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Volume 6, Issue 5
The Inside Resource
North Colonie Central School District
Your News Source For Employee-Related Information at North Colonie
UPCOMING EVENTS
NCCS Human Resources Dept.
91 Fiddlers Lane, Latham NY
785-8591 [email protected]
March 2017
1st, 6th, 20th, 30th
Budget Committee Meeting,
Goodrich, 7:00 p.m.
12th
Daylight Savings Time Begins
14th
Capital Project Community
Conversation, SJHS, 7:00 p.m.
15th
Capital Project Community
Conversation, SJHS, 7:00 p.m.
17th
St. Patrick’s Day
24th
Workshop Day
27th
Board of Education Meeting,
BH, 7:15 p.m.
DISTRICT MISSION: All students are provided the opportunity and necessary support to engage in relevant, challenging work
which contributes to their academic and social development. All staff, teachers, and administrators are part of a larger learning community, working together to build collective capacity in order to provide a high-
quality, relevant, equitable education for all.
March 2017
Capital Project Update Two Additional Community Conversations
Scheduled in March
On January 30, 2017, the district hosted a community conversation that
brought together more than 200 people, including parents, district
residents, students and teachers. Following a brief presentation by
Superintendent Corr, participants engaged in small group discussions
led by Capital Region BOCES communications specialists. District
administrators and Board of Education members spent time listening to
the conversations to gain insight into participants’ concerns regarding
the project. A summary of those conversations, along with a full report,
may be found at http://www.northcolonie.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/02/Jan30_community_conversation_report.pdf.
As part of our effort to do better when communicating about the
essential components of any project proposed to address enrollment,
growth, instructional and safety needs, the district has scheduled two
more community conversations on March 14 and 15. Both conversations
will be held at Shaker Junior High School at 7:00 p.m.
Individuals interested in attending one of these forums should RSVP
online at http://www.northcolonie.org/march-14-15-community-
conversations/.
The District is working toward another bond vote on the Capital Project
on May 16th, which will occur on the same date as the School Budget
vote. We are hopeful that if the project is approved, we will still be
able to capture some of the advanced state aid from the Maplewood
annexation.
Page 2 The Inside Resource Volume 6, Issue 5
Raising awareness through song Vedrana Kalas is an ENL Teacher at Boght Hills Elementary School. Do you know that
she is also a classically trained soprano?
Along with her family, Vedrana emigrated in 1999 to the United States from Bosnia,
a country still deeply divided after an international armed conflict between 1992 and
1995. She has lived through the ugliness of war and through conflict and uncertainty.
A constant in her life has always been music, so Vedrana now uses her musical talent
to raise awareness about children affected by humanitarian crises. On February
17, 2017, Vedrana presented a recital at the University of Albany’s Performing Arts
Center to raise money for The Bosana Foundation, an organization based in California that provides
orphaned and marginalized youth with the tools, funds and resources to make positive life choices. A 2013
performance raised more than $2,000 that was donated through the foundation to an institution for
children and young adults affected by the Bosnian war. Vedrana says that her goal is to keep performing
the program at different locations to raise money and awareness about children in crisis around the world.
“I hope my children have everything they need to have a happy childhood -- food and shelter and most
importantly, safety from gunfire,” Vedrana said. “But, there are so many children around the world who
are living to survive each day, whether they are in a war or not.”
We applaud Vedrana for her efforts to make this world a better place.
Ask HR Dear HR:
Is it possible to receive emergency notices, such as school delays or closings by email or text? I
try to check the TV but sometimes miss it when it finally scrolls to North Colonie information.
~Curious employee
Dear Curious Employee:
Sign up today for SNN - School News Notifier -- https://snn.neric.org/ncolonie/. You can also sign up
by clicking on the SNN icon on the North Colonie home page. Signing up for SNN allows you to receive
emails and text messages about emergency situations or snow delays and closings, on your mobile phone
and home computer. You can personalize the messages you receive on each device.
Dear HR:
Where can I find a copy of my union contract? ~Befuddled
Dear Befuddled:
Please visit the Staff Resources page at http://www.northcolonie.org/staff-resources/ for copies of
union contracts, HR forms and benefits information, along with a whole lot more! Staff Resources is
your one-stop shopping place for HR information!
Page 3 The Inside Resource Volume 6, Issue 5
Employee Recognitions Congratulations to the following employees who were recognized at the
February 27 Board Meeting:
Brian Austin, SHS; Desiree Burke, Dan Chouiniere, Dimitri Vasilakis, Omar Williams, SJHS; Brook Greco, BC;
Soo Yeon Justesen, Walter Thiem, BH; Carrie Jackson, FF; Maria Southworth, LO; Diana Karl, SG; Linda
Prazych, BC/LR; and, Laura Towle-Hilt, BC/FF/LO, were recognized by Deb Keough, District Music Supervisor
for helping coordinate the Suburban Council Music Festival Auditions.
Brian Austin, Tyler Thomas, SHS were recognized by Deb Keough, District Music Supervisor, for their
assistance in cataloging a large donation of musical equipment.
69-0213447
If you are filing your taxes electronically, you might need this number -- North Colonie’s New York
State ID. The number is not listed on your W-2 form because it’s not required to be listed. We will
be adding it to future forms, since electronic tax programs, specifically Turbo Tax, now require it.
March is known for St. Patrick’s Day. But, have you ever heard of these lesser-known holidays?
March 3 is If Pets Had Thumbs Day.
March 4 is National Grammar Day.
March 6 is Middle Name Pride Day.
March 9 is Fill Your Stapler Day.
March 14 is Pi Day (since it’s 3.14).
March 16 is No Selfies Day (can you resist?).
March 18 is Forgive Your Parents Day. It’s also
Awkward Moments Day. (So forgive your parents
for all those awkward moments growing up!)
March 25 is Pecan Day.
March 26 is Make Up Your Own Holiday Day.
March 30 is I Am In Control Day!
March 31 is World Backup Day - so back up all
your personal devices. It only takes minutes!
Page 4 The Inside Resource Volume 6, Issue 5
New Hires and Staff Changes
Have news that you want to share? email: [email protected]
In Memoriam
New Arrivals
Amanda Cutter
Transportation Operations Coordinator
Transportation
Amanda passed her Civil
Service exam and moved from
provisional to probationary
status!
Kathleen Caulfield
School Business Supervisor
Central Office
(Kathleen is moving from the Treasurer position)
Brittany Kraiza
School Psychologist
LR
(Brittany moved from PT to FT)
Lauren Groudine, Teacher, BC
Son: Benjamin James
February 20, 2017
David Acker worked for North Colonie CSD from January 29,
1964 until his retirement in 1990 as a Social Studies Teacher and
Coordinator at the Junior High School. He passed away on
February 27 after a long illness.
Capital EAP News
Capital EAP is a premier Employee
Assistance Program (EAP) available to
North Colonie contract employees.
Whether at home or at work, they help
people solve problems, realize their
potential, improve their productivity, and
discover greater happiness and quality of
their life through professional counseling,
support, guidance, and education. They’ve
made some recent changes:
A new location in Clifton Park is now
open at 4 Chelsea Place, Suite 102.
A new partnership with the Employer
Resource Network (ERN) allows you to
access FREE phone-based Life
Problems Assistance. Get help locating
and accessing available social services,
housing and food services,
transportation, legal services, utility
disconnects, and much more, with the
aid of a skilled Success Coach. Contact
EAP at 518-465-3813.
Expanded coverage to include all family
members for whom the employee is the
legal, primary guardian or caregiver,
living in your home. This means that in
addition to spouse and children up to
age 26, services are now available to
other family members, such as parents
or grandparents, if they are in your
legal care and reside in your home.
Daylight Savings Time begins March 12.
“Spring” forward one hour so you won’t
be late on Monday, March 13!