MARTIN COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

💧MAKING RIPPLES, REMEMBERING OUR "WHY"💧 For the second consecutive year, Superintendent John D. Millay and our Professional Development team hosted #BacktoSchool Convocation for all employees! Convocation helps Team MCSD celebrate the start of each new school year, highlighting the "why" behind everything we do - the success of ALL students! Watch the video: https://youtu.be/vfgIs1FCVpg #ALLINMartin #MCSDTheRippleEffect #PublicSchoolProud

🍎CURRICULUM NIGHTS🍎 Elementary families - Curriculum Nights will be held this evening and tomorrow evening (depending on grade level) at your child's school. Curriculum Night is an excellent way for your family to get to know your child's teacher(s) and more about their school's plan for teaching and learning this year. Click here to view specific details for your child's school: https://www.martinschools.org/page/reopening#curriculumnights #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

Thank you, Martin County! Read more about the renewal of the millage referendum: https://conta.cc/3pDsLEO #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ ON THE BALLOT✅ Election Day is here, Martin County! The Martin County School District’s 2018 millage rate referendum has provided additional revenue of $47 million over four years to fund critical operational programs and services throughout the District. One hundred percent (100%) of funds generated by the existing millage referendum have stayed in Martin County. Today, voters will be asked whether or not they wish to continue the 'up to' one-half mill property tax referendum for an additional four years. A millage referendum is the only way Florida school districts can secure additional funding for operational needs (salaries, academic initiatives, safety personnel) that cannot be covered using the funds allocated by the state. Learn more about the ballot item: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum View a sample ballot: https://bit.ly/MC2022PrimarySampleBallot Locate your precinct before heading to the polls: https://www.martinvotes.gov/election-information/precinct-locations/#Search #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ ON THE BALLOT✅ The TCPalm Editorial Board and Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors have endorsed the renewal of the millage referendum. In support of its recommendation, the TCPalm Editorial Board published the following: In a perfect world, there would be a better way for Florida school districts to adequately fund their operations without seeking voter approval every four years. Unfortunately, though, the state's formula for funding schools sets limits on how much districts can spend on their own without these types of referendums. If approved by the voters, the bulk of the money raised through the millage levy would supplement compensation for teachers and school support staff members. Smaller amounts would fund school resource officers and mental health counseling programs. Recruiting and retaining teachers is an issue in Martin County and elsewhere. School districts are using whatever methods they can, including millage referendums, to keep their classrooms staffed by qualified workers. A "yes" vote is recommended to provide a short-term solution to address these issues. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🎉📣WE'VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW 'BOUT YOU?📣🎉 "Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Whether working at a school site or the district office, every Martin County School District team member creates ripples in our students' lives. Together, we can turn those ripples into waves! #ALLINMartin👊 #MCSDTheRippleEffect

🚗 MONDAY MORNINGS WITH MILLAY🚗 Begin your day with Superintendent John D. Millay by tuning in to the WSTU 1450 AM Morning Show at 8 tomorrow! Dr. Millay will join the show live to share the latest news and information from throughout the Martin County School District. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud #MCSDTheRippleEffect

🎉📣SPIRIT DAY VIBES📣🎉 Jensen Beach Elementary School staff and students show where their spirit comes from... their hearts! #MSCDTheRippleEffect #ALLINMartin👊

🍎 CELEBRATING LEGACIES OF EXCELLENCE🍎 Superintendent John D. Millay and the Martin County School District's leadership team celebrated the upcoming retirements of Palm City Elementary School Principal Robyn Monte (34 years with MCSD) and Deputy Superintendent Ginger Featherstone (36 years with MCSD) on Thursday. Both leaders received a standing ovation from their colleagues, and many tears were shed as stories were told about the impact each had made in the lives of thousands of students, employees and families over the years. Read more: https://www.martinschools.org/article/813179 #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

✅ON THE BALLOT✅ On Tuesday, August 23, Martin County voters will decide whether or not to renew the millage referendum that has funded millions in essential operational expenses for the Martin County School District over the last four years. If the renewal is approved by voters, the School Board has committed $1,221,000 to mental health programs in year one. On Friday, Stephanie Susskind of WPTV visited Crystal Lake Elementary School. She spoke with the school's guidance counselor and one of the District's Prevention Intervention Program Specialists about how the School Board's millage-related mental health allocation would be a huge support to the work they are doing each day with students. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/HzTg7r6GUqQ Learn more about the millage referendum renewal: https://www.martinschools.org/page/referendum 🗳Election Day is August 23. Learn more about voting in Martin County: https://www.martinvotes.gov/ #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🎨 SPEAKING OUT ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH🎨 Our Doodle for Google grand prize winner, Sophie Araque-Liu of Martin County High School, was featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt this week. Sophie spoke with Lester about the important meaning of the drawing she submitted to the annual contest, which led to her earning a $30,000 college scholarship and $50,000 for her school! Watch the video: https://youtu.be/67GBBl_pTTM #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud #MCSDTheRippleEffect

📣🎉SHOWING THAT MCSD TEAM SPIRIT📣🎉 The work of our Exceptional Student Education and Instructional Services departments ripples through each and every Martin County School District student every day. 💧Every day, IS team members strive to impact the students of Martin County by ensuring each student has access to high quality curriculum, instruction, and materials. Their ripple extends to all schools, students, and instructional staff and they appreciate the partnerships they have made throughout the District and community. 💧MCSD has awesome team members who are excited to make caring mental health ripple effects for our students by becoming Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructors! They help educators throughout our district identify risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems and how to address a student in need of support. 💧Today, ESE Program Specialists and IPS Coaches worked together at the Stuart Learning Center to create a positive “ripple” for our staff and students. #ALLINMartin👊

💧THE MCSD RIPPLE EFFECT💧 Spirit Day continues! From the very first staff interaction of the day to midday lunch time to the last person our students see before saying goodbye for the day, every single Martin County School District team members creates a ripple effect in each student's life. 💧Transportation: The first RIPPLE of the wave to a productive and positive school day. 💧💧Custodians keep our schools clean and clear the trail for learning. 💧💧💧Food Service Associates FUEL our students bodies with nutrition, so our teachers can FUEL their brains with knowledge. Healthy choices=healthy day. 💧💧💧💧Facilities staff help build the foundation, maintain the grounds where our students learn and can repair just about anything. #ALLINMartin👊 #TheMCSDRippleEffect

🎉📣TEAM MCSD SPIRIT DAY📣🎉 Today, Martin County School District staff are showing their team spirit with their #MCSDTheRippleEffect shirts! Throughout the day, check out the inspirational and educational ripples our educators and staff hope to create for our students all year. First up, Warfield Elementary School! "Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Roberts and our paras are creating the #RippleEffect in our classroom at Warfield Elementary by making sure students know how valued they are and teaching them to let their light shine." #ALLINMartin👊

✅ ON THE BALLOT ✅ Did you know?! 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. View examples: https://bit.ly/3c6fx0q. 🗳Early voting is underway! Learn more about voting in Martin County: https://www.martinvotes.gov/. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD🍎 The Martin County School Board Members would like to welcome students, families and staff back to the Martin County School District for the 2022-2023 school year. 👀 Take a few minutes to watch this video as each school board member highlights what educators and staff can look forward to for the upcoming school year: -New math materials made by teachers and for teachers, keeping simplicity in mind -High teacher salaries and increased substitute pay -Expansion of mental health support -Opening of two brand-new elementary schools (Palm City Elementary School & Jensen Beach Elementary School) -Prioritizing and constantly improving school safety We hope every student and staff member has a wonderful school year full of learning and growth! https://youtu.be/4NwmwkczH0M #ALLINMartin #PublicSchoolProud #MCSDTheRippleEffect

✅ ON THE BALLOT: MILLAGE REFERENDUM RENEWAL✅ The Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors has endorsed the renewal of the millage referendum. The Martin County School District's need for a millage rate increase referendum comes down to the way schools are funded in Florida. At the state level, the Florida legislature determines the maximum amount of total K-12 spending in the state. The legislature sets statewide millage rates for local property taxes, along with the portion of local taxes each district must collect. Many residents are surprised to learn that due to our higher property values, Martin County does not receive as much state funding as other school districts. The state's funding formula attempts to create a level playing field for all of Florida's students, whether or not they reside in a county with high property tax values. The state allocates funds to local districts based on enrollment. A millage referendum is the only way a school district can secure additional funding for operational needs (salaries, academic initiatives, safety personnel) that cannot be covered using the funds allocated by the state. The existing millage referendum, which was generously approved by Martin County voters in 2018, provided an additional revenue of $47 million to fund key operational programs and services. One hundred percent (100%) of funds generated by the existing millage have stayed in Martin County. 🗳Early voting is underway! Visit martinvotes.gov to learn more. Election Day is August 23. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

🍎ON THE AGENDA🍎 Today's School Board meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. View the agenda: https://bit.ly/3SIJa8w Watch the livestream: https://youtu.be/eQ_mvs-3XYw #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud

Rise and shine with our Doodle for Google CHAMPION on your mind! Visit Google.com today and check out the featured art to see for yourself! 💻 🎨 🏆 Thanks in part to our generous Martin County community members, who went #ALLINMartin👊 with their voting, Martin County High School senior Sophie Araque-Liu has been named the winner of Google’s annual student art competition. Sophie has earned a $30,000 college scholarship for herself and $50,000 for the establishment or improvement of a tech lab at MCHS! Read more: https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/doodle-for-google-winner-cares-for-herself-by-not-going-it-alone/ #MCSDTheRippleEffect #PublicSchoolProud

✅ ON THE BALLOT: ACCOUNTABILITY & TRANSPARENCY✅ The Martin County School District's Millage Oversight Committee has carefully monitored the spending of millage funds for the past four years to ensure complete alignment with what was promised to voters in 2018. Ms. Jessica Ville, a Martin County parent and taxpayer, serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee. She spoke in favor of renewing the millage during the Martin County School Board meeting on July 19, 2022. Watch the video: https://youtu.be/PIhJZ5GHlqg 🗳Early voting is underway now through August 20. Election Day is August 23. #ALLINMartin👊 #PublicSchoolProud