CLASSIFIED COUNCIL MINUTES

MARCH 26, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Monica Johnson, Secretarial/Clerical; Duane Pickett, Warehouse; Walter Kirk and JoAnn Bright, Custodial; Doug Botkin and Russ Southworth, Maintenance; Bob Glass, Transportation; Gail Grimes, Instructional Assistant; Mike Baker, Operations; Lavern Sallee, Food Services; and Sam Conder, Technology.

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT: Dr. Robin Fankhauser, Superintendent; Doug Marshall, Budget; Elizabeth Simpson and Diana Marshall Shoop, Human Resources.

VISITORS PRESENT: Barbara Durham

OLD BUSINESS: Doug Botkin asked whether there a limit on hours worked in a day assuming the employee has proper breaks. Doug Marshall stated that a break must be given for every four hours worked. Also, sometime during an eight hour shift an employee must be given a thirty minute lunch or supper break. Basically there is no limit on how many hours can be worked in a twenty-four hour period as long as the appropriate breaks are taken. Diana Marshall Shoop added that an employee cannot be forced to take a lunch break at 8:00 a.m. and Elizabeth Simpson added that it has to be within five hours, according to law.

NEW BUSINESS: Walter Kirk asked why custodians are expected to work overtime and not paid comp time. Alternatively, he asked if they take an 1 ½ hour for each 1 hour worked. Dr. Fankhauser responded that they cannot. Walter continued asking what should happen in a case where a custodian is working beyond his or her scheduled time and there is an accident and someone gets hurt; what should the teachers do in filling out papers and how would they handle it.

Doug Marshall responded if they are working when they are not supposed to be and it does not show up on the time clock, then it is a real problem. Dr. Fankhauser said she will work with board attorney Virginia Gregg and draft a letter to send to all classified employees. The letter will state that anyone falsifying time sheets will be putting his or her job in jeopardy. She will also copy the letter to all principals and administrators.

According to Dr. Fankhauser, this issue goes beyond the principal because each employee completes his or her own time sheet and signs it; this certifies that the information is correct. All time worked must be recorded on the time sheet. Employees failing to do this after being warned by letter may be guilty of insubordination.

Further clarification was offered on the proper and improper use of "flex time." All time not actually worked must be made up within the work week; it cannot extend beyond that week.

For example, an employee scheduled to work a 40-hour week may, with supervisor approval, work 10 hours on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, then on Thursday and Friday work 5 hours. However, this can never extend to the following week. One cannot for example work 35 hours one week and 45 the next.

Doug Marshall said that secretarial staff will often work extra time—for example one hour extra for three days in order to be off for three hours for a doctor's appointment on another day that week; this is acceptable. Dr. Fankhauser added that for school functions one can use flex time for an entire day, for example taking Friday off to work a Saturday school function.

Duane Pickett asked whether department supervisors still have overtime 1½ - 1 hour per day. Dr. Fankhauser responded that employees must work this out through their director.

JoAnn Bright asked about a hypothetical employee who wishes to transfer to a position in a different classification. The question was would that employee be required to fill out another application and would that employee lose his or her sick leave time. Elizabeth Simpson responded that when the position is advertised, current employees only need send a letter of interest. Doug Marshall added that sick leave time is not lost. However, Elizabeth noted that additional sick leave will not begin to accumulate until the employee has been in the new position for a complete year.

Other items discussed:

Someone asked whether there will be any raises for next school year. Doug Marshall stated that it would be easy to work a 1.6% raise in the budget for classified employees. (Doug later clarified that he was referring to the 1.5% step-up already built into the budget and that no general raise was yet in the budget.) Dr. Fankhauser stated that as of now there will be no raise, but the step-up is in the budget. The House recommended a 1.6% raise for certified employees only. It did not include any classified employees. The Senate took money from other areas to be applied to a raise for classified employees. We will know more next week and we are looking for a 1.6% raise for everybody; it may be a 2% raise for everybody at the end of spring. Elizabeth Simpson added that they will evaluate this again at the end of this school year.

Diana Marshall Shoop suggested that photographs be taken of council members so staff can see who is representing them; she said she does not think it is a problem for secretarial/clerical staff. We will plan to take pictures at the next Classified Council meeting.

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Last update: 2/20/2004 4:00:51 PM