Paraeducator Information

Staff Information

by Kathy Davidson

July 14, 2008

Term of Work Agreement

Classified employees will be appointed annually, work agreements to be executed in keeping with the Interlocal and participating district calendars as adopted by the Interlocal Board. Classified employees are employees at-will.

Assignment and Reassignment of Classified Employees

The director will have the authority to assign all classified employees to their respective positions in the schools and to recommend to the Interlocal Board a classified employee's reassignment to another school when the best interests of the school program will be served.

Discrimination Denounced

The Interlocal Board hereby enunciates a policy of nondiscrimination as it pertains to the relationship of school personnel to students in these specific areas: (1) racism, (2) sexism, (3) economics, (4) labeling, (5) religious, (6) intellectual capacity, (7) age, (8) physical handicap and (9) national origin

Inclement Weather Relating To School Closing Delayed Starting Times

At times the starting time for the school day may be delayed or cancelled due to inclement weather. When it is necessary to close schools due to inclement weather or other reasons, the day for paraeducators becomes a "non-work paid day".

Personal Leave cannot be used for inclement weather conditions.

The decision as to whether the non-work paid day(s) will be added at the end of the school year will be determined by the district the employee is assigned to and the Interlocal Board.

Regular Payment Methods

Paraeducators in their initial year of employment are hourly employees and will be paid for hours worked at the end of each pay period. Beginning with the second year of employment, classified employees shall be paid their contractual compensation each school year in not less than 12 substantially equal payments.

Salary checks for classified employees on a monthly pay schedule will be issued on the 20th day of each month. In the event a pay day falls on Saturday, on Sunday or on a holiday, the checks will be distributed the working day preceding the weekend or holiday.

Grievance Policy

Any paraeducator may file a complaint with their supervisor concerning a school rule, regulation, policy or decision that affects the employee. The complaint shall be in writing, filed within ten (10) working days following the event complained of and shall specify the basis of the complaint. The supervisor shall meet with the employee and provide a response within ten (10) days. If the employee disagrees with the decision, the employee may appeal to the Director. The Director shall render a decision within thirty (30) calendar days. The Director's decision shall be final.

Supervision

Supervision of the special education paraeducator is the joint responsibility of the supervising special education teacher, principal and director or designee. The supervising teacher will be responsible for structuring the paraeducator's schedule and working with the paraeducator on a regular basis to ensure assigned responsibilities are carried out in an efficient manner.

Line of supervision - special education teacher -building principal - coordinator - associate director of special education - director of special education.

Evaluation

The paraeducator may be evaluated at any time during the year. A beginning para must be evaluated within the first 90 school days of employment. An experienced para must be evaluated prior to March 29. A special education teacher, and/or administrator will conduct the evaluation. Evaluations should be submitted to the Interlocal office by March 29.

Failure to complete 20 clock hours of inservice training and/or at least one unsatisfactory evaluation may lead to dismissal. A paraeducator may be terminated based on unsatisfactory evaluations, lack of continuous and sustained progress on a plan of improvement, lack of progress to complete the inservice training, inability to perform the essential job functions of the positions and/or poor job performance before the end of the school year. All terminations will be handled by the director or associate director.