What Do You Think? (WDYT?) is our Life School comprehensive listening program that creates a culture of building trust, valuing people and continuous improvement. Through this program the district offers multiple methods for listening and building trust with employees. Currently, we are seeking applications for both the Superintendent and the Culture (D&I) Advisory Teams.

Welcome back! I hope you enjoyed your break. It’s hard to believe we are less than two weeks away from students entering our classrooms and beginning our 4-day school week!

Today, I wanted to provide you with an update concerning employee raises. Typically by this time of year, the Texas State Legislature would have approved a comprehensive school finance bill for the biennium. Although the legislative body approved an overall state budget, they were unable to resolve school finance matters during the regular legislative session (January to May). In addition to the regular legislative session, a special session was called in June, but the set agenda did not address school finance matters which influence educator compensation. It is widely anticipated there will be an additional special session scheduled to address school finance matters including educator compensation.

Let me assure you that there will be a raise for all staff. The Life School Board of Directors has already approved a pay raise plan pending state legislative action. This means the Life School leadership team will implement our district pay raise plan once a school finance bill is passed by both the House and Senate and signed by Governor Abbott.

Classroom Teachers Only

• Life School will use the 2022-2023 salary scale to implement the step increases for classroom teachers only no later than September 2023.
• Once the State has taken action, Life School will retroactively pay any difference between the 2022-2023 step increase and the 2023-2024 raise.

All Other Staff

• Annual pay will remain the same as last year until legislative action is taken.
• Once the State has taken action, Life School will retroactively pay the 2023-2024 raise.

While we don’t know when Governor Abbott will call a special session for School Finance, we are hearing it could be as late as October. Regardless of when the state finally approves school funding, Life School will ensure that the full raise will be paid to employees.

I understand you may still have other questions. Please email talent@lifeschools.net with any questions you may have.

Thank you for your hard work. I am excited about this upcoming school year and believe we have the right team in place to help our students achieve success. I look forward to seeing everyone on Friday, August 4th at Convocation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Brent Wilson

Note: School districts have been advised to wait until the legislature approves school funding before announcing a raise for the 2023-2024 school year. The State Financial Accountability differs slightly for traditional public schools and charter schools. Some surrounding traditional public school boards have adopted deficit budgets in order to provide a raise for their staff. For charter schools, adopting a deficit budget may negatively impact our Charter FIRST (Financial Integrity Rating System of Texas) Report.

Dear Life School Staff,

We hope this communication finds you well. We wanted to inform you of an important change that will impact our employee benefits program. After careful consideration, taking into account increased premiums and valuable feedback from our employees, the Life School Board has approved to transition to Blue Cross Blue Shield as our new medical benefit provider, effective September 1, 2023. Medical benefits through the Texas Schools Health Benefit Program will end on August 31, 2023.

The decision to switch benefit providers was not taken lightly. We understand that employee benefits play a significant role in your overall job satisfaction and well-being. We have diligently reviewed various options to ensure that we provide the best possible benefits package while addressing the rising costs associated with healthcare coverage. Blue Cross Blue Shield emerged as the most suitable option, offering comprehensive coverage, an extensive network of healthcare providers, and competitive rates.

Key Benefits of Blue Cross Blue Shield:

• Enhanced Coverage: Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a wide range of healthcare services, ensuring that you and your eligible dependents receive the care you need.
• Network: With Blue Cross Blue Shield, you will have access to an extensive network of healthcare providers, ensuring that you can choose the best doctors and specialists for your healthcare needs.
• Online Tools and Resources: Blue Cross Blue Shield provides user-friendly online tools and resources that will enable you to easily manage your benefits, locate in-network providers, and access valuable health-related information.

Over the next few weeks, our dedicated benefits team will work closely with Blue Cross Blue Shield to ensure a seamless transition. They will provide you with detailed information regarding enrollment, plan options, and any necessary steps you need to take.

We understand that change can sometimes be accompanied by questions and concerns. We encourage you to reach out to our Benefits team, who will be available to answer any questions you may have and provide the necessary guidance throughout this transition.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this transition. We firmly believe that this change will positively impact our employees and ensure the continued provision of excellent healthcare benefits. We value your commitment to Life School and look forward to supporting your health and wellness needs with Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Life School is pleased to announce Candace Johnson as its new Director of Special Education, effective July 10, 2023.

Candace Johnson joined Life School in August of 2014 as Assistant Principal at Life School Lancaster. She later served as Principal at Life School Cedar Hill and most recently as Principal at Life High School Waxahachie.

Candace earned her bachelor's degree in English from Sam Houston State University and a master's degree in Educational Leadership from University of Texas at Arlington. She has served more than 22 years in education, serving students from kindergarten through high school. In her time with Life School, she has received district awards for Professional Support and Principal of the Year in 2018.

Candace is happily married to Mike, and they have two children Jolie and Jace.