Member Newsletter
January 2016  
 
Click the cover image at right to read the
Winter 2016 Professional Development Catalog!  
 
SWWC Conferences in February and March
  • 2016 Behavior Conference: Meeting the Challenge
    • February 22 in Brookings, SD
    February 23 in Redwood Falls 
  • This is IT2 2016 - March 13-14 in Redwood Falls

    • April 27th is Administrative Professionals Day     ... and we have a special day planned for Administrative Assistants!  Rick Olson will be our guest speaker on "Out Of This World Customer Service".  For more information and to register, click here.  
    Administrative Updates

    Health Cost Management Program:  The Health Cost Management Program is a program offered to all school districts that are in the health insurance pool.  This program allows each district to apply for funds to offer site-based wellness programs and biometric screenings for their staff. If your district is interested in participating, approval forms are due by 01/31/16.  Contact Kari Bailey at kari.bailey@swsc.org or 507-537-2292 for more information. Click here to read the HCMP packet.
     
    Cadillac Tax Delay: The legislation signed recently delays the Cadillac tax for two years, until 2020.  There is strong bipartisan support for repealing the tax altogether, and delay increases the likelihood of repealing the Cadillac tax under the next presidential administration.

    ACA Reporting Deadline Changes Announced by IRS 
  • The due date for furnishing the 2015 Form 1095-B and the 2015 Form 1095-C to the insured and employees is extended from February 1, 2016, to March 31, 2016.
  • The due date for health coverage providers and employers furnishing the 2015 Form 1094-B and the 2015 Form 1094-C to the IRS is extended from February 29, 2016, to May 31, 2016 if not filing electronically.
  • The due date for health coverage providers and employers electronically filing the 2015 Form 1094-B and the 2015 Form 1094-C with the IRS is extended from March 31, 2016, to June 30, 2016.

    • Cooperative Purchasing Connection News: We are excited to announce that Innovative Office Solutions was awarded the office supply RFP. This new partnership allows us to bring our members the best available service, options, and value in the marketplace, including:
  • Office, facility and break room supplies and furniture;
  • A Dedicated customer service team;
  • Free delivery with no minimum order;
  • Accurate and consistent pricing;
  • Backorder notifications;
  • Express integration.

    • Visit www.innovativeos.com/cpc to register and get started with our new office supply partnered vendor.

     

    Is LED lighting on your radar? Our partnered vendor, Solus LED Lighting can help. Solus LED Lighting is a minority owned company headquartered in Maple Grove, MN.   They are the sole regional warehouse and distributor of RVLT products and other brands as needed. They have a full line of quick ship LED products available on demand. Their staff has been dedicated to school and government sales since 2013.
    Our member benefits include:
  • An existing conditions light audit;
  • Custom energy saving analysis;
  • Pre-design assistance;
  • Lighting design assistance;
  • Commercial grade products;
  • Below wholesale pricing;
  • Internal budget presentations;
  • Rebate processing;
  • Research Grant - if available;
  • Installation support; and
  • After Installation Review.
    • For more information, contact Shareen.Neumann@swsc.org or Jim@solusled-usa.com.

    OSHA 300 Log and OSHA 300A Summary: The Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses (OSHA Form 300) is used to classify work-related injuries and illnesses and to note the extent and severity of each case. When an incident occurs, use the Log to record specific details about what happened and how it happened. Remember this log is completed based on a calendar year January thru December.  In addition, all entries should be recorded in calendar days and not work days. 
     
    Schools must keep a Log for each site. If you have more than one site, you must keep a separate Log and Summary for each physical location that is expected to be in operation for one year or longer. Work related injuries and illnesses should be listed on the log and summary if they result in medical treatment beyond basic first aid, restricted work activity, job transfer, days away from work, loss of consciousness, or death.  In addition you must record any needle stick injury or cut involving another person's blood, a case requiring an employee to be medically removed, tuberculosis, or if there is a hearing loss resulting in a Standard Threshold Shift in one or both ears.
     
    The Summary (OSHA Form 300A) - shows the totals for the year in each category. At the end of the calendar year, post the OSHA 300A Summary in a visible location so that your employees are aware of the injuries and illnesses occurring in their workplace.   This summary must be posted from February 1st to April 30th each year. If you use SMART Software to record workman's comp, the log 300 and 300A are available for you to print by location.  Even if you don't use SMART for your workman's comp we still encourage you to print the 300A using the software as it will provide the Annual average number of employee and Total hours worked by all employees last year.  Personnel Module | Injuries & Workers Comp | OSHA Form 300A.  Contact Christine Schmitt at christine.schmitt@swsc.org with questions. 
    Education Updates
     
    Student Activities  Find more info on these events at www.swsc.org/studentactivities 
    24th Annual Conference for Young Writers: This fun learning day was held on January 6, 2016 at SMSU for almost 650 students in grades 3-8. Keynote, Ryan Jacobson, revved students up by showing three things you need for a story; create a character, with a goal, dealing with a problem. Students also participated in three engaging hands-on writing sessions. There was a lot of interaction and sharing of stories.

    Regional Spelling Bee: Schools are holding their local bee's and will be participating in the Regional Spelling Bee on February 9, 2016 (snow date Feb. 11) at the Redwood Area Community Center. The regional competition consists of a written test, preliminary oral rounds and the top 15 moving on to the spelldown where there will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place trophy winners. These four winning spellers will advance to the Multi-Region State Spelling Bee in Fergus Falls on February 22, 2016 with that winner participating in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC May 22-18. Help encourage and support your spellers.

    Science & Nature Conference: The date is set for May 11, 2016. Jack Burrus, The World of Robots, will conduct the keynote presentation. The conference is for students in grades K-8 and our goal is to stimulate the interest of science during three hands-on science related topics; such as rocket building, geocaching, be a vet, crime scene, technology and much more. Brochures will be available mid-February. 

    Breakthrough Coach Training: Willmar Public Schools is offering Breakthrough Coach Training on February 16 & 17, 2016 at the Willmar Conference Center. Click here for the full brochure.

    Annual Law Seminar for School Administrators    , April 7th in Marshall    .  Be watching your email for more information.
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