Minutes - October 15, 2014
Classified Staff Minutes
October 2014
The Classified Staff Advisory meet Wednesday, October 15, 2014. Members present were: Laura Wilson, GRES; Teresa Greene, CES; Gail Thompson, MES; Cynthia Britt, SES; Cindy Williams, WMS; Cathy Haithcock, WMHS; Felicia Ward, Central Office; Melanie Nichols, TES; Martha Lalor, PSES; Jackie Jackson, EMS; Cheryl Johnson, EMHS; Tremenia Wall, MLA.
Dr. Ellis welcomed those in attendance, and reviewed the purpose of the advisory committee – to keep individuals informed and to answer questions schools may have.
21st Century Grant
· Received $1.6 million to develop afterschool programs for our elementary schools, which will focus on mentoring and tutoring.
· Businesses as well as the community will be involved with the grant – around 40 different partners
· Plan to involve families
· Will serve 220 kids across Montgomery County
· Will partner with Montgomery County, the library, and CIS to develop summer component
· Continue to look for grants to assist with learning for Middle and High School students
New State Grading System
· Elementary and Middle School indicators
· High School indicators
· Calculations will be based on a 15 point scale for the first year. Next year the data will be based on a 10 point scale.
· New report card timeline. Scores will be released in January 2015 to principals and February 2015 to public.
· Outright proficiency is weighted much higher than growth in determining scores. Change to common core has affected proficiency negatively. Now planning to move away from Common Core.
Strategic Plan 2017
· Involved school staff and community in the process
· Received 89% agreement on the strategic goals
· Focusing on 5 main areas with the following goals for each – graduation rate, state AMO targets, READY expected growth, achievement gap (new goal), teacher satisfaction, teacher attendance rate (new goal), ethical values, OSS suspension rate, teenage pregnancy rate, grants (new goal), parental contacts, adequate fund balance, adequate facilities and technology resources
Questions
· Request for bus drivers to tell subs the route.
· Someone is being asked to drive other routes but already drives PM route. Could cafeteria staff help out? This can create OT issues.
· Someone was not informed of benefits and would like it addressed when hired to get to know their benefits. Have individual call Lisa Ritter.
· Comp time – told we are not getting paid for time at the Fall Carnival. How do we work this out? Dr. Ellis will discuss with principals
· Pre – K is worried about whether they will have a job next year, and would like to meet with Dr. Ellis. He said for them not to worry, a positive resolution is forthcoming.
· When we retire/resign do we get paid annual leave and sick time for bus? Or, is sick added to employment time? When you retire sick time is added to your years and you get paid for your annual leave. Same for those with bus time. If you resign, the annual leave is transferred to new place of employment.
· Non classified person are we required to work ball games? If you are being asked you should be on the clock.
Additional Questions
1. Why are some schools not posting job openings when they are sent out as a fax? Several jobs have been available and have not been posted for all to see. We will make sure Dr. Lancaster is aware and that it is clearly communicated to principals to post for all to see.
2. Why are people with CDLs called as sub. drivers and also as monitors? It doesn't seem fair that if you are able and willing to sub. that you have to serve as a monitor, as well. Isn't there a monitor list just as there is a sub. list? Yes, there is a monitor list, but is much shorter. Unfortunately, we have to do what we have to do to get the job done. Please let Dr. Ellis know if you are being contacted more than what’s unreasonable, or if you know of something specifically unfair at a certain school.
3. Why are some employees allowed to work over to get comp. time and others have to stay and are off the clock for various after-school events? Is there a rule for this? No employee should be off the clock at an after school event. There is no off the clock. Please let Dr. Ellis know if there is a specific school. Rule is called Fair Labor Act. We will not break it.
4. Could the county office/transportation dept. send out an alert-now message emphasizing the need (and county requirements) for a parent or guardian to meet pre-k through second grade children at the afternoon bus stops? Already this year, some parents are in the routine of thinking that the bus driver will let the child off regardless of there being anyone there to meet them. Bus drivers have been told not to do this! Would have to be sent out to everyone, and does not impact everyone. Let the principal know specific cases so that they can address with the specific family.
5. The teachers get incentive for their attendance goal and get to leave at 3:00 (every two weeks) if they have worked each day, assistants work the same hours and are a big part of the school but don't have that incentive. Why? Trying to get teachers to meet new strategic goal. We can review – which would mean you would have to fall under same standards. Please review with staff and let us know. Is it just teachers that need doctor’s notes, or everyone? Dr. Ellis will review with Dr. Lancaster.
6. Why did TA’s not get the 5 days given to us so that we do not have to work the NO days? State did not give them to everyone. Gave classified staff $500, everyone else got $1000 and 5 days.
7. We have concerns regarding the staff dress code (shoes). I have had many classified and certified staff confused over it. Asked for specific examples. Parents are particular about staff dress code because their children have to abide by a dress code.