A Message from Superintendent, Dr. Dana Monogue
Dear Staff,
We are always thinking of ways to communicate effectively and efficiently with you. Our Communications Department has done an excellent job leveraging social media, email blasts, and video messages this year.
We are adding a monthly staff newsletter to our communication strategies as another way to provide timely and vital information to you.
As a reminder, February 14 and February 15 will be days off for students and staff. All employees will be paid for these days to acknowledge the extra time and effort you have put in over the past several weeks. Watch my video message here.
Please let us know what you think, as your feedback is important to us!
Problem solving as a
TEAM
2021-22 MCPASD Compensation Committee holds first two meetings
Our 2021-22 teacher compensation committee has held two meetings to discuss updating the district-wide compensation model for teachers. There will be five meetings in total, with the next one being on January 27, 2022.
The committee has 12 employees who hold various positions in our district, work in different buildings, and have different years of experience. Some compensation committee members from previous years were invited back to help provide insight to our newer members.
Board members Bob Green and Sheila Dahmen Hibner will attend meetings to observe and gather feedback for our Board of Education. Read more...
Employee Roundtable feedback to help make MCPASD a better place to work
Aside from listening sessions, our district has held the first two monthly roundtable meetings with our teacher, PSSP, and Para groups. The purpose of the roundtables is to provide district administration with open and honest feedback about a variety of topics that have an immediate impact on your work. Roundtable members interact with one another and district administrators monthly and provide perspectives, data, opinions, guidance, and direction in a collective effort to make the Middleton-Cross Plains School District an incredible place within which to work.
Some of the topics discussed have been training for new and current employees, changes to the district and school communication, and career advancement, to name a few. Read More...
Results are in!
How MCPASD staff voted for the 2022-23 proposed calendar
District leadership has sorted through all the feedback from our 2022-23 proposed calendar feedback survey. In total, 613 employees participated in the survey.
Here is a breakdown of the professional development day preferences.
40% voted for option 1 | One professional development a month
17% voted for option 2 | Two professional development days in February / No PD day in September
43% voted for option 3 | Two professional development Days in February / No PD day in December
Another question we asked was preference on our staff start date
85% supported a later start date | August 29th
15% did not support a later start date | August 23rd
Thank you to staff for providing your feedback including giving your opinion on Asynchronous Learning. Our team will be bringing this information to our Board of Education at their regular meeting on January 24. Approval is scheduled for the February 14, 2022 Board of Education meeting.
A NOTE FROM BARB A NOTE FROM BARB
Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and understanding with employee services as we have navigated our systems and processes with recent staffing changes. To ring into the new year, please join me in welcoming two new members to our Employee Services team:
Read more
Beginning January 10th, Lee Wilson will be an Administrative Assistant to the Business and Employee Services team (replacing Jane Hinrichs). Lee is a long time employee of the district as a paraeducator. We are thrilled to have her building perspective as she transitions into this district level role.
Beginning January 17th, Kathi Zills will be a personnel specialist for the Employee Services department (replacing Lacy Davis). Kathi has had previous experience in human resources (HR) and is returning to HR after working as a realtor for a number of years.
In February, we will unveil the restructuring of the Employee Services team with high expectations to improve our service to the staff of MCPASD.
REALiving Monthly Newsletter and Friday Facts
January EAP Newsletter: Put Me In, Coach
Friday Fact: Professional Coaching
Friday Fact: Wellness Coaching
Friday Fact: Financial Coaching
Friday Fact: BESTology Coaching Certification
Click here for past REALiving articles
Reminder
of REALiving Benefits for all of our employees
Four free counseling sessions or professional coaching sessions
A 30-minute financial consultation with a trained financial counselor
A 30-minute legal consultation with an attorney
Employee Services
Take a look at upcoming events as well as new Living Healthy Rewards activities in the January Wellness Care Package. Read
Once a quarter, get together with friends from your building. Nineteen09 will have specials for staff members. And, if an assigned date doesn't work for you, feel free to attend any Tuesday! See the schedule linked here.
We will be taking a short pause from live practices for the month of January. Please keep an eye on your email for updates. In the meantime, we LOVE this free opportunity to build a yoga practice with Yoga with Adriene.
To sign up for the 30 day practice, click here.
If you choose to share food, please remember to bring along a healthy option for those with food sensitivities, allergies, or those who are trying to stay on a healthy track. This means you’re welcome to share what you’d like, but please grab a bag of apples, oranges, carrots or another simple option to make sure everyone is supported and included.
Health Risk Assessment (HRA) process.
This year’s HRA will include a virtual visit with a Dean Health Transformation Specialist OR you can submit a PCP exception form, similar to what we have allowed in the past. More details and instructions to come but we wanted to put this on your radar in case you want to schedule an appointment with your primary care physician. The exception form will need to be submitted before the HRA deadline July 31, 2022. It is highly encouraged that you make a copy of the form and fax or email it in yourself to ensure it reaches the proper channels in time to receive the incentive. As in past years, if you have a spouse on your insurance plan, they will be required to participate.
Reviewing your retirment saving
Participants can choose from several investment providers by visiting the OMNI participant website. OMNI, in coordination with your selected investment provider, will manage the paperwork and signature requirements to establish your 403(b) payroll election. It is important to note that some investment providers may reach out directly to staff to market their investment services. MCPASD does not endorse any particular provider, rather we provide a number of options to consider and we encourage you to learn about their funds/annuities before you make your investment choice.
You can also hear more about 403(b) accounts on our 403(b) Retirement Options: Listen and Learn Podcast
Who is eligible?
How do I enroll?
All MCPASD staff, regardless of WRS eligibility.
MCPASD uses a third-party host, OMNI, as their 403(b) administrator. Use this link to Start or Change Contributions.
What is a 403(b) plan?
Also called a tax-sheltered annuity (TSA), a 403(b) plan is offered by public school districts. It allows employees to defer some of their salary into individual retirement accounts. The deferred salary is generally not subject to federal or state income tax until it's distributed. DIDYOUKNOW?
How to order over-the-counter COVID-19 tests
Last week, SSM Dean announced members are eligible for coverage of up to 8 FDA-approved overthe-counter COVID-19 antigen tests per member per month. Tests can be obtained through a network pharmacy with no upfront cost when using your member ID. Alternatively, members may purchase tests directly and request reimbursement from Navitus, Dean Health Plan's pharmacy benefit manager
More information is available here.
If you are not an SSM Dean member, you can order FREE Covid home tests through USPS here.
Limit of one order per residential address
One order includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests
Orders will ship free starting in late January
KeyCard
What if I losemykey card?
Please email the Employee Services help desk immediately
What do the codes on the back of your ID refer to?
LD stands for lock down The LD code will put the building you are in into a lockdown/Active Threat mode from any Cisco phone in the building.
AC stands for All Call. It will let you make a building-wide announcement from any phone in the building.
*Please speak to your building administrator if you are unsure as to how to use these codes. *
2022 Calendar Paycheck Reminder
If you have any have any questions or concerns, please let
at payrollmailbox@mcpasd.k12.wi.us.
Celebrations
Join us in celebrating the big and the little wins
Thank You
Transportaton staff!
Thank you for all that you have done to adapt to our bussing shortage and crunching the numbers for the new routes! Your continued flexibility and hard work has not gone unnoticed. Despite the challenges, it is thanks to your team that our students are able to have a reliable and safe ride to and from school. Also be sure to help us celebrate Wisconsin Bus Driver Appreciation Week which was proclaimed by Governor Tony Evers earlier this week!
Staff Spotlight
We have amazing staff here at MCP, many of which work behind the scenes. To help showcase the work that we are doing we are bringing back the Staff Spotlight articles. Please email PR Specialist Becca Bailey if you would like to nominate a fellow coworker. The article will be shared on our website and staff newsletter Check out our first article on Sherri Cyra!
Congrats Coach Richardson!
We are honored to announce that MHS Coach Alexa Richardson has been selected as the 2020-21 Wisconsin Girls Cross Country Coach of the year by the National Federation of State High School Associations!
Congratulations on award well earned!