Asbury Budget Update: Stability, Growth, and Investing in Our Students

Asbury Community,

We are excited to share some incredibly positive news regarding our strategic budget for the upcoming school year. In a "sea of change" across the district, Asbury continues to stand as an anchor of stability. Thanks to our stable enrollment projection of 326 students and the unwavering support of our community, we are in a strong financial position as we "chart our course" for the future.

Retaining Our Talented Team

We are happy to report that we are currently at a break-even status, which means we do not need to make any budget cuts for the upcoming year. This allows us to keep all of our current positions as is, ensuring that the educators and staff our students love will remain a part of the Asbury team. We know that our people are our priority—in fact, 90% of Asbury’s budget is invested directly in our staff.

Strategic Requests for Growth

While we are maintaining our current staffing, we are also making targeted requests to address long-standing needs in our building. We are officially asking the district to support Asbury to fund:

A .5 M/M (Mild/Moderate) Special Education Teacher: We have long known that we need this additional layer of support. This role will ensure that our students who require the most consistent coverage receive the dedicated instructional time they deserve.

A 2-Day-a-Week School Psychologist Intern: To ensure our "whole child" supports are robust, this role will provide much-needed mental health and social-emotional coverage throughout our school.

Increased Nursing Coverage: We are moving from a .4 to a .6 Nurse to provide more consistent health office support.

We will be hearing about those budget requests soon!

PTSO Partnership & Paraprofessional Expansion

The PTSO continues to be a vital partner in our success. Their current $150,000 commitment already protects our existing instructional support.  PTSO has voted and will be upping their support to cover  two additional Instructional Paraprofessional roles. This is very exciting news that will allow us to build an instructional para support plan that ensures additional commitment to our primary grades!

Important Context on District-Level Changes

While our school-controlled budget is stable, we want to be transparent about district-level processes. Currently, DPS is conducting Reductions in Force (RIFs) for Dedicated Adult Supports (DAS). We are looking at 2 RIFs for our DAS positions at Asbury. It is important to note that while these changes are impactful for our staff, they do not impact our school budget, as these roles are funded and managed centrally.

Next Steps

Our budget process will conclude shortly with the official sign-off from our CSC Co-Chairs and with sharing the budget with our district partners. We invite you to stay engaged as we finalize these plans.Thank you for being such an integral part of our community. It is your support that makes this level of stability and growth possible. 

Warmly,

Jeanna Doung

As always, we appreciate all those that have started to put your input into our survey. Please take a few minutes to share your voice via our confidential survey: Asbury Public Input Survey Link: https://forms.gle/B52ks6Lr3bpx8qsM8

Join Us: CSC & PTSO Virtual Meetings – February 3

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming community meetings on Tuesday, February 3. Both meetings will be held virtually via Zoom, and we would love to see you there!

Collaborative School Committee (CSC) | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM The CSC is a leadership team focused on school-wide goals and accountability. This month, we will be reviewing our 2026/27 school calendar, discussing other timely school topics, and providing a space for public comment. It’s a great way to hear about the "big picture" at Asbury.

PTSO Meeting | 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM Following the CSC, stay on for the Parent Teacher Student Organization meeting! This is where we discuss community events, fundraising, and how to directly support our teachers and students through volunteerism and resources.

Note: If you require translation services for these meetings, please let the front office know so we can make arrangements.

To join the meeting, please see the meeting details below

Meeting Details: Link: Join Zoom Meeting Meeting ID: 851 7084 0861 Passcode: 5LSrXW

One Tap Mobile: +17193594580,,85170840861#,,,,*031978# US +16699006833,,85170840861#,,,,*031978# US (San Jose)

Message from Mrs. Ravel, Technology Teacher

Chromebook Responsibility Reminder to share with your students: Please have a conversation at home with your students around chromebook responsibilities.  At the beginning of the year, students agreed to the expectations around chromebooks at school (K-2) or at home and at school (3-5).  Recently we have had a strangely large increase in chromebook loss or breakage and we want to get back on a good track!  We need our chromebooks in working order so we can use them for all the great work we are doing.  Please remind your students to be extra careful with the following things in mind:

2 hands on chromebooks at all times when carrying them

Chromebooks should be closed when carried

Pay extra attention to carefully laying backpacks down when chromebooks are inside

Make sure chromebooks are not left on the ground or placed precariously on desktops

Check your device daily and report any issues immediately to your teacher

If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy_Ravel@dpsk12.net.  I will also be back in the building after my medical leave is over to continue spreading this message on 2/9.

Important Update: Temporary Boys' Bathroom Closure & Repairs

To ensure our school remains a safe and well-maintained environment, the upstairs boys' bathroom will be closed for repairs from Friday, January 30, through February 6. This closure will allow our maintenance team to fix damaged stalls and return the facility to full working order.

During this time, boys in grades 3–5 will use the facilities downstairs near the main office. To ensure proper supervision, we are implementing a temporary sign-in process where students will check in and out at the front office.

We ask for your support in reminding students to treat school property with respect so we can keep our building in great condition for everyone.

Notes from Ms Tillie

It is with great excitement that I announce that my wife is pregnant with our first child through reciprocal IVF! Baby Batesmith will join us this summer and with this in mind I will be out on leave from August 2026 through mid-February 2027. You will see a long-term sub position posted, but never you fear, I will return (albeit likely considerably more tired).

In other news, the Talent Show is quickly approaching and WE NEED YOU! If you are interested and available to participate in the Talent Show committee, please let me know as soon as you can! The primary responsibility of this committee is serving as an audition panel for the Talent Show hopefuls that will happen in late February or the first week of March. Talent Show Committee members are also asked to help organize students at Talent Show rehearsals the week before the show and, if possible, help keep an eye on everyone the night of the show (March 26th). If this is something you are able to do, please email me at tillifinney_smith@dpsk12.net!

Note from Tara Gray, school nurse

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who donated clothes to our health office. The generosity shown was truly amazing and very appreciated. Thank you all so much!

Discovery Link Makes the News! 

Click HERE to watch the video. Way to go Ronnie and the Discovery Link Kids!!

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Families - CMAS Testing - Save the Dates

Please plan accordingly for trips and appointments so students and be here for CMAS testing during these dates:  April 6-27. 

If your student will not be here, please let their teachers know as soon as possible so we can plan accordingly.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Amy_Ravel@dpsk12.net.

NEW:  Parent Information Letter (including testing schedule calendar)

NEW:  Save the Date - Thursday, March 12 (6-7pm) - Parent Online Information Session

Please, please, please have your student at school each of these testing dates on time and there all day!  Also, since the state shortened the window to 3 weeks, vs the normal 4, we will start that Tuesday after Spring Break. Normally, we start the week after spring break in previous years.

If you know that your student will be absent anytime during the window, please reach out to Amy_Ravel@dpsk12.net as soon as possible for planning purposes!

We will have a flipped specials schedule during the testing window (4/7-4/17) so primary grades will have specials in the morning and intermediate grades will have specials in the afternoon those days.

Community Safety Update

Pedestrian Crossing & Traffic Flow: We know that traffic safety around Asbury, particularly during arrival and dismissal, is a top priority for our families. I want to share an update regarding our ongoing advocacy for a safer South Lafayette Street. Pedestrian Crossing Improvements The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is currently in the process of planning a safer pedestrian crossing near Asbury, which will include a Rapid Flashing Beacon.

Project Timeline

Status: The project is currently in the contracting phase.

Construction: While we would love to see this sooner, construction is currently slated to begin in Fall 2026.

Urgent Safety Advocacy Because we recognize the need for more immediate solutions, we are working closely with our community designers and area engineers. We have asked DOTI to investigate whether the concerns on S. Lafayette can be addressed by this new crossing or if additional, more urgent measures can be taken in the meantime.

I will continue to keep you updated as I hear back from the engineering team. In the meantime, thank you for your patience and for continuing to prioritize safety by driving slowly and remaining alert in our school zones.

Message from the staff Appreciation Committee

Staff as Sweet as You!

Our Asbury Elementary staff members are truly the "sweetest" around! To show our gratitude for all the heart they put into our school, the February Staff Appreciation theme is: "Staff as Sweet as You."

We are incredibly thankful for our parent community. Your constant support and donations allow us to treat our educators to the sweet recognition they deserve.

How You Can Help:

Check out our sign-up link below to see how you can contribute to our themed celebration. Whether it’s a sugary treat or an hour of your time, your kindness makes a world of difference!

Final Drop-off: Please bring all items to the front office no later than Friday, February 6.

Link: Sign Up to Donate Here

I'm a new paragraph block.

📘 Please join us for the next PTSO Meeting – held virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 6 p.m.!

Join us on Zoom (Meeting ID: 851 7084 0861 / Passcode: 5LSrXW)

We’ll be discussing the budget, Read-A-Thon plans, Spring Wing, committee positions for next year, and more!

💙 Can you help make Grandfriends’ Day a success? We’re looking for a few volunteers to help provide snacks, greet our special guests, set up, and clean up! Please sign up here – we need your help

🍾 SPRING WING DATE ANNOUNCEMENT! Mark your calendars for Friday, May 8! More details to come! Until then, please dust off your dancing shoes.

🎉 Get ready! February 1 marks the start of Direct Give – a month-long fundraising event and celebration of Asbury – and a re-commitment to making this school the gem that it is!

Help kick off the month with coffee with Ms. D on the blacktop on Monday, Feb. 2 after drop-off! Thank you to Kaladi Coffee for donating to this event!

In the meantime, tell us what you love about Asbury and help inspire this year’s donors!

🍎 The Backpack Program is looking for volunteers for the second half of the year. Can you help? Sign up today!

🐔 The monthly Birdcall dine-out is next Thursday, Feb. 5! Use code Asbury205 at checkout.

🏆 Our friends at DU have more amazing Community Ticketing Events for us! All ticket sales support Asbury! Fun guaranteed! Buy all your tickets here. 

🤸‍♀️ DU Women’s Gymnastics vs. Iowa State, THIS SUNDAY, Feb. 1 at 2:45 p.m.

⛹️‍♀️ DU Women’s Basketball vs. South Dakota State, Saturday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. 

Please visit the Asbury Website for more information and details about enrichments offered during this session:

Asbury Enrichments Schedule