Wow! It's hard to believe this week will mark the end of the 1st quarter of PCPSD's 2022/2023 school year. As we celebrate the release of accountability ratings, I certainly hope your 1st quarter was a success! The Business & Finance team's 1st quarter's work included us diligently working on end-of-year financial reporting requirements, calculating grant programs carryover budgets, and reviewing and modifying accounting processes. Our team has been successful in these tasks while also continuing to process regular payrolls, claims payments to vendors, performing monthly reconcilements and meeting reporting requirements.

As we enter the 2nd quarter, we'll be working with various oversight agencies conducting audits & program reviews:

1. The Office of State Audit will be completing a legal compliance audit.

2. A private CPA firm will conduct our annual financial audit, review of internal controls, and state & federal legal compliance.

3. Glimpse K12, under contract with the Legislative PEER Committee, will be performing an analysis of school district spending and student outcomes. PCPSD is one of thirty school districts in the state selected for inclusion in this study.

4. The Mississippi Department of Education will perform regular fiscal monitoring of our IDEA (Special Education) program.

5. And finally, our accreditation agency, Cognia will be performing an accreditation review of the district.

These activities will require extra effort & time of the Business & Finance Team and other departments. It is likely some of audits and reviews will extend beyond halftime and into the 2nd half of the school year. We will also be working to establish accounting systems for the Pre-K Collaborative Grant recently awarded the district. The $900,000 grant comes with a matching requirement for the district and will require communication with, and reporting to, the Mississippi Action for Progress, Mississippi Department of Revenue, and the Mississippi Department of Education.

The Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration has published new premium rates for State and School Employees Health Insurance plan which is administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield. These rates will become effective on January 1st; employee deductions will change on the December payroll. Employees can determine their new rates from the following charts. Select the appropriate chart based upon your hire date, before or after January 1, 2006 . Employees have either "select" or "base" coverage based upon prior choices. "Base" Coverage carries higher deductibles than "Select" Coverage. These choices can be changed during the month of October, with an effective date of January 1.

During the month of October, full-time employees of PCPSD may add spouses and/or dependent coverage to their state health insurance plan. Employees may also switch from base to select coverage or from select to base coverage. Any changes in premiums withheld will take effect on employee's December payroll and the new coverage will become effective on January 1, 2023.

Also during the month of October, employees may enroll in the district's dental or vision insurance plan. Employee's employed for the past year may enroll with an effective date of January 1, 2023 and with no waiting periods.

Please open the relevant pdf files below if you're interested in adding/changing coverages. Please contact Jennifer Dubuisson for more information.

Pass Christian Public School District has contracted with Total Health, LLC, (partnered with Memorial Health Clinics) to provide off-site minor medical and wellness services during the 2022-2023 school year. Employees are automatically eligible for theses services but the clinic has to be notified of any spouses and/or dependents that you would like to have covered.

If you want your spouse and/or dependents to visit the Wellness Clinic, please provide the information requested below regarding you, your spouse, and eligible dependent(s) for inclusion under the Pass Christian Public School District contract with Total Health, LLC, (partnered with Memorial Health Clinics). Please provide this information now rather than when services are needed. Benefits of the contract will not be available if the spouse/dependents are not pre-enrolled.

If you have not provided information on your spouse and/or dependents since July 1st, please do so now. Only one submission is allowed each school year. If changes are needed (addition/removal), please email gmoran@pc.k12.ms.us.

The regular school session will pause next week (October 5th - 9th) for teachers and students. However, employees who normally work the 220-day and 234-day work schedules are scheduled to work Monday-Thursday; Friday is an off day for all employees. Students who registered for the intersession will be on campuses Monday-Wednesday along with those employees who've been approved to provide supplemental enrichment activities and complimentary transportation and child nutrition services. Employees working the intersession are required to clock in and out to record time & attendance using job code #75 Fall Intersession; time sheets provide documentation for grant requirements. If you're working but have not received instructions on how to clock in/out, please contact your campus business staff.

The Pass Monarch Festival will be on Saturday, October 1st from 10 am-1 pm in War Memorial Park in Pass Christian. The festival will be located near the gazebo and the Billy Bourdin Butterfly Garden and Monarch Way Station inside War Memorial Park. This event will feature speakers, educational exhibits, hands-on activities for all ages, and a walking parade for anyone in butterfly regalia (including pets). The goal of the festival is to celebrate and educate our community about Monarch butterflies and other pollinators-their benefits, lifecycles, and what we can do to help them thrive.

Exhibitors at the Festival include Mississippi State Extension, Crosby Arboretum, Pass Christian Garden Club, Hancock and Harrison County Master Naturalists, Hancock County Master Gardeners, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Harrison and Hancock County Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Beach Beekeepers Association, Dr. Jeffrey Harris, Mississippi State Apiarist, Dr. Blair Sampson with USDA, Mississippi State University Entomology Department Bug Blues and the Pass Christian Public Library.

This event is free and open to the public. Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs (if they are able). Butterfly themed costumes are encouraged! The Market in the Park will also take place during the festival and will have butterfly themed items for sale.

We would like to invite you to join us at the inaugural ‘Starz in the Park Gala’ benefiting the Pirate Excellence Foundation. This year’s Gala will be held in beautiful Henderson Park on Saturday, October 15, 2022, at 6:00 P.M. with featured entertainment by Starz Band Live!

The Pirate Excellence Foundation was established in the fall of 2021 to promote excellence in the Pass Christian Public School District through student scholarships, teacher grants, and charitable giving to the schools and athletic programs. We are very excited about our inaugural event and hope to see you there. Tickets are $40.00 for each person. If you know of a business or individual who would like to sponsor a Patron Table, please forward the information to them.