CLASSIFIED COUNCIL MINUTES

September 16, 2002

MEMBERS PRESENT: Bonnie Kelley, Secretarial/Clerical; Mike Baker and Jo Ann right, Custodial; Russ Southworth, Maintenance; Bob Glass, Transportation; LaVerne Sallee, Food Service; Leigh Ann Hogue and Gail Grimes, Instructional Assistants.

ADMINISTRATORS PRESENT: Dr. Duane Tennant, Superintendent; Doug Marshall, Budget and Staffing and Mary Browning, Physical Support Services

OLD BUSINESS: Responding to the question of who is to train new custodians when they are sent to a job site, Mary Browning read a response from Ken Tate. The response reads: 

"After reviewing the comments of Walter Kirk in the Classified Council minutes dated June 3, 2002, I reviewed the job description of the Custodial Supervisor. It clearly states in the Performance Responsibilities area of the job description that it is the responsibility of the Custodial Supervisor (Head Custodians) to train, supervise and evaluate the performance of assigned staff and student assistants; train custodial personnel in the proper techniques of custodial duties; assign and review work and participate in custodial and routine maintenance activities as needed. I am of the opinion that this should be done during the normal workday and overtime is not needed. The Division of Plant Operations will not provide overtime dollars for this activity because it is considered part of the normal workload of this position."

Doug reported back to the Council that 180 days for instructional assistants, which Gail Grimes and Leigh Ann Hogue have worked and followed through on so earnestly, is on the Board of Education agenda for Monday, September 23. Doug has completed the calculations and recommendation to be approved by the Board. This will be an additional workday added to the instructional assistants work calendar. It is not an optional workday. The extra workday, at least for this year, will probably be the last records day of this school year. A big thanks to instructional representatives, Gail Grimes and Leigh Ann Hogue for working so hard to try to get this implemented and thanks to Doug Marshall who gave us all the additional help and information to bring this before the Board. Liz also reported that she will look into part-time custodians to see if the same benefit can be worked out for them.

Walter Kirk had asked that when a head custodian retires or resigns be allowed to have his/her replacement come in 2-3 days for proper training on the job duties and locations of alarms etc. Doug and Elizabeth will get together to do a cost analysis. It may be taken into consideration that if the replacement is the helping custodian or another employee in the system, as much time may not be needed as when hiring a new person to the system.

Responding to Carolyn Sparks' inquiry about long term care benefits, Liz reported that Diana Marshall-Shoop has addressed this concern. Diana's reply is as follows: 

"My office can do a bid and locate a good product. My office is in charge of enrolling new products, but when it comes to new deductions and managing those the work falls on the Department of Financial Services which currently has two clerks to manage all the deductions we have for the entire district. Our goal is to shut down some of the old annuity products and perhaps lighten the workload for this department. Bob Reynolds would have to approve the addition of new deductions."

NEW BUSINESS:

Bonnie asked why there is a large cost disparity between certified employees and classified employees who live outside the district and pay tuition for their children to attend Fayette County Public Schools. She noted that certified employees pay $500 while classified employees must pay $3,000. Dr. Tennant said this is being address and is going to the Board. He said both certified and classified should be treated the same.

Jo Ann Bright asked why some schools get extra help in the summer. Some schools have summer school, teachers meetings and staff training and yet the custodial staffs are expected to complete the cleaning of their school on the same time schedule as schools that do not have extra activities in the school during the summer. Dr. Tennant and Mary said they would work to get these schools that have the extra activities some additional help needed for the summer. Doug also reported Extended School Services (ESS) funds are allocated to each school for after school programs as well as summer school. These funds can be budgeted for custodial services. Each school's SBDM Council should be asked to budget some ESS funds for the extra custodial work brought about by summer school.

Another concern of Jo Ann's was that the custodians are expected to lift or move items that are too heavy, such as file cabinets with contents in the drawers and boxes that are too heavy. She suggested that moving these items up and down stairs poses a health hazard. Mary suggested that the custodian be sure the file cabinets are empty before attempting the move. Dr. Tennant said that he does not expect custodians to move unreasonably heavy items. He and Mary said that the employee should take this issue up with the principal. He reiterated that the custodian and principal must work together but if there are still problems or concerns, the employee should contact Mary for further help. Doug Marshall suggested that we work with Kelly Breeding on lifting safety issues.

Jo Ann noted that custodial staff often must work around teachers and their children during the summer, although this time is designated for summer cleaning. Custodians must repeat the cleaning of floors and other work due to this problem. Dr. Tennant asked that the employee discuss this with his or her principal. He suggested that a schedule be made up and an attempt made to follow it. And again, if this does not succeed, the employee should contact Mary.

As a reminder, employees having a concern they would like brought before the classified council should contact his or her representative. Some people are afraid to send in concerns because they do not want their name made public. The representative needs to know the name of the person reporting the concern but the council as a whole does not receive the name. 

The next Classified Council Meeting is October 21, 2002 at 5:30 PM in Conference Room A, Central Office.

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