Ennis Public Schools

10/18/2022

Scoop From The Supt. What's going on @ Ennis School District # 52

10/18/2022

We hope that all of you are having a wonderful fall! Please click on the following to view the Supt. Newsletter. Go MUSTANGS!!!!

Scoop From The Supt. What's going on @ Ennis School District # 52

09/09/2022

September 9, 2022

Dear Ennis Mustang Families and the Ennis Community,

I hope that this letter finds all of you well. We are moving right along here at the school and great progress is being made.

When school is in session, it is fast and furious as we always have so much going on. The amount of programs we offer kids is just incredible and we love it! As the Superintendent, I work hard to be accessible and noticeable throughout the buildings during the day, which I will say that I am very pleased with our staff and students. When walking through the school it is apparent that learning is going on and kids are engaged! We are so fortunate to have such caring, energetic and professional staff.

We are still looking to fill a few positions and we are making good progress. We have had a few calls from community members on driving a school bus and we are interviewing next week for our custodial openings. I continue to be optimistic that these positions will be filled. As far as teaching positions, we are looking for a HS math teacher and a HS science teacher. For the time being, we do have these positions temporarily filled with some very qualified individuals with strong math and science backgrounds. I appreciate the fact that qualified community members are helping us out by filling these positions!

The school bond has been an active topic of discussion amongst the trustees. Next week, we are hoping to have in all the district residents hands an informational tri fold summarizing the project with the estimated tax impacts. You will see how the project scope and cost has changed from last year. All of this important information is on the school website www.ennisschools.org. At the top of the page you will see in the header “Ennis School Facility Expansion Information,” click on that to view the process to date summary, floor plans, and the tri fold. The school board has also noticed a meeting over at the Big Sky Resort on Monday, September 12 to discuss the bond with district residents in the Big Sky area. The board is working diligently in getting the information out and being transparent before the November 8th bond election. The goal is for all taxpayers to have the information they need to make an informed decision.

School activities are well underway and our sports teams are having a very productive and successful year. I am very pleased with our school pride which reaches from Kindergarten to our Seniors. We like our games loud and proud, so please come cheer on your Mustangs! All sports schedules are on the school website, so check it out!

In closing, thank you for all you do for our school and keeping our students a priority. Let’s continue the positive trajectory! As always, please contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Have a great weekend and GO MUSTANGS!

Sincerely,

Casey Klasna - Superintendent

Home of the Mustangs

08/26/2022

Scoop from the Supt. August 26, 2022

Dear Ennis Mustang Families and Ennis Community,

I hope that this correspondence finds you well and that you are enjoying what is left of summer!

It has been incredibly busy and I am very pleased with how the first week went here at Ennis Schools, which I attribute to our excellent staff and students. The energy has been very positive and I am very excited about the upcoming school year! It is a joy to be working in such an excellent school system with such great people!

As we all know, the community of Ennis and the Ennis School District is growing. There are a lot of new faces at the school and to date we have over 30 brand new kids to the district. Our enrollment currently is around 430 students, which is 20 more students from last year and 50 more from two years ago.

Most of you are aware that staffing has been a struggle for schools in general. I am pleased with our progress despite the hurdles we have endured in finding quality staff. The community of Ennis has been so gracious in assisting our shortages by offering help, suggestions, and to help spread the word. We have a full teaching staff at this time, but have to offer a few elective classes virtually through an accredited online program. Our goal is to continue to seek out quality staff and to keep our vacancies filled.

Finding school bus drivers has been a challenge, but thankfully there has been interest from community members on driving buses. We are optimistic that we will have additional drivers later this fall to fill our vacancies. We are still looking for a custodian and have had some interest, so keeping fingers crossed. Due to the influx of new students and our class sizes getting larger, we are currently looking for two full time paraprofessionals to assist our K-12 instructional staff to ensure that all of our student needs are being met. All of these positions offer competitive pay and EXCELLENT benefits.

I would also like to shout out to the Ennis school board of trustees for their team approach on making key decisions for the betterment of the district. The collaboration and leadership of your elected trustees is very important for a positive trajectory. It is apparent that they want what is best for the students, staff, and community by making decisions that align with the strategic plan. A very important initiative they have been working on is ensuring that we have affordable housing for recruiting and retaining quality staff. Just this summer, the district accomplished a basement remodel that allowed one additional unit for a teacher to live in. Looking forward, another initiative is to have two more new staff units adjacent to the school. Affordable housing is very crucial and because of housing, we were able to fill our vacant positions.

The trustees agreed at the August meeting to run a school bond at the November 8, 2022 election to address adequate educational space, site safety and security, and school district growth. The trustees heard loud and clear from the taxpayers their concerns of the previous bond and have worked hard to address the concerns. The board is working diligently to get the bond information out to the taxpayers soon so everyone can be well informed before they vote. We strongly encourage you to visit the school website www.ennisschools.org and to click on “Ennis Schools Facility Expansion Information” at the top of the page. There you will find updated information on the “process to date summary” as well as project floor plans. We will be adding additional information to the website on a regular basis, so please keep checking.

Communication is vital for a successful school, so please visit the school website, Ennis Schools page, and the FREE mobile app for important information.

In closing, we appreciate and value your support of Ennis Schools and for allowing us to teach your kids! Let’s continue the collaboration and teamwork in making Ennis Schools the best that it can be! Please contact us if you have any questions! GO MUSTANGS!!!

Sincerely,

Casey Klasna - Superintendent

Home of the Mustangs

08/24/2022

Ennis Schools is immediately seeking applicants to fill two (2) paraprofessional positions for the 2022-2023 school year to assist our K-12 instructional staff. Approximately 40 hours/week. Starting pay is $15.45/hr DOE. EXCELLENT benefits including up to $740/month for health insurance (12 month benefit), public employee retirement system, and accrual of sick and vacation leave.

Ennis Schools is immediately seeking applicants to fill a custodial position for the 2022-2023 school year. 40 hours/week. Starting pay is $19.30/hr DOE. EXCELLENT benefits including up to $740/month for health insurance, public employees retirement system, 3 personal days, holiday pay, and accrual of sick and vacation leave. We will consider part time employees as well!

Contact Superintendent Casey Klasna at 406-682-4258 for further information.

08/02/2022

August 2, 2022

Dear Ennis Mustang Families and Ennis Community,

We hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying your summer break. We are getting closer to the first day of school, which starts Wednesday, August 24th.

I would like to update you on our staffing shortages at the school and there is no secret that finding workers has been a real challenge the past few years not only at the school, but the community as well. Currently, we are short 2 school bus route drivers and we have had no interest. This position starts at $25/hr and guarantees 20 hours/week for the VC route and 22.5 hours/week for the Cameron Route. With these positions comes prorated health insurance, vacation and sick leave, as well a retirement system (PERS). We are willing to be flexible with the route schedules and will combine this position with a custodial or other position to make it full time. We will train and we will pay for training. The other shortage we have is in our custodial department and could use more custodians. The starting wage is $19.20/hr and offers EXCELLENT benefits including up to $740/month for health insurance, $50k life insurance, 3 personal days, paid holidays, vacation/sick leave, and PERS retirement. We are willing to hire part time custodians as well. Also, if you have a child who is 14 years old or older, they can apply for an after school custodial job for up to 3 hours. It is a great job for kids to put some extra cash in their pockets. We could employ up to 3 student workers after school. We will be discussing at length our staffing shortages at the August 8 school board meeting.

Our teaching positions have slowly been getting filled. We will have a recommendation for a K-12 Art teacher at the August 8th school board meeting as well as a 9-12 Science teacher to instruct 2 sections of Biology and 2 sections of Earth Science. We have an employee within the school that will teach Chemistry, but we are still looking to get Anatomy filled, which may be offered through a digital platform. Unfortunately, we are advertising for a HS math teacher to instruct Geometry and Algebra 2. We hope that folks will spread the word and contact any potential math folks within the community that may be willing to help us out. If we cannot find a math teacher, then we will have no choice but to offer math through a digital platform, which we want to be the last resort. The teacher shortage is real and schools across the state and nation are in a very tough spot. We are willing to look at alternative licensing options as well with the Montana Office of Public Instruction and getting good people in front of kids, even if they do not have the proper licensing at this point.

Housing continues to be an issue in our community and we would appreciate any leads on affordable housing that school staff can afford. We have 6 units at the school and they are full with new teachers. Fortunately, the board has approved housing initiatives that will help recruit and retain quality staff. One initiative is remodeling a basement of one of our units making it into a one bedroom apartment, which that unit is about ready to go and already spoken for. Another initiative we are working on is putting a duplex on the vacant school lot just west of the school, which we are hoping to be completed a year from now.

As most of you know, the school board made the decision to discontinue ZOOM board meetings. So, the August 8th school board meeting will be in-person. I want to remind folks that the agendas are posted every month online about a week before the meeting. If you go to the school website, click on the “documents” tab then click on the “school board” folder and you will find the agenda. In addition, the meeting agenda is posted about a week in advance at the post office in Ennis, Virginia City, McAllister, and Cameron. The agenda can also be found on the school mobile app under documents. If you have not gotten the free school app, you can download it from Google Play or the Apple Store. Like always, I encourage folks to contact the school with any questions.

On a positive note, we are excited and ready for the new school year and seeing the kids. At this point it is looking like we will have around 420 kids enrolled in the school K-12, which is 10 more than last year at this time and 40 more than two years ago. We are enrolling kids and giving school tours to families on a consistent basis and we are excited to have them in our district!

In closing, please contact the school if you have any questions. Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Casey Klasna - Supt.

07/18/2022

REPOST!! Bus route drivers and custodians wanted to start immediately for the 2022-2023 school year. Competitive pay and EXCELLENT benefits.

Route driver starting pay is $25.00/hr. DOE and is a 183 day contract. This position requires proper certification which includes a CDL, passenger, bus, and air brakes endorsement. This position is approximately 22 hours a week and offers Public Employee Retirement System, and prorated health insurance where the district would pay approximately $400/month. In addition, sick leave and vacation are accrued per law. Shifts are morning 6am-8:15am and the afternoon 2:45p.m.-5pm.

Custodial starting pay is $19.30/hr. DOE and offers EXCELLENT benefits. This position is a 260 day contract and includes 3 personal days, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave accrual per law, up to $740/month for health insurance, Public Employee Retirement System, and a $50,000 life insurance policy. During the summer months, the shifts are 4-10s Monday-Thursday from 7am-5pm. During the school year, shifts are Monday-Friday 3:15pm-11:15pm.

For more information, contact Superintendent Casey Klasna @ 406-682-4258 or [email protected].

07/18/2022

REPOST!!! Ennis Schools is immediately looking to fill two teaching positions, K-12 Art and HS Science for the 2022-2023 school year.
High School Science instruction includes 2 periods of Earth Science, 2 periods of Biology, 1 period of Anatomy, and 1 period of Chemistry. K-12 Art instruction includes 1 period of elementary Art, 1 period of JH Art, and 4 periods of HS Art.

Montana Certification is strongly preferred, but WILL consider alternative licensing such as a an Emergency Authorization or a Class 5 provisional license through the Montana Office of Public Instruction. If you do not have the proper Montana certification, but have strong knowledge in the areas of science or art and can connect with kids, please come to us for a more detailed conversation on alternative licensing. We are willing to pursue all options.

Teaching at Ennis Schools is a very rewarding experience with an outstanding faculty. A major benefit to working at the school is the kids!

The teaching contract is 183 days and the salary range depends on experience. We allow 6 years outside teaching experience. The salary range is $34,310 to $45,000. Daily rate of pay for a beginner teacher is approximately $186 and the daily rate of pay for a teacher at $45,000 is $246.

A MAJOR PERK is that the district pays 12 months of health insurance. The insurance amount is up to $740/month. In addition, teachers get 5 personal days and 15 sick days. Another great perk is teachers get the same holidays off as the students which include Labor Day, the day before and after Thanksgiving, 2 weeks off at Christmas, February 17th and February 20th, March 13-17th (Spring Break), Easter Friday ,Easter Monday, and Memorial Day. Additional benefits include a $50,000 life insurance plan and be part of the Teachers Retirement System.

The district currently has one unit of teacher housing available at a very affordable rate of $600/month. The district pays utilities.

Please call Superintendent Casey Klasna @ 406-682-4258 or email [email protected] for additional information.

07/12/2022

ATTENTION ALL BUSINESSES!! Ennis Schools is looking for you to advertise your business on the football field and the softball field. Signs are 4'X5' and will be placed on the south fence of the FB field and the fence at the softball field. The businesses are responsible to design the sign and submit that to the school district for approval. No alcohol, to***co, etc. allowed on the signs. After school approval, then the sign will need to be made. We have a local sign company we recommend to make the sign. The businesses will be responsible for the cost of the sign plus $250/year per sign per field. Businesses can advertise on both fields or just one. We would love to advertise your business at the school! If interested, please contact Superintendent Casey Klasna @ 406-682-4258 or email [email protected].

06/23/2022

Ennis Schools is immediately looking to fill two teaching positions, K-12 Art and HS Science for the 2022-2023 school year.

High School Science instruction includes 2 periods of Earth Science, 2 periods of Biology, 1 period of Anatomy, and 1 period of Chemistry.

K-12 Art instruction includes 1 period of elementary Art, 1 period of JH Art, and 4 periods of HS Art.

Montana Certification is strongly preferred, but WILL consider alternative licensing such as a an Emergency Authorization or a Class 5 provisional license through the Montana Office of Public Instruction. If you do not have the proper Montana certification, but have strong knowledge in the areas of science or art and can connect with kids, please come to us for a more detailed conversation on alternative licensing. We are willing to pursue all options.

Teaching at Ennis Schools is a very rewarding experience with an outstanding faculty. A major benefit to working at the school is the kids!

The teaching contract is 183 days and the salary range depends on experience. We allow 6 years outside teaching experience. The salary range is $34,310 to $45,000. Daily rate of pay for a beginner teacher is approximately $186 and the daily rate of pay for a teacher at $45,000 is $246.

A MAJOR PERK is that the district pays 12 months of health insurance. The insurance amount is up to $740/month. In addition, teachers get 5 personal days and 15 sick days. Another great perk is teachers get the same holidays off as the students which include Labor Day, the day before and after Thanksgiving, 2 weeks off at Christmas, February 17th and February 20th, March 13-17th (Spring Break), Easter Friday ,Easter Monday, and Memorial Day. Additional benefits include a $50,000 life insurance plan and be part of the Teachers Retirement System. The district currently has one unit of teacher housing available at a very affordable rate of $600/month. The district pays utilities.

Please call Superintendent Casey Klasna @ 406-682-4258 or email [email protected] for additional information.

06/23/2022

Bus route drivers and custodians wanted to start immediately for the 2022-2023 school year. Competitive pay and EXCELLENT benefits.

Route driver starting pay is $25.00/hr. DOE and is a 183 day contract. This position requires proper certification which includes a CDL, passenger, bus, and air brakes endorsement. This position is approximately 22 hours a week and offers Public Employee Retirement System, and prorated health insurance where the district would pay approximately $400/month. In addition, sick leave and vacation are accrued per law. Shifts are morning 6am-8:15am and the afternoon 2:45p.m.-5pm.

Custodial starting pay is $19.30/hr. DOE and offers EXCELLENT benefits. This position is a 260 day contract and includes 3 personal days, paid holidays, vacation and sick leave accrual per law, up to $740/month for health insurance, Public Employee Retirement System, and a $50,000 life insurance policy. During the summer months, the shifts are 4-10s Monday-Thursday from 7am-5pm. During the school year, shifts are Monday-Friday 3:15pm-11:15pm.

For more information, contact Superintendent Casey Klasna @ 406-682-4258 or [email protected].

06/03/2022

June 3, 2022

Dear Ennis Mustang Families and the Ennis Community,

We made it! Today marks the last day of school for the 2022 school year. It has been a crazy day with excitement of kids checking out, year end parties, awards, etc. A lot of laughs and smiles, which is what it is all about. A handful of high school boys even rode their horses to school and got the attention of quite a few folks, especially Ms. Newman and myself. Luckily, they didn’t leave them for us to take care of!

We are more than pleased with how the school year ended up. I was impressed and proud of our students this year. These kids are involved and very well rounded. A school is only as good as the people we have working in it. Our staff is very, very good. I was impressed with the camaraderie and teamwork that the classified and certified staff demonstrated all year. We have a good team who keeps students the priority. Just recently at the annual Lions Club Awards Banquet, the Ennis School Teachers were recognized as “Citizens of the Year.” A very great honor and very well deserved.

Our community is exceptional in their support of the school. The amount of giving this community has, in my opinion, is the best in Montana. I think that this can be easy to lose track of on occasion as it is just so “normal.” This community is outstanding and the support makes our school that much stronger. For example, we graduated 28 students and over $100,000 in local scholarships were given out. Yes, I said local scholarships! We are so fortunate.

Our enrollment continues to grow. We have toured several families this spring that will be enrolling their children in the fall. The building project/facility expansion continues to be actively discussed amongst the planning committee and the school board. We encourage your feedback as well as any questions you have. Also, please check the school website for updated information.

We have faced several challenges this year and continue to face challenges, primarily with school staffing. Unfortunately, there is an extreme school staffing shortage nationwide and we feel it in Ennis. We have it better than most, but it is still not ideal. We had several retirements and resignations this year making it a challenge to fill those vacancies. We are still searching for a K-12 art teacher, math teacher, and recently a science teacher. In terms of classified staff, we are in search of 2 route drivers and custodians. We are optimistic we will get the positions filled, but need your help in getting the word out.

This summer the school will not get a rest. We have several camps scheduled for kids as well as other events going on. Please check the school website for information. The central office will be open Monday-Thursday from 8am-4pm.

In closing, have a great summer. School will resume for the students on Wednesday, August 24th. We are so glad you send your children to school here, so thank you.

Sincerely,

Casey Klasna - Supt.