Even though Detroit Lions fans are disappointed the team didn't make it to the big game, many employees will be watching Super Bowl LXI this Sunday. When Superintendent Dr. Darrin Slade was with Kansas City Public Schools, the Kansas City Chiefs made it to Super Bowl LIV. Dr. Slade and three colleagues made a video cheering on the team for a district contest. Watch for Dr. Slade's entrance from the right side of the screen!

National School Counseling Week 2025 runs through today and is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. This year's theme is: School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive. Presented by American School Counselor Association, the week highlights the impact school counselors have by helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

The KPS Wellness Committee is excited to announce that reservations are open for Fulfilling Our Promise: KPS Wellness Fair 2025. Join the committee at the fair to enjoy lunch and participate in a whole slate of wellness-related workshops and displays.

ALL KPS EMPLOYEES are invited to attend the wellness fair, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22, at Linden Grove Middle School, 4241 Arboretum Pkwy. (You are invited to bring a guest — although, only KPS employees are eligible for the raffle prizes).

Make your reservation by filling out the form at https://forms.gle/eoS8frcjUjFnahoj6 or through the QR code on the flyer. The final registration deadline is Feb. 10. Questions? Contact Lisa Dewey at deweylm@kalamazoopublicschools.net.

Beginning Monday, Feb. 17, 2025, all hourly employee groups NOT covered under an existing bargaining contract will begin to accrue sick leave hours. Employees currently covered under an existing bargaining contract are already compliant with this legislation.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Starting Monday, Feb. 17, for every 30 hours worked, hourly employees — including substitutes — will earn one (1) hour of paid sick leave.

• Sick leave hours will be tracked and recorded through the payroll process. This means employees will see their available sick leave balance updated on the payroll in which the sick time was earned, in line with the hourly pay schedule (included here).

• — For example, if an hourly employee works 60 hours the pay period of Monday, Feb. 17 - Friday, Feb. 28, this time will be paid on Friday, March 14, and two (2) sick hours will be accrued to the employee’s hourly sick bank.

• Hourly employees can see their available sick balance in Time and Attendance and on their pay statement.

• Hourly employees can request to use their available sick balance using Time and Attendance. Instructions on how to make that request are included here. Instructions for supervisor approval in Time and Attendance are also included here.

• — Time may be requested in no less than quarter hour increments.
• — The total sick leave request for one day may not exceed the typical hours worked in a day for that hourly employee.

• Substitute employees including sub teachers, sub paraprofessionals, sub administrators, and sub secretaries can request to use available sick time on the timesheet they submit their subbing hours on. The sick hours will be paid, and the employee’s sick accrual bank will be adjusted by payroll.

• These employee absences DO NOT need to be tracked on the bi-weekly A & S report. They will track and request their own time via Time and Attendance or timesheets.

• Employees are permitted to use sick leave time for sick-related absences as outlined in the attached “Michigan Earned Sick Leave Act” document, under the Earned Sick Time Uses section.

• Earned sick leave hours will carry over from year to year with unlimited accumulation.

• Kalamazoo Public Schools will not limit the number of sick leave hours used in a year.

• Sick leave hours are not paid out upon the employee’s separation of employment.

• If an employee separates employment from Kalamazoo Public Schools and returns within six (6) months, they will maintain their existing sick leave balance and continue to accrue on it. If an employee separates employment and does not return to the District within six (6) months, they will forfeit their sick leave balance.

On Jan. 24, 53 Loy Norrix High School students participated in the District 3 regional DECA competition There were about 3,000 contestants. The Loy Norrix club had 22 members earn medals across a variety of business role plays and tests showcasing their business acumen. The students were the team of Edmundo Castillo-Gyllstrom and Oscar Markovich-Edwards, and individual members Grayson Borick, Felix Wendt, Tenley Douma, Jayde Hayworth, Leland Wagner, Madison Johnson, Allison Boucher, Dominic Abate, Camille McKee, Margarite McBride, Zahra Rahimi, Connor Doren, Izaak Korth-McDonnell, Jireh MCNair, Plamedie Ekumbaki, Ariah Leake, TJ McClinton, Ari Johnson, Eden Sleper, Tamar Stuart and JJ Bennett-Coleman.

Edison Academy's plans for a sledding party for its attendance incentive celebration were scuttled by snow/cold days. Home support specialist Jamie Yax's back-up plan: Sno-cones! Students with more than 90 percent attendance for the previous month enjoyed the icy treats.

Congratulations to the select band and orchestra students from Kalamazoo Central and Loy Norrix high schools who participated in District XI Solo & Ensemble Festival at Battle Creek Lakeview High School on Feb. 1. Seventy students participated and they earned medals in 43 events, with 27 events receiving a Division I - "Superior" rating and 16 events receiving a Division II - "Excellent" rating. All events receiving a Division I rating qualify to perform at MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble Festival at Portage Northern High School on March 14 and 15. Great job!!

If you are an employee with the ORS 3% heath care contribution deduction on your paycheck, please read the following carefully.

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) has instructed school districts to begin reimbursing eligible employees their actual 3% healthcare subsidy contributions withheld since October 1, 2024.

This reimbursement will occur on the February 14 th paycheck in the form of a negative deduction that will be subject to State and Federal taxes. Here’s an example of what that will look like:

ORS REF 3 %.

-604. 42

However, the State of Michigan still requires school districts to withhold and report the 3% heath care contribution of eligible employees through the end of the State’s fiscal year: September 30, 2025.

Because of this reporting requirement, you will continue to see the 3% HCC deduction withheld from your paychecks through September for reporting purpose. However, you will notice the ORS 3% REF deduction will continue to be on your pay statements, which will have the exact negative amount of your 3% HCC deduction every payroll.

Here’s an example of what that will look like:

ORS 3% HCC

56.37

ORS 3 % REF

-56.37

This will allow the district to comply with the State’s reporting requirements while still refunding the employee immediately and adjusting taxable income appropriately. Eligible employees can expect to see these two deductions through the end of September.

Any questions can be directly submitted to Beth in payroll: jasiakem@kalamazoopublicschools.net.

Thank you for your consideration.

The Administration Building engagement committee has launched a scholarship fund for KPS employees utilizing the Loy Norrix Child Care Center. The scholarships will provide tuition assistance to qualified KPS support staff members with a child or children attending LNCC. The scholarship awards will be income-based. Donations to the scholarship fund can be made through Revtrak or cash can be given to the Business Office.

The Excellence in Special Education Award is sponsored by the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) of Kalamazoo County to honor those persons who have gone above and beyond their role in educating and supporting students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Nominations can be completed online at www.kresa.org/PACNomination and will be automatically sent to the KRESA Special Education office. Paper nomination forms can be turned in to the local district office. All nominations must be received by the KRESA Special Ed office by Friday, March 7, 2025, to be considered for the current school year. PDFs of nomination forms are attached below.

Assistant School Secretary

Hillside Middle School

JOB ID: 4723

Special Education Resource Room Paraprofessional

Kalamazoo Central High School

JOB ID: 4661

Special Education Resource Room Paraprofessional

Loy Norrix High School

JOB ID: 4725

PEEP Hourly Tutor

Various Locations

JOB ID: 4488

PEEP Hourly Tutor

Greenwood Elementary School

JOB ID: 4676

Title I Tutor

Winchell Elementary School

JOB ID: 4688

Title I Tutor

Woods Lake Elementary-A Magnet Center for the Arts

JOB ID: 4722

Title I Tutor

El Sol Elementary School

JOB ID: 4726

Email: communications@kalamazoopublicschools.net

Website: https://www.kalamazoopublicschools.com/
Location: 1220 Howard St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49008
Phone: (269) 337-0100
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