Superintendent's Weekly Message
Move Update
4th phase- wrap up of office moves Dec. 11-29
Clean up, organizing touch ups
3rd phase Dec 4-8, HR, Legal, Programs, Executive Staff, Mail, and Maintenance
Office 201 to 200
Office 1227/137 to 1300/ 201
Office 1227/118 to 1300/213
Office 1227/221 to 1300/218
Legal 1300/216
Office 1227/210 to 1300/215
Office 1227/223 to 1300/229
Office 1227/108 to 1300/230
Office 1227/112 to 1300/231
Office 1227/225 to 1300/220
Office 1227/226 to 1300/226
Office 1227/227 to 1300/224
Office 1227/224 to 1300/219
Office 1227/224 to 1300/225
office 1227/222 to 1300/222
Office 1300/229 to 1300/111
Office 1227/127 to 1300/119
Calendar
Please be aware of the upcoming meetings:
Many of our talented OPI staff will be involved in presenting the great work the OPI does in putting Montana students first.
- December 7-15- Chanukah
- December 11-14: OPI Holiday Moving and Grooving Week
- All Week - Snowman Hunt
- 11 - Home/Office Decorating
- 12 - Fiscal Potluck
- 13 - Ugly Seater Day
- 14 - Slippers Day
- 15 - Judgement Day
- See flyer below for more information
- December 18: Land Board
- December 19: Education Advocates
- December 20: In the Know - John McCormick - Performance Appraisals
- December 22: Compass Bulletins Due from Units
- December 25: Christmas Holiday
- December 29: Compass sent out
- January 1: New Years Day Holiday
In the Know
In the Know are learning sessions presented by OPI staff. All start times are at noon. In person: the meeting will be held in the Lewis & Clark Conference Room: 1227 #106. Virtual: Zoom information is as follows: In the Know - Zoom Link Meeting ID: 870 3045 2987 Password: 078830. Dial by Telephone: 1 646 558 8656.
John McCormick will be talking about Performance Appraisals on December 20, 2023.
If you have any events to add to the calendar, please contact Brian O'Leary
OPI Holiday Moving and Grooving
New Hires
Kimberly Rebich, Federal Grants Coordinator, oversees Title I, Part A for the state of Montana, monitoring and providing technical assistance to LEAs. Prior to working at the OPI, Kimberly spent seventeen years as a K-8 teacher in several of Montana’s Title I schools. During some of her seventeen-year tenure, she also taught and coordinated a K-8 school district Title I program. Kimberly has a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, as well as a Master of Science in Teaching and Learning. Kimberly loves spending time with her six children, and giving all thanks to her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
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Rick Wootton, Attorney, has returned to the Legal Division at OPI after a 9-month stint at a Colorado litigation firm (he was previously at OPI from July 2022 through February 2023). Rick has been practicing law since 1989 . . . his experience includes work as a Navy JAG attorney, work as a civil trial attorney in Texas & Colorado, work for various state agencies in Texas & Montana. He received his undergraduate degree (in Law Enforcement & Police Science) from Sam Houston State University and his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
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Hanukkah Menorah Lighting
The first day of Hanukkah was celebrated with a menorah lighting in the Capitol Rotunda on December 7. Chanukah samayach!
Celebrating the Move with the Fiscal Unit
 Fiscal is inviting all OPI staff to a Potluck welcoming everyone to the 1300 building! A taco bar, sides, drinks, and desserts will be provided from 11:30 – 1:00 on Tuesday, Dec 12th in the Meadowlark conference room downstairs in 1300. See you there!
Floating Holiday Usage
Don't forget to use the floating holiday before December 29!
To find the status of your floating holiday:
1. Log into SABHRS
2. Click on "Time"
3. Click on "Leave/Comp Time"
4. You will see:
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Wishing you a 'Happy Birthday' this week
 Krystal Smith, Heather Davidson, Jackie Ronning, Andrea Miller, James Carroll, and Scott Furois
IT At A Glance
Moving on up
The IT/Data Division would like to thank the helpdesk staff for their hard work getting everyone moved and set up in the 1300 building. Jesse Romero and Chris Harris did a great job keeping the move on task and keeping the OPI serving the students and districts in Montana. We ask that as this move continues to please be patient as they are tackling tickets in between move jobs and are working hard to keep up. Great job!
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OPI Policy Updates
Update 1:
Revisions are complete and agency comment is open for 6.1.17 Telework or Hybrid Work. Agency comment will end on December 13th at 5:00 PM. Changes to this policy include:
- Defining Hybrid Work and Hybrid Work Agreement
- Clarifying definitions of OPI Work Site, Telework, and Telework Site
- Granting exception for location of OPI telework sites
- Clarifying covered expenses
- Providing guidance for implementation of hybrid work and/or telework
- Clarifying termination procedures
- Removing references to explicit forms
- General language clean up.
Update 2:
Revisions are complete and agency comment is open for 2.2.01 Public Records Request. Agency comment will end on December 28th at 5:00 PM. Changes to this policy include:
- Defining Communications Director roles and clarifies responsibility for the policy.
- General requirements for responding to information requests to align with Montana state law.
- Implementation for responding to information requests as required by Montana state law.
- Exceptions to public disclosure clarified.
- Statutory citations and links added.
Please note that all policies under review can be found here and all agency comment can be uploaded here.
Special Olympics Montana Sweetheart Passion Plunge
The Sweetheart Passion Plunge is on February 10 at Spring Meadow Lake. This is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Montana. If you would like to join Team OPI and take the plunge follow these steps:
- Click here
- Click “I want to take the plunge”
- Click "Join a Team"
- Join "Team OPI"
If you would like to show your support without taking the plunge, you can make a donation here.
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We See You, We Appreciate You, We Thank You
Kudos to: All of the staff who have either moved around or to the 1300 building so far. Your patience and kindness to those around you has made this move that much better for all involved! Thank you for bearing with us and your continued support!
and
Chris Harris, Systems Support Specialist, Jesse Romero, Computer Support Specialist, and Bill Wilson, Agency Facility & Access Coordinator, for going way above and beyond with the facility consolidation move! This move would not have been possible without you. Thank you so much for all of your hard work!
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OPI Openings
Winter Driving Course
This new 2-hour course offers solutions for the four major categories of winter driving problems. First, it offers tips on vehicle maintenance, both before and after problems occur. Second, it discusses how to overcome winter driving problems due to visibility and traction. Third, it explains how to avoid becoming stranded and how to survive if you do. Finally, it offers suggestions on how to avoid slips and falls while entering or exiting your vehicle. Not only will you learn how to stay out of trouble while driving in cold weather, but you will help your agency or university earn a 10 percent discount off its motor vehicle insurance. Also, some insurances offer participants discounts on their personal insurance premiums.
Cut and paste the link below to register today for the December 19th, Live Zoom class and Stay safe out there.
https://rmtdtraining.mt.gov/
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"Attitude is the 'little' thing that makes a big difference."
-Winston Churchill
Questions? Contact:
Brian O'Leary, Communications Director
Dustin Scott, Communications Associate
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
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