DeSoto County Schools' Payroll Department is going green as they steadily move toward paperless pay stubs for employees by October 31st.

   This paperless system has been gently introduced by piloting the new program through several schools, according to Marsha Berryhill, DCS payroll manager. 

   "We have been steadily moving from printed payroll stubs to emailing stubs.  The next step is to teach all employees to access and/or print their pay information by logging onto the Employee Self Service," Berryhill explained.

   The Payroll Department says moving toward paperless pay stubs will help the district save on costs of paper, printing and postage, as well as saving time for employees involved in the paper stub process. 

   "By having a secure site, it also reduced the risk of identity theft," said Berryhill.  "Because the district will be using less paper, it's beneficial to the environment, and is in compliance with our Board-approved Strategic Plan."

   Can employees still have their pay stubs printed?

   "No.  After October 31st, pay stubs for most DCS employees will only be available through employee Self Service," Berryhill explained.  The employee can print from Employee Self Service."

   How do employees get to Employee Self Service?

   "Employees should go to Employee Self Service directly at https://desoto.munisselfservice.com .  Or employees may go to the DCS website at www.desotocountyschools.org , and click on the Employee Self Serve button on the left side of the page," Berryhill said.  "A prompt will come up asking the employee to "sign in" by listing their user name as first initial, last name, Kronos number and last four digits of their Social Security number as password for their first time on the site.  They will then be prompted to change their password.  If an employee runs into problems, they should contact Mae Richmond in Employee Services by email at mae.richmond@dcsms.org."

   How will employees know that a deposit has been made?

   "Employees will be able to view their pay stubs on the district's pay day," Berryhill noted.  "Their payment history will be stored for several years, so this should be helpful to employees for other personal business."

   What other information will be available on Employee Self Service (ESS)?

   "The beauty of this site is all employee information will be in one place," said Berryhill.  "Besides payroll information, there is certification information for teachers and other certified staff, employment opportunities (both internal and external), CEU (Certified Educational Unit) sign up opportunities and a way to update changing personal information."

   Who can employees contact if they have questions about their pay?

   "An employee can call the DCS payroll department at 662-449-7188.  We are here to help and answer any questions or concerns," Berryhill said.  "Our email address is dcspayroll@dcsms.org."

      In addition to classic Bingo games, Olive Branch Jackpot Bingo and Gaming Center gives back to the community by awarding college scholarships to DeSoto County students and helping sponsor DeSoto
County School District's Superintendent's Youth Leadership Council (SYLC), a program in all eight DCS high schools.

   Located at 10060 Hwy 178 in Olive Branch, this large facility is almost hidden behind a stone and granite company.

   "Bingo players know where we are located," said Charlie McGuffee, owner  of Jackpot Bingo and chairman of the Delta Regional Foundation. The Foundation is the charitable side of his business where he gives away the minimum of 65% of his earnings.  "The regular players almost become like family.  They know this is a safe, fun place to come."

   His facility can seat 350 players per night.  While paper Bingo is still an option, most players side up to a computer screen where they can play multiple cards at once.

  "If players use the computers, they can simply sit back and watch," McGuffee said.  "It tells them when they win a Bingo game.  It is a great way to get out of the house and have fun without spending a lot of money."

   No alcohol is served in this facility.  McGuffee says he likes the family-friendly atmosphere.

  Joe Lang is the supervisor for Jackpot Bingo.  Three of his children attend DeSoto County Schools.

   "I am proud of the fact that we give back to the community in which we live," Lang said.  Currently two DeSoto County School students are receiving scholarships to attend Delta State University.  They are  Samantha Few and Kelsey Buquet.  The Delta Regional Foundation also supports Olive Branch Police and Fire Departments, the National Law Fit Challenge held in Olive Branch, and annually awards $8,000 to the Superintendent's Youth Leadership Council in DeSoto County.  Delta State University and the Blair Batson Children's Hospital also benefit from their regular charitable contributions.

   Jim Ferguson is DeSoto County Schools' Chief Academic Officer over high schools and runs the Superintendent's Youth Leadership Program.

   "We are very appreciative of the generous contribution to SYLC," Ferguson said.  "We could not do it without them. This program is a group of 32 student representatives from the district's eight high schools. This leadership program fosters growth in communication skills, develops leadership abilities,teaches financial literacy, entrepreneurship and opens their eyes to the political world."

It is also a program that encourages students to help others.

   Students select a community service project.  This past Christmas season the students raised money to purchase high-end stuffed animals for patients at LeBonheur Children's Hospital.

   "The students in the Superintendent's Youth Leadership Council are outstanding leaders in their schools and communities," said Ferguson.  "Many unique challenges arise when this caliber of student and strong personalities are challenged to work together.  I let them choose their service projects and execute them.  I facilitate the program-but it is student-led."

   SYLC has been in existence for eight years, and 100% of the students involved in the council have attended college.  It started with a grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi and now is supported through the Homer Skelton Foundation, Maddox Foundation and Delta Regional Foundation.

   An outpouring of community support for education was apparent when school supplies were delivered to DeSoto County Schools' Central Office on the first week of school.

   Chick-fil-A, ABC 24 TV station, ABRA Glass, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, and the Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce were some of the main school supply donors for students.

   "We want the schools to be a part of the community and we want the community to be part of the schools," DeSoto County Schools superintendent Milton Kuykendall said. 

   This is the fifth consecutive year that Chick-fil-A, Southaven and Olive Branch locations, have conducted major school supply drives for DCS.  Additionally, they are a strong contributor to the Foundation for Excellence Grant program that provides classroom grants to teachers.  This year they donated $3,500 to the program.

   "I want every student to feel like they belong, and I want every teacher to feel like they've got what they need," Kuykendall said.  "Chick-Fil-A helps this be a reality.  We appreciate their on-going support."

   ABC 24 TV station kicked off a new program this year called "Stuff the Bus."  School supplies were gathered in a Durham School bus that was at various locations in both Memphis and DeSoto County.  Supplies were split between the two school systems.

   Zeta Phi Beta Sorority provided 70 backpacks filled with required elementary school supplies.

   "We are very appreciative of what the community has done to support our schools," Kuykendall said.