February is the last month for printing pay statements for direct deposits. Employees should know their logins and passwords and check Employee Access each month. For assistance with logins please call the Help Desk 801-567-8737. Employees should watch their pay, taxes, deductions, and benefits. If there are any problems with pay, employees should notify the Payroll Department immediately. It is not always possible to fix some errors if they go unreported over a period of time.
Information available on Employee Access:
- Leave days balances
- W2s, print an additional copy
- Check estimator allows employees to know what the pay will look like if changes are made to a deduction or exemptions
- Addresses: It is the employees’ responsibility to keep addresses current. Address changes should be submitted to the Human Resources Department.
- Taxes: The tax tables changed in April 2009 and again this year in January. It is an employee’s responsibility to change exemptions or add extra federal or state taxes by submitting a W4.
- Employees claiming exempt are required to file a new W4 each year to maintain exempt status. Any employee who does not file a new W4 will be changed in March to Single 0 as required by the IRS. ★
Jordan Ridge Elementary recently hosted an Authors’ Fair funded by a grant from Troy and Jill Teeples and the Norton Family Foundation, and organized by literacy facilitator Pam Onederra. The day-long event allowed students to participate and learn from guest authors. The authors in attendance included: Virginia Smith, Jessica Day George, Clint Johnson, M’Lin Rowley, Krystn Crowe, and Ann E. Cannon. ★
Kathleen Dansie, language arts teacher at Elk Ridge Middle, was recently recognized by KSL Radio as part of its weekly Teacher Feature. She was nominated by a student in her class. As part of the recognition, Dansie won an overnight stay at the Anniversary Inn, dinner at La Caille Restaurant, season tickets to Hale Center Theatre, and a plaque from Zions Bank. ★
Terri Summers, principal at Southland Elementary, has been named Administrator of the Year by the Utah Association of Educational Office Professionals. The association selects an Administrator of the Year based upon experience in the educational field, academic background, membership and leadership responsibility in professional associations, personal contributions and achievements in education, local, state, and national awards received relative to work in education, letters of recommendation, and support of educational office professionals. ★
The process for establishing budget priorities for the 2010-11 school year continues to move forward. The Board of Education, at its January 12 meeting, directed me to develop a budget proposal based on the following list of school board priorities. Those priorities are:
- Reduce the District Office staff (this includes the administrative office, auxiliary services, and transportation).
- Recommend program and service cuts or modifications (this includes shifting expenditures, where possible, to funds other than the General Fund).
- Reduce the number of non-teaching personnel.
- Explore the possibility of employee furloughs.
- Consider non-teacher pay cuts.
- Consider the need to increase class size.
- Consider a tax increase.
- Consider teacher pay cuts.
What this means is, recommendations regarding the budget should first utilize priority No. 1, then priority two, and so on until there is a recommendation for a balanced budget. The lowest priority for the Board to balance the budget is to cut teacher pay.
Two weeks ago, the Board posted an online survey on the District Web site asking patrons and employees to share their priorities for budget cuts. The Board will review the results of the survey and determine how they might be folded into the overall District budget strategy.
One of the challenges facing the Board is to build a budget without knowing whether the Legislature will require further budget cuts this year, and, what will be the size of the deficit for next year. We anticipate knowing those numbers around the third week in February
In the meantime, we are building multiple scenarios including a $30 million deficit solution, $35 million deficit solution, and a $40 million deficit solution. Each proposal will utilize various elements inasmuch as no one area has sufficient resources to balance the budget on its own. It will require a combination of categories to balance the budget. It is anticipated the budget will emerge in several parts. The first would be a resolution as to how much money needs to come from the various priorities for each of the budget scenarios under consideration ($30, $35, $40 million). Once that is determined, specific job and program cuts can be reviewed and tentatively finalized prior to the budget adoption in June. The sooner these anticipated cuts can be announced, the better in order for individuals affected by the cuts to explore next steps and options.
The overarching activity this spring is to match the District expenditures to the available resources received from State and Federal sources, coupled with revenue from local property taxes. We can’t live off of fund balances (savings) another year — there aren’t any. We need to adjust our expenses accordingly. This is a challenge we will meet. When we do, the District will be on a solid financial foundation to move forward as the economy and District continue to grow.
Suzanne Denney is surprised with her Project 100 recognition.
The Jordan Credit Union (JCU) has begun Project 100, which recognizes a teacher once a week. Principals submit names of teachers and the JCU selects a name from those submitted each week. The selected teacher receives a check from JCU for $100 and a Project 100 Teacher of the Week certificate.
Last week JCU visited Oquirrh Hills Middle to recognize eighth- and ninth-grade Spanish teacher Suzanne Denney. “Suzanne is the embodiment of a teacher,” said Principal Joanne Mattes. “[She is the] equivalent to the very best I have known.” ★
Utah State University offers master’s degrees in elementary and secondary education along with a variety of teaching endorsements and certificates. Credits earned in endorsements can also be used toward a master’s degree. Classes are scheduled to accommodate working teachers and offered at the USU Salt Lake Education Center, 2500 S. State. Interested teachers are invited to attend an information session Feb. 10, 4 p.m., at the District Office, room 129A. ★
This past year Majestic Elementary first-grade teacher Mikol Alder has been working on finding funds to enhance learning opportunities in her classroom. Alder has been working with donorschoose.org, a Web site that allows ordinary people to donate funds to help classrooms in need. She has received funds to buy a calendar rug, new projection screen and a set of gel boards. The funding she has received has helped enhance Alder’s teaching of math, reading and social studies. ★
School counselors provide information, strategies, and opportunities for students to safely navigate the many pathways to a successful future. Counselors meet with students individually or in small groups to teach and practice essential social skills, coping strategies, and emotional management techniques in early school years to prevent future at-risk behaviors and failures.
Elementary school counselors help parents, teachers and administrators meet the needs of students, and provide early intervention and support for struggling students.
Secondary counselors support student adjustment and transition to more rigorous academic demands, post secondary planning and the intense social and emotional changes these years bring. Students face many challenges in the world of today, and guidance curriculum taught by school counselors help youth make sense of the many conflicts for their time and attention.
Take a moment to express appreciation to your school counselor. ★
The Jan. 26 Board Meeting Summary is now available and can be read at http://www.jordandistrict.org/board/summary/0910/012610.html. ★