Avon Grove School District Orientation for

1
Welcome!

• Avon Grove School District Orientation for
• Certificated Employees

2
Introduction

• Personnel Office Introductions
• Wendi Lee Foltz wfoltz_at_avongrove.org
• Barbara Perzel bperzel_at_avongrove.org
• New Employee Introductions
• Distribution of Welcome Packets

3
Agenda/Topics to Be Covered

• History of Avon Grove
• Our Beliefs
• District Policies and Procedures
• Certification Information
• Benefits Review
• Required Paperwork

4
Our History

• The Avon Grove area has the distinction of being
  the location of the first free (public) school in
  the middle colonies.
• Established in 1743 by Dr. Francis Alison, its
  earliest roots were in New London Township near
  what is now Camp Saginaw. The school existed in
  New London Township for ten years before moving
  briefly to Maryland and then to Newark, Delaware.
  Over the years, the school evolved to become
  Newark Academy, Delaware College and finally, the
  University of Delaware.

5
Our History

• The first class of students at the New London
  Academy
• distinguished themselves by assuming the
  following
• positions after graduation
• the first and only Secretary of the Continental
  Congress.
• the Governor of Delaware.
• the Governor of Pennsylvania.
• the doctor in charge of all military hospitals
  during the Revolutionary War.
• the first President of the University of
  Pennsylvania.

6
Our History

• So great was the influence of Dr. Alison and the
• graduates of his school, some historians believe
• that had Dr. Alison and his school never existed,
• there may never have been an American
• Revolution.

7
Our Beliefs

•    

8
School District Policies

• Find an on-line handbook outlining all policies
  at http//www.avongrove.org/district/reports/board
  policies.html
• Key policies for teachers are found in the 400
  series. These are on your Employee Handbook CD.
• It is YOUR responsibility to be familiar with
  these policies.

9
Policy Review
 
10
The Collective Bargaining Agreement

• The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the
  AGSD Board and the AGSD Education Association is
  on your Employee Handbook CD.
• It is YOUR responsibility to be familiar with the
  agreement.

11
In-Service Day Guidelines

• All professional employees are required to
  perform one non-scheduled in-service day for room
  prep or clean up.
• This must be completed prior to June 30.
• Yes you CAN complete it before the start of
  school.
• The form is included on your Employee Handbook
  CD.
• Submit your request to your building principal.

12
Teacher Tenure

• A temporary professional employee must have three
  years of consecutive service with one school
  district and achieve a satisfactory rating during
  the last four months of that third year.
• Upon completion of these requirements, the
  employees is offered a Professional Employee
  contract and then has tenure.
• Reference School Code 24 .S. Article XI

13
Level II Certification

• Your Level I certificate is invalid after your
  6th year of service.
• To convert your certificate to Level II you must
  show proof of
• 24 credits beyond the bachelors level
• 3 years of satisfactory service (doesnt have to
  be consecutive)
• Successful results on the Level II assessment
  (PDE 427)
• Reference Pennsylvania Department of Education

14
Act 48

• Continuing Professional Education is important in
  Pennsylvania.  Act 48 of 1999 requires all
  Pennsylvania educators holding Pennsylvania
  public school certification to earn continuing
  education credits.
• You may check your balance at the PDE website
• To keep your certificate active (and stay
  employed) you must meet these requirements.

15
Benefits Review

• Health
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Benefits
• Educational Opportunities
• Leave Days

16
Signing Up for Benefits

• The Plan Year
• The following options are available to employees
  at the time of hire and during Open Enrollment. 
• The District's Open Enrollment is normally
  conducted in June of each year and the new plan
  year begins July 1.

17
Medical Benefits Opt Out

• If an employee has medical coverage available
  through their spouse's employer or by other
  means, the non-participation benefit is
  available.
• Employees are eligible to opt-out of medical
  coverage only if they show coverage through a
  spousal or other plan.

18
Opt Out Benefit

• Individuals opting out of medical insurance
  coverage for the year (July 1-June 30) receive a
  sum of 1,500 in the last paycheck of June each
  year (less taxes.)
• Reference Contract provision 9.1 7
  Non-participation

19
Medical Insurance

• Personal Choice 10 (PC10) is available to
  full-time employees.
• Employees must complete the proper enrollment
  forms in order to receive this insurance.

20
What is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)?

• PPOs are a combination of fee-for-service and
  HMO programs. They offer the preventive benefits
  of an HMO and the freedom of traditional
  insurance to choose the doctor or hospital you
  want.

21
How Does a PPO Work?
22
Personal Choice 10

• In-Network Benefits
  Out-of-Network Benefits
• Primary Copay 10 n/a
• Specialist Copay 10 n/a
• Coinsurance None 80
• Deductible None 250/500
• Hospital 100 n/a
• ER Copay 25 n/a
• Surgery Copay None n/a
• Lifetime Maximum Unlimited 1
  million

23
Selecting Your Physician

• Unlike an HMO, PPOs do not require you to
  coordinate your care through a Primary Care
  Physician or obtain a referral to see a
  specialist.
• Refer to www.ibx.com to find participating
  network physicians.

24
Prescriptions

• Rx Copay (generic) 10
• Rx Copay (brand) 20
• Save - order routine prescriptions by
• mail! See www.ibx.com for more info

25
Vision

• Once every two years employees and covered
  dependents are entitled to the following
  benefits
• 15 frame allowance
• 100 of lens reimbursement (UCR)
• Eye Exam
• Cost per month 2.00 family
• 1.00 single

26
Bi-Weekly Contribution Schedule

•     

27
Dental Insurance

• Employee dental coverage from United Concordia is
  provided at a cost of
• Individual - 2 per month
• Family - 5 per month
• Eligibility begins on the first of the month
  after date of hire

28
Dental Benefits Options

1000 Lifetime Maximum
29
Life Insurance

• On the 1st of the month after the start date, the
  employee is eligible to enroll in group life
  insurance. 
• Group life insurance premiums are paid by the
  Avon Grove School District.
• The amount of life insurance provided is 50,000.

30
Voluntary Supplemental Life Insurance

• Employees may purchase additional amounts of life
  insurance in order to supplement their
  school-district-provided life insurance benefit.
• The cost is
• 5.40 per month for 30,000
• 9.00 per month for 50,000
• Premium payments are made through payroll
  deduction.

31
Long Term Disability

• On the 1st of the month after start date, the
  employee is eligible to enroll in
  district-provided group long-term disability.
• Claims and disability income benefits are subject
  to approval by the plan provider according to the
  current plan provisions. 
• Benefits are equal to 66 2/3 of the employees
  normal monthly earnings to a maximum of 4,000
  per month.

32
Flexible Spending Accounts

• This program allows employees to do three things
  
• pay for medical plan dependent premiums on a
  pre-tax basis
• set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for
  un-reimbursed medical expenses
• set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for
  dependent/elder day care expenses

33
PSERS

• You are a member of one of the largest public
  pension plans in the nation. The Public School
  Employees' Retirement System (PSERS) was
  established on July 18, 1917, to provide
  retirement benefits to public school employees of
  the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

34
PSERS

• PSERS is a governmental, cost-sharing,
  multiple-employer, defined benefit pension plan
  to which the school employers contribute. A
  defined benefit plan guarantees you a monthly
  lifetime benefit based on your age, final average
  salary, and years of credited service after you
  reach a certain combination of age and/or service.

35
PSERS

• Employees of a Pennsylvania public school
  employer must enroll as members of PSERS. Your
  employer is required to enroll you within 30 days
  of your date of hire. After you have been
  enrolled, PSERS establishes a retirement account
  for you.
• A retirement account is established at PSERS for
  all new members in which salary, PSERS
  contributions, interest, and service credits are
  recorded.
• On or after July 22, 1983 - 7.50

36
Payroll Information

• Make sure to complete your Direct Deposit form!
• Pay Schedule
• Summer Months
• Reference Policy 428

37
Tuition Reimbursement

• Requires pre-approval by the Superintendent
  before the beginning of the course
• Employees must complete Course Pre-Approval
  Request and Tuition Reimbursement Form
• Evidence of satisfactory completion is required
  before reimbursement (grade report or transcript)
• Governed by Policy 433, 433.1 and the Collective
  Bargaining Agreement

38
My Learning Plan

• http//www.mylearningplan.com/
• MyLearningPlan is the leading web-based service
  for tracking and managing Professional
  Development activities for educators. 
• Your user name is the first letter of your first
  name and the first letter of your last name
  followed by the last six digits of your social
  security number.
• Problems logging in?
• Email davis_at_avongrove.org

39
Salary Movement

• Credits for adjustments must be completed before
  the beginning of the school term
• The employee must send a final transcript,
  accompanied by a memo requesting salary movement
  to the Personnel Director. This documentation
  must be received by January 1 of each year.
• For those who complete the required credits
  during the school year, the salary adjustment
  will occur at the beginning of the next school
  term (after proper documentation is submitted.)
• Reference Policy 433

40
Sick Leave

• Sick leave is to be used for personal illness.
• 10 days granted annually (1 day per month worked)
• Sick leave is cumulative
• You may transfer up to 25 days from a previous PA
  public school district
• A doctors note may be required for absences
  greater than three working days
• Reference Policy 434

41
Family and Medical Leave

• Avon Grove School district complies with the
  Family and Medical Leave Act
• 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious health
  condition of the employee, birth or adoption of a
  child, or to care for an immediate family member
  with a serious health condition
• Contact the Personnel Office for an appointment
  before planning a Family and Medical Leave.
• Reference Policy 435

42
Family Illness Days

• Used to care for a member of the employees
  immediate family who is ill.
• One day accrues for each year of employment.
• A maximum of five days can be taken in one year.
• Reference Policy 436

43
Bereavement Leave

• Absence without loss of salary for a period not
  to exceed four (4) days upon the death of a
  member of the immediate family. 
• Absence without loss of salary for the day of the
  funeral of a near relative.
• Reference CBA

44
Jury Duty

• Employees called for jury duty are normally
  permitted to serve and will not be penalized for
  doing so.
• They will receive normal pay for the period
  provided they are not a party to the suit.
• Compensation provided to the employee for service
  must be paid to the district.
• Employees must provide their supervisors with a
  certificate of completed service.
• Reference Policy 442

45
Personal Leave

• Up to and including 5 years 1 Day
• 6-15 years 2 Days
• 16 years 3 Days
• For unused personal days, an employee has the
  option of
• Being reimbursed at the current substitute rate
  for any unused days at the end of each school
  year.
• Rolling unused days into sick leave days.
• Carrying over an unlimited number of unused
  personal days from year to year. Maximum number
  of personal days that can be used in one year 5
  days.

46
Required Paperwork

• Review of Forms Checklist
• Collect W-4, I-9, and Physical Forms

47
Questions?

• Have a great year!!!!!!