April 2023

As professionals, our approach to doing our jobs and interacting with others has been shaped by various factors. How we fight through adversity, seek solutions to problems, accept feedback from colleagues, celebrate successes, and praise others looks different from person to person throughout our district.

As I reflect on who I am as a leader and how I navigate through the obstacles of life, I understand and appreciate how I have been influenced by my faith, family, education, and athletics. Far too often, people fail to recognize their unique qualities, which can enhance an organization if properly applied, or they choose not to take pride in what they have become as the culmination of past experiences and lessons learned. I feel very fortunate to have had many terrific teachers inside and outside the classroom. One of the most important lessons I have learned, which serves me now, comes from my athletic background. Several outstanding coaches I have been influenced by taught me how powerful a group of people can become when working efficiently as a team to accomplish clearly defined goals. The iconic "The Team Speech" from the legendary Michigan Football Coach Bo Schembechler encapsulated the beauty of being part of a team. In the speech, Coach Schembechler discusses the joy one experiences when being part of something bigger than himself and the importance of making decisions based on the team's best interest when striving toward lofty goals.

I challenge you to think about what makes you unique and how your strengths as a member of the WWCS team can contribute to the district's success. I also encourage you to thank our coaches, club sponsors, and volunteers for the extracurricular offerings we provide our students, which enhance their educational experience.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alex Ofili

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources

Here in the WWCS, we offer two different programs to eligible employees, a Flexible Spending or a Health Savings Account.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is an employee benefit that allows you to set aside money, on a pre-tax basis, for certain health care and dependent care expenses. If you make an FSA election for the plan year during the current Federal Benefits Open Season (Plan Year November 1, 2022 - October 31, 2023), your election amount will be divided into allotments of 16 pays, November through May. Every pay date, an allotment is deposited directly into your FSA account. The primary disadvantage is that, typically, most FSA accounts have a “use or lose it” feature, which means you need to spend all of your FSA funds before the end of the plan’s year. If you fail to do so, you’ll forfeit your FSA funds.

For the 2022-2023 Plan year, FSA has a minimum benefit amount of $60, a max of $2.500 for unreimbursed health care, and a minimum of $5,000 per year for child care expenses.

A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an investment account available only to members enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. You have the option to make pre-tax contributions to the account. The funds in your HSA can be used to pay for your plan deductible and or qualified medical expenses that do not count toward your deductible. These accounts earn interest and roll over any remaining balance yearly. The funds are yours to keep whether you change plans, leave the district or retire. Withdrawals can also be used for non-medical expenses. However, it will be subject to income tax, and if you are under the age of 65, an additional 10% tax penalty. Unlike an FSA, with your HSA, you can contribute all year, start and stop or change your deductions during the plan year.

For HSA 2022-2023 plan year, the single person maximize you can contribute $3,850, and 2 or more persons/full family is $7,750.00

WWCS GEM Award Winners

WWCS GEM Award Nominees

• Any staff member who will be out of the school building for PD, field trips, conferences, etc. needs to enter their absences into Red Rover. If you have any questions, please see your Principal.

• Remember, no contracted company or contractor can work with WWCSD until they have been cleared with Human Resources. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Jodi Schneider in Human Resources at ext. 2026.
  

• Informational sessions regarding 403B, short/long term disability, HSA's, etc., are coming soon. If you would like to recommend other informational sessions, please notify Angelle Allen at ext. 2040.

• Tax Withholding Forms--If you need to change your tax withholdings, click here for Form W-4 Federal Withholding and click here for Form MI-W4 Michigan Withholding. Please note we cannot assist or offer guidance with his/her withholding selections.