Region 15 Education Service Center
Weekly Newsletter - January 27, 2020
Good Monday,
Several of our staff are at Mid Winter conference this week so please feel free to call if we can be of any assistance. We look forward to seeing you at our breakfast if you are attending starting at 7:30 am on Tuesday at the Hilton Hotel Salon J.
Thank you,
Casey Callahan, Ed.D.
512-269-9372-cell
Superintendent Services
Celebrating School Board Recognition Month for the
Region 15 School Boards - January 2020
Reminder - The Safe Schools and Security Grant is due on January 22, 2020. Resources to Safety Information can be found on the ESC 15 Website: https://www.esc15.net/Domain/75
TEA will assign accreditation statuses for the 2019-2020 year. Accreditation statuses will be posted publicly to the TEA website on January 31, 2020, on the Accreditation Status homepage at http://tea.texas.gov/accredstatus/.
School Board Training – EISO
(Evaluating and Improving Student Outcomes)
If ALL board members and the superintendent attend the training, you will be able to receive credit for both EISO (required every other year) and Team Building.
A Meal will be served at 5:30 P.M. before each training.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020 – Bangs 6-9 P.M.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020 - Junction 6-9 P.M.
Wednesday, February 26, 2020 - ESC 15 Bluebonnet Room 6-9 P.M.
To participate in the EISO / Team Building training,
please contact Laura Strube or Sheri Durham.
Participate in Survey on School Mental Health
The University of Texas at Austin, in collaboration with the Health and Human Services Commission and Texas Education Agency, is conducting a survey of school nurses, counselors, psychologists, or administrators who are knowledgeable about their school’s approach to addressing student mental health. The survey gathers information about current school-based mental health resources and practices in Texas. Survey findings will help inform state agencies that are planning mental health resources for school-aged youth throughout Texas. Access the survey. The survey will be available through Feb. 14, 2020.
Training opportunities at ESC 15:
Certification Fundamentals (February 18, 2020) –Information Below
https://www.taspa.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1278052&group=
Bus driving training (20hr) – February 3-5, 8 at ESC 15
TRANSPORTATION DIRECTORS MEETING
APRIL 2, 2020 - REGION 15 - MEAL WILL BE SERVED - Christie Hebert - Austin DPS will be here with LAWS & RULES - Register Here
EOP DEVELOPMENT-TxSSC - Feb. 4, 2020
https://forms.txssc.txstate.edu/eop-trainings/fy-20-reg/form
SECURITY AUDIT - TxSSC - Feb. 5, 2020 (Must complete online registration and module before receiving code to register).
https://txssc.txstate.edu/events/ss-audit-trainings/
Texas School Safety Center Video Series
https://txssc.txstate.edu/videos/legislative-guidance-series
Behavioral Threat Assessment and Digital Threat Assessment is tentatively scheduled for April 21-22, 2020 at ESC 15. Information will be sent when registration links are available.
ESC 15 2ND ANNUAL SAFETY SUMMIT-JUNE 18, 2020 REGISTER HERE
LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY WEBINAR!!!
Districts interested in applying for the Local Accountability System are encouraged to sign up with one of the two webinars offered this spring by TEA.
Accountability
This hour-long webinar for ESC 15 will introduce district responsibilities,
statute requirements, local accountability system plan development, how to get started, and more! Time will also be allotted for participant questions.
February 6, 20209 a.m.
Register Here: https://bit.ly/2SOrFa8OR
March 6, 20201 p.m.
Register Here: https://bit.ly/37xNVZU
Texas Rural Schools Spring Conference -- Click Here for Flyer
January Monthly Reminders are located at the end of the newsletter.
Laura Strube
325-481-4065
__________
Business and Finance
Here is a preview of one of the discussions that will take place at the February 26, 2020 - Template Update Session #034131 - preparing for 20-21:
M & O Tax Rates will be set by TEA and sent to you in the summer of 2020. They will use the April Preliminary Values from your CAD as a basis to determine what has happened to your values - gone up or down. The percentage increase or decrease in individual district’s property values will impact the M & O tax rate. A sneak preview of what that looks like is described in the table below.
Other dates to remember:
PFIA Survey due to TEA January 31, 2020
Audit Submission due January 28, 2020
State Mileage reimbursement rate decreased to $0.575 (from $0.58)
Process for requesting Indirect Cost Rate - https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/2020-2021-process-requesting-indirect-cost-rates-school-districts-only Due January 31, 2020
February 26, 2020 - Template Update Session #034131
March 25, 2020 - FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT Training. This is a TASBO sponsored workshop and registration is through TASBO. Recommended for any personnel that works with payroll and/or approves time sheets - payroll staff, secretaries, principals, business managers, superintendents.
https://members.tasbo.org/web/TASBO/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=PER304_52
Public Funds Investment Training - TASBO - April 29, 2020 - In San Angelo - registration is through TASBO.
https://members.tasbo.org/web/TASBO/Events/Event_Display.aspx?EventKey=1161_40
Henri Gearing
830-683-7615
henri.gearing@esc15.net
__________
Curriculum and Instruction
Please make sure to complete the Reading Practices Survey.
__________
Pre-K Waiver is due by March 2, 2020. See information at link below.
__________
Biology STAAR Wars Workshops are coming! Click below for more information.
Biology STAAR Wars Part 2 Macro - February 26, 2020
David Bedford
325-481-4023
Data Services
Important dates in January:
Fall PEIMS resubmissions are due to TEA by January 16th (be sure to include any industry based certifications earned class of 2019 graduates earned prior to graduation)
Mid-Year PEIMS initial submissions are due to TEA by January 30th
Early Childhood Data Submission (KG data) is due to TEA by January 30th
We expect to deploy a TxEIS software up next week. This update will add all functionality needed for processing 1099s, 1095s, and W-2s. It will also provided 2020 tax tables will need to be loaded AFTER processing December payroll and before processing January payroll.
Important dates for February:
Mid-Year PEIMS resubmissions are due by February 13th
SPPI 14 submissions are due by February 20th
.
For your data service needs, please contact
John Shaffer
325 481-4096
__________
Administrative Services
For Administrative Services assistance, please contact
Robin Graves
325-481-4026
__________
Federal Programs
For Federal Programs assistance, please contact
Robin Graves
325-481-4026
__________
Special Education
If you have Special Education-specific questions, please contact:
Jam Page
Special Education Director
325-481-4054
__________
January 2020 Monthly Reminders
Accountability and Assessment
Notification to parents of eligibility for Public Education Grants by February 1st (TEC§29.204(b))
Second Year F campuses schedule Turnaround Plan for Board approval prior to February submission
Federal Report Card released
Administration and Leadership
Check TEA/ESC website for update(s) on any changes resulting from the 86th Legislative Session
Review HB 2610 and begin calendar development process
Review Staff Non-renewals
Ensure School Report Card is included with first semester report card (TEC§39.305)
Update Ask TED
Federal and State Programs
Adjust expenditures and amend the ESSA application to appropriate Final Amounts
Review/implement district/campus improvement plans in accordance with district planning process (TEC§11.251)
Food and Nutrition
Child Nutrition Texas Summer Mandate deadline January 31st
Charter Specific
2019-2020 SC5050 Significant Expansion (optional) due to TEA January 31st (for purposes of additional ESSA and/or IDEA-B funding to be received in 2020-2021 based on significant expansion experienced in 2019-2020)
Update Ask TED with TEA Charter Division
Finance
Review student attendance figures as compared to prior year and budget projections
*Approve Annual Independent Audit Report for September 1st FY
Post metered amounts of electricity, water and gas consumption for which the district is required to pay and aggregate amounts of those services (Government Code, §2265.001(b), House Bill 3693, 80th Legislature, Regular Session)
School Board
*Superintendent’s evaluation and contract
Board Self-Evaluation (recommended)
*Approve Annual Independent Audit Report for September 1st FY
*Board approved Annual Independent Audit Report (AFR) due to TEA no later than January 28th for LEAs with September 1st FY
*Approve Auditor for next FY (TEC§11.170)
*Approve waivers as needed
Notify ESC Field Service Agents of newly appointed/elected trustees
Review Trustee training requirements including 86th Legislative Session additions
Orientation to the Code training
Special Education
2019-2020 Special Education Consolidated Grant Application: Review Final Entitlements & Carryover & adjust local records accordingly. Determine if amendment to grant application is needed
Determine eligibility for MOE (Maintenance of Effort) Voluntary Reduction
Review revised proportionate share amount to be spent on parentally-placed private school children with disabilities (N/A to any charter school; N/A to ISDs with no private school/home schools within their geographical boundaries)
- Monitor special education expenditures from the general fund to ensure on track for MOE (Maintenance of Effort) compliance
- Fall PEIMS resubmission due to TEA on January 16th
- Mid-Year PEIMS submission due to TEA on January 30th
- ECDS Kindergarten submission due on January 30th
*Requires Board action/approval