Staff Talk
A Newsletter for Beaverton School District Employees
May 2018 Issue
National Teacher Appreciation Week - May 7-11
We are fortunate to have 2,621 teachers working in our classrooms, ensuring a quality education for each and every student, increasing graduation rates and preparing all students for college and career success.
In addition to student achievement, our teachers also excel at helping students grow as individuals, providing them with the support they need to thrive outside the classroom. John Steinbeck once said, "I have come to believe that a great teacher is a great artist and that there are as few as there are any other great artists. Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit." Our teachers today will be remembered for years to come for the work they are doing to shape tomorrow's young leaders.
Every day, one can witness our teachers working with dedication and commitment. Please take this opportunity to recognize our devoted teachers in the Beaverton School District.
National School Nurse Day - May 9
Beaverton School District’s own Nina Fekaris is the President of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN). The National Association of School Nurses is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, first organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has more than 15,000 members and 50 affiliates, including the District of Columbia and overseas school nurses. The NASN mission is to advance school nurse practice to keep students healthy, safe and ready to learn.
Please take this opportunity to recognize our amazing school nurses in the Beaverton School District.
Annual Staff Survey
We realize that many teachers have recently taken the TELL Survey for the state of Oregon. We have made every effort to remove duplicate questions. It was necessary to keep some similar-looking questions that require a response based on individual experience rather than general experience.
This survey is voluntary. You may opt out of completing the survey at any time, without penalty. All survey data will be summarized so that each person who answers will remain anonymous. Nothing in the survey content or District software will be used to personally identify you. Comments will be listed separately for administrators to read. This way, readers will not be able to identify someone by looking at the other answers they gave.
A question marked with an asterisk does require an answer and may shorten the survey for some. It is OK to go back and change your answer to a previous question, but you must finish the survey in one sitting.
If you have questions, email Julie Baker, Data Analyst.
Thanks for participating in the Annual Staff Survey!
Local Option Levy Renewal Information
The Beaverton School Board has placed a five-year Local Option Levy Renewal on the May 15, 2018 ballot. This is a vote-by-mail election.
If passed, Ballot Measure #34-284 would allow Beaverton schools to preserve 300 teaching positions, maintain class sizes, and help ensure students are prepared for post-high school success. The levy renewal costs $1.25 per $1,000 assessed property value, the same tax rate as the current levy. Homes with the median assessed value of $238,000 would continue to pay about $25 per month. The levy would raise approximately $31 million in the first year.
For more information, including an informational flyer and frequently asked questions, please visit the Local Option Levy Information webpage.
2018-2018 Proposed Budget Message
Superintendent Grotting submitted the Proposed Budget for the fiscal year 2018-2019 to the Budget Committee on Monday, April 23, 2018. The proposed budget of $ 1,012,444,251 is the result of aligning resources to the Strategic Plan set by the School Board, staff, students and community, and the work of the 40-member Internal Budget Team (IBT). This budget proposal includes ongoing allocations for strategic investments making progress on established metric s, discontinues investments not showing improvement, and identifies investments to be monitored for improvement over a three-year period. The District has made new investments to support the multiyear financial plan while recognizing the very real financial challenges the state faces with funding programs and services, including PreK‐12 schools.
Planning a Budget for 2018‐2019
Our budget proposal is based on the $8.2 billion appropriation from the Oregon Legislature to support the 2017‐2019 biennial State School Fund budget. Even though we have an improving economy, K‐12 funding is not stable. This is a very fluid funding environment. Unfortunately, at this funding level, we made a $7 million reduction in our budget coming from staff, programs and non‐salary areas.
Looking Forward to 2019‐21
For revenue, the Oregon Legislature will be in session in January through June 2019 to determine the K‐12 education funding level, and for expenditures the District will be in negotiations with staff. The Legislature will need to continue to address the long‐term funding of the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). For Beaverton that means an estimated annual increase of $23 million next year. This is not a short-term problem. Funding PERS obligations will affect public agencies and schools for at least the next 6 years.
The District maintains a strong financial standing as recognized by Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings who raised the Beaverton School District’s credit rating from “AA‐” to “AA”. This shows that the District is financially sound and is good news for the District and for our taxpayers. The improved rating keeps our interest rate lower. That reduces the tax we need to impose to repay our bonds, thus keeping property taxes lower. The improved rating is due to the “Rainy Day Fund” and Fund Balance Policy set by the Beaverton School Board. The establishment of a “Rainy Day Fund” in 2016 has strengthened the District’s reserves and put us in a better position to weather future state funding downturns.
Benefits Open Enrollment Period - May 1-31
Open Enrollment Meetings:
Mon., May 7 • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. • Highland Park Middle School media center
Wed., May 9 • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. • Conestoga Middle School cafeteria
Tue., May 15 • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. • Beaverton High School community room
Thur., May 17 • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. • Aloha High School cafeteria
Tue., May 22 • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. • Westview High School media center
Tues., May 25 • 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. • Aloha High School cafeteria
The open enrollment period allows employees to:
- Add an eligible dependent;
- Add medical and/or dental; (for employees working 4 hrs or more per day only);
- Change your medical and/or dental plan
Where can I find the forms I need?
Go to the District website, www.beaverton.k12.or.us then go to the Staff tab> Intranet>HR>Benefits. Scroll down to the Forms area to print an enrollment/change form. You may also review the plan summaries.
No form is needed if you are not making a change or adding a new dependent.
What health plan am I on currently?
Log on to Employee Services Online, click on MyBenefit > log on as required and your current medical and dental plan will be listed. On the Current Benefits page, there is a link to Staff Intranet Benefits page.
When are the forms due?
Enrollment forms are due in the District HR office no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2018 — no exceptions. Do not send by fax; original forms need to be completed and received by the HR Dept. Late forms received in inter-school mail will be returned to sender.
How much will I pay?
For full-time employees (those working 30 or more hours per week) the costs below are based upon the District cap of $1,726.00 per month as of July 1, 2018, pending negotiations with OSEA for their membership:
Regence Purple medical plan/Purple dental plan - $0.00
Regence Purple medical plan/Willamette Dental - $0.00
Regence Purple medical plan/no dental plan - $0.00
Regence Yellow medical plan/Yellow dental plan - $0.00
Regence Yellow medical plan/Willamette Dental - $0.00
Regence Yellow medical plan/no dental - $0.00
Kaiser medical/Regence Purple Dental - $0.00
Kaiser medical/Willamette Dental - $0.00
Kaiser medical/no dental plan - $0.00
Are there plan design changes on the Kaiser plan?
View the Kaiser Benefit enhancements for 2018-2019.
Are there plan design changes on the Regence plans?
View the Regence Benefit enhancements for 2018-2019.
Please review the new vision benefit through VSP for Regence members.
Are there plan design changes on the Willamette Dental plan?
No, our Willamette Dental plan does not have plan design changes for July 1, 2018.
For more information, please contact Pam Hanson-Holtry at 503-356-4439.
Cybersecurity & Phishing - What you can do to keep your info safe!
Phishing at BSD
Each day, we receive many fake emails trying to trick us into giving up our usernames and passwords. These emails are called “phishing” emails because the attackers are phishing for our personal information. While the vast majority of these emails are blocked by our mail filters, a small amount do get through. You likely are receiving these at home as well.
Why would they do this?
The attackers are looking for your personal information. At work, they want your username and password so they can do things like gain entry into our student information or financial systems. They also want to use your login and password to use your email to send out additional attacks. We have a recent example of where a staff member’s account was used to send out thousands of fake emails. Finally, they want to sell our information. Valid usernames and passwords are sold on the “Dark Web” and our accounts are valuable items to sell or trade.
Protecting your BSD (and home) accounts
It is very important to you and to our BSD systems that you protect your username and password. Here are a few things to look for if you suspect an email is a phish:
Look carefully at the address: A common tactic is for attackers to use our name but a different email address. For example, you might see Steven Langford but instead of the BSD address (@beaverton.k12.or.us), you might see @beavert0n.org. This is especially challenging to see on cell phones, so if you suspect a phish, wait on responding until you can log into a computer.
Look at the URL if you clicked a link: If you click a link and see a series of numbers such as 173.12.65.120 instead of the web address you suspect, this web site a fake.
Trust your instincts: If you think suspect an email is a phish, then it is most likely fake.
If you suspect an email is a Phish, please forward the message to phishing@beaverton.k12.or.us. We will examine it and if it is fake, we can put rules in place to save other staff members from clicking the link and giving up their usernames and passwords.
Falling for a phish
If you realize you entered your username and password into a fake site, don’t worry, you are in good company. Phishing emails and sites are much more sophisticated now. If you fall for a phish, immediately change your password on the BKEY portal available from the Staff tab of the public web site. This will stop the attackers from using your account.
What are we doing?
Over the coming months, IT will be sharing more information about how to best protect your BSD and personal accounts.
We have dedicated an IT staff professional to focus on BSD cybersecurity issues and are evaluating additional systems we can implement to better protect our network, systems, student and staff data.
We have created a Security and Data Privacy intranet page which will provide cybersecurity information. It is available on the Intranet under Information Technology.
** Click on the images below for flyers. Right click the images to save them, or click on the PDF documents below the images to download.
LGBTQ+ Staff Affinity Group
If you are a staff member who identifies as LGBTQ+, consider joining the District’s LGBTQ+ Staff Affinity Group. We:
- Create an inclusive and affirming environment for BSD students, staff, and families
- Inform each other about the challenges and successes of supporting LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families
- Support one another through sharing resources and strategies
If you’re interested, please email Gretchen Mollers. Our next gathering is May 16-- check out TeacherSource to register.
Actions for Allies: if you are a staff member interested in supporting LGBTQ+ students, show your support for our community by celebrating Harvey Milk Day on May 22nd.
Staff Emergency Notifications
The IT Department has adjusted the staff information that is pulled from Employee Online Services into SchoolMessenger, the District’s mass notification tool. This adjustment was made to ensure that all staff members receive emergency notifications. Please take a moment to review and update your existing contact information in Employee Online Services.
What does this adjustment mean for you? It means that you may now get District-wide or school-specific emergency notifications as a staff member, when you previously did not. If you would like to manage your SchoolMessenger preferences, please visit the SchoolMessenger portal.
Please note: this portal will only let you manage your notification preferences. If you want to change information, you must do so through Employee Online Services. Also note: you must keep one phone number active for emergency broadcasts.
Additional instructions for staff with questions about SchoolMessenger can be found here.
BSD Staff invited to Connectathon Challenge: Diabetes Student Showcase
Students at Health & Science School (HS2) are participating in the Digital Health Collaborative's inaugural Connectathon Challenge: Diabetes. The Connectathon is all about finding real solutions in the real world. It is designed to engage students with a hands-on learning experience that combines health, science, and technology. Students are being challenged to design innovative solutions and ideas to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.
During the course of their project, students make use of high tech “tools of the trade” and interact with medical and technology professionals, researchers, and people who live with diabetes. The Connectathon enables students to practice 21st century skills and develop relationships with local technology and clinical mentors.
The program began with Education Day on March 17, 2018. Since then, the students are meeting weekly in seven teams to ideate around technology and connectivity to develop real-world solutions regarding how people living with diabetes can manage their health challenges. The final challenge is the Student Showcase on May 17, 2018 which will feature 40 high school students and the innovative digital health solutions they designed to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.
If you are interested in attending, please Register now for the Connectation Challenge: Diabetes Student Showcase
Elementary & Secondary Whole Child Symposiums
Both symposiums will be held at Southridge High School, 9625 SW 125th Ave., from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Participants will receive a $75/day stipend and lunch will be provided.
Click on the links above for course descriptions and to register.
Family Justice Center of Washington County Now Open
The Family Justice Center model reduces Domestic Violence (DV) by building a collaboration of public and nonprofit multi-disciplinary service providers together under one roof. The team in Washington County will assist victims of domestic violence, their children and our communities to survive, heal, and break the cycle of domestic violence.
Location: 735 SW 158th Ave. Suite 100, Beaverton, OR 97006
Phone: 503-430-8300
Website: https://www.fjcwc.org/
Hazeldale Elementary School Construction Update March 2018
Hazeldale Elementary School Construction Update April 2018
Beaverton School District
The Beaverton School District recognizes the diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of the Beaverton School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veteran status, genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment.
Email: melissa_larson@beaverton.k12.or.us
Website: www.beaverton.k12.or.us
Location: 16550 SW Merlo Rd, Beaverton, OR, United States
Phone: 503-356-4360
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeavertonSchoolDistrict
Twitter: @beavertonSD