FCPS Employee Bulletin Board
June 11, 2024
Celebrations in the County
Graduation Photo Galleries
Class of 2024 Graduation Photo Gallery List
The Graduation Photo Galleries for the Class of 2024 are now up! Take a look at some of the photos our Public Affairs Department was able to capture this graduation season.
Substitute of the Year
FCPS Recognizes the 2024 Substitute of the Year
Substitute Teacher Gregory Biggs was named the 2024 Frederick County Public Schools Substitute of the Year. He was nominated by Hillcrest Elementary School.
Biggs not only accepts daily and long-term substitute positions, 11 days or more, but also volunteers during his free time to help students. He continuously raises standards by establishing relationships with staff, students, and families and by coming to work each day with a positive attitude. He uses his creativity to make learning engaging and fun, while also holding his students accountable for their education. Biggs is an unwavering role model for students who believes in their abilities and encourages them to do the same.
Superintendent's Cup
Middletown Middle School Named FCPS Superintendent’s Cup Winner for 2024
Middletown Middle School Student Government has been named the recipient of the 2024 Frederick County Public Schools Superintendent’s Cup, making Middletown the first middle school to win the award.
This year’s winner, Middletown Middle School, raised an impressive $11,515 for Sleep in Heavenly Peace by organizing fundraiser events and through the matching donation of Installers DMV. Additionally, students and their families worked with the nonprofit to build and assemble beds, and students made and donated 20 blankets. The Middletown team was also able to give back to their peers by using the fundraising activities to highlight the connection between stress and getting enough sleep.
FCPS News
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.
FCPS Pay Shift Update: June 15th
Effective July 1, 2024: FCPS is moving to a pay schedule called “pay in arrears” and as a benefited FCPS employee this will cause a disruption in your pay at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Employees will continue to be paid twice a month, however, in order to implement the change an adjustment is being made to the first scheduled paycheck of SY 24/25. For 10-month employees this means that your first paycheck will be September 15th. For 11-month employees your first paycheck will be August 31st. And for 12-month employees your first paycheck will be on July 31st.
In order to mitigate the disruption in pay, FCPS is offering advance pay options for ten (10) and eleven (11) month employees as well as a gap pay option for 12 month employees.
If you would like to choose to opt-in or opt-out of the advance or gap pay please use the instructions linked below to make your selection in PeopleSoft HR between May 1st, 2024 and June 15th, 2024.
PeopleSoft HR - Pay Shift/Pay In Arrears Gap Pay and Pay Advance Selection
For a detailed breakdown of the advance options available for FCPS staff please use the time stamps in the Pay Shift Details video.
For any additional questions about the pay shift/pay in arrears use the links below.
General Information: https://www.fcps.org/payarrears
Information For 10-Month Employees
Information For 11-Month Employees
Information For 12-Month Employees
Email: FCPSPayShift@fcps.orgPhone Number Changes
Beginning July 1, 2024, FCPS will modernize our telecommunications system and assign brand new phone numbers to the entire district.
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.