November 2020

Central staff who visit campuses as part of their work duties can now visit more than one campus per day. Staff must follow safety guidelines at each campus and make sure that that they sign in and out at each campus to follow district procedures and in case the information is needed for contact tracing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now defining “close contact” being within six feet of an infected individual for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. However, this does not change Dallas ISD procedures. The district has always used cumulative exposure to infected persons as part of its contact tracing procedures.

For more details on the CDC close contact clarification click here.

Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, a day set aside by the nation to recognize those who serve the country in defense of freedom. In Dallas ISD, military veterans play essential roles in district operations. They serve in virtually every capacity, from the maintenance teams and financial management staff to school administrators, teachers and a wide variety of central office and campus positions. Applying skills and discipline learned as service men and women, veterans make a positive difference in district operations. On this Veterans Day, be sure to show your appreciation to a veteran for their service to the country and Dallas ISD.

Dallas ISD employees who refer external candidates to the Transportation Department for full time driver positions could receive a $200 bonus through the Transportation Referral Incentive Supplemental earning. Eligibility for the incentive requires the candidate to notify Human Capital Management at the time of hire of any referral via official referral form and prior to their official start date as part of their on-boarding process. The newly hired driver must complete 45 drive days based on the 185-work day calendar for the driver’s referrer to qualify for the payment.

During the district’s Men’s Health Month, the Benefit’s Department will be sharing a series of helpful articles by local health expert Dimitrius Glenn. The articles address different aspects of men’s health to encourage male educators to maintain their physical health, fitness development and emotional outlook.

According to sources like Healthline.com, the top five male health issues are heart health, respiratory disease, alcohol abuse, depression/suicide, and unintentional injuries and accidents. Several of these conditions are a direct result of lack of physical fitness or sedentary lifestyles, and poor eating habits. Some of these conditions can be easily remedied by committing to make simple changes.

For those who were already lacking exercise and making poor nutrition choices, the current COVID-19 has probably made things worse and the push to make everything virtual has curtailed exercise opportunities. According to an article published by Pennsylvania State University about teachers’ health and stress, 46% of teachers report high daily stress, which compromises their health, sleep, quality of life and teaching performance. This affects males more because they have the tendency to not communicate as well how they are feeling or things that are bothering them.

What can you do?

Regaining fitness, improving food choices, and changing your outlook can be done with some simple changes. The important thing is to get started and keep going to improve your health outlook.

• Take a stroll around the neighborhood or in a park just to free your mind
• Make sure you include more fruits and vegetables in your diet and fewer sugary drinks and processed foods
• Journal or write down your thoughts
• Communicate openly with friends and family
• Seek professional help if you feel out of control or helpless