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KEY NOTES for PARAS
2009-10 Para Study Commitee Minutes      
        • October • November  
             
2008-09 Para Study Commitee Minutes      
        • October • November  
  • January • February • March • April • May • June
             

 
Key Notes for Paras
 
4.24.09 - Special Board Meeting Action - from Linda Aldridge
The Keystone Board of Directors met last night in a special meeting. After review of budgetary information, it was decided to cut several positions.
Cuts include the mentor teacher position, a gifted teacher, a functional secondary teacher in Jeff West and a self-contained ED teacher in ACCSMS.
In addition, it was decided that the Perry-Lecompton Elementary position will not be filled.
All teachers involved in reductions have been notified of these decisions.
It is emphasized that these changes are made in response to current fiscal issues in Kansas. Review of caseloads and student needs will occur in the
near future to determine the best way to continue providing quality services.
The Keystone Board continues to dedicate hours of service to thoughtful review of the complex problems associated with school funding. Many different ways to reduce costs were considered before resorting to reduction in teaching staff. Cuts in special education administration have been made, along with reduction in general operating costs that will be finalized later this spring.
It is recognized that Keystone staff might have many questions. Therefore, an informational session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 4:00 - 5:00 at the Oskaloosa District office. We will be present to share information, listen to concerns, and to share resources as we move forward in these difficult financial times.
 
4.27.09 - Will my check change with the new Tax Tables? - from Debra May
The new Federal Income Tax Withholding and Advanced Income Credit tax tables were not updated before the April payroll. The new tables have been developed due to the “American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009”. We have updated the tax tables for the next payroll and will reimburse each employee for the net difference you should have been paid on the April payroll. This additional money on your next check will not be subject to taxes.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me.
 
1.20.09 - When do I get paid? - from Linda Aldridge and Debra May
1. Payday is the twentieth (20th) of each month. This is not a change; as emphasized during fall in-services and as stated in handbooks, the 20th is the date by which you are guaranteed your pay will be available to you.
2. To ensure that we never miss the 20th, it's been a long standing practice to post payroll with our bank prior to the 20th. This practice allows a few days "cushion time" to ensure that we can correct any problems that might occur. This also allows time for our bank to send money to the Federal Depository, where it is then dispersed to your bank.
3. This month, because of the Federal holiday, Keystone payroll was posted earlier than usual on Thursday, January 15. Depending upon your personal
banking procedures, some employees had their pay available to them on January 16. In some cases, banks waited until today to release funds.Through clarification of pay procedures that occurred during in-service and in handbooks, and again through this e-mail, it is hoped that all employees will adopt the 20th of each month as the date around which to make personal finance decisions.As we are now well into second semester, we hope that everyone is experiencing a productive and joyful school year. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any follow up questions or concerns. The work you do with
children is very important; rather than worry, we prefer that you call and get answers to your questions.
 

1.20.09 - Clarification Regarding Communication Hours - from Shelia Smith
Q - How do I document communication hours?
Paraeducators each have available to them, one hour of paid communication time with their supervising teacher each week. For paraeducators working the entire school year, this equates to 36 hours for the school year. Communication time is pro-rated for paras who start after the beginning of the school year.

[For the sake of this clarification, the example of a para working 35 hours a week will be used.]
Communication time is for communication and is not simply available for another hour of work. For example, most paras have contracts for 36 hours. This is for a 35 hour work week plus an additional hour for communication.

Filling Out Time Cards: Time cards should have all hours worked (including communication) listed in the top boxes (in/out). Then, the number of communication hours used that month should be recorded at the bottom of the time card “Communication Hours Used”.

In conducting a time card audit for the first semester, it was discovered that some paras were working more than 35 hours, but were not recording the hour(s) over 35 as communication. To correct this, all time cards for the first semester were audited. If a para worked more than 35 hours for any given week or more than their daily number of hours (e.g. more than 7 hours/day for our example); these hour(s) were deducted from the para’s overall communication hours available. Payment amounts did NOT change.

Recording communication hours has been difficult logistically. We are working on ways to make this more streamline for everyone. Until that time, here are some points to remember:

· Everyone has had 1 hour added to their contract for the purpose of communication time.
· Your work week is actually the contracted amount MINUS this one hour of communication.
· You CANNOT work more than your contracted amount without prior authorization from a Keystone Administrator.
· The one hour of communication time can be worked without prior authorization from administration; it must be recorded as time worked AND included at the bottom of the time card under “communication hours”
· Hours for payment are calculated based upon the “in/out” portion of the time card; not from the “communication hours” box.
· Available communication hours for the remainder of the year are listed on your paycheck stub

Communication hours are not guaranteed hours of work, but they are available to draw from for the purpose of communication. If a communication hour is not used one week, it is not gone. Communication hours may be “banked” for later use. For example, the teacher may choose to have a meeting with paras on an inservice or work day for 7 hours at some point during the year. If the para has at least 7 hours of communication time left, this will pose no problem.
 
1.2.09 - Infinitec Access - you will need a Keystone Para Webmail Account - from Carol Snyder
Q - How do I access Infinitec for the first time?
A - 1. Go to Keystone Para Page: http://www.keystonelearning.org/ParaPage.html
2. Click on the Infinitec Logo, it goes to: http://www.myinfinitec.org/MyInfinitec/
3. Click on "Create a New Account". It is BELOW the Username & Password logon.
A new page will open.
4. Fill out the requested information.
Enter your email address, name, address (Keystone is 1220 Walnut, Oskaloosa, KS 66066, phone 785-863-3410).
Occupation is Para Educator.
5. Create YOUR OWN password. Remember it. Write it down. Only you will know it.
6. Click on "I Agree to the Terms of Use"
7. You will then be able to access the Training Events, Resources, Online Classroom, etc. as noted in the Computer Inservice information you received in your Para Notebook.
8. Start Learning! Thanks!
 

12.19.08 - Time Card Increments
Q - What is the smallest amount of time on a time card?
A - The following statement has been included in the Paraeducator Handbook previous years and was inadvertently left out of the 2008-2009 Paraeducator Handbook. Please note that days taken will be reported as quarter, half, three quarters or a full day.

Paras must complete a Monthly Time Card and have it signed by their supervising teacher. The accuracy of the time card should be verified and sent to the Payroll Clerk at the Oskaloosa Office on the first day the media mail runs of each month. Jury duty, sick leave, personal leave and staff development leave days should be reported as quarter, half, three quarters, or full day on the time card. This would also include any portion of a day the para functions as a substitute and collects substitute wages. All other absences should be left blank and will result in non-payment. An example of a completed time card is included in your notebook.
 
12.1.08 - Duty Free Lunch
Q - What if the school only has a 20 minute lunch?
A - Keystone Paraeducators working 5 or more hours a day ARE TO BE GIVEN A 30 minute duty free, unpaid lunch period.
If a paraeducator feels that they are afforded less than 30 minutes, they should notify their supervising teacher who will work to schedule a 30 minute duty free lunch. In the very rare circumstance that this is unable to be scheduled, the supervising teacher should contact Keystone Administration.
 
10.13.08 - Unpaid Leave - from Shelia Smith

Per the para handbook (p. 19): "...Staff are not allowed to take an "unpaid" day if sick and personal days have not been used. To take an "unpaid day" staff members must have no days left of leave."

A small number of paras have claimed "Unpaid" days on their time cards for the months of August and September. These unpaid days will be paid days and will be deducted from your sick leave. If this applies to you, and you would prefer that the day(s) be deducted from your personal leave rather than sick, please contact Pat by Wednesday of this week (October 15th).

Any future claims for unpaid leave on time cards will automatically be deducted from sick leave, unless otherwise communicated.

Thanks for working with us as we continue to streamline our procedures.







































































































Linda Aldridge, Ed.D., Executive Director • Mark McBeth, Director Learning and Leading
• Kris Pedersen, tiny-k • Terri Coughlin, JDLA • Cammie Braden, PAT • Tom Elliott, Technology
 
Enlighten • Empower
Updated November 23, 2009 cs