Inside 271
Staff Newsletter
Coeur d'Alene Public Schools — August 2, 2019
Staff welcome back breakfast is aug. 26 at chs
We look forward to welcoming back all district employees at our annual kickoff breakfast on Monday, August 26, at Coeur d'Alene High School. This year's Welcome Back Breakfast will be shorter to give you more time to spend with your building teams.
Doors will open at 7:15 a.m. for our vendor fair and breakfast. Vendors include companies that provide employee benefits, financial institutions, continuing education providers, and organizations supporting our teachers and schools.
At 8:30 a.m. we will gather in Viking Court (the new gymnasium) for a welcome by the Board of Trustees, the Coeur d'Alene Education Association, and Superintendent Steven Cook. The program is scheduled to conclude by 9:30 a.m.
Sign up now for our STEM Together Conference August 13-14 at LCHS
Along with the University of Idaho and others, the Coeur d'Alene Public Schools Technology Department is proud to announce the STEM Together Conference, August 13-14, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lake City High School. This event takes the place of our Tech Kickoff.
A variety of sessions with a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math focus will be presented over the two days. There will also be general technology sessions appropriate for Language Arts, Social Studies and other teachers.
CDA staff members can earn $100 each day for attending all sessions, and one credit is available from UI. Field trips to local science locations of interest will be available, as well as food trucks at the school for lunch. Keynote speakers will be Eli Luberoff, CEO of Desmos.com, and Janie Veltkamp, from Birds of Prey NW.
Go here to learn more and register before it fills up!
Literacy Introduction for new teachers workshop set for august 19
This day of learning and collaboration will be hosted by Spokane-based professional learning coach Katy Karschney. It's an optional workshop, but it's a great opportunity to get a jumpstart on teaching literacy your first year in our District.
Materials, lunch and a $100 stipend will be provided each teacher who attends. To sign up, email Kate Keinert, our Director of Equity and Federal Programs, at kkeinert@cdaschools.org, or call Kate at (208) 664-8241 ext. 10047. Include your name, grade level or content area, and school.
You now can update your phone numbers in Skyward
If we have a school emergency, close for weather or experience other urgent situations, it's important that we can send you timely information and updates. Many employees have asked to receive text alerts in these situations.
While we have the mobile phone number for many employees, we are still missing some. We have made it easier now for employees to ensure the District has your correct numbers. In Skyward Employee Access, you can update your phone numbers. Follow these steps:
1. Log into Skyward Employee Access
2. Select "Employee Information" in the top menu
3. Select "Personal Information"
4. Make sure you are on the Demographic-Employee Info screen
5. Select "Request Changes"
6. You may update your numbers under Phone 1, Phone 2 and Phone 3
7. BE SURE Phone 3 is your preferred mobile number for receiving emergency text messages
8. Click "Save"
Spread the word! Classified Job Fair is Aug. 17
We're hiring! Do you know anyone who would like to join our staff as a classified employee? Please encourage them to attend our 3rd annual Classified Job Fair on Saturday, August 17, at Coeur d'Alene High School. It will begin at 9 a.m. and continue until 1 p.m.
Our goal is to have all schools and District departments represented at the job fair. On-site interviews will be available. We aim to fill both full-time and part-time positions. These jobs pay between $10.68 and $21.82 per hour, with benefits for eligible positions.
The positions include:
- School PLUS assistants
- Nutrition Services
- Playground assistants
- Special education assistants
- Crossing guards
- Custodians
- Bus drivers
- Classroom assistants
- Title 1 assistants
- Remediation assistants
- Substitute teachers
Candidates may apply in advance at cdaschools.org/jobs. Questions? Contact Lisa Loy in Human Resources at (208) 664-8241, or lloy@cdaschools.org.
Special education kickoff and paraprofessional academy
The Special Education Paraprofessional Academy, focusing on the Trust-Based Relational Intervention caregiver principles, is set for August 22-23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, at Lake City Church, 6000 N. Ramsey Road. Attendance is mandatory for all special ed parapros, and lunch will be provided.
Register here. Password is PARATBRI2019
Meet our new Director of Facilities, Michael Westrup
Please join us in welcoming Michael Westrup, our new Director of Facilities for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools. Michael starts next week, filling the boots of Bryan Martin, who is retiring this month after 25 years with the District.
Michael will supervise employees in maintenance, grounds and facilities, including all construction activities. He will report to Jeff Voeller, Director of Operations.
Michael has over 15 years of construction experience. Most recently he was a project specialist (kitchen and bath remodels) for Lowes in Spokane. Prior to that, he spent six years as the Physical Plant Manager for a small school district in the Los Angeles area. He also supervised multifamily renovation projects in Newport Beach, Calif., for over four years.
Michael’s wife, Meg Westrup, teaches at Hayden Meadows Elementary School. They have two children, a daughter who attends Coeur d’Alene High School and a son who attends Canfield Middle School.
Michael's email is Michael.Westrup@cdaschools.org
Campus Safety Officers will join staffs of CHS and Lake City this fall
The Campus Safety Officers will provide interior and exterior safety and security services. The job focuses on prevention and enforcement of school rules and regulations.
Coeur d'Alene High School
- Charles Keisel is retired from the U.S. Air Force and has a background in safety management and emergency management. He most recently worked at Cabela's in Post Falls.
- Edwin Couoh has been a safety officer at the University of Portland, the Oregon Zoo and a Postland-area middle school. He most recently worked at Community Colleges of Spokane.
Lake City High School
- Stacy Westberg has been a mental health counselor and designated crisis responder in Newport, Wash. She also has been a community corrections officer in Washington. She's a 1999 Lake City graduate.
- Connor Wilson, a 2016 graduate of Lake City, recently earned his AA degree in Criminal Justice at North Idaho College. He completed the North Idaho Police Standards and Training Academy last December.
One week left to select and confirm employee benefits for 2019-20
All benefitted employees must go online and and select their insurance plans and other benefits no later than August 9. You will need to do this EVEN if you want to keep your current insurance plans. Please log on and re-elect your benefits in the next seven days.
Employees may elect or waive other voluntary benefits, such as additional life insurance, AFLAC, and Flexible Spending Account.
Here's how:
1. Log in at hrconnection.com. (Or go to www.cdaschools.org and select Departments, Human Resources, Human Resources Information, Benefits & Insurance, then HRConnection under Quick Links.)
2. Enter your username (district email address)
3. Enter your password. (If you don't know your password, click "forgot password" to have the reset link emailed to you.)
4. Select the "Elections" tab to review/save/add any new contacts (these are your dependents/beneficiaries)
5. Make your enrollment selections. Once you are done, you must confirm your elections.
The HR department will have additional computers and staff available on Wednesday, August 7, to assist any employees needing help with their enrollment. You may call the HR staff at these extensions:
Shelley Hanzen, ext. 10032
Kelly Ostrom, ext. 10030
Lisa Loy, ext. 10031
Josie Spindler, ext. 10033
Batter up! DISTRICT 271 staff night at Spokane Indians
Save the date (Sunday, August 18) for our annual Coeur d'Alene Public Schools staff appreciation night at a Spokane Indians baseball game this summer.
The game that Sunday evening starts at 5:09 PM. Gates open an hour prior. Go here to reserve a bench seat for $5. Indians are hosting Eugene.
We also will have a Family Feast game night for all district families, employees and retirees on August 28 at 6:30 PM.
key dates for 271 staff
- August 5 - Board of Trustees regular meeting, 5 p.m., Midtown Center
- August 9 - Deadline for all benefitted employees to confirm benefits enrollment
- August 13-14 - STEM Together Conference, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Lake City High School
- August 17 - Classified Job Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Coeur d'Alene High School
- August 19 - Literacy Introduction for New Teacher Workshop, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Hospice of North Idaho
- August 20 - Special Education staff kickoff, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Hospice of North Idaho
- August 21 - New Certified Staff Orientation, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Midtown Center
- August 22 - Literacy Introduction for New Teachers workshop, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Hospice of North Idaho
- August 22-23 - Special Education Paraprofessional Academy, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Lake City Church
- August 26 - Employee Welcome Back Breakfast, 7:15-9:30 a.m., Coeur d'Alene High School
- September 2 - Labor Day holiday
- September 3 - First Day of School!
Stay Connected
Email: info@cdaschools.org
Website: www.cdaschools.org
Location: 1400 N. Northwood Center Court
Phone: (208) 664-8241
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cdaschools
Twitter: @cdaschools