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.

Summer Changes

Miracle Treat Day

UHC Rally Rewards Information

Benefits Reminders

Health and Wellness- Keeping Your Cool in the Heat

Employee Badges

Compliance Training Videos

Pegasus Program

Customer Service Corner

Have you moved this summer? Did your name change?

It is important to make sure we have updated information on record for you.

Please contact:

Rebekah Renteria

Human Resources Specialist

Phone: 830-221-2102

Email: rebekah.renteria@comalisd.org

Rebekah can assist you with updating information.

If you need to update your mailing address, please log on to the intranet and click on Employee Access Pay/Att to access ITCCS Employee Portal. Once logged on, you can update your profile information.

The Opportunity to select an earned gift card through the United Health Care Rally Rewards program will expire 120 days from the last day of the incentive period, which for Comal ISD is July 31, 2018. Any rewards earned through July 31, 2018 must be redeemed by November 28, 2018.

Medical Insurance

AETNA will be the new medical insurance provider beginning August 1, 2018. You will receive new ID cards in late July. Continue to use your United Health Care card through July 31, 2018. Beginning on August 1, 2018 you will need to provide your doctors, clinics and other health care specialists your new ID information with AETNA.

Flexible Spending Accounts

If you are enrolled in a Medical Reimbursement Account, funds must be used by July 31, 2018. You will have a 90 day period after July 31, 2018 to file any claims for reimbursement, but the activity must have occurred before the end of July. On August 1, funds will be available for the new plan year if you re-enrolled in a Medical Reimbursement Account, or enrolled for the first time. You will not receive a new Debit Card from TASC unless you are a new member. TASC will load new funds onto your current card. If you have lost or misplaced your TASC card, please contact Glenna Miranda in the Benefits Office.

Important Information from Benefits and AETNA if you take a “Specialty Drug”

If you currently take a specialty drug under United Health Care, it is recommended that you get them refilled no later than July 15, 2018 so that you do not have a gap in medication needs with the switch to our new provider, AETNA. Instructions for obtaining specialty drugs under AETNA are provided below.

What is a Specialty Drug? A specialty drug or medication is a biologic or traditional drug which requires additional management for a complex, chronic, or life threatening condition that typically has two or more of the following attributes:

· Treats a condition which requires intensive clinical monitoring of the patient.

· Requires special patient training or patient compliance assistance.

· Requires special handling, such as storage or preparation.

· Requires special administration by the patient or the healthcare professional.

· Has a limited distribution network

· Has a high total cost

If you are currently taking a specialty drug, please read the attached information from AETNA regarding the approval and use of AETNA’s Specialty Pharmacy.

Here are some Aetna Specialty Pharmacy FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)

https://www1.aetna.com/provider/specialty_faqs.html

Take measures to stay cool, remain hydrated, and keep informed. Getting too hot can make you sick. You can become ill from the heat if your body can’t compensate for it and properly cool you off. The main things affecting your body’s ability to cool itself during extremely hot weather are:

• High humidity. When the humidity is high, sweat won’t evaporate as quickly, which keeps your body from releasing heat as fast as it may need to.
• Personal factors. Age, obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, mental illness, poor circulation, sunburn, and prescription drug and alcohol use can play a role in whether a person can cool off enough in very hot weather.

Those who are at highest risk include people 65 and older, children younger than two, and people with chronic diseases or mental illness. Closely monitor people who depend on you for their care and ask these questions:

• Are they drinking enough water?
• Do they have access to air conditioning?
• Do they need help keeping cool?

People at greatest risk for heat-related illness can take the following protective actions to prevent illness or death:

• Stay in air-conditioned buildings as much as possible. Contact your local health department or locate an air-conditioned shelter in your area. Air-conditioning is the number one protective factor against heat-related illness and death. If a home is not air-conditioned, people can reduce their risk for heat-related illness by spending time in public facilities that are air-conditioned, and using air conditioning in vehicles.
• Do not rely on a fan as your primary cooling device during an extreme heat event.
• Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Don’t use the stove or oven to cook—it will make you and your house hotter.

Even young and healthy people can get sick from the heat if they participate in strenuous physical activities during hot weather:

• Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest.
• Wear and reapply sunscreen as indicated on the package.
• Pace activity. Start activities slow and pick up the pace gradually.
• Drink more water than usual and don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink more. Muscle cramping may be an early sign of heat-related illness.
• Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

If you play a sport that practices during hot weather protect yourself and look out for your teammates:

• Schedule workouts and practices earlier or later in the day when the temperature is cooler.
• Monitor a teammate’s condition, and have someone do the same for you.
• Seek medical care immediately if you or a teammate has symptoms of heat related illness.

Drink plenty of fluids to prevent heat-related illnesses.

Everyone should take these steps to prevent heat-related illnesses, injuries, and deaths during hot weather:

• Stay in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as possible.
• Drink plenty of fluids even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Schedule outdoor activities carefully.
  • Wear loose, lightweight, light-colored clothing and sunscreen.
  • Pace yourself.
• Take cool showers or baths to cool down.
• Check on a friend or neighbor and have someone do the same for you.
• Never leave children or pets in cars.
• Check the local news for health and safety updates.

As a part of the District’s continuing efforts to provide a safe learning environment, all staff are required to wear a District issued ID badge at all times. The Comal ISD ID badge identifies an employee’s name and department/position. Employees are responsible for safeguarding their own ID badge and any lost or stolen ID badges should be reported immediately to the Human Resources Department at 830-221-2121,sonya.vargas@comalisd.org or hr@comalisd.org.

Beginning with the 2018-2019 School Year, with an effective date of July 2nd, a fee of $10 will be assessed for ID badges that have been lost or stolen.

ID badges with normal wear and tear that no longer work will be replaced at no charge to the employee once they have been returned to Human Resources. A new badge will not be issued until the non-working badge has been turned in.

Employees with a name change will receive a badge at no charge once they turn in their old badge and complete the appropriate steps to change their name through the Employee Self-Service portal.

If an employee needs a new ID badge for any reason, they need to submit a Badge Replacement Form in TalentEd Records (under Blank Docs). They can also contact the Human Resources Department at 830-221-2121,sonya.vargas@comalisd.org or hr@comalisd.org and the form will be electronically sent to them. For new badges that are assessed the $10 charge, the fee will be deducted from their next paycheck.

Please contact the Human Resources Department at 830-221-2121, sonya.vargas@comalisd.org or hr@comalisd.org with any questions you may have regarding your ID badge.

Annual required compliance video training information will be sent out via email during the week of August 13-17. Check your email during that week for instructions regarding viewing and completing the required training.

Pegasus Program

A collaborative preschool inclusion program for children of Comal ISD staff & children served in a Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) setting

Purpose

• The purpose of the Pegasus Program is to provide onsite preschool for children of district staff members while also providing students identified as having a disability an instructional setting in which they have the opportunity to interact with typically developing peers.

General Description

• The Pegasus Program consists of a maximum of 10 children of CISD employees in preschool together with children who have been identified through the Preschool Program for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) as needing special education services.

• A PPCD teacher, a preschool (Pegasus) paraeducator, and an educational associate(s) staff the program.

  
  

• Enrollment Requirements

• Child must be 3 or 4 years of age by September 1 of the school year.

• Child must not display any consistent negative behaviors that would interfere with the classroom rules and procedures. Continued display of negative behavior may result in dismissal from the program. Decision will be made collaboratively between the campus principal and the coordinator for elementary special education.

• Child must not display the need for excessive self-help needs and must be able to function in the program with the 1-10 preschool teacher-child ratio.

• Parent/guardian must be a regular, benefits-eligible employee of Comal ISD.

• Child must be fully potty trained. We have a “No Pull-Up” policy.

Special Considerations

• Children who qualify for or receive services through special education:
District Pegasus representative will review any requests for Pegasus placement for a child

who is receiving special education services to determine if reasonable accommodations

may be provided to access the Pegasus program. Toileting assistance required in relation to a specific disability will be reviewed to determine if reasonable accommodations may be provided.

• Children turning 3 years old after September 1 of the school year: Children will be considered for placement if slots are available. o Wait list procedures will be applied.

Enrollment Information

• Parents/grandparents will attend an Orientation Meeting each year prior to the first day of school held by campus PPCD Teachers.

• Teachers/staff new to CISD will be required to pay the first month Pegasus with a live check. All subsequent payments will be via payroll deduction.

• A minimum of six children of staff members must be enrolled in the preschool program in order to establish a Pegasus Program on a campus. If six children are not enrolled at the time of planning for classes in the spring, the program supervisor and business office staff will determine whether the program costs can be met with tuition from other campuses. Efforts to recruit additional staff children to the campus, or to move children from other campuses will be made.

• Upon closing of the Pegasus application period and placement process, any applications of children who did not receive a Pegasus slot will be refunded the initial tuition and notified should openings occur on any Pegasus campus (see wait list procedures).

  Selection Process

• First selection for the Program is
Children/grandchildren who are currently in the Pegasus Program
Children/grandchildren of employees assigned to the Pegasus campus o Children/grandchildren of any other CISD employee

• Applications are submitted online and are date/time stamped so that they may be reviewed in the order of receipt.

Enrollment Process

• Enrollment for Pegasus will be conducted through Eduphoria – Form Space – Submit new form – Pegasus Registration – Form 1 (Application) and Form 2 (Payroll Deduction). Note: Application alone does not guarantee enrollment. Staff will receive a final email approval in Eduphoria noting approval by nurse and Pegasus Supervisor. Both approvals are required for enrollment.

• The Registration Form (Form 1 – Application) requires the child’s most current shot record to be uploaded into Eduphoria. District nursing representative will review and approve that all shots are current for your child to begin the program.

  Tuition

• Tuition will be $4500 paid in 10 equal payroll deductions (August – May) of $450 or 12 equal payroll deductions (August – July) of $375.

• The Payroll Deduction Authorization Form must be completed in Eduphoria as part of the registration process.

Here are two effective ways to establish strong family-teacher partnerships from day one.

A Welcoming Phone Call

A welcome call before the school year begins, or just after, can build the foundation for this partnership. Calls home generally have a bad reputation, but they don’t have to. An introductory phone call can open the door to collaboration and trust, demonstrating to families that teachers value their insight on their children and expect their engagement throughout the year.

Questions teachers can ask:

• What can you tell me about your child that will help me be a good teacher for him or her?
• What are your hopes and dreams for child?
• What’s the best way and time for me to contact you?
• What’s your preferred language for you to communicate with me?

Other points to mention:

• Here’s the best way and time to contact me
• Expect to hear from me throughout the year
• Always feel free to contact me with concerns or good news — I want to hear from you!

If a family speaks a language the teacher doesn’t speak, they should enlist a translator — and they can also try to learn a few key phrases in the family’s home language, in order to further demonstrate their caring.

Making these calls may make teachers anxious, but they’re worth it.

A Letter of Hopes and Dreams (possible open house activity)

Parents write a letter to their children and teachers make that letter a part of the classroom culture.

Teachers will need:

• Letter-writing paper
• Writing utensils
• A phone or other camera

What to do:

• Set aside time for families to write a letter to their child expressing their hopes and dreams for the school year.
• Encourage families to write in whichever language they are most comfortable. If they’re uncomfortable writing, offer to transcribe their thoughts.
• Take a picture of each child with their family.
• Afterward, hang the pictures and letters together in the classroom “as a reminder to the children that their families are a critical part of the learning community.”
• If your students are teenagers, who might be embarrassed by the letter or photo, ask parents to seal the letter in an envelope and address it to their child. Let students open it halfway through the school year.

Best Practices for Family Engagement

• Build relationships with families before plunging into program work.
• Collaborate to get to know kids' needs, passions, and knowledge.
• Work together and make projects interactive.
• Provide support to develop families' capacities to assist their children.
• Link it to learning. Focus conversations on academic content and strategies, rather than rules and expectations.

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) 221-2026
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/comalisd
Twitter: @CISDNews