All Things Business...
Keeping in Touch - November 2020
My Two Cents…
Welcome to the second installation of the business services newsletter, All things Business. This month, we are all excited about having some of our students return to our campuses for “learning hubs” and small group instruction. As we prepare to welcome some students back to school, our Business Services Leadership Team, or “BSLT,” asks that we all continue to look for ways to support each other in supporting our students. It is more important now than ever to build our “social capital” – the glue that holds our district together.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Our Staff
Fiscal Services Staff Member Introduction - Whitney Knight
Whitney Knight is the next newest member of the Fiscal Services department. Whitney is an accountant that works with the Federal and State reimbursements for student medical services that occur on our campuses provided by PSUSD personnel – MAA and MediCal. She also supports the Mental Health departments and other programs that Anne Kalisek oversees. Whitney joined the Fiscal Services team in March 202 but she has been employed by PSUSD since 2014.
Whitney grew up in Rialto California. She attended San Bernardino Valley College and then California State University, Northridge pursuing an Accounting degree. She was interested in working in Public Education as many of her family members were happily employed in various Public Education positions. PSUSD was the first to school district to contact Whitney and she has been here ever since.
Whitney lives in Desert Hot Springs with her “shepherd hound” dog, Speedy. Whitney has two nephews Deandre – 9 and Donovan – 8 that she has helped raise that currently live nearby in Victorville. Whitney enjoys hiking and camping and one of her favorite spots is Yosemite California. Whitney is also running an Airbnb
Here is a great picture of Whitney wearing her PSUSD lanyard in her office.
The Great Shakeout - Sweep Team Members
Loni Mann - Facilities, Planning & Development
Monica Rizya - Purchasing
Kris Murphy, Business Services
Nutrition Services - Good Nutrition is Our Mission!
Happy Halloween - Nutrition Services Style
In the last week of October, Nutrition Services surprised our students with a pumpkin for each family. The pumpkins were harvested at a local farm in Hemet. Farmer Bob, our Farm to school farmer in Redlands came through last minute with over 2000 pumpkins delivered a few days before our meal distribution service.
Veteran's Day November 11th!
Thanksgiving Break
P-EBT cards Extension
The Pandemic EBT cards were established as a result of school closures due to COVID-19. Parents in our communities received them based on their eligibility for Medicaid, CalFRESH, CALWORKs, SNAP, or enrollment in a CEP school. Recently California was approved to provide additional P-EBT benefits to children who already received P-EBT benefits for August and September 2020. For complete information, including who is eligible please refer to the link below:
Small Cohort Meal Service
We are ready to serve breakfast and lunch in these self-contained “Grab and Go” bags. As we receive your rosters and start dates, we will schedule staff on-site to ensure service is provided in the morning as they arrive and at the end of class as they leave. Food to Go is our new normal! Please connect with Stephanie Bruce or Sarah Phelps in the Nutrition Service office for confirmation, updates and information.
Fiscal Services - Mo' Money
We are all working full time but using an A / B schedule for working from home or in the DAC. Email is the very best way to reach us!
Direct Deposit for Payroll and Accounts Payables
All employees of PSUSD are using direct deposit for their paychecks. Everyone has been set up with their direct deposit information as well as any new hires. Using direct deposit is reliable and depending on your financial institution you may have access to your funds earlier than payday. The payroll direct deposit form is on the PSUSD Payroll website - https://www.psusd.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=3565&dataid=11353&FileName=Payroll%20Direct%20Deposit%20Form.pdf
There is also the ability to set up direct deposit for any employee reimbursements made through the accounts payable system. This is a separate direct deposit system that must be set up with the accounts payable team. Employees receive the same convenience as the payroll direct deposit. If you are interested in setting this up please contact the accounts payable team at AccountsPayable@psusd.us.
Payroll Updates
Reminder of Pay Dates for Regular Employees With the Upcoming Holidays!
Maintenance & Operations
How to Request and Submit Facilities Requests for In-house Use During COVID-19:
As a reminder, The Palm Springs Unified School District website for submitting facility requests online through our Community Use calendar and request system continues to be suspended until further notice.
Currently, you may submit requests for in-house use by clicking on the following link. Please download and complete the fillable form and email to lfesta@psusd.ushttps://drive.google.com/file/d/15QsC17ilJ38omk--BPerfKsz5X6-fc57/view?usp=sharing
Maintenance & Operations
How to Request and Submit Facilities Requests for In-house Use During COVID-19:
As a reminder, The Palm Springs Unified School District website for submitting facility requests online through our Community Use calendar and request system continues to be suspended until further notice.
Currently, you may submit requests for in-house use by clicking on the following link. Please download and complete the fillable form and email to lfesta@psusd.us
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15QsC17ilJ38omk--BPerfKsz5X6-fc57/view?usp=sharing
First Student gets ready to transport students!!!
All the First Student buses have been outfitted with a hand sanitizer dispenser. Students will be asked to sanitize their hands upon entrance to the bus. A magnetic sign on the outside of the bus will let students know that masks will be required to enter the bus. Drivers will carry backup masks in the event students fail to arrive at the stop without their own mask. Students will be appropriately spaced throughout the bus to distance each student. We will fill the back of the bus forward to avoid as much contact as possible. In addition, at least 2-3 windows will be open on the bus to allow for much better ventilation while students are riding the bus. Drivers will sanitize handrails between morning and afternoon routes. At the end of each day as the bus returns to the bus garage, the entire bus will be sanitized and be ready for the next day of school. First Student will have all drivers trained on the new requirements to maintain a safe environment to transport students.
Purchasing, Warehouse and Reprographics - It's Happening Here!
It’s been a busy Fall for Warehouse and Reprographics! A picture paints thousands of words! Ready for reopening continues. Processing orders for delivery for the start of small groups and learning hubs.
PPE Supplies
PPE Continues to arrive by the pallets – Check out those pallets of Face Masks!
Warehouse Isles Packed
The warehouse is full of supplies and equipment.
Parent/Student Handbooks
Boxes of students handbooks have been printed, counted and are ready for bulk mail processing.
Social Distancing Signage
Reprographics has been printing nonstop since March 13th. As schools were physically closing, staff began printing all kinds of materials. Social distancing stickers are printed continuously every day, and stacked for boxing and delivery to school sites.
Facilities Planning Energy Update
PSUSD produces roughly 60% of its electricity from renewable energy solar panels at its schools and district offices.
PSUSD installed new solar parking lot canopy systems at Sunny Sands Elementary, Landau Elementary and the District Administration Center during the summer. The solar arrays at Sunny Sands and Landau Elementary schools are estimated to offset roughly 90% of the schools electricity use per year and save the district between $90,000 and $100,000 per year in electricity costs at each school. The solar arrays at the District Administration Center are estimated to offset 95 % of the electricity use with a saving estimated at $110,000 per year.
PSUSD has 5 other schools with ground mount, roof mounted and parking canopy structures, Bubbling Wells Elementary, Two Bunch Palms Elementary, Desert Springs Middle, Cathedral City High and Desert Hot Springs High School. The solar arrays at these schools generated roughly over 5 million kW hours with saving of over $775,000 since energizing in 2015.
PSUSD has awarded a contract to install solar parking canopies at two more sites; Rio Vista Elementary and Mt. San Jacinto High Schools. The solar arrays will offset roughly 70% of the existing kilowatt usage at these 2 schools with savings estimated at $150,000 per year. The district was awarded a zero interest loan from the California Energy Commission for the installation of these solar arrays. The arrays should be connected and producing by the end of summer 2021.