Employee News: 3% Increase in July, Salary Scales, Cigna Updates, FCPS CARES Recipients

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 06/06/2023 06:50 PM EDT
graduation


Jewad Abdulhadi, office assistant and coach at Annandale High School, serves as keynote speaker at graduation. An Ethiopian immigrant who moved to the United States as a middle schooler, Jewad faced numerous challenges but found a sense of belonging and support as a student in the Atom Nation community.

Fiscal Year 2024 Salary Scales, 3% Increase in July

Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) salary scales are available on the FCPS website.

The Fairfax County School Board approved the FY 2024 budget last month. It includes a 3% Market Scale Adjustment (MSA) for all FCPS employees effective July 1, and a step increase for eligible employees based on their anniversary date. A step extension has also been added to the top of all salary scale pay lanes.

Employees can find their anniversary date in UConnect. Once logged in, open the Bookmarks drop-down in the menu on the left, then Employee Self Service, Employment, and My Job. Next Anniversary Date is toward the middle of the list of information in the Job Profile.

đź’› Care, Love, and Compassion Recognized at Laurel Ridge

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“Since the start of this school year I have watched these amazing staff members provide an extraordinary level of care and love for a child with severe traumatic stress to ensure he feels safe,” a colleague said about April’s FCPS CARES recipients recognized at Laurel Ridge Elementary School. “However, this week, the culmination of that care and love ever so quietly resulted in such acts of compassion it is hard to put it into words.” 

The staff she’s referring to include Morgan Martin, multiple disabilities teacher; Katie Yost, emotional disabilities teacher; Diane Crockett, instructional assistant; and Sheila Bartley, administrative assistant.  

“This child has gained such trust with this staff, as has the parent,” the nominator said. “He was available, present and in the moment, connected to others. All respect and honor to these incredible staff members!”  

Also recognized in April as FCPS CARES recipients of the month were:

  • Do Mafuta, Stonecroft Transportation Center
  • Candice Johnson, South Lakes High School
  • Beth Schinstock, Longfellow Middle School
  • Alexandra Soria-Galvarro, Mount Vernon High School
  • Amanda Lockhart, Frost Middle School

FCPS CARES is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Read more about all the recipients. Learn how you can acknowledge an FCPS employee.

Become a Special Education Teacher

Make an impact! Become a special education teacher. Attend the Special Education Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, June 7, from 5 to 6 p.m.

🍎 So, You Want to Be a Teacher?

A virtual information session will be held on Wednesday, June 14, at 6 p.m., for employees who want to become teachers but do not yet hold a bachelor’s degree. Candidates will learn about pathways to becoming a teacher and have an opportunity to meet members of the James Madison University (JMU) community and Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) community.   

NVCC will consider anyone just starting their journey to becoming a teacher, even if they do not have an associate’s degree or 60 general education credits. Candidates interested in JMU programs will need (at minimum) a transferable associate degree. Learn more about those requirements at the Transferring to JMU webpage. 

Register for the information session.

Attend the Summer Equity Symposium

FCPS' 2023 Summer Equity Symposium will be held on Tuesday, July 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Herndon High School. Visit the symposium webpage for registration details and other information.

Simplified Cigna Prior Authorization Requirements

In response to employee concerns, effective immediately most prior authorization requirements under the Cigna plan have been simplified. Participants will receive new ID cards in the mail in the next several days to help facilitate better and faster service access for those participants receiving complex care.  

Pre-authorization is no longer required for most outpatient services such as chemotherapy, infusion therapy, and durable medical equipment, however coverage will continue to be subject to plan provisions and Cigna medical policy.  

Pre-authorization will continue to be required for inpatient hospital stays. Outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and chiropractic care will continue to require medical necessity review and authorization after the 20th visit.

Your Cigna identification number will remain the same. Please provide a copy of your new ID card to your providers, so they will be aware that they don’t need to seek pre-authorization for most services.   

The following resources are available if you have questions or concerns: 

This change will hopefully ensure participants are able to access services more quickly and efficiently.

FCPS Employee Conversation: Questions About Cigna

Superintendent Dr. Reid received questions about the shift to insurance provider Cigna at instructional staff meetings in April. To help address concerns, FCPS Benefits staff and Cigna representatives will be available for an Employee Conversation on Tuesday, June 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

This will be a hybrid event. Pre-registration is requested but not required. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided based on staff availability.

To join the meeting on Zoom, please be sure to sign in to your FCPS Zoom account using your network credentials before clicking on the event link sent to your FCPS email. Visit the Hub for tips on signing in to your Zoom account and accessing Zoom from a mobile device. If you need assistance setting up your Zoom account, please submit an IT support request.

Summer Cigna Connections

Cigna will continue to offer one-on-one virtual appointments with their service team during the summer to address member questions related to their plan: 

  • Through June 8, appointments will remain available on Tuesdays, from noon to 4 p.m., and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to noon. 
  • Beginning June 12, appointments will be available on alternate Mondays from 4 to 7 p.m., and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to noon. 

Use the Pick-A-Time Online Scheduler to schedule a virtual appointment.

For immediate help, call Cigna’s FCPS-dedicated service team at 877-501-7992. Wherever you’re located, the Cigna Team is available 24/7 to take your call and answer any questions about your health benefits.

Health Insurance: Reviewing Your Health Plan Basics

health insurance


Knowing how your insurance plan works can help you save time and money, and ensure the plan works best for you. A good place to start is by familiarizing yourself with key concepts like deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums. Understanding these terms will help optimize the benefits available to you. Watch a short two-minute video from ALEX for a quick explanation of the health plan basics.

We encourage you to view your health plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage on the FCPS Medical Benefits webpage. For a more interactive, personalized approach, use ALEX Benefits Counselor, the virtual benefits support tool.

🦸‍♀️ Four FCPS Teachers Named Cox Education Heroes

cox hero teachers


Four teachers were surprised during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week with $1,000 grants from Cox Communications to spend on their classroom. Cox honored teachers who “exemplify what it means to positively impact the next generation,” including (from top left):

  • Anne Quigley, math teacher at Glasgow Middle School 
  • Laura Wagner, fourth-grade teacher at Bailey’s Upper Elementary School 
  • Keytrell Slack, fourth-grade teacher at Clermont Elementary School 
  • Rowena Hipol, kindergarten teacher at Eagle View Elementary School

“Their dedication to our children is why we are known for having a great school system and a great community,” Kathryn Falk, vice president and market leader of Cox Communications Northern Virginia, said about the teachers.

Read excerpts from the honorees’ nominations and their reactions.

đź’» Digital PSAT Replaces Paper in 2023-24

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This October, the PSAT/NMSQT will be administered in Fairfax County in a digital format. Some testing accommodations are administered differently for digital tests than for paper/pencil tests. See information about accommodations for students with disabilities. 

PSAT/NMSQT and SAT School Day

FCPS will offer access to the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) and SAT School Day for rising 10th through 12th grade students at no cost to families. Exams will be held at each high school on October 11. 

Find out more about SAT Assessments and PSAT Assessments.

Paying Off Debt While Building Wealth

FCPS’ Employee Assistance Program (EAP) will host Paying Off Debt While Building Wealth, an EAP Webinar, on Wednesday, June 7, at 4 p.m. Participants will develop financial plans and strategies to address the dual goals of paying off debt, while also contributing to building personal wealth.

Find additional EAP events on the Hub EAP page. Find recordings of previous webinars on the Recorded EAP Workshops page.

Support Services Employees’ Advisory Council (SSEAC) Election Results

Congratulations to the unopposed candidates in the following job groups who will serve as SSEAC representatives from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2025:

  • Group 1 – Bus Drivers and Attendants: Regis Brett, bus driver, Stonecroft Transportation Center.
  • Group 2 – Central Office Clerical/Technical: Monica Iskander, staff assistant, Instructional Services.
  • Group 4 – Custodial and Plant Operations: Jordan Nunez, building supervisor, Hutchison Elementary School.
  • Group 5 – Trades/Maintenance/Security: Bart Johnson, structural trades technician, Sideburn Support Center.
  • Group 6 – Finance Support and Supply Operations: Dani Sayre, finance technician, Lake Braddock Secondary.
  • Group 9 – School-Based Clerical: Karen Bryan, finance technician, Mount Vernon High School.

Congratulations to the unopposed candidate for the Group 10 – At-Large Group, Silke Fundaro, bus driver at Lorton Transportation Center. The At-Large term is three years, from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2026.

Group 7 did not receive petitions and will remain vacant until an interim representative is placed.

For information regarding all of the employee advisory councils, please visit the Employee Relations Hub page.

Impact of Educate Fairfax in 2022-23

Educate Fairfax is a non-profit working to help students and the FCPS community. This year, with donor support, Educate Fairfax was able to provide funding for 52 grants totaling more than $82,000 for classroom projects. It is also providing five books each for 165 second-grade students to read over the summer through a new literacy program. Educate Fairfax helped the Family Resource Center acquire more materials for their library as well. Since 2018, more than $315,000 has been provided in direct grants to teachers for projects that support work-based learning for all students.

Collecting for Kids in Need

It’s the time of year when Educate Fairfax begins collecting funds for school supply kits, so every student can start the next school year strong with the tools they need to be successful. Educate Fairfax donates 2,000 to 4,000 kits to students annually.

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

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In the month of June, we recognize the resilience and determination of the many individuals who are fighting to live freely and authentically. We stand with those facing an ongoing struggle against discrimination and injustice. This Pride Month, we affirm our obligation to uphold the dignity of all people. Each individual in our school community should feel valued for who they are. 

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Last Day of School/First Day of School 

The last day of the 2022-23 school year is Friday, June 16. Students will be dismissed early. The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21. See the school year calendar.
 

Last Issue of Employee News for the 2022-23 School Year

The last scheduled weekly issue of Employee News will be Tuesday, June 13.

Staff Staples

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Please email EmployeeNews@fcps.edu with potential submissions or questions. Submissions are due by 4:30 p.m. on Thursdays. Thank you! Â