EAST CENTRAL ISD EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK For Personnel 2020 - 2021 / Table of Contents Employee Handbook Receipt……………………………………………………………6 Employee Agreement of Responsible Use Receipt……………………………………..7 Introduction………………………………………………………………………………8 District Information……………………………………………………………………...9 Description of the District………………………………………………………………....9 District Map………………………………………………………………………………10 District Beliefs, Mission, and Values……………………………………………………..11 Vision and Philosophy Statement………………………………………………………...12 Board of Trustees………………………………………………………………………....12 Board Meeting Schedule for 2020-2021………………………………………………….13 Administration and School Directory…………………………………………………….14 School Calendar…………………………………………………………………………..16 Organizational Chart……………………………………………………………………...17 Employment……………………………………………………………………………..18 Equal Employment Opportunity………………………………………………………….18 Job Vacancy Announcements…………………………………………………………….18 Employment after Retirement…………………………………………………………....18 Contract and Non Contract Employment………………………………………………...19 Certification and Licenses………………………………………………………………..20 Searches and Alcohol and Drug Testing………………………………………………….20 Health Safety Training…………………………………………………………………....21 Reassignments and Transfers……………………………………………………………..21 Workload and Work Schedules…………………………………………………………...22 Breaks for Expression of Breast Milk …………………………………………………....23 Notification to Parents Regarding Qualifications………………………………………...23 Outside Employment and Tutoring……………………………………………………….23 Performance Evaluation…………………………………………………………………..24 Employee Involvement…………………………………………………………………...24 Staff Development………………………………………………………………………..24 Compensation and Benefits…………………………………………………………….25 Salaries, Wages, and Stipends……………………………………………………………25 Paychecks………………………………………………………………………………...25 Pay Dates…………………………………..……………………………………………..26 Automatic Payroll Deposit……………………………………………………………….27 Payroll Deductions……………………………………………………………………….27 Overtime Compensation………………………………………………………………….28 Travel Expense Reimbursement………………………………………………………….28 Health, Dental, and Life Insurance……………………………………………………….29 Supplemental Insurance Benefits………………………………………………………...29 Cafeteria Plan Benefits (Section 125)................................................................................30 Workers’ Compensation Insurance……………………………………………………....32 Unemployment Compensation Insurance………………………………………………..32 Teacher Retirement………………………………………………………………………32 1 / Reimbursement for Leave Upon Retirement……………………………………………..33 Other Benefit Programs…………………………………………………………………..33 Leaves and Absences……………………………………………………………………33 Medical Certification……………………………………………………………………..35 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA)...........................................35 Continuation of Health Insurance………………………………………………………...35 Personal Leave…………………………………………………………………………....35 State Sick Leave…………………………………………………………………………..36 Local Sick Leave………………………………………………………………………….36 Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank (or Pool).............................................................................37 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)—General Provisions…………………………..38 Local Family and Medical Leave Provisions……………………………………………..41 On the Job Injuries………………………………………………………………………..43 Temporary Disability Leave……………………………………………………………....43 Workers’ Compensation Benefits………………………………………………………....44 Assault Leave……………………………………………………………………………..44 Bereavement Leave……………………………………………………………………….45 Jury Duty……………………………………………………………………………….....45 Compliance with a Subpoena……………………………………………………………..45 Military Leave………………………………………………………………………….....46 Employee Relations and Communications………………………………………….....46 Employee Recognition and Appreciation………………………………………………...46 District Communications………………………………………………………………....46 Complaints and Grievances………………………………………………………….....47 Employee Conduct and Welfare………………………………………………………..48 Standards of Conduct……………………………………………………………………..48 Texas Educators' Code of Ethics……………………………………………………….....48 Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation………………………………………….....51 Harassment of Students…………………………………………………………………..53 Reporting Suspected Child Abuse………………………………………………………..53 Reporting Crimes ………………………………………………………………………...55 Scope and Sequence………………………………………………………………………55 Technology Resources……………………………………………………………………55 Personal Use of Electronic Communications………………………………………….....56 Electronic Communications between Employees, Students, and Parents .……………....58 Public Information on Private Devices…………………………………………………...60 Responsible Use Agreement.……………………………………………………………..60 General Technology Policies……………………………………………………………..60 Bring Your Own Technology……………………………………………………………..61 Criminal History Background Checks…………………………………………………....67 Employee Arrests and Convictions……………………………………………………....67 Alcohol and Drug-Abuse Prevention…………………………………………………….68 Reasonable Suspicion Searches…………………………………………………………..68 Tobacco Products and E-Cigarette Use…………………………………………………..68 Employees Covered by DOT Rules……………………………………………………...68 2 / Post Accident Testing…………………………………………………………………....69 Random Testing………………………………………………………………………….70 Fraud and Financial Impropriety………………………………………………………...72 Conflict of Interest……………………………………………………………………….73 Gifts and Favors………………………………………………………………………….73 Copyrighted Materials…………………………………………………………………....73 Associations and Political Activities……………………………………………………..74 Safety……………………………………………………………………………………..74 Possession of Firearms and Weapons…………………………………………………….75 Visitors in the Workplace………………………………………………………………....75 Asbestos Management Plan………………………………………………………………76 Pest Control Treatment…………………………………………………………………...76 Other Topics……………………………………………………………………………..76 Personnel Records………………………………………………………………………..76 Medical Examinations…………………………………………………………………....77 Administrative Leave…………………………………………………………………….77 Professional Organization Attendance at Conventions…………………………………..77 Attendance and Absentee Guidelines…………………………………………………….77 Holidays: Auxiliary………………………………………………………………………79 Overtime: Auxiliary and Paraprofessionals……………………………………………...80 Salary Preparation & Placement of Salary Schedules: Auxiliary………………………..80 Summary of Benefits: Auxiliary………………………………………………………....81 Time Clocks: Auxiliary and Paraprofessionals…………………………………………..81 Administrator Expectations……………………………………………………………....81 Teacher Expectations……………………………………………………………………..83 Paraprofessional Expectations…………………………………………………………....84 Auxiliary Expectations…………………………………………………………………...84 Dress and Grooming Standards…………………………………………………………..84 Duties and Responsibilities………………………………………………………………85 Employment Procedures for Hiring Paraprofessionals and Substitutes………………….85 Employment Assignments: Auxiliary……………………………………………………86 Transfers………………………………………………………………………………….86 Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens……………………………………………………...86 Faculty/Staff Meetings…………………………………………………………………...87 Guidelines for Acceptance of Checks…………………………………………………....87 Length of School Day: Paraprofessionals………………………………………………..87 Lunch: Auxiliary & Paraprofessionals…………………………………………………...87 Maintenance and Repairs………………………………………………………………...88 Personal Telephone Calls………………………………………………………………...88 Personal Use of Equipment and Vehicles………………………………………………..88 Planning Period…………………………………………………………………………..88 Policy for "No Shows" at Workshops……………………………………………………88 Security…………………………………………………………………………………..89 Site Based Committee and Other Committees…………………………………………..89 Staff Development……………………………………………………………………….89 3 / Status of Employment: Auxiliary & Paraprofessionals…………………………………...89 General Procedures……………………………………………………………………....91 Appliance Use in Classrooms and Work Areas…………………………………………....91 Emergency School Closing……………………………………………………..………….91 Emergencies……………………………………………………………………………......92 Purchasing Procedures…………………………………………………………………......92 Name and Address Changes…………………………………………………………….....92 Personnel Records………………………………………………………………………....92 Facility Use.……………………………………………………………………………….94 Termination of Employment…………………………………………………………….94 Resignations……………………………………………………………………………....94 Dismissal or Nonrenewal of Contract Employees………………………………………..95 Dismissal of Non Contract Employees…………………………………………………...95 Discharge of Convicted Employees………………………………………………………95 Exit Interviews and Procedures…………………………………………………………...96 Reports to Texas Education Agency……………………………………………………...96 Reports Concerning Court-Ordered Withholding………………………………………...97 Student Issues…………………………………………………………………………....97 Equal Educational Opportunities………………………………………………………....97 Student Records…………………………………………………………………………..97 Parent and Student Complaints…………………………………………………………...98 Administering Medication to Students…………………………………………………...98 Dietary Supplements……………………………………………………………………...98 Psychotropic Drugs……………………………………………………………………….99 Student Conduct and Discipline…………………………………………………………..99 Student Attendance………………………………………………………………………100 Bullying…………………………………………………………………………………..100 Hazing…………………………………………………………………………………....100 Counseling Program……………………………………………………………………..100 Curriculum and Instruction………………………………………………………………101 Extracurricular/UIL Sponsorships……………………………………………………….101 Field Trips………………………………………………………………………………..101 Film/Movies Usage………………………………………………………………………102 Fundraising………………………………………………………………………………102 Grading Practices…...……………………………………………………………………103 Parent Organizations……………………………………………………………………..104 Parent Relations………………………………………………………………………….104 School Activities and Functions…………………………………………………………105