Longview Independent School District 2016-2017 EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK “Believe in Excellence in the District of Choice” Dr. James E. Wilcox, Superintendent TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL ................................................................................ i STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION ............................................................... i INTRODUCTION TO HANDBOOK ....................................................................... 1 LONGVIEW ISD LEADERSHIP ............................................................................... 3 MESSAGE from the SUPERINTENDENT ............................................................... 5 DISTRICT GOALS ................................................................................................ 7 Texas Public Education Goals ......................................................................... 8 Texas Public Education Academic Goals ......................................................... 9 Longview ISD Strategic Plan .......................................................................... 10 Mission .......................................................................................... 10 Statement of Beliefs ....................................................................... 10 Longview ISD District Goals ........................................................... 10 EMPLOYEE SERVICES ......................................................................................... 12 District Hiring Practices .................................................................................... 13 Job Posting Requirement ................................................................. 13 Exceptions to the Ten-Day Posting Requirement ............................ 13 Equal Employment Opportunity ....................................................... 14 Reduction in Force ......................................................................... 15 Employment Status .......................................................................................... 15 Contract and Non-Contract Employment ......................................... 15 Probationary Contracts ................................................................... 15 Term Contract ................................................................................... 15 Non-Certified Professional and Administrative Contracts ................ 16 Paraprofessional and Auxiliary Employees ...................................... 16 Certification and Licenses ................................................................. 16 Searches and Alcohol and Drug Testing ........................................ 17 Employees Required to Have a Commercial Driver’s License .........17 Health Safety Training .................................................................... 18 Reassignment and Transfers............................................................ 18 Employment-Related Policies ........................................................... 19 Termination of Employment ................................................................................. 19 Resignations ..................................................................................... 19 Dismissal or Non-Renewal of Contract Employees ......................... 20 Dismissal of Non-Contract Employees ............................................. 20 Reports to the Texas Education Agency ........................................ 21 Reports Concerning Court-Ordered Withholding ............................ 21 Continuing Health Coverage ............................................................ 21 Exit Interviews and Procedures ........................................................ 22 Renewal/Non-Renewal ..................................................................... 22 Suspension Without Pay ................................................................ 22 Employment After Retirement .......................................................... 23 Assignments and Schedules ....................................................................... 23 Assignment ....................................................................................... 23 Employee Involvement ..................................................................... 23 Staff Development ............................................................................ 23 Workload and Work Schedules ........................................................ 24 Breaks for Expression of Milk…………………………………………24 Employee Identification Cards and Time Management System ...... 25 Full-time Teachers/Librarians ........................................................... 25 Half-time Teachers ......................................................................... 25 Duties ............................................................................................. 26 Faculty Meetings ............................................................................ 26 Notification to Parents Regarding Certification Status ..................... 26 Employee Arrests and Convictions ................................................... 26 Visitors in the Workplace ................................................................ 27 Building Use ................................................................................... 27 Exposure Control Plan .................................................................... 27 EMPLOYEE CONDUCT AND WELFARE ............................................................. 29 Physical Assaults or Threats to School Employees .................................... 30 Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation .............................................. 31 Harassment of Students ................................................................... 31 Sexual Harassment ................................................................................... 32 Definition ........................................................................................ 32 Prohibited Conduct ........................................................................... 32 Complaint Procedure ........................................................................ 32 Notice of Employee Rights ............................................................... 33 Bullying .......................................................................................... 34 Hazing ............................................................................................ 35 Child Abuse Reporting ................................................................... 35 Child Sexual Abuse ........................................................................ 36 Reporting Crime ............................................................................. 37 Parent and Student Complaint ....................................................... 37 Freedom of Discrimination ............................................................. 37 Drug Free Workplace ................................................................................ 38 Requirements .................................................................................... 38 Standards of Conduct ....................................................................... 38 Alcohol and Drug-Abuse Prevention ................................................ 39 Tobacco Products and E-Cigarette Use .......................................... 39 Criminal History Background Checks ............................................... 39 Confidentiality of Student Data ......................................................... 40 Disciplinary Sanctions .................................................................... 40 Violations ....................................................................................... 40 Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators .................... 41 Principle I: Professional Ethical Conduct and Practices .................. 42 Principle II: Ethical Conduct Toward Professional Colleagues ....... 43 Principle III: Ethical Conduct Toward Students ............................... 44 EMPLOYEE STANDARD OF CONDUCT LOCAL GUIDELINES ......................... 46 Public Servants ............................................................................................ 47 Conflicts of Interest ...................................................................................... 47 Goals of Employee Conduct Standards ...................................................... 48 Outside Interests .......................................................................................... 48 Conflict of Interest, Gifts, and Gratuities...................................................... 48 Disclosure of Conflict of Interest ....................................................... 49 Gifts and Gratuities ........................................................................... 49 Charitable Contributions ................................................................... 50 Associations and Political Activities ................................................ 50 Fraud and Financial Impropriety .................................................................. 50 Improper Use of District Resources........................................................... 51 Disclosure or Destruction of District Data ....................................... 51 School-Owned Vehicles .................................................................... 51 Internal Information ..................................................................................