PGCPS EMPLOYEE E-NEWS

IN THIS ISSUE:

• Board of Education Approves FY11 Budget 

• Payroll Calendar

• 11-Month Payroll Deduction Error

• Open Enrollment Benefits Information

• Budget Reduction Information 
  • Tuition Reimbursement
    PositionReclassification
  • Furloughs
  • FAQs

• School System Goals

• FIRST Program Information

• HR Customer Service Contact 

Important Dates...

Summer Furlough Dates:

Friday, July 9, 2010

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

Friday, July 30, 2010

Friday, August 6, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010

Visit our new Employees' Page at http://employees.pgcps.org 

  Message from the Superintendent

Welcome to the first edition of the Prince George’s County Public Schools Employee E-Newsletter.  This electronic news source will be sent to all PGCPS employees each payday with information that is important to you as a PGCPS employee.

In this first issue, you will find information about the upcoming school year as it pertains to budget and furlough issues, benefits, payroll and the goals for the school system.  It is our intention to use this E-Newsletter to send you the most current information that you need and want to know as an employee of the school system.  I  hope this publication becomes a viable resource for you to stay connected and updated with the information you need

I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the work you do for the students of PGCPS.  I recognize that this has been a difficult year, and that more challenges are ahead.  Despite that, you have continued to work hard and make every effort on behalf of our students.  I appreciate that effort. Enjoy your summer.

Thanks for all you do,

William R. Hite, Jr., Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

***Supervisors are asked to print out each Employee E-Newsletter and place it in a highly visible area for all employees who may not have access to email or a computer.

Board of Education Approves FY2011 Budget

The Prince George’s County Board of Education approved the FY2011 Operating Budget at the last Board meeting of the school year on June 28, 2010.  The approved budget includes:

• Less furlough days for PGCPS employees.  Twelve-month employees will have nine furlough days and 10- and 11-month employees will have four furlough days.  A calendar of furlough days can be found on the school system’s website http://www1.pgcps.org/WorkArea/showcontent.aspx?id=126658.  PGCPS will begin a four-day work week that will begin July 6 through August 13, with all schools and office buildings being closed on Fridays throughout the summer.
  
• Some of the positions originally reclassified to 11 and 10 month have been restored.  Impacted employees will receive a separate communication.

Summer Payroll Calendar

The posted partial pay calendar for the summer pay periods covers June 19-August 27, 2010.  It includes additional information that was not finalized when the original pay calendar was distributed.  No pay dates have changed, but furlough days for 12-month employees have been noted.

11 Month Employees—Payroll Deduction Error

Due to an error in payroll, all 11-month employees who are participants in the Extended Option Pay Plan will see a deduction error on their last paycheck for the school year.  The paycheck for June 25, 2010 did not take the last extended pay option plan deduction, resulting in the June 25^th paycheck being larger than normal. 

Because of this error, the two summer extended option pay plan paychecks to be available on July 8^th and July 23^rd will be smaller.

An example of the results of this error is as follows:

Before the June 25th error...
A $2,000 gross pay check with a $167 deduction for 24 pays would have yielded $4,000 for the year in total.  The two July checks would have been $2,000 in gross pay.

Because of the June 25th error...
A $2,000 gross pay check with a $167 deduction for 23 pays would have yielded $3,833 for the year in total.  The two July checks will be $1,917 in gross pay.

The Office of Payroll Services apologizes for the error.  All questions can be directed via email to Dr. Dennis Hirsch at dennis.hirsch@pgcps.org.

Open Enrollment Benefits Information

Open enrollment for PGCPS employees will begin on August 18 and go through September 10, 2010

Each year, Prince George’s County Public Schools designates an Open Enrollment period when employees have an opportunity to make changes to their benefit choices for the next plan year (October 1 through September 30).

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (Choice+ Triple-Option medical), Caremark (prescription) “OptumHealth Vision” (vision), and Aetna (dental) will continue to provide benefits.

• Effective July 1, 2010, adult dependent children up to age 26, regardless of their student status, will be eligible for coverage. As a reminder, a Special Enrollment Period was held through June 30, 2010, for employees and retirees to enroll their adult dependent children between the ages of 19 and 26 (please see the June 3 email from Dr. Hite to all employees).  Coverage will become effective July 1, 2010.  Any resulting increase in premiums will be communicated to employees prior to Open Enrollment.
• Benefit materials along with a Bulletin that details the enrollment process and procedures will be distributed to schools and work locations.
• To obtain detailed information visit our website at www1.pgcps.org/benefits or call the Benefits Administration Office at 301-952-6230

Note: For employees who participate in the Extended Pay Option, and have had their positions reclassified as a result of budget reductions, the escrow checks will now be divided by four instead of two.  Thus, these employees will still receive the money that is held in escrow for them, but will see less in each check.  For all other employees enrolled in the Extended Pay Option, the pay will be divided into five checks instead of four this year, based on the calendar and paydates. 

Budget Reduction Recap

Reduction-in-Force/Layoff

• All communications to affected employees have been sent, with the exception of a limited number of work location assignments.  Employees whose positions were eliminated or who lost positions because of bumping or seniority rights remain on applicable recall lists in accordance with that unit’s recall provisions in the Negotiated Agreement.

Reclassifications

• If your position was reclassified from 12- or 11-months to 11- or 10-months, Human Resources has already sent you a letter.  These were sent via certified mail.  Employees whose positions were reclassified as a result of the Budget Reductions will not be subject to the furloughs.
• Several position reclassifications were reversed or modified by the Board of Education in its final budget approval.  These letters have either been sent out or will be finalized this week.

Furloughs

• The original 10/5 day furlough plan was modified by the Board of Education in its final budget approval.  Twelve-month employees will be subject to a 9-day furlough and 11- and 10-month employees are subject to a 4-day furlough.
• All schools and offices are CLOSED on furlough days; therefore, employees who work 10- and 11-month schedules should work with their supervisors to ensure no duty days are scheduled on furlough days.  Refer to the Furlough Calendar on the PGCPS Web Page.

Tuition Reimbursement

• There are no funds available for tuition reimbursement for FY2011.

Stipends/Differentials

• There are limited funds for stipends/differentials for FY2011.   We have communicated with each union as to the stipends/differentials funded for FY2011.

COLA and Step/Merit Increases

• There are no funds available for Cost-of-Living or Step/Merit Increases for FY2011.

Superintendent Outlines Five School System Goals at Principal Leadership Conference

Principals and assistant principals gathered at Northwestern High School June 28-30 for their annual training and leadership conference where instructional strategies, interventions and system initiatives were discussed.

This year Dr. Hite introduced the school system’s five consolidated goals beginning in Fiscal Year 2011 including:

• High Student Achievement
• Highly-Effective Teaching
• Safe & Supportive Schools
• Efficient and Effective Operations
• Strong Community Partnerships
  

High Student Achievement

PGCPS is committed to providing an education that prepares all students to be college and career-ready.  This commitment demands that every child receives instruction that is rigorous, engaging, and relevant to the future.

Each of the district’s five goals supports this overarching goal – high student achievement.  Our focus is on equipping out students with the requisite knowledge, skills, and resources to compete on the global playing field of high education and the world of work.  Every school, department, office, unit, and division plays a role in our number one goal – high student achievement.

Highly-Effective Teaching

PGCPS defines highly-effective teaching by the demonstration of three outcomes:

1. Students who are engaged and excited about learning
2. Students who are able to learn and can subsequently communicate what they have learned with peers, parents, and others
3. High performance results on standardized tests and other academic measures

Highly-effective teachers interact with every student in the classroom, provide positive feedback, and build positive relationships with each student.  Students of highly-effective teachers understand what is expected of them, are highly-engaged during class, are comfortable with asking questions, and feel that their teacher cares about them and their learning.  Highly-effective teaching will provide the optimal opportunity for PGCPS to reach its mission of preparing all students to graduate collage or workforce ready.

Safe & Supportive Schools

PGCPS strives each day to create a safe school environment, in which students and teachers are able to focus on instruction – with no distractions.  Our responsibility as a school system is to work with parents, the community and other partners to develop students who value hard work, demonstrate respect for others, and value learning. 

Additionally, PGCPS strives to foster supportive school environments by providing the highest level of customer service in schools and offices.  It is our strong desire that, as customers, our students, parents, and families view our schools as supportive environments where they feel welcomed and supported when they enter our buildings, call our offices, use our facilities, or simply ask for help.

Efficient and Effective Operations

PGCPS will continue to streamline and become efficient in all areas of non-instructional operations such as finances, purchasing, transportation, food services, capital improvements, and internal customer support.

Strong Community Partnerships

PGCPS strives to improve its partnerships with parents, businesses, government, and community leaders willing to assist us in meeting our student achievement goals.  As well, we wish to strengthen our existing public and private partnerships as we aggressively seek opportunities to establish new partnerships.

We must work together to ensure that our students are successful, and our partners are critical in reaching that goal.

Overall, PGCPS must accelerate our academic progress; graduate every student college- and career-ready; and have PGCPS recognized as a leader of student achievement within our state and nation.

We will realize this through rigorous coursework, highly-effective and qualified teachers, competent leadership, safe, clean, orderly schools, and quality program options.  With these beliefs integrated in all facets of our daily work, we will close the gaps in achievement and accelerate the learning of all students.

FIRST Program Information

The FIRST (Financial Incentive Rewards for Supervisors & Teachers) program provides financial rewards for teachers and administrators who work in hard-to-staff schools and subject areas, assist students in meeting achievement standards in tested areas, participate in professional development, and undergo a rigorous evaluation system.
 
Participating FIRST schools for the 2010-2011 school year include:
 

Are you currently assigned or transferring to a FIRST School and interested in participating in the FIRST Program?   If yes, please go to ERO and register for FIRST Summer Professional Development sessions.  For additional information please call 301-952-6240.

Human Resources Customer Service Contacts

The Division of Human Resources is striving to provide excellent customer service.  If you have a question or concern, need help contacting someone in the Division of Human Resources, or have not received excellent customer service from an HR staff member, please contact hr.customerservice@pgcps.org.