WEST PLAINS R-VII SCHOOLS Employee Handbook Support Staff 2017-18 0 West Plains R-7 Support Staff Handbook Table of Contents Letter from Superintendent ........................................................................................................................ 1 Personnel Policies Goals General Employment Policies 1. Staff Involvement in Decision Making ...................................................................................... 2 2. Staff Conflict of Interest .............................................................................................................. 3 3. Staff Conduct ............................................................................................................................... 5 4. Drug-Free .................................................................................................................................... 7 5. Employee Alcohol and Drug Testing .......................................................................................... 8 6. Criminal Background Checks .................................................................................................... 10 7. Staff/Student Regulations .......................................................................................................... 12 8. Support Staff Recruiting and Hiring .......................................................................................... 13 9. Resignation of Support Staff Members .................................................................................... 15 10. Evaluation of Support Staff ....................................................................................................... 15 11. Support Staff Development Opportunities ................................................................................ 16 Leave Policies 1. Support Staff Leaves & Absences ............................................................................................. 16 2. Support Staff Catastrophic or Emergency ................................................................................ 27 3. Personal Floating Holidays .............. .………………………………………………………….27 Employee Benefits 1. Support Staff Fringe Benefits .................................................................................................... 29 2. Workers’ Compensation ............................................................................................................ 29 3. Expense Reimbursement .......................................................................................................... 31 Employee Disciplinary Policies 1. Nonrenewal, Suspension, and Termination of Support Staff Members .................................... 32 1 Non-discrimination and Anti Harassment Policies 1. Prohibition Against Illegal Discrimination and Harassment ..................................................... 33 Staff Complaints and Grievances 1. Staff Complaints and Grievances ............................................................................................... 40 General Policies and Procedures 1.Technology Use ............................................................................................................................. 40 2. Employee Technology Agreement & Email Agreement Policies ................................................ 44 3. Corporal Punishment .................................................................................................................... 46 4. Reporting and Investigating Child Abuse/Neglect ....................................................................... 47 5. Bullying Policy ............................................................................................................................. 48 6. Confidentiality .............................................................................................................................. 52 7. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERAPA) .............................................................. 52 8. Reproduction of Copyrighted Materials ....................................................................................... 53 9. Academic Calendar/Year/Day ...................................................................................................... 54 10. Unpaid Employee Balance ..............................................................................................55 11. Food Service Management (Meal Charges) ..………………………………… ............55 12. Communicable Disease ...................................................................................................58 Electronic & Social Media Guidelines for Faculty and Staff…………………………… ............60 2 3 Greetings from the Superintendent “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” ~Jane Goodall While many of our roles vary throughout the years, months, and even days, it is important to realize with each role we make a difference. We may sometimes feel that many of our efforts may go unnoticed, but even the smallest contributions can make the biggest difference. This is the joy of working with kids every day. Some of us are charged with transporting them to and from school each day. Some with ensuring they eat a good meal. Some spend their days comforting those that have become ill, while still others work with a family to make the best decisions possible for that child. Some of us are in a classroom, and some of us clean the classroom. Most of us, however, at times feel we do all those things and more. In fact, we do. We impact the lives of children each day by providing the safe, nurturing environment necessary for them to learn and be successful in school. We celebrate their accomplishments and challenge them to achieve more. We are a team, and each of us has the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child each and every day. As we begin another wonderful school year, we ask everyone – both returning staff members and those new to the West Plains R-VII Schools family – to take time to read very carefully the policies and procedures covered in this employee handbook. We welcome any question or any suggestions you have concerning the information in this document. There are no better fans of our students – both in the classroom and on the playground – than our Zizzer faculty and staff. Thank you for all you do for our students and for West Plains R-VII Schools. I extend my best wishes to you for another great year at West Plains! Sincerely, John Mulford West Plains R-VII Superintendent 1 PERSONNEL POLICIES GOALS The Board recognizes that the personnel employed by the district constitute the most important resource for effectively conducting a quality educational program. Important contributions to a successful educational program are made by both professional and support staff employees. The district's program will function best when it employs highly qualified personnel, conducts appropriate staff development activities and establishes policies and working conditions which enable each staff member to make the fullest contribution to the district's programs and services. It shall be the policy of the Board to select the most qualified teaching personnel, secretarial staff, custodians and other support staff employees available, in the light of service to be rendered as well as limitations of salary schedule. The goals of the district's personnel program shall include the following: ► Recruit, select and employ the best qualified personnel to staff the school district. ► Provide staff compensation and benefit programs sufficient to attract and retain qualified employees. ► Provide an in-service training program for employees to improve their performance and the overall rate of retention and promotion of staff. ► Conduct an employee appraisal program that will contribute to the continuous improvement of staff performance. ► Assign personnel to ensure they are utilized as effectively as possible. ► Develop the quality of human relationships necessary to obtain maximum staff performance and personal satisfaction. The superintendent of schools shall formulate the duties of principals, supervisors, teachers, secretaries, custodians, food service employees and other employees for the approval of the Board. General Employment Policies STAFF INVOLVEMENT IN DECISION MAKING The Board of Education encourages employees to contribute their ideas for the betterment of the school district. Members of both professional and support staff may be asked to assist in developing policies, rules and procedures and establishing the district goals and objectives, budget, and curriculum. The superintendent is authorized to establish any committees viewed as 2 appropriate to recommend policies, rules and procedures for the proper functioning of the district. Staff members should be advised, however, that the final decision on matters on which their advice is requested or received will rest with the Board or with the administrator(s) to whom the Board has delegated responsibility. The superintendent will establish channels for the intercommunication of ideas among the professional and support staff, the administration and the Board regarding the operation of the schools. In addition, the superintendent shall also weigh with due consideration the counsel given by employees, and especially that given by groups designated to represent large segments of the professional and support staff. The superintendent shall inform the Board of such counsel