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Annual Benefits Enrollment Meeting Schedule
Attached is the meeting schedule for the benefits
meetings being held in August for enrollment in benefits
for the 2008-2009 school year. To help you find
your meeting date and time we have provided schedules
listed by campus, department and group. If you are
unable to attend the meeting scheduled for your campus,
department, or group, be sure to look for the meetings
that are open to all. |
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2008-2009 Benefits Summary
Open Enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year will begin
August 1, 2008. All current employees will
enroll via the
Munis Employee Self Server (ESS) portal in August.
All New Hires must attend the New Hire Benefits
Meeting on August 15th at 4:00 pm in the Nimitz HS
Auditorium. |
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Be Careful with Unsolicited Vendor Calls
We
just wanted to make you all aware that some employees
have notified us that they are receiving calls
concerning their voluntary insurances. Most of these
are from outside unknown vendors that call our
employees about cancer insurance. These vendors are
advising the employees that their coverage is changing
this year and that they want to come out and explain
those changes to them in person. These vendors are
NOT working through the IISD...
(read
more) |
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 Summer Bilingual
Institutes
The Irving ISD Bilingual department is
offering two summer institutes (one for NEW teachers and
one for current teachers). The summer institues
are one day long and will be held at Stipes Elementary
School, 3100 Cross Timbers in Irving. Registration
is 7:30 ‑ 7:50 am with sessions beginning promptly at
8:00 am.
•
Bilingual Institute
for NEW Bilingual Teachers to Irving ISD (August
5)
•
Bilingual Institute
for CURRENT Bilingual Teachers to Irving ISD (August
6)
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 Ready,
Set, GO ... IISD is Going Blue!
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas was selected to be the new Third Party
Administrator for the District’s Health Plan effective September 1,
2008. Additionally, the Employee Benefit Committee
transformed the plan designs available from three plans down to two with
major enhancements to both options. |
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Cancellation/Deferment Options for Teachers with Student Loans
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) is excited to roll out this year’s
Teacher Loan Forgiveness program at both the federal and state levels.
Each year TEA establishes a list of teaching assignments in shortage
areas and a list of low-income schools. Teachers serving in eligible
assignments can receive student loan forgiveness benefits. School
principals are authorized to act on behalf of the Commissioner of
Education to certify that a teacher has met the minimum qualifications
required. |
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Soliciting Public Comments on Expenditure of NCLB Funds
 Irving
ISD staff, parents, and administrators are planning the expenditure of
federal funds through No Child Left Behind for the 2008-2009 school
year. For information about preliminary plans for the
expenditure of these federal funds or to make comments regarding the use
of these funds, contact Dr. Judy Rudebusch, Division Director for
Special Services at
jrudebusch@irvingisd.net. |
 Administration Sets Summer Hours
Summer
office hours beginning June 16th. Offices
will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. The new
hours apply to an eight-week period from June 16 to August 8. Regular
office hours will resume on Monday, August 11...
(see schedule) |
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 The
Media Center Sets Summer Hours
The Media Center will be open during the summer and this is a
great time for teachers to prepare for the next school year or
to study for summer college courses. Teachers, please feel
free to drop by and make use of our services:
Die Cuts,
Laminating, Badge Maker, Poster Maker, Research, Audio & Video
Duplication, and Professional Journals. (See
attached schedule for summer hours.)
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 Spanish Oral Proficiency Stipend
The Irving ISD Board of Trustees has approved a $500 Spanish
Oral Proficiency Stipend. The stipend is annualized and
paid during a 12 month period and available to Professionals and
Paraprofessionals. Information and forms are attached on
how to qualify and apply for the stipend. |
Blackboard
System Upgrade: Action Required
 The
Irving ISD Blackboard System will be upgraded this summer and teachers need to export their courses from the old system. After the
new equipment is installed and running, then teachers will be able to
import their courses into the new system. Teachers can
easily do this before the summer to be sure to keep their course intact.
The district will provide an overlap when the new and old system are up,
but don't put this off and forget about your Blackboard courses.
(See attachment for more details.) |
Program: Growing Up Online
 FRONTLINE
explores the tough question, "Just how radically is the Internet
transforming the childhood experience?" This program carries
an important message for parents and teachers. You may want to stream
this online program at different times and avoid everyone hitting it at
the same time ... or watch the KERA 13 Television broadcast. It looks at all perspectives:
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Employee Discount List
Updated
 (Updated
May '08)
As an employee of Irving ISD, the following businesses are extending
a discount exclusively to you. To utilize the offers, simply
present your Irving ISD ID card prior to purchase... |
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Teacher Salary
Schedule Approved for 2008-2009
 On
April 7,
2008, the Irving ISD Board of Trustees
approved the Teacher Salary Schedules for
2008-2009. The Board is to be commended for
approving a 5% average pay increase, with
special emphasis on our veteran teacher
salaries. All other salary schedules will be
presented and approved at a future Board
meeting. |
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Audio Health Library
 Student/Parent
Awareness Line
When you need information on alcohol, drugs, tobacco, stress, anger,
depression, health, parenting or nutrition ... call one of our Audio
Health Library numbers and press the three digit message number when you
are asked. The Awareness Line can provide you with many helpful
suggestions and let you know more about identifying and finding a
solution for a problem... |
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1 to 1: Classroom Management with High
School Laptops
 Answers
to commonly asked questions about classroom management with laptop
computers along with a video series to help with strategies. Traditional
discipline is only one part of the puzzle ... effective instruction is
even more important. |
Nominations for Outstanding Teacher or Employee of the Month
Administrators and Staff: It is never too late to nominate
outstanding teachers and employees for the Outstanding Teacher or
Employee of the Month Award. Committees select one from each
category to honor at a school board meeting each month and we are
always in need of new nominations! Thank you for your input!
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Reimbursements for College Hours
 (District
Incentives)
Irving ISD does NOT have a
reimbursement program to receive a Masters. However, there
are certain college/university courses (graduate and undergraduate)
that are reimbursable under three programs:
• Critical Shortage Teaching Area
• Hours in a Specific Teaching
Field Beyond a Master's Degree
•
Gifted and
Talented Certification |
Got a Project That You Would Like to Get
Funded?
Have you looked at the Grant Services Web site
lately? A variety of grant announcements has been posted to the
Grant Services website. Take a look at
the Irving ISD Grant Services website ... |
 Free Online Training
Videos for School Districts
Free, online training at your convenience! You can watch these tutorial videos from any computer connected to the
internet that has the free QuickTime plug-in installed.
Their library contains hundreds
of tutorial videos for multiple software applications. Their
content is created by certified teachers, for teachers and students. |
