BSD Staff Updates

In case you missed it, here is the District's levy and bond informational video. This video is posted on the District's Facebook page, and on the website.

All District and school websites have a graphic that links to the levy & bond information page (www.BremertonSchools.org/Levy-Bond). The page has an FAQ document, and the flyer in both English and Spanish.

Feel free to share this video or other levy and bond information! Under PDC guidelines, District employees can share the District's levy and bond information and the Citizens Committee information via their personal social media accounts and on their own time! Additional PDC guidance can be found here.

Information on registering to vote is available on the Kitsap County Auditor's website.

Staff, students, families and community members are all invited to participate in our two final strategic planning community forums next week!

Welcome Stephanie Owen (not to be confused with Stephenie (Steph) Nagle, benefits specialist in HR)!

Stephanie comes to the District with seven years of HR recruiting experience. She previously worked in tech for companies like Salesforce and Robert Half. While she graduated from Eastern Washington University, she's a big UW fan. On the weekends you will find Stephanie reading, playing with her mini labradoodle Finn, at Husky games, and hanging out with her fiancé Colin.

The 2024-25 Academic Calendar now available and posted on the District website. The Spanish version will be posted very soon.

This graphic is available in English and Spanish in the District Communications Resources folder.

Visit www.BremertonSchools.org/SNOW to review the winter weather plan so you know how the District is communicating any delays or closures due to inclement weather. If you'd like to include this graphic in your family communication, it is available here.

Download graphics for use in your Google Classroom or teacher Google Site here.

Compiled by Marlaina Simmons

POLICY NEWS:

Three revised Policies came to the Board for a second reading and were adopted:

• Policy 2020; Course Design, Selection and Adoption of Instructional Materials
• Policy 5010; Nondiscrimination and Affirmative Action
• Policy 6220; Bid or Request for Proposal Requirements

January is School Board Recognition Month and Superintendent Crawford expressed his gratitude for the School Board members and their dedication to our district and provided each of them with a token of gratitude for their service.

Mitchell Judie, Athletic Director at Mountain View Middle School provided an update on Fall and Winter sports and recognized the athletes that received the Athletic Excellence Awards (see photo above).

Superintendent Crawford provided a presentation to update the Board on his Entry Plan and Strategic Planning Process.

Other Business:

The Board received written reports which included the January Enrollment and the Annual Insurance Summary.

For more information about these meetings and to view any of these documents, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/wabrsd/Board.nsf/Public#.

Join us in-person or online! BremertonSchools.org/SchoolBoard

Sharing in case you missed Cathie Seever's email in late December!

2023 W-2

W-2s will be available on or before January 31, 2024.

2023 1095-C

Confirming the accuracy of your address in EA+ will also ensure receipt of your 2023 1095-C. You will be able to receive your 2023 1095-C electronically, as well. If you have not yet done so, please log into your EA+ account to make your choice. Form 1095-C’s will be available on or before March 1, 2024.

Your Official Name

The name on your Social Security card is your official name. The Internal Revenue Service may impose a $50 fine if the name and Social Security number on your W-2 do not match. The District requires the name in our HR System to match the name on your Social Security card. However, the name on your 1095-C must match the name you used to file your federal income tax return. If the two do not match, the IRS will reject your 1095-C. Our payroll system does not allow for multiple names; therefore, it is important for you to use the official name on your Social Security card when filing your federal income tax return. Please review and compare your Social Security card to your name and Social Security number in EA+. If the two do not match, please notify Human Resources immediately. You will be required to bring in a current copy of your Social Security card.

Opportunity for PLAN 2 Members

Certain TRS and SERS Plan 2 members are eligible to transfer to Plan 3, during the month of January ONLY. If you wish to transfer, contact DRS at 1-800-547-6657 to determine if you qualify and to obtain assistance with locating and completing the Member Transfer Form. The form must be submitted to the Payroll Office on or before January 31, 2024. Information may also be found on the DRS website: http://www.drs.wa.gov . Search for “Plan 3 January Transfer Opportunity”. Remember, once you transfer to Plan 3, it is irrevocable.

Sick Leave Incentive Program

The District’s Sick Leave Incentive Program provides you with the ability to cash out up to twelve (12) days of sick leave earned in the prior calendar year (January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2023), less any sick leave used during the same time period. Selling back sick leave is optional. If eligible, you may receive a “cash out” or a “VEBA” contribution at an effective rate of 25% (four days of sick leave equals one day of pay).

To determine if you are eligible to sell back sick leave:

1) Obtain your sick leave balance through Staff Access to EA+. Subtract from that balance any sick leave you used in December 2023 (December sick leave usage is not recorded in EA+ until the middle of January).

2) Divide the result in 1) above by the number of hours you are contracted/assigned to work on a daily basis.

3) If the result in 2) above is greater than 68, you may be eligible to sell back up to twelve days above 68. If the result is less, you are not eligible. (Remember: 4 days of sick leave equals 1 day of pay)

Other Important Details:

1) To qualify for a VEBA contribution, your sick leave balance as of September 1, 2023 (July 1, 2023 for Administrators) must have been at least 180 days.

2) District policy allows each employee to carry from the “ending” school year to the next school year a sick leave balance equal to 100% of your contract/assigned hours for the “ending” year. Any excess hours on August 31st will be forfeited. An adjustment for excess hours will be made on the September payroll, after the August leave is recorded. Participation in the annual Sick Leave Buy Back program may assist you in preventing a forfeiture.

3) If you were previously notified of an excess sick leave balance, but your excess hours were being “Grandfathered” as long as you annually participate in the Sick Leave Buy Back program, this is your ONLY reminder of your need to participate. Failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of your excess hours in August 2024.

If you determine you are eligible and you choose to take advantage of the program, complete the Google Form (link below in green) "BSD Sick Leave Buy Back" no later than February 1, 2024.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSek_sHiOihR5DHJsCJ5HrycIEJZHJYHmeazkvYej8CaY0hVzg/viewform?usp=pp_url

2024 Employee Payroll Tax Rates & Maximums

Washington State Minimum Wage: $16.28 per hour (was $15.74)

Social Security: 6.2 % of wages up to $168,600 (was $160,200)

Medicare: 1.45% of all wages (plus the employee, only, pays an additional .9% on wages over $200,000) (no change)

Washington Paid Family Leave: .5286% of wages up to $168,600 (was .5821% up to $147,000)

Unemployment Wages: up to $68,500 (was $67,600)

Long Term Care Tax (WACARES): .58% of Wages

*DUE IN FEBRUARY/MARCH*

If you applied for and were approved to receive sick leave buy back in January 2024, please closely review your February 2024 earnings statement. If there is an error in your sick leave buy back, it MUST BE addressed by March 11, 2024.

As you know, we have a number of positions open in the District, and we also need substitutes. Flyers/graphics can be downloaded here.

The Admiral Theatre is proud to present our 2024 Stages for All Ages School Day Series. The shows will be presented at the Admiral Theatre with 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM performances. Visit https://www.admiraltheatre.org/education for pricing and ticket reservation forms to reserve your seats. If you have questions about any of these performances, please contact:

Emma Ash

Box Office Manager

Admiral Theatre Foundation

360-373-6743 | emma@admiraltheatre.org

Best for Pre K - Grade 5

Performance times: 10 AM, 12:30 PM

Using theatrical, circus and comedy skills Professor Smart and Dr. K. teach basic physics concepts to students in ways even the teachers and parents will understand. Your kids will enjoy 60 minutes of science fun. This “Fun with Physics Show” is fully produced with a colorful set, sound and light cues. This performance has drawn rave reviews from performing arts centers, teachers and kids across the country. They cover science standards that are coupled with solid online study materials. It is a worthwhile learning experience Teacher resources can be found at http://letsgoscienceshow.com/performing-arts-center/

Sponsored by:

Kiwanis Club of Bremerton

Betty Krueger

Best for Grade 1 - Grade 5

Performance time: 12:30 PM

Cat Kid and Molly Pollywog have started an epic club to teach 21 rambunctious baby frogs how to make their own comics! Their fishy father Flippy is overjoyed that his kids will learn to unleash their creativity, but when the frogs’ constant bickering and outrageous imaginations send their comics comically off the rails, Flippy flips out! Will the club survive? Will the frogs ever get along? And will creativity finally save the day? All will be answered in this madcap musical based on Dav Pilkey’s irreverently hilarious book series.

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Best for Grades 5 - up

Performance Time: 7:00 PM

On Tuesday, February 13 at 7pm the Admiral Theatre will present Living Voices: The Right To Dream. This performance is best suited for grades 5 and up, and will be no longer than 60 mins in length. In this educational experience, Living Voices combines a dynamic solo performance with archival film and sound, turning history into a moving and personal journey. The struggle and sacrifice for civil rights in America is witnessed in this compelling story. The Right to Dream recreates a student’s coming of age as an African American in Mississippi during the 1950’s and 1960’s. This program illuminates the issues of civil rights, leading audiences to understand how the fight against prejudice has shaped our history. You can find out more about the performance on our website at https://www.admiraltheatre.org/events/livingvoicestherighttodream

Sponsored by:

Greg & Sunny Wheeler

Mike & Joan Hanten

Applications are now being accepted for the “Ellison Education Grants”. Grants are for K-12 public school teachers in Washington State. Over the past six years, the Ellison foundation has awarded 101 grants and $501,000 to Washington State teachers.

Grants will range from $1,000 to $10,000 and be awarded this spring to be used during the 2024 – 2025 school year. Applications must be submitted by March 30, 2024.

To learn more about the “Ellison Education Grants” please click on this link: http://ellison-foundation.org/ellison-education

Sharing as an FYI for coaches and club advisers

• Discounts available for groups of 20 or more (No fees)
• School’s receive protective pricing (2023 pricing was $10 in the 300 level and $20 in the 100 level)
• Fundraising opportunities for schools

• Complimentary scoreboard message

• 2 complimentary tickets to a game in 2024 during the regular season

• Many groups also add gift cards. These cards can be loaded with any amount (starting at $5) and used at our concession stands or team stores.

Learn more here!

Background photo: A rainbow ends at the pot of gold at Naval Avenue Elementary last week!

Email: communications@bremertonschools.org

Website: www.BremertonSchools.org
Phone: 360-473-1000
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The Bremerton School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee(s) has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination Garth Steedman at Garth.Steedman@BremertonSchools.org or 360.473.1031 or the Section 504 Coordinator, Mark Mayfield at 360.473.4702. Mailing address: 134 Marion Avenue North, Bremerton, WA 98312.