Check out the AMAZING things the KJHS PTO has planned for Staff Appreciation Week! Please note that KJHS Admin will be not be providing lunch on Wednesday but we do have a little fun planned for that day. 

Monday, May 13th, is our final data day for the 23-24 school year! Please complete your team's recommendations for Cycle 1 Fall 2024 interventions by Friday, May 10th. 

Here is the plan for our PBIS Field Day on Wednesday, May 22nd during 7th & 8th hours. Many thanks to Nikki Brienen and the PBIS Celebrations Team for putting this together! 

The EOY checkout process includes completing the EOY Checkout Form and the EOY Google form. 

Please place team letters to be sent out this summer and team Back to School Bash Celebrations in this folder so Elisa doesn't have to bother you this summer. 

From Candid Omachel:

Thank you for attending the insurance meeting. You will receive an email shortly, from Employee Navigator, notifying that the special enrollment period is open. Please remember, this special enrollment is open for medical plan changes only. Dental and Vision plans are not being updated at this time. Information regarding this special enrollment can be found here at the District payroll website. You will need to access Google, using your Unit 5 login, to view the information.  The enrollment period ends on May 21, 2024.

If you missed the meeting, you can view the meeting here.

 We will hold Q&A sessions for staff with general questions on the dates below. Links to the meeting are provided below. Reminders will be sent the day of the session.

·       May 2 : 4 - 5:30pm : Video call link: https://meet.google.com/atv-cwem-cvt

·       May 7 : 4 - 5:30pm : Video call link: https://meet.google.com/efn-ujzv-xee

·       May 15 : 4 - 5:30pm : Video call link: https://meet.google.com/dya-pbgc-emu

·       May 21 : 11:30-1pm : Video call link: https://meet.google.com/iov-gcfr-mtd

You may contact David Underkoffler at david@clemensins.com with any questions you may have regarding this special enrollment. Questions can, also, be submitted using this Google Form or you may contact payroll@unit5.org.

Meeting Highlights

• Special enrollment period is May 1 through May 21 for employees who are currently active on the Unit 5 insurance plan (except for Custodial and Maintenance personnel).

• This special enrollment is a "passive" enrollment. If no action is taken by the employee during the enrollment period, the employee will remain on their current plan.

• The enrollment/changes are effective July 1 through December 31, 2024. We will have another open enrollment period, in the Fall, for 2025 coverage that starts January 1.

• Addition of "Utilization Management" to the prescription drug coverage for all plans.

• • Prior Authorization for some medications.

  • Step Therapy for certain chronic conditions.

  • Quantity Dispensing Limits

• Addition of “90DayMyWay” to all prescription drug coverage.  This will require all covered maintenance medications to be filled as a 90-day supply either through select retail pharmacies or through Home Delivery.

• Pharmacy network changed to "preferred" for all plans.  This network includes Walgreens, Osco, Walmart, and Sam's Club. For your lowest costs you will need to use these pharmacies.

• Changes to the premiums and employee contributions for our existing medical plans. This is in addition to the increased Board contribution to the Health Insurance Fund.

•  A new “Bronze” medical plan option is being added, which will be at no cost to eligible full-time employees.

• No changes to current Dental and Vision plans.

Looking to have a little dress up fun in May? Join us for the Kingsley Countdown to Summer Break dress up days! 

Please join us in welcoming Calynn Chavez (8-1 LBS 1) and Anna Trimpe (7-2 L&C) to Team Kingsley! We are so excited that they have chosen to join us for next year! 

Join us for the 3rd Annual Unit 5k presented by Commerce Bank!

When: Sunday, May 5

Where: Maxwell Park

Time: 2 pm one mile walk/run; 2:30 pm 5k

Cost: $10 per participant; $10 for a race t-shirt

All proceeds benefit the Unit 5 Educational Foundation.

Here is a link to sign up - https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Normal/Unit5k

The two schools with the highest percentage of participants will each $750

Register Today!

If there are any room repairs, painting, furniture changes, etc. that need to be done to your assigned classroom(s) before the start of the 24-25 school year, please record these on the 24-25 Room Needs Sheet. Any room change requests should be discussed directly with Elisa. 

Here is an updated draft of the 24-25 Master Schedule with individual teachers' tentative schedules (2nd tab). Schedules may change based on staffing changes or enrollment changes.

Has a fellow Cougar gone out of their way to help you? Have you seen a staff member who goes above and beyond to make Kingsley a better place to work and learn? Reward them by nominating them for a Kingsley Kudos! It's quick, painless, and brings joy to you and the recipient. 

Our annual PBIS fundraiser is currently underway! We have a block of tickets available for the Cubs vs. Cardinals game at Busch Stadium on Friday, July 12th, at 7:15 pm. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please complete the form linked in the fundraiser flyer. Thank you in advance for your support! 

After serving in the role of KJHS Yearbook Sponsor for many years, Danny Tanner has decided to step down from the position. If you are interested in becoming the next KJHS Yearbook Sponsor, which is a paid Schedule B position, please let Elisa know. 

May 6          Fine Arts Night

May 6-10    PTO Sponsored TAW

May 17        Mo's Front Porch Food Truck 11-2

May 17        Retirement Celebration at Hacienda Leon (Uptown) 4-6 pm

May 23rd    Staff Celebration during staff meeting

 We wanted to share some of the many benefits that are no cost to employees and eligible dependents, through your BCBS medical plan. Through BCBS, you have access to benefits that will help you achieve your health goals. Below is a brief overview of some of the programs that are offered. Additional details are attached.

Wondr - This is a digital weight loss and weight management program. It is not a diet! This program will teach you science-based skills so you can still eat the foods you enjoy while improving your overall health. Wondr is available to all interested employees currently enrolled in the BCBS medical plan.

Livongo - This program is designed to help individuals with hypertension, diabetes, and prediabetes manage their conditions to live a healthier lifestyle. Livongo will reach out to individuals who qualify for this program.

Hinge Health - This program helps individuals conquer back and joint pain without medication or surgery. Hinge Health will reach out to individuals who qualify for this program.

BCBS Fitness Program - This program provides discounted gym memberships to eligible employees and their dependents.

You may find additional information regarding the above programs and other benefits here at the District Payroll website. To access information at this, you must be logged in to your Unit 5 Google account. 

If you have any questions regarding your insurance benefits, please feel free to contact us. 

--

Candid Omachel

Payroll and Insurance Manager

McLean County Unit 5 Schools

Desk Phone:(309)557-4045 

District Cell: (309)306 -1085

** Unit 5 Staff Payroll and Insurance Resources can be found here**

If you are interested in training to be a mentor for the 24-25 school year, please let Elisa know by May 1. Elisa will be providing a training session in May for those teachers who are interested. Mentor training is valid for a period of 3 years and Elisa notified KJHS staff who need to renew their mentor training earlier this week. 

Here is the KJHS master schedule template for the 24 -25 school year. Individual teachers' schedules are still being developed and will hopefully be ready for release by May 1st. 

If  you feel that you want administration to be aware of communication with a student's family, please feel free to cc that student's AP when you email them. 

Due to the large number of students in the hallways at the beginning and end of the class periods, we are recommending that teachers institute a "no pass" rule for the first 5 and last 5 minutes of class. We are considering making this a whole school policy.

Just a reminder that teachers and staff should not be using crowdfunding sites, such as GoFundMe.com and Classful.com, to collect funds for field trips, school clubs, school events, etc.  Use of these sites compromises the district’s internal controls of handling funds and usually requires funds to be funneled through a personal account before ending up in the school’s account.  The district has the ability to accept electronic payments through the Infinite Campus school stores.  If you would like to utilize the Infinite Campus school store, please contact Elisa and she will help you get it set up. 

Here are the Instructional Technology Tips for February.

Need ideas for providing supports and accommodations? Check out these resources! Thank you to Tayler Musselman for compiling this collection and to all of you who contributed to it!