GCD-1: Professional Staff Recruiting and Hiring

Last Revised Date: 02/25/2020 Because an effective educational program requires quality staff members, the Board and the administration of the School of the Osage will make every effort possible to attract and retain qualified, highly skilled and experienced personnel.

The district's hiring procedures will comply with all federal and state laws, including laws prohibiting discrimination. The district is an equal opportunity employer and hires only citizens of the United States and persons who are legally authorized to work in the United States. The School of the Osage will enroll and actively participate in a federal work authorization program in accordance with law.

A majority of the Board must vote affirmatively to employ any person or enter into an employment contract.

Recruiting and Advertising

The district will recruit the best-qualified candidates for open positions. New or vacant positions will be posted for at least five business days in the district's buildings and publicized externally by other means as determined appropriate by the superintendent or designee. However, if the superintendent or designee determines that it would be detrimental to wait five business days or that a longer period is necessary, the position will be advertised for the number of days deemed appropriate. Further, if the same or similar position was recently advertised, the superintendent or designee may utilize applications previously received without re-advertising the vacancy. A position is not considered vacant if the superintendent or designee transfers or reassigns an existing employee to the position. Board approval is required when a transfer or reassignment results in a change to the employee's compensation, benefits or contract.

Recruitment procedures will not overlook the talents and potential of individuals already employed by the school district. Any current, qualified employee meeting the stated requirements may apply for new or vacant positions in the district.

All requests for information concerning professional staff vacancies in the district shall be directed to the superintendent or designee.

Screening Process

Applicants must complete a formal application and provide all required information. The superintendent or designee shall conduct interviews, review references and obtain other information as deemed necessary.

The superintendent or designee will conduct background checks on employees and applicants for employment in accordance with law and Board policy and will check references in accordance with law and policy GBLB.

As required by law, before offering employment to any teacher who is or was employed by a Missouri school district or charter school, the superintendent or designee will contact the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to determine the school districts or charter schools that previously employed the applicant. The superintendent or designee shall request information about the applicant's previous job performance from the most recent school district or charter school that employed the teacher.

Generally, all teachers and administrators must have valid certification to teach in Missouri schools, and the superintendent or designee will verify that applicants currently possess the required certification or license before the Board votes to employ them in a position that requires a certificate or other professional license. The superintendent or designee will also reverify licenses and certifications once they are renewed. When the district determines that employing someone without the appropriate certificate or license is necessary or unavoidable, the employee will be required to obtain the appropriate certificate or license by a district-specified deadline.

Any applicant who provides false information or inaccurate academic credentials will immediately be removed from consideration.

Hiring

A position other than the superintendent's position will be filled by the Board only after receiving the recommendation of the superintendent or designee. It is the policy of the Board to employ qualified teachers with postsecondary degrees from fully accredited universities and the appropriate teaching certificates. In making recommendations, the superintendent or designee shall give first consideration to applicants who, in addition to proper general education qualifications, have special training and other qualifications for the particular type of vacancy to be filled.

All applicants for a particular position will be promptly notified once the position has been filled.

Teachers new to the system are required to report to work one week prior to regularly contracted teachers for the purposes of orientation and planning. “New to the system” is defined as any individual who has not been employed at School of the Osage previously in any capacity. Such teachers shall receive compensation for this additional service unless already on an extended contract.

Board Members

The district will not accept an employment application from a Board member, consider a Board member for employment or decide to employ a Board member while the member remains on the School of the Osage Board of Education. Board members who wish to apply for employment in the district must first resign from the Board.

Spouses of Board Members

In accordance with law, a Board member's spouse will be hired to fill a vacant or new position only if the position has been advertised in accordance with this policy and the superintendent has submitted a written recommendation supporting the employment of the spouse. If a Board member's spouse is hired, the names of all applicants for that position and the name of the individual hired will be included in the appropriate Board meeting minutes.

Retirees

The district may employ persons who are retired and currently receiving a retirement allowance from a public retirement system as permitted by law.

Employment Contracts

The district will offer employment contracts only to certificated employees who are required by law to receive a contract. All other professional staff employees will be considered at-will employees and will not be offered contracts.

All employment contracts will comply with applicable law. The superintendent or designee is authorized to seek legal advice regarding district employment contracts.

When an employee is initially offered employment, he or she will be given a written copy of the applicable contract and a deadline by which the signed contract must be returned to the district.

Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

In accordance with law, the district will provide current, accurate and complete information to each new employee regarding eligibility for public service loan forgiveness. The notice will be provided within ten days following the start of employment.

Federal

20 U.S.C. § 1681 Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634 Age Discrimination in Employment Act 29 U.S.C. § 206(d) Federal Statute 29 U.S.C. § 2615 Federal Statute 29 U.S.C. § 794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 42 U.S.C. §§ 12101-12213 Americans with Disabilities Act 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d-2000d-7 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e-1-2000e-17 Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000ff-2000ff-11 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act 42 U.S.C. §§ 6101-6107 Age Discrimination Act 8 U.S.C. § 1324 Immigration Reform and Control Act MSIP

R-10

AC PROHIBITION AGAINST ILLEGAL DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND RETALIATION BBFA: Board Member Conflict of Interest and Financial Disclosure

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