So, as for benefits stateside...do any of you want to share your thoughts on which plans I should choose for family health and dental/vision. Big family and I'm looking at some braces in our near future.
Any other advice about federal benefits or retirement?
When they send the email in the winter saying it's time to update your account, you suggest deleting all your old files and then re uploading them? I want to make sure i have the best chance next season. Thanks.
I received a referral notice for a Fort Buchanan school today. Can anyone tell me about life in Puerto Rico? Will DoD move household goods? I know there's no LQA, but do they provide TQSA while looking for a house? What about RAT?
Kreeble@HopingForNews I have been MIA on this chatboard for a hot minute and just saw this. Hopefully you still want some info. Ask more questions if needed but here are some basics. They do not pay for housing, like said above, and there is no base housing available to you. COLA is roughly $160 a month. They do pay to move you. Yes, you can use the ameni...See More@HopingForNews I have been MIA on this chatboard for a hot minute and just saw this. Hopefully you still want some info. Ask more questions if needed but here are some basics. They do not pay for housing, like said above, and there is no base housing available to you. COLA is roughly $160 a month. They do pay to move you. Yes, you can use the amenities on base. This is my only base experience and from what I have been told this base is VERY small. Ive been told other bases are nice and have loads of things to do and modernish facilities. Life on the island is like a really expensive 3rd world country. You are paying loads more for food because its an island and everything is shipped in. Electricity is also super expensive roughly $200 a month. You will have to pay PR taxes as opposed to your home of record and that is 14%. So with all the other deductions you will lose 45% of your pay. The schools are made up 95% of locals and so are the students. There is very very little diversity in students because the parents dont move around so much, they are mostly federal employees and stay put here. Maybe 98% are puerto rican. Statesiders have moved here and loved it and been very happy. But their turn over is high. You need to be prepared about the cost of living versus the pay you will actually receive. Especially if you are coming with a spouse and you both have to live on your pay. Im not trying to paint a negative picture, I just wish someone would have told me these things before I jumped in.
HopefulTeacherJust checking in. Did anybody get an interview request for a gifted position? Or how about special education positions? The school year has started, but Mary said there are still openings. I'm going to wait another month and then start my Plan B. :)
I keep reading people are still getting referrals. I haven't had a referral since my last two interviews on August 1st. My application isn't locked, so I'm wondering why I'm not getting any referrals anymore. Any thoughts?
kiki08Also, thank you for mentioning that junk email boxes should be monitored. I found an email from the passport coordinator, that was send a few days ago.
I am at the point where I need to choose a research topic. Considering how difficult it is to get research activities approved by DODEA, what are some tips you can provide? It's my understanding that surveying students is a 'no-no' and surveying teachers can be tricky due to union laws. What would be acceptable?