News & Notes
September 2019
HELPFUL HINTS FROM HR - EAC
Today is our first payroll of the 2019-20 school year. If you have any questions regarding your pay rate, deductions etc., please click here to go to the Employee Access Center (EAC) first. Please see the attached document below for instructions how to access the EAC.
Leave Banks will not roll until next month. As a reminder, Compensation Letters will be coming out in late September or early October. Thank you for your patience!
MEDICAL & DENTAL INSURANCE
New Cards Will Be Sent Out By United Healthcare
- If you are currently enrolled, your old card may still work until your new card arrives.
- All active member can access their cards immediately by using the Health4Me app or www.MyUHC.com, User Name and Password are the same as your MyUHC IDs
VERIFICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT
As tempting as it may be to answer, whether verbally or in writing, requests for Verification of Employment (VOE), it is important those come to the District Office. Answering a VOE puts you at risk for providing incorrect information, not having the right employee/employer authorization, and being in conflict with District policies and standards.
Please either fax them over to the District Office (402.390.2149) or ask the person requesting this information to fax over a signed request. If you need to send it over through internal mail, please send to Tracy in Payroll at musinsky.tracy@westside66.net.
QUESTIONS?
The list below provides contact information for several specific questions:
Insurance Benefits - Rebecka Campbell (Human Resources)
E-mail: campbell.rebecka@westside66.net
Phone: 402-390-2144
Substitutes AESOP (Frontline)/Medical Leave - FMLA - Alice Dahir (Human Resources)
E-mail: dahir.alice@westside66.net
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - Human Resources
E-mail: hrdept@westside66.net
Phone: 402-320-2141
Leave Banks - Human Resources
E-mail: hrdept@westside66.net
Phone: 402-320-2141
Payroll Questions and Employment Verification - Tracy Musinsky (Payroll)
E-mail: musinsky.tracy@westside66.net
Phone: 402-390-2124
Worker's Compensation - Barb Griffith (Business)
E-mail: griffith.barbara@westside66.net
Phone: 402-390-2115
Announcement of Birth/Death - Brandi Paul (Communications)
E-mail: paul.brandi@westside66.net
Phone: 402-390-2131
Please use this guide to help decide who you should speak with regarding your questions. Any other questions can be sent to hrdept@westside66.net .
SIMPLY WELL - SEPTEMBER CHALLENGE
The September's Wellness Challenge is "Take 5", you can get set up by clicking "Let's Do This". Remember to enroll in the challenge early in the month to collect all your points for the whole month.
Click here to log in to SimplyWell to enroll and track your progress.
CONGRATULATIONS to 3rd Grade Teacher Tonya Gordon, winner of the FIRST Westside Royalty Cup! Mrs. Gordon is recognized for making all students and coworkers at Westgate feel like royalty, and because of her hard work and kindness, ALL staff at Westgate win a pizza party next week thanks to the Westside Foundation!
WESTGATE ELEMENTARY holds the Royalty Cup this month!!! Who will win next??
BOARD MEETING SUMMARY
Want updates on Board of Education meetings? CLICK BELOW for a summary of what was on the agenda September 3, as well as the public budget report for FY20. The next Board of Education meeting will take place Monday, September 16 at 6:30 at the ABC Administration Building. A Public Budget and Property Tax Request hearing will begin at 6:00pm.
REMINDER: RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
It is a district-wide expectation/focus that we will NOT have tests, exams, and major projects on Jewish and Muslim holidays, including the following:
- September 30
- October 1
- October 8-9
- April 24
Please plan ahead and plan accordingly. We should expect and accommodate absences on these dates and they should be marked accordingly with an R for “religious reasons.” Homework can be turned in on alternate dates due to religious absences.
Jewish and Muslim students out for school activities might need to miss practices and/or contests due to religious beliefs. They will not be penalized with lost playing time or extra conditioning for religious absences. Our goal is to adjust our contest schedules where we do not host any "home" events in the future on major Jewish and Muslim holidays.
The bottom line is simple: we want ALL of our students to feel valued and accepted. We are fortunate to work with students of different cultures, backgrounds, religions, etc. and we need to do everything we can to make accommodations during these few days each year.
We are looking into ways to form an “Inter-Faith Council” later this year comprised of staff, parents, and students as we work to seek more understanding of the varying backgrounds of our students.
This is a top priority for Westside Community Schools. Please do your part to help.
WESTSIDE FOUNDATION GRANTING WISHES!
The Westside Foundation is accepting applications for Wish List grants! These requests could make big ideas, activities, or projects possible for you and our students, thanks to the generosity of the Westside Foundation.
An application form is attached below. All wish lists must be submitted by October 11 to Christy Ziskey at ziskey.christina@westside66.net.
GET TO KNOW AN ADMIN!
TEACHER LEADER AT WESTGATE ELEMENTARY
HOMETOWN: Valentine, NE
EDUCATION: University of Nebraska - Lincoln (K-12 Health & Physical Education Certification with Coaching Endorsement), Doane College (K-12 Administrative Certification in Educational Leadership)
DESCRIBE YOUR JOB AT WESTSIDE: Supporting students, parents, teachers and colleagues at Westgate Elementary.
CAREER HIGHLIGHT: Transitioning from teaching to coaching to administration, and working to build relationships in a new school community. Any time I run into a former student or player is a highlight for me!
INTERESTING FACT: Born in the Sandhills of Nebraska, I enjoy being outdoors - fishing, hunting and playing golf!
FAVORITE BOOK and/or MOVIE: I connect with Jon Gordon books and probably have too many lines of Braveheart memorized.
BEST MOMENT AT WESTSIDE: Being part of multiple State Baseball Championships.
SEND VIRTUAL CONFETTI!
Want to let a coworker know they are appreciated? Send them confetti kindness! Use the link below to spread the word: Kindness... It's Personal. #WeAreWestside
CONDOLENCES
Our thoughts are with Shari David as her father, John Klotz, died September 8. Shari is part of our Nutrition Services team at Prairie Lane Elementary. A celebration of John's life will take place this Saturday from 2:00-4:00pm at Mizpah Masonic Lodge at 1124 S. 48th Street. Here is a link to his obituary: https://www.omaha.com/obits/klotz-john-martin/article_2b2965f0-d4a4-11e9-b490-53b723b163bc.html
Our condolences are also with family and loved ones of Betty Hallas, who died September 4. Betty was a school librarian at several Westside schools for 25 years, retiring in 1994. A wake service is being held Sunday, September 29 at 7:00pm at Heafey Hoffman Dworak and Cutler at 7805 West Center Rd; loved ones will receive friends from 4:00-7:00pm. A funeral mass will take place Monday, September 30 at 11:00am at St. Robert Bellarmine Church at 11802 Pacific St. Here is a link to her obituary: https://heafeyheafey.com/betty-j-holub-hallas/
Thank you for keeping the Morrissey family, Shari David, the Hallas family, and all of their loved ones in your thoughts.