BSD Staff Updates
October 8, 2019
Don't forget: The Panorama Survey is open until Friday, October 11!
Important reminders:
- Login instructions are personalized for YOUR survey use and should not be shared with other staff.
- Staff who may work in multiple buildings will receive multiple surveys to complete for the buildings they are assigned to.
- For more information on the survey, visit www.BremertonSchools.org/survey
BHS's Jayden Quenga nominated three weeks in a row for Kitsap Sun's Player of the Week (voting ends Wed. 10/9 at noon!)
Board Briefs: October 3, 2019
Compiled by Board Secretary Ioanna Cossack
POLICY NEWS: As it is important that this information is provided to all staff when changes are made in policies or procedure, we have included this at the top of these highlights regardless of their order in the meeting:
Policy 3211; Gender-Inclusive Schools is a new policy presented by Assistant Superintendent Iva Scott. At the last meeting, the Board had some questions and suggestions for this new policy. Bringing it back to the Board unchanged, she explained that she discussed the Board’s questions and comments with our legal counsel and they recommend that in order to comply with the intent of the law, the District pass the policy as written (using the WSSDA model policy).
On Jul 11, 2019, the Board adopted revised Policy 2418, Waiver of Graduation High School Requirements. This revised policy included information on High School Health & Fitness Waivers. We are including a copy of that revised Policy here again to be sure that it is disseminated to all of the staff and officials who need to be aware of this change.
Written Reports included revised Procedures 3422P; Student Sports – Concussion, Head Injury and Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and Enrollment Report/Projection for 2019-20.
Recognitions for the Month:
- School Principal’s Month – honors all of our building administrators – by Resolution 2019/2020-05 (See photo of Teneka Morley-Short, president of the Association of Bremerton Administrators - ABA - accepting the proclamation on behalf of all principals).
- National School Lunch Week – promoting participation in our healthy eating program – by Resolution 2019/2020-07
Our Consent Agenda included many typical business items, along with several agreements or Memos of Understanding.
Mr. Gabriel O’Rourke-Dela Cruz, Student Representative, reported on the many things that the ASB is doing this year to engage all students and be sure they are familiar with their social media presence. This work includes highlighting the many opportunities to participate via the school’s many clubs, sports, and many other activities. We’re hopeful that we’ll see some pictures of the students with their new “spirit” scarves.
On Jul 11, 2019, the Board adopted revised Policy 2418, Waiver of Graduation High School Requirements. This revised policy included information on High School Health & Fitness Waivers. We are including a copy of that revised Policy here again to be sure that it is disseminated to all of the staff and officials who need to be aware of this change.
Directors Dubos and Perkins recently attended the WSSDA Legislative Assembly in Spokane. Jonee was very excited after attending this for her first time, and shared that this small group meeting (approximately 150 attendees this year) is an excellent opportunity for great training and learning by all directors, and hope that more, if not all, Board members will be able to attend next year when the Assembly is held in Bellevue.
Creativity is the word of the month in our District, but Director Hurley pointed out that it is also Resiliency Month. He urged the District to join with agencies like Kitsap Strong to promote the message and the importance of helping our children by teaching them resiliency.
Superintendent Leavell discussed the lunch before recess vs. recess before lunch conversations that are going on across the state and the nation. OSPI is pushing to create an agency mandate in regard to this and superintendents and districts, Bremerton included, are looking at what the financial implications may be.
The Board approved a request by BHS teacher Jessica McBride to take a group of students to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands in the summer of 2021. We wish them the best of luck for fundraising to assist students and families with the associated costs.
The Board approved Resolution 2019/2020-06, authorizing a 4-year Enrichment Levy to be included in the February 2020 special elections. This replacement Levy would be for collection in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024.
You can find these reports, other attachments, and more information on the agenda/BoardDocs site
BSD Flu Vaccine Clinic
All Kaiser Plans, except the HMO plans will be billable at no cost to employee, and you will want to arrive with your consent form filled out.
We will be scheduling 15 minute increment time slots, so please give Nicole a call @ 360.473.1021 to schedule your time. Thank you!
Are you up-to-date on your immunizations?
From the Washington State Department of Health
Up-to-date on your immunizations? There’s an easy and free way to find out! Sign up for a MyIR account and access your and your family’s official immunizations records for free!
Need help with your Google Site?
Do you have a Google Site in progress? Did you start one during a training session last spring or summer but now have no idea what to do with it? There’s a new FAQ on the district website that covers everything from how to find it again to how to make sure parents and students can see what’s on it. The FAQ can be found here: https://www.bremertonschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=7811
When your site is ready to be added to the Staff Sites page of your school’s website, you can submit it here: https://forms.gle/2C9QEyNvvzKBs5PT8 You’ll know it’s ready when you’ve set published permissions to “open to all”, your embedded items are set to “everyone with the link can view”, and you’ve hit the “publish” button.
Thank you for all your hard work preparing a teacher page that keeps the lines of communication open with students, parents and the community!
Need tech help? Contact Kati at kati.carthum@bremertonschools.org
Hamilton Exhibit Featured in Kitsap Sun; Exhibit open until Friday, Oct. 11
Welcome to the SEBB Program’s first annual open enrollment
The SEBB Program’s first annual open enrollment began Tuesday, October 1, 2019.
Open enrollment is your opportunity to:
- Enroll in SEBB benefits (medical, dental, and vision insurance plans) or waive SEBB medical
- Enroll your eligible dependents
- Enroll in supplemental (employee-paid) life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), and long-term disability (LTD) insurance, a Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement, and a Dependent Care Assistance Program benefits
- Submit documents that prove your dependent’s eligibility
- Attest to the premium surcharges
Resources:
As of October 1, you can access:
- The virtual benefits fair
- SEBB My Account, to enroll in your benefits
ALEX, the SEBB Program’s online benefits advisor will be Available October 3, 2019.
You must take action to enroll. If you do not by November 15, 2019 11.59 p.m., you will be defaulted into the UMP Achieve 1 medical plan (with a $33 monthly premium), Uniform Dental Plan, MetLife vision plan, and basic life, basic AD&D, and basic LTD as a single subscriber. Your dependents will not be enrolled. You will also pay the $25 tobacco use premium surcharge in addition to your monthly medical premium.
Enrolling dependents and dependent verification
If you are enrolling dependents in your medical, vision, and/or dental plans, you are required to provide proof of your dependent’s eligibility with a document that shows they are dependents. All dependents must be verified during the SEBB Program’s first annual open enrollment (October 1 through November 15, 2019), before they can be enrolled under your coverage, even if you have already verified their eligibility with your employer.
Exception: If you are transitioning from a school district that participates in the PEBB Program coverage to SEBB Program coverage and your covered dependents were already verified, you do not need to provide dependent verification. However, if you are enrolling new dependents, you will need to provide documents to verify their eligibility.
You can upload dependent verification documents in SEBB My Account, or provide documents directly to your payroll or benefits office.
A list of valid dependent verification documents is available on the SEBB website.
Need more information to make an informed decision?
Visit the virtual benefits fair or an in-person fair where you can pick up information and speak to a plan representative. You can also access ALEX, the online interactive benefits advisor. ALEX will help you understand your benefits and guide you through choosing your medical, dental and vision plans or suggest plans for you to consider. ALEX is available starting on October 3 – provide link.
You must take action to enroll. If you do not enroll in, or waive benefits by November 15, 2019, 11:59 p.m. you will be defaulted into the UMP Achieve 1 medical plan (with a $33 monthly premium), Uniform Dental Plan, MetLife vision plan, and basic life, basic AD&D, and basic LTD as a single subscriber. Your dependents will not be enrolled. You will also pay the $25 tobacco use premium surcharge in addition to your monthly medical premium.
New app to help teens and young adults quit smoking/vaping
Important information about financial aid
Olympia—October 1 marked the first day students can apply for financial aid to go to college in the 2020-21 school year. Next school year is also when the Washington College Grant will be fully funded. The grant will give more money to more students for more kinds of education and training after high school.
Touted as one of the most generous and flexible programs in the country, it will help low- and middle-income people of all ages take their next step. The grant currently supports students pursuing certificates and degree programs. Beginning in 2020-21 it will also support people in registered apprenticeships.
Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step for college and career training. Before students can receive any state or federal financial aid, they have to submit a financial aid application. But far too few students apply for financial aid in Washington. Last year, only about half of all high school seniors filed a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). As a result, Washington placed 48th in the nation for FAFSA completion and missed out on over $50 million in federal student financial aid.
In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens apply with the FAFSA. People who can't file the FAFSA due to immigration status can still apply for state aid with the WASFA, the Washington Application for State Financial Aid. Students who submit a FAFSA or a WASFA are far more likely to attend college.
This year, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is expanding the 12th Year Campaign. High schools that take part have FAFSA completion rates 11 percentage points higher than schools that don't. At 12th Year Campaign events, experts and trained volunteers help students and their families with financial aid and college applications. [PE(3] WSAC also partners with colleges, libraries, and community groups to organize financial aid events.
Events are scheduled throughout the year during the school day, in the evenings, or on weekends. Find dates and locations on the 12th Year Campaign map, updated weekly.
Students should apply for financial aid as soon as possible. Some types of aid are first-come, first-served, and colleges have different deadlines. Students need to know the deadlines for the colleges they want to attend. Visit ReadySetGrad.wa.gov for more information on admissions, financial aid, and college readiness. (Note: This website has information and resources for students in grades 6-12!).
The 12th Year Campaign is a Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) initiative to increase educational attainment. This work is made possible through state funding and support from the Washington State Employees Credit Union (WSECU) as well as site volunteer support from the Washington Financial Aid Association (WFAA).
Financial Aid "Navigator" workshop
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BSD Staff Updates Newsletter 2019-20 / Issue #4 distributed 10/8/19.