PEOPLE RESOURCES
February 2021
A NOTE FROM TABATHA GUNDRUM, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
VACCINES, RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AND STAFFING
These topics are the big 3 that I have been hearing the most questions about so I thought it might be a great time to address them.
VACCINES:
Not a lot has changed since my last update on this topic. A few items for reminders and considerations:
- Vaccine supply continues to be short of demand. Although, this week the supply improved slightly which hopefully will continue.
- Those currently eligible for vaccination include
- Health care workers (In district, this category includes Nurses, Health Room Assistants, OT, PT, SLP, Psych, Social Workers and School Counselors)
- EMS, fire department and police departments
- Persons aged 65 and older
- We have a plan for roll out of the vaccine once we receive the word “Go” and we will start immediately with that plan when that happens.
- There will be enough for everyone that wants a vaccine to receive one.
- We will not mandate vaccines, but they are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED for all of our staff members.
- Patience will continue to be needed while we await the next round of inclusion for vaccinations.
RETURN TO IN-PERSON LEARNING:
As you know by now, our secondary schools will be returning their students to the in-person learning model as of March 1st. Each of the secondary schools and programs are working with their staff members to get things in place for this modality change. The Board action includes the idea that we will socially distance our students to the extent possible. We do want to continue to emphasize the social distancing for our staff as a priority though. If you have questions about this area, please engage in a conversation with your Building Principal to ask for assistance to ensure this. We recognize that the special education area is likely an exception to this ability and that has been the case since we started back with in-person instruction. We want to continue to support all of you as staff members as much as possible during this next transition so engage as necessary with your Building Principals for questions and concerns you have in the coming weeks.
STAFFING:
We are heading into the staffing season for the next school year. While we don’t know exactly what that picture looks like yet, this process can often be a time of change. Whether that change originates from enrollment shifts, personal requests for change or program changes, the result is the same…change can be hard. In the past year, we have experienced more change than I recall in the past 10 years in the education field. This added resilience may be a help as we move forward and encounter any changes ahead in the area of staffing. Know that we will be engaging with staff in conversations in the coming months if changes are identified as necessary. My hope is that this is a collaborative and open conversation in terms of dialogue with those that may be experiencing shifts – voluntary or involuntary. I remain committed to that collaborative conversation.
I hope you all enjoy the weekend ahead and stay warm with our temps and wind chills dropping even further in coming days.
HEALTHCHECK360
Wausau School District 2020-2021 Wellness Program
**35 points = $100 Cash Bonus **
- Complete the Biometric Screening and Health Risk Assessment Survey
100+ points = $300 Premium Differential
- Complete the Biometric Screening and Health Risk Assessment Survey
- Earn an additional 65+ points by completing various wellness-related activities
Activities
Biometric Screening (required) The biometric screening is worth 25 points and is required in order to earn at least a $100 discount for the upcoming health plan year. Choose one of the three options being offered for the biometric screening and complete by 02/28/2021:
- What is the At Home Test Kit?
- What is the Physician Form process?
- What form do I need to complete at an Aspirus offsite lab?
HRA Survey is required in order to earn at least a $100 discount for the upcoming health plan year. To learn more on how you can complete your survey, click HERE.
Health Score of 75+ Once you complete a biometric screening, you will receive an individual health report with a health score. If you score within the Low-Ideal risk range (75+) you will earn 30 points towards the 100 point goal.
Challenge Participation Earn 20 points by participating the Wausau School District company-wide challenges offered throughout the duration of the Lifestyle Rewards program. You will recieve notice of these challenges being active and when you can join. You must track at least once per week in order to earn points towards the overall goal. To learn how you can join a challenge once they are available, click HERE.
Fax Results to Physician Once you have completed your biometric screening click here to fax to your primary care physician. Once sent, submit for your 5 points.
Preventative Care Visit Complete a preventative care visit (mammogram, colonoscopy, etc.) and submit to earn points.
Flu Shot Get your flu shot at a clinic most convenient for you and submit to earn points.
UW-Madison Workshop - Secondary & Self-help Strategies Dr. MacIntyre will offer a virtual group for the faculty and staff of the Wausau School District to discuss the impacts of COVID on students and adults alike. Emphasis on learning practical, useable tools in a mutually supportive and confidential environment. There will be 6 sessions. Earn 5 points for each session you partake in (10 points max).
HealthCheck360 Health Coaching Webinars Watch one of the many HealthCheck360 Health Coaching webinars and provide the title and a 2-3 sentence summary of what you learned in the Activity Description to earn 10 points, up to 30 points total. Webinars are hosted live the first Wednesday of the month at Noon CST and will be recorded and posted to the HealthCheck360 blog within the next few days.
Goal Setting Set a goal for your weight, activity, and steps to earn 10 points each. To learn how to set goals, click HERE.
Trackers Earn 3 points each week you track your weight, up to 36 points total. To learn how you can track your weight, click HERE. Being the Lifestyle Rewards program starts on a Monday, weeks will run Monday - Sunday.
Earn 1 point for each day you log and reach the goal, up to 60 points total per tracker. Pro Tip: Connect your device or mobile app to the myHealthcheck360 portal to make tracking easy and automatic. To learn how to connect your device, click HERE.
EAP Benefits Guide Review the EAP Benefits Guide found HERE to earn 1 point.
Subscribe to Lemondrop Newsletter Subscribe to the internal newsletter at Wausau School District to earn 1 point and to stay up to date with what's going on in your area.
Check out the Wellness Program Guide to learn more about how to earn the wellness incentive.
PEOPLE CONNECT
- All staff were sent a virtual meeting invitation from Tabatha Gundrum via Google Calendar. Meetings are every other week and typically on Fridays. The link to join any session can be accessed here.
- Future meetings include Feb 26th @ 11 am, March 12th @ 11 am and March 26th @ 11 am.
- If this time is a significant conflict for anyone, feel free to email HR with whatever your question is and we will be sure to get an answer to you as soon as we can. Thanks!
COVID -19 UPDATE
As a friendly reminder, if you have an issue connected in any way potentially to COVID-19, please email COVID@wausauschools.org as soon as possible. We do monitor and respond to this email throughout the weekends so please do not wait until Sunday to send something to us if you are impacted on the weekend.
We have employed Mike Fischer, a retired teacher, to assist us with some of our close contact tracing and tracking of COVID situations. As a result of these changes, using the one email account will allow for us to process contacts more efficiently and timely without duplicated efforts. Tabatha Gundrum, Tammy Bents, and Mike Fischer will be working from the COVID email account for processing issues as quickly as possible.
PAYROLL DEPARTMENT UPDATE
W-2 and 1095 Forms
W-2 Forms were delivered to buildings January 29. Reminder, if your address is incorrect on your W-2 Form, notify Payroll of your correct address. Also, there is a $10.00 fee to reissue a W-2 Form.
Form 1095 will be delivered to buildings by March 2. Form 1095 provides information about your health insurance coverage.
Preparing for Your Retirement Webinars
The Department of Employee Trust Funds offers Preparing for Your Retirement, a live webinar, every other week for Wisconsin Retirement System employees who are within ten years of retirement.
Topics covered include:
- The money you and your employer have put towards your retirement account.
- How your retirement account grows through investments.
- When you can retire.
- Options for receiving your retirement benefit.
- Rules you must follow if you return to work after retiring.
- What happens to your account after you die.
- Changes to your health and life insurance in retirement.
Registration is required. See webinar details here.
- Janet Tews - Payroll Manager - jtews@wausauschools.org - ext. 21546
- Pam Helke - Payroll Assistant - phelke@wausauschools.org - ext. 21545
- Nan Thao - Payroll Assistant - nathao@wausauschools.org - ext. 21544
CHANGE OF PHONE OR ADDRESS?
(Tele-Health) remote sessions to clients via cell phone, computer, or tablet.
Call Peaceful Solutions Counseling 715-675-3458 to learn more.
TELL US WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW
We are looking for topics that interest you. Please let us know what you'd like to see in a future newsletter. Send your responses to wsdhr@wausauschools.org.
CONTACT HUMAN RESOURCES
Email: wsdhr@wausauschools.org
Website: http://www.wausauschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=3633368
Location: Longfellow Administration Center
Phone: 715-261-0520