Open Enrollment 2004 Is Here
Once again it is Open Enrollment time. This year, Open Enrollment will take place from September 25th through October 31st, 2003. This period will allow you, the employee, to make various elections to your benefits that will be in effect for 2004. Please consult your Open Enrollment packets for a list of dates, times and locations representatives of the various insurance carriers will be available to meet with you to address any questions you many have relating to your 2004 benefits. This year 12 Innovation Zones, all four area offices and six district departments will be participating in on-line Open Enrollment via an ESS/Employee Self-Service module. Due to health plan changes being offered for 2004, all employees will need to make a new health plan selection for themselves and/or their dependents.
To learn more about Open Enrollment, visit www.broward.k12.fl.us/benefits.

Employee Discounts Are Yours for the Asking
In a continued effort to improve the discounts available to our employees, the Benefits Department is expanding the employee discount web page by adding new vendors monthly. You can benefit from discounts on everything from home improvement to entertainment and dining.

As a School Board of Broward County employee, you can take advantage of these discounts by logging onto www.broward.k12.fl.us/benefits and clicking on the employee discount book. The discounts will appear in various categories. To utilize the discount, print the specific discount page and present it to the vendor along with your School Board issued identification badge.

We urge you to take advantage of this new and exciting benefit that has been designed especially for you. Please take the time to browse the various categories; new vendors are added constantly. Also, if you are aware of a company that is interested in offering discounts to our employees, please have them contact Jim Apicella, Wellness Coordinator, at 954-765-6253.

Bit of History

School spirit has a long history in Broward Schools. Fort Lauderdale High School athletes first wore the Flying L symbol on their uniforms on March 30, 1918 at an annual meet between Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Many theories exist as to why the arrow and wing were added to the emblem. One theory is that during a track meet a spectator yelled, " He's a Flying L from Fort Lauderdale" prompting the addition of a wing for speed and an arrow for straight flight.

Learn more about the history of Broward County Public Schools by visiting the "Our History" section of www.browardschools.com

Susan Brown
Accounting Specialist II in the
Risk Management Department

Work location
TSSC

Broward County Public Schools employee since:
January 1994

Other positions I've held here:
Receptionist in the Benefits Department, Receptionist, Data Entry Operator and Bookkeeper III in the Human Resources Department

Most memorable work experience:
Working at district-wide functions, such as the Showcase of Success and Schools of Excellence, because I was able to get the "big picture" of all the different programs going on in our schools

What I like most about the job:
The variety of tasks involved with my position and the opportunity to deal with many District employees, both at schools and in departments

I'm currently reading:
The daily newspaper

My motto:
Be optimistic

If I won the lottery, I would:
Scream first, then faint, then use the money to help my family

Most favorite foods:
Lobster and portabella mushrooms

Something you probably didn't know about me:
I love NASCAR

Favorite TV station:
The Discovery Channel

If I could pick someone out of history to have lunch with, I would choose:
Amelia Earhart

Three words that describe me best:
Adventurous, giving and caring
Vanilla or chocolate:
Chocolate

Favorite movie:
Emma

Best advice I ever received:
Never stop learning

Nominated for this profile by:
Trudy Navarro of the Human Resources Department