All Things Business
Consistently Consistent - February 2021
My Two Cents...
As we continue to navigate through completely unchartered waters (unless you were around in 1918-1920 for the Spanish flu), what many of us in business services find some solace in is consistency. Timelines associated with closing this year and preparing for next year will soon be here. In the not too distant future, principals will be receiving certificated staffing information for next year; the purchasing calendar will be distributed to everyone with important deadlines for year-end purchases; and fiscal services will be busy with budget development activities in preparation for the 2021-2022 school year. Please make sure important deadlines and timelines that are fast approaching that impact you do not catch you by surprise. As a reminder, the entire business services leadership team is here to help you. We hope you enjoy and find value in this month’s newsletter!
Nutrition Services - Always Complete from A to Zinc!
Safe Routes to School
Nutrition Services is partnering with Riverside University Health System who was awarded the Safe Routes to School Grant for most of our Desert Hot Springs schools.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs use a comprehensive approach to make school routes safer for children to walk and bike to school. Community leaders, parents and schools are using these programs to better the lives of children one step at a time.
Safe Routes to School programs are a sustained effort that involves bringing the right mix of people together: parents, schools, community leaders and local, state, and federal governments to improve the health and well-being of children, including those with disabilities, by identifying the issues and finding ways to improve and make walking or biking to school more safe. By making it safer to walk or bike to school, Safe Routes to School programs promotes healthy, active lifestyles and creates the foundation for a more vibrant community.
The schools, listed below, received a Riverside County Safe Routes to School grant. The Program is providing families with Safety Kits; pedestrian and bicycle safety education materials. During curbside meal service on the dates below, a team of 2-3 persons from the Program, or one of our Nutrition Service staff members, will be distributing these bags to vehicles during Wednesday’s curbside meal service (7:00am – 8:30am). They will be in appropriate PPE and are mindful of social distancing requirements. The kits are in sealed bags and were assembled with COVID precautions in mind.
Date/Location/Individuals who will be distributing kits:
February 3, 2021
Two Bunch Palms - Erin Malone, Anabel Castaneda, Rosemary Lopez
Bubbling Wells – Jen Mattocks
February 10, 2021
Cabot Yerxa - Erin Malone, Anabel Castaneda, Maria Sanchez
Julius Corsini – Jen Mattocks
February 17, 2021
Desert Hot Springs High School - Erin Malone, Anabel Castaneda, Celeste Veney
Bella Vista Elementary -Jen Mattocks
PURCHASING 101 FOR 2021
The District has purchased HEPA Air Purifiers to be used district wide in three phases, school site classrooms, CARES rooms spaces, offices, and administration areas. Air purifiers for classrooms have been received by all schools sites. Phase three of the purchase is motion and on target to arrive within the next 30 days.
As Facilities continues the Palm Springs High School project, here is sneak peek preview of new furniture for the Palm Springs High School Library. This furniture was installed by KI our furniture vendor on Monday January 25, 2021
Learning Hub Transportation
The transportation of students for the Learning Hubs is running smoothly. Principals are reminded that when you have students that fail to participate in a Learning Hub, please notify Bob Spinuzza, Transportation Coordinator, so that he can fix the routing information. As you add students, please ensure your staff send an email and allow at least a day to get students routed. If the addition has changed any of the other times for the students currently riding, we will notify you via email.
For those of you that are conducting Special Education assessments of students in the afternoon, let us know if the family requires transportation to and from the assessment. We will find a way to get students and parents to your site and back home in a timely manner. Confirmation of these routes will happen via email to the principal in addition to the staff initiating the request.
Fiscal Fun
FISCAL SERVICES STAFF MEMBER INTRODUCTION
Lisa Hopkins is the next newest member of the Fiscal Services department. Lisa is our Payroll Supervisor that was hired 12/1/2016 to replace Janet Vail when she retired. Lisa was working for RCOE since March 1990 in a variety of roles within the Payroll and STRS/PERS functions. I felt very fortunate to find someone with her expertise within RCOE to fill our vacancy.
Lisa is a California native and currently lives in Moreno Valley. She has three children. Her oldest daughter is Talesha, 37, and she has a BA from UC Irvine and a masters degree from Cal Baptist University. Talesha works in Riverside County as a Social Worker. Brandon is Lisa’s only son and he is 33 and he takes very good care of his mother. Brandon has a BA from UC Riverside. He also works within Riverside County in Social Behavior. Lisa’s youngest daughter is Sabrina and she has her BA from UNLV and she lives in Las Vegas working for Delta Airlines.
Here is a great picture of Lisa at her PSUSD office.
Payroll Updates
W-2s were mailed out on 1/19/21. Please email Veronica Jimenez vjimenez@psusd.us or Lisa Hopkins lhopkins@psusd.us if you have not received yours yet.
Facilities, Planning and Development
Building Futures
The new Career Tech classrooms at Desert Hot Springs High School are near completion.
The classrooms will serve the Renewable Energy Academy and the Public Safety Academy.
The Facilities Planning department staff applied for a Career Tech grant from the California Department of Education and the project was awarded $5.2 Million for this project.
The roll up doors to the shop area of the classroom allow for vehicles to enter the classrooms for training exercises and working on solar and wind projects.
Maintenance & Operations
Contact Us...
Email: kmurphy4@psusd.us
Phone: 760-833-2710