In the Know
An Internal Newsletter from the SISD Communications Dept.
WE HEART YOU!
We LOVE our Bearcats and can't imagine our district without you. Thank you for all you do, and we hope you have a great Valentine's Day!
10 Teacher-Tested Valentine’s Day Classroom Activities
Spring Retirement Reminder
In accordance to Board Policy DEC (Local), Sherman ISD pays you for a portion of unused local leave at retirement. The Human Resources Department wants to ensure that all employees are aware of the upcoming timelines set out in this policy so that any employee that is planning to retire will not miss out on this opportunity. Please review the important information and dates below:
If a professional contracted employee intends to retire at the end of 2019, he or she must submit a letter of resignation to Human Resources no later than 4:00 pm on the dates listed below:
187 Day Contract Employee- Friday, February 22, 2019
207 Day Contract Employee- Monday, March 4, 2019
226 Day Contract Employee- Monday, March 25, 2019
If a non-contracted employee intends to retire and desires payment for local sick leave, then he or she must submit a letter of resignation to Human Resources no later than two weeks before the last day of employment. If a retiring SISD employee does not meet this requirement, he or she will not be paid for any local sick leave upon retirement as determined by SISD Board Policy. If you have any questions about this, please contact the Executive Director of Human Resources Jill O’Neal at 903-891-6410 or via email at joneal@shermanisd.net.
Reviewing Paycheck Withholdings
A recent article from SHRM offers a good reminder that tax time is a good opportunity for HR departments to advise employees to review and adjust their paycheck withholdings for the next year.
The Tax Cut and Jobs Act, which went into effect in 2018, could impact employees in a variety of different ways, with previously popular deductions no longer available and lower tax rates. Employees may find they withheld too much or too little money from their paychecks.
According to the IRS, those most at risk of having too little withheld from their pay include:
- Taxpayers who itemized in the past but now take the increased standard deduction
- Two-wage-earner households
- Employees with nonwage sources of income
- Those with complex tax situations
Don't forget about Teladoc!
Teladoc is a convenient way for employees to receive treatment within minutes for non-emergency, acute general medical needs like the flu, sinus problems, bronchitis and much more. Employees can schedule a visit to occur during their break or lunch hour, at their convenience, by web, phone or through the mobile app.
Teladoc physicians have an average of 15 – 20 years clinical experience and are board-certified physicians. TRS members have reported a 94% satisfaction rate.
Last year, several TRS-ActiveCare participants sought care in the emergency room for non-urgent conditions. About 40% of all emergency room visits were for non-emergency medical needs like sinusitis, upper respiratory infection and the flu. A visit to the emergency room is very costly for the employee. With Teladoc, there is less cost or no cost for TRS-ActiveCare participants.
To make registration even easier for participants, Teladoc started sending a series of three text messages on Feb. 6.
- The audience is participants that are not currently registered.
- The series of three messages will be sent over five weeks.
- Participants can reply “stop” to opt out at any time.
To learn more, visit the TRS website.
Questions?
Email Aetna at trsbainquiries@aetna.com or call 1-877-767-5254 if you need assistance.
Connecting the Dots Expo!
This event is for our community members, families and caregivers of students with special needs. Information, resources and supports related to mental health, intellectual disabilities, employment training and support, recreational activities, support groups, legal guidance and more will be provided during the expo. The event will also include breakout session topics that focus on guardianship and available Texas Workforce Commission services.
Escape the VAPE Awareness Event
We're proud to be participating in #EscapeTheVape19, a regional anti-vaping awareness event. National author & speaker Robb Holladay will be visiting our district, and our students will be studying and discussing the dangers of vaping. Sherman Independent School District will be hosting parent forums that will be open to surrounding communities. More details to come for what we hope will be an impactful week for our students! Feel free to share this information on your social media platforms.
New Sherman High School Building Project Approval
The Sherman ISD Board of Trustees approved the budget for the final phase of construction of the new Sherman High School during the January board meeting. With the unanimous approval, the fourth phase of development will begin in February and will include the completion of the main building, athletic sites, and the courtyard. Several significant components such as site work, pavement markings, athletic fencing, metal screens, weather-proofing, roofing, elevators, fire protection, plumbing, HVAC, electrical and more will also be included. Phase four construction has an estimated total cost of $116,057,073 and is scheduled for completion in August of 2020.
Upcoming District Events
Feb. 15-District PTA Meeting @12:00pm
Feb. 18-Professional Development Day
Feb. 18-22 Random Acts of Kindness Week
Feb. 25 SISD Board Meeting @ 5:00pm
Upcoming Community Events
James Dering LIVE at Old Iron Post
Valentine’s Day – Thursday, February 14th
7:00 pm to 9:30/10:00 pm
Sherman Cultural District - Winter Art Exhibit & Tour
NOW through February 28th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Throughout Sherman Cultural District
Click here for more info
Sherman Cultural District – Winter Art Dash
Saturday, February 16th 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm
100 N. Travis, Suite A
Sherman, TX
For tickets and more info click here