August 2026 HR/Business Office Blog Update

WELCOME BACK 2026
HR/Business Office Updates

Salary Notices:  Salary notices for all employees have been sent out.  Please check SchoolFront to ensure you have signed your Salary Notice, and let us know if you have questions: SchoolFront Login page. Your Salary Notice must be signed before you can receive your first paycheck of the school year!

New "HiltonEmployee" Wifi Network for Personal Devices

Great news - staff now have an option to join their personal devices (cell phone, laptop, tablet) to a new "HiltonEmployee" Wi-Fi network, offering a better experience than the Hilton Guest network - faster speeds and staff filtering settings, as opposed to the student filtering settings present on the Hilton Guest Wi-Fi network. 

If you choose to utilize this Wi-Fi network, an application does have to be added to the personal device you want to use it on. This application is solely for the purpose of logging in with your district account and doesn't collect any data otherwise. 

Please find a tip sheet here on how to get the application, login and join the Hilton Employee Wi-Fi network.  If you need help with this process, please submit a ticket or the Help Desk at 7022.

Digital Tools Update and List

A new list of approved digital tools has been prepared.  Click here for the New and Approved Digital Tools.

Frontline Absence Management Accrual Balances: Accruals have been updated for all staff, to include carryover balances as well as newly-credited balances for the 2026-27 school year. Please check your Absence Management account in Frontline to ensure that your balances are accurate. If you believe your balances are not accurate, and/or you have any questions about your balances, please reach out to the Office of Human Resources as soon as possible so we can look into the matter. 

To view balances in Absence Management, ensure you are in your "Employee" role, and navigate to Account, then Absence Reason Balances.

When accessing Frontline, be sure to use the Frontline Single Sign On link. Best practice is to put your absence into Frontline as soon as you know you need the day off. If have an upcoming house closing, doctor's appointment, etc. and need to request a personal or sick day, please do so as early as possible.  We appreciate your efforts to communicate your time off ahead of time.  This allows your supervisor to plan ahead.

USB Storage Devices No Longer Permitted on District Devices – Effective January 1, 2027

To enhance the security of District systems and protect sensitive student and staff data, the District will discontinue the use of USB storage drives (flash drives and external USB storage) on all district-owned devices effective January 1, 2027.  USB storage devices have created numerous risks related to malware, data loss, and unauthorized access to information. This change aligns with cybersecurity best practices and helps ensure compliance with student data privacy and information security requirements.

This change applies only to USB storage devices. Wireless mice, keyboards, and other non-storage peripherals will continue to be allowed. To provide you with enough time and support, we wanted to announce this change now.  Staff are encouraged to begin transitioning to approved and secure cloud storage platforms, OneDrive and Google Drive.  Need help making the transition? Click here to request support from the Technology Department.

Thank you for your cooperation as we take this important step to protect our systems and data.

Technology Ticket Resolution:  Ever wonder how about how many tickets were submitted to the technology team?  How quick did they resolve the tickets? The visual below should help share the number of tickets over the past two years and the resolution time for all tickets.  Kudos to the technology team for their efforts to keep our students and staff up and running.

Extenuating Circumstances/Unpaid Day Requests

Unpaid Day Requests: Employees requesting time off beyond their accruals (out of sick days, out of personal days, 10-month staff approved for time off for a one-in-a-lifetime trip, etc.) must submit an extenuating circumstance form in Frontline.  Supervisors acknowledge the request in Frontline as a Level 1 approver. The request then goes to either Casey or Ned for Level 2 (i.e., final) approval. Casey approves these extenuating requests for teachers and administrators, while Ned approves extenuating requests for all other staff.  If extenuating days are approved, Ned or Casey will include a comment on your Frontline form, detailing what the time-off is approved for (ex: personal day, unpaid day, or a combination thereof).  It is important to note that employees taking unpaid days may owe 100% of the cost for their medical, vision, and dental insurance.  Union leadership is aware.  Please reach out to your Human Resources for the daily rates for medical, dental, or vision plans.  

M&T Bank wanted to remind our staff about their offerings when opening an account.  There is up to a $300 cash bonus for opening a new account before January.  M&T Bank is located right in the Village of Hilton.  To learn more about the benefits of working with M&T as a Hilton employee, click here.

Human Resources Intranet site:  Looking to find Contracts, Workplace Violence Information, Frontline, SchoolFront, GCN, Munis and much more? This information can be found on the Hilton CSD Intranet on the Human Resources page.   Click hear to access the Workplace Violence policy statement

August 2026 Business Office Update

HCSD Employee Quick Update: Payroll, Frontline, 

Retirement Savings & Mileage Reimbursement

As we begin the 2026-27 school year, here are a few important reminders and updates from the Business Office and Human Resources team.

💲 Check Your Payroll Information

Please continue to review your bi-weekly payroll advice in MUNIS Self Service to ensure your pay and deductions are accurate. With the start of a new school year, many employees will see updated salary or hourly rates. Teachers should verify that their bi-weekly salary reflects their selected pay schedule (1/22 or 1/26). Any direct deposit changes must be completed in person through Human Resources, and W-4 updates should be submitted electronically through MUNIS Self Service. As always, deduction changes require completed and signed documentation for audit purposes.

📋 Frontline Time Reporting Update (School Sanctioned Events)

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, claim forms for school-sanctioned activities are no longer being used. Employees serving as chaperones, timers, announcers, scorekeepers, and similar positions should submit their extra-duty time directly through Frontline. Tipsheets and guidance are available, including instructions for missed submission deadlines. On time submission is even more important with this new process.  You must submit within the pay period that the work was completed to avoid the cumbersome process of entry after the deadline.  We will continue to move claim form items from the paper form to Frontline with training and communication provided as new items transition to Frontline.

🏦 SECURE Act 2.0 & 403(b) Retirement Savings Updates

The SECURE 2.0 Act continues to provide additional opportunities for employees to save for retirement through their 403(b) plans.

2026 Contribution Limits

·         Employees under age 50 may contribute up to $24,500.

·         Employees age 50-59 and age 64+ may contribute up to $32,500 (including the standard catch-up contribution).

·         Employees age 60-63 may contribute up to $35,750, thanks to the enhanced SECURE 2.0 "super catch-up" provision.

Important Roth Catch-Up Change

Beginning in 2026, employees age 50 and older whose prior-year wages with their employer exceeded $150,000 will generally be required to make catch-up contributions on a Roth (after-tax) basis if their retirement plan offers Roth contributions.

If you participate in a 403(b) plan and would like to increase your retirement savings, now is a great time to review your contribution elections.

🚗 IRS Mileage Reimbursement Rate Increased Mid-Year

The IRS announced a rare mid-year increase to the standard business mileage rate for 2026.

2026 IRS Business Mileage Rates

·         January 1 through June 30, 2026: 72.5¢ per mile

·         July 1 through December 31, 2026: 76¢ per mile

Employees submitting mileage reimbursement requests should ensure that travel occurring before July 1 and travel occurring on or after July 1 are reported using the appropriate rate. The IRS indicated the increase was made due to higher vehicle operating and fuel costs.

🤝 New Partnership: Hilton Alumni Association Giving Opportunity

Hilton Central School District is pleased to share a new partnership with the Hilton Alumni Association, a 501(c)(3) organization that helps support additional opportunities for students beyond what can be provided through the annual school budget.

Employees who would like to contribute may make donations through payroll deduction by completing the appropriate authorization form and submitting it to Human Resources. This is a simple way to support enrichment, experiences, and opportunities that directly benefit Hilton students. If you have questions, please contact Hilton Alumni Association President Debbie Montrello, or connect with her when she attends one of your building staff meetings in the near future.

Questions?

For assistance with payroll, Frontline submissions, direct deposit changes, tax withholding updates, retirement plan deductions, Hilton Alumni Association payroll deduction forms, or mileage reimbursement questions, please contact the Business Office or Human Resources.

We wish everyone a successful start to the 2026-27 school year!

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