FOR ALL STAFF
For employees who qualify for the Life and AD&D benefits, you will see that they will be listed separately in the benefit section of your pay stubs. In the past, these benefit had been combined, but separating them gives a clearer view of what you are receiving in benefits. These benefits will be included on the last paycheck each montr. The wording will be as follows:
LIFE INS
ACC Death & Dis
Please contact the Payroll Department if you have any questions.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
March 2, 2020 Professional Day Focus
FOR TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS
The Professional Day on March 2 has a different focus for professional staff. Our K-6 educators will work on reporting student progress, while our 7-12 team will be engaged in their own learning. Agendas for the 7-12 professional day will be available on Monday, February 24.
The Professional Day on March 2 has a different focus for professional staff. Our K-6 educators will work on reporting student progress, while our 7-12 team will be engaged in their own learning. Agendas for the 7-12 professional day will be available on Monday, February 24.
Watching Movies At School: Clarity on Practices
FOR: ALL TEACHERS
Showing movies during school was a recent topic of discussion among community members and parents. Please review the points below for clarity on the use of movies in school:
-- The movies and clips shown should be tied to the curriculum
-- They must be shown in short segments to illustrate the learning target
-- It is necessary to have the copyright authorization on file. (Netflix, Redbox, and your own DVD does not authorize public viewing.)
-- Clips of R-rated movies are never shown in school.
- - If an R-rated movie aligns with the concepts and ideas being taught, a note can be sent to parents explaining what the movie is about and how it aligns with the learning. This allows the parent to decide if their child should view the film at home.
Please see your building principal if you have any questions.
Showing movies during school was a recent topic of discussion among community members and parents. Please review the points below for clarity on the use of movies in school:
-- The movies and clips shown should be tied to the curriculum
-- They must be shown in short segments to illustrate the learning target
-- It is necessary to have the copyright authorization on file. (Netflix, Redbox, and your own DVD does not authorize public viewing.)
-- Clips of R-rated movies are never shown in school.
- - If an R-rated movie aligns with the concepts and ideas being taught, a note can be sent to parents explaining what the movie is about and how it aligns with the learning. This allows the parent to decide if their child should view the film at home.
Please see your building principal if you have any questions.
Summer School Guidebook & Updates
FOR ALL STAFFDon't forget that the 2020 Summer School courses for reading and math will be open to ALL students in kindergarten through seventh grade. This is a great opportunity to invite all learners to continue their academic growth in literacy and math during the summer.
The 2020 Summer School Guidebook, which includes class details and schedules, will be available on the district website on Friday, February 21.
If you have questions contact Jenn Gennerman, director of continuous improvement and assessment.
The 2020 Summer School Guidebook, which includes class details and schedules, will be available on the district website on Friday, February 21.
If you have questions contact Jenn Gennerman, director of continuous improvement and assessment.
Skyward Maintenance
FOR ALL STAFF
On Friday, February 21, the Technology Department will update Skyward with a required software release. The Skyward Finance update will begin at 3:00 p.m. and Skyward Student update will begin at 3:30 p.m. All staff will be required to be out of both these systems at this time. All work should be completed by 6:30 p.m. An all-staff email will be sent once completed.
On Friday, February 21, the Technology Department will update Skyward with a required software release. The Skyward Finance update will begin at 3:00 p.m. and Skyward Student update will begin at 3:30 p.m. All staff will be required to be out of both these systems at this time. All work should be completed by 6:30 p.m. An all-staff email will be sent once completed.
Seclusion & Restraint Reminder
FOR PUPIL SERVICES STAFF
Please remember to use the seclusion and restraint documentation for every incident. The form is in the Resource Inventory.
Please remember to use the seclusion and restraint documentation for every incident. The form is in the Resource Inventory.
Thinking of Changing Grade Levels or Buildings?
FOR TEACHERS
Any teachers who have potential interest in transferring to a new school within the district or a different grade level or department for next year should express that interest to their site administrator by March 2.
In the past, some sites have sent out an all-staff email pertaining to this topic. To ensure everyone has equal opportunity to express such an interest, the message is now coming to you in The Highlighter. Expressing an interest in transferring does not guarantee that the request can be granted. However, as we go through our annual staffing allocation process, knowing of potential volunteers to shift buildings or grade levels is helpful.
Any teachers who have potential interest in transferring to a new school within the district or a different grade level or department for next year should express that interest to their site administrator by March 2.
In the past, some sites have sent out an all-staff email pertaining to this topic. To ensure everyone has equal opportunity to express such an interest, the message is now coming to you in The Highlighter. Expressing an interest in transferring does not guarantee that the request can be granted. However, as we go through our annual staffing allocation process, knowing of potential volunteers to shift buildings or grade levels is helpful.
Open Positions in the District
FOR ALL STAFF
These are some of the open positions found on WECAN within the district:
These are some of the open positions found on WECAN within the district:
- Administrative Assistant at Jackson
- High School Counselor
- Special Education positions at the K-12 level
- STEM teacher at Badger
- Aides at Decorah, Silverbrook, and the High Schools
- Multiple 2nd shift custodian positions
- School Nutrition at Decorah
- Superintendent
- And others
Support Staff Evaluations & Multi-Raters
FOR ALL STAFF
This year all support staff members have moved from Halogen to My Learning Plan for their evaluation process, putting all staff in the district on the same system. The district discontinued use of Halogen for a variety of reasons (overly-complicated, costly, etc.)
As in the past, multi-raters will be used to support the development of accurate and comprehensive evaluations for some employees. The multi-rater process allows administrators to collect feedback from a variety of teachers who work with an employee. Administrators then merge that input with their own observations of the staff member to create a well-rounded summative evaluation that provides growth-minded feedback for support staff members. Multi-raters are not used for all support staff employees. However, some employee groups such as special education aides work very closely with teachers and the feedback provided by teachers for those employees has proven to be very beneficial in developing high-quality evaluations for aides that help those employees continue to grow.
A few things to know about this year's multi-rater process:
This year all support staff members have moved from Halogen to My Learning Plan for their evaluation process, putting all staff in the district on the same system. The district discontinued use of Halogen for a variety of reasons (overly-complicated, costly, etc.)
As in the past, multi-raters will be used to support the development of accurate and comprehensive evaluations for some employees. The multi-rater process allows administrators to collect feedback from a variety of teachers who work with an employee. Administrators then merge that input with their own observations of the staff member to create a well-rounded summative evaluation that provides growth-minded feedback for support staff members. Multi-raters are not used for all support staff employees. However, some employee groups such as special education aides work very closely with teachers and the feedback provided by teachers for those employees has proven to be very beneficial in developing high-quality evaluations for aides that help those employees continue to grow.
A few things to know about this year's multi-rater process:
- The names of multi-rater will continue to be confidential and unknown to the support staff member.
- Multi-raters will be completed using a Google Form this year. The site administrator will send that information out to the appropriate multi-raters soon.
- Multi-raters are asked to provide their feedback on the selected support staff employees by the end of March.
- Ten-month support staff employees (school year employees like aides, etc.) will receive their summative evaluation as part of a meeting with their administrator prior to the last day of school.
- Twelve-month support staff employees will receive their summative evaluation as part of a meeting with their administrator by June 12.
Please see your site administrator if you have questions about the support staff evaluation process.
IRS Updates Tax Withholding Estimator for 2020
FOR ALL EMPLOYEES
Here is important information from the American Payroll Association:
“The IRS released a new version of its tax withholding estimator, which states it is ‘designed to help workers target the refund they want by having the right amount of federal income tax taken out of their pay’[IR-2020-09, 1-14-20]. The IRS urges workers to see if they need to adjust their withholding by using the tax withholding estimator to perform a paycheck checkup. The estimator will give users specific recommendations on how to fill out a new W-4 online and provides a PDF with key parts to fill out. The IRS also said that it is important for people with more than one job at a time (including families in which both spouses work) to adjust their withholding to avoid having too little withheld. As in the past, employees can choose to have an employer withhold an additional flat-dollar amount each pay period to cover income they receive from...other sources not subject to withholding.”
The link to the IRS tax withholding estimator is
Please remember, this will give you an estimation based on information you provide. Consult your tax preparer/advisor for more help. The West Bend School District Payroll Department cannot provide guidance on how to complete a 2020 W-4.
West Bend School District Family Newsletter, January 15
FOR ALL STAFF
Check out the latest edition of the West Bend School District Update, the bi-monthly family newsletter, on the website.
Check out the latest edition of the West Bend School District Update, the bi-monthly family newsletter, on the website.
Career and Technical Education Month
FOR ALL STAFF
The West Bend School District joins the State of Wisconsin in celebrating Career and Technical Education Month throughout February. The district is proud to have a wide variety of CTE programming in the areas of Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology Education. Through the different programs of study, students are able to earn industry certifications, complete work-based learning opportunities through Youth Apprenticeships, and take technical college credit courses right at our high schools. During the 2018-19 school year, students at the high schools took 1,356 technical college credits through their CTE courses, which is the equivalent of $181,975.20 of college tuition that students will not have to pay.
The breadth of programming offered by our high schools allows students to complete course work in the following programs of study: Culinary Arts, Fashion and Design, Early Childhood Education, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Business Administration, Accounting, Graphic Communications, Engineering, Digital Media Production, Architecture and Construction, Manufacturing, and Welding and Automotive.
The district would not be able to offer these programs to our students starting beginning in 7th grade without the excellent CTE teachers leading these programs of study. Thank you to all of our CTE teachers for all you do for our students!
The West Bend School District joins the State of Wisconsin in celebrating Career and Technical Education Month throughout February. The district is proud to have a wide variety of CTE programming in the areas of Business and Information Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Technology Education. Through the different programs of study, students are able to earn industry certifications, complete work-based learning opportunities through Youth Apprenticeships, and take technical college credit courses right at our high schools. During the 2018-19 school year, students at the high schools took 1,356 technical college credits through their CTE courses, which is the equivalent of $181,975.20 of college tuition that students will not have to pay.
The breadth of programming offered by our high schools allows students to complete course work in the following programs of study: Culinary Arts, Fashion and Design, Early Childhood Education, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Business Administration, Accounting, Graphic Communications, Engineering, Digital Media Production, Architecture and Construction, Manufacturing, and Welding and Automotive.
The district would not be able to offer these programs to our students starting beginning in 7th grade without the excellent CTE teachers leading these programs of study. Thank you to all of our CTE teachers for all you do for our students!
OT & PT Contract Information
FOR ALL STAFF
We are completing the required Request for Proposal (RfP) for our OT/PT vendor. Because the district contracts for these services, a review is required to ensure that we have the best vendor at the best cost. For the last 12 years we have contracted with Dominiczak Services and they continue to be a great partner. The timeline for the process includes posting the RfP, which was done this week, accepting sealed bids until April 17, 2020, making the selection by May 1, 2020, and presenting our findings to the board on May 11, 2020 so that the services can begin on July 1, 2020.
We are completing the required Request for Proposal (RfP) for our OT/PT vendor. Because the district contracts for these services, a review is required to ensure that we have the best vendor at the best cost. For the last 12 years we have contracted with Dominiczak Services and they continue to be a great partner. The timeline for the process includes posting the RfP, which was done this week, accepting sealed bids until April 17, 2020, making the selection by May 1, 2020, and presenting our findings to the board on May 11, 2020 so that the services can begin on July 1, 2020.
Documentation Log Question
FOR TEACHERS
We have received a number of questions pertaining to how teachers can view prior year documentation logs in My Learning Plan This is a common question this time of year as we approach the due date for submitting the log (the due date this year is March 16).
Documentation logs from years 1, 2, and 3 all appear on the summative evaluation (in year 3). During each year, the doc log will display your evidence and reflection for that year. To view the doc log of any individual year, pull up the evaluation for that year. The only place you can view multiple years at once, is on the summative evaluation in year 3. If you are a new teacher in years 1, 2 or 3, you will see the artifacts in their summative each year.
Remember to submit your documentation log by March 16.
We have received a number of questions pertaining to how teachers can view prior year documentation logs in My Learning Plan This is a common question this time of year as we approach the due date for submitting the log (the due date this year is March 16).
Documentation logs from years 1, 2, and 3 all appear on the summative evaluation (in year 3). During each year, the doc log will display your evidence and reflection for that year. To view the doc log of any individual year, pull up the evaluation for that year. The only place you can view multiple years at once, is on the summative evaluation in year 3. If you are a new teacher in years 1, 2 or 3, you will see the artifacts in their summative each year.
Remember to submit your documentation log by March 16.
Reminder: 1095-C Tax Form
FOR STAFF WHO WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE WBSD HEALTH PLAN IN 2019
This is a reminder of information shared in last week's all-staff email.
Your 2019 1095-C tax form is now available for viewing/printing through Skyward Finance. Please click here follow the attached instructions to access your 1095-C.
WHAT IS FORM 1095-C?
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, requires employers to offer health insurance coverage to full-time employees and their dependents. Employers must send an annual statement to all employees eligible for coverage describing the insurance available to them. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) created Form 1095-C to serve as that statement. Think of the form as your “proof of insurance” for the IRS.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS FORM?
Keep your 1095-C for your records with your other important tax documents. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTACH YOUR 1095-C TO YOUR TAX RETURN OR SEND IT TO THE IRS. You may use information from your 1095-C as a reference to help complete your tax return if you have not already done so.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have access to a printer or need additional assistance accessing your 1095-C, please contact Human Resources at 262-306-4800.
This is a reminder of information shared in last week's all-staff email.
Your 2019 1095-C tax form is now available for viewing/printing through Skyward Finance. Please click here follow the attached instructions to access your 1095-C.
WHAT IS FORM 1095-C?
The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, requires employers to offer health insurance coverage to full-time employees and their dependents. Employers must send an annual statement to all employees eligible for coverage describing the insurance available to them. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) created Form 1095-C to serve as that statement. Think of the form as your “proof of insurance” for the IRS.
WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THIS FORM?
Keep your 1095-C for your records with your other important tax documents. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ATTACH YOUR 1095-C TO YOUR TAX RETURN OR SEND IT TO THE IRS. You may use information from your 1095-C as a reference to help complete your tax return if you have not already done so.
PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have access to a printer or need additional assistance accessing your 1095-C, please contact Human Resources at 262-306-4800.
Reminder: 2020 HRA Funding
FOR STAFF ON THE DISTRICT HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
This is a reminder of information shared in last week's all staff email.
2020 HRA funding amounts have been uploaded into the Diversified Benefits System.
Please take time to review your funding amounts by visiting the DBS website. If you don’t have a DBS account, please register an account by following the instructions in the “HRA & FSA Online Account Access” on the HRA Page. If you have questions regarding your funding, please contact Human Resources at 262-306-4800.
Please note: HRA rollover dollars will not be available until April/May. Staff will be notified once these monies become available.
For claim forms and instructions, please visit the HRA page on the HR Intranet.
This is a reminder of information shared in last week's all staff email.
2020 HRA funding amounts have been uploaded into the Diversified Benefits System.
Please take time to review your funding amounts by visiting the DBS website. If you don’t have a DBS account, please register an account by following the instructions in the “HRA & FSA Online Account Access” on the HRA Page. If you have questions regarding your funding, please contact Human Resources at 262-306-4800.
Please note: HRA rollover dollars will not be available until April/May. Staff will be notified once these monies become available.
For claim forms and instructions, please visit the HRA page on the HR Intranet.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Submit Rolfs and Support Staff Award Nominations
FOR ALL STAFF
Remember to submit nominations for the Rolfs and Support Awards on or before March 6, 2020. You can find the nomination form and a list of previous winners here.
Remember to submit nominations for the Rolfs and Support Awards on or before March 6, 2020. You can find the nomination form and a list of previous winners here.
Teacher Compensation Update
We are happy to share that on January 20, the West Bend School Board gave the Human Resources Department the direction to move ahead with finalizing the details of the new Teacher Compensation Plan. That plan is scheduled to be presented to the board in March for final approval. Click here to learn some additional details about the compensation plan that will be presented to the board in March.
Teacher Equity
FOR TEACHERS
For a long time, the West Bend School District has received inquiries from a number of staff members at all levels about workload equity across the system. These questions have touched on topics such as:
For a long time, the West Bend School District has received inquiries from a number of staff members at all levels about workload equity across the system. These questions have touched on topics such as:
- Teacher instructional time comparison between levels (i.e. elementary vs. intermediate/middle school vs. high school, etc.)
- Equity in the number of sections to be taught at each level and within each building
- Accurately comparing levels that teach a number of sections (secondary) vs levels that do not measure workload in sections (PreK - 4th grade)
- Impact that special education involvement plays in workload from level to level
- Evening commitments by teachers at different buildings and levels in the system (conferences, concerts, open houses, etc.)
NEW Board Policy 671.21 ~ Expense Reimbursements
A recently-approved policy by West Bend School Board is an amendment to the expense reimbursement policy. Much of the language in the new policy has been past practice. We would encourage you to review it before traveling or submitting for a reimbursement.
Particularly, a few points of interest: There is no longer a requirement to solicit a vehicle rental. Rather, staff are being asked to carpool when more than one person is attending the same event and needing a legitimate reason when not riding together. Second, thank you if you can pay particular attention to things like meal limits with detailed receipts and sales tax on items that should be exempt. Thank you for your assistance with this new policy and you are encouraged to contact a finance team member if you have questions or concerns.
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