August 2021

If you aspire to lead and see yourself as an assistant principal and the only thing standing in the way is a master’s degree and principal certification, Dallas ISD can help.

The LEAD department is excited to announce that the district is launching a new master’s degree partnership with Texas A&M Commerce. The Impact Leaders Institute is a master’s degree program in which candidates will earn their Master’s in Educational Leadership and also become eligible to apply for principal certification.

This program is designed for educators who do not currently have their principal certification and Master’s in Educational Leadership and have the passion and commitment to lead in an AP position for the 2022-2023 school year.

Highlights of this program include:

o    Concentration in equity and social justice leadership

o    Course content developed in partnership with Dallas ISD

o    2-year program with a year-long campus-based residency in the 2nd year

o    Intensive coaching support during the residency year

o    Face-to-face classes at a central Dallas location

o    Potential for up to 50% reimbursement of university tuition costs

A&M Commerce and the LEAD team will be hosting two information sessions via Zoom on Thursday, Aug. 19, and Monday, Aug. 23, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm. If you are interested to learn more about this innovative and rigorous program, please RSVP at the following link: tiny.cc/infosessionrsvp

Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact LEAD@dallasisd.org

Preparations for going back to school are ramping up everywhere. Unfortunately, something else that is ramping up is the theft of catalytic converters, according to the Dallas ISD Police Department.

Catalytic converters—devices on vehicles that look like a small muffler in the exhaust system—continue to be a hot item among thieves. The Dallas ISD Police Department wants employees to be aware of the rise in thefts of this device and take precautions.

“We want everyone to be conscious of their surroundings, and if they see something that looks suspicious—like cars driving unusually slowly through the parking lot—to call us so we can come check it out,” said Dallas ISD Police Chief John Lawton.

Staff can call 911 or the Dallas ISD Police number at (214) 932-5627 to report suspicious activity. Providing make, model and color of the suspicious vehicle and a description of the clothing, height, and complexion of people at the time of the call will help the officers handle the situation.

The catalytic converter processes environmentally hazardous exhaust emitted by an engine and converts it into less harmful gasses. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, it has become popular among thieves because they contain platinum, palladium, or rhodium. In recent years, the values of these precious metals have increased significantly and, typically, recyclers will pay $50 to $250 per catalytic converter.

Thieves tend to target vehicles that are higher up off the ground because they can quickly get under the vehicle and take off the converter, Lawton said. While Dallas ISD police has been monitoring lots and looking into additional safety measures, people being vigilant can discourage thieves.

According to the NICB, catalytic converter thefts have seen a significant increase across the country since March 2020, the start of the global pandemic, and especially in some states like Texas. The cost of replacing a catalytic converter can range from $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the vehicle.

Insurance experts and Dallas ISD police recommend:

• Installing a catalytic converter anti-theft device, which may be available from various manufacturers and can provide a level of security from theft.
• Parking fleet vehicles in an enclosed and secured area that is well lit, locked, and has an alarm.
• Parking personal vehicles at home in a garage or a well-lit driveway.
• Contacting the police and insurer if the converter is stolen.

If what’s keeping you from finalizing your benefits enrollment for this year are questions about coverage or new features, the Benefits Department is ready to provide guidance. Register to participate in one of a series of webinars in which benefits experts will provide information and answer questions. The first one is today at 4:30 p.m. To find the dates and to register, click on this link.

Getting to know the HAS

This year, Dallas ISD offers staff who have chosen a high deductible plan the opportunity to enroll in a Health Savings Account, or HSA. Like the Flexible Spending Account, it will allow you to set aside funds for eligible health care expenses like doctor visits, prescriptions, and dental and vision care. Eligible expenses are determined by the IRS and can be viewed in detail Publication 502.

To participate in this new savings plan, you have to enroll in the TRS ActiveCare HD plan to qualify. You find out more about the medical plans available to staff by visiting www.dallasisd.org/benefits.

Like with an FSA and other health-related savings accounts, there are limits to how much you can contribute each year. Individuals age 55 or older and not yet enrolled in Medicare can make an additional “catch up” contribution of up to $1,000 per person each year.

Coverage            Maxium Amount
Individuals           $3,600
Family                 $7,200

Unlike other health savings accounts, funds in the HSA that you don’t use by the end of the year can roll over to the following enroll­ment year. Another exciting feature of an HSA is that you can invest your funds. You will have the option to choose from an extensive list of mutual funds to increase the value of funds that you can hold in your account.*

Can I have them both?

You can have both and HSA and an FSA. But you should note that if you do have both, you can use the HSA only for your medical expenses and your FSA, or Limited Purpose FSA, only for vision and dental expenses.

If you are enrolled in the high deductible insurance plan, but you don’t want to have an HSA, you can still put money into the FSA. To do that at the time or enrollment, simply add your contribution amount in the LPFSA box in the enrollment portal. This will enroll you in the traditional FSA and you can use pre-tax FSA funds for all eligible expenses, including medical.

Ready to get enrolled? Go to the Benefits page at www.dallasisd.org/benefits, your one-stop-shop for all benefits information and links.

If you have questions or need help, assistance is close by. Just call (972) 925-4000 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Spanish- and English-speaking representatives will be available to guide you through the choices and the enrollment process. For additional information you can also look at the Benefits Overview Guide.

*Note: Investment products are not FDIC insured, and are not bank issued or guaranteed. They are subject to risk, including fluctuations in value and the possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Stress is part of everyday life, but the circumstances we are living through have caused unprecedented stress, and this can impact every part of people’s lives—including the ability to accomplish basic tasks, maintain relationships, and even perform physical tasks. The level of stress affecting people across the country is evident in some simple facts:*

• 61% of adults report experiencing undesired weight changes since the start of the pandemic, with more than two in five saying they gained more weight than they intended.
• Two in three people say they are sleeping more or less than they wanted to since the pandemic started.
• Nearly half of people surveyed say they delayed or canceled health care services since the pandemic started.

The American Psychological Association has developed five quick, action-oriented things to help people begin to manage the excessive stress many are currently living with. The tips also provide a brief explanation of the science behind them.

If you need professional help managing your stress, Dallas ISD provides all employees access to the Employee Assistance Program.

Calm yourself

Slowly breathe in and count to four, hold it while counting to four, and then breathe out for a count of six. Repeat 10 times.

Why it works: Slowing our breathing allows our bodies to recalibrate and lowers levels of physiological arousal.

Focus yourself

Slow your racing thoughts by counting backwards by three in your mind from 100 (100, 97, 94, etc.).

Why it works: Focusing on with structure and engaging your brain in a distracting task can disrupt unhelpful patterns.

Relax yourself

One by one, tense each muscle group in your body for 10 seconds and then release. Notice how it feels to let your muscles relax and have the tension leave your body.

Why it works: Actively relaxing our muscles can increase energy and flexibility, helping us feel calmer.

Ground yourself

Do a quick scan of your body and notice the air around you and any surfaces you are touching. If possible, close your eyes and focus on the sensations, textures, and temperatures.

Why it works: Focusing on our physical surroundings helps us become more attuned to details and make more balanced assessments of our environments.

Celebrate yourself

You are dealing with huge challenges. Think about three things that went well today. If they involved another person, recognize and thank them whenever possible.

Why it works: Slowing down to recognize even small successes can increase our sense of control over our environment and help us help others more effectively.

Download and print a card to remind you of these activities to destress.

The Employee Assistance Program

Dallas ISD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) by LifeWorks is a confidential and secure service that offers help with personal and work-related issues. The EAP encourages employees and those close to them to seek help early before a minor problem becomes more serious. The EAP is designed to address short-term issues, identify resources and referrals for emergency and long-term issues. The EAP can provide support, referrals and, resources related to many issues like depression, conflict at work, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, adoption issue, grief and loss and many other issues.

With EAP, there is no contribution that staff need to provide. Counselors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Reach out to LifeWorks at (972) 925-4000 or visit www.dallasisd.org/benefits and click on Benefits Resources to access online EAP information.

*Source: American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/about

Dallas ISD will continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC and Dallas County Health to address the COVID-19 pandemic. With the uncertainty of the Delta variant of the coronavirus and the return of students and employees to schools and other facilities, many supervisors have inquired if employees have been vaccinated and/or if they can request proof of COVID-19 vaccination. While the inquiry into whether employees have or have not been vaccinated is not a disability-related inquiry by itself, district leaders should follow the guidelines in this memo if they ask employees if they have been vaccinated.

For additional COVID-related information and protocols visit https://www.dallasisd.org/covidstaffinformation.

In compliance with state and federal laws, Dallas ISD requires that all employees complete the policy acknowledgement and compliance training at the beginning of every school year. This year, the training must be completed by Monday, Nov. 1.

Annual Policy Acknowledgement

Using their email address and password, employees will log into the policy acknowledgement website at http://PolicyAcknowledgement.dallasisd.org to acknowledge the Employee Handbook, Annual Employee Notification of District Policies, Family Relationship Disclosure, and Confidentiality Requirements.

Compliance Training (Cornerstone)

The compliance training is available in Cornerstone at https://dallasisd.csod.com and includes the following: Child Abuse, Code of Ethics, Copyright Law, Dress Code, Safety Protocols, FERPA, Sexual Harassment, and Workplace Bullying. Training for campus staff will also include Anaphylaxis, Bloodborne Pathogens, Bullying, and Section 504. All sections must be completed to receive credit for the training.

Employees will log into Cornerstone using their email address and password and look for the compliance training assignment in the “Training in Progress” or the “Your Assigned Training” box located on the “Welcome” page. If the assignment is not listed, employees can hover over the “Learning” tab and select “View Your Transcript” to access the training. For assistance with technical issues in Cornerstone, go to the Live User Support tab to access the live support team.

For additional questions or assistance, please contact Policy and Compliance at HCMcompliance@dallasisd.org.

Whether already using DonorsChoose or new to the platform, teachers are invited to participate in the free DonorsChoose inaugural Teacher Summit today. Expert teachers, equity and mental health leaders, and celebrity guests will help teachers craft their vision for an exceptional year for students. Summit participants will learn how to leverage DonorsChoose to set up exceptional learning projects for their students. Don’t miss this virtual opportunity to learn, invest, connect and start the year feeling energized and ready! Reserve your spot at www.donorschoose.org/teacher-summit.

DonorsChoose is a nonprofit that connects teachers with donors on the community. DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a classroom in need. Public school teachers create classroom project requests on the platform and people in the community donate fund to partially or completely fund the project. Once the project is funded, DonorsChoose purchases the items on the teacher’s project and sends them to the school. Projects support learning and non-perishable materials stay at the school if the teacher changes schools or leaves the district.

A recording of the summit will be available here for teachers who were unable to participate live. For more information about DonorsChoose, visit https://www.donorschoose.org/.

A little over two weeks are left for Dallas ISD staff to make changes to their annual benefits, explore options, or check out the new Health Savings Account offered to those who have a high-deductible plan during the 2021-2022 Benefits Enrollment window.

Annual enrollment runs through Aug. 20 and becomes effective Sept. 1. If you don’t make any changes, you will keep the same medical, vision, and dental plans; however, if you want to put money into a flexible spending account or FSA, you need to enroll every year. Now is also the time to enroll in the Sick Leave Bank.

Dallas ISD offers staff medical, dental, and vision coverage and life insurance. The district also provides several  supplemental, voluntary insurance plans that can help meet your financial needs when the unexpected happens. You can choose from four different plans that provide benefits for require hospitalization, when you face various types of critical illness, when you become disabled and unable to work, or if you need long-term care at home or at an assisted living or rehabilitation facility.

You’ll find detailed information about each of the plans—including the optional, voluntary plans—and their premium costs through the Benefits Portal.

It all starts in the Benefits page at www.dallasisd.org/benefits, your one-stop-shop for all benefits information and links. From the Benefits Resources page, check out the Benefits Overview and Plan Costs, which provides many details on your benefit options.

If you have questions or need help, assistance is close by. Just call (972) 925-4000 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Spanish- and English-speaking representatives will be available to guide you through the choices and the enrollment process.

For additional information you can also look at at the Benefits Overview Guide.