FCPS Employee Bulletin Board
July 2, 2024
Celebrations in the County
(Photo left to right) Sentinel - Mia McGuffin, Brunswick FFA Chapter; Reporter - Katelyn Bullock, Southern FFA; Treasurer - William Moore, Boonsboro FFA; Secretary - Scarlett Heffner, Hereford FFA; Vice President - Ella Burrier, Catoctin FFA; and President - Abigail Effland, Frederick FFA.
Frederick County Public School Students Elected to State FFA Officers Team
FCPS is pleased to share that three of the six newly elected 2024-2025 Maryland State FFA officers are Frederick County Public School graduates.
The announcement of newly elected officers was made during the 96th Maryland FFA State Convention at the end of June.
“I’m so proud of our three recent FCPS graduates earning such important leadership positions within FFA,” FCPS Superintendent Dr. Cheryl L. Dyson said. “Abigail, Ella, and Mia were student leaders at their high schools, and I know they will serve their peers throughout the state well.”
- Frederick High graduate Abigail Effland will serve as the 2024-25 Maryland State FFA President. Effland served as the Frederick FFA Chapter President. She was also the 2023-24 Frederick County Dairy Princess.
- Catoctin High graduate Ella Burrier will serve as the Maryland State FFA Vice President. She served as the Catoctin FFA Chapter President.
- Brunswick High graduate Mia McGuffin will serve as the Maryland State FFA Reporter. She served as the Brunswick FFA Chapter President.
FFA is a youth organization that prepares members for leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
FCPS News
Job Classifications Update
Employee Update Regarding Job Classifications
In 2022, FCPS launched a four year plan to review all job classifications. The initial vision of this work was to review groups of employees, in all roles, and use an industry standard tool to either confirm or adjust job classification.
Schedule
Based on the ongoing work and developments, the effective date of cycle year two will be deferred until July 1, 2025, allowing for a comprehensive review alongside the new classification processes. The initial schedule of 4 years was broken into smaller parts, creating a longer schedule to provide time for an in depth review of all job descriptions and classification. The updated schedule with positions can be viewed here.
Find the complete update regarding job classifications here.
For more information go to Position Classification | Human Resources or email Job.Classifications@fcps.org.
2024 Fiscal Services Summer In-Service
Fiscal Services Summer In-Service
Tuesday, July 30th – 8:00AM-4:00PM
Register here
8:00-10:15AM - Whole group presentation
10:20-11:55AM - Morning Breakout Sessions
12:00-1:00PM - Lunch (Provided by Office Depot)
1:00-4:00PM - Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Learning & Leadership Center (LLC)
44 West Frederick Street, Walkersville, MD 21793
Highlights:
- Latest updates from Fiscal Services including: Purchasing, Student Activity Funds, Workers Comp, and more!
- Morning and afternoon breakout sessions with presenters from multiple departments.
- Networking with peers from around the county.
- Onsite lunch provided by Office Depot.
*Attendees should bring their own device. Laptops and/or Chromebooks WILL NOT be provided.
*Note: Attendance is not mandatory, but highly encouraged for at least the AM sessions to receive vital information on upcoming changes.
SchoolMessenger
New Communication Platform Launching
The Public Affairs team has been working diligently to begin the soft rollout of our new SchoolMessenger platform. This platform will be used to contact parents and guardians at schools through email, phone, and text. Several entry level trainings have already taken place for school administrators in June. More trainings will be taking place in July and August.
- July 25 – 9:00-10:30 AM and 1:00-2:30 PM
- August 14 – 1:00-2:30PM
- August 15 – 9:00-10:30 AM
- August 28 – 9:00-10:30 AM
- September 9 – 1:00-2:30 PM
- September 11 – 9:00-10:30 AM
Administrative Changes
Additional Administrative Changes 2024
June 26, Personnel Appointment
- Eric Schwarzenegger has been appointed Principal at Brunswick High
And many thanks to those who will be leading in different places!
- Charlotte Nelson has been appointed Community School Coordinator at Waverley Elementary
- Mike Hombach has been appointed Assistant Principal at Walkersville High
- Chris Berry has been appointed Assistant Principal at Urbana High
- Derek Hoover-Beet has been appointed Assistant Principal at Remote Virtual Program
Stuff the Bus 2024
Stuff the Bus School Supply Drive 2024
Stuff the Bus will be collecting school supplies from June 17 - July 30!
United Way of Frederick County and Frederick County Public Schools have partnered up again to host the annual Stuff the Bus community collection drive to provide necessary school supplies to thousands of local students. The drive effort began on Monday, June 17 and will conclude on Tuesday, July 30.
Currently, the public can visit any participating business and drop off new, unused school supplies in collection bins. The public can also contribute virtually. 100% of monetary contributions will be used to support FCPS students. The last day to donate to the virtual drive is July 12.
New: Stuff the Bus Distribution
School Supplies will be Distributed Directly to City of Frederick Schools
This year, United Way's Stuff the Bus and Beyond Shelter's Backpacks for Bright Futures programs will distribute school supplies to City of Frederick feeder schools in a new way. Volunteers will now pack backpacks with supplies, which will be given directly to these schools. School staff will distribute these backpacks to students from ALICE households.
This change aims to ensure fairer distribution of supplies and strengthen relationships between students, parents, and school staff. Schools outside the City of Frederick will continue to receive supplies as they have in previous years.
FCPS Free Summer Food Service Program
FCPS Free Summer Food Service Program Details
Beginning Monday, June 17, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services will be serving free breakfast and lunch to anyone in the community 18 years old or younger. Those over 18 who are enrolled in an educational program for people with disabilities will also be served meals.
Meals will be served Mondays through Thursdays at the following 3 schools:
- Lincoln Elementary: Entrance point will be the side doors located at the cafeteria.
- Gov. Thomas Johnson High: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
- Waverley Elementary: Entrance point will be located at the front doors of the school.
FCPS will serve breakfast at Lincoln Elementary and Waverley Elementary from 8:30-9 a.m. and lunch from noon-12:30 p.m.
FCPS will serve breakfast at Gov. Thomas Johnson High from 7:30- 8 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m.-noon.
Meals will not be served on June 19 and July 4. Children must be present to get a meal and the meal must be consumed at the site where the meals are served. The last day of summer meals service to the community will be Thursday, August 8.
To read the Spanish translation, click here.
If you have questions, please contact FCPS Food and Nutrition Services at 301-644-5061.
Looking Ahead: Equity in Grading
A Preview for Middle and High School in the 2024-25 School Year
Over the past three years, school and central staff at various levels throughout FCPS have been engaging in learning and continuous improvement towards more equitable and consistent grading practices throughout the district, with focus on middle and high schools. The school system’s Education Reform Council (ERC), along with other teacher and leader workgroups, have provided feedback about our current efforts and suggestions for continuing to propel equitable grading practices forward into next school year. Like the end of last year, this message shares a status update and a preview of focus areas for the 2024-25 school year, with most new practices being optional, to support an early adopter approach.
Guiding Star Award for Employees
Nominate for the Guiding Star Award
Recognition of Employees by Other Employees
Individuals may be nominated for one of the following five (5) categories.
- GOAL 1: ACHIEVEMENT - Innovation and Impact - Recognizes employees who have introduced innovative ideas or have had a positive impact on the organization in support of student achievement.
- GOAL 2: OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE - Continuous Improvement - Recognizes employees who actively seek opportunities to enhance processes, optimize efficiency, and drive positive change.
- GOAL 3: SAFETY & WELL BEING - Leadership and Support - Recognizes employees who demonstrate leadership qualities by taking initiative, assuming responsibility, and inspiring their colleagues.
- GOAL 4: STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT - Team and Community Collaboration - Recognizes those who contribute positively to teamwork, foster collaboration, and help achieve collective goals OR who have demonstrated unique and creative approaches to solving challenges alongside others.
- GOAL 5: STUDENT AND STAFF EXPERIENCE - Positive Impact on Culture - Recognizes individuals who contribute to a positive workplace culture through their attitude, collaboration, and overall demeanor.
To nominate a staff member, please fill out the Guiding Star Award nomination form.
New Phone Numbers are Live
July 1: FCPS modernized our telecommunications system and our new phone numbers to the entire district are now live.
Human Resources Update
Benefits - New Insurer
MetLife – New Insurer for Life Insurances and Short-Term Disability
Effective July 1, 2024, MetLife will replace The Standard as the insurer for employee and retiree, Life (AD&D), Voluntary Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance. For your review is an Introduction to our partnership with MetLife and a Question & Answer document that we trust will be helpful.
For additional questions, please email Benefits.Office@fcps.org.
End of Insurance Notice
Notice of Insurance End Date for Resignation or Leave of Absence for the Conclusion of the 2023–2024 School Year
- For 10 or 11-month employees who are not returning for the next school year, the school term ends in June. This means your coverage will end on June 30th even if you do not give your resignation or leave of absence notice until July or August as you have not paid insurance premiums for July or August.
- You will be offered the opportunity to continue insurance through COBRA or Leave of Absence rates.
- COBRA: You will be offered COBRA to continue coverage for Medical or Dental if you had coverage for these benefits at the time your employment ends. You may review the tab for COBRA for more information on this topic.
- If you terminate employment and were employed before 07/01/05 (benefitted) at the end of the Fiscal Year of 07/01/05, the termination date for medical, dental and life is extended one month for 10 & 11-month employees only.
Teacher Lane Changes
Reminder - Teacher Lane Changes
The deadline to request a lane change for coursework completed between
February 1, 2024 and August 31, 2024:
LAST WORKDAY in September: Monday 09/30/2024
Requests for lane changes should be submitted by completing form linked here:
- The certification team continues to process a high volume of coursework and is updating the Professional Education screen in PeopleSoft.
- If you have already submitted documentation of coursework but do not yet see it reflected in your Professional Education, please continue to review your Professional Education profile regularly.
- As long as you’ve met the requirements and have submitted all necessary documentation by the deadline, your pay change will be processed and applied retroactively to July 1.
Additional Lane Change Information
https://www.fcps.org/careers/teacher-lane-change
Lane Change Questions?
Email: CertSalary@fcps.org
Professional Education Questions?
Email: certification@fcps.org
Continuing Education
Mount St. Mary's Graduate Courses for Educators
Find all the information you need on graduate courses being offered at Mount St. Mary's this Summer here.