Working in Mountain Brook Schools

1. Working in Mountain Brook Schools Sylvia Harper Director of Personnel

2. It’s a Great Day to be a Spartan!

3. What we all have in common • We are here for the children. • We all contribute to student learning. • Every job is important and none are easy. • Every individual is special and important. • Everyone works in teams. • Each team is only as strong as it’s weakest member. • To be the best school system we can be, we need every team to be the best team possible.

4. Let’s look first at the laws and policies we need to follow: • Sick Leave Information • Personal illness • Bodily injury • Attendance to an ill family member • Death in the immediate family or where strong ties exist • Absence for 5 days without reporting in is considered your resignation • Absent for more than 10 days, you need a doctor’s note

5. Sick Bank Procedures • Sick Bank membership (2 days) • Sick Bank Forms • Sick Bank Procedures • Catastrophic Leave Procedures – donated days, etc.

6. More laws to consider…. • Family and Medical Leave Act – FMLA • This entitles you to up to 12 weeks of leave. • You can use it to care for a son, daughter or parent who has a serious illness. • You can use it for your own serious health issue. • You can use it for the birth of a child or adoption of a child.

7. More policies to consider…. • Employee Assistance Program – American Behavioral • Voluntary • Confidential • Personal counseling paid for the school system

8. F.E.R.P.A. What is FERPA?? • Federal Education Right to Privacy Act • Protection of Student Records including personal information, family information, school records, health records • Confidentiality is important!

9. Drug and Alcohol Policy • The Mountain Brook Board of Education prohibits the use of alcohol and other drugs and requires that all employees report to work without any alcohol or illegal or mind altering substance in their system. • Subject to drug and alcohol testing • Subject to administrative leave • Subject to voluntary enrollment and treatment in a substance abuse program • Subject to termination

10. Sexual Harassment Policy • Sexual Harassment is harassment of a sexual nature. • It is demeaning, irritating and annoying behavior that is UNWELCOME! • Two kinds of sexual harassment: • 1st = Quid pro quo – I will give you something if you give me something. • Example – Have sex with me and you will get a better schedule!

11. Sexual Harassment, cont. • 2nd Type – Hostile Work Environment • Verbal – Talking about sex in the workplace Telling sex jokes Telling sexual stories Sending inappropriate emails Making derogatory remarks about a person Asking someone inappropriate questions about their personal life

12. Sexual Harassment, cont. • Non-Verbal • Staring • Looking up and down at someone suggestively • Making gestures – giving someone “the finger” • Making facial expressions - winking, licking your lips

13. Sexual Harassment, cont. • Physical • Getting in someone’s space • Touching someone inappropriately • Deliberately brushing up against someone, pinching, patting or rubbing them • Stalking • Grabbing • Kissing, hugging, or stroking • Actual sexual assault

14. Sexual Harassment • Visual • Posters, cartoons or drawings • Computer graphics of a sexual nature • Phone pictures during work hours • Inappropriate clothing • Knick knacks – key chains, etc.

15. Sexual Harassment, continued • Bottom Line – What is harmless joking to one person may be offensive to another person! • Ask yourself this important question…. Would you want your wife, mother or child treated that way??

16. Sexual Harassment, cont. • Sexual Harassment shows great disrespect! • So…What do you do if you know that someone is being sexually harassed or if you are being sexually harassed? • Tell that person to STOP the behavior and that it makes you uncomfortable. If they do not… • REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY!! • It will not go away or stop unless you report it to the administrators.

17. Please know that if you report sexual harassment…. • The administrators will keep the report confidential. • You will not have to worry about retaliation. • An investigation will be conducted. • Action will be taken. • Reprimand • Write up in the person’s personnel file • More training on sexual harassment • Suspension • Termination

18. Sexual Harassment Test (T or F) • Question #1 • Mary has been subjected daily to questions about who she dates and questions about her sex life. She just smiles and laughs and jokes around when this person talks to her about this. • Even though she has never told this person to stop talking to her about this, is this sexual harassment?

19. Question #2 • Bob talks about the porn he watches at home during the work hours. Everybody laughs about it and the men are not offended. One of the other co-workers, a female, overhears this discussion and is offended and tells them to stop talking about such nonsense. They ignore her and keep talking and tell her they are not talking to her so it is not her business. • Is this sexual harassment?

20. Question #3 • Cornelius starts flirting with his co-worker during their lunch break. She likes him and agrees to go out on a date with him. They start dating, but at work they continue to do their job and only talk at lunch. • Is this sexual harassment?

21. Question #4 • John has nude pictures on his phone that he keeps showing to some co-workers. One of the co-workers report this to the supervisor who only laughs and does nothing about this to make John stop. He says this is John’s personal phone and he can’t do anything about it. • Is this sexual harassment?

22. Question #5 • The supervisor tells the new employee that the only way she can keep her job is to go on a date with him. She goes out of fear that she will lose her job, but doesn’t really like him that way. The date takes place off campus at a restaurant and when he makes a pass at her, she gets upset. She tells another co-worker about it and the other worker tells her not to report it because she can’t do anything about it since it was after work hours. • Is this sexual harassment?

23. What is the purpose of Mountain Brook Schools? • The purpose of Mountain Brook Schools is to provide an effective, challenging and engaging education for every one of our students.

24. What are Mountain Brook Goals? • Promote a safe, orderly environment. • Provide a climate that recognizes diversity and encourages respect for all persons. • Treat others the way you want to be treated. • Recruit, hire and retain the most effective personnel.

25. What are Mountain Brook Values? • Look at our values…. • Respect • Caring environment • Trust • Effective Communication • Learning • Shared decision making • Innovation • Evaluation based on performance • Excellence • Expertise of staff • Community involvement

26. Evaluation of Employees…. • How to finish first and win the race…..

27. How our school system works • We work in teams. • We have standards for students and employees! • Standards for students are simple: Be Respectful, Be Safe, Be Your Best

28. Work Standards for employees.. • Standards are a way for each person to evaluate his or her own work. (Self Assessment) • Supervisors also use these to evaluate team members. • (Observation and Conversation) • Standards help us clearly understand what is expected of each of us at work.

29. Area 1. KNOWLEDGE • Understands the job requirements and procedures • Demonstrates the skills needed for the job • Shows willingness to learn new things and try new ways of doing things

30. Area 2 QUALITY OF WORK • Performs all job responsibilities in a complete, accurate, neat and timely manner • Maintains quality under pressure or when routines change • Produces work that meets or exceeds quality standards • Maintains a good record of attendance

31. Area 3 PRODUCTIVITY • Gets the expected amount of work done • Manages time well and meets deadlines • Performs the tasks that need to be done

32. Area 4 PROBLEM SOLVING • Uses good judgment in doing work and solving problems • Reacts appropriately to situations and to others • Works to solve problems, not to create them

33. Area 5 INITIATIVE • Recognizes when things need to be done, and doesn’t wait to be asked • Offers to help others • Promptly responds to requests for helps • Looks for ways to help above and beyond the regular job responsibilities

34. Area 6 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS • Respectful to everyone all the time • Cooperates with others to get the work done • Shows willingness to be flexible and deal with changes in a positive way • Develops good working relationships with fellow workers and parents • Relates well to students

35. Area 7 TEAMWORK • Enjoys working with others • Accepts suggestions and constructive feedback • Does the work that needs to be done instead of leaving the work for others • Puts the team first (before self)

36. Area 8 ATTITUDE • Tries to be happy and positive even in hard times • Handles stressful situations in an appropriate way • Treats others as you want to be treated • Takes pride in the work of the team • Helps to project a positive image for the school • Finds enjoyment in the workplace • Appreciates the job

37. Student First Law of 2011 • Voluntary Transfers – Internal Transfer Form • Reassignment of Personnel • Involuntary Transfers to other schools • Letters of Appointment! • EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK

38. Have a great year! • Contact the Personnel Office if you have questions about anything and we will be happy to assist you!