January 25, 2012

Next Issue: February 8 (Note adjusted schedule)

Deadline for Articles: Wednesday, February 1

Thank you for working to provide a quality education for all children in FCPS.

Superintendent Dale Proposes FY 2013 Budget, Adds Positions to Address Membership Growth

Superintendent Jack D. Dale has released the school system's FY 2013 Proposed Budget of $2.4 billion, an increase of 9 percent, or $202.3 million, from the FY 2012 Approved Budget. The proposed budget includes 721.3 new positions, most of which are being added to address enrollment growth—projected to be 181,608 in FY 2013—and student demographic changes as well as step increases for all eligible employees and a 2 percent market scale adjustment.
(get details: press release | budget website)

FCPS Launches Living Fit in Fairfax Project

Fairfax County Public Schools has received a Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant from the U.S. Department of Education that will fund the Living Fit in Fairfax project. This three-year grant project is designed to improve the health and fitness literacy of FCPS students by coordinating nutrition, fitness, and physical activity opportunities. (get details)

FY 2013 BudgetSpotlight: Interview with Dr. Dale on the FY 2013 Proposed Budget

Check out this Insight video to see an interview with Dr. Jack Dale in which he discusses the details of the FY 2013 Proposed Budget. (watch video)

Supergram's February Schedule

The next two issues of Supergram will be posted on on February 8 and 22, with article deadlines of February 1 and 15, respectively. Supergram will return to its normal schedule of first and third Wednesdays in March.
(get details)

Automatic Data Processing Is New Flexible Spending Account Vendor

Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) is now the administrator for FCPS' flexible spending account (FSA) programs. ADP replaced FBMC as the FSA administrator as of January 1. Claims incurred during 2011 should continue to be sent to FBMC. (get details)

eLearnIT Featured Course: Making a Positive Impression in an Internal Interview

eLearnITInterviewing for a new job can be stressful. It can get even worse when the interview is for an opportunity in your current organization, as you try to answer questions about your work from those who may know your work well. Check out this eLearnIT course to learn how you can leverage your experience and internal knowledge to make a positive impression during your interview.
(get details)

2012 Changes to the Summer School Employment Application Process

This year, applicants interested in positions in certain summer school programs will apply for vacancies online via CareerQuest instead of submitting paper application forms and resumés directly to the FCPS Office of Employment. (get details)

Nominations Now Open for 2012 Business and Community Partnerships Awards, Deadline Is March 16

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Business and Community Partnerships Awards, a combined effort of Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County Office of Public Private Partnerships. The awards are designed to recognize the many valuable contributions being made by business and organization partners throughout Fairfax County and to increase awareness of the importance of business and civic involvement in issues impacting the quality of life in Fairfax County. (get details)

FCPS Online Classifieds System Free for Employees

Online ClassifiedsThe FCPS Online Classifieds system is a free way for employees to post ads for personally owned items that they are seeking to buy, sell, rent, or give away, to find a roommate, or to share a ride to work. (get details)

About Our People

Read about your colleagues' accomplishments. (go)

Other News and News of Continuing Interest

  • An FCPS task force of teachers, association representatives, principals, department and cluster representatives, and community members is collaborating on a new teacher evaluation program to meet new Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) standards that take effect July 1. (get details)

  • Since 1999, Fairfax County Public Schools has had a program—MentorWorks—to connect caring, responsible adults with students. January is National Mentoring Month, and MentorWorks is currently looking for FCPS employees who want to become mentors. (get details)

  • Supporting Success is a ten-week professional development program for support employees of Fairfax County Public Schools, US-19 and below. It is an excellent opportunity for employees to learn more about the various departments, offices, and school-based functions of FCPS. The deadline to apply is February 10. (get details)

  • The Educational Support Advisory Council (ESAC) will hold elections February 21-23 to fill 25 representative positions. The deadline to submit a nomination petition is February 10. (get details)

  • A new handbook, Management of Life-Threatening Allergies, is now available online to assist schools to care for students with life threatening allergic conditions and to provide parents guidance about how allergies are addressed in Fairfax County Public Schools. Topics includes allergies and anaphylaxis, prevention, emergency procedures, best practices, and emotional wellness. (get details)

Understanding Your 2011 W-2 Form; 2012 Tax Changes

2011 W-2 forms will be mailed to each employee’s home address no later than January 31. The Office of Payroll Management has provided some information to help you interpret your W-2, as well as some important payroll information. In addition, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 temporarily extends the two percentage point payroll tax cut for employees, continuing the reduction of the Social Security tax withholding rate from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent of wages paid through February 29.
(get details: W-2 Forms | Tax Changes)

Deduction Change Reminder for 11- and 12-Month Employees

As a reminder, effective January 2012, certain benefit deductions will now be taken over 10 months for all monthly paid employees (20 pays for all biweekly paid employees) for 12-month coverage. Ten-month employees are not affected by this frequency change. (get details)

FCPS Working Conditions Survey 2012 Closes February 3

The FCPS Working Conditions survey is available online 24 hours a day, seven days a week until February 3 at 5 p.m. This anonymous online survey of licensed educators is a vital tool that provides individual schools and the division with valuable information on how best to support student achievement and teacher retention.
(get details)

Summer Curriculum DevelopmentSummer Curriculum Development Application Website Available February 27

The website listing summer curriculum development projects from the Instructional Services Department and the Department of Special Services will be available February 27. (get details)

Special Education Extended School Year Employment Opportunities Available Online February 1

The job listings and application for special education summer positions for Extended School Year (ESY) teachers, related service providers, and support staff will be available online February 1. Priority will be given to those who apply before February 17.
(get details)

Pathways to Leadership Conference to Be Held March 13, Online Registration Opens February 1

The Department of Professional Learning and Accountability will host the annual Pathways to Leadership Conference on March 13 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Fairfax Ridge for all instructional and support employees (teachers, assistant principals, central office personnel, school support, transportation and facilities, and food service staff) who wish to explore leadership and career opportunities. (get details)

Call for Coaches

The latest position openings are posted. (go)

Fairfax County Government Offers
First-Time Homebuyers Program

The Fairfax County Government's First-Time Homebuyers Program is offering affordably priced townhomes and condominiums—both new and resale—to first-time homebuyers who meet eligibility and income requirements. Preference is given to applicants who live or work in Fairfax County and have one or more dependent children under the age of 18 or disabled dependents in the household. (get details)

People on the Move

Learn who has been promoted, recently hired, or transferred to a new location. (get details)

InsightThis Week's Insight

To view a promotional clip from this week's show, click here. (Due to a new file format for FCPS videostreams, either QuickTime or Windows Media Player is required to view the videos listed below, depending on your computer settings.) Some of this week's stories include:

Note: All of these stories have also been posted on the FCPS YouTube Channel.

Important Notice for Supergram Article Submissions

Article submissions for Supergram should be sent to Andy Grunig at andy.grunig@fcps.edu. If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, Grunig can be reached at 571-423-1212. Please Note: The Career Quest (formerly Job Opportunities) publication and web pages are provided by the Department of Human Resources.

FCPS by the NumbersIntel Science Semifinalist

Eleven students from Fairfax County Public Schools have been named semifinalists in the 2012 Intel Science Talent Search. The semifinalists are all students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. (get details)

Quote to Note

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

Mahatma Gandhi