The Source

The Source is a newsletter for all Comal ISD employees. The Source brings recognition, timely reminders and beneficial articles to the employees in an effort to provide increased communication and connection regarding human resources and customer service topics.

• Campus Attendance Recognition
• Tax Forms: W2 / 1095-C
• Summer School
• Transfer Applications
• Retirements / Resignations
• Urgent Care or Emergency Room?
• AETNA - Health Insurance
• Refer a Friend
• Customer Service Corner - Strengthen Your Team
• Comal Cares
  
• The HR Team

Congratulations to Church Hill Middle and Startzville Elementary for having the highest staff attendance rates for the month of December! Each month we'll be recognizing one elementary and one secondary campus with a traveling trophy to the winning campus. Church Hill achieved 96.93% and Startzville 97.13% staff attendance rates for the month. Congratulations and thank you for all you do!

Employee W2s are available on the Comal ISD Employee Portal. Once you have logged in, select the W2 button on the left hand side navigation. The Employee Portal can be accessed clicking here. Printed copies have been delivered to campuses for those employees that requested a paper copy of their W2.

Employee 1095Cs are available on the Comal ISD Employee Portal. Printed copies are currently being delivered to employees who requested a paper copy. Once you have logged in, select the 1095-C button on the left hand side navigation. The Employee Portal can be accessed clicking here. Per the IRS, while the information on the 1095-C form may assist in preparing your tax return, the form is not required to file.

Considering teaching Summer School?

Summer School Applications are now online and you can apply by going to the Comal Job Posting page: https://comal.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx

The District-Wide Transfer Application is now open for teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians and classroom paraprofessionals who wish to transfer to a new campus for the 19-20 school year. The application will be open from February 22nd through May 3rd. This posting is for current Comal ISD employees ONLY. The transfer of assignment application must be completed by May 3rd in order for your request to be reviewed.

Please note:

• Requesting a transfer does not automatically mean it will be granted.
• Action on any transfers will not be taken until later this semester and into the summer.
• Please read all of the information on the form carefully.

To access the form please follow the steps below:

• Go to the Comal ISD job listing page: https://comal.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx
• Select Comal ISD Internal Transfer (Internal Comal ISD Teachers, Counselors, Nurses, Librarians ONLY) or Comal ISD Internal Transfer (Classroom Paraprofessionals ONLY).
• Review the job posting information.
• Select Apply for this Position.

If you have previously submitted an application in Recruit and Hire, please enter your login information. If you have not previously submitted an application in Recruit and Hire, please create an account.

• Carefully read the application and complete the required information.
• Electronically submit the application.

For Teachers, Counselors, Nurses, and Librarians: Complete the Educators Professional Inventory (EPI). You will receive an email notification with instructions once you have submitted your application. If you have previously taken this as a part of the transfer process last school year, or during your initial application to the District, you will not have to re-take it.

A principal will contact you if he/she wants to interview you for a position. Requesting a transfer does not automatically mean it will be granted.

Please feel free to contact the Human Resources Department, hr@comalisd.org, with any questions about this process or if you need assistance submitting the application in Recruit and Hire.

So you have talked with TRS and made the decision that you are ready for retirement and will not be returning for the 2019-2020 school year. What next?

Please notify your supervisor and HR of your retirement, in writing, so we can offer support and help you with the process. Knowing about your retirement makes us aware of a need to find a qualified team member to continue your job responsibilities. We are excited for your new adventure and want to offer our congratulations and support.

Please feel free to contact Human Resources or Payroll with any questions regarding the process.

If you are not retiring, but know you will not be returning to Comal ISD for the 2019-2020 school year, it is important to communicate with your principal and HR as soon as possible. Please submit your resignation as soon as you know you will not be returning in order to assist with campus position planning.

Please feel free to contact Human Resources or Payroll with any questions regarding the process.

Illness hits without warning and without regard to timing. What do you do in the middle of the night or Sunday morning when you have a severe earache or worse yet, chest pain? Do you go to the ER? Do you call 911? What about Urgent Care or Online Telemedicine? The options can be overwhelming. Aetna is here to help through their partnership with Quality Partners in Care.

Should I see my Primary Care Physician (PCP) when under the weather?

So let’s start with the first and best option. Your PCP. Clinics affiliated with QPIC offer same-day appointments, weekend and extended hours to accommodate their patients. HealthTexas and MedFirst physicians offer same day appointments to the Whole Health patient. Your PCP helps with continuity of care—they know your medical history, what is your “normal” and what makes you “you”.

What if my PCP is closed or booked?

There are other services to fill in the “gap”. Aetna offers telemedicine visits through Teledoc. Patients will log on and have a visual visit with a healthcare provider for as low as a $40 co-pay. This is a great service when getting to your PCP is not an option. They can cover anything from non-narcotic medication refills to the treatment of sore throats and possible infections. They can diagnose and treat as a bridge back to your PCP’s office. A great solution for busy professions or busy parents who simply need some help in the middle of the night.

What’s the difference between Urgent Care and Emergency Room?

These options are more expensive but necessary at times. Unfortunately, many people still go to the ER for problems when an urgent care would have been a better and less expensive option.

They can look the same to most patients, but if you see the word “Emergency” in the name it is likely considered just that. Urgent Care clinics will likely state “Urgent Care”, Immediate Care’’ or ‘Walk in Clinic’. Urgent care clinics now function at much higher levels of care than they used to. Many have x-ray machines and labs within the clinic. Most are staffed by physicians and advanced practice clinicians like Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants. Wait times are minimal compared to being triaged at an ER. And most importantly, the cost is usually much lower than an ER visit. Many patients are shocked at the final bill from an ER visit. That sore throat can cost you thousands at an ER over an urgent care visit which normally runs less than a couple hundred dollars.

So how do I decide?

Most Urgent Cares can handle anything from minor lacerations, sprains, minor fractures, sore throats, respiratory illnesses and even sinus and bladder infections. If it is something beyond their scope they will immediately direct you to an ER. Thus, ER’s are more suited for chest pain, stroke-like symptoms, vision loss, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding and head trauma.

Remember at HealthTexas or MedFirst Clinics, your Primary Care Physician can help you decide the best place to go for care based on the specific situation.

ATENA will continue to be the District's Health Insurance provider for the 2019-2020 School Year. Employee's will see total premium increases ranging from 0% to 8.5% depending on the plan they participate in. Please Note: The total premium includes the $390 that the District contributes on behalf of the employee. Changes to the employee's monthly contribution will vary based upon plan selection.

Informational Meetings and Open Enrollment will begin April 1st.

NEAR SITE CLINICS. Available for ALL Comal ISD Members (Elect Choice or Baptist ACO). The Baptist Health System (BHS) offers twenty-eight (28) MedFirst clinic locations in New Braunfels and the surrounding areas with future expansions coming soon. $5 co-pay for members in the $30 co-payment plan and a $25 reduction in fee schedule. $25 discount for those on HD/HSA plans. 24/7 online scheduling with same day or next day appointments and an online patient portal for convenient access to employee health records.

Simple Steps to a Healthier Life Program. Members and covered spouses can earn a $50 gift card per plan year for completing a health assessment and one online health coaching journey. Also, choose a personal digital coach at any time to help you achieve your fitness/wellness goals. Go to www.aetna.com and look under Stay Healthy.

Beginning Right Maternity Program. Special Attention for a health pregnancy and baby at no extra cost. Sign up at 1-800-CRADLE-1 or at www.aetna.com and look under Stay Healthy.

Informed Health Line. 24/7 access to a nurse you can talk to about a number of topics. 1-800-556-1555.

Aetna Get Active. Get support from your coworkers by joining challenges each quarter. Visit

www.aetnagetactive.com, powered by ShapeUp Inc.

Teladoc. Talk to a doctor anytime 24/7/365 for a $40 copay visit. Speak with a doctor through phone, video or mobile app about symptoms, pick up a prescription at your local pharmacy. Qualify care when you need it from a national network of US Board-Certified doctors.

How to save with discount programs: Log into your secure member website at www.aetna.com. Choose Health Programs, then Discounts and follow the steps for each program you want to use.

• Vision Discount Program: through LensCrafters, Target, Pearle and others. Great rates on eye exams, contact lenses and eye care items.
• Fitness Discount Program: Reduced member fees at over 10,000 gyms in the GlobalFit network. www.globalfit.com/fitness
• Weight Management Discount Program: Save on eDiets, Jenny Craig or NutriSystem Natural Products and Services Discount Program: At least 25% off the normal fee on services through the ChooseHealthy Program which includes Massage therapy, Acupuncture, Chiropractic Care. Save 15 percent on over 2,400 products like vitamins, yoga equipment, etc.
• Hearing Discount Program: 2 options, Hearing Care Solutions and HearingPO

Comal ISD needs your help in finding great bus drivers and custodians!

Comal ISD employees that refer a candidate to apply for a bus driver or custodial position, AND the referred candidate is hired, will receive a total of $600 if the referred employee remains employed for one year. You will receive $200 after the referred employee is employed for 90 days, $200 after 6 months, and the final $200 after one year.

Please be sure to tell your friends that apply to share your name as their recruiter.

Any CISD Employees with job duties, whether explicit or implied, that involve the responsibility to recruit these types of employees are not eligible for this incentive.

Your relationships with your fellow teachers are critical to the success of the campus or department mission. Even though we spend the majority of our time, care, and attention on fostering positive relationships with the students we see every day, it’s just as important that we invest in healthy relationships with our colleagues.

Our colleagues are our teammates, our partners, our collaborators, and our biggest allies, working hard each day in their classrooms or in the department just like us. Positive relationship building with these folks can make a world of difference when it comes to improving our own practice and making our district a better, more effective environment for our students.

Consider some of these ideas for interacting with peers at your building.

Relationship Building Ideas: Ditch the E-mail

The convenience of e-mail is a double-edged sword. While we can asynchronously communicate thoughts to colleagues and reap all the benefits of electronic communication, we sacrifice that face-to-face contact. Relationships are best built face-to-face and side-by-side, but e-mail waters down the relational impact of our message.

Try this: When you have the chance, instead of sending an e-mail, go and find the person. It doesn’t matter if your message is profound or simple – but go and communicate to that person face-to-face. Even if the person is on the other side of your building, take time to talk in person when possible.

Ask for Their Successes

They say that “Imitation is a form of flattery,” and it’s true that one of the highest compliments you can pay a colleague is to ask what’s working for them and then use it yourself. “What did you do for _____________ that worked well for you? Can I do that too?”

When you ask for someone else’s input and advice, you automatically show respect for their perspective. Step out and recognize someone else, and gain some valuable teacher knowledge in the process.

Work on Something Together

If you’re developing a new project for your classroom, initiating a committee for your staff, reimagining how you support your weakest students, or considering presenting at a conference, invite others to work on these with you.

You feel good when you personally accomplish something. But you feel great when you’re part of a team that accomplishes something. This involves a little bit of your letting go of the specific vision you have for the project; but the payoff results with a huge boost in your collaborative spirit and firmer relationship with those you’ve worked alongside.

Be Social

Sharing time together – especially over some food – is a great way to reinforce the bonds you have. Talk about school, laugh about mistakes, talk about families, hobbies, and dreams. Be a part of the social conversation that is going on at your school. Even just by showing up, your presence communicates you care about the other people who are there.

Mind Your Manners And Then Some

It’s easy to remember the basics: say please and thank you, hold open the door, and smile when you pass in the hallway.

Putting yourself out there in these ways lets others know that they can trust you, you can trust them, and lays a solid foundation for respect and collaboration down the road. If you want to build relationships with others, it starts with how you treat everyone else.

When we work well together, everyone benefits. It all begins with strong relationships laying the foundation for momentous achievements.

“Customer service is taking the opportunity to turn any situation into a personal, positive experience.”

Comal Cares Philosophy

• Treat all people with courtesy, dignity and respect
• Practice open, honest, two-way communication
• Base all decisions on what is best for students
• Take ownership for providing the best service possible
• Respond to phone calls and emails with in 24 hours
• Listen to all concerns

As we receive specific praise for employees who go above and beyond in their daily service to the community of Comal ISD and to the students and families we serve, we would like to honor them in our Spotlight section each month.

We look forward to celebrating the great work of our Comal ISD team members by sharing your 51%! Scan the QR code on the Comal Cares poster on your campus to share great service you have seen or email Marie Kuehler at marie.kuehler@comalisd.org to send pictures and a story about great hospitality and service. We will share through our "In the Spotlight" section in future newsletters.

Please contact us if you need assistance, we are happy to help!

Employee Benefits / Leave & Absences

Glenna Miranda

Employee Benefits Coordinator

Phone: 830-221-2040
Email: glenna.miranda@comalisd.org

Employment Opportunities / General HR Assistance / FIngerprinting

Rebekah Renteria

Human Resources Specialist

Phone: 830-221-2102

Email: rebekah.thudium@comalisd.org

Employee Records Requests / ID Badges / General HR Assistance

Samantha Whitney

Employment Specialist

Phone: 830-221-2118

Email: sam.whitney@comalisd.org

Substitutes / Reporting Absences

Sonia Hernandez

Substitute Specialist

Phone: 830-221-2043

Email: sonia.hernandez@comalisd.org

Work Day Calendars / Employment Verifications / Position Changes

Burnita Reininger

Systems Information Specialist

Phone: 830.221.2607

Email: burnita.reininger@comalisd.org

Certifications / Orientation / Background Checks

Sonya Vargas

Human Resources Specialist

Phone: 830-221-2121

Email: sonya.vargas@comalisd.org

Human Resources and Customer Service

Marie Kuehler

Executive Director of Human Resources and Customer Service
Phone: 830.221.2635
Email: marie.kuehler@comalisd.org

Human Resources and Customer Service FAQs

Where do I send my transcripts to add a new degree?

How do I view my pay information?
How do I get a verification of employment?

Answers to these and many other frequently asked questions are posted in the Human Resources and Customer Service FAQs. You can access the information on the Comal ISD webpage on the main Human Resources and Customer Service page or under Employee Resources.

If you have news, topics, or celebrations you wish to have shared in this newsletter, please send an email to Marie Kuehler, Executive Director of Human Resources and Customer Service at marie.kuehler@comalisd.org.

Email: marie.kuehler@comalisd.org
Website: www.comalisd.org
Location: 1404 Interstate 35 N, New Braunfels, TX, 78130
Phone: (830) 221-2635
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comalisd
Twitter: @CISDNews