MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

📸 FIRST DAY VIBES📸 The Martin County School District's #FirstDayofSchool was filled with excitement, anticipation, positivity and happiness! Our faculty, staff and administrators are looking forward to an outstanding year filled with new opportunities to educate all students for success. Please continue sharing your photos with us using #MCSDTheRippleEffect. 🍎📚🍎📚 #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL READY🍎 It's the first day back to school for many students, teachers and staff, and it's also a brand new start for more than 100 Martin County School District employees! Although these educators might be in a new career, educational role or school building, our Professional Development team made sure they were ready to begin the year on the right foot and with a lot of support. Our annual three-day New Educator Orientation is a great way for new staff to learn the in's and out's of the Martin County School District and what it means to be #ALLINMartin👊! Check out some of the new faces you'll see around the district 👀 👀 https://youtu.be/ZLehM_DoEJg

💧 THE RIPPLE EFFECT💧 📸We love seeing all of your #FirstDayofSchool photos, families!📸 Please continue to tag us in your memories on social media using #MCSDTheRippleEffect. The Ripple Effect is the opportunity we each have daily to go #ALLINMartin👊 and make a difference in the lives of our students. We love seeing our community get into the spirit with us! 💕💕

🍎 WELCOME BACK, STUDENTS! 🍎 We are #ALLINMartin👊 and ready for a fantastic 2022-2023 school year! #FirstDayofSchool #PublicSchoolProud

🍎 EDUCATING ALL STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS🍎 Superintendent John D. Millay spoke with Matt Lincoln of CBS 12 News about the Martin County School District's preparations for the new school year. Click below to hear more from Dr. Millay. https://cbs12.com/news/local/one-on-one-with-martin-county-superintendent-dr-john-millay #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎 #BACKTOSCHOOL COUNTDOWN🍎 Click the link below to learn more about the Florida Department of Education's new B.E.S.T. standards for mathematics, as well as the math curriculum the Martin County School District will implement for students this school year! https://bit.ly/MCSDBESTMathStandards ➕➖✖➗➗✖➖➕ #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🧩WE'RE ALL ONE PIECE OF A LARGE PUZZLE🧩 While preparing for the new school year, staff at Felix A. Williams Elementary School worked on being able to see and celebrate the best in themselves and considered how they were important pieces of a puzzle. As they saw their pieces come together, they realized that there are so many skills and strengths they have nearby to lean on. Whether you're a corner piece or the very last one finalizing the puzzle, remember that we ALL are here on purpose, for a purpose. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎 #BACKTOSCHOOL COUNTDOWN🍎 The first day of the 2022-2023 school year is TOMORROW! Be sure to have your child go to bed on time tonight so they will be ready for learning in the morning. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ON THE BALLOT✅ Q: If Martin County property values are increasing, why is there a need for an additional millage? A: Although home and property values may be rapidly rising at the moment, the Florida legislature sets K-12 statewide millage rates for local property taxes, along with a funding formula aimed at creating equitable school funding throughout the state. The established funding for each student is a set dollar amount in every Florida county. The state also caps school districts’ spending to create a level playing field statewide. In other words, Florida’s school funding formula is not directly tied to a community’s property values. The MCSD School Board is also committed to only using revenue that is absolutely necessary to continue funding programs and services for students. If the Board finds that it does not need the full ½-mill provided through the proposed referendum, it will not assess and collect the full half-mill. The collection "up to" the half-mill that is already in place will be determined using the annual Truth in Millage (TRIM) notice. Get answers to frequently asked questions about the millage renewal here: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum ✅Election Day is August 23. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ON THE BALLOT✅ The Martin County School District has received one-time federal money through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER I, ESSER II, and ESSER III) Funds, which were part of the COVID-19 relief efforts. The District has spent some of this money in 2020 and 2021, and has until 2024 to use what we will eventually be eligible to receive. While these funds have been helpful, they are temporary in nature and limited in scope as to what they can be used for. The money must be used to mitigate the effects of the pandemic on teaching and learning. MCSD has made full use of these relief funds. The money has been allocated for summer school programming, tutoring, personal protective equipment, additional staff to support student re-engagement and closing achievement gaps, and technology purchases, among other approved items. Get answers to frequently asked questions about the millage renewal here: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum ✅Election Day is August 23. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎 #BACKTOSCHOOL COUNTDOWN🍎 Click the link below to bookmark our 2022-2023 school calendar. This will help your family keep track of report card/interim report dates, holidays, early dismissal days and more! https://www.martinschools.org/page/reopening#incal #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎READY FOR STUDENTS 🍎 Last week, Superintendent John D. Millay spoke with Matt Lincoln of CBS 12 News about what Martin County families can expect as students return to classes for the 2022-2023 school year! 📺Tune in to the CBS12 Morning Show tomorrow to learn more. 📚The first day of school is August 10! #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎MONDAY MORNINGS WITH MILLAY🍎 Tune in to the WSTU 1450 AM Morning Show tomorrow at 8! Superintendent John D. Millay will kick off the 2022-2023 school year with an update on what families need to know before students return to classes on August 10. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

📚 #BACKTOSCHOOL COUNTDOWN📚 Due to the expiration of a federal waiver, the District will no longer be able to offer free meals to all students this school year. Families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meal benefits on our website or via a paper form available from their child's school. Students attending the following schools will continue to receive free breakfasts and lunches with no income restrictions: J. D. Parker School Of Technology, The Pinewood Elementary, Port Salerno Elementary School, Warfield Elementary School, Indiantown Middle School, Willoughby Learning Center and Spectrum Academy. For the schools not listed above, MCSD will cover the costs of meals for all students for the first three days of school (August 10-12). After August 12, the regular price for breakfast for K-5 and 6-12 students is $1.50. Lunch for K-5 is $1.85, and 6-12 is $2.10. The District will cover the cost of meals for students who apply and qualify for reduced-price meals. Complete a school meal application here: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ON THE BALLOT✅ The voter-approved 2018 millage rate referendum provided the Martin County School District with the resources needed to sustain the following: 🍎Safety & Security: The District has added three Martin County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers (SROs) at the high schools and allocated funds to enhance charter school safety and security. 🍎Mental Health Programs: The District has invested in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) framework in our schools, added three high school counselors and added student programming, including Safe Schools Ambassadors training to address bullying. 🍎Recruiting and Retaining Teachers: The District provided wage stipends for teachers and support staff, and also held recruitment fairs to attract and retain more highly-qualified personnel. 🍎Professional Development: The District has invested in a grant writer to open up additional funding opportunities, increased employee training in key areas, and provided certified nursing assistant training for employees serving our school clinics. 🍎Academic Initiatives: The District was able to implement a full, K-12 English Language Arts (ELA) adoption of instructional materials aligned to the Florida Department of Education's new B.E.S.T. standards. Get answers to frequently asked questions about the millage renewal here: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum ✅Election Day is August 23. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ON THE BALLOT✅ If the millage reauthorization is approved by voters, the School Board would determine on an annual basis what the additional millage rate would be - based on needs and other funding sources for the upcoming school year- up to a maximum of one half-mill. The School Board determined in July to designate one half-mill for the 2022-2023 school year. Homeowners with a homestead exemption on last year's property tax bill (and continued for this year's bill) will see a DECREASE in school property taxes this year, even though property values have increased. This fact remains true even when factoring in the renewal of the "up to" one half-mill on August 23! Get answers to frequently asked questions about the millage renewal here: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

📚 #BACKTOSCHOOL COUNTDOWN📚 Don't miss any updates from the Martin County School District or your favorite MCSD schools this year! Download our app in your phone's app store to view calendars, upcoming events, menus and more! 🍎Download for Apple Devices: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/martin-county-schools-fl/id1582223225 🤖Download for Android Devices: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apptegy.martincountyfl&hl=en_US&gl=US #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎 #BACKTOSCHOOL COUNTDOWN🍎 Families will be able to view their child's classroom teacher assignment/course schedule in the FOCUS Parent Portal this evening. Don't forget to complete your child's emergency contact and parental consent forms while you're logged in! Access FOCUS here: https://martin.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/ If you do not currently have access to FOCUS, view instructions for claiming your account here: https://martin.focusschoolsoftware.com/focus/auth/ #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ON THE BALLOT✅ In July, the MCSD School Board finalized how the District would use millage funds if voters approve the half-mill property tax referendum on August 23, 2022. For the 2022-23 school year, the Board will allocate millage funding to the five categories established under the original referendum item that was approved by voters in 2018: 🍎School safety and security ($533,613 allocated) 🍎Mental health programs ($1,221,000 allocated) 🍎Recruiting and retaining teachers and support staff ($12,000,200 allocated) 🍎Professional development ($10,000 allocated) 🍎Academic initiatives ($10,000 allocated) The School Board’s decision is based on input provided through a recent survey and the feedback of teachers, staff and members of the Martin County community. Get answers to frequently asked questions about the millage renewal here: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🎉 CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE🎉 Deputy Superintendent Michael Maine congratulated School Bus Operator Alfreda Newton for her 43 years of dedicated service to the Martin County School District this morning! Ms. Newton has impacted thousands of young lives as she's safely transported students to and from school. "She's a ray of sunshine to all who know her!" Mr. Maine exclaimed. We are so grateful for all of our outstanding Transportation employees! Drivers and assistants are participating in #BacktoSchool professional development sessions today. 🍎🚍🍎🚍 📲Interested in learning more about becoming a school bus operator or assistant? Click here to chat with a recruiter: https://bit.ly/ChatWithMCSDHR #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud