The Source
Comal ISD Human Resources and Customer Service Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2018: In This Issue:
- Refer a Friend
- Paycheck and Benefit Information
- AETNA Teladoc
- Sick Leave Bank - Open Enrollment
- Human Resources Day
- Comal Education Foundation
- Staff ID Badges
- Email Security
- Comal Cares
- The HR Team
Refer A Friend
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.
REMINDER - Paycheck and Benefit Information
August and September Paycheck & Benefit Information
The new Benefit Plan year began on August 1, 2018. Health Insurance premium changes were reflected in your August paycheck.
Effective August 1, 2018 Aetna is the Medical Insurance Provider for Comal ISD.
Group Number 0285796 / Aetna Customer Service: 1-800-317-9020
The Summaries of Benefits and Coverage are posted on the Comal ISD website under Human Resources/Benefits. The purpose of these summaries is to provide members with standard information for your choice in medical plans. A paper copy is available at no cost upon request. You may view the summaries at the following link:
DIDN’T RECEIVE YOUR AETNA ID CARD?
ID Cards were mailed on July 16, 2018 and will arrive in an unmarked, plain envelope. If you have not received your ID card, please take the following steps:
- Click on the link below. You will need to provide your social security number and create a user account. https://www.aetna.com/AccountManagerV3/register/selfService/registerMember
- Once you are logged in, click on “ID CARDS” in the top menu and you can view and/or print your card.
Please download the free Aetna Navigator App for your phone and you will have a digital ID card on your phone with you at all times. Deductible, out of pocket maximums and prescription information is currently being transferred from United Health Care to Aetna. Due to the size of the file, there has been a slight delay and those amounts are not viewable on the AETNA website. They will be available within the next few business days.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Benefits Office in Human Resources.
Remember: Health Insurance deductibles run with the calendar year and will not be re-set until January 1, 2019. Any medical expenses incurred between August and December will continue to be applied to the 2018 calendar year deductible.
Board Approved Pay Raises
The Comal ISD Board of Trustees generously voted in May to provide all eligible employees with a 1.5% salary increase for the 2018-2019 school year. In order to qualify for a salary increase, an employee must have been employed in their position for 90 workdays in the 2017-18 school year. Please see below for when this change will be reflected in paychecks:
- July Paycheck - Eligible employees working 227 - 237 days received this increase beginning with their July paycheck.
- August Paycheck - Eligible employees working 207 – 226 days received this increase beginning with their August paycheck.
- September Paycheck - Eligible employees working 175 – 206 days will receive this increase beginning with their September paycheck.
IMPORTANT: All employees should log into the Employee Portal after the upcoming August and September pay dates to review your pay and benefit information. Check your deductions carefully and report any errors as soon as possible.
If you find a discrepancy, please contact hr@comalisd.org immediately, so that the correction can be made.
Teladoc -Talk to a doctor anytime
Teladoc gives you 24/7/365 access to U.S. board-certified doctors through the convenience of phone, video or mobile app visits. It's an affordable alternative to costly urgent care
and ER visits when you need care now.
Teladoc is just a click or call away!
- Teladoc.com/Aetna
- 1-855-TELADOC (835-2362)
Sick Leave Bank - Open Enrollment
Open Enrollment for the Comal ISD Sick Leave Bank begins on October 1, 2018 and runs through November 2, 2018.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please complete the Sick Leave Bank membership application form on the Comal ISD website under Human Resources/Benefits. All employees are encouraged to read the Sick Leave Bank Policy before enrolling.
Sick Leave Bank information and forms can be found at the following link: http://www.comalisd.org/pages/Comal_ISD/About_Us/Departments/HumanResources/Benefits/Sick_Leave_Bank
The Membership Application Form must be returned to Glenna Miranda, Employee Benefits Coordinator, no later than Friday, November 2, 2018.
Please note the following items before completing the application for membership:
- If you are currently a member of the sick leave bank, it is NOT necessary to complete another membership application.
- To be eligible for membership, an employee MUST BE employed with the District at least one year BY November 2, 2018.
- Must contribute two days of earned local sick leave to the sick leave bank. (State personal leave may not be contributed).
- Employee must have five full days of EARNED state personal and/or local sick leave remaining in his or her account after contributing the two days of local sick leave required for membership.
- A member of the sick leave bank must have a catastrophic mental or physical illness or injury to withdraw leave from the bank. The illness/injury must be of a serious nature and not a passing disorder or temporary ailment. It must be chronic or debilitating. Examples of illnesses include, but are not limited to: cancer, heart disease, or stroke. For the purpose of withdrawals from the sick leave bank, normal pregnancies and routine surgeries with no serious complications are not considered catastrophic. Determination of catastrophic is based upon the physician’s statement and not based on the financial impact that the loss of days may have on the member.
- An employee requesting to withdraw days from the bank may have his or her sick/personal leave usage audited.
- Leave withdrawn from the bank may only be used for the employee’s personal illness or injury.
- A member of the sick leave bank may withdraw a maximum of 30 days of leave per school year (September 1st through August 31st). The lifetime withdrawal limit is 120 days.
- The allocation of the approved sick leave days will be given to the employee when they return back from leave.
If you have any additional questions or would like more information, please contact Glenna Miranda, Comal ISD Employee Benefits Coordinator, at (830) 221-2040 or glenna.miranda@comalisd.org.
Texas Education Human Resources Day is right around the corner
Governor Greg Abbott has proclaimed October 10, 2018, as Texas Education Human Resources Day, a day set aside to recognize and honor the important contributions made by school staff who work in human resources.
Human resources staff work hard each day to make sure our schools are staffed with high quality employees and that those employees have a good work environment.
Please help us in thanking our outstanding HR Team at Comal ISD!
COMAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Enrich. Expand. Excel.
The Comal Education Foundation exists to Enrich learning and Expand educational opportunities so all Comal Independent School District students can Excel. The Foundation goes beyond the normal operating budget to enhance learning opportunities for all students in Comal ISD. The funds distributed into the school district are used to promote student achievement, motivate students to learn, and provide the platform for all students to reach their maximum potential.
The CEF is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. As a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt corporation, the Foundation works to increase private support for the educational initiatives of Comal ISD.
Founded in 2001, the Foundation has awarded more than $800,000 to Comal ISD in the form of teacher excellence grants, district-wide initiatives and other programming.
CEF programs include:
- Grants to school campuses and teachers for classroom programming;
- District-wide grants to support and expand the school district's goals and curriculum;
- Awards to Teaches of the Year;
- Management of specific endowments for scholarships and grants;
- Recognition of the top graduating seniors and their most influential teachers from the district’s high schools.
All of these activities are made possible through generous donations from corporate partners, parents, CISD employees, private grants and community organizations.
For more information on the Comal Education Foundation, please contact Margaret Tenorio, Executive Director, at 830-214-5010.
If you know of corporate sponsors, parents, or community organizations that would be interested in giving or you would like to learn more about employee giving, go to:
http://www.comalisd.org/pages/Comal_ISD/Comal_Education_Foundation/Donation_page
Reminder - Staff ID Badges
Beginning with the 2018-2019 School Year, with an effective date of July 2, 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.
REMINDER - Email Security
The back to school time is a prime time for scammers to attempt to steal account usernames and passwords by sending out phishing emails that look like requests from the Technology HelpDesk. These requests may ask you to reset, verify or even ask you to do something to prevent your account from being deleted. As an example: Many of you have received an email over the last several weeks requesting you to click a link to keep your account from being De-activated. This was a scam email and was not from the district.
The Comal ISD Technology Department and the Comal ISD HelpDesk will never send you an email asking you for your username and password, or asking you to click a link and enter your username and password.
If you have received an email like this and have entered your username and password or have any concerns, please contact the Comal ISD HelpDesk either by phone at 830.221.2027, by email at help.desk@comalisd.org, or by placing a work order. If you ever receive an email that you feel is suspicious, please forward it to help.desk@comalisd.org and they will review it for you.
Comal Cares: Share your 51% Today!
“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.
The HR Team Is Here to Assist You
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
Rebekah Renteria
Human Resources Specialist
Phone: 830-221-2102
Email: rebekah.thudium@comalisd.org
Certifications / Orientation / Employee Records Requests
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
Staff ID Badges / Fingerprinting / 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.
Comal ISD Department of Human Resources and Customer Service
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
