August 2024 HR/Business Office Blog

 

August 2024 Human Resources Update

Hiring: We continue to use a wide range of strategies to recruit and fill our vacancies.  Our postings in RecruitFront automatically go to Indeed for anyone to see.  Postcards have been mailed to all residents to fill our school related professional positions.  This approach has worked quite well throughout the last few years.  Our retention of staff is at a high level.

A mid-year survey will take place again in January for all newly-hired employees who start between July 1, 2024 and January 1, 2025.  As you know, we want to hear from staff on how we can improve to support our newest hires.   Feedback and participation are the key!

Air Conditioning Plan:  

We received a great deal of feedback about the temperatures in June.  Many asked if any planning has taken place to install air conditioning in the buildings.  The air conditioning plan for each building is noted for all schools.  Use the legend on the maps to determine what areas of each building are in line for installation of air conditioning.  This plan can be found on the Hilton Intranet under Buildings and Grounds.  

Data and Cybersecurity: 

We have seen a drastic decrease in failed login attempts with 2-factor authentication.  Keeping your data and our students' data private is important to us.  The inconvenience is worth this People First approach to securing our information.  Please see the number of out-of-country logins that have attempted to access our information and accounts. The data is alarming, and we are glad to see that 2-factor authentication has been successful in significantly decreasing these hacking attempts.

Required Trainings: **UPDATE**  In an effort to put people first, we worked with GCN network and as of August 1st, we adjusted the training to a self-paced model, meaning that you can listen to the slides at your own pace rather than continuously clicking "Next" at the end of each slide. Employees must pass their trainings with a 70% or higher to submit and earn credit for the course. This is my 25th year of successfully completing bloodborne pathogens test.  We hope this adjustment will allow employees to demonstrate their knowledge of these required courses.  Congratulations to the 26% of our staff who have completed all of their GCN courses. 

Updated Mandated Reporter Training Required by New York State: NYS has mandated reporter training for the individuals on this link that is now up-to-date. Teachers and certified staff must complete this training for certification purposes by 4/1/2025, as well as some other titles listed in the aforenoted link.  Here is the link to the online mandated reporter training course from the Office of Children and Family Services.  We also wanted to provide you the NYS Mandated Reporter Summary Guide again for your reference.  

Safe Schools Helpline:  In an effort to expand the reporting opportunities for students, parents, and staff, we have added a service that will help us create an additional option to report concerns.  If you are wondering whether you should or should not report something, report it.  "SEE SOMETHING AND SAY SOMETHING!" Our new service will also provide access to our students while school is closed.  To make an anonymous report, go to Safe Schools Helpline Report  Reports are communicated 24/7.

Workplace Violence Program:  To access the summary of our Workplace Violence Program, you may go to the Human Resources Intranet Page.  The Hilton Staff Injury report form is also there too and available in our nurses' offices.  Please contact Ned Dale or Brittany Nasradinaj if you have questions.

You may access your account by clicking the Frontline Single Sign On link If have an upcoming house closing, doctor's appointment, etc. and need to request a personal or sick day, please make sure to make your request as early as possible.  We appreciate your efforts to communicate your time off ahead of time.  This allows your supervisor to plan ahead.

Frontline:  Everyone should have accounts with the appropriate balances that rolled over from 2023-24.  Please be sure to check your 2024-25 accrual balances as soon as possible and contact Human Resources if you believe there to be a discrepancy. 

Human Resources Intranet Website: Human Resources Intranet Site Link  

• We have contracts for all groups
• Frontline Absence Management Support Documents
• New Employee Information
• SchoolFront/Evaluation and Personnel File Support Documents
• Workplace Violence Program and Incident Form

Employee Assistance Program(EAP):  We have received very positive feedback about our EAP.  All active employees have access to our EAP to ensure that we have the necessary mental health support.  We know that stress appears in many forms.  Please know that you may call this confidential support at no cost.  

If you are struggling with caring for a parent, relationship issues or anything that is preventing you from being the person you want to be, seek help.  Just call EAP and let them know you are a Hilton employee.  

Salary Notices:  Salary notices for all employees were sent by August 19, 2024.  Please check SchoolFront to ensure you have signed your Salary Notice, and let us know if you have questions.  SchoolFront Login page

Job Opportunities in Hilton:  Please make sure to check out our latest vacancies.  We are in pretty good shape to start the year!

Hilton Central Job Opportunities Page

Who do I call?  Contact Information:

Benefits Specialist:  Wendy Radford, Ext. 7094

HR Assistant for Certified Staff (Teachers and Admins): Debbie Palmieri, Ext. 7015

HR Assistant for Classified Staff (SRP Staff): Mindy Leckinger, Ext 7001

Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations:  Brittany Nasradinaj, Ext. 7023

Asst. Superintendent for HR: Ned Dale, Ext. 7021

August 2024 Business Office Update

Updated Claim Form:  Please take a moment to download the Version 2 of the electronic payroll claim form.  This is the ONLY version of the payroll claim form that will be accepted by the Business Office for payment moving forward.  Click here for Claim Form 2.0

Payroll Tips:  Please continue to check your Bi-weekly payroll advice in MUNIS Self-Service for accuracy.  With a new school year comes a new rate of pay!  Check your paycheck to confirm your hourly rate or salary matches your information.  Teachers, please double check that your biweekly salary is 1/22 or 1/26 of your pay based on your selection.  Also, a reminder that any changes you need to make to banking information for direct deposit must be submitted in-person to Human Resources before they can take effect in your check.  If you need to make any adjustments to your W-4 information, please complete the online form in MUNIS Self-Service.  No changes to your deductions will be made without a document completed and signed by you for auditing purposes.  

The 2024 limit for 403(b) contributions made by the employee is $23,000 for anyone under age 50.  The limit for employees who will be 50 by the end of 2024 or older is $30,500.

Who do I call?  Contact Information

Payroll Specialist:  Sherri DaMore, Ext. 7032

Accounts Payable: Lisa Vincelli, Ext. 7096

Accounts Payable/Grant Assistant: Alisa Leach, Ext.7035

Purchasing: Michelle McCue, Ext. 7033

Budget Director:  Jim Barrett, Ext. 7097

Assistant Supt. For Business: Adam Geist, Ext. 7034