NGHE Teaching Touchpoints
Important Information for NGHE Teachers & Support Staff
Issue Date: Monday, September 7, 2015
- Happy Labor Day!
- New "Fall Break"
- First Paychecks
- Payroll Procedure Updates
- NGHE Policy on Team Members Requesting Money from NGHE Families
- NGHE Supplies
- Welcome Kat Guear!
HAPPY LABOR DAY!
We hope you have enjoyed the break today after teaching for the past four Mondays at NGHE. We very much appreciate everything you have done to get NGHE off and running successfully for the Fall Semester. Everything is running so smoothly now and everyone is a good rhythm for learning thanks to YOU!
NEW "FALL BREAK"
Just a reminder, we only have two Mondays of classes in September (the 14th and 21st). We are then off again on Monday, September 28 for the new Fall Break being implemented by Forsyth County schools (classes will resume on Monday, October 5th). We will not have another break until the week of Thanksgiving whereby we will be off Monday, November 23 (returning to class on Monday, November 30th).
FIRST PAYCHECKS
Everyone should have received a first paycheck for the month of August (for four Mondays of classes). If you have not received your first check, please be on the lookout for possible post-holiday delivery of Tuesday or Wednesday. Subsequently, if you still have any concerns about your check delivery, please contact info@northgahomeschool.org, so that any check delays can be investigated and resolved.
It is important to note that NGHE checks for payroll and supply reimbursements come in a very plain envelope with "Payment Process Center" in the return address areas, so they can sometimes be mistaken for junk mail. Also, if you have moved recently, be certain that we have your new address on file. Note that checks presented for payment after 90-days from date of issue will not be honored by NGHE's credit union.
PAYROLL PROCEDURE UPDATES
Although not planned to communicate payroll procedure updates on "Labor Day" (pure coincidence!), we did want to let you know about a couple of important changes being implemented under the advisement of NGHE's new accounting firm.
Substitute Instructor Payments
First, we are no longer asking that instructors pay for their own substitute teachers out of their own paychecks (as was the practice of NGHE under previous management). From now on, NGHE will pay any subcontracted instructors that you secure separately and directly. You will no longer be obligated to pay for your own substitute; in this way, you will not be taxed on the income that your substitute earned.
We do ask that you still secure your own qualified substitute whenever possible, and as far in advance as possible. Keep in mind that there may be a current NGHE teaching team member who may not have a class of their own for the hour(s) that you need a substitute.
Current team members may be willing to fill in for your spot given the proper notification and class preparation.
Seeking a current team member may also be ideal in that they are already cleared with a criminal background check, they have already been set up in the NGHE payroll system, they know the NGHE campus and many of the students, and they may really appreciate having "first right of refusal" before you seek someone from the outside.
Please note that all substitutes will be required to complete the same forms that you did at the beginning of the semester (listed below). Please have any new substitutes report to the front desk when they arrive to get these forms and a "Guest" badge for any day(s) they are teaching.
- W-9 Tax Form for 2015
- Teacher Information Sheet
- Criminal Background Check form
Or, email info@northgahomeschool.org as soon as you know who your substitute teacher will be and all required forms will be sent to him or her. In your email, please include all of the substitute's contact information and the date(s) he/she will be on campus.
Note that North Lanier Baptist Church requires Criminal Background Checks for anyone working with children on their campus- including instructors, substitutes, and volunteers.
Monthly Payment Processing
Second, we have been advised to change all payroll to monthly payments reflecting actual Mondays worked in the previous month, as opposed to monthly payments reflecting four Mondays each (no matter how many days were worked in the previous month).
Below is payment schedule for the Fall, 2015 Semester, which will now reflect actual days taught for the previous month:
- August: (reflecting 4 teaching days) - payable first week September (paid on 9/4/15)
- September: (reflecting 2 teaching days) - payable first week of October, 2015
- October: (reflecting 4 teaching days) - payable first week of November, 2015
- November: (reflecting 4 teaching days) - payable first week of December, 2015
- December: (reflecting 2 teaching days) - payable first week of January, 2016*
*to be dated by 12/31/15 to be included in your 1099 earnings statement for 2015 from NGHE
NGHE POLICY ON TEAM MEMBERS REQUESTING MONEY FROM NGHE FAMILIES
Please note that under no circumstances should any NGHE Team Member request money from NGHE families (parents or students), within the context of the NGHE program, without prior consent from NGHE administration.
This includes any money being requested from families for any additional supplies, technology rental, instruments, uniforms or gear, testing fees, lab equipment, licenses, field trips, fundraising efforts, or any other special projects or productions.
As a service to our parents, NGHE strives to request ALL costs up front at time of registration, so that there are no "hidden fees" or surprises later in the semester.
Also, a majority of families are taking advantage of the new monthly payment plan being offered for the first time ever for all classes at NGHE. Therefore, it is extremely important that all costs be rolled up into this payment plan accurately, including all registration fees, supply fees and tuition.
All supply fees and other expenses related to your class should have been communicated by you during the development of your class, so that it could be reflected in NGHE's course catalog. If you did not communicate a cost, or a cost was overlooked or under-budgeted, it should be addressed with a member of NGHE's administrative team. That team will then determine, on a case-by-case basis, if additional funds will be requested of parents or will come out of NGHE's operational budget.
Please DO NOT seek any additional funds from any NGHE parents or students within the context of the NGHE program without first consulting with NGHE administration. Doing so could result in immediate termination and payroll deduction of all monies for which the NGHE team member requested of parent(s) and/or student(s).
NGHE SUPPLIES
Please remember these important notes as it relates to NGHE Supplies:
- Be sure to submit a Supply Reimbursement Form (found at the front desk) within 2 weeks of purchasing any supplies with your own funds.
- Reimbursement payments are typically processed within 10 business days of submission, unless there is a break or holiday, in which case it may be longer.
- Any leftover supplies should be returned to the supply cabinet located in the closet of Room ED-203. Even a few leftover pipe cleaners, a half ream of paper, or a box of partially used crayons could be used by a fellow instructor. Please put your leftover supplies in this cabinet so there is not duplication of effort or expense!
- Please do not take any supplies from the "Art Cart" in the main classroom hallway. This is a different policy than in years past at NGHE whereby the "Art Cart" was a designated center for supplies that anyone could use for their classes. The "Art Cart" is now dedicated to housing only supplies for the art classes of NGHE and their teaching team members.
WELCOME KAT GUEAR!
We are excited to welcome a new NGHE team member who will be joining the JumpStart! team starting this coming Monday, September 14. Kathleen "Kat" Guear will be serving as a teaching Para-Pro, dedicated to one of our NGHE students who has special needs.
A New Jersey native, Kat majored in Special Needs Education at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. Her first years of teaching were actually at her own elementary school, alongside a woman who was Kat's own Kindergarten teacher! Outside of NGHE, Kat serves two other private families who have children with special needs.
Kat has been married for 11 years to Bob Guear, a Veterinary Technician at Crestview Animal Hospital in Cumming. Together Kat and Bob have a third-grade daughter named Shaunna Rose, who attends Mashburn Elementary. They also have three dogs they've rescued at various points in their lives: Sable, Chrissy and Marley.
Please welcome Kat with a warm NGHE greeting when you see her!
Cheering you on,
Alex and Charlene Perez, Directors
North Georgia Homeschool Enrichment [NGHE]
alex@northgahomeschool.org
charlene@northgahomeschool.org
http://northgahomeschool.org
ph: 404-985-7686 [NGHE land line]
ph: 470-222-1722 [Alex cell]
ph: 770-355-5805 [Charlene cell]
NGHE Phone: 404.985.7686
NGHE Email: info@northgahomeschool.org
Past Issues of "Teaching Touchpoints" e-Newsletter
- T-shirts, Name Badges, Forms
- Fall Semester Pay Dates
- Class Rosters
- Parent Communication
- Classroom Set-Up
- Classroom Reassignments
- New Faces!
- Did You Know?
- Safety Reminders
- Need to Reach the Front Desk?
- Class Dates
- Fall Semester Kick-Off
- Tax Forms
- Thank You!