Our Certified Staff operate under a PTO (Paid Time Off) leave model.  PTO leave can be used for any reason the employee chooses.  It covers illness, family matters, bereavement, professional development at the employee's request, vacations, mental health days, etc. 

Each staff member receives 16 PTO days annually.  Those days will roll over into a bank of up to 50 days.  Any days above 50 will be paid out to the employee annually at $100 per day. 

Staff are limited to 5 days per term, 5 consecutive days and only 5% of staff can request any day off.  Exceptions would be emergency situations and unplanned illness.  

Staff are allowed to leave at 3:30 or take up to 30 minutes during their plan period for occasional errands, appointments, and children's events. etc. at the discretion and approval of the principal.  This does not need to be entered as PTO.   

More details regarding leave can be found on the LEAVE PAGE. 

Can I select my own sub?

YES! Teachers have the ability to go in and create a "preferred sub list" in the system.  When leave it entered, it will send the message to your preferred sub list first.  In the event that leave is entered last minute, or if it is unfilled the day prior, it will send messaging out to the entire sub list to find coverage. 

Trouble logging in? 

• Are you logged into your kearneycats email before trying to access the sub system? If not, the reason for the error could be that the sub system is looking at your personal email and cannot match it in the sub system. Please make sure you log into your kearneycats email on the device you are trying to access the sub system.
• Are you using the Single Sign On? Where you are trying to login, does it have two boxes? If  yes, that is the incorrect login screen. Under the second box is a link to use SSO login which is a single box where you enter your KPS email address.

If you are interested in being a sub,  go to the KPS Become a Sub webpage.  

• You can apply on our website under Substitute Teacher job posting.  This gets your information in our system and we will reach out. 
• You can also find the NDE website regarding Substitute teachers HERE. 
• It generally takes 4 - 6 weeks for a certificate to be issued. Once that happens, you contact Dellene Bosard at the KPS Administration Building. 
  • Dellene - 308-698-8013 / dbosard@kearneycats.com
• While you are waiting for your certificate to be issued, you can complete the online application for substitute teachers. This application will trigger us to start the process of getting you entered into our system for our platforms to issue and email you all of the necessary paperwork for payroll. 

FAQ...

1. Is there a list of approved colleges or degrees?  This would be impossible to accomplish as there are more than 500 nationally accredited teachers' colleges across the country.  Additionally, not every program within every college is accredited.  The best course of action is to select programs from colleges within the state of Nebraska or do a quick Google search if you are looking for online programs outside of the state.  You are looking for accredited programs that award Master's level credit that will appear on a transcript and go towards a program vs. professional development hours.  Once you have a program, send it to me and I will let you know if it qualifies and answer questions regarding your specific program. 

2. Do I need a new form every year?  No. The electronic form that I create and share with you will be yours to use through the duration of your employment with KPS? 

3. What if I don't want to pursue another Master's degree or an advanced degree after my first one?  What are my options? - Frankly, your options are limited.  You can look at programs that lead to dual credit authorization or certification in an area (sometimes those may only require an additional 12-18 hours) or you can look at adding an endorsement in areas such as SPED, EL , Reading, or any other area.  

4. What qualifies as "District or Building Goals"? - This is when the District may require you to complete training (such as the Science of Reading) that also awards credits.  That could be accepted as stand alone courses approved outside of a program.   This does not mean that you select a course and ask the District or your Building to approve it, but rather it is when the District requires a level of training that is approved, that will be communicated out to teachers. 

The Negotiated Agreement for the 2026-27 School Year can be found HERE. 

You can also find a summary of changes HERE. 

As an addendum to the agreement, the Board of Education elected to pay a one time benefit amount to any employee who was bottomed out in their column of the salary schedule to ensure that they did not take a pay cut.  They highly encourage employees to see opportunitites to continue to pursue a Master's degree or other approved program in order to move horizontally in the future. 

The Certified Staff Handbook for the 2026-27 school year can be found HERE. 

For Classified, Classified Exempt, and Administrators, your new leave plans will begin in September of 2026 and you will see the new balances reflected in the system in early September.  If you need to refresh your memory on those leave changes, please see the resources below. When you view your new leave balance in September, if you have questions or believe that there is an error, please submit the Google form for ERRORS and let us know.  We will be updating the FAQ document that you can check for answers to your questions. 

Classified Staff: To check your leave balance, follow the Instructions below or find the screenshots linked HERE

1. Log into your Time and Attendance account and select BENEFIT SUMMARY.  This is the most accurate screen to view your leave. (* please do not use the benefit adjustment history under the magnifying glass. that is an internal record of the leave roll over process in the system and does not accurately reflect your leave.)
2. You will find each leave category and the available balance there.  
3. You will see Sick and Paid Time Off in addition to August 31, 2028 Sick and August 31, 2028 Paid Time Off.  This clearly shows you what accrued this year and what your remaining balance is to be used by August of 2028. 
4. To add a new leave request from the main screen click on Time Off Request
5. Click on the plus sign
6. In the box, select the correct Leave category in the Benefit Type box. 
7. Leave categories and reasons are listed here: 
8. Sick - Leave to cover illness of yourself or a family member.  Illness can include being sick, doctor’s visits, medical procedures, and mental health or physical therapy appointments and follow-up for you or a family member if you are their caregiver. 
9. Paid Time Off - This is personal or vacation leave and can be used for personal reasons, to attend children’s events, take a trip, or other reasons at the discretion of the employee and with approval and notification of your supervisor
10. August 31 Bank - Leave that has rolled over from previous years and needs to be used by August 31 per the new guidelines
11. Bereavement - When you have a death of a family member or friend
12. Jury Duty - When you are called to serve on a Jury to testify in court
13. Military Leave - When you are called to serve on active duty or perform other military obligations and responsibilities 
14. NPERS - You are allowed two days during your final years of employment to attend an NPERS information session

8. Enter your leave time:

• Start time: Enter the time you usually would start your work day ex 08:00
• Benefit time: Enter how many hours you will be gone ex 8.00

9. Submit your request

You can also watch the Videos Below: 

Leave Changes Overview

Vacation Bucket Explanation

Our Classified Staff earn leave in a variety of categories.  Details of the Classified Staff leave can be found in the handbook or on the Classified Leave Chart linked here.  

All leave must be approved by your supervisor, and consideration will be given to workload, time of year, duration and the circumstances of the requested leave. 

Classified Staff: To check your leave balance, follow the Instructions below or find the screenshots linked HERE

1. Log into your Time and Attendance account and select BENEFIT SUMMARY.  This is the most accurate screen to view your leave. (* please do not use the benefit adjustment history under the magnifying glass. that is an internal record of the leave roll over process in the system and does not accurately reflect your leave.)
2. You will find each leave category and the available balance there.  
3. You will see Sick and Paid Time Off in addition to August 31, 2028 Sick and August 31, 2028 Paid Time Off.  This clearly shows you what accrued this year and what your remaining balance is to be used by August of 2028. 
4. To add a new leave request from the main screen click on Time Off Request
5. Click on the plus sign
6. In the box, select the correct Leave category in the Benefit Type box. 
7. Leave categories and reasons are listed here: 

• Sick - Leave to cover illness of yourself or a family member.  Illness can include being sick, doctor’s visits, medical procedures, and mental health or physical therapy appointments and follow-up for you or a family member if you are their caregiver. 
• Paid Time Off - This is personal or vacation leave and can be used for personal reasons, to attend children’s events, take a trip, or other reasons at the discretion of the employee and with approval and notification of your supervisor
• August 31 Bank - Leave that has rolled over from previous years and needs to be used by August 31 per the new guidelines
• Bereavement - When you have a death of a family member or friend
• Jury Duty - When you are called to serve on a Jury to testify in court
• Military Leave - When you are called to serve on active duty or perform other military obligations and responsibilities 
• NPERS - You are allowed two days during your final years of employment to attend an NPERS information session

8. Enter your leave time:

• Start time: Enter the time you usually would start your work day ex 08:00
• Benefit time: Enter how many hours you will be gone ex 8.00

9. Submit your request

Classified Exempt Staff

Classified exempt staff who do NOT clock into Time and Attendance do not enter their leave in that system. 

Your leave is entered iVisions. 

Instructions

1. Go to the iVisions website. 

2. Click on My Time and then Time Off Requests

3. Complete the information required.  Start by selecting your date, enter in your leave type and a comment. 

4. To enter a partial day, select the pencil next to the date under current request to the right. 

5. When all the information has been entered, hit SUBMIT.

Submit Questions HERE

Time & Attendance Updates for Staff:

• Cannot log in? Please contact {me} so we can verify your position setup and sync with Time & Attendance. In the meantime, track your hours manually and work with your supervisor to add missing time once your account is active.

• You can log in, but incorrect position or location? We are finalizing setups for the new school year. These will be updated after the August payroll, if not sooner.

• Need to submit leave? Please track your leave manually for now. New leave plans will be assigned after the August payroll. Do not submit under current plans; wait until September when updated and accurate plans are available. This helps save time so that Payroll does not have to unapprove them and change them later. 

Eligibility

All employees who work 20 hours per week or more are required to participate in the Nebraska Public Employee Retirement System.  

There are multiple benefits to participation and it is important that employees know how to access their retirement funds when the time comes or when/if they end their employment in the public school system.  

•  If you need to change beneficiaries, complete THIS FORM and return to HR. 
•  If you have questions about the retirement system, find information in the HANDBOOK. 
• Additional resources can be found on the NPERS website.

Beneficiary Form

Each employee should complete a beneficiary form to designate which individuals will be eligible to receive their retirement benefits upon their death.  It is important to review your beneficiaries and update the form whenever you have a life event.  Your currently listed beneficiaries are not kept on file at District Office, but with NPERS.  

You can find a pdf of the form HERE. It does need to be notarized, but you can do that in your building or at District Office and have the form sent in. 

Notification of the District

There is no legal deadline for notifying us of your intent to retire.  In order to find the most suitable candidate, buildings generally like to advertise and recruit in the fall prior to the school year you plan to leave.  For high need and speciality positions, it is not uncommon to begin conversations 2 years prior to your intent to retire.  Ultimately, it is a big decision and one that you should take your time on before rushing in to meet a deadline.  If you have questions about your specific timing and situation, don't hesitate to talk to HR or your building principal or supervisor.

Retirement Incentive

Any employee who submits a formal letter of retirement or resignation the Thursday prior to the November Board of Education meeting, will be eligible for an incentive of $500.  That will be paid out in your final August paycheck, NOT at the time that you announce your retirement or resignation. 

Direct Bill Information

Retirees are eligible to continue on the BCBS EHA plan through the Direct Bill option after their retirement.  Direct bill is not through KPS, but is through EHA.  Retirees do NOT need to complete the final open enrollment period if they are transitioning to Direct Bill upon retirement.  Information can be found on THIS website. 

Timing and Drawing Your Pension

Employees have two option for their 403(b) salary reductions. 

1. Preexisting Accounts - If an employee already has a preexisting account, they can complete the salary reduction form linked HERE.  The form should be returned to the payroll office for processing.   Forms can be submitted or updated at any time during the year.  Please give a few weeks of processing prior to the month that you would like the deductions to start. 

2. Creating An Account for the First Time - If an employee is not already working with a financial advisor or wants to create an initial account, they can use the services through TSA to create an investment/retirement account.  Information can be found on the TSA website.  Once the employee has worked through the steps with TSA to create their account, they can sumbit the salary reduction form or the salary reduction ROTH form.

More questions about 403(b) accounts can be directed to the TSA website and their service desk to help employees pick a provider that suits their goals. 

Certified Transfer Requests

Directions for CERTIFIED Internal Transfer Application:

• Complete the GOOGLE FORM to indicate that you are interested in a transfer.
• As principals have openings in their buildings, they will reach out to candidates in the pool as well as potential candidates on the internal transfer list. 
• Being on the transfer list does not guarantee you a position or an interview, but it informs the principals of your interest.  

*Before submitting an application, please inform your current principal or supervisor of your intent to apply for a transfer.   

Classified Transfer Requests

Directions for CLASSIFIED Internal Transfer Applications:

• If you are a classified employee who is looking for a new or different position, complete this GOOGLE FORM. 
• If you are currently employed by Kearney Public Schools as a Classified employee (for example, a Paraeducator or a Substitute teacher) and you are switching to a new position (from para to secretary or from Bearcat Diner to Para Educator) we also ask that you complete the Certified Online Application for the position you are interested in.  This ensures that we have the additional information needed to accurately evaluate your qualifications.
• Being on the transfer list does not guarantee you a position or an interview, but it informs the supervisor of your interest.

Thank you for helping us find the best candidates for our organization!  If you would like to recommend someone apply for an open position, they can begin by looking at the APPLICANT INFORMATION page on our website.  

They an also start by

1. Start by identifying our current job openings (click here) VACANCY LIST
    
2. Complete the Application process here by locating the position on this site and completing the application. JOB POSTINGS
   You can see more detailed instructions for each position listed below. 

*Certified candidates, apply for "Certified - All Positions" and indicate your area of interest and endorsement. This general pool application allows principals to contact you about available positions.

EAP Services - Our staff who work more than half time are eligible to access the EAP program.  There are a variety of supports for individuals.  More information and contacts can be found on THIS pamplet. 

Local Mental Health Supports -  There are a variety of local therapists and counselors in the area.  Many of these providers may be covered by BC/BS if you elect the district's insurance plan.  You can find a list of local providers and their contact information linked HERE. 

When a staff member is on the job and has a work related injury it can often be covered by workers compensation.  We must have an incident report that is completed and submitted to HR that details the event. 

Please follow these steps in the event of an incident/injury regardless of how minor: 

1. Identify the appropriate form from the links below

2. Download a copy of the document and edit it with your information

3. Ensure that ALL portions of the form are completed fully or it will be returned to you.

4. Print the document and sign it.  Ensure that your principal or supervisor signs it as well

5. Send it to the HR office*In the event of an emergency, staff should seek medical attention as needed, and any bills can be sent to workers compensation after a claim number has been issued. 

Link to Forms

Staff Incident Form

Student Incident Form

Visitor Incident Form

When a staff member is on the job and has a work-related injury it can often be covered by workers' compensation.  We must have an incident report that is completed and submitted to HR that details the event. 

Workers Compensation Claim Information

Once we have submitted the incident form to Sedgwick, they will approve or deny your claim and assign you a case number.  Moving forward, any subsequent treatments and claims can be provided and run through Sedgwick. 

There is a chance, in minor situations, cases of employee negligence, or when an employee is working outside the scope of their job that workers' compensation would not apply.  If that were the case, Sedgwick would notify the employee and the district, and medical treatment would be the responsibility of the employee. 

When an employee needs to change their name, they should ensure that they have proper legal documentation of the name change.  

This would include either an updated Social Security Card or Birth Certificate.  That documentation can be sent to HR and they will update your information.  

We do have to ensure that our systems include the legal name until the change is reflected on official documents. Because this change will be active in all of our systems, we can't change the email address or login information for staff who intend to get married during the school year in advance of those documents.

If your name change is due to a change in marital status, please also consider if you need to reach out to HR to change your benefits or update your NPERS Beneficiary form.  

• To change your beneficiary form, complete a new form HERE, have it notarized and send to NPERS (various school secretaries are notaries)
• To update your benefits, contact HR to request that a Qualifying Life Event be entered into the Benefits Direct system so that you can schedule a new Benefits Enrollment appointment to make the necessary changes.  THERE IS A 30 DAY WINDOW TO DO THIS!

This information can be updated directly by the employee in the iVisions system. 

Steps

• Log into Visions
• Go to My information on the left hand side.  
• Click Profile and update the information with the pencil icon. 
• Once submitted, HR will be notified of the new changes and will update all other platforms to reflect the new information 

Centegix is a safety and security system used throughout all KPS buildings.  There are a variety of features and benefits that will ensure we have a quick response time in emergency situations and that the right individuals are notified in the event of a crisis.  More information can be found on the following videos. 

Centegix Overview

Centegix Video Training

Important information about your Centegix Badge:

• If your badge is lost, contact your building administrator right away. 
• Batteries last 1-2 years.  Your building administrator will monitor your badge health. 
• Your location is shared for 30 seconds when activated by pushing the button. 
• Please do not write on your badge or place stickers on your badge. 
• Your badge is water resistant. 
• Don't leave your badge in a very hot or cold car.

Watch the KPS specific training video HERE

The Vector platform is used to administer all of our district, state, and federally mandated trainings.  When you login as an employee you will see the training that is specific to your position and building.

Employees should remember that the Vector platform is not tied to the active directory.  Your original login information would be your full kearneycats.com email, and your password would be the first 5 letters of your email.  If you have changed your password to something else, technology would not have the ability to access or change it. 

If you need your password or account reset, please contact HR. 

New staff  who are logging in for the first time will use their kearneycats.com email and the first 5 letters of their email.  If your account is not yet active, let HR know. 

There are 3 different steps or types of background checks.  For new hires, all 3 steps should be completed.  For volunteers, you should only complete the first two steps outlined below: Volunteer Guidebook

Step 1:  DHHS Background Check on the Abuse/Neglect Registry 

After you complete the online form, you will need to verify your identity. The online verification of identity indicates there will be an additional charge for the online verification of identity. The school district is covering this charge, so you will not be asked for payment.

Please click the link below to complete the information for the Child/Adult Abuse and Neglect Central Registry check.

https://ecmp.nebraska.gov/DHHS-CR/CheckRequest/BeginOrgCheck/80430626

Step 2: Criminal Background Check with E-verify:

Complete the steps on this link - 

https://secure.onesourcebackground.com/c/p/unsolicited_portal?guid=iVOT9NOpzSI5bl0kgE4e2FA2iR7Dj21w

Step 3: Personal Disclosure Form

After clicking on the link, you will need to click on Apply For This Position over to the right hand side.  You will then use your same login credentials as you used to complete your application to complete this form.

https://kearney.schoolspring.com/?jobid=4960875

KPS Email Tips:

• KPS email should be used for work only and minimize personal activity with it.

• • Do not use your KPS account to sign up for Social media sites unless being used for school purposes. 

• If you receive an email that appears to “PHISHY” more than likely it is.
  • Just delete the email.
  • Don’t respond to it.
  • Don't click on any links in the email.
  • Don't open any attachments in the email.

• If you would like to confirm who the message is from you can open the message.
  • Click the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner.
  • Click on Show original and then look at the From line.

• If you receive an email with an attachment from an unknown sender delete immediately.

If questions arise or you need assistance please email helpdesk@kearneycats.com.

We will be utilizing KnowB4 again this school year to send out test PHISHING emails.  This allows us to track how well we do as a district with compromised emails so please look at your email closely.  There will also be Security Tips & Hints that go out to help you identify PHISHING emails.

If questions arise or you need assistance please email helpdesk@kearneycats.com.

• • When having browser or internet issues, your first step is to restart your computer.  You should restart your computer nightly or MINIMUM weekly.
  • You should not deface KPS equipment by placing stickers anywhere on the device assigned to you.
  • Computers should be shut down nightly if on the KPS network.
  • Keep fluids a safe distance from your device.

We’re excited to announce that KPS is launching ParentSquare as our new district-wide communication platform replacing Remind for the 26-27 school year.  We have brought the ParentSquare platform online and it is live for those that use Remind to start learning the new platform.  We will be sending out invitations the next few days to create your account so please be on the lookout for this email.  Please read through this email fully to get all the instructions on accessing this Platform.

Why we're making this change? We are making this change since ParentSquare has acquired Remind and Remind will no longer be available to educational institutions.ParentSquare will be set up for you, with your school and class rosters preloaded to minimize setup time and help you get started quickly.

What you can do with ParentSquare?

• Create posts and send messages to families

• Communicate in their preferred language with built-in two-way translation

• Post calendar events and request RSVPs

• Share forms, files, and permission slips

• Set up volunteer and wish list sign-ups

• Track message reach and engagement

• And more—all from your computer or mobile device

What this means for families

Families will begin receiving school and district messages via email, app, voice, or text in the 26-27 school year. Those who activate their accounts can also reply to messages, fill out forms, view photos, manage notification preferences, and more, all in one place.

Training and support

You’ll have ongoing access to resources to help you succeed with ParentSquare:

• Live and recorded training webinars (login required)

• Self-paced courses via ParentSquare Academy (login required)

• Self paced Training Resources

• Templates and flyers for family outreach

You can also join the ParentSquare User Group on Facebook to connect with other educators and share ideas, questions, and feedback.

We’re looking forward to all the ways this platform will make communication simpler and more effective, for both you and the families you serve. Thank you for your partnership as we roll this out.

Accessing Parent Square

Link: https://www.parentsquare.com/signin (The link is also available in Clever as well.)

n your onboarding, you were given instructions on how to log into your email.  If you have forgotten your password or are having issues logging in, please try the following steps: 

• Go to KPS "Staff" page on the website (upper left corner)
• Scroll down to District Links
• Click on Self Help and enter your username (the first part of your email, which is the first three letters of your first name and your last name)
• You will be issued a temporary password to access your email account.  (should be your initials#employee ID#)

If this doesn't work, please have your principal, building secretary, or supervisor enter a helpdesk ticket for you. 

TalentEd Perform:  This platform holds all of the steps of evaluation process for Kearney Public Schools.  You can watch the video for more information about the Certified evaluation model HERE and read the full copy of the model HERE. 

• The TalentEd Platform does not tie to the active directory, which means that any changes in location, building, supervisor, and email and passwords must be changed manually.  
• TalentEd Records and Perform are housed in the same platform.  You can toggle back and forth between the two systems by clicking the Rubik's Cube in the upper right-hand corner.
• Any errors should be added to THIS Google form and changes can be adjusted. 
• BE SURE to check your process and ensure that it is correct BEFORE signing any paperwork.  Once you complete one task, it can't be deleted and your process WILL be thrown off for the following year as well. 

alentEd Records hold most of your employment documents and important record keeping items such as your contract and annual wage and benefit notifications.  You can also use this system to change your Direct Deposit and tax withholding forms. 

• TalentEd Records is housed in the same platform as Perform.  You can toggle back and forth between the two systems by clicking the Rubik's Cube in the upper right-hand corner. 
• The TalentEd Platform does not tie to the active directory, which means that if you have recently changed your password it would not automatically change in this system. You might need to try an old password or contact HR to reset your password. 

FIND THE LINK TO VECTOR HERE. 

SUBMIT THE GOOGLE FORM FOR QUESTIONS AND ISSUES LOGGING IN.

Troubleshooting: 

• NEED HELP: If you have an issue DO NOT PUT IN A HELPDESK TICKET:  They will direct you back here or to the Google Form
• INCORRECT INFORMATION: Vector does NOT tie to the active directory so all locations, positions, name changes, email and password updates have to be done manually by the District Office team.  We try to catch as many as possible, but we always miss a few.  If you have an issue, complete the Google Form above. 
• KICKED OUT :  If you continue to get logged out of your videos, it is most likely a browser or internet connection issue.  Try restarting your computer
• CERTIFICATES:  You can save your certificates and add them to your professional growth folder, but you do not need to send them to HR.
• NEW HIRES:  It takes a few days for new hires to be added to the system.  Please be patient in that process as we work through out systems. 
•  LOGIN :  A majority of staff have their full email as their login.  If that doesn't work, try just the first part of your email without the @kearneycats.com. If neither works, complete the Google Form above. 

The Special Education LANDING PAGE includes a variety of important information and resources for SPED Teachers. Most commonly used may be: 

SPED Manual

Synergy Step by Step manual

MTSS Guidelines and Decision Rules