JCS Staff Newsletter (February)

This newsletter will be distributed on the Wednesday following the monthly Board of Education meeting. This newsletter contains important information from district departments and other helpful tips. If you have suggestions for content in this newsletter, please send them to Collin Brooks at BrooksB@jcschools.org.

• Read Across America Week - March 3 - 7
• National School Social Worker Week - March 3 -7
• Maintenance Workers Appreciation Day - March 7
• International Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Day - March 14
• Pi Day - March 14
• Women's History Month
• Youth Art Month
• National Nutrition Month

Calendars

• Printable Calendars for 2024-2025 (Updated 1-16-25)
  
• Staff Holiday Schedule for 2024-2025
  

Thank you for providing your feedback as we embark on finding our next superintendent. The TSBA was shocked by the 941 responses we received from our community and they said they have never received so much feedback for a search. The Board of Education greatly appreciates your participation.

• Canvas Integration: Connect your Canvas calendar to ParentSquare so parents can view assignments in one place.

• Step 1: Copy your Canvas iCal feed URL.

• Step 2: Paste it into your ParentSquare Classroom Calendar.

• Posts & Newsletters: Use Studio Editor for second-semester updates and save templates for future use.

We will be hosting a session about ParentSquare on February 18, 2025 inside the Learning Center at Central Office from 4 pm to 5 pm. Register in Learning Stream to claim your seat!

• Visit our updated Human Resources web page to find assistance with your employee benefits and questions about the hiring process.
  
• Johnson City Schools is hiring Educare assistants, custodians, and instructional assistants. View our current job postings and apply today!

• Johnson City Transit is in need of bus drivers. For current bus driver position openings visit https://johnsoncitytn.applicantpro.com/jobs/.

• Please visit our updated web page at Finance | Retirement.
• Sharron Livingston in Human Resources now manages most benefits for our system. Christy Fair in Finance manages the Hartford Life Insurance only.
• Our Employee Forms page will assist you with finding commonly requested forms and the contact person for each one.

The Washington County Retired Teachers Association is sponsoring Retirement Seminars in March. A representative for TN Retire Ready (TCRS and Empower Retirement) will be presenting. The Seminars will present helpful information and handouts in order to begin planning for retirement. Anyone is welcome to attend.

February 26, 2025 4:00 p.m.

Johnson City Schools Central Office

Board Room

100 E. Maple Street

Johnson City, TN 37601

February 27, 2024 4:00 p.m.

Washington County Schools Central Office

Conference Room Downstairs

405 W. College Street

Jonesborough, TN 37659

If you have questions about your specific retirement plan or are looking to retire, you can

contact Leia Valley at valleyl@jcschools.org.

The new annual contribution limit to a 403(b), 401(l), or a 457(b) for 2025 is $23,500. The catch-up contribution limit for those age 50 and over is $7,500 (for a total of $31,000 that can be contributed for 2025). Staring in 2025, those age 60-63 may be eligible for a higher catch-up contribution limit. The higher limit is $11,250 (for a total $34,750 that can be continued for 2025).

Employees enrolled in the Consumer-driven Health Plan (CDHP) also have a Health Savings Account available to put aside funds for medical expenses. For 2025, the maximum that can be contributed to a health savings account $4,300 for individuals and $8,550 for family coverage.

Presented by Collin Brooks

February 18, 2025

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Central Office/The Learning Center

Presented by Hannah Berry & Renee Becker

February 26, 2025

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Lake Ridge Elementary

Presented by Angie Smith & Karen Bunch

February 26, 2025

4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Towne Acres Elementary

The next Johnson City Board of Education meeting will be held on Monday, March 3 starting at 6 p.m. inside the Board Room at Central Office (100 E. Maple Street). Board meetings can be viewed on the Johnson City Schools' YouTube channel.

Congratulations to our Spelling Bee participants. The winners from each school participated in our district-wide Spelling Bee which was held on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at Liberty Bell Middle School. We would like to recognize those students at this time. Students, when I call your name, come to the front and remain up front for a group picture.

· Cherokee Elementary: Ameya Singh (District-wide winner)

· Fairmont Elementary: Emmarie Chandley

· Lake Ridge Elementary: Jaylie Campbell

· Mtn. View Elementary: Connor Cook

· North Side Elementary: Asher Delargy

· South Side Elementary: Tate Wassinger

· Towne Acres Elementary: Swetank Bangaru (District-wide runner-up)

· Woodland Elementary: Stephanie Lowe

· Indian Trail Middle School: Eva Maas

· Liberty Bell Middle School: Joshua Olson

The Johnson City Schools' Communication Department is looking for suggestions for features stories to share with our community. This could be anything you think parents, students or the public want or need to know about can be good features. We're talking student achievements, teachers doing cool things in their classrooms, school programs or offerings that could benefit from a little awareness, clubs... Anything. If there's a visual component – something or someone I could photograph to go along with it – it will be even more engaging. We would love to hear your ideas!

Please reach out to Nathan Baker or Collin Brooks with your suggestions.