What's Going On This Week

District

• 11/13: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 11/13: First Day of HS Winter Sports
• 11/15: PLC Release 1:40
• 11/15: FFA State Tractor Driving, Moses Lake

Upcoming Events

• 11/20: Conferences, No Classes
• 11/20: Resource Fair, 4:30-630, HS Commons
• 11/21: Early Release 11:00, Conferences
• 11/22: Early Release 11:00
• 11/23-24: NO School
• 11/27: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room

kbhsathletics.com for up to date athletic schedules.

Superintendent Message:

Happy Monday all,

It’s a busy week this week, although they are all seeming to be busy! We will have 70 middle school students at the HS on Thursday for Migrant Leadership Training, and we will be welcoming 20 MS students from Sunnyside for the same training. Winter sports practices start at the HS today, but the MS has been going and start their first games in basketball and girls wrestling, so if you get a chance, get out and support them!

We have received donations or are in the process of receiving them from Second Harvest and the Soroptomist’s Club for food items and personal items. Our students entering fall and winter are just as in need as ever, so make sure and contact Bernardo if you know of a student with some needs.

Today is National Kindness Day, so make sure and be extra kind today because it’s a great day to be kind to others (like every other day, right?). I will be in Bellevue for a WSAC/STEM Grant convening on Wednesday and Thursday, and will be back Friday after a Superintendent meeting at the WSSDA conference Friday morning also in Bellevue. Have a great week and feel free to text or call if you need anything.

- Pete

Preparing for Winter Weather!

Kiona-Benton City School District (kibesd.org)

Kiona-Benton City Sch. Dist. news via FlashAlert.Net

OPEN ENROLLMENT ENDS NOVEMBER 20!

Open enrollment (SEBB) | Washington State Health Care Authority

“Doing the right thing is never the wrong thing.” ~Ted Lasso

What's Going On This Week:

District

• 11/6: FFA Meeting, 5:00, HS
• 11/7: Ki-Be Community Council Meeting, 6:00, HS Library
• 11/7: MS Sports Awards, 6:00, MS Library
• 11/8: PLC Release 1:40
• 11/10: No School

UPCOMING EVENTS

• 11/13: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 11/13: First Day of HS Winter Sports
• 11/15: PLC Release 1:40
• 11/15: FFA State Tractor Driving, Moses Lake

kbhsathletics.com/ for up to date athletic schedules  

Superintendent Message:

Happy Monday!

Congratulations to the girls soccer team at the HS as they make their second consecutive run to State! So, once again, we will be making the long trip to Sammamish HS, but those types of trips are always worth it! And just like that, Winter sports are upon us at the MS already and the HS starts next week.

You will be seeing an email from the Center for Educational Effectiveness sometime early next week. This is our annual staff/student survey that we do and we send them all of the staff emails, so please do not delete it without taking the survey. Last year, we had several that went to junk, but David is prepared this time and they should go through. I will let you all know (when I do) specifically when you should expect them.

We have a busy Tuesday night with the soccer game, Community Council, and the Fall Sports Banquet at the middle school, but I hope you all have a great short week and of course please let me know at x. 2001 or 308-5052 if you need anything.

Pete

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message:

Happy Monday,

The fall sports season at the MS is coming to an end this week, while Winter 1 gets ready to start next week. Doesn't seem possible that we can be that far into school already.

We had a great board workshop on Friday and have a board meeting tonight. We will be missing two board members for the meeting tonight as they have conflicts that could not be rearranged. I will be in meetings a lot this week and will be out of the office and unavailable even by cell phone most of the day Thursday.

We will be beginning a transition of our website soon along with our home calling system, as both of our contracts for those services are coming up in the next few months. Stay tuned for more info on that front!

Have a great rest of the week and feel free to reach out at ext. 2001 or at 308-5052!

- Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 10/23: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 10/25: PLC 1:40 Release
• 10/25: KBSA L&M, 2:30, Board Room
• 10/26: KBEA L&M, 3:10, Board Room
• 10/26: ES Picture Retakes
• 10/26: HS Fall Concert, 6:00, PAC

Upcoming Events

• 10/30: College & Career Day, 8-11, HS
• 10/30: Senior Parent Night, 5:30-7:30, HS
• 11/7: Ki-Be Community Council Meeting, 6:00, HS Library
• 11/13: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room

kbhsathletics.com for up to date athletic schedules.

Staff Member in Focus: Erin Kerr

This is my 18th year in education and my 9th year as an administrator. I have a master's degree in teaching and learning from Heritage University. I have taught Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade. I was a GLAD model classroom at Canyon View Elementary before becoming an Assistant Principal. I was an Assistant Principal for programs such as Spectrum Bilingual, Bilingual, Bridges, Dual both one-way and two-way, LifeSkills, Self-Contained classroom, Resource Room and general education. I also had the opportunity to continue the digital classroom work post pandemic creating a K-8 Digital program for Pasco School District.

My husband is a 3rd grade teacher in the Kennewick School District. I have a 5th grade daughter and 2nd grade son and am a girl scout coleader of my daughter's troop.
I moved to Richland at 18 months and have lived in the Tri-City area ever since. I did have a short stint at Central where I received my Bachelors in Elementary Education and taught 2 years in Toppenish.

In High School I volunteered in the Life Skills classroom and was a coach every year for the Special Olympics. I was a Senate page in Olympia my freshman year and traveled the nation performing. I was part of the main act and front row center stage for the Capital One bowl half time show my sophomore year.

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message:

Happy Monday everyone!

It is definitely getting to be fall! I came over White Pass yesterday morning and the temp up there was 39 degrees, so if you’re a skier, get those boots and bindings ready! I hope everyone had a great Friday, and if you were able to be involved in the professional development, I want to thank all of our staff members who were presenting at various levels. I believe that we get so much more from presentations with our home-grown experts, and I encourage you to talk to your administrators if you have an idea for future PD. I will be out on Thursday most of the day at a Superintendent Advisory Council Meeting, and we have a Board Workshop on Friday focusing on secondary academic goal options, but get in touch with me at ext. 2001 or 308-5052 if you need anything!

~Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 10/18: PLC 1:40 Release
• 10/19: MS Concert, 6:00, PAC
• 10/20: School Board Workshop 9:00, Board Room

Upcoming Events

• 10/23: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 10/26: ES Picture Retakes
• 10/26: HS Fall Concert
• 11/7: Ki-Be Community Council Meeting, 6:00, HS Library

kbhsathletics.com for up to date athletic schedules.

SEBB Information:

https://www.hca.wa.gov/employee-retiree-benefits/school-employees

Open Enrollment 2024 is October 30 through November 20.

October: responsiblity

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message

Good afternoon staff,

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day Weekend! Ours was spent with our German Shepherds at our property outside Randle, so it was a much needed time to relax!

I have spoken with administrators and counselors and we are very close to a draft run of schedules. If you have any questions, the best thing to do is simply talk to your principals or counselors. The secondary schools are much more complicated to run, but in conversations with Emilia, they are super close and in good shape to get those out. This is impressive; we have never been this far along with scheduling as we are this year.

I have been asked to get Right Response De-escalation Training (NOT restraint) for our whole staff at the beginning of next school year. I am working with Clear Risk to set this up, as they have a max of 40 participants per training session, so it will take some logistics on our part to get that done. I will let you know more as we get closer to August.

We had the opportunity to attend the WASA Inclusionary Practices seminar in Seattle with Clay, Tony Vo, and Jennifer Gilliland. It was very good and I think that Katie Novak did a great job explaining how implementation often lacks true buy-in that ALL kids can learn. I believe that is something we can all reflect on, because that must be the foundation of our work.

Hope you have a great rest of a short week, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything: ext. 2001 or 308-5052.

Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 5/31: PLC Release 1:40
• 6/1: Senior Assembly, 1:40-2:43
• 6/2: Graduate walk through at ES/MS, 9:00-10:00
• 6/3: Graduation, 9:00

Upcoming Events

• 6/6: Community Council, 6:00 HS Library
• 6/5-6/9: Camp Wooten
• 6/8: Kindergarten Graduation, 8:30, MS Gym
• 6/8: 8th Grade Promotion, 6:00, MS Gym
• 6/12: Last Day of School, 11:00 release

Tax Savings Benefits of DCP: https://www.drs.wa.gov/dcp-tax-savings-newsfeed/
SEBB NEWSLETTER: https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/pebb/sebb-may-2023-intercom-newsletter.pdf
VEBA: https://www.veba.org/home/videos/

Congratulations to all of our STATE participants this last weekend! GO BEARS!

(view the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message

Good afternoon,

To say that I have been slammed is an understatement! I am very thankful that Erich Bolz is now at the elementary helping Lisa in administration. That is awesome; as many of you know he started his teaching at Ki-Be Elementary, so I told him that absolutely nothing has changed in our facility since he left!

I will be finalizing staffing for the district this week and have already spoken with many of you who may be requesting a move or a move is necessitated due to student count or ESSER fund elimination. We had a meeting with Jennifer and Edna in late April so that we all know the appropriate provisions of the contract that apply and both agree on the process.

We have baseball, fast-pitch, track and tennis all moving into playoffs, so if you get a chance to get out and support them, please do it. The kids and parents really appreciate seeing you at events!

If you need anything, don't hesitate to call x2001 or my cell at 308-5052 or 539-0039.

Have a great week!

- Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

5/17: PLC Release 1:40
5/18: HS Spring Concert 6:30

Upcoming Events

• 5/22: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 5/22: School Play 6:30
• 5/24: PLC Release 1:40
• 5/26: Early Release 11:00
• 5/29: Memorial Day– No School

kbhsathletics.com for up to date athletic schedules.

Staff Member in Focus: Erich Bolz

It is my absolute pleasure and honor to serve as Interim Vice Principal at Ki-Be Elementary for the remainder of the school year (if substitute is a more acceptable term, feel free to insert it and also, please alter or truncate to best serve your purpose).

It is a special opportunity for me, as I started my career in public education at Ki-Be Elementary and Middle in 1995. Mrs. Upton was one of my students in my first year and later we were colleagues in Pasco School District, where I retired in 2020.

I look forward to supporting Mrs. Upton, the children, staff, and families, and wider school community in the coming month. I would love to have the opportunity to meet you and don’t hesitate to contact me if I can be of service.

Educationally yours!

Erich Bolz- Interim Vice Principal, Ki-Be Elementary

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message

Good morning,

It looks like we are finally turning the corner on spring/winter. This weekend I got the dandelions sprayed, the irrigation fixed and the mower ready to go for next weekend!

We have a board meeting tonight, which follows the first ever Board Question and Answer session last Thursday night. It went really well, and I definitely like the format. It gave our two board members who were there a great opportunity to respond directly to questions, which of course they cannot do during a formal meeting. I anticipate more of these low-key gatherings, as it got good response from those in attendance and I received emails and texts saying the same.

I had a great time at the MS track meet last week, and thought the kids did well! The staff on hand who were volunteering were outstanding and I spoke with more than a couple coaches from other schools who felt it was well done. Nice job everyone - especially Gary and his staff!

For those of you working on the curricula with me, I received a bunch of boxes late last week so I will go through them and let you know what came in and what we are still waiting on. You on the committee can expect an invite from me sometime tomorrow.

Have a great rest of the week and feel free to call or email if you need anything!

Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 4/24: School Board Meeting. 6:30. Board Room
• 4/26: PLC Release 1:40
• 4/28: Super Hero Day at the Elementary

Upcoming Events

• 5/2: Ki-Be Community Council Meeting, 6:00, HS Library
• 5/3: PLC Release 1:40
• 5/8: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room

Staff Member in Focus:  Emilia Rivas

Aside from a brief time in San Antonio, I've lived in Kennewick my entire life. After high school, I attended CBC and then earned my BA from WSU (Go Cougs!). I've worked in education for 12 years now, and after majoring in Information Systems I decided to finally pursue a career in IT. Now I get the best of both worlds! I am a bit of an at-home mixologist and I love to cook. I hunt in the fall, fish throughout the year, and spend my summers paddle boarding and camping. I love music and sports, so I try to catch as many concerts and games as I can.

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message

Good morning,

April is flying by! After spending a week in and out at the elementary, I am now trying to catch up on my regular job, and we have some info moving forward.

Tomorrow is a meeting at Blankslate that is a result of the district receiving a grant through WSAC, the Washington Student Achievement Council. It’s primary purpose is to create opportunities for Benton City students in the areas of STEM and career outreach. This grant will not fund other students from other districts, so we are able to design opportunities for what our kids need, not a one size fits all. A representative from each building will be there, along with folks from WSU-TC, CBC, The STEM Foundation and community partners.

We will be holding a Question and Answer meeting with members of the school board and district staff to answer questions about budget development for next year on Thursday at 6:30 PM in the board room. Drew will be discussing the timeline and early assumptions about staffing and student projections for 23-24. We still plan on handling staff decreases through attrition in all of the bargaining units.

We are holding a summer school meeting today for secondary schools at 2:45 PM with principals. We will review the plans and opportunities for kids. At the HS, we received word yesterday that there will not be funding for summer Running Start, but everything else should stay status quo as long as we have a minimum number of kids willing to participate. Part of the elementary summer program will include a STEM Camp for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders at WSU-TC, along with PD for those grade level teachers who participate in summer school. This is a unique opportunity and Jon Lobdell from WSU-TC met with us this morning to ensure that we have slots reserved. I will pass along more information as we develop the program.

Have a great rest of the week!

Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 4/19: PLC Release, 1:40
• 4/20: Elementary Class Pictures
• 4/20: School Board Q & A, 6:30, Board Room
• April 21-22: FFA Plant Sale, 3:30-6:00 PM on the 21st and 9AM-Noon on the 22nd, Ki-Be Greenhouse

Staff Member in Focus:  Christian Wingle

I’ve lived in the Tri-Cities area my entire life. I went to school at Columbia Basin College and Washington State University for my undergraduate degree. I received my Master’s in Teaching at Washington State University.

I started working as a paraeducator right out of high school and found that I have a passion for teaching. I teach 7th grade Eng-lish and 6th grade typing. I love working at Ki-Be MS. Go cubs!

In my free time, I like doing anything outdoors including hiking, backpacking, camping, and fishing. I also enjoy traveling, reading, and watching WSU football.

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message

Good morning,

There is nothing better than getting up at 4:30 AM on March 6 because snow had been forecast for the night before! Luckily, none came, because no one wants to think about dealing with that!

Spring sports is off and running – and hitting, and catching, and hur-dling, and backhanding! Spring is typically one where wind and rain hits the first few games, and 100 degree heat hits the last couple, so bring a lot of different gear with you. I encourage you to come out and support our teams.

Each building should be providing plans for PD and in-service op-tions for this Friday. I know that the elementary will be doing more curriculum training with ARC, while the secondary’s will be trained on Hom-eroom and MAP for PLC’s. Remember that sign in is required to be paid if you work on Friday.

Congratulations should go out to the Davenport Gorillas boys basket-ball team as they won the state championship on Saturday. Why should we congratulate them, you might wonder? Because they were coached by Matt Henry, son of HS Principal and proud dad Clay Henry! It is rare that you go to state, much less win it, so I am glad that Clay got to watch this opportunity!

Finally, Clay will be interviewing prospective HS VP/AD applicants soon, so he may be in contact with HS staff and a school board member to sit in on those. Have a great week everyone!

Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 3/7: Ki-Be Community Council Meeting, 6:00, HS Library
• 3/8: PLC Release 1:40
• 3/8: Band, Choir & Drama Presentation, 6:30, PAC
• 3/10: No Classes, Professional Development

Upcoming Events

• 3/13: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 3/15: PLC Release 1:40
• Music In Our Schools Month
• National Nutrition Month

Staff Member in Focus:  Rebecca Turner

Next week, Mrs. Rebecca Turner will be honored with the 2023 Crystal Apple Award for Kiona-Benton City School District! Mrs. Turner joined the Ki-Be family in 1998 and serves as a Resource Room teacher at the Middle School.

The awards ceremony will be March 9th at 4:30 at ESD123.

(View the printable PDF version)

Superintendent Message

Good morning and happy Tuesday!

I hope you all had a good three day weekend! Mine was fairly relaxing – with the levy now solidly on the positive side, I managed to relax a little bit. Of course now that we start thinking about Spring sports, we are in for a cold front this week, so if you see any snowflakes, make sure to check your phone or email in the mornings!

On Friday, the board will be having a work session to discuss our current budget information and to hear recommendations on planning going forward. Our non-personnel costs have skyrocketed this year. You all know that because of your own grocery, heat or gas bills, but our food, diesel and contracted services (ESD) have grown at extremely high rates, doubling or tripling in some cases. With that, I will present the board some options to get us back on the long-term track to financial stability. Unfortunately, when non-personnel costs (read: non-negotiable, must have’s to operate) surge higher, we have to look at all options to get cash flow and operating costs down, which will mean some personnel cuts moving forward. So I will begin these discussions with the board and with building administrators in the next week or so.

Some of you have seen that we received an exploratory grant from OSPI to study the Balanced Calendar concept. Please understand, that means we are studying it, not adopting it. Quite frankly, it may not be an option for our district and our current CBA’s mandate that we bargain our calendar; I cannot impose it. But if OSPI wants to give us a grant to read some books and attend some meetings, I am game for that especially with no mandate to implement anything!

I have all sorts of meetings this week, from Tri-Tech Superintendent’s to CTE Gen-eral Advisory Council to a superintendent’s breakfast in Walla Walla, so I will be juggl-ing. But if you need anything you can email or text me at 539-0039. Have a great short week!

Pete

What's Going On This Week

District

• 2/20-2/24: National FFA Week
• 2/20: No School
• 2/21: Middle School Family Committee Meeting, 5:30, MS Library
• 2/22: PLC Release 1:40
• 2/22: Running Start Information Night, 6:00, HS Library

Upcoming Events

• 2/27: School Board Meeting, 6:30, Board Room
• 3/7: Ki-Be Community Council Meeting, 6:00, HS Library

Staff Member in Focus:  Brett Cox

• CWU class of ‘90
• Wife Julie teaches English at Kamiakin
• Sons, Xavier 17 and Cedric 15
• 26 years in public schools, bus driver– Superintendent and every job in between.