FY24 Coffee Corner
September 6, 2023
Welcome to the Coffee Corner!
This year it is all about everyone working as a team to make the dream work! Because at WNESU "the best most certainly work here"!
Myself and co-contributor Jason Bishop (payroll/business office) have created the Coffee Corner to help bring benefits and payroll information together into an easy to find and navigate system.
If there are topics that you wish me to highlight please just email me and I will be happy to add them to the blasts!
WHO'S NEW AT THE SU!
Here are a few of the new faces at our schools this year
Erin Jamieson - Special Education Case Manager, Grafton Athens School
Abigail Hoops - Kindergarten Teacher, Central Elementary School
Jarrod James - PE Teacher, Bellows Falls Middle School
Katherine Kobji - Transportation - Windham NE Supervisory Union
Sarah Dunning - Transportation - Windham NE Supervisory Union
Sarah started late FY23 :)
Jenny Kessler - Interventionist - Windham NE Supervisory Union
HUMAN RESOURCES
Benefits and you!
We want you to be able to make the MOST out of your benefits.
EAP is here for you!
The Employee Assistance Program is here 24/7/365
If you have an issue they want to know about it. From Legal advice, to self-assessments, financial guidance, and short term counseling, they offer it all! Best of all it is confidential and accessible to everyone in your household.
- Need assistance? Immediate clinical line: 1-866-660-9533
Please make sure to set up your online account. https://www.investeap.org/
District Password is: VSBIT
New Badges are coming!
- We are waiting for the finalization of the design and once approved, all staff ID badges will be re-issued.
- They will allow you to open the doors in your building (those with keyless entry) and release print jobs without entering your code.
*FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO SUBMIT A NEW PHOTO NOW OR HAVE NOT SUBMITTED A PHOTO YET YOU CAN DO SO THROUGH: https://wnesu.org/staffphoto (Please see photo submission guidelines attached below) PLEASE NOTE WE WILL BE COMING AROUND TO ALL THE BUILDINGS AND HAVING A PHOTO SESSION AFTER THE NEW BADGES ARE READY TO BE IMPLIMENTED, PLEASE SUBMIT A PHOTO IF YOU DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A BADGE FOR ID.
Please note these are NOT the same ID badges that are available through the school student photo company. These badges are ONLY through the Admin Office.
Open Enrollment
Open enrollment for 2024 will start Monday, October 2 and go through Monday, October 30, 2023 for January 1, 2024 effective start date.
PARTICIPATION IN OPEN ENROLLMENT IS MANDATORY EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT MAKING ANY CHANGES OR IF YOU ARE WAIVING OUR COVERAGES.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE contact me should you have any questions, do not understand how to complete your enrollment or need any assistance what so ever. I am here to help in any way I can. Please do not wait until 10/30 to contact me with issues on enrollment, please plan accordingly. Remember there are close to 400 staff members that are required to complete enrollment and I am only 1 person. When 50+ people contact me to spend 30 min to an hour helping them complete enrollment on the last day, do not get upset if I am not available due to your lack of planning. I will be hosting and recording online web sessions again to go over the plans, and will have time for Q & A. I encourage you to have your spouse or decision maker of the household on the zoom sessions.
Alternative Health Care Stipend
- This is an ANNUAL sign up. You can sign up now through October 31 for the FY24 payout. This allows the board time to plan the budget for who they are paying out funds too. PLEASE FILL OUT THE ATTACHED IF YOU QUALIFY AND RETURN TO ME BY OCTOBER 31ST.
Be well everyone!
Appointments encouraged!
I realize your time is super precious and I want to make sure you get my full attention to your needs. In order to help everyone in the districts I have created a link to my calendar for ease of setting up an appointment to meet with me.
PAYROLL CORNER
What is happening this month with payroll
Happy FY24!
We are excited to announce we have moved to Infinite Visions/TYLER. This is our new payroll and accounting software as of July 1. This means we are in a bit of a transitional period and are still in the process of updating and merging the data. The new system is amazing and we thank everyone for your patience and help as we navigate this tremendous task! That being said, we are aware the leave banks are still not fully setup. The business office focused on getting everyone paid first and foremost and will be working on leave banks next after everyone is in the system. Again, we thank you for our patience during this very labor intensive process.
CHANGES THAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
1. My Paystub looks soooo much different.. Help!
- New software means things might look a little different than you are used too. Please do not panic, attached below find a helpful little PDF that will help you familiarize yourself with your direct deposit receipt and how to read it. If you have a question and can't remember please email payroll@wnesu.com for confirmation.
2. Direct Deposit account(s) cannot be a percentage
- The new software does not allow for percentages of your income to be deposited into an account. If you had a percentage before please update your direct deposit to a fixed number. If you have a question and can't remember please email payroll@wnesu.com for confirmation.
3. Timesheets will be changing
- We are moving away from Substitutes Online and are moving to Frontline. Sub's online will cease on 9/15/2023. More info will be coming soon!
- We are still in the early stage and will let you know when the actual change over will take place.
- For now continue your normal routine.
4. New Time Clock is coming!
- More details to come, our hope is for a November roll out
- Please continue your normal routine for now.
5. Reminder of Retirement Deductions Rates Increase;
Vermont State Teacher Retirement Rates:
Retirement is a mandatory benefit per the State of Vermont. Your rate is determined by your base salary wage as of July 1. The rate will not change throughout the school year even if your wage increases above the threshold. It is locked for the school year. (Note: Dept Heads, your rate includes your dept head stipend in the calculation)
VSTRS CALCULATION AND PERCENTAGE
> 40,000 - 6.10%
40,000.01-50,000 - 6.15%
50,000.01-60,000 - 6.25%
60,000.01-70,000 - 6.35%
70,000.01-80,000 - 6.50%
80,000.01-90,000 - 6.75%
90,000.01-100,000 - 7.00%
100,000.01 < - 7.25%
Vermont Municipal Employee Retirement Rates:
Retirement is a mandatory benefit per the State of Vermont. Your FY24 rates are:
Group B: Employee: 6.125% | Employer 6.750%
Timesheet quick links:
Regular Timesheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15QzlRfdkS5H2fuPUnM1dI98QFJyZqUqTRx0cwU__x4I/template/preview
Grant Funded Employees: (UPDATED FORM)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_8WreOGMYSh63PGNEi2Ml42MdRNAqvegJ3C1SzI_3Vg/template/preview
Transportation:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16v00WdonzMvWvIAI0j7dUze08NoFYqdT3tmpisSNorU/template/preview
Below please find a copy of our Current Payroll Schedule along with Timesheet Submission dates. If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to Jason in payroll at payroll@wnesu.com.
Any payroll related questions? Contact Jason Bishop at payroll@wnesu.com. During payroll weeks please allow 48-36 hour response time to emails. If it is an emergency please contact the central office at 802-463-9958.
PAY RUN SCHEDULE - DUE DATES FOR TIMESHEETS AND PAY DATES
FY24 Calendars
I know it is still early yet, but we wanted to share with you the FY24 school year, payroll and holiday calendars so you can plan accordingly
PAYROLL - BLANK W4'S AND DIRECT DEPOSIT FORMS
HEALTHY YOU!
PATH - Wellness and YOU!
GIFT CARD REMINDER!
PATH members who earned their $100 LL Bean gift card will receive them via email in September. Please make sure to log into your PATH account if you have changed your email address or retired and need to enter a personal address.
Path Building Leader Contact List
Building Leaders:
Athens Grafton School
Desirae Wilbur
Bellows Falls Middle School (Welcome to our new leaders for FY24)
Sierra Patterson
Jessica Illingworth
Bellows Falls High School (Welcome to our new leader for FY24)
Whitney Patterson
Central Elementary
Peter Lawry
Saxtons River Elementary School
Coleen Gillam
Westminster Center School
Patricia Gomez
WNESU
JoEllen Barton
Quick Link: https://secure.tomypath.com/wndnesu/dashboard/default
PATH Forms
CURRENT CBA COPIES
How do I log into my BerniePortal?
To log into your BerniePortal account (www.BerniePortal.com, Login button top right) using the User Name and Password you created previously. If you have forgotten your password, you can reset it from the login screen.
Where can I find benefit information??
I have compiled a whole library of information for you accessible at anytime through our google drives.
Look here: G:\Shared drives\WNESU HR SHARED FORMS
For example you can find:
Employee Payroll Forms (W-2's, Direct Deposit forms)
School Calendars (past and present)
Collective Bargaining Agreements (past and present)
Benefit information (Dental, Health Care, Vision, Life, Retirement)
Employee Benefit Guides
Medicare Info
Job Descriptions
Path and Wellness
Sick Leave info
Workman's Compensation and Student Injury Forms
AND MUCH MORE!
FY24 Mandatory Trainings
From: Andy Haas
Sent to: Teamwnesu@wnesu.com
On: Wed, Aug 23, 3:08 PM
Every staff member will get an invite to a Google Classroom for the Mandatory Trainings. We are NOT using Vector this year for our annual trainings. Once you get the invite, you will need to go into the classroom and view the slide decks. Once you have completed all the slide decks, there is a quiz that must be taken. Once you have taken the quiz and PASSED with 100%, you will be emailed a certificate later.
Every staff member (custodian, bus driver, para, food services, central office, teacher, administrator, admin assistant) MUST complete the trainings by the end of Sept.
Thank you,
Andy
VECTOR SOLUTIONS - STILL AVAILABLE FOR ADDITIONAL NON MANDATORY TRAININGS
To any staff that would like to explore additional training on their own time, we do still have this resource available.
FY24 ARCHIVED NEWSLETTERS
Social Media Links for Schools
Windham Northeast Supervisory Union: https://www.facebook.com/wnesuvt
Saxtons River School: https://www.facebook.com/sresvt
Bellows Falls Middle School: https://www.facebook.com/BellowsFallsMiddleSchool
Central Elementary School: https://www.facebook.com/rockinghamcesvt
Bellows Falls Union High School: https://www.facebook.com/bfuhsvt
Grafton Elementary School: https://www.facebook.com/GESVermont
Westminster Center School: https://www.facebook.com/westminstercenterschool/
802-463-9958 x 114
802-460-1472 direct
802-460-0405 fax