Alice ISD Human Resources Pulse
A newsletter from Alice ISD HR - March 2023
In this edition...
The newsletter will be shared throughout the year when information is needed.
In this edition:
- Teachers of the Year
- Alumni Award
- Transfer Requests
- Letters of Intent
- Employee Service Awards and more!
Campus Teachers of the Year 2022-2023
These individuals will be recognized at the Service Awards on May 18th!
The Texas Teacher of the Year is the highest honor that the State of Texas can bestow upon a teacher. This program annually recognizes and rewards teachers who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and excellence in teaching.
An Elementary District Teacher of the Year and a Secondary Teacher of the Year will be selected from the candidates below. The winners will advance to regional competitions.
Best of luck to these fine educators!
Nelda Ramon - Saenz Elementary
Edna Peña - Dubose Elementary
Jennifer Rodriguez - Noonan Elementary
Patricia Romo - Schallert Elementary
Armando Salinas - DAEP
David Valerio - WAMS
Alice Alumni Award
If you would like to nominate someone, please contact Anna Holmgreen to request the form. It will be posted on the website later this week.
For all of our ACP Teachers
Each of you is in a different program, with different requirements, but it is important to know your program requirements and the requirements of ALICE ISD.
All ACP candidates should be expecting emails or phone calls from HR after spring break to find out your current status.
Transfer Requests
Transfer requests are considered, but are not guaranteed. We take into account the need and availability at each campus.
To request transfer paperwork, please email Sonia Cervantes Escalante at sonia.cervantes@aliceisd.net. Request the paperwork and she will get it to you. Please note that there is a signature required from both the candidate and the sending principal. Return the paperwork by April 10th for consideration.
We may not know all availability until resignations are received.
Request to be out prior to a holiday...
What is your intent? Letters of Intent
Each year our employees receive "Letters of Intent" to let us know their plans for next year. These will go out Thursday, March 8.
The letters state:
To the best of my knowledge...
- I plan to work for the Alice Independent School District in the 2023-2024 school year
- I do NOT plan to work for the Alice Independent School District in the 2023-2024 school year. Please do NOT consider me for employment.
Please note this is used for planning purposes. If you plan on retiring or resigning, you must still submit that official signed letter to HR.
Please return complete the electronic form by March 31st.
Considering Retiring or Leaving the District?
Also remember that any letter of resignation or retirement must be signed.
If you have informed your principal that you are not returning, or if you submitted a letter of intent that stated you were not planning on returning, you MUST still submit a letter of resignation.
Employees who plan to retire under TRS should notify Human Resources Department as soon as possible. Information on the application procedures for TRS benefits is available from TRS at Teacher Retirement System of Texas, 1000 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701-2698, or call 800- 223-8778 or 512-542-6400. TRS information is also available on the web (www.trs.texas.gov). See page 10 for information on restrictions of employment of retirees in Texas public schools.
If you are retiring and need to know about that process, reach out to Brenda Paez (brenda.paez@aliceisd.net)
Request for Reimbursement for Leave Upon Separation
An employee who separates from employment with the District shall be eligible for payment for accumulated state and local leave under the following conditions:
- The employee's separation from employment is voluntary, i.e., the employee is retiring or resigning and is not being discharged or nonrenewed.
- The employee provides advance written notice of intent to separate from employment. Contract employees must provide written notice at least 30 days before the last day of employment. (For most classroom teachers that last day of employment is May 26th so we'd need to know by April 26th.) Non-contract employees must provide written notice at least two weeks before the last day of employment.
- The employee has at least 15 years of continuous service with the District.
- The employee has at least ten days of available state and local leave.
The employee shall receive payment for each day of accumulated state and local leave, to a maximum of 50 days, at a rate established by the Board. If the employee is reemployed with the District, days for which the employee received payment shall not be available to that employee. The rate established by the Board shall be in effect until the Board adopts a new rate. Any changes to the rate shall apply beginning with the school year following the adoption of the rate change.
Transfer Requests
Remember, all transfers are considered but are NOT guaranteed!
Letter of Reasonable Assurance
The form is due back to us by March 31st (electronic submission).
If you plan on resigning or retiring you must still submit a signed letter to HR.
Planning to Resign or Retire?
Employee Service Awards
If you are planning on retiring let us know!
In order to have gifts ordered, we must receive that information by April 3rd. Employees who decide after that date will not be recognized at this event, but can be done next year.
Personal Leave
The district offers employees paid and unpaid leaves of absence in times of personal need. Employees must follow district and department or campus procedures to report or request any leave of absence and complete the appropriate form or certification.
All absences must be entered into Frontline.
Personal Leave
Nondiscretionary. Leave taken for personal or family illness, family emergency, a death in the family, or active military service is considered nondiscretionary leave. Reasons for this type of leave allow very little, if any, advance planning. Nondiscretionary may be used in the same manner as state sick leave.
Discretionary. Leave taken at an employee’s discretion that can be scheduled in advance is considered discretionary leave. An employee wishing to take discretionary personal leave must submit a request through automated system (Frontline/AESOP) to his or her principal or supervisor five days in advance of the anticipated absence. The effect of the employee’s absence on the educational program or department operations, as well as the availability of substitutes, will be considered by the principal or supervisor.
Discretionary personal leave may not last more than three consecutive workdays and may not be taken on the following key days:
- State Assessment Days (i.e. STAAR, STAAR/EOC)
- End of Semester or end of year exams o Staff Development days
- Days before or after a school holiday
Furthermore, the supervisor or designee shall also consider the effect of the employee’s absence on the educational program or District operations, as well as the availability of substitutes.
The Superintendent has final authority on discretionary leave requests. Furthermore, the
supervisor or designee shall also consider the effect of the employee’s absence on the
educational program or District operations, as well as the availability of substitutes.
Comp Time
Overtime Compensation
Policies DEAB (LOCAL), DEC
Prior approval to earn compensatory time or overtime
The district compensates overtime for nonexempt employees in accordance with federal wage and hour laws. Only nonexempt employees (hourly employees and paraprofessional employees) are entitled to overtime compensation. Nonexempt employees ARE NOT authorized to work beyond their normal work schedule without advance approval from their supervisor. A nonexempt employee who works overtime without prior approval will be subject to disciplinary action.
Overtime is legally defined as all hours worked in excess of 40 hours in a workweek and is not
measured by the day or by the employee’s regular work schedule. For the purpose of calculating overtime, a workweek begins at 12:00 a.m. Friday and ends at 11:59 p.m. Thursday for hourly employees.
Nonexempt employees that are paid on a salary basis are paid for the hours set by the normal
work schedule. Hours worked beyond the normal schedule up to 40 hours will be paid at a
regular rate of pay.
Employees may be compensated for overtime (i.e., hours beyond 40 in a workweek) at
time-and-a-half rate with compensatory time off (comp time) or direct pay. The following
applies to all nonexempt employees:
● Employees can accumulate up to 60 hours of comp time.
● Comp time must be used in the duty year that it is earned.
● Use of comp time may be at the employee’s request with supervisor approval, as
workload permits, or at the supervisor’s direction.
● An employee is required to use comp time before using available paid leave (e.g., sick,
personal, vacation).
● Weekly time records will be maintained on all nonexempt employees for the purpose of
wage and salary administration.
Employee Handbook
We will be sharing information from there with you throughout the course of the year, but each employee must be familiar with the information in this handbook.
Please take some time to view!
Don't Forget to Renew Your Teaching Certificate!
Frontline
Jus a friendly reminder that it is the employee's responsibility to enter their own absences into the Frontline Absence Management system. You should only reach out to your campus secretary for assistance to enter your absence if it is an unforeseen emergency.
Remember that you can only enter one day per transaction, so if you need to be out 2 days, that will be two different entries.
Substitute Feedback
Frontline Account...Leave Feedback
Answer the Survey
- An overall rating
- Was all classroom work collected'Was the room left as neat and clean as it was found?
- Was classroom work explained satisfactorily?
- Did students report that they were treated fairly and consistently?
- Were any disciplinary issues reported?
- General comments
Submit
Address and Contact info update
It is important that we have your correct address and contact info.
If you have moved since you signed a contract with us, please click this link to update that info.
We also need this info if you have changed your name.
Working Advantage - Employee Discount Program
Once you sign up, you will get emails with special offers. These range from savings on theme parks, shows, hotels, rental cars, events, etc.
ALICE ISD
Email: anna.holmgreen@aliceisd.net
Website: www.aliceisd.net
Location: 2 Coyote Trail, Alice, TX, USA
Phone: (361)664-0981