Time Flies When You're Having Fun....

Friday, June 28th marks the end of my 4th contract year with York Public Schools. Time flies when you're having fun! It is unreal to think that it has been four years already. I am very appreciative of all the support and guidance from the Board of Education.

Our students and alumni are outstanding and I enjoy working hard on their behalf. Our faculty and staff are very dedicated and I consider it an honor to work side by side with them as we continue to try and move YPS forward. We're lucky to have the community and parental support that we enjoy. All in all, York is a special place and York Public Schools is an outstanding organization in which to serve.

Here's to four more years and a lot of outstanding Duke Pride and accomplishments in the future!

GO DUKES!

School Safety

SCHOOL SAFETY is always a top priority for YPS. With that in mind, we're adding "buzzer entry doors" to YES and YMS for August 2013. Once school begins, all entrance doors will be locked. Each building will have one main entrance that visitors can go to and be buzzed in once they communicate with the office. YHS is going to have this capability at the south entrance through the bond issue project. This will be a little less convenient for parents and others that are used to being able to enter any building at anytime throughout the day but we feel it is a necessary adjustment to make for our students.

YHS Construction Update

The construction project at York High School continues to move full steam ahead. Since school dismissed on May 17th, crews have been working many hours.

FINE ARTS ADDITION
• Drywall work has been finished
• Painting has begun
• Cabinetry is being installed

GYM ADDITION
• Concrete gym floor has been poured
• Electrical and mechanical rough-ins continue
• Gym will most likely not be done by August 20th when school resumes but should be done in September

DISTRICT STORAGE/ADMIN BUILDING
• The final “punch list” is being conducted by June 12th with occupancy to most likely take place by July 8th

INTERIOR REMODEL
• Demolition work is in full swing and is scheduled to be done by June 18th
• HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and Fire Sprinkler work is ongoing
• Skylights will begin to be installed this month

MISCELLANEOUS
• The additional south parking lot that will add 46 parking stalls will begin to take shape in the next few weeks
• It is still our goal to regain full occupancy by August 5th since school resumes on August 20th
• The project is not scheduled for total completion until November 30, 2013.

Summer, Summer, Summer....

"Summer" seems to be hitting full stride about now. It's great to see so many kids at the City Pool, playing softball and baseball, involved with the Childrens' Theatre, at the City Library, involved with 4-H, etc. Within YPS, the summer is a very busy time to conduct lots of state reporting on the just completed school year while preparing facilities, budgets, curriculums, etc. for the upcoming school year.

Our "Free Lunch" Program runs Monday-Friday from 11:30-12:30 at the PLAY/Head Start facility. We are averaging about 42 free lunches per day so far this summer. Anyone between the ages of 1-18 can come get a free lunch. Our after-school program grant also allows for six weeks of summer programming at YES and YMS and this will begin on June 10th and run from 8:00 AM until Noon Monday - Friday.

We still have some room in our "Summer Learning Academies" that are scheduled for the week of June 24th. Contact the district office if you're interested.

Enjoy the summer. Get a tan. Make some new friendships. Stay active. August 20th will be here before we know it!

Go Dukes,

Mike Lucas