Miller's Message by Jim Miller, Assistant Superintendent for Human  Resources

Welcome Back! This past summer Human Resources was the hub of increased activity, fueled by the opening of four new schools and the increase in our student enrollment by 4,000 students. In regards to our professional employees, we have hired over 930 certified employees. Of those 930 employees over 430 were hired as elementary teachers and over 440 hired as secondary teachers.

The other approximately 60 professional employees are administrators, nurses, speech pathologists, school psychologists, counselors, and librarians. In addition, the hiring numbers in classified / auxiliary field is nearing 1,000 employees this summer. These numbers bring our total number of employees in NISD to over 11,325. Many thanks to all the hard working HR employees who spent the major portion of the summer accomplishing this substantial task!

As the result of the Legislature’s passage of a $2,000 teacher raise, restoration of the $1,000 insurance offset and the Board of Trustees approval of a general increase, NISD starting teacher’s salaries increased from $36,666 to $41,000.  All other employee groups saw an increase of at least 4%. The additional $1,000 insurance supplement was figured into the midpoint and hourly wage charts. Starting September 1, 2006, the State and Local Health Insurance Supplement that was once a separate line item on paycheck will be reflected in your gross pay. (See related article on page 4.) The new pay scales are posted on the Compensation Schedule on the HR Website. (Click here to view.)

Besides the excellent compensation package, we are very proud of our new health plan with Humana which includes a FREE employee membership to Spectrum Athletic Clubs. Along with new health plan, is a new optional vision plan, a new optional legal plan and a new optional dental plan. The Open Enrollment Fairs are detailed on page 5 of this newsletter. As our district continues to grow, we will continue to strive to serve our entire working force and community of NISD. We are looking forward to working with each and every one of you. Best wishes on a successful school year!

September 2006
In this issue …

Millers Message: Pg. 1

Open Enrollment for Insurance : Pg. 1

Reminders of Requirements : Pg. 2

Northside Education Foundation : Pg. 2

(Almost) No Northside Paraprofessionals Left Behind! : Pg. 2

FREE Tuition!: Pg. 3

Safety Coordinators Toolbox : Pg. 3

Health Supplement
to Base Pay : Pg. 3

Tis the Season to be Jolly, No It's Fall : Pg. 4

SEMS is Calling All Teachers! : Pg. 4

Open Enrollment
Fairs : Pg. 5

Please turn to Page 5 for Times, Places and Dates
of Benefits Fairs.