Westside Staff Resources Guide
Last updated April 25, 2020
Schools Closed Through End Of 19/20 School Year
The following guide is designed to help Westside Community Schools employees work through an unprecedented time of school closures nationwide. We are dedicated to supporting our staff members throughout the coming weeks. We encourage you to bookmark this link and refer to it with your questions and for helpful resources, in addition to the COVID-19 Reference Guide shared with all district staff and families. Thank you for your continued teamwork, positivity and support - #WeAreWestside.
STAFF MESSAGES FROM DR. LUCAS
SPRING BREAK PAY
Many have asked about holiday pay you will receive over Spring Break. The following is a list of the standard group benefits (not anything new) for each group. Time will automatically be added to your paycheck so you will not need to do anything to receive your pay.
Classified Staff
- All EA's - 1 day
- 10 month AA's and Professional Classified - No paid time off
- 12 month AA's and Professional Classified - 1/2 day
- Building Service - 1 day
- Nurses/Accompanists/Transportation - 1 day
- Transliterators and Nutritional Service - No paid time off
Thanks again for all you do! Stay healthy and safe and enjoy spring break.
THANK YOU, Abraham Catering!!
A huge THANK YOU to Brian and Jennifer Kobs, Acasseroletogo.com & Abraham Catering Inc for providing casseroles free to Westside staff members this week! We are grateful for your generous support of our District employees!
FAQ’s: Employment Questions and COVID-19
Westside Human Resources put together a list of frequently asked questions in dealing with the COVID-19 Coronavirus.
Topics included in the document attached below:
- What should I do if a coworker tells me they have COVID-19?
- What should I do if I think a coworker has been exposed to someone with COVID-19?
- New sick leave and FMLA provisions.
Please let us know if you have any other questions or concerns or if we can be of support to you in any way. You can always email hrdept@westside66.net.
COVID-19 TESTING & TREATMENT COSTS
United Healthcare has committed to covering COVID testing at 100% for active members. This includes covering treatment and Virtual Visits.
United Healthcare will waive member cost sharing for approved and authorized COVID-19 testing, including:
- copayments
- coinsurance
- deductibles
All COVID-19 Testing must be provided and approved by your healthcare provider in accordance with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.
Can a member self-refer for testing?
No. They should call their primary physician right away if they believe they have been exposed to COVID-19. After conducting specific procedures, the provider may collect a specimen or refer the member to one of the approved testing locations. United Healthcare will cover the testing at no cost to the member.
Is there a Virtual Visit option for members?
Yes. Virtual Visit options are covered under Doctor on Demand. This is a good place to start if you have concerns or have been exposed to COVID-19. There is no appointment necessary and you may see a doctor at any time, from anywhere. Visit Dr. on Demand to start your Virtual Visit.
SELF CARE
Please note: Westside Community Schools does not sponsor or endorse the organizations or activities described below. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.
HEADSPACE
Headspace is an app with a simple goal: to make meditation accessible to everyone. Users can download and sign up for free, and access a menu of "guided meditations" - audio sessions with a guided 3-10 minutes session to help you feel calmer, more content, and more in control of your circumstances.
REXIUS NUTRITION
Locally owned and District 66 business Rexius Nutrition is offering FREE At Home Workout tutorials via Instagram. CLICK HERE for regular updates from Rexius trainers and ambassadors from across the metro.
BEACHBODY ON DEMAND
Gym closed? Beachbody On Demand offers more than 700 workouts you can watch right from your computer or phone! Options include lighting, cardio, yoga and more. The company offers a 14-day free trial to see if this works for you at home. More details at beachbodyondemand.com.
Have a great self-care resource you'd like to share with your co-workers? Email paul.brandi@westside6.net. Please note - the service must be free or free to try.
TEACHING & LEARNING GUIDELINES
Thank you to all of our certified teachers and educators, working hard to continue learning for our students at home! If you have additional questions, please connect with your building leader, or one of our Teaching & Learning leaders:
- Dr. Mark Weichel at weichel.mark@westside66.net
- Dr. Greg Betts at betts.gregory@westside66.net
- Kim De La Cruz at delacruz.kimberly@westside66.net
GRADING
"Grading" is a hot topic throughout the district this week; several teachers are wanting more info about how 4th quarter grades will be handled. Our principals and Teaching & Learning Team have been hard at work on this important topic for a few weeks. If you have questions or concerns about how to handle 4th quarter grading, please reach out directly to your principal for clarification.
TECHNOLOGY
As a district, Google Meet is the only approved platform for staff to student video conferencing.
As a district, we have blocked student access to Zoom in our web filter. This decision was not made lightly. Zoom as a platform has a lot of great features for education but there are two major factors that eliminated our ability to use:
- Every day more and more information has come out about Zoom’s questionable security practices, vulnerabilities and student data privacy issues.
- When students and staff create personal Zoom accounts, the district has no record of any communication between them, no archive or ability to do eDiscovery in the case of a lawsuit. Our records and logs with Google Meet help protect the district, staff and students, while complying with digital record keeping regulations.
Thank you for your continued support to ensure are educating our students safely!