Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Welcome to the !Lower Kuskokwim School District
MISSION STATEMENT !The mission of the Lower Kuskokwim School District is to ensure bilingual, culturally appropriate and effective education for all students, thereby providing them with the opportunity to be responsible, productive citizens.
Our Schools ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1-2
Alaska Certification ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
Alaska Driver’s License and State ID Cards ................................................................................................................ 4
Alcoholic Beverages ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Banking ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Calendar .............................................................................................................................................................................. 6
Child Care ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Clothing ............................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Cold Weather Gear ............................................................................................................................................................ 7
Extra Curricular Activities ............................................................................................................................................... 8
Groceries/Supplies ............................................................................................................................................................ 8-9
Housing ............................................................................................................................................................................... 10
Hunting, Fishing & Camping............................................................................................................................................ 11
Law Enforcement ............................................................................................................................................................... 12
Mailing and Shipping ...................................................................................................................................................... 12-13
Medical Services/Health Insurance ............................................................................................................................... 14
Pets ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Places of Worship .............................................................................................................................................................. 15
Recreational Activities ..................................................................................................................................................... 15
Reimbursement ................................................................................................................................................................. 15
Salary and Payday ............................................................................................................................................................. 16
Subsistence ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
Sunlight & Darkness ........................................................................................................................................................ 17
Taxes ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Technology .......................................................................................................................................................................... 18
Telephone ............................................................................................................................................................................ 18-19
Television, Radio, Local News ........................................................................................................................................ 19
Travel ................................................................................................................................................................................... 19-21
Water/Water Quality .......................................................................................................................................................... 22
Wikis .................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Additional Information .................................................................................................................................................... 22
Table of Contents
Carlton Kuhns, Ass’t. Supt./Personnel & Student Services, 907-543-4886!Carol Piakak, Ass’t. Director of Personnel, 907-543-4885!!
Lower Kuskokwim School District, District Office!PO Box 305!
Bethel, AK 99559!907-543-4886 / 907-543-4900 (Fax)!
www.lksd.org
Our Schools
!
Atmautluak!Joann Alexie Memorial School!
Home of the Falcons!PO Box ATT!
Atmautluak, Alaska 99559-8999!907-553-5112/5110 Fax 907-553-5129
Bethel!Ayaprun Elitnaurvik!
Home of the Bears!PO Box 1468!
Bethel, Alaska 99559!907-543-1645/1646 Fax 907-543-1647
Bethel!Kuskokwim Learning Academy!
Home of the Timber Wolf!PO Box 1949!
Bethel, Alaska 99559!907-543-5610 Fax 907-543-5603
Bethel!Bethel Regional High School!
Home of the Warriors!PO Box 700!
Bethel, Alaska 99559!907-543-3957/3958 Fax 907-543-2327
Bethel!Gladys Jung Elementary School!
Home of the Sandhill Cranes!PO Box 800!
Bethel, Alaska 99559!907-543-4440 Fax 907-543-2533
Bethel!Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat School!
Home of the Mushers!PO Box 900!
Bethel, Alaska 99559!907-543-2845 Fax 907-543-2429
Chefornak!Chaputnguak School!Home of the Shamans!
PO Box 50!Chefornak, Alaska 99561!
907-867-8700 Fax 907-867-8727
Eek!Eek School!
Home of the Cougars!PO Box 050!
Eek, Alaska 99578!907-536-5227/5229 Fax 907-536-5628
Goodnews Bay!Rocky Mountain School!
Home of the Bears!PO Box 153!
Goodnews Bay, Alaska 99589!907-967-8213 Fax 907-967-8228
Kasigluk!Akula Elitnaurvik!
Home of the Tundra Fox!PO Box 79!
Kasigluk, Alaska 99609!907-477-6615 Fax 907-477-6715
Kasigluk!Akiuk Memorial School!Home of the Grizzlies!
General Delivery!Kasigluk, Alaska 99609!
907-477-6829/6228 Fax 907-477-6314
Kipnuk!Chief Paul Memorial School!
Home of the Falcons!PO Box 19!
Kipnuk, Alaska 99614!907-896-5011 Fax 907-896-5428
Kongiganak!Ayagina’ar Elitnaurvik!
Home of the Wolverines!PO Box 5109!
Kongiganak, Alaska 99545!907-557-5551/5415 Fax 907-557-5639
Kwethluk!Ket’acik/Aapalluk Mem. School!
Home of the Kings!PO Box 150!
Kwethluk, Alaska 99621!907-757-6014/6015 Fax 907-757-6013
Kwigillingok!Kwigillingok School!Home of the Eagles!
PO Box 109!Kwigillingok, Alaska 99622!
907-588-8629/8826 Fax 907-588-8613
Mekoryuk!Nuniwarmiut School!Home of the Herders!
PO Box 49!Mekoryuk, Alaska 99630!
907-827-8415 Fax 907-827-8613
Napakiak!William Miller Memorial School!
Home of the Huskies!General Delivery!
Napakiak, Alaska 99634!907-589-2420/2813 Fax 907-589-2515
Napaskiak!Z John Willams Memorial School!
Home of the Hawks!PO Box 6089!
Napaskiak, Alaska 99559-8997!907-737-7212 Fax 907-737-7967
1
Use the above address to mail items you send ahead of your arrival. You should also use this address as your new mailing address until you get to site and can set up a post office
box.!
Newtok!Ayaprun School!
Home of the Jaegers!PO Box WWT!
Newtok, Alaska 99559-8996!907-237-2504/2505 Fax 907-237-2506
Nightmute!Nightmute School!
Home of the Nighthawks!General Delivery!
Nightmute, Alaska 99690!907-647-6313/6512 Fax 907-647-6227
Nunapitchuk!Anna Tobeluk Memorial School!
Home of the Wolves!PO Box 150!
Nunapitchuk, Alaska 99641!907-527-5701 Fax 907-527-5610
Oscarville!Qugcuun Memorial School!
Home of the Hornets!PO Box 6199!
Oscarville, Alaska 99559!907-737-7214 Fax 907-737-7211
Platinum!Arviq School!
Home of the Miners!PO Box 28!
Platinum, Alaska 99651!907-979-8111 Fax 907-979-8308
Quinhagak !Kuinerrarmiut Elitnaurviat!
Home of the Seahawks!General Delivery!
Quinhagak, Alaska 99655!907-556-8628/8927 Fax 907-556-8228
Toksook Bay!Nelson Island School!Home of the Islanders!101 Sunny Side Road!
Toksook Bay, Alaska 99637!907-427-7815/7030 Fax 907-427-7612
Tuntutuliak!Lewis Angapak Memorial School!
Home of the Blue Jays!General Delivery!
Tuntutuliak, Alaska 9980!907-256-2415/2413 Fax 907-256-2527
Tununak!Paul T Albert Memorial School!
Home of the Coasters!PO Box 49!
Tununak, Alaska 99681!907-652-6827 Fax 907-652-6028
2
Alaska Certification !Certification is your professional responsibility. You should take care of this before you move to Alaska. When a complete application packet has been received by the State of Alaska Department of Education & Early Development (DEED) Teacher Certification Department, a yellow card is sent to you verifying that they have processed your application. The yellow card should be submitted to the Personnel Office. Your actual teaching certificate (which includes a district original) will not be mailed out from DEED until your fingerprints have cleared which can take up to four months. Once your certificates are received, the district original must be submitted to the Personnel Office for your file. In the meantime, the yellow card will suffice as evidence of certification. Your certification begins on the date that DEED Teacher Certification approves your certification and sends your yellow card. If you do not have your yellow card by your first contract day, you may still begin teaching as a substitute teacher. Your salary will be at your certified rate for up to 20 days as a substitute, however the state does not allow TRS credit until you are certified.!!
Alaskan certification is issued through the!Department of Education & Early Development (DEED)!
In Juneau, AK.!You may contact them by phone at (907) 465-2831 or!
By email at [email protected]!!Application forms and answers!
for many questions can be found on the DEED Website:!http://www.eed.state.ak.us/TeacherCertification!
3
Alaska Driver’s License and State ID Cards!You may want to get an Alaska Driver’s License. There is a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Bethel, but not in any village site. Employees who do not have an Alaska Driver’s License are not allowed to drive District vehicles. If you would like to get a driver’s license or State ID card, you may do so while passing through Anchorage or Bethel. Make sure you read the manual (these can be found online) before you take the test as traffic rules and regulations vary from state to state. The main office in Anchorage is located at 1300 West Benson Boulevard, which is on the south side of Benson Boulevard (between Minnesota Drive and Spenard Road; 907-269-3750). It is open 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Friday and 10am - 6pm Saturday. The DMV office in Bethel, located in the City Office building, is open from 8am - 11am and 12pm to 4pm Monday through Friday.!!In order to obtain an original Alaska license or State ID card, an applicant must provide documentary proof of the following:!!
1. Legal name and Date of Birth;!2. Secondary item as verification of the primary document (examples of a
secondary item are: permit or license from another state, employee ID, health insurance card, IRS or state tax form, medical records, military dependent identification, pilot’s license, school ID);!
3. Social security card;!4. Current residence address (lease agreement or letter from landlord).!!!
The State of Alaska DMV website is:!http://www.state.ak.us/local/akpages/ADMIN/dmv/akol/index.htm
4
!!!!!!
Alcoholic Beverages (Including Cooking Wine)!All LKSD sites, except for Bethel, are DRY, which means that the possession, consumption, or distribution of any alcoholic beverages within city limits is illegal – it is a felony. !!Bethel is a wet community, which means that you can bring in alcoholic beverages for your own personal consumption.! !
REMEMBER IT IS ILLEGAL TO MAIL ALCOHOL!THROUGH THE US POSTAL SERVICE!!
Banking!While in Bethel, you may want to open a checking account. Most stores and airlines will take checks, but not from out of state. There are no banks in any of the villages – the nearest banks are Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, First National Bank of Alaska and Wells Fargo, and are in Bethel. Should you choose to use them, you may get more information online or by calling them.!!
Alaska USA Federal Credit Union: (907) 543-2619!Website: http://www.alaskausa.org!!
First National Bank of Alaska: (907) 543-7650!Website: www.fnbalaska.com!!
Wells Fargo phone: (907) 442-3258 or (800) 478-5706!Wells Fargo Website: http://www.wellsfargo.com!!
Please be aware that many villages operate solely on a cash economy and not all village stores will accept credit cards. Getting cash can prove to be challenging. The closest ATM machines are in Bethel. Most village stores will accept a check as payment, but will not cash a check for you. We encourage you to use Direct Deposit for your paychecks. Payroll can send your paychecks electronically to any bank in the country. Many financial institutions have internet banking and bill pay services so you can check your finances and pay your bills online. Check with your institution for details.
5
!!!!!!!!!!!!
Calendar!The school district in-service days, school holidays and teacher workdays are established prior to the school year. Check with your Principal for details about your site – specific calendar. The first regular contract day for all new teachers is usually at the beginning of August. There are some restrictions concerning when you can take your leave in conjunction with certain days on the calendar. Check your Negotiated Agreement for the specifics at https://team.lksd.org/groups/personnelstudentservices/wiki/c3878/Negotiated_Agreements.html.!!
Child Care!Finding childcare in your community for infants and/or toddlers may prove challenging. Most communities do not have preschool or daycare facilities. If you have young children who will need childcare while you are at work, it may be wise to contact your Principal and/or fellow teachers who may be able to give you some leads prior to your arrival in the community. Preschool and daycare are available in Bethel.!!
Clothing!Daily dress in the region is casual, yet professional. You will notice people dress a little more casually in the villages. You may wish to bring one or two more “formal” outfits for special occasions such as holiday programs, local events, and school graduations.!!
6
Cold Weather Gear!Be prepared for cold weather. Sub-zero temperatures may occur anytime between October and April. Strong winds can make the wind chill extremely cold (wind chills of -50 to -100 may occur anytime during the winter). A variety of clothing may be helpful, from the light summer to very heavy winter clothes. Modern materials are designed for the cold, and nothing beats Thinsulate or Down for excellent cold weather protection. It is important to layer clothing to help wick away moisture.!!Winter storms and blizzards are common, but life in the region does not shut down when the weather is bad. Schools remain open in conditions that may surprise you. Temperatures can range from 80 degrees F in the summer to -60 degrees F in the winter. You do not need to purchase all of your cold weather gear before you arrive to your new home. It may be wise to wait and talk to fellow teachers before purchasing expensive items such as boots or parkas. That way, you won’t waste money on unnecessary items or items of poor quality.!!Some basic things you’ll probably want to have are: warm hats (fur hats can usually be purchased locally in your new community), gloves and face mask; water resistant jacket; long underwear; insulated snow pants; warm sweaters and vests; rubber/waterproof boots; wool socks; warm parka with hood; and warm boots. In winter, local air carriers require all passengers to wear full winter gear (which includes snow pants, jacket, hat, gloves, and boots). Many people find goggles to be helpful. In addition, a sleeping bag might come in handy if you travel to other sites as a chaperone or coach.!!
Some Anchorage Stores for Winter Gear!Army/Navy Store 6th Avenue Outfitters REI (Recreational Equip Inc)!320 W.4th Avenue 520 W.6th Avenue 1200 W.Northern Lights, Blvd!Anchorage, AK 99501 Anchorage, AK 99501 Anchorage, AK 99503!(800) 836-3535 (800) 276-0233 (907) 272-4565!(907) 279-2401 (907) 276-0233 www.rei.com!www.army-navy-store.com !!
Some Mail Order Companies for Winter Gear!Cabela’s Campmor The Sportsman’s Guide!(800) 237-4444 (800) 226-7667 (800) 882-2962!www.cabelas.com www.campmor.com www.sportsmansguide.com!!
** Always check the shipping policies to Alaska on any website you use. Some will NOT ship to Alaska. Be wary of UPS shipping, unless you are willing to spend a lot of extra money. UPS ground shipping is not always available in Alaska. Many companies will not ship without a physical address. Since there are no home deliveries in villages, many people will use a fictional address, for example “202 Teacher Housing Rd.” Your package will not be delivered to the address, but will arrive at the local Post Office for pick-up.
7
Extra Curricular School Activities!Students within the LKSD have many opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities such as: Battle of the Books, Spelling Bee, Science Fair, Robotics, Geography Bee, Student Council, Future Educators of Alaska, Cross Country Running, Wrestling, Basketball, Volleyball, and Native Youth Olympics.!!To participate in most extra-curricular activities, the students, coaches, and chaperones must fly via small commercial aircraft to other communities.!!
Groceries/Supplies!Living in rural Alaska can be expensive. Grocery items cost approximately 1.4 or more times as much as similar items in Seattle. Village stores contain many staple items, but be prepared to pay high prices. Boxed milk may cost over $4 a carton (fresh milk is not always available the villages); potato chips may cost $7 - $9 per bag; and fresh items such as fruits and vegetables are not always available at some of the village stores.!!While we encourage you to support local businesses whenever possible, it’s important to know some teachers have their groceries shipped in bulk quantities to the village from distributors in Anchorage. Many employees do their shopping in Anchorage for the entire school year! Even with the cost of postage, you will find food costs to be cheaper and the selection greater if you purchase your food in Anchorage. Sam’s Club and Costco’s (membership stores that sell items in bulk) have everything from furniture to food and memberships are about $40-$55 per year. Many stores such as Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer have “Bush Order” Departments and will ship your items to you for a fee (which can be as much as 25 – 30% extra). Amazon.com groceries is also becoming a good option with free shipping if you become an Amazon Prime Member.!!Shopping in Bethel is also an option. You’ll find a wider variety of items and prices than in the villages. Stores in Bethel include:!!
• Alaska Commercial Company Store (AC Store) (907) 442-3285!• Corina’s Caselot Groceries (907) 543-2204!• Sammy’s Market (907) 543-1500!• Swanson’s (907) 543-3221!!
You can call the store from your village to place an order. The Store will deliver your order to a local airline for you. You may be able to receive items you order the very same day.!!Another option for fresh fruit and vegetables that more people are using is ordering from Full Circle Farms in Washington State. Check with your site administrator to see if anyone from your site has used them.!
8
!!!!!!!!!!
Groceries/ Supplies: Bush Orders/Online Companies!
Online for groceries, clothing, books, movies, and music with no shipping charges:!www.amazon.com*!!www.zappos.com!!www.netflix.com!!
*Always double check the cost of shipping from Amazon.
FRED MEYER!7701 Debarr Road!
Anchorage, AK!(907)269-1715!
www.fredmeyer.com/alaska
MR. PRIME BEEF!7521 Old Seward Hwy!
Anchorage, AK!(907) 344-4066!(800) 478-3556!
www.mrprimebeef.com
SAM’S CLUB!3651 Penland Parkway!
Anchorage, AK!(907) 276-2996!(800) 770-7223
SPAN ALASKA SALES!(800) 367-9833!
www.spanalaskasales.com
WAL-MART!8900 Old Seward Hwy!
Anchorage, AK!(907) 344-5300!(800) 833-2874
9
Housing!LKSD currently provides teacher housing in all communities except Bethel. The rent for district housing ranges in price from $400-$1000 per month and includes all utilities (except telephone, internet, and cable television service). Teachers are sometimes assigned roommates. Teacher housing units provided by the district are furnished (double or single bed, washer/dryer, sofa, coffee table, dining table with chairs), but do not have items such as cookware or linens. Water Distillers/or filter units are provided but not always needed. You will probably want to bring the following items:!! • Kitchen items: cookware, silverware, dishes, cooking
utensils.!• FYI – most district housing has a small freezer (the kind in a standard refrigerator) but
does not have a microwave.!• Bathroom items: washcloths & towels, toiletries, soap, toilet paper.!• Bedroom items: sheets for a double bed, blankets, pillows, sleeping bag, alarm clock.!!
Some other items you might want to bring include extra light bulbs (these can be tricky to pack – so you might buy them in Bethel and hand carry them to your site. PLEASE NOTE: light bulbs can not be shipped in baggage or can be purchased online. TV, VCR or DVD player, microwave, bread machine, coffee maker, power strips with surge protection, a water filtration pitcher system like Brita or Pur, and shower curtain and hooks. Don’t forget things like laundry soap, cleaning supplies and garbage bags. Remember, these items can be purchased in Anchorage or online and shipped to the village. Many times, teachers leaving the site may leave items behind, so check with your Site Administrator.!
!For teachers assigned to Bethel, the district does not own housing. Your hire packet will include a list of local landlords. Bethel teachers receive a $200/month utility allowance ($2,400/year) to offset the subsidized rental structure afforded our village based teachers
10
Hunting, Fishing & Camping!Private individuals, local village corporations, or regional corporations own much of the land and surrounding communities in the region. Before using these lands for any purpose (including camping, hunting, woodcutting, etc.), please contact the appropriate landowner through the local Tribal IRA office for information. Be sure to pack everything in accordance with regulations (including hard cases for weapons with locks) if you plan to hunt and fish while in Alaska. Check regulations completely with the airlines and postal service. You may call your Principal and inquire about what type of items or equipment to bring. Look on the Alaska Fish and Game website for license and fee information. You have to be in the state for one calendar year to be considered a resident of Alaska and you can not claim residency or receive benefits from another state.!
www.adfg.state.ak.us!
11
Law Enforcement!Bethel has a city police force and serves as the home base for the Alaska State Troopers who fly out to the villages if the need arises. Most villages in the region have Village Public Safety Officers (VPSO’s) who work under the authority of the State Troopers and are supervised by the local village council or IRA Tribal government councils.!!
Mailing and Shipping!Mailing from “outside” to Alaska is expensive. You might consider shipping out a few boxes of essential items (clothes and food to last you for a few weeks) three to four weeks before you arrive at your site, then buy what you need in Anchorage, and ship it within the state. Parcel Post is the cheapest alternative for mailing but may take awhile to arrive at your site. Priority Mail is usually the quickest. Be aware any type of mail may take 2 – 3 weeks to get to your village Post Office from outside Alaska.!!Weather permitting, mail is delivered to all communities daily. During bad weather, a week or more may go by without mail service. There are many variables affecting the timeliness of mail delivery, so it’s a good idea to plan for what you need long before you actually need it.!!The Post Office will accept boxes up to 70 pounds (but it could be helpful to keep them a little lighter in case the Post Office scales and yours have a few pounds difference). The Post Office will not argue – THEIR SCALES DETERMINE THE WEIGHT – if your box is over the weight limit, they will not accept it.!!There are acceptable dimensions for box sizes (the www.usps.com website has the specifications), but it might be easier to use the small or medium U-Haul boxes or Rubbermaid tubs. On the tubs, the lids can be attached by drilling holes and using “plastic zip ties” to securely fasten them, do not clip or cut to shorten plastic zip ties as they can cut post office worker’s hands. Keep in mind that these tubs will add to your shipping weight, and storage may be limited in your new home.!!Pack everything very well. Your packages will be handled by a variety of people in a variety of ways before reaching their final destination. Buy good, strong tape for packing and make sure your boxes are of strong quality (example: U-Haul boxes, computer boxes, etc). Consider packing breakable (or easily punctured) liquid items in containers like Ziploc baggies. Putting items in plastic bags helps keep the contents of the box dry. Balance heavy and light items, use paper towels, toilet tissue, hand towels, or blankets as packing material. Address your boxes carefully and clearly, and make sure the address label cannot be pulled off or smeared. The “Airport” Post Office in Anchorage (this is the main post office located 4141 Postmark Drive – right next to the Anchorage airport, but is not within walking distance if you are mailing boxes) is open from 6 am until midnight everyday of the week.
12
If you are mailing 10 or more boxes from the airport post office in Anchorage, you do not have to haul all of your boxes into the lobby. Instead, you can use the back loading dock to mail your boxes – there is usually not a long line, and it is easier to use. As you are facing the main customer parking lot, you will see another parking lot to the left with a driveway. Drive up to Dock #22 or Dock #23. There is a door by Dock #22 with a doorbell, and the employees will help you with your boxes there. The loading docks are open to receive boxes Monday-Friday, 9:30am-6: 30pm.!!Shipping via Air Cargo: Items that exceed Post Office size restrictions and items that are frozen or perishable can be sent to your new home via air cargo, though it is costly. If you have frozen or perishable items, be sure to clearly label the boxes so the airline can store them appropriately. !Bringing your items with you as baggage: Checking in more pieces of luggage than the airline allows is very expensive. If you are traveling on multiple airlines, be sure to call each airline to check on the size and weight limit of baggage and the number of pieces you are able to check in. Excess baggage charges can quickly add up. Alaska Airlines currently charges $20 each for the first three checked bags (50 lbs. maximum per bag, put your heaviest bag on the scale first so if you need to shift your luggage, you can at this time) when traveling out of or into the State of Alaska. They allow travelers to check 3 bags, at no charge, for travel within the state of Alaska. Like anywhere else, luggage checked to Bethel and beyond may get lost. Be sure to carry necessities (including daily medication) in a carry-on bag.!!The smaller airlines that fly from Bethel to the villages have a baggage limit of 50 lbs per bag.!*See page 18
for information on travel to the region.*!
13
Medical Services / Health Insurance!All communities within the region have health clinics staffed by Health Aides trained in first aid and the treatment of common illnesses. They have direct radio and video contact with doctors at Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel. !Bethel also has the Bethel Family Clinic with doctors and specialists who travel out to Bethel (usually from Anchorage) on a temporary duty basis. !!Bring any prescribed medications along with the
name and phone number of the pharmacy where you have them filled. Once you are settled, you will want to have the prescription(s) moved over to the district’s maintenance prescription provider. Once established, medications can be mailed to your home in about 8 to 10 days.!!A well-stocked “emergency” kit might contain such things as Recapit or Dentemp for temporary repair dental crown or fillings, over the counter pain medications, band-aids of different sizes, cold medications, cough drops, and other items that comprise a well stocked home medical shelf.!!Your health insurance benefits are spelled out in the Summary of Plan Benefits or on our website at http://www.lksd.org/benefits/index.htm. Integrity Administrators, Inc. provides the district’s health insurance coverage. Our group plan number is 1180. The Great West help line phone number is (800) 562-9383.!!Your coverage will begin on your first contract day – that means your first in-service day in August. You must turn in an enrollment application within 31 days of your first contract day in order to be enrolled in the plan. You may enroll any dependents at this time as well. If you do not turn in the application within 31 days, you will have to wait for open enrollment in December. Spouses who both work for LKSD will receive dual coverage. More information can be found on pg. 60 in the Lower Kuskokwim School District Employee HealthCare Plan.!
Pets!Pets are generally allowed in most teacher housing units (with a $500 pet deposit). Finding a place to live in Bethel with a pet may be more difficult. Before bringing your pet, be sure to check with your Principal/your landlord to be sure that your pet will be welcome. Please be aware, there are no veterinary services available in Bethel or any of the surrounding villages. Pet vaccinations may be available in Bethel at times, and a veterinarian from out of town does make monthly visits. Many pet medications may be ordered online. If flying from out of state, check airline(s) for regulations. Alaska Airlines can advise you of required documents to transport your pet by air in state.
14
Places of Worship!There are a variety of places of worship in the region, but the predominant churches are Moravian, Russian Orthodox, and Catholic. Other churches in Bethel include Baptist, Assembly of God, Church of God, Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-DaySaints, and Lutheran. Check with your Site Administrator or other site staff to see what types of churches may be available in your new community. Because Yupik is the predominant language in many villages, some church services are conducted in Yupik.!!
Recreational Activities!Outdoor recreational activities abound for those adventurous enough to take advantage of them. Common outdoor activities include dog mushing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, boating, hiking, fishing and hunting. Proper gear is essential for the enjoyment of your surroundings. Weather conditions in the region can be harsh and unpredictable. Before venturing too far from town, be sure you have appropriate maps/mapping devices and survival gear. Never go out alone and always leave a trip plan with someone regarding where you are headed and when you plan to return. It is also a good idea to carry a GPS tracking unit.!!Signing Bonus/Moving Costs:!The School Board recently approved a new feature for our new-to-district teachers. As part of the certified teacher negotiated agreement, all new teachers are eligible for a 2-year, $2,000 signing bonus. (This replaces the previous $1,000 moving expense, and the need to keep your travel receipts to be reimbursed). This is a taxable benefit, as was the moving expense reimbursement. The 2-year signing bonus provides a $1,000 bonus for each of your first two years, paid up-front at the time that you arrive (typically this is when it is needed the most). If you do not return to LKSD for a second year, you will need to return the second year bonus. You do have the option of taking a 1-year, $1,000 signing bonus rather than the 2-year bonus. !!You may also be reimbursed for one round trip airline ticket, from your site to Anchorage per year. For the RT ticket reimbursement, you will need to submit a reimbursement form to the Payroll department. It is important to note that these reimbursements and bonuses are taxable benefits.!!If you take a Praxis II exam after you are hired to become Highly Qualified, you may be reimbursed for the cost of the exam. Please send a completed reimbursement form and copy of your passing Praxis II exam scores to the Personnel Department.
15
Salary and Payday!Teacher salaries are indicated by range and step (for example, B18/2 is Range B18, Step 2). The steps simply represent teaching experience. For placement on the pay scale, the District accepts all full years of teaching experience within the state of Alaska (plus up to 6 additional out-of-state years of full-time (140 days or more per school year) public school teaching experience). The range represents college credits you have taken to enhance your professional capabilities. All credits must be from an accredited institution. We must receive official transcripts and verifications of service in the Personnel Department by October 25th of the current school year to receive credit. There are requirements in each range for the number and type of credits (as noted by the legend on the back of a transcript) accepted for salary movement, so please refer to the Negotiated Agreement on page 34 . All employees are paid on the 15th of each month, beginning on September 15.!!
Subsistence!Local people rely heavily on traditional foods gathered from the land and sea. Hunting, fishing, and gathering plants and berries play an important role in the local culture of each community. Some common subsistence activities in the region include: hunting for caribou, moose, ducks, geese and musk oxen; fishing for arctic char, salmon, grayling, sheefish, whitefish and pike; gathering blueberries, salmonberries, crowberries, cranberries, sourdock and wild rhubarb. Participating in these activities and realizing their importance to the local community can help you better understand your new home. Before participating in any subsistence or sport hunting, fishing, trapping, or gathering activities be sure to learn about applicable regulations for the land you’ll be using and obtain all necessary licenses. Unless you are Native, you will not be able to hunt walrus or seal and ivory tusks must be tagged by Fish and Game in order for you own them.!!
!
16
!!!!!!!
Sunlight and Darkness!Since the region is located at such high latitude, daylight levels vary from season to season. If you arrive in June or early July, daylight may make it difficult for you to sleep at night unless you take measures to reduce the amount of light entering your bedroom. As the seasons change, the length of day can decrease or increase between 5 to 10 minutes per day until the winter or summer solstice. So, over a two-week period of time, you can loose or gain an hour of light depending on the time of the year. On the Kuskokwim Delta, the shortest day is around 5 hours. Lack of sunlight my be difficult for some people. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) lights are a common remedy used to compensate for the lack of sunlight. After December 21st, the sunlight gradually increases again and by the end of March, days and nights are about equal. When the sun is out, the sunlight is intense. Make sure to keep eyes protected by wearing a good pair of sunglasses.!!
!!!!!!!!
!
17
Taxes!Alaska does not currently have a state income tax. The only taxes at this time are sales taxes, which vary from community to community (usually between 4%-8%).!!
!!!!!
Technology!All of the Lower Kuskokwim School District’s schools and the District Office have high speed Internet access. This provides the District’s faculty, staff, and students the opportunity to utilize the World Wide Web and its resources. Students also have the opportunity to learn through participating in VTC classes and distance learning courses. All teachers are issued a Mac laptop and many of the classrooms are now utilizing Smart Boards. Many schools issue students computers including iPads. At this time, computer bags or backpacks are not available. If you plan on carrying your computer back and forth to work, you may wish to invest in one.!
Telephone/Internet!All communities have telephone service available to residents. To set up telephone services to your new home, contact United Utilities, Inc. (UUI) in Bethel at (800)-478-2020. You may have to wait a few days to a few weeks for a technician to come to your village. Occasionally, telephones may be out of service for a few days at a time. Most teachers use Skype to make long distance calls/contact after hours at the school.!!Phones:!Cell phones from any other provider but GCI will not work in our villages or Bethel, no matter what your provider says they will only work as far as Anchorage.!!Internet:!GCI: A Rural Broadband modem and wireless antenna is required to receive the signal. Equipment must be purchased from GCI and the cost is $198.99 which includes a $49.99 activation fee. You have the option of paying $33.33 a month for 6 months or paying it all up front. Some villages have high speed internet services available through the local Internet Service Provider. !!All school have high speed internet. Many teachers rely on the school internet for personal use, however, it is only available in the school building.
18
Untied Utilities:!UUI is offering Broadband Internet access (DSL and fixed wireless) in 37 villages. Faster! Cheaper! Better! Up to 100x faster than dial-up. They have a variety of speeds for you to choose from, depending on your needs. The new plans start as low as $24.99 per month when added to your home phone services. Installation fee is $49.99 and equipment is $149.99 (wireless only, customer purchased and owned).!
!Television, Radio and Local News!
Cable TV is available in most communities in the region through GCI Cable 1-800-800-4800. Without cable service, you will most likely only receive one station. Some people subscribe to satellite services such as Dish Network (but you must have a satellite dish).!!KYUK Radio operates in Bethel and broadcasts on 640 AM and 90.3 FM throughout the region. Visit their website at www.kyuk.org for schedules and other information.!!KYKD is the Christian radio station operating out of Bethel. Their website is www.vfcm.org/kykd. !!Two two local newspapers, Delta Discovery and The Tundra Drums, serve the region and are published weekly. Many people get state and nationwide news by reading the Anchorage Daily News newspaper online www.adn.com.!!
Travel to Our Region of Alaska!Travel between Anchorage and Bethel is done by jet on Alaska Airlines or Era Alaska. Alaska has three flights per day and Era has two. Make sure you join their mileage plans for frequent flyers. It is free to join, and can be rewarding when you over begin collecting miles. Visit their websites at www.alaskaair.com and www.flyera.com. !!There are a variety of ways that you can travel to the village sites that include boat in the
summer and snow mobile in the winter, but most times you will fly with a single engine aircraft out of Bethel. It is recommended that you use ear plugs when you fly to reduce your chances of hearing loss over time. The air services in Bethel are:!Grant – 543-2000!Ravn/Hageland – 543-3800!Yute – 543-3003!!
Grant and Ravn will pick you up at the Alaska Air terminal if you have reservations with them.
19
You are responsible for making your own travel arrangements from your home to your site. You are allowed one round trip ticket from Anchorage to your site per fiscal year. If you plan on arriving at site early, please let your Site Administrator or the Personnel Department know when you are arriving so we can arrange to have someone meet you and let you into your housing unit.!!There are no roads connecting the villages to one another, although in a few villages there are trucks used around the village or for travel on the river road during the winter. Most travel between village sites is done by boat, snowmobile, or airplane. It is recommended that you purchase a life jacket if you plan on traveling on a boat.!!Bethel also has an extensive taxi service. Taxi fare runs from $5 - $10 depending on where you are going in Bethel. There is usually not a long wait for cab, and you usually share your cab with other people. Once the river is frozen, river cabs run between Bethel, Oscarville, Napakiak, Napaskiak, and Kwethluk. Fares run from $20-$30.!! Kusko Cab: 907-543-2169!! Quyana Cab: 907-543-5454!! Taxi Cab: 907-543-5199!! City Cab: 907-543-4141!!After your initial orientation in August, check with your Site Administrator for flight plans as many times, SA’s will charter a flight for their staff back to site.
20
!!!!!!!!!!
Put in your Carry On!Medications, change of clothes, all important papers, ID, Passport, credit cards. !
You are allowed to carry on a bag that fits in the overhead rack or under the seat in front of you and a personal item.
!The Following is Directly from TSA: !
Make Your Trip Better Using 3-1-1!TSA and our security partners conducted extensive explosives testing since August 10, 2006 and determined that liquids, aerosols and gels, in limited quantities, are safe to bring aboard an aircraft. The one bag limit per traveler limits the total amount each traveler can bring. Consolidating the bottles into one bag and X-raying them separately from the carry-on bag enables security officers to quickly clear the items.!
3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure.!
Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.!
3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.!
Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint. Officers may need to open these items to conduct additional screening.!
More info can be found at: http://www.tsa.gov/311/
21
Water/Water Quality!All schools and teacher housing units in the region have running water. In some villages the school and teacher housing may be the only buildings in the village with running water and sewer. Each village housing unit is furnished with a water distiller, though some people prefer to filter their drinking water with a commercially available water filter (such as Brita or Pur). Village residents have also commented, sometimes the water has a tendency to discolor white clothing, and have recommended using products like Borax or Clorox to keep clothes white. !
Wikis!Information for Certified New Teachers to LKSD can be found on the Certified New Hire Wiki (https://team.lksd.org/groups/certifiednewhire/). You can download required forms and learn about each of LKSD’s villages on the wiki page. !Information about LKSD’s curriculum can be found on the Instructional Framework Wiki (https://team.lksd.org/groups/instructionalframework/).!!
Additional Information!You can also go online to find out additional information about Alaska and the Delta region:!
• Era Aviation/Hageland Aviation (www.flyera.com)!• Anchorage Daily News (www.adn.com)!• Television out of Anchorage (www.ktuu.com)!• KTUU App (weather and news) for smart phones !• Weather in Alaska (www.weatherunderground.com)!• Southwest Alaska’s Weather Page (www.kusko.net/)!• All school sites have their own websites. Some are more up-to-date than others.
22
Notes____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________!____________________________________________________________________________________
1004 Ron Edwards Way, Bethel, AK 99559, Phone: 907-543-4886, Fax: 907-543-4900, Email: [email protected]
