Central Staff News

Employees, parents, students and community members are invited to provide feedback on proposed academic calendars for the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 school years. The features of the two calendars are virtually identical in terms of the number of student school days, holidays and winter breaks, teacher professional development days, etc.

Copies of the calendars, a brief list of highlights, and a survey to collect feedback on the proposed calendars are available here through Friday, Nov. 10. The administration expects to submit the calendars to trustees for consideration at the December board meeting.

Getting ahead professionally requires strong leadership and communication skills. Both are bedrocks of the Toastmasters global professional development program. Learn how Toastmasters can help you get better and get ahead. Attend the Dallas ISD Talk It Up! Toastmasters open house at 5:45 p.m., Wed., Nov. 1, in room 257 of the H.B. Bell School Support Services Building, 2909 N. Buckner Blvd. Join us for free pizza, fun and fellowship.   

In support of the district’s annual United Way Campaign, employees are invited to dress up for Halloween in exchange for a $5 donation. There are three ways to pay:

Cash:      See your department’s United Way coordinator.

Check:    Pay to “United Way of Metropolitan Dallas” and submit to your United Way coordinator.

Oracle:   Starting Oct. 26, log in to Oracle and make a one-time donation to United Way.

Your contribution will be deducted from your next check. Click here for instructions.

Please note: Costumes must meet the district’s dress code standards; specifically:

•          No masks.

•          No inappropriate language, photos, or imagery.

•          Facial features cannot be disguised–

Face paint/body stickers are allowed on no more than 25% of the face.

•          Replicas of guns, knives, or other weapons are prohibited.

Dallas ISD is preparing to kick off our Annual United Way Employee Giving Campaign, and we need your help!

This year we have been challenged by Superintendent Michael Hinojosa to raise $80,000 to support United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. The campaign will be held from November 1 through December 15, 2017. We would like to encourage each department/campus to have 100% participation. Show your support for the United Way Employee Giving Campaign by donning your favorite pair of jeans. Participation is encouraged with a minimum donation of $5.00 per Jean Day and $15.00 for Jean Week. There are three different ways employees can make a donation to the 2017-18 United Way Employee Giving Campaign Powered by Dallas ISD: Oracle, eWay, Check/Cash. Additional details to follow in upcoming weeks!

Campaign Kick-off: Wear your favorite team’s Jersey (Freebie)

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Jean Days

Friday, November 3, 2017 ($5.00 Donation)

Friday, November 10, 2017 ($5.00 Donation )

Friday, November 17, 2017($5.00 Donation)

Friday, December 1, 2017 ($5.00 Donation)

Jean Week

Monday, December 11- Thursday, December 14, 2017 ($15.00 Donation )

Campaign Ends (Freebie)

Friday, December 15, 2017  (Free Jean Day for all employees that participated in the giving campaign)

In addition, each department/campus will need to designate a staff member to serve as UWMD Campus Campaign Coordinator. This individual will be responsible for collecting cash/check donations, attending a campaign training/information session, and committing to hosting/creating a department event/challenge to increase employee participation. There will be four opportunities to attend the training, below you will find dates, times and locations for each of the sessions.

Should you have any questions, please contact Amanda Sanchez at amasanchez@dallasisd.org or Jamila Thomas at JAMITHOMAS@dallasisd.org.”

Statistically, in the United States alone, about one in eight women and one in one thousand men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in his or her lifetime. Breast cancer affects their family and friends as well.

To kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Human Capital Management’s Benefits Department encourages you to participate in a Districtwide “Pink Out” day on Friday, October 6, 2017. Staff and students are encouraged to wear pink shirts, sweaters, cardigans, etc.

Employees have the option to donate towards breast cancer research through Employee Self Service in Oracle.

Please reach out to Human Capital Management at 972-925-4220 or at humancapitalmanagement@dallasisd.org with any questions.

Mark your calendar for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sat., Sept. 30, to discover one of the district’s best tools for exciting students about STEM–the Environmental Education Center, at 1600 Bowers Rd. in Seagoville.

The center is hosting a Sept. 30 open house for employees and their families to tour the center’s museum and grounds, meet the animals housed in the facility’s barn, take a nature walk on one of several trails and enjoy a lunch of fried catfish. For driving directions and to learn more about what the center has to offer, go here or call (972) 749-6900.

As fall approaches, Human Capital Management Chief Karry Chapman reminds all employees that the summer dress code expires Sept. 29. All employees are expected to resume professional business attire October 2. Her memo with references to board policy is available here. Employees with questions about the dress code may direct them via email to HCM or call the department at (972) 925-4200.

The Baylor Tom Landry Fitness center is offering Dallas ISD staff a 50 percent discount on enrollment fees and a complimentary one-week pass to the facility. The offer is good through October 31. Go here to download an informational flyer.