Rocket Roundup
November 2, 2022
Insurance Open Enrollment Signup Begins November 7
- Click here for a presentation with details about all of the plans and offerings for 2023.
- All of the plans and information is available on the Insurance Benefits Information webpage.
- Virtual Q&A meetings will be held via Zoom at the times below. Please watch the presentation linked above prior to attending as the Q&A sessions will not include a formal presentation.
- Monday, Nov. 7 - 9 a.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 9 - 3:45 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 15 - 3:45 p.m.
The link to join at the time of the meeting is: neenah-k12-wi.zoom.us/j/85053178372
- The link to sign up beginning Monday, Nov. 7 at 8 a.m. is available by clicking here
- If you have questions after reviewing the materials and are unable to join a Q&A session, please contact Benefits Coordinator Bonnie Marcoe at bonnie.marcoe@neenah.k12.wi.us.
Board of Education Meeting Recap - November 1
Neenah Joint School District residents will see their tax mill rate drop 68 cents for the upcoming year after the Board of Education approved its 2022-23 budget at its November 1 meeting.
The District will still tax the maximum amount allowed under state law and collect the same amount in revenues as last year. However, the burden on local taxpayers has decreased due to four main factors: no allowable increase in the revenue limit, increased local property values, increased state aid and the infusion of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. The mill rate is actually lower than the $6.86 mill rate in 2019-20, which was prior to the passing of the $114.9 million referendum in April 2020. Click here to read the full recap
Digital Snow Days Update
It is getting to be that time of year! As we move into November and December the potential for school buildings to be closed due to inclement weather becomes a reality. As a reminder, NJSD has not had traditional snow days budgeted in the calendar since 2017. This Digital Learning Days - 2022 FAQ document spells out the expectations.
When there is a possibility of inclement weather "tomorrow," staff will be directed to send devices home with students in anticipation of school buildings being closed. As indicated on this Digital Learning Days - 2022 FAQ document, all teachers are expected to post assignments in Canvas on inclement weather days (SeeSaw is an acceptable alternative for PK-2). If support is needed to be ready, please contact your Tech Coach and/or building ILTS.
November Equity and Inclusion Newsletter Now Available
Canvas Parent Accounts for Staff Members
NJSD staff members that are also parents of enrolled NJSD students can now create your Canvas Parent accounts. Directions on how to create your Canvas Parent account can be found here.
Some important details to note as stated on the linked document:
- Staff should use a personal email account to create their Canvas Parent account.
- We recommend strongly that you create an additional Google profile if you have a personal Gmail account or use a separate browser if you use another email provider.
- Take some time to manage your Canvas Parent account notifications.
In the coming weeks, we will be onboarding all of our parents. Staff will be notified by their building administration of this process before each building sends the directions out to their parents.
Benefits to Receiving Your W-2 Electronically
Starting on November 4, the next time that you sign into Skyward, you will have the option to choose how you receive your W-2, electronically or a paper copy.
Benefits of Receiving Form W-2 Electronically:
• Online delivery provides access to the W-2 statement on the average 14 days earlier than the
traditional mail process.
• No need to come to the District Office to pick up your W-2.
• Online delivery eliminates the chance that your W-2 Statement will get lost, misdirected or delayed during delivery or after receipt.
• More secure delivery than U.S. mail, protecting your sensitive information from loss, theft or delay
• Access is available 24 hours a day/7 days a week, including weekends.
• Access is available via the same easy-to-use, secure web site employees use to access their pay information.
• Green and Convenient: print only what you need, when you need it
Helping Hands Craft Fair Set for Nov. 5
Educational Foundation of Neenah Offers NJSD Staff Members Grants
The Educational Foundation of the Neenah Joint School District (EFN) provides a wonderful opportunity for NJSD staff members to receive funding for new and innovative teaching practices and programs, programs designed to address the developmental, emotional and social needs of students, and other school related programs and clubs. EFN has funded small requests of as little as $200-330 and large requests of as much as several thousand dollars.
EFN is a non-profit organization founded by former NJSD superintendent, George Grisgby, for the purpose of supporting the educational efforts of District teachers. Board members are residents of this District who are enthusiastic supporters of public education. The EFN endowment comes largely from private donors, local businesses and various charities/foundations.
If you do submit a grant application, please provide a detailed description of your project (the more we know the better we can evaluate your request) and any documentation you have to verify or estimate the cost of your project. Upon receipt of a grant application, EFN will contact you to arrange for your appearance at our next scheduled board meeting so you can appear via zoom meeting to answer any questions the EFN board may have about your grant request and to present any relevant information not contained in the grant application.
The next grant request deadline is November 25. Click here for more information and to submit a grant request.
PBnJs Fund Accepting Grant Requests
The Patrick Began Neenah Joint School District (PBnJs) Mental Health Fund started on June 16, 2017 when the Began family raised $80,000 in one night to develop a fund to support mental health in our District. In the five years since this first fundraiser, the PBnJs Fund has received 134 applications and over $70,000 has been given out to improve the mental health of our students and staff.
If you or a colleague has an idea to address the mental health needs here at NJSD, please fill out an application. We recently reviewed 17 applications on October 14 and we are ready to review a second round of applications on December 16. If you have any questions about the application process, feel free to contact Dr. Mike at (maltekruse@neenah.k12.wi.us). Thank you for all you do!!!
Humana Insurance Hotline Available to NJSD Employees
Humana's open enrollment hotline is now available to NJSD employees to ask questions about benefits, prescriptions, network, Physician Finder and the RXTool on Humana.com. The hotline is unable to assist with any Go365 inquiries.
The hotline may be accessed at 1-888-393-6765 from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Callers should provide their name and that they are calling for Neenah Joint School District 2023 benefits.
This Week in NJSD Activities
Thursday, November 3
Horace Mann Choir Concert, 7 p.m. (Pickard Auditorium)
Friday, November 4
Girls Diving, Home, WIAA Sectional Meet, 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 5
Girls Swimming, Home, WIAA Sectional Meet, Noon
Tuesday, November 8
NHS Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m. (Pickard Auditorium)