Human Resources & Business Office Blog January 2026
Human Resources & Business Office
Blog Updates January 2026
Considering Retirement?
If you are considering retirement and would like to meet with us to review your contractual benefit entitlements, please call the Office of Human Resources to schedule a time that will work for you. Teachers and Administrators should schedule a meeting with Ned and Wendy, while Support Staff should schedule a meeting with Brittany and Wendy. You should also contact your respective retirement system (either TRS or ERS/NYSLRS) to discuss your pension estimate.
Buying Back Time? We received feedback from TRS and ERS/NYSLRS about the timeframe for buying back prior service. Currently, it is taking between 1 to 3 years for New York State to complete the buyback process. To buy back time, you must complete a buyback form and send it to the NYS Retirement System. According to NYS, you should expect to hear back within 10 weeks to confirm they received the form. The research, calculations, and buyback process will then take between 1 to 3 years to complete. If you have questions about buying back time or completing the appropriate form, please contact Sherri DaMore in Payroll at extension 7032.
Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Deductions for all HCSEA Staff (Both 10-Month and 12-Month)
Reminder: Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance deductions WILL NOT be taken out of the January 16, 2026 payroll for any HCSEA staff members (including both 10-month and 12-month staff). This is because that pay period encompasses the dates from December 22, 2025 through January 4, 2026, which was the two-week holiday break. 10-month HCSEA staff members will receive pay for only the Christmas Day and New Years Day holidays as a result. Rather, the 20th insurance deduction will be taken from the first paycheck in July 2026.HCSEA and HEA Seniority Lists
The Seniority Lists for HEA and HCSEA staff are now posted to the Human Resources SharePoint site, accessible through the Hilton CSD Intranet. For HCSEA members, the document can be found in the folder entitled "HCSEA - Employees Association Documents and Forms," and includes absences through 11/9/2025. HCSEA staff should review the list and contact Mindy Leckinger in the Office of Human Resources if they have any questions or concerns about seniority, or notice any discrepancies. For HEA members, the document can be found in the folder entitled "HCS Teacher Association Documents." Any HEA members with questions or concerns should contact Debbie Palmeri in the Office of Human Resources.
New Care and Rewards Programs Under Excellus
Some great new programs will now be offered to employees who carry Excellus health insurance through the District!
ThriveWell: Staff in the High Deductible Health Plan can sign up for ThriveWell Rewards starting on January 1, 2026. Under the program, ThriveWell rewards you for making healthy decisions! Each calendar year, you can earn up to several hundred dollars in rewards!
Here's how you can earn rewards (per the ThriveWell flyer, points = rewards!):Step 1: Complete 2 or 3 activities from the list of Preventative Services to earn up to $150 in rewards (Annual checkup - $100; Eye exam, mammogram, colon cancer screening, bone density test, pap test, flu shot, shingles shot, pneumonia shot, COVID-19 vaccination - $50 each; Dental checkup - $25 for each visit, up to $50)Step 2: Complete the in-platform Health Risk Assessment Survey to earn up to $50 in rewardsStep 3: Complete monthly wellness activities to earn up to $100 in rewards ($5/month for reaching 7,000 steps/day or $10/month for reaching 10,000 steps per day - for at least 20 days/month); $10/month for completing a monthly journey.
Bright Beginnings: This program offers one-on-one support to educate and guide expectant mothers through their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey. Enrollees are paired with a Care Manager who is experienced in maternity, labor/delivery, and postpartum nursing.
Check your e-mail with ThriveWell Rewards and Bright Beginnings flyers for more details!
Medical, Vision, and Dental Insurance Deductions for all HCSEA Staff (Both 10-Month and 12-Month)
Reminder: Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance deductions WILL NOT be taken out of the January 16, 2026 payroll for any HCSEA staff members (including both 10-month and 12-month staff). This is because that pay period encompasses the dates from December 22, 2025 through January 4, 2026, which was the two-week holiday break. 10-month HCSEA staff members will receive pay for only the Christmas Day and New Years Day holidays as a result. Rather, the 20th insurance deduction will be taken from the first paycheck in July 2026.
HCSEA and HEA Seniority Lists
The Seniority Lists for HEA and HCSEA staff are now posted to the Human Resources SharePoint site, accessible through the Hilton CSD Intranet. For HCSEA members, the document can be found in the folder entitled "HCSEA - Employees Association Documents and Forms," and includes absences through 11/9/2025. HCSEA staff should review the list and contact Mindy Leckinger in the Office of Human Resources if they have any questions or concerns about seniority, or notice any discrepancies. For HEA members, the document can be found in the folder entitled "HCS Teacher Association Documents." Any HEA members with questions or concerns should contact Debbie Palmeri in the Office of Human Resources.
New Care and Rewards Programs Under Excellus
Some great new programs will now be offered to employees who carry Excellus health insurance through the District!
ThriveWell: Staff in the High Deductible Health Plan can sign up for ThriveWell Rewards starting on January 1, 2026. Under the program, ThriveWell rewards you for making healthy decisions! Each calendar year, you can earn up to several hundred dollars in rewards!
Here's how you can earn rewards (per the ThriveWell flyer, points = rewards!):
Step 1: Complete 2 or 3 activities from the list of Preventative Services to earn up to $150 in rewards (Annual checkup - $100; Eye exam, mammogram, colon cancer screening, bone density test, pap test, flu shot, shingles shot, pneumonia shot, COVID-19 vaccination - $50 each; Dental checkup - $25 for each visit, up to $50)
Step 2: Complete the in-platform Health Risk Assessment Survey to earn up to $50 in rewards
Step 3: Complete monthly wellness activities to earn up to $100 in rewards ($5/month for reaching 7,000 steps/day or $10/month for reaching 10,000 steps per day - for at least 20 days/month); $10/month for completing a monthly journey.
Bright Beginnings: This program offers one-on-one support to educate and guide expectant mothers through their pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum journey. Enrollees are paired with a Care Manager who is experienced in maternity, labor/delivery, and postpartum nursing.
Check your e-mail with ThriveWell Rewards and Bright Beginnings flyers for more details!
Fitness and Wellness Committee
Are you or someone you know looking to join a great committee about Fitness and Wellness for the Hilton Central School District? The Fitness and Wellness Committee is seeking additional members who are passionate about healthy opportunities offered to staff and students.
If interested, reach out to Ned Dale for an invitation to join the next committee meeting and see that this committee is all about!
Rochester Teacher Recruitment Day is back!
We are bringing back Rochester Teacher Recruitment Day! Hilton and other area Districts have collaborated to bring the event back to the area. On March 20, 2026, nearly 30 districts in the Rochester area will participate to recruit candidates from colleges and universities. 
Need Help With Accessing a System?
Frontline, SchoolFront, Munis Self-Service, Incident IQ, GCNs, BenefitSolver, Etc.
Key Systems: Staff often call the HR and Business Offices for assistance with accessing various systems, which are primarily used to complete required trainings (GCNs), view tax documents and paystubs, complete evaluations, sign salary notices, etc. We created a resource detailing each of these systems, including what they are used for, who to contact if you have questions, and the QR code/URL for accessing the specific site: Key Systems For All Staff Document. We hope you find this beneficial and a way to ease your burden.
2025 W-2 and 1095 Documents
As a reminder, your W-2 will be available on Munis Self-Service site by January 31, 2026. You will be able to download and/or print your W-2 directly from this site after receiving the email informing you it is ready. You can log in using this link: Munis Self-Service. Please try to log in now to prevent any issues logging in when W-2s are issued. If you need your password reset, please submit a ticket in Incident IQ or contact Sherri DaMore in Payroll (sdamore@hilton.k12.ny.us or extension 7032).
📢 Important Payroll Announcement!
As we approach every payday, we want to share some important information regarding payroll processing. - Skip Week: Approximately every five (5) years we need to adjust the
payroll calendar to ensure that we have the correct number of pays during the
calendar year, the correct number of pays between July and December, and the
correct number of pays between January and June. To accomplish this, we
built in three weeks between the last pay in June 2026 and the first pay in
July 2026. For those of you that are long-time employees of the district,
you may remember this happening in July of 2015 and most recently in July of
2021. The three-week payroll is scheduled in July 2026 to minimize the
number of employees that will see an impact to the pay schedule. There
are two important items that hourly staff need to be aware of due to this
adjustment. The first, is there will be three weeks between the June 18,
2026, payroll (Friday June 19, 2026, is a holiday) and the July 10, 2026,
payroll. Second, the July 10, 2026, payroll will be larger than normal as
it will consist of three weeks’ pay covering time worked between June 8, 2026,
and June 28, 2026. (Salaried staff will have the same three weeks between
payrolls, but they will not receive a larger pay in July as their annual salary
is equally distributed over 26 pay periods.) This information is being
provided to you now so that you have time to plan accordingly. If you
have any questions, please reach out to Jim Barrett at x7097 or Adam Geist at
x7034.
- New Federal and NYS tax tables are in place for 2026. Employees may see more taxes withheld from their paychecks as a result.
- Medical, Dental and Vision plan increases started January 1, 2026. Employees may be seeing more money withheld to cover this increase. There have not been changes to contribution percentages, but the overall plans are costing more.
- Skip Week: Approximately every five (5) years we need to adjust the
payroll calendar to ensure that we have the correct number of pays during the
calendar year, the correct number of pays between July and December, and the
correct number of pays between January and June. To accomplish this, we
built in three weeks between the last pay in June 2026 and the first pay in
July 2026. For those of you that are long-time employees of the district,
you may remember this happening in July of 2015 and most recently in July of
2021. The three-week payroll is scheduled in July 2026 to minimize the
number of employees that will see an impact to the pay schedule. There
are two important items that hourly staff need to be aware of due to this
adjustment. The first, is there will be three weeks between the June 18,
2026, payroll (Friday June 19, 2026, is a holiday) and the July 10, 2026,
payroll. Second, the July 10, 2026, payroll will be larger than normal as
it will consist of three weeks’ pay covering time worked between June 8, 2026,
and June 28, 2026. (Salaried staff will have the same three weeks between
payrolls, but they will not receive a larger pay in July as their annual salary
is equally distributed over 26 pay periods.) This information is being
provided to you now so that you have time to plan accordingly. If you
have any questions, please reach out to Jim Barrett at x7097 or Adam Geist at
x7034.
- New Federal and NYS tax tables are in place for 2026. Employees may see more taxes withheld from their paychecks as a result.
- Medical, Dental and Vision plan increases started January 1, 2026. Employees may be seeing more money withheld to cover this increase. There have not been changes to contribution percentages, but the overall plans are costing more.
Payroll Processing Schedule: - Tuesday (End of Day), week of payday: The cutoff for any changes or adjustments to payroll.
- Wednesday, week of payday: Payroll data is processed and sent to the bank.
🚫 No Changes After Tuesday: Please note that after Tuesday, no additional changes can be made to your payroll. So, if you have any updates or corrections, make sure to submit them before the deadline. Please understand this is a typical schedule and subject to change due to holidays and other events that can change the timeline.
🌟 Best Practice: Provide information early to ensure accurate and timely payments, we recommend that all necessary information be provided the week prior (non-pay week). This proactive approach helps streamline the process and ensures that everyone receives their biweekly pay on time.
🚨Emergencies: If you have an account emergency, such as closing of an account due to fraud, please pick up the phone and call our payroll department! Sherri can be reached at extension 7032 or Jim can be reached at extension 7097.
Your cooperation helps keep the payroll process running smooth. Thank you! 💸
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
Admin. Asst. to the Asst. Supt. for Business/Purchasing: Sarah True, Ext. 7033
Budget Director: Jim Barrett, Ext. 7097
Assistant Supt. For Business: Adam Geist, Ext. 7034
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
Admin. Asst. to the Asst. Supt. for Business/Purchasing: Sarah True, Ext. 7033
Budget Director: Jim Barrett, Ext. 7097
Assistant Supt. For Business: Adam Geist, Ext. 7034
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