     After spending 11 years as a football and baseball coach and a social studies teacher, he’s going in a different direction as he’s stepping away from coaching to become the assistant principal at Grain Valley High School, replacing the retiring Mike Tarrants. 
     Giangrosso graduated from Winfield, Kansas, but did a lot of moving around during his childhood as his father got new coaching jobs periodically. He played baseball and studied at a community college in Kansas for two years before going to West Virginia University for a semester and getting his degree at Missouri Valley College.
     He started out as a baseball and football coach for two years at Marshall High School before coming to Grain Valley High School in 2012. He said he had three interviews with the school before he was hired.
     Giangrosso met his wife, Marissa, in Chillicothe and she ended up moving to Blue Springs. Once they got married, they decided they wanted to be in the Eastern Jackson County area.
     “It didn’t take me long to figure out that this was home for me,” Giangrosso said of the city. “I heard a lot of good things about Grain Valley.”
      Giangrosso was a special teams coordinator and an assistant for the baseball team for nine years, and he said he’s built special relationships with the players. 
     Now, he’ll be helping students in a different way as an assistant principal and he noted that he has some big shoes to fill.
     “Following Mike is going to be hard because he’s such a presence,” Giangrosso said. “He’s had a huge influence on me as a coach and a teacher. Him and Coach (David) Allie are the ones who opened my eyes and they told me, ‘You need to be a school leader. You need to be one not only coaching wide, but academically and instructionally.”
     “Being able to follow Mike has been great. There are a lot of aspects in which I want to be a lot like him. I will take it as a big honor to be in his place.”
     In recent years, Tarrants has given Giangrosso more opportunities to take on administration-type tasks, and the 11-year educator thrived at it.
     “I always saw myself more as a coach,” Giangrosso said. “Mike started giving me more responsibilities and opportunities to be in front of people, and I realized, ‘Hey, I am pretty good at coaching teachers, too and developing a culture with the student body.’
     “I was a little hesitant because I always identified myself with sports and now I get to coach 1,400 kids instead of just a small number of kids at your position. My No. 1 goal is to build relationships with the student body. But part of my responsibility is discipline and there will be times I will have to be a hard-nosed, Mike Tarrants type.” 
     He said he will definitely miss coaching but is looking forward to a new opportunity. That doesn’t mean he still won’t be involved with sports, though.
     “The part I love the most about coaching is building relationships with the kids,” Giangrosso said. “I will still be there, and I will see them in the hallways and I will be at every game.
     “I will probably be in Coach Allie’s office a couple of times a week and we will talk about football. I will find a way to make it work.” 

     Grain Valley Schools found itself at the center of a firestorm of controversy this week following an email to district parents and patrons on Monday, April 25th regarding a directive from the Board of Education for district teachers to remove “Safe Space for all” stickers and cards.
     The School Board met April 21st for its regularly scheduled board meeting, breaking to executive session to discuss seven actions, none of which indicate a topic to include a discussion of materials or signage in classrooms.
     According to Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent of School and Community Services, at least one board member heard from one individual with a concern about the display of cards and stickers by some teachers at Grain Valley High School (GVHS), stating students could feel safe approaching them regarding personal LGBTQ questions. Following a discussion, the board directed administration to have the cards and stickers removed.
     Welle stated there was no vote, but was an “administrative decision made based on input by the board”.
     Welle could not enumerate the number of complaints, where they originated, who specifically received them, or the breakdown of which board members were in agreement with the directive.
     As the discussion was held in executive session, these details were not publicly available. Welle spoke to the general nature of discussions that happen in such sessions.
     “Typically what happens is all perspectives are discussed. The Board is typically interested in the implications of the decisions that are made,” Welle said.
     What became clear over the next 24 hours was that the implications of the decision played out in public, attracting regional attention from local radio and television stations, metro area politicians, and in heated debates on social media.
     Welle shared the following text of an email sent to GVHS staff from administration on Monday morning at approximately 9:00am which touched off the ensuing coverage:
 
     “Recently, we had a PD (professional development) session where we made available stickers for teachers to put up outside their rooms. Some were uncomfortable with how those stickers were rolled out and communicated. Therefore, I am asking teachers to take down the stickers from outside their room. Please come talk to me if you have questions or concerns.”
 
     According to three staff members who spoke with Valley News, the email was not well received. Several staff took to social media with messages of love and support for all students, and reiterating their classrooms were safe and welcoming spaces for all.
     According to one staff member who spoke with Valley News, “I had heard rumors that something was coming down, but I was disappointed to receive the email.”
     Once word got out regarding the directive sent on Monday morning to GVHS staff, the district issued a statement in the afternoon via email to district parents and patrons. The statement read:
     “The School Board recently received a concern about the display of cards and stickers by some high school teachers to signal students could feel safe approaching them regarding personal LGBTQ questions. The Board directed the administration to have the cards and stickers removed.
 
Our goal is for every classroom to be a safe place for all students, not just in classrooms where teachers choose to display a particular sign.
 
We remain committed to providing professional development to help our staff create a safe, collaborative, and inclusive environment, consistent with our core beliefs, where each student feels a sense of belonging. The use of these cards, however, is determined to not be an appropriate step at this time.”
 
     As the spotlight on the district continued from local television and print media as well as social media, the district sent the following follow-up email to district patrons on April 26th:
     “We appreciate the comments we have received since communicating the decision to remove safe place cards and stickers from high school classrooms. The feedback will help us be better.
 
An inclusive environment is essential, including for our student LGBTQ community. We recognize there is important work ahead of us to ensure an inclusive school environment.
 
In the upcoming weeks, we will host listening sessions for our community stakeholders, so our students, families, and staff have an opportunity for dialogue. School board members and the administration will participate. We will use this input to drive the action that will follow so that together we become the school district our community expects.”
 
     According to a staff member at the high school who spoke with Valley News, the stickers have been posted in several classrooms for longer than this school year. A supply of the “Safe Space for all” stickers were made available to staff during a professional development event in March, and several teachers put them up in their classrooms or on their doors.
     “I’ve had the sticker in my room since January. Other teachers have had similar stickers in their rooms for literally years,” another staff member shared.
     The topic of the professional development (PD) event was just one in a series centered around topics resulting from student satisfaction surveys that, according to one of the teachers who spoke with Valley News, “indicated the majority of our minority students did not feel safe”.
     “This has been a three-year process of PD blocks, and optional lunch and learn programs, with very specific topics on how to support students who fall into a number of minority categories, including gender, race, LGBTQ, and socioeconomic status. The focus has been to explore how we are not creating a space for them and gain knowledge on how to best support students so learning can take place.”
     The staff member praised the work of the school’s diversity committee. “I am very proud of the work of our diversity committee. They have been so thorough.”
     According to another staff member, the school also works with student focus groups to get their input.
     “It is a mixed bag of students: various grades, various backgrounds, various experiences. The goal is to make sure we are meeting the needs of all students.”
     Two staff members Valley News spoke with stated they had never heard a complaint or concern from a student, parent, or staff member regarding the cards and stickers before this week. Another staff member stated they had two follow up clarification conversations with teachers regarding topics covered in PD sessions, but “I believe it’s been proceeding very well culturally. There have been some real world events recently that stimulated good conversation as a whole.”
     One of the PD topics discussed at the March training where the cards and stickers in question were offered related to inappropriate and offensive language between students. Asked if language is an issue regularly, all staff members interviewed said yes.
      “Just today, I had to correct a student for calling another student a “n----". Another student called a student a “slut”, and another student called a fellow student a “pussy”, one staff member shared.
     “This is part of what our ongoing PD explores – helping students take accountability for the words that fly out of their mouth. Asking them to think about the word they just used and making sure they reflect and think about how their words impact others.”
     “Inappropriate language as a whole is a problem in education. This is nothing new with teens who are influenced by media and pop culture, and trying to fit in. What I think is different is awareness is up, and our ability to call out that behavior is probably more acceptable now. To me it is a positive thing about the culture we are trying to establish here,” one staff member stated.
     “People think that when they see ‘safe space’ as it relates to LGBTQ, that students are coming to teachers to talk about sex. That could not be further from the truth. They come to me to talk about specific instances where someone has used inappropriate language or bullying language or behavior and they know I will help them address the situation. Students must first feel they are loved and safe in a building before learning can take place.”
     “That is why professional development on how to address these issues is so important. This is no different than going through active shooter training, where I practice jumping in front of a bullet for my students. Safety is safety no matter what form it comes in.”
     “I will tell you that the stickers or signs have not impacted the climate or culture of the building or created a distraction to learning. What was a non-issue five days ago has taken an inclusive and loving culture that we have tried to build and now completely blowing it up, and during a week where we are trying to focus on end-of-course exams.”
     According to staff Valley News spoke with, very few if any of the teachers have removed the stickers per the board’s directive.
     When asked about the sticker on their door, one staff member said, “I can tell you one thing for sure. I will not be taking down my sticker.”
     Two of the staff members Valley News spoke with indicated they have had several conversations with students since the controversy erupted earlier this week, and many express concerns regarding their safety at school.
     “Several students have talked to me about their concerns. Many feel scared and unsafe.”
     Another staff member indicated the directive from the board has caused them to reconsider the profession and their future at Grain Valley.
     “It is getting harder to fight the good fight. We have the best administrative team at GVHS, and I do not want to give up on my kids. But it is getting harder.”
     “What I do know is the decision of seven individuals does not reflect the culture in the building or the majority of our community. I am a member of this community and a parent in this district. I love this community, and the decision that was made is not a reflection of the majority of our populace.”
     How those seven board members received and communicated complaints and the decision making behind the directive that followed remains out of reach in terms of public record.
     Grain Valley resident Dennis Ellsworth is executive director of the Missouri Sunshine Coalition, which promotes awareness of the state’s landmark law protecting the public’s access to the meetings, deliberations, and records of public governmental bodies. He said at times officials must be reminded of their responsibilities under the law; “knowing” or “purposeful” violations can result in civil fines.
     Absent new information, Ellsworth said, it seems clear the school board violated the Sunshine Law when it made the decision to prohibit teachers from posting LGBTQ “safe space” signs in their classrooms. He said the law makes no provision for such policy discussions and decisions to be made behind closed doors, and even if it did, the law would require prior notice of the impending discussion and action and a recorded roll call vote that would be made public.
     The school district said in an email to families that the board made its decision after receiving a complaint. Later news reporting established that the discussion occurred in a closed board meeting and that the directive was reached without a formal vote.
     “All of these things contribute to public mistrust, which is what the Sunshine Law seeks to combat,” Ellsworth said. “The public did not know this decision was coming and was not afforded an opportunity to be heard, or even to observe the discussion. No one in the public knows for sure who on the board might have opposed the decision.”
     “It would be best to start over with total transparency about how this became an issue in the first place. And by all means, the district needs to closely follow the requirements of the Sunshine Law.”

​April Claphan
 
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
My motivation to serve on the Grain Valley School Board is to advocate for the best education for our students. Our school is the biggest asset to our community . I want to be part of the partnership between the school and the residents of  Grain Valley. What is best for our students will always be at the forefront of that motivation to serve. 
 
What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have been part of the Grain Valley school district since 2003. Both of my kids went through the district. Having the parent lens has prepared me with the knowledge of the curriculum and policies and procedures that Grain Valley has established.  I currently work in the human resources department for a school district. This role has prepared me in seeing how school districts  systems can work and how valuable attaining great staff is for our student success.
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
One of the challenges for Public schools is that our students have changed  and the world they are part of has greatly changed,  there are demands on educators to keep educating the same way as years past. We need to make sure we preparing our students with the tools they need to be successful in their futures no matter  what path they choose, may  it be college or a trade skill. 
 
Why should you be elected to the Board of Education?
I truly care about Grain Valley. Our schools are the heart of our city and I want to work to keep Grain Valley on the cutting edge of education, our kids deserve the best. My experience provides me with a different lens that will be an asset to the decision making. People matter and I know I can ensure a solid partnership between the superintendent and residents of GV.
"Vote for April in April"
 


Julie Groff
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
I believe every child matters and their education should be the most important issue. Plus, there are a lot of outside influences trying to make their way into our schools.  I am running to prevent these influences from making their way into our schools.  I want to see education be the focus not politics.

What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Math.  I have taught special education and worked with adults who have developmental disabilities.  I have been the manager of a group home and I work with low income seniors.  Advocating for people is an everyday part of my job.  I was a stay at home mother when my children were young.  I also have 18 years of experience on the Board of Education.  
 
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
I have volunteered in the schools for almost 20 years.  I started volunteering in the classroom and once my children were in high school, I volunteered as a Lunch Buddy.  I have been on the local PTA board, a Girl Scout leader, and a Pop Warner cheer coach.  I have also been a preschool teacher in my church.  
 
How should the district address teacher salaries and retention of employees during the exodus of teachers in Missouri and across the nation?
Here in Grain Valley, we are still able to attract good teachers.  In the high school, keeping the 8 block schedule helps.  We have had teachers leave for other districts and they come back because of the quality schools that we have.  We do need to keep our salaries competitive to continue to attract teachers.  Keeping class sizes small and having a supportive atmosphere from the board, administrators and parents is another way to keep attracting teachers.  We need to continue to strive for excellence and provide the support, tools, and training needed to achieve this.
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
Staffing is an issue facing many businesses and the school district is also feeling that.  We need good staff at all levels.  From a bus driver who can be the first smile a child sees, to the mechanics who keep the buses running, every employee is important.  We need the staff to be able to operate the district, and we need to be able to pay the staff adequately for the work that they perform.  The lack of funding is a challenge for our district.  When legislators want to take tax dollars away from public education to support private education, it can be devastating for a community.  The Board members need to be advocates and fiscally responsible.  
 
Why should you be elected to the Board of Education?
My background in education and my leadership skills make me a good choice for the Board of Education.  I am conservative, fiscally responsible, and an advocate. I am supported by both parents and teachers.  The GV National Education Association has endorsed me.   
 
 

Michael Hackett

Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the board of education?
Broadly speaking, I want to see our School District get better every year. I would like to say that I have never had an agenda to carry out on the School Board, but I believe that every member who comes to the table has an agenda of some sort. It is important to remember that your personal agenda needs to fit in at the right time, and then you should lead the charge.  For myself, I want to see issues of early support and intervention for our students expanded. If we can get kids on grade level sooner, the time and money spent there avoids higher costing interventions further along.
 
What experiences or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I have been serving our community and schools for the last 18 years in the capacity as a Board Member.  My direct experience as a longer term board member as well as being active in Public Education at the regional and state level, give me a broad and deep understanding of issues that impact our local schools.
 
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
I have served as a School Board Member, member of the Band Parents Association, local Methodist Church, Missouri School Board Associations Delegate Member and Cooperating School Districts of Greater Kansas City Vice President.  As you can see, Public Education ranks high on my list of priorities.
 
How should the district address teacher salaries and retention of employees during the exodus of teachers in Missouri and across the nation?
I want to increase the pay of our teachers and staff. In order to do that, the School District needs to engage our community and stakeholders in deep conversations and discussions about how our community wants to address this issue.  There are changes our State Congress will soon consider that will pull local tax money out of our district. If those dollars leave the community, they have an effect on the tight budget we have.  It will mean that we have less money to spend on opportunities for our students.
Grain Valley has been very lucky so far.  We have quality of life benefits in our School District that make us a place to be.  We have seen a much smaller exodus of teachers that has been happening across the state and nation. However, we will have openings for teachers and staff.  For teachers, we are seeking to get access to those newly graduating teachers earlier and earlier.  However, it is still difficult to find dedicated folks to work our busses and kitchens and keep the day-to-day of schools going.
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
I believe that some of the biggest challenges facing Public Education today are going to revolve around budgets and funding.  As I have mentioned before, we have State Congressional action that may cause local tax money to leave the district, directly impacting funding for our local schools.  While Grain Valley starts a new teacher at $37,500 a year, our Governor rightly believes we should be offering more.  However, a $500 addition to the base pay will cost the district between $200,000 and $300,000 increase to our budget.  We have to find a way to fund that, and if there’s no more funding to cover it, it may require us to do something that we, and the community, has long indicated they didn’t want: increased class sizes.
In order to overcome these impending issues of budget and funding, I believe we have to engage our community and stakeholders, to have deep discussions about how we close these gaps and continue to be one of the best hidden gems in the area.
 
Why should you be elected to the Board of Education?
I have a strong track record of supporting our students, teachers and community over the last 18 years.  I have worked to share the concerns of the community over pending legislation that will negatively impact our local schools with our State Legislators. I believe I can and will continue to serve our students and community in a way that continues to make our community stronger through Public Education, and will make us proud of Grain Valley and our School District.
 


Jeff Porter
 
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the Board of Education?
As I have been out speaking to members of the community during my door-to-door visits in the neighborhoods, this is one of the most asked questions.  My motivation to serve on the school board is purely my three children all under the age of five.  Their education and experience through the Grain Valley School District is of the utmost importance and I believe this to be true for all children in our community as they are our future.   I support a balanced education that is free from political views.  I do not have a hidden agenda or ulterior motive.
 
What experience or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
As Senior Project Manager of the company for which I work, I handle multimillion dollar contracts which has given me solid budgeting experience.  I also assist with the general operations and human resources of the company and therefore have experience managing our teams and making decisions with subjects such as health and general liability insurance.  I believe this will provide helpful oversight in these areas as well as others.  Finally, I am an Eagle Scout which proves my perseverance to complete work.  I think all of the above will give me guidance when these types of subjects are presented to the school board should I be elected.
 
In what school district or community activities/organizations have you been involved?
I am an active member of St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church in Blue Springs, MO.  I have also been an election day poll worker and I am a volunteer for the monthly Senior’s Lunch at the Grain Valley Community Center.  Also, I have served as a volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America.
 
How should the district address teacher salaries and retention of employees during the exodus of teachers in Missouri and across the nation?
Since last November, I have been regularly attending the school board meetings and I have been able to glean an overview of the budget.  However, attending meetings does not make us each privy to the itemized budget.  Should I be elected to the school board, I would suggest the school board closely analyze the district’s budget line-by-line to identify how money is being spent.  From there, a plan could be developed on how the district could find ways to improve teacher salaries and make them more competitive with the surrounding districts.   In order to address retention of employees, I must first understand the rate of turnover, in which departments is the turnover occurring and then determine why it is occurring.  As a member of the school board, I would request to review employee engagement surveys if they have been completed.  If not, I believe this is one way in which to begin the process for retaining employees.
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
From my observations over the past two years, it appears that the COVID pandemic has brought to light that the parent-teacher relationship is not what it used to be.  I recognize that teachers have an extremely difficult and important job.  Daily, we entrust our children to our teachers for at least eight hours a day. The education and safety of our children is fundamental to the continued growth and development of our communities.  I want to support teachers and work with them to develop curriculum but I do believe parents need to be involved at the same time.  I think I can listen to both sides, parents and teachers, and assist with issues and rifts that have surfaced.  An example of this is from a parent I spoke with recently who had been trying to help her child with a learning disability.  She had scheduled time off from work during his breaks and thought this would be a good opportunity to spend some time helping him with school studies.  She asked his teacher and principal on two different occasions if his laptop could be sent home so they could work together over Christmas and Spring breaks.  It was not allowed either time and a reason was not provided to the parent as to why her child could not take the laptop home over break.  This was a very disheartening story to hear.  As a school board member, should I be elected, I want to provide an open door for parents to escalate their problems and concerns to the school board but will need to begin by understanding the process of how these items are brought to the attention of the board members. I believe the school board has a responsibility to help foster this parent-teacher relationship.
 
Why should you be elected to the Board of Education?
I think I should be elected to the Board of Education because I can provide a fresh perspective with a different outlook and new ideas.  I am motivated to be involved with my three young children about to enter into the school district.  Also, I have experience managing businesses and people and I am willing to break down barriers between teachers/administrators and parents.  Parents know their children best and if they are taking an interest in their child’s education, they should be allowed to provide input.  While not all input can be implemented, teachers at the same time need to allow the parent’s voice to be heard.  I want to put our student’s needs first, keep political views out of the classroom and provide a balanced education for all students.
 
 
​
Jason Williams
 
Is there a particular issue that motivates you to serve on the Board of Education?
There is no one special issue motivating me to seek election to the school board.  I am strongly motivated by my love for this community and the desire to serve the teachers, staff, and students of our district.  My goal is to help teachers and students fulfill theirs.
 
What experience or skills have prepared you to serve as a board member?
I feel that my experience and educational background are highly beneficial to a potential role on the GV School Board.  I have a degree in Administration of Christian Education. I was an educator for 8 years between 2000-'08, and have many family members past and present involved in the education system. I have sat on various community and sports boards, giving me experience dealing with budgets and helping to solve problems. I am currently the Lead Pastor of Valley Community Church in Grain Valley and Administrator of Valley Child Care.  I am also a parent of current students in the Grain Valley District, and a parent of a Grain Valley alumnus.
As the Lead Pastor of Valley Community Church, I have been heavily involved in events related to both the community and the school district. Whether those are events that our church is hosting, or events that the community or schools are having that we get to be a part of, we jump in and get involved in in any way that we can because we believe in the importance and value of community. 
 
How should the district address teacher salaries and retention of employees during the exodus of teachers in Missouri and across the nation?
The recruitment and retention of teachers is and will continue to be an ongoing challenge in the coming years.  There are several points of consideration that the board will need to look at to help meet this challenge: 

• Possibly raising the base salary for teachers and staff to be more competitive with larger districts in the area. 
• Increasing the number of years a teacher is able to receive raises. 
• Making sure benefit packages are adequate. 
• Recruiting more substitute teachers so that current teachers will be able to have their plan periods. 

I also think that finding creative ways that parents and the community can show our appreciation to our teachers and staff will be an important piece moving forward.  We have some of the best educators in the state, and I believe it is important to show them that they are appreciated!
 
What is the biggest challenge facing public education and how can the board best address the challenge in our community?
The biggest ongoing challenge will be the retention and recruitment of teachers and staff.  However, I feel that there are a couple other areas that are a very close second, and will need the attention of the board and administrators.  One of those is Mental and Emotional Health for both teachers and students.  The strain on teachers over the last 2 years has been enormous.  Fewer subs means more time covering other classrooms without time to prepare.  Not only making it difficult to be as effective, but weighing on the minds and emotions of teachers and administrators alike.  Some students have struggled to catch up, dealing with new social behaviors, spending more time studying and learning virtually, and so on.  That is why making sure that we give every teacher and student the opportunity and ability to speak with a trained professional that can provide proper counseling to those who need it is so important.  We also need to be ever vigilant where safety is concerned.  Not that our schools aren’t currently safe, but to make sure that they stay that way.  New technologies and ways to keep our students and teachers safe from both physical threats as well as virtual threats is vital.  Having the proper and necessary number of staff on hand to implement and ensure proper safety protocols is also something that will need to be considered in coming years.
 
Why should you be elected to the Board of Education?
In order to meet these obvious challenges, as well as the unseen challenges we will face in the coming years, it will require strong leadership.  There is no doubt that we are moving into an unprecedented time at the tail end of a world wide pandemic.  The challenges are great but the opportunities are also great; and we need to be ready to seize those possibilities.  With my experience as a leader in many different fields, I look forward to facing these challenges for the students and teachers of our school district if elected.  The future is bright in Grain Valley and I believe it can continue to be for many years yet to come.
 

     To make the back-to-school immunizations process easier for parents, Jackson County Health Department nurses are traveling to Eastern Jackson County schools from now until mid-May. Nurses will provide required immunizations to incoming 8th and 12th-grade students during school hours, so students can conveniently receive their vaccines and parents can save a trip. 
     Parents and guardians can register their students for these clinics by using the link provided by their school nurse. Students must be registered in advance; walk-ins will not be accepted. 
     “Routine childhood immunizations are an important way to make sure your child stays healthy and protected against serious diseases like tetanus, meningitis, and COVID-19,” Interim Health Director Ray Dlugolecki said. “We encourage parents to use this opportunity to get their students up-to-date before the start of the next school year.”
     Missouri requires students entering 8th grade to receive their Tdap and MCV4 vaccines; students entering 12th grade are required to receive another dose of MCV4. The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and the HPV vaccine, which are optional but recommended, will also be available.
     A separate clinic for exchange students and students needing to get caught up on other immunizations is available at the Jackson County Health Department in Independence. Parents/guardians can make an appointment here.
     Stay up-to-date on back-to-school immunization clinic schedules by following the Jackson County Health Department social media accounts (@jacksoncountyhd) or visiting jacohd.org/back-to-school-immunizations.

​Grain Valley Schools has opened registration for students beginning Kindergarten in August 2022. Students must turn 5 years old on or before July 31, 2022 to begin school next August.

The district has outlined a three-step process for enrollment:

Step 1
To enroll, parents will need to establish a login with the PowerSchool Enrollment Portal: New Student Enrollment. 

Step 2
Once logged onto PowerSchool, click on New Student Registration 2022-2023 form to begin the registration process. 

The following items are needed for registration:

• Certified Birth Certificate (state-issued with seal)
• Immunization Records
• Proof of Residency must include parent/guardian name and address printed on the paperwork (water, electric or gas bill no more than 30 days old)
  
  

Step 3
Register for an in-person Kindergarten appointment the week of March 21-24. Below are sign-up links for each school. Each school has a designated day.

Matthews Elementary sign up - March 21

Sni-A-Bar Elementary sign up - March 22

Stony Point Elementary sign up - March 23

Prairie Branch Elementary sign up - March 24

     Click on the boundary map below if you are unsure which school your student will attend.

​     Join us Wedneday, March 23rd to meet the City and School Board candidates on the April 2022 ballot and learn about their views on the issues that matter to our community. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Schedule
6:30pm - 7:00pm Meet and Greet
7:00pm - 8:00pm Candidate Forum
(Unopposed candidates will not participate in the forum portion. School board candidates will be featured first, followed by board of aldermen candidates, and mayoral candidates.)

Light refreshments will be served.
Event sponsored by Grain Valley News

     Dr. Amanda Allen has been named Assistant Superintendent of Student & Community Services for the Grain Valley School District beginning with the 2022-2023 school year.
     In her new role, Allen will lead community engagement, district communications, and the coordination of student services such as homelessness, foster care, and school-based therapy. This role was previously held by Dr. Brad Welle who has been named superintendent of schools effective July 1.
     Dr. Allen has been with the Grain Valley School District for nine years and has served as a school leader for the past six years, first as assistant principal at South Middle School (2016-2020) and then as principal of North Middle School (2020-2022). Allen had previously served as a middle school math teacher for two years, followed by one year as a district instructional technology coach.
     “Dr. Allen’s focus is on what is best for students. She is a proven leader who has built strong relationships with families and staff. Her integrity and work as a servant leader will continue to serve our school community well," incoming Superintendent Dr. Brad Welle said.

     Mid-Continent Public Library has announced the launch of a new app designed to help caregivers engage in constructive, enriching, and fun literacy activities with their children. Free to download from the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store, MCPL’s Grow A Reader app focuses on developing children’s pre-reading skills so they can become strong readers and lifelong learners.
     “Caregivers are their kids’ first teachers, and learning to read starts well before a child is able to pick up a book,” Katie McDonald, MCPL’s Youth Services Manager said. “The Grow A Reader app is an easy tool that families can use to help their kids build a solid early literacy foundation, which we know is especially important as kids begin school and eventually transition from ‘learning to read’ to ‘reading to learn.’”
     Through a variety of videos, books, and daily literacy tips, caregivers and their children can use Grow A Reader to work on 10 early literacy skills: singing and rhyming, playing and imagining, writing and creating, talking and listening, and finally, reading and sharing. The app’s user experience can be customized by a child’s age (baby, toddler, or preschool age) and contains content curated by Library staff that is updated regularly. Some content is also available in both English and Spanish.
     The Books tab allows users to find suggestions of titles and put Library books on hold to pick up at their local MCPL branch. The Videos tab offers videos of MCPL staff members leading songs, games, and activities that caregivers and children can enjoy and replicate at home to further practice their skills. The final tab, Tips, provides unique ideas of how to support your child’s learning, such as “Reading is Everywhere! Point out print all around you. Street signs, billboards, and grocery stores all have words printed everywhere.”
     Grow A Reader users can also access other Library services and resources within the app, including Dial-A-Story, an audio recording of a story time with an MCPL staff member (stories are updated monthly), as well as the list of upcoming MCPL programs for kids that caregivers can register for.
     The Grow A Reader app will also soon be home to MCPL’s signature series of children’s books featuring the Library’s mascot, Marty the Martian. Written by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Dan Regan, the five books in the series will be released over the coming months, each focusing on a different set of early literacy skills. App users will have first access to the digital version of the books. More information about the series will be shared this spring prior to the release of the first book.
     Learn more about MCPL’s early literacy resources, programs, and services at mymcpl.org/Kids.
​

     The Grain Valley School Board met January 18th, approving the 2022-23 school calendar and receiving an update on the district's multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) program, which is a framework used by many districts to support struggling students. 
     During patron comments, Board of Aldermen candidate Dale Arnold spoke to the board in an attempt to address concerns raised in an unsigned flyer recently distributed on cars in which concerns were outlined regarding funding for the proposed central office building. Arnold detailed his concerns and stated that while everything the district has done is "appropriate and legal", he wonders if "going with these premium bonds, if the additional cost of excess interest is justified for the amount of money that we got". 
   Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Dr. Nick Gooch highlighted Sni-A-Bar Elementary principal Dr. Carrie Reich for her work in securing playground equipment for the school from the former Joe's Crab Shack in Independence for $2,500, which is thousands less than comparable equipment would cost the district. 
     The board approved the 2022-23 school calendar, with the first day of school on August 22nd. One change to the 2022-23 schedule includes a shift in the scheduling of first and second semesters. First semester will now conclude before Christmas break, with second semester beginning when school resumes on January 4th.  

     Grain Valley Schools announced the closure of the Early Childhood Center on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and narrowly avoided a potential district-wide closure after substitute fill rates dropped to unsustainable levels.
​     "We are committed to keeping our schools open and learning in person, but our substitute fill rates have been dropping steadily since the holidays," Dr. Brad Welle, Deputy Superintendent, Student and Community Services said.
     The district also announced in an email to parents and district patrons on January 10th that they had suspended testing of students for COVID-19 until further notice due to a lack of available tests. Welle said the State of Missouri indicated additional tests should be available soon.
     Grain Valley Schools finds itself in a similar position to districts throughout the region, with multiple staff vacancies remaining unfilled and a desperate shortage of substitute teachers.
     "We have several full-time positions available and are also in desperate need of substitute teachers. Anyone wishing to join our team can start the application process from our website," Welle said.
     "We had 101 of our 675 employees, including teachers, paras, drivers, and cooks, out on Tuesday with a substitute fill rate of 42%, so most absences were not filled. Colleagues are pitching in to help wherever they can. Administrators and other personnel are covering too."
     "We hope to avoid further closures but will give families as much notice as possible if closures are needed. When considering our options, we look specifically at where the absences are occurring and will make closure decisions accordingly, so there is not a specific fill rate that would trigger a closure."
     The scheduled professional development day for teachers on Friday, January 14th has been designated as virtual only. There is no school for students on Friday, January 14th due to the full-day in service for teachers, and no school on Monday, January 17th due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.