D34 What's News?
November 16, 2018
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Strategic Planning Update
The Strategic Planning Team met on November 13 to start forming the strategic plan. D34 friends. This is BIG: We are setting the direction of our future!
Look for the draft on the website, social media, and your email inbox soon - we will be asking for your feedback!
Open Enrollment Ends TODAY!
Open Enrollment for insurance changes effective January 1, 2019 ends on Friday, November 16.
By now, you should have received email confirmation of receipt of your paperwork. If you have not received email confirmation, please reach out to Kellee Janus directly.
Please note the following:
Payroll deduction changes for 2019 BCBS Medical and Dental coverage will take place on the December 31 payroll for the coverage period of January 1 through January 15.
Payroll deductions for the 2019 Allied Benefit Systems Flexible Spending Account (FSA) will take place on the January 15 payroll. There is a separate $2.25 (24-pay) or $2.70 (20-pay) pay period deduction each pay period for the administration fee.
24-pay means that you receive 24 paychecks during the school year
20-pay means that you receive 20 paychecks during the school year
Medical/Dental ID cards will only be sent to employees who changed their Medical plan or enrolled in Medical and/or Dental for the first time. If you did not make changes for the 2019 calendar year, you will not receive new BCBS ID cards.
A new FSA Debit card will only be sent to employees who are new participants in the plan and/or employee whose card has expired. The expiration date is listed on your Debit card.
If you’ve applied for additional Optional Life Insurance coverage, you will be contacted separately after underwriting has reviewed your application and made their decision.
If you have questions, reach out to Kellee at kjanus@glenview34.org or (847)998-5065.
UPDATED SUPPORT STAFF EVALUATION CHECKLISTS
Last spring, the Support Staff Collaboration Committee devoted several months to reviewing and updating several support staff evaluation checklists. These checklists are used annually to provide feedback to staff on a number of areas related to their roles and placements. They are based upon job responsibilities; ratings of excellent, proficient, developing and unsatisfactory indicate the levels of performance of the support staff in the evaluation document.
A review of the checklists made clear that updating was necessary to better match the day-to-day responsibilities for each of the various roles. We are pleased to share that the following checklists were updated last spring for implementation this school year (2018-19):
- Building Administrative Assistants & Secretaries
- Associates
- District Interpreter/Translator
- Cooks and Lead Cooks
The Support Staff Collaboration Committee will continue its work this spring, updating additional evaluation checklists, including those used with Custodians and Health Coordinators. More news will be shared when they are completed and ready for implementation (2019-20 school year).
Reminder: Review Your W-4!
Please review your W-4 if you have had any changes to your marital status or the number of allowances you are claiming. You can review your information online via the District Website under Staff / Skyward Employee Access / Employee Information / W4 information.
Here's a handy calculator tool from the IRS. (TRY IT! IT'S COOL!)
If you wish to make any changes to your W-4 forms, please complete these forms:
Then, return to Teri Galluzzi, Payroll Manager, via interoffice mail or regular mail. Please do not e-mail as it is not secure!
Change of Address?
W-2 forms will be mailed to your home by January 31, 2019. Stay tuned for further information!
If you have had a change of address, be sure to update the School Office for emergency purposes, and Human Resources to ensure your W-2 is sent to the correct location.
Deferred Compensation Retirement Plan Changes for Calendar Year 2019
If you contribute to a 403(b) or 457(b) plan, pay attention! The maximum contributions has increased from $18,500 to $19,000 for the 2019 calendar (tax) year. Maximum catch-Up contributions for those who are turning 50 or older remains at $6,000. Click for more information about this change for 2019, or contact TSA. The maximum total contribution limitation for defined contribution plans increased from $55,000 to $56,000.
Maximize Your Contributions In 24 Pay Periods
**Important: Beginning in calendar year 2019, ten-month staff will contribute to all 24 paychecks (unless you are a 20 pay employee)!** Twelve-month staff will continue contributing to all 24 paychecks.
- If you are under age 50 and wish to maximize your contributions, the per check contribution amount (24 checks per calendar year) is $791.66. The total contribution amount cannot exceed $19,000 per calendar year.
- If you are 50 years of age, or older, and wish to maximize your contributions, the per check contribution amount (24 checks per calendar year) is $1,041.66. The total contribution amount cannot exceed $25,000 per calendar year.
- If you wish to change your contribution amount for the new calendar year, the forms will need to be received in payroll by Monday, January 7, 2019.
If you are interested in updating your contribution, please complete a new form, and send to Teri Galluzzi via interoffice mail or snail mail. Email is not secure.
You can also reach out to TSA, our third party administrator, with any questions:
TSA Consulting Group, Inc.
Phone: (888) 796-3786
Job Postings
Visit Frontline to learn more or apply for any of the positions listed:
Certified Staff
- Special Education Classroom Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: PE Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Special Education Resource Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Language Arts Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Science Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Early Childhood SpEd Teacher
- Long-Term Sub: Reading Interventionist
- Long-Term Sub: Teacher on Assignment (TOA)
Support Staff
- Associate
- Long-Term Sub: Part-Time Night Custodian
- Coordinator of Business Services
NSSED Scholarship for Associates: Due 11/29
The NSSED Foundation established a scholarship for teaching assistants who are employed either by NSSED or any of its member districts (including D34!). The program awards up to five $1,000 grants to associates who are pursuing either an endorsement, undergraduate or graduate degree in an area of Special Education or related field.
New Tweet November Rolls into December
Want to get on Twitter? Already there but want to find new ways to connect, learn and share? Join this optional opportunity for you to understand how to make the most of this tool for professional development and for sharing great things from inside your classroom with parents, each other and the community.
The November 29 session has been rescheduled. It will be held on December 3, 3:30-4:30pm at Springman. Everyone is welcome! It's a special session with interim principal @Jeff_Zoul, author of What Connected Educators Do Differently.
Everyone is welcome, no matter what your role! Please RSVP here so we can decide the best room setup.
If you can't make it, look for more in January, or ask Cathy Kedjidjian to come to you! Use the Find a Time feature in Google Calendar and invite her to come to you, your team, your holiday party.
Remember, if you have a social media account to share school or classroom news, please click the button below to submit it. And, if you have a Twitter account you use for professional development and sharing educational resources, include that too so we can follow and learn from each other!
Canned Responses in Gmail
This section is where we highlight all of the wonderful things going on in the district, schools, and classrooms. If you have items to share or would like an event covered, please fill out the Staff Shares Request Form.
Don't want to write something up, but you want to share? Fill out that form! Or, even easier, email Cathy Kedjidjian and she'll be excited to come to your classroom and share your story!
Halloween Escape Room
When Halloween arrives, most 5th graders are hyped-up and ready for a candy-infused evening. However, when they walked into the room inhabited by crazy Doctor Johnson, and insane Dr. Allen, alongside their greatest creation, Señor Bock-Bock, the students were accidentally locked in the classroom. They had to find a way to escape.
Working together to find clues through tasks that covered logic, math, reading, and Second Steps curriculum, student teams buzzed about the room for over an hour attempting to find the secret potion that would unlock the doors. A huge “Thank you!” to John Adkisson for being an intricate role in creating this escape the room activity alongside Betsy Allen and Justin Johnson.
submitted by Justin Johnson
Becoming Trauma-Informed
Mallory Dahlquist (HE), Jill Guinan (HO), and Nan Ross-Meredith (PR) presented to ADCO about ACEs (adverse childhood experiences), how we can become trauma-informed to support students experiencing trauma, and started a "Help for Billy" book study. They also recently presented to support staff at institute day and plan to continue broadening their reach with staff throughout the year.
What does trauma-informed mean?
We as a human species are designed to be in relationships. We are biologically designed to be in community. We are more regulated, happier, and healthier when we are connected. Trauma research tells us that students who survive trauma and grow to be successful identify one single variable in their success: they were connected to a caring adult who believed in them and cared about them.
Trauma-informed strategies help students feel safe and to become regulated. This happens when the student connects with an adult and is able to trust the adult for their safety and security. We have such a powerful opportunity to build caring adult relationships with these struggling students, many of whom have no one to turn to in their lives for support in the home!
submitted by Mallory Dahlquist
REACH Parent Night
REACH preschool hosted their first parent night of the year. The first night’s focus was on behavior. Staff were present to go over handouts on behavioral strategies and help facilitate a discussion about ways to use these strategies at home with their children. Parents were encouraged to ask questions and problem solve with each other and staff. There were multiple make and take visuals that parents could create such as a visual night time routine schedule as well as first then visuals. Reach is looking forward to their next parent night.
submitted by Jobeth Wilson
Talking Points from the Personnel Committee Meeting on November 7:
Calendar Committee Report - The calendar subcommittee met to draft the school calendar for the 2019-2020 school year. Two versions of the calendar were created (one version with a collegiate start and one without).
- Evaluation Subcommittee and PERA Joint Committee update - Both committees will remain active committees that continue to meet and review the evaluation process and completion of student growth plans.
- Revised Mentoring Program - Dr. Hopkins has been working with Dr. Silverman on the creation of the district’s mentoring program for new educators. This program will utilize teachers from within the schools, along with the instructional coaches, to act as mentors. Research shows that having a mentoring program is beneficial and it is one of the most sought after supports for new staff.
- Staff Recognition - Personnel will be updating and redeveloping the way D34 recognizes staff as the current recognition program is 10 years old. Our goal is to recognize and show appreciation to individuals while also highlighting the collective accomplishments of our staff.
- TRS Workshops in D34 - There will be two upcoming TRS workshops in D34. One will be in December and is open to all certified staff. One will be in February specifically for staff who are retiring this year or have already submitted their intent to retire. Both meetings will be held at the Administration building.
Congratulations to:
Condolences to:
- Wendy DiBiaso (PR) on the passing of her mother in law, Frances Czubak.
- Rita Freidag (PR) on the passing of her grandfather.
Sports Moment Winner!
Many D34 staff share the same favorite sports moment: the Cubs winning the World Series. A few also mention the Jordan-era Bulls. Others share personal stories of triumph (talking to you Becky Simo!). And Molly Merkey? Well.
Read them all here. Then click the button below the goose to enter the next raffle.
From the Glenview Park District: Summer Enrichment Program
The Glenview Park District will offer their Summer Enrichment programming again this year; parents indicate that they want more classes! So, if you have class ideas - that you would like to teach - email Ann Marie Shipstad at the Glenview Park District by November 29 with your class idea submission.
Location: Attea Middle School
Dates: 6/10 to 7/12 (No class Thurs. July 4)
Times: 8:30-10:15am (1 hour 45 minutes) & 10:25am-12:10pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
Class Range: Incoming 5th graders to incoming 8th graders (ages 9-13)
Teacher Pay: $38 an hour (teachers paid for 2 hours for each class)
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Glenview School District 34
Email: news@glenview34.org
Website: http://www.glenview34.org/
Location: 1401 Greenwood Rd, Glenview, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 998-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/glenview34/
Twitter: @glenview34