What is this . . . "snow day?"

That's Bici North PE teacher Jeff Cable. We're pretty sure he's colleagues in the Midwest and on
the East Coast were not out last week checking basketball nets and rims in shorts. This is
just one of many images that captures what's been happening around the District. To see some
more — including those from the Future Cities Competition, Spelling Bee, Poetry Contest,
North's Career Day and the seventh and eighth grade basketball tournament and championships —
just click here.

Budget meeting follow up

The chart above shows the current contribution rate for Districts to their employees insurance costs. As the chart indicates, GESD's contribution remains near the top for surrounding school districts.

We wish to thank you once again for taking time to attend our District budget meetings. We hope the information we provided to you was beneficial, and helped brought some clarity to you in regard to the budget process.

As a follow-up to our meetings, and to keep the process transparent, we want to make sure you stay informed. Here are some ways to do that:

• Follow the progress of the Interest Based Budget Development team (IBBD) by regularly checking its website for updates. This site includes a list of those who serve on the IBBD, and any questions or suggestions can be addressed to members directly.
• You’ll also want to keep up with the District’s Trust Board. If you cannot make the meetings, which are open to the public, you can follow the board’s progress on its web site.

Here's a way to help reduce health insurance costs

As you know, a rise in insurance cost is one of the biggest challenges the District faces at this time. We can all pitch in to help.

Sometimes reducing medical costs is simply a matter of choices. The next time you need treatment, and can’t get in to see your doctor, consider going to urgent care instead of the emergency room. As the graphic above shows, urgent care is a least costly option. You can find a list of local urgent care facilities on the UnitedHealthcare web site.

Time to report absences expanded

Employees can now enter their absences into SubFinder up to 1.5 hours prior to their scheduled start time. The change will go into effect March 1.

If you report the absence less than the 1.5 hours before your start, you must contact your campus administration or designee.  The designee must be an exempt, not hourly staff member.

For example:

A teacher becomes ill, and will not report for work. School starts at 7:45 a.m., and their scheduled start time is 7:15 a.m. The teacher may enter the absence into SubFinder up until 5:45 a.m. If the teacher reports the absence at 5:46 a.m. or later, they will not be able to enter the absence into SubFinder. The teacher must then contact the administrator (or designee) directly to report the absence AND call the Sub Technician to enter the absence into SubFinder.

Remember: start times will vary, depending on employees’ position and work location.

Volunteer transfer process will start March 14

Teachers wishing to voluntarily transfer can begin to do so on March 14. The voluntary transfer window will remain open until April 11th, and mandatory interviews will take place March 15-April 18.

More information, including a link to District openings, will be sent out at a later date.

Yes, GESD does have a phone book

We're often asked where to find a GESD phone directory. Here's our answer: in Outlook.

The email system allows you to find everyone's phone number. Here's how it works: click on the "To" button (see top photo left). When you hold the "To" button down, a director will appear. Type the name of the person you wish to call, and the window will provide you with that person's name, job title, email address and location (see photo below).

On site mammography starts March 3

The schedule for the Mobile On-Site Mammography is out, and you can see it here. MOM will stop at 10 District sites between March 3 and 7. An appointment is required, and can be made by calling 480-967-3767.

The day of your appointment you will need to bring your insurance card, the name your primary physician, and the address of the location where you had prior mammography. Those under 30 must provide a doctor’s referral. This service is also open to employees spouses. MOM accepts United HealthCare, BlueCross BlueShield, CIGNA, AETNA and Health Net. The cost for a mammography for uninsured individuals is $167.

Retiring or resigning? Know the criteria for sick leave buy-back

For anyone considering resignation or retirement, please be aware of the criteria to sick leave buy back. From the GESD Employee Handbook:

Upon resignation, retirement, or death, each classification of employee (or his/her estate) will be reimbursed for accumulated sick leave based on the first range of the employee’s classified salary grade or $90 per day, whichever is less. There is a limit to the number of days which will be reimbursed (see page 43 of the GESD Employee Handbook) and employees must have at least ten (10) consecutive years of employment in the district to be eligible for this enumeration. A contract year equals a year of employment for purposes of this policy.

Example: The employee is required to complete ten (10) or more school years first to last day to qualify or must resign/retire on the anniversary date to receive his/her ten (10) year sick leave buyback. A request for sick leave buy back must be presented in writing to the Human Resources Department by March 20 of the year in which the resignation is to occur. Anyone submitting a request after March 20 will be paid the following year. When extenuating circumstances preclude such notification by the above-noted time line, consideration will be given to applicant depending on the availability of funds. If funds are unavailable, applicant will be paid the following year.