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Dear Employee:

The Total Compensation Review (TCR) Committee is the Superintendent's key advisory body for compensation and benefits reform in the Division. It was established in February 2011, and I am writing to invite you to join our Committee - it is open to all employees. I am also sending an example of our recent work - the Committee's guidance on the use of the 21 additional hours when the school year starts on August 29.

  

What is TCR? Why join? It's a study group for the next 2-3 years. We need your experience to develop the best possible package of career incentives including monetary and non-monetary benefits for ACPS employees. We want you to be part of the solution to solve some critical issues in our transformation to world-class status. Those who participate will be credited with certification points. Members will also gain recognition and knowledge in this emerging field of school reform. Over the next two years, we have identified four areas to examine what works, what needs to improve and how to make the improvement(s). The areas and guiding questions are:

• Career-ladder and Salary. What should be the criteria for a career-ladder and salary level? What of support staff?   
• Student time. How might we extend the student day?
• Professional Learning. How do we improve teacher collaboration and learning?
• Benefits. What is the best program combining health, dental, vision, pension, life insurance, disability insurance, savings programs, leave donation and flexible spending accounts? How do we go what is best for all employee groups?

Who are the current members?  As of our March 30 meeting, we have 24 volunteers signed up to serve on these work groups (if your name is missing please let me know). Anyone may join a group yet we would like a volunteer from every school, and for a few support staff to join the salary or benefits group. The current  members (*chairs) are:

                                 

Career-Ladder & Salary   Student Time               Benefits                                       Professional Time

Jones – TCW                       Richardson - Adams      Domokos-Bays - Food Service     Feltman - Patrick Henry

Wallin – Central Office         *Bohringer - Tucker      *Downs - Patrick Henry                 *Fletcher - Mt. Vernon

Hohman – Hammond 1         Neidermeyer - Adams   *Foley - Tucker                             Martin - Central Office

Wurl – Mason                      Clinger - TCW PTSA                                                          *Ryan - George Mason

*Arscott – Minnie Hwd                                                                                                    Gutierrez - TCW

Selander – Minnie Hwd

Casamo – MacArthur

*Madigan – TCW

Hutchings - Central Office

Brown – Tucker

Warden – PTSA

Dameo - Central Office

                                                                                

    How much time and work does this take?  About an hour a month. As Project Director (and EdD candidate), I will make it as easy on the members as possible by doing research, scheduling speakers, drafting reports and updating the website. What we need all members to do is to attend the work group meeting and participate in the discussions - we need your experience, wisdom and ideas to develop the best possible recommendation(s) for the Superintendent. This is the opportunity to provide your input to the decision making process to help transform the Division. Committee members will also have the opportunity to personally outbrief the Superintendent. Work groups may decide to do other work such as a survey, visit another school Division or attend a local conference. For more information, please see our website at www.acps.k12.va.us/hr/tcr/

   What did the Committee recommend on how to use the 21 additional hours for professional learning? Please see the attachment. The Committee developed the guidelines for the upcoming regulation on the use of school-based, professional learning councils and teams. The regulation will be published no later than May 1st.

In the interim, start now. We recommend that your school use these guidelines and begin its planning now (some schools are doing this already). Each school should have its plan on the use of  the 21 hours completed before the end of the school year.

   Thank you for taking time to read this email. I appreciate your time to read this message. I encourage you to join the Committee. Please let me know if you have any questions. The next meeting date will be announced later but is likely April 27 or May 4. Also, check out the new HR website at http://www.acps.k12.va.us/hr/ . We hope you like the new look.

Best regards,

   Stephen M. Wilkins
   Project Director for Division Compensation Review
   Ph: 703-824-6949
   Visit us at www.acps.k12.va.us/hr/tcr/   Help transform the Division...Join today.