Staff Communicator
March 3, 2021
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Teacher of the Year Finalists
Congratulations to our Teacher of the Year finalists. Nixa's Teacher of the Year will be announced at the NEF Gala (if we have it) or in May if we do not. Nixa's Teacher of the Year will advance to the regional event as they work through the program that will name Missouri's Teacher of the Year.

Congratulations to Jason Foster, Rachel Claunch, Ellen Fogle, and Mandy Patton.
Updated Expansion Of Vaccines to School Staff
There are two important announcements for school staff and vaccines that we need to clarify.

  1. Missouri will open up vaccines for Tier 3 on March 15. This is for all school employees. However, this does not mean vaccines will be readily available since many are scheduling out vaccines weeks in advance or still haven't made it through all those in Tier 1 & 2 that would like to be vaccinated.
  2. President Biden stated that he wanted vaccines open to school staff starting next week. This will happen through national pharmacy chains to begin with from our understanding. This would include Hy-Vee, Walgreens, Health Mart, and Walmart. These groups should start opening up vaccines to school staff starting next week, but some pharmacies might not right away. You'll need to just watch their websites when they add school staff to the list of people on their sites that can be vaccinated. As of 8 a.m. on March 3, school staff haven't been added to those who can be vaccinated on any site in the Springfield metro area. To watch for vaccine opportunities, go to https://vaccinefinder.org.
  3. The district is also working to have a mass vaccination clinic through local pharmacies. The number of people we can get through the clinics will be determined by how many vaccines they will receive. We will go through our lists and schedule you as we work out these clinics.
  4. If you are are able to schedule an appointment, please fill out the vaccine forms IMMEDIATELY so we do not keep searching for a vaccine for you.
What Apps And Programs Can I Use?
Did you know that there are state and federal requirements that we must legally meet with any program that is used by ANY staff member?

So, just because there is a free trial or the program is free doesn't mean that you can use it.

Watch this video with a short update on what you need to do if you want to use ANY program, app, communication tool, or other platform.
Virtual & Snow Day Staff Survey
As we are, hopefully, finishing up inclement weather days for this school year, your feedback will help us to improve and support AMI/Snow Days. Please take a moment to fill out this short survey so that your voice is heard as we begin planning next year's AMI.

If you have any questions, email joshchastain@nixaschools.net
Final Care To Learn Clothing Order of 2020-21
The last ordering window of the school year is open now through March 28. Orders will be delivered to buildings by Wednesday, April 14, just in time for the April dress down day.
Accepting Proposals for GOCSD’s Innovation Summit
August 5-6, 2021
Branson Convention Center on the Landing
Hosted by GOCSD

Submit your Breakout Proposal and/or Roundtable Proposal by March 21, 2021, for GOCSD’s Innovation Summit. You are welcome to submit multiple proposals on different topics. Presenters will be notified in April, and at the event receive an exclusive Innovator Bag of Swag, that includes a book from a Keynote speaker or an Innovator T-Shirt. 

All proposals will be evaluated by our committee using this Scoring Guide. To get started, review our Proposal Writing Tips and list of Hot Topics. We will be including a MOCanvas Strand in the program, instead of having a separate MOCanvas event. The Hot Topics list includes some Canvas related topics. 

You can use the guides below as a resource when planning your session.

  • Breakout Session Planning Guide: These 45 minute sessions are a combination of a lecture, featuring audience participation and interaction with the presenter and/or hands-on activities. They may include multiple presenters. 
  • RoundTable Session Planning Guide: This is a small group of participants with a facilitator, gathering in an informal setting for an in-depth discussion on a particular topic for 45 minutes. 

At this point, we are planning for a seated event, but will reevaluate in the Spring if needed. This is a great opportunity to represent your District at a premiere conference and share your innovative and effective strategies, programs and practices.

For questions about the Innovation Summit please contact Michelle Brenner, brennerm@branson.k12.mo.us, or Janetta Garton, janetta.garton@gocsdmo.org. 
Did You Already Get The COVID-19 Vaccine?
YOU DON'T NEED TO FILL IT OUT MORE THAN ONCE

If you were able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine either through the district or another health-care provider, please make sure and fill out this form so your building nurse can update your file.

We need to know so that have full information on you if any medical issues arise while at school.

If you get it through the district's scheduling, you will be emailed the vaccine form to fill out. For those that did away from the district or if you missed filling it out from the email you received, click the link below to indicate you have received it.

If you have already filled it out, we have that and you do not need to fill it out again.
Employee Assistance Program: FREE
With the current changes in our world due to Covid-19, make sure and checkout the Employee Assistance Program. These services are at no cost to you.
Incentive for Early Notice of Retirement
In order for the district to recruit, employ, and appropriately train replacement employees, the district will pay retiring certificated professional staff members (those with a teaching contract) a monetary incentive according to the scale below. The staff member shall notify the district in writing of their retirement to be in effect the following fiscal or school year. Such retirement must be voluntary and cannot be in lieu of disciplinary action. Payment will be remitted to the employee at the conclusion of employment.

Notice Date of Resignation
  • January 7: $1000
  • February 7: $500
  • March 7: $250
Election Reminders for Staff
Since the election is one month away, we asked our lawyer to review our election/candidate guidelines and wanted to remind staff of the parts specific to you.

Staff:
  1. Staff CANNOT wear buttons, wristbands, or shirts supporting or opposing an election issue or candidate while on duty.
  2. Staff cannot distribute any information in support of or against an election issue or candidate on school time. This includes newsletters or information not prepared by the staff member but given to the staff member to hand out.
  3. Staff cannot use school time or resources to promote or oppose an election issue or candidate (computers, school email, copy machines, phones, cell phones, etc.). They can use school time to distribute factual information, but they cannot in any way campaign for or against an election issue or candidate on school time.
  4. Staff cannot use their school devices at home to support or oppose an election issue or candidate.
  5. Staff cannot use their personal devices when logged into district internet to support or oppose an election issue or candidate.
  6. Staff cannot raise money for a campaign or committee or an election issue on school time or using school resources.

Electioneering On Election Day:
No electioneering of any kind can occur on district property on election days outside of designated areas. This is the agreement that has been established between the District and the County Clerk.
 
If you have questions or need clarification, please contact Zac Rantz at 417-724-6215
Closed Captioning Services
If you will be sending out videos to parents and families in the school district or you have a student who requires that accommodation, you will need to have those videos captioned. We have signed up with 3 Play Media to caption our videos. You will be able to upload your video to 3 Play Media who will then take your video, embed the caption on it, and then send it back to you.

By signing up you understand that this service is ONLY for students in my class who need closed captioning based on a required accommodation or if I am sending this out to parents or the public. I also understand that this service will be billed to my building if I do not use this appropriately.
BAND App for School Clubs/Groups and Sports Teams
Effective July 1, 2020, the district has canceled its account with Remind as a way to help save money. No school group should use Remind in any way. We will move all sports, clubs, or extra curricular activities to the Band App. School Status should be used for classroom communication.

Band is an app where all extra curricular activities and sports will have a place to put their announcements, calendars, etc. and push information out to parents in all grades and high school students. The chat feature will not be turned on at this point in time. Parents and students should use current communication platforms for two-way communication (School Status, school phone, school email). 

You can manage your team/group and parents with this app by sending group messages, running polls, and sharing calendars, photos, and videos. You can set up groups any way you want outside of any district restrictions.

Good thing is now parents or students can't say they didn't get something or were told the wrong thing. As an Admin of your group, you will be able to go back and see everything sent and see who’s read each post. This is much safer than sending text messages or using social media and all school activities will be in one location.

Due to Federal law, the app can only be used to communicate with students in high school. Communication for junior high and below should only be directed to parents.

All accounts MUST best set up at the district level. To sign up your group for Band, please fill out the form below.
2020-21 Pay Dates:
  • July 24, 2020
  • August 24, 2020
  • September 23, 2020
  • October 23, 2020
  • November 23, 2020
  • December 23, 2020
  • January 25, 2021
  • February 23, 2021
  • March 23, 2021
  • April 23, 2021
  • May 24, 2021
  • June 23, 2021
Staff Wellness 2020-21
After completing our annual HRA, staff flu shots, and learning a lot about contact tracing a virus, we are finally ready share the rest of our staff wellness information. 

This is a very unique and sometimes challenging year. Our wellness team has created a plan that still involves exercise and healthy habits, but this year there are some new ways to earn points. This year we want to encourage you to encourage an uplift each other !  READ the WELL PLAN to see what's new and how you can earn points to be in monthly drawings.  

Feel free to fill in all your previous points from June to October and share with your building nurse.
Nixa Staff Athletic Pass

Full-time Nixa staff are able to receive a free athletic pass. To sign up for yours, CLICK HERE.

We encourage staff to get an athletic pass this year in case we have to limit single game ticket attendance.

If you have any questions, email  zacrantz@nixaschools.net .
2020-21 COVID-19 Staff Information, Plan, and FAQ

Check out the COVID-19 website with information for you on our plan for staff and also various things you need to be aware of. Take time to review that and let us know what questions you have by emailing healthservices@nixaschools.net.
Rapid COVID Tests

Free Rapid Covid testing is now available for all staff and their school age children! 

Who can get a test?  
Any Nixa staff (including Sodexo, bus drivers, and substitutes) and/or their PreK -12th grade students who are currently exhibiting covid symptoms. Only one appointment is necessary for you and your child. All persons being tested will need to complete the required consent form.
Note: ONLY symptomatic people can get the rapid test

Click HERE to schedule or for more information
QuickNews

Do you want to receive the bi-weekly email that comes out from the district highlighting various district events, news, and accomplishments? Use the link below to sign-up.
On-Site Clinics

Need to schedule an appointment or need information on the on-site clinics, go to the On-Site Clinic Information Page
Staff Discounts

Nixa staffers get discounts on movie tickets, fitness classes, cell phones, local shopping, and more.

We have updated the site with new coupons and deals, so check back often for specials and updates.
B&B Theater Gift Cards

B&B Theaters is offering Nixa Public Schools faculty and staff gift cards at a discounted rate: $25 gift cards for only $20 (20% off). This is in place of a staff discount when you go into the theater. You must purchase your gift cards through the school for the discount.

This will be done monthly August-June of each year. Forms and money will be due by the specified date, and the gift cards will be delivered to you the following week.
Tickets At Work

Nixa is excited to partner with TicketsAtWork to offer you discounted tickets for hotels, theme parks, events, etc.

They are offering many discounts to theme parks, events, concerts, restaurants, and other things.

And, you can also get discounted concert and sporting event tickets by clicking on the Preferred Access tab on their site.

To sign-up, follow these steps:
2.) Sign up by entering your company identifier: NIXAPS
Simply To Go

Sodexo still has the Simply To Go staff meals available.

To order CLICK HERE.

Address Or Phone Update

If you need to update your phone or address, you need to go into Frontline Central, click on My Forms, and then click on Forms I Can Start (pictured above) to find the phone and address updates.
Can't Login To Frontline?

If you are getting the screen pictured above when you try to sign in to Frontline, see the message below:

You have single sign on activated, so make sure you are either using the Waffle on the Chrome browser to click on and then find Frontline Education when you are logged in under your school account. Or on the login page, under where it asks for your username and password, there should be a link for your organization login...use that.
Zac Rantz, chief communication officer | zacrantz@nixaschools.net