VS 30 - HR and Capital Connections

Vol.1 Issue 3

We are pleased to announce that the new Employee Assistant Program is already here!

Recently, the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Garcia-France, and I had the opportunity to meet with the EAP’s district representative, Annie Linden, to discuss the new benefits of EAP. Please check out the video with information regarding our new, free and confidential employee benefit EAP.

Click here to view the video.

If you have any questions please feel free to Marcela Moran at (516) 434-3600 extension 5010 or email her at: mmoran@vs30.org

In the world of Technology we live in, we constantly ask ourselves if our digital information is safe and secure, and what can we do to continue to protect it.

At the Friendly Schools, we follow the National Institute Standards of Technology (NIST) Framework. This framework assists organizations in enhancing their cybersecurity infrastructure by implementing certain standards or best practices. In an attempt to reduce our district’s cybersecurity risk, Valley Stream 30 prioritizes and works diligently to adhere to the NIST framework. Certain practices, such as two-factor authentication, strong passwords that must be changed every 90 days, asset inventory, and requiring vendors that house student data to sign off on our Parent Bill of Rights are just some of the steps we have taken to protect our network and data. For more information regarding the NIST Framework, click here.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Christopher Onorato at (516) 434-3600 extension 5001 or email him at: conorato@vs30.org for further information.

During the course of the year, we would like to welcome new staff members who have joined the VS 30 Family for the 2022-23 School Year!

In the following editions of the newsletter we will also be introducing additional new staff members to the district - keep on the look out for their introductions.

At the beginning of this school year, the district implemented the use of the “Attendance and Safety Form” in Parent Square as the platform for daily “check-in”. In the unfortunate event of a school crisis - where a quick count of staff members might be needed - the utilization of a digital platform is the best way to generate records quickly and efficiently.

Please remember to submit your daily check-in. For more information, review the memo shared by the Director of Technology, Christopher Onorato.

If you have further questions, please contact Mr. Onorato at conorato@vs30.org or Marcela Moran at extension 5010.

In an effort to assist all staff members, the Business Office has been working on creating and compiling beneficial resources to be added to the Valley Stream 30 website.

Once complete, the Business Office page will be a “one-stop-shop” for forms and information many staff members commonly request. This will include a full list of earnings and deduction codes to assist staff members in understanding the items on their paychecks, payroll schedule, direct deposit forms, and many other useful resources. Stay tuned for the roll out in the coming weeks!

Personnel Activity Report forms are required for all employees whose salary or wages are paid in total or in part by federal funds, such as grants.

Many staff members have begun receiving these forms through interoffice mail to be signed, as their acknowledgement that part of their wages are being paid through federal funding usage. It is imperative for staff to sign and return these forms as soon as possible. PAR forms will continue to be dispersed each month for the entirety of the school year and should be returned to Ashley Starna in the Business Office at 175 N Central Avenue, Valley Stream.

Many students are already receiving the benefit of Free or Reduced Lunch based on Direct Certification from New York State, or by applying through our income-based applications. This year, the application is available in a digital format for a quick, user-friendly experience.

Please encourage all families to fill out an application if they have not already. Letters are consistently being mailed to home informing parents of their initial status, or of any status change throughout the year. Any questions regarding free or reduced status or the application process can be directed to your building secretaries, or to Ashley in the Business Office at AStarna@vs30.org.

Click here for the 2022-23 School Lunch Application

Do you ever wonder what guides the district operations and procedures?

An easy answer is policy! We invite all our staff members to review the district policies to understand how our district operates. Moving forward, every month we will be highlighting one policy.

This month is the Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity in Education #0105 .

Please let me know if you have any questions at mmoran@vs30.org or (516) 434-3600 X 5010.

Starting on July 1, 2016, the New York State Education Department (NYSED) required educators who had a Permanent or Professional Certificate to register with the state every five (5) years. Registration is done using the NYSED TEACH system.

This is a reminder that if you have one of the following certificates, you should have registered with TEACH:

• Permanent or Professional certificate

• Teaching Assistant Level III certificate

Information about registration and continuing teacher and leader education (CTLE) is available here.

NYSUT has created a comprehensive video that explains the re-registration process.

Click here to access the video.

If you have questions about this process please contact Marcela Moran, HR Department, at mmoran@vs30.org or call (516) 434-3600 X 5010.

November 2nd is National Stress Awareness Day. It is a day to bring awareness to recognizing, managing, and reducing stress in our own lives and others. Chronic stress can lead to many negative health impacts, both mentally and physically. Take some time today to reflect on how you can reduce stress in your life.

Need some suggestions? Here are five ways to help reduce stress today.

1. Journal your thoughts
   Journaling can help you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns. It also provides an opportunity for positive self-talk and identifying negative thoughts and emotions that could be causing stress.
2. Reach out to a friend
   Social connection can help us refocus from stressful situations and remember that our community can bring comfort and support.
3. Do a social media detox
   Our social media feeds can be filled with bad news. Don't let doom scrolling prevent you from noticing the good around you.
4. Practice Meditation
   Meditation can help reduce stress and increase our ability to control negative emotions.
5. Talk to a mental health provider
   Sometimes you may need an experienced medical provider to help deal with stress in your life. In the same way, you see a doctor to help with a physical illness; a mental health provider can help you overcome chronic stress that you may be dealing with. You can use our new EAP service to get in contact with a mental health provider.

11/14/22 - Board of Education - Work Session Budget

11/21/22 - Board of Education - Business Meeting

11/24-25/22 - Thanksgiving Recess - Schools Closed

11/30/22 - FLEX Forms DUE to the Business Office