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.

We are Hiring for the 2016-17 School Year!

Health Insurance Meetings and Open Enrollment

In The Spotlight- Meet a Career and Technology Teacher

Health and Wellness- Nutrition, Meals and Sleep

Employee Perks

Reminders: Summer School Applications, Transfer Information and Retirement

1095 B and C

Customer Service Corner- Steps for Working With Difficult Customers

Comal ISD is looking for great team members for the 2016-17 school year. Do you know any fantastic people who should be part of the Comal ISD Team?

Please encourage "difference makers" to visit https://comal.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx and click on the employment tab to apply.

The health insurance open enrollment schedule, 2016-17 proposed insurance plans and Frequently Asked Questions regarding insurance can be found at: http://www.comalisd.org/pages/Comal_ISD/About_Us/Departments/HumanResources/Benefits

If you have questions regarding benefits or the open enrollment process, please contact Valerie Galan

Employee Benefits Coordinator

Phone: 830.221.2102
Email: valerie.galan@comalisd.org

We are proud of the tremendous work our almost 2,500 employees do to make our district exceptional. In order to educate our team about all the unique and vital services provided by our employees, we will highlight Comal ISD team roles in each newsletter. You are encouraged to send your stories and suggestions to mandy.epley@comalisd.org for roles you wish to see highlighted in future newsletters.

This month we are highlighting the work of our Career and Technology Teachers.

Career and Technology Education encompasses 94 percent of high school students and 13 million postsecondary students in the United States and includes high schools, career centers, community and technical colleges, four-year universities and more. CTE programs in every community ensure students are equipped with the skills to successfully enter the workforce.

Wayne Kennedy is the Canyon High School Automotive Technology teacher. He has been an instrumental educator for the Automotive Program in Comal ISD since 2009. He is an ASE Master Technician and has stayed current with a minimum of 20 hours of recognized industry technical update training. He has been instrumental in the development and expansion of a premier rated NATEF Automotive facility.

The automotive service and repair industry has gone through tremendous changes in the last decade. Working on today’s cars requires a deeper understanding of the technology that goes into the modern, more sophisticated automobile. This increased sophistication means schools need to stay current to properly educate students to meet industry standards. That is why accreditation for automotive programs is so important. To help educators recruit, mentor, and train tomorrow’s technicians; the National Automotive Technician’s Education Foundation (NATEF) offers accreditation for automotive technician training programs.

Becky Walker, Director of CTE, shared, "Wayne Kennedy has promoted the opportunity for students to earn Industry recognized ASE certifications from all three of the respective High Schools: Smithson Valley, Canyon High School and Canyon Lake High School." Students certifications include: ACDelco training, A manual transmission; electrical and electronics stage 2; steering diagnosis; OSHA (SP2).

"Wayne encourages student involvement in youth opportunities, he has a program that participates actively in Skills USA and consistently takes a minimum of fourteen students to contest with more than twenty projects. Wayne Kennedy has earned the support of an Active Advisory committee made up of administrators, independent dealer’s representatives, parents and local dealership and repair institutions. Wayne has been provided several donations to support his program and lab; he seeks ways to improve by involving his colleagues in expanding and promoting his program. Such program donations include an engine from GM and two wonderful tools boxes from San Marcos Toyota. We are very proud of the work Wayne Kennedy is doing to provide for our future workforce."

"Wayne Kennedy feels strongly about promoting future opportunities for students and with the support of Mr. Kim, he is developing a program where students,supervised by Gus Rodriguez, can practice their skills through employment in the transportation department."

Currently, the Canyon High School Automotive program is completing the compliance review along with the advisory committee for the purpose of NATEF accreditation. We applaud Wayne Kennedy for his enthusiasm and his ability to make necessary improvements and updates to his program, and for expanding opportunities for this type of instruction districtwide.

As an Employee, you have come to expect a W-2 form for tax reporting purposes. However, this year marks the first time you will receive additional tax forms. The new forms, 1095-B and a 1095-C, are part of the Affordable Care Act and provide evidence of minimum essential coverage. Both of these forms contain the same information; 1095-B comes from the insurance company, while 1095-C comes from the District. Your 1095-C from Comal ISD will be mailed or accessible in the employee portal on March 31.

If you had health insurance coverage through the District for all of 2015 (January 1, 2015 – December 31, 2015) you will receive in the mail by March 31 a total of two 1095-B forms, one from Blue Cross/Blue Shield and one from United Healthcare (you may have received one or both already).

If you only had District provided health insurance coverage for the period January 1, 2015 – July 31, 2015, you will receive a 1095-B from Blue Cross/Blue Shield only.

If you only had District provided health insurance coverage for the period August 1, 2015 – December. 31, 2015, you will receive a 1095-B from United Healthcare only.

When you receive the forms, they should not be filed with you tax return. You should keep them for you tax records as they would be required should you be audited. Also, you can file your taxes prior to receiving the forms, as they are for your records only. When you file your taxes, you will simply indicate that you and your family members all had minimum essential coverage for each month of the tax year by checking the appropriate box on Form 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ.

If you have any questions about these forms, please contact Janice Sanders at Janice.Sanders@comalisd.org.

TIPS ON NUTRITION CAN BE FOUND AT:

https://www.uhctools.com/assets/prebuilt_2016_nutrition.pdf

Comal ISD is happy to offer the new PerkSpot Employee Discount Program to all its employees.

What is PerkSpot?

As an employee, PerkSpot is now your personal online savings resource -- a place to find discounts and rebates on goods and services from many of the best known brand names in the U.S. --online and off, nationally and locally.

Here's all you need to do to put PerkSpot to work for you. From your work or home computer, go to Comal ISD PerkSpot site - http://www.comalisd.perkspot.com - and follow the step-by-step instructions to register. We've got all the discount information ready for you on our site, you've just got to login to have access to all our discounts -- many are updated daily and weekly! Just pick out what you'd like, follow the instructions provided on PerkSpot and check out. PerkSpot's savings are convenient and valuable -- from everyday purchases like groceries to special purchases like family vacations or auto insurance.

It's all possible on PerkSpot.

Considering teaching Summer School?

Summer School Applications will be available March 7-April 29 at https://comal.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx.

The Request for Transfer of Assignment Application is now available in Recruit and Hire for campus-based personnel, specifically teachers, counselors, librarians, and nurses, who want to request a transfer to another campus for the 2016-2017 school year. Please read it carefully.

Please note:

· The transfer of assignment application must be completed by April 29, 2016 in order for your request to be reviewed.

· 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)

· Review the job posting information

· Select Apply for this Position

o If you have submitted an application in Recruit and Hire, please enter your login information

o If you have not submitted an application in Recruit and Hire, please create an account

· Carefully read the application and complete the required information

· Electronically submit the application

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. What next?

Please notify your supervisor and HR of your retirement 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 with questions about the process and Janice Sanders in Payroll with questions regarding compensation.

1. Let the customer share their concerns and listen. Don’t argue. Don’t defend. Don’t interrupt.

2. Express empathy to the customer.

4. Listen attentively and show you are listening.

5. Ask questions to help clarify your understanding of the concern.

6. Offer option and agree on a solution.

7. Thank the customer.

8. Take action and follow through, involving your principal or supervisor if necessary.

Tips and Hints

Angry or upset customers want two things: to express their feelings, and then have their problem solved.

Conflict isn’t necessary to resolve a problem or situation. It shouldn’t be about control – work together to solve the problem.

Pause before responding to allow the customer to think for a moment and for you to gather your thoughts and composure before responding.

Remember not to take it personally. Accept the customer’s feelings.

Practice stress relief techniques after difficult interactions.

If you have news, topics, or celebrations you wish to have shared in this newsletter, please send an email to Mandy Epley, Executive Director of Human Resources and Customer Service at mandy.epley@comalisd.org.

Email: mandy.epley@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