Human Resources
September 2021 Newsletter
A Message from the Human Resources Team
Our department wants to extend a big THANK YOU to all our District staff for the hard work and dedication that you have shown to our students and community with the start of the school year. Our team understands that you already have a difficult job, that is now even more difficult with the various challenges in front of us. Staffing shortages, absences, illness, and just plain life are affecting us all, but the hard work continues.
Over the last few weeks, and continuing into the future, our team will be out visiting schools and attempting to provide some support to our schools. Our team has been working in schools to support bus, lunch, and recess duty, and also assisting in various fire evacuation drills. Our visits have only solidified our knowledge of just how hard you are all working. Thank you for the work you are doing. It is nothing short of a miracle, and we appreciate you.
HR at Ladd
HR at West Valley
HR at Salcha
HR at Hunter
HR at Lathrop
HR at Weller
Employee Spotlights
New District Recruiter
Jocelyn's first day with the FNSBSD was August 23 and she has jumped right in to learn her new role in supporting our recruiting needs. Jocelyn's primary focus will be on recruitment opportunities and efforts for the District to attract highly desirable applicants.
We are happy to have Jocelyn on the HR team!
Need to Contact HR?
HR District Alumni
There are so many FNSBSD Employees who are District alumni, we would like to start highlighting them all in our newsletters!
Check out these three proud Lathrop High School Malemutes!
Here are the alumni in our own HR department:
Kathy Port - Lathrop High 1980
Mechelle Nash - Lathrop High 1988
Ivory McDaniel-Ilgenfritz - Lathrop High 1998
Karen Motschenbacher - North Pole High 1986
Rachael Stockton - North Pole High 2009
Are you a district Alumni? Please let us know using THIS FORM and we will feature you in upcoming newsletters. You can even add a photo to go along with your submission!
Benefits NEWS
Staff COVID Testing
The District has two types of rapid testing available for staff and students:
· Antigen Testing - best used for non-symptomatic persons as a screening tool
· PCR Testing - best used for symptomatic or close contact persons as a rapid test
All students should be referred to the school nursing staff for testing. School nursing staff will not conduct staff testing.
All staff testing will be conducted through a drive-up location at the downtown administrative center. Staff can schedule a test by clicking on the following pink button. Staff may use sick leave, if necessary, to complete their scheduled testing appointments.
You also have the option to complete the form at the time which you test, but have the opportunity to do so in advance.
If you have any questions resulted to the testing program, please use the following contacts:
Kim Frontain, Interim Nursing Director
kimberlee.frontain@k12northstar.org
Extension 11413
Joseph Tyson, Risk & Safety Coordinator
Extension 11303
Open Enrollment for 2022 is Coming Soon!
Open Enrollment is scheduled for October 15 - November 15, 2021. More information will be coming soon regarding the process. However, it is never too early to start reviewing which plan you are in, your Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Plan (DCP), and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.
New Employee Plan Costs
Beginning January 1, 2022, the following employee costs will go into effect for the plans specified below (per pay period):
Are you interested in how the District and Plan Administrator calculated these rates? Register and join us for a live Zoom event scheduled for Thursday, September 9th at 3:30 pm. Andy DeGraw, Chief Operations Officer, and our Benefits Team will be panelists to answer any questions that you may have. Once registered, the Zoom information will be forwarded to you.
Please pre-register here. Once you register, you will be sent a link with a Zoom invitation.
Flu Shots 2021
Drive Thru Flu Shot Clinics:
Old First National Bank Building between 8th & 9th on Noble.
- September 18 | 8:00 am - Noon
- September 20 | 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Vouchers:
- Vouchers for flu shots are available through the mail by request by pre-registering online.
Retirement Options
403b and 457 retirement plans are optional retirement opportunities that all employees, including substitutes and temporary employees, are eligible to contribute to. Both 403bs and 457s are tax-deferred. For more information, contact your financial advisor or review the district’s OMNI Provider Page.
News from EEO / Title IX
34th Annual AASLC
Spread the word to your students about the 34th Annual African American Student Leadership Conference!
Instead of one large conference this year, AASLC will be holding multiple events held throughout the school year during both the fall and spring semesters.
The fall events will be virtual with the hope that spring events can resume in person.
Students will be able to register for individual events as they are advertised and promoted. The events will include hands-on educational activities, round-table discussions, and an awesome message on “Next Generation Leadership” from keynote speaker Millicent St. Claire.
SENIORS who attend the conference will be eligible to apply for a UA college scholarship. Keep in mind that they MUST participate in at least one event to apply for the scholarship.
Stay tuned for upcoming information on specific dates and times and where they can pick up a permission slip!
Leave Information
Employee Self Serve (ESS)
You can check your leave accrual using the ESS portal on the FNSBSD website under the Staff tab. Use your district username and password to log in. On the menu on the left-hand side of the pages, click on Time Off to view your leave balances.
Leave Without Pay (LWOP) and Change of Status (COS)
If you need to be away from work and do not have enough available leave, you will need to fill out a Change of Status form so that you do not go into an unauthorized LWOP status. This leave must be approved in advance by both your direct supervisor and Human Resources.
ESSA, Article 10.1(b) states:
An employee must submit a written request to the Executive Director of Human Resources for unpaid leave at least ten (10) work days in advance of the need for leave. Employees who are in unpaid leave status without prior written approval from the Executive Director of Human Resources may be subject to termination of employment.
School Board Policy 564 Short-Term Leave without Pay states:
Only the superintendent may grant short-term leave without pay in rare and unusual circumstances that could not have been foreseen by the employee and only if the employee has demonstrated appropriate use of paid leave.
Change of Status (COS) Form
Use the COS form for:
Administrative Leave
Professional Leave
Certified Staff – Personal Leave in Excess of 6 Days
Short Term Leave Without Pay (LWOP) – Less than 30 days
Long Term Leave Without Pay / Leave of Absence – 30 days or more
Military Leave
Childcare Leave
Submit this completed form and related documentation to labor.relations@k12northstar.org. Employees are still required to input all leave into TCP and/or AESOP.
If you have any questions regarding these processes, please contact Labor Relations at x11386 or labor.relations@k12northstar.org.
IMPORTANT ESSA NEWS
ESSA INSERVICE 2021
ESSA Professional Development Inservice will be on October 1, 2021, at West Valley High School from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Please watch for an email around mid-September for the sessions that will be offered.
Thank you to those who submitted ideas for your Professional Development Inservice! There is still time to submit ideas at PD Topics Survey
IMPORTANT FEA NEWS
Salary Change Requests
FEA Requests for salary change are due by close of business October 13th; with all coursework completed and credits posted prior to start of contract (August 11th).
FEA Evaluations Due Dates
Philosophy of Education: September 15, 2021
Beginning of the Year DDF Goals: September 15, 2021
Distinguished Evaluation forms: September 15, 2021
Review and finalization of the above forms by supervisors: October 1, 2021
First Formal Evaluation of 1st year Non-Tenured Teachers: October 15, 2021
Online M. Ed. Programs and Certificates
Eastern Washington University is offering online M. Ed programs, Certificates, and Post-Master’s Certificates for any teachers interested.
For more information, please contact
Jeanne Selden, Executive Director - Education
at 509-998-9239 or by email at Jeanne.Selden@apdegrees.com.
Sub Employee Incentive - Help Spread the Word!
FNSBSD Human Resources
Email: human.resources@k12northstar.org
Website: https://www.k12northstar.org/hr
Location: 520 5th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK, USA
Phone: 907-452-2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumanResourcesFNSBSD/