Critical Issues in HR
August 28, 2015
Presented by
Melissa Aguero Ramirez
HR Director
Region One ESC
Welcome, Introductions & Announcements
• Donna ISD – Javier Villanueva
• Moved! Harlingen CISD – Debbie Scoggins
Retirements?
Educator Preparation Programs
• Project Pace
ETS News
• Fee Increase effective
9/1/15
• Test fee = $131 (was $120)
• Test cancellation fee = $65
(was $60)
• Core Subject retest fee = $65
(was $60)
ETS News
• Core Subjects EC-6 (291) and 4-8 (211) tests
• Offered on a continuous basis
• Take the overall 291 or 211 test on first attempt but in future attempts will be
allowed to retake only the individual subject test(s) that they do not pass
• Still have the option of retaking the overall test (211 or 291) again
• 45 days to retest.
• Decrease of the minimum passing standards (core and retakes)
• Effective on September 1, 2015 for 1 year
• Test takers who did not pass one or more individual subject tests (801-809) will need to
re-take and pass the individual subject test(s) at the new passing standard(s)
NCLB Timeline 2015-2016
• Snapshot Date - September 16, 2015
• Campus Reporting of Highly Qualified Teacher Compliance Report
(2015-2016 Highly Qualified Teacher Data) - Due Date November 18, 2015
• LEA Public Reporting of Progress in Meeting Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements
(2015-2016 Highly Qualified Teacher Data) - Due Date December 16, 2015
• Principal’s Attestation of Highly Qualified Teacher Requirements
(2015-2016 Highly Qualified Teacher Data) - Due Date December 16, 2015
NCLB Reminders (courtesy Tim Regal TASPA 2014)
• - Elementary defined as PK-5 regardless of the configuration of the campus (can still use
a 4-8 Generalist and/or EC-6 Generalist exam to get them to be HQ for 6th grade now
includes single subject exams ie., 4-8 Math, etc.)
•
- if deemed a 6th grade teacher as HQ via HOUSE elementary can still be considered
HQ (don't have to redo but CAN)
•
- Special Ed exam EC-12 NOW makes you HQ in ELA/Rdng and Math in 6th, 7th, and
8th TOO
•
- Life skills assignment: who is teaching core content?
• Example: 10th grade class but all students on STAAR ALT and kids are on 5th grade level then teacher
must be HQ at elementary level
NCLB Reminders (courtesy Tim Regal TASPA 2014)
• Can NOT have a TA that isn't HQ! hire them as substitutes in interim to make them HQ
• If can't see all campuses within a district, contact TEA
• Data collection for ACP probationary HQ; will need to tell them how many Ts are
probationary and whether HQ or not
• HQ forms have been modified
• Report instructions have been revised last year
• If CTE teacher only has Assoc then NOT HQ no matter what
• HB5 allowing more CTE classes to be counted for HQ; need to know NOW!!!
NCLB Technical Assistance Workshops
• Technical assistance workshop – Oct 13th from 1-4 (after HR
meeting) – Workshop # TDB
• Technical assistance HQTCIP workshop - Dec 2nd from 9-12
Workshop # TDB
T-TESS Updates
T-PESS Updates
Implications of new evaluation systems
• Job description for administrator
• Scheduling of training for non-pilot LEAs
• Verify eligible to appraise
• Evaluation timeline
2015-16 Teacher Shortage Areas/Loan Forgiveness Programs
• The approved shortage areas for the 2015-2016 school year are:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Bilingual/English as a Second Language
Career and Technical Education
Computer Science
English as a Second Language
Mathematics
Science
Special Education – Elementary and Secondary Levels
• Loan Forgiveness Programs
http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Educator_Initiatives_and_Performance/Federal_Teacher_Loan_Forgiveness_Program/
Class Size Exception
• Submit a request for any classrooms in kindergarten - fourth grade that
exceed the 22 students class size limit (Texas Education Code §25.112).
• Board of trustees must approve this request within 30 days after the class size was
exceeded.
• Class size limits do not apply to physical education classes or fine arts classes
• Expires at the end of the school year if granted
• Class size limitations generally apply throughout the school year, with the
exceptions noted below:
• Any twelve-week period selected by the district with a significant percentage of
migratory children (25.112(1)), or
• The last twelve weeks of any school year for all other districts
• Considerations: unanticipated enrollment growth, lack of facilities, lack of
teachers, or financial hardships.
• May be subject to actions under TEC §39.102, Interventions and Sanctions
for Districts (TEC §25.112(f)) if repeatedly request
Notifying Parents of an Exception
• An LEA granted a class size exception shall provide written notice of
the exception to the parent (or person standing in parental relation
to) of each student affected by the exception. The notice must be in
bold or underlined print and must:
• specify the particular class for which a class size exception was granted,
• state the number of students in the class for which the exception was
granted, and
• be delivered through regular mail or other means of communication from the
campus or district, such as information sent home with students.
• The notice described above must be provided no later than the 31st day after
the first day of the school year, or the date the exception is granted, if the
exception is granted after the beginning of the school year. The district must
maintain documentation of the notices provided to parents, subject to a
request for review by the TEA (TEC §25.113).
CTE - Online Work-Based Learning Course Now Available
• Can be accessed free of charge at: http://www.TEAWBLTraining.org
• Takes approximately 10 hours to complete
• Divided into 12 sections covering laws, rules, and procedures related to work-based learning and
safety
• For additional information or assistance email CTE@tamucc.edu
2015 – 16 Minimum Salary Schedule
• For classroom teachers, full-time librarians, full-time counselors, and full-time registered nurses.
• In no instance may a school district pay less than the state base salary listed for that individual's
years of experience as determined by Section 153.1021 of the Texas Administrative Code,
Commissioner’s Rules on Creditable Years of Service.
Section 21.401 of the TEC specifies that an educator employed under a 10-month contract must
provide a minimum of 187 days of service, unless the furlough program, as stated under Section
21.4021, is implemented.
• http://tea.texas.gov/Texas_Educators/Salary_and_Service_Record/Minimum_Salary_Schedule/20
15-2016__Minimum_Salary_Schedule/
Child Nutrition Program Updates
Presented by Carmen Ocanas Lerma, Region One ESC CNP Director
Legislative Update
• Please refer to Schwartz & Eichelbaum resource
FBI National rapback feature
• all FACT Clearinghouse users required to train and biennially thereafter.
• Besides DPS training offered on secure website, also go through the online training and testing at www.cjisonline.com
• LEA Administrator has been added by DPS to FBI but Administrator needs to add rest of employees utilizing FACT
Clearinghouse
• complete this process within 90 days
• All employees to finish the training/testing within 30 days of being entered into the system
• Tests administered and certificates issued
• Notification when 2 year certification is expiring
• Individual notification will be provided as well as to Administrator
• Participation is optional
• $13 fee per employee for a lifetime subscription
• Once unsubscribed it would be another fee if the individual comes back to that district.
Affordable Care Act
District Benefits
• Increased quality of substitute teachers (all substitutes are trained via Region One ESC’s
Substitute Teacher Certification Academy which uses research based training materials from
Utah State University)
• Increased quantity of substitute teachers (substitute pool basically doubles since substitutes
from other pilot district will also be available to help substitute) NOTE: Current DISTRICT
substitute teachers can be given preference for job assignments if district so desires
• Maximize use of federal/state funds thereby freeing up local funds for other uses NOTE: Santa
Rosa ISD spent $166,844 local monies on substitute teacher salaries last year.
• Decrease hiring and administrative costs (recruiting, screening, criminal history background
checks, training, etc. are incurred by the ESC)
• Eliminate payroll costs such as unemployment insurance and workman’s comp
• Manage teacher absences with “real time” reports available to administrators to note who is
absent and if a substitute has been found
• Decreased FLSA liability due to absences / substitute calling are automated and secretaries will
no longer work on weekends/evenings trying to find substitute teachers
TRS - Surcharges
• TRS Update – August 2015
http://www.trs.texas.gov/reporting/documents/update.pdf
• Who is impacted?
• TRS retiree who retired after Sept. 1, 2005
• more than one-half time in the calendar month (see columns 3 and 5 below)
• What happens?
• Employer is required to pay surcharges to TRS
• How much is surcharge? For 2015-16 school year
• the pension surcharge is 14.0 percent of the compensation paid to that retiree in a given month
• the TRS-Care surcharge is a monthly amount due based on the retiree’s TRS-Care coverage (if any).
Please use the “view employee information” link in TRAQS to determine the amount of TRS-Care
surcharge for a particular retiree.
• Please refer any TRS retiree with questions about the amount of time the retiree is allowed to work or be
on paid leave without affecting his or her annuity to a TRS benefit counselor
• District Options
• TASB model – Retire / Rehire Addendum
TRS Surcharge chart
PEIMS 2015-2016 SUBMISSION DATES
Collection
1
2
3
4
FALL
MID
YEAR
SUMMER
EXTENDED YEAR
AS OF DATE
9/1/2014 Thru
School Year
School Year
10/30/2015
8/31/2015
2015-2016
2015-2016
DATA DUE VIA EDIT+
DATA MAY CONTAIN ERRORS
11/02/2015
1/04/2016
5/16/2016
8/01/2016
DATA MUST BE ERROR FREE It is important that districts
follow the ESC established delivery schedules so that their
data meets the TEA submission deadlines.
12/03/2015
1/21/2016
6/16/2016
8/25/2016
1/14/2016
2/04/2016
7/14/2016*
9/15/2016
REPORTING DATES
RESUBMISSION DATES As information is received at TEA, it
will be edited immediately. Districts will have a chance to
review and validate the data at this time and will have
ONE and ONLY ONE opportunity to resubmit the data.
Service Records
presented by Joseph Mezher
• State days should be made available at beginning of year; can
pro-rate if they leave early
• Modify service record if they are docked – it should only reflect
ACTUAL days worked (not including paid leave)
• 187 contract and was absent 10 days (5 state and docked for 5)
• # days worked?
• If employee is out on military leave, write every year on the
service record. They don’t know get state days but they do get
15 days of military leave annually
• Instructional aides certified as such prior to 04-05 and who are
now Teacher certified get credit for up to 2 years for salary
purposes.
Proposed FLSA Changes (Exempt vs Non-Exempt)
courtesy Schwarz & Eichelbaum
• Comment period until 9/4/15; effective in 2016
• Minimum salary for exemptions to apply
•
•
•
•
•
Currently $55 per week ($23,660 annually)
Proposed $970 per week ($50,440 annually)
Will increase annually
HCE increase from $100,000 to $122,148
Remember who this does NOT apply to (Teachers, etc.)
• Considering changes to the “primary duty” test to required salaried
employees to spend a specific % of time performing certain duties
• Implications?
FMLA updates
• Spouse definition (Same sex )
• Updated FMLA forms (TASB has updated already)
• Use them and send them on time
• Make sure get signature of receipt!
• Deadlines not “hard and fast”
• Example: 15 days to return medical certification - has employee showed that
they have been trying to communicate with dr. and kept employer informed
of problem?
FMLA lessons
• FMLA interference
•
•
•
•
Fielding occasional calls is professional courtesy
Requiring employee to actually work while out on leave
Do NOT grade from home
Do NOT require to do lesson plans before leaving
• If there are performance concerns do NOT mention absences
• If there were performance concerns prior to leaving on FMLA it’s ok
to continue addressing concerns when they return
FMLA lessons
• Show that you have worked with employee
• Example: insufficient information on medical certification form let them
clarify!
• Cant overrule dr if they say she can return with no restrictions (give
them a chance and if they can’t then send back
• Ensure job descriptions specific! (Ex: secretary who lost 3 fingers;
typing too slow)
ADA lessons
• Don’t tell employee – you can’t be here cuz you’re a liability
• Ensure position is identified and job description exists to determine if
they can perform the essential functions of her job
• Engage in an “interactive process” where looking for feasibly daily
options
• Document the process!
• Ensure job description is accurate and being enforced equally (no
exceptions)
• EX: job description said “may occasionally drive bus” but employee had
hearing/vision problems so no CDL/driving. New boss says everyone must
have this but for 12 years emp hasn’t done this duty.
ADA lessons
• Allow an employee to finish an improvement plan (timeline
identified) before terminating…not necessarily ADA but HR best
practice
• If dr provides options for accommodating…seriously consider them!
• Allow an employee to finish an improvement plan (timeline
identified) before terminating…not necessarily ADA but HR best
practice
Upcoming Events & Announcements
• TxBESS Mentor Teacher Training
• 10/28-workshop # TBD
• 2/3-workshop #TBD
• ONE*APP workshop
• Texas Education Human Resources Day
• October 14, 2015
TASB Surveys
• Superintendent Survey
Email Invitation: July 21
Due Date: August 28
• District Personnel Survey
Email Invitation: September 1
Due Date: October 9
• Extra-Duty Stipend Survey
Email Invitation: October 27
Due Date: November 20
Educator Job Fairs – Fall 2015
• November 3, 2015 – Texas State University - San Marcos
• November 3, 2015 – University of Texas at Austin
• November 3, 2015 - Texas A&M University - Kingsville
• November 4, 2015 - Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
• November 5, 2015 - Texas A&M International University - Laredo
• November 12, 2015 - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Brownsville
• November 13, 2015 - University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - Edinburg
• November 28, 2015 – University of Texas - San Antonio
• New representation
• Fall Support Staff Conference – October 4-5, 2015- Registration Now Open!
• TASB/TASPA HR Administrators’ Academy – November 9-10, 2015- Registration Now Open!
• TASPA/Legal Digest Personnel Law Conference for School Administrators – December 9, 2015
• TASPA/TAEE Winter Conference Presented by Aesop/Frontline Placement Technologies – December 9-11,
2015
Critical Issues in HR meeting dates
• All will be held in the Starr Room from 9-12
•
•
•
•
•
October 13 –workshop #TBD
December 17 –workshop #TBD
February 25 – workshop #TBD
April 29 –workshop #TBD
August 26 – workshop #TBD
8-5 first day and 8-12 second day
• 9/15 and 9/18 #50880
• 9/17 and 9/18 #50881
• At least one monthly
For more information:
http://www.esc1.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&Modu
leInstanceID=549&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=2251&PageID=1
“I love the flexibility – get to
pick my own days”
• SubHub districts
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Lyford CISD
San Benito CISD
Jubilee Academic Center
La Feria ISD
Santa Rosa ISD
La Villa ISD
http://www.esc1.net/Page/2136
Edcouch Elsa ISD
Monte Alto ISD
South Texas ISD
Enhancements:
Hidalgo ISD
1. Substitute Teacher Procedures Handbook
2. Employee ID Badges
La Joya ISD
3. Parking permits
4. 2 days/week; 1 Friday or Monday
5. Annual Meeting
“I don’t have to wake up at 3:30
a.m. anymore!”
“I am changing the schedule for our
campus secretaries now…”
“I like the partnership
between my sub and me”
Questions, Concerns, & Solutions
• Region One ESC Personnel Support Services
survey
• Region One Salary survey
• Certification Training
• October 15, 2015 - workshop # TBD
• HR 101
• January 29, 2016 – workshop # TBD
Questions, Concerns, & Solutions
• TASB workshop topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hiring Effective Teachers
Determining Employment Status and Benefits
Dollars and Sense – Good Pay Practices
Supervisor’s Guide to Managing Employees
Managing State and Federal Leave
Understanding Wage and Hour
Managing Personnel Records
Writing Effective Job Descriptions
• Service Records and Creditable Years of Experience
• June 11, 2016 – Workshop #TBD