STAFF POLICY

Dependent Tuition

Employees of Springfield Catholic Schools whose dependent children are enrolled in a Springfield Catholic School, grades K-12, are entitled to a discount in tuition for their child(ren) as outlined in the Employee Handbook. This tuition discount does not include charges for preschool tuition or daycare tuition.

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Professional Growth

Employees of Springfield Catholic Schools are encouraged to pursue opportunities for professional and spiritual growth. The Springfield Catholic School Board may set aside money in the budget to help employees defer some of the cost associated with these experiences. The reimbursable activities and procedures for applying for funds are described in the employee handbook (see Employee Handbook).

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Leave Policy

Employees of Springfield Catholic Schools may be eligible for leave time. Reasons for time away from work may include sick, funeral, personal or professional leave. The amount and process of using leave time is outlined in the employee handbook (see Employee Handbook). The Springfield Catholic School Board must approve any changes to these procedures that have a financial impact.

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Sick Leave Pool

The purpose of the sick leave pool is to furnish a continuing income for those employees who are eligible for Diocesan benefits. (see 2.14A Guidelines for Sick Leave Pool Policy).

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Guidelines for Sick Leave Pool Policy

The purpose of the sick leave pool is to furnish a continuing income for those employees who are eligible for Diocesan employee benefits who are faced with:

• major illness or disability for himself or herself,
• major illness or disability for an immediate family member
• death of an immediate family member;

and have used up all of their sick leave days. This pool is not designed for brief absences after sick leave is used up. Also, normal pregnancy is not covered. Immediate family member is defined in the Employee Handbook as spouse, children and parents. (see Employee Handbook)

Annual membership in the sick leave pool is voluntary on the part of employees. Membership requires employees to:

1. Declare in writing to the Director of Springfield Catholic Schools their desire to become a member of the sick leave pool. The deadline for this will be the last working day of September of the contracted year. Members will have automatic annual renewal unless they notify the Director of Springfield Catholic Schools in writing of their desire to give up membership.
2. Contribute two (2) days of sick leave to the sick leave pool at the time of their declaration of intent. (The Sick Leave Pool Committee will determine the necessity of an additional contribution of days annually.)

A member of the sick leave pool may be eligible to draw from the pool after using all of his/her accumulated and current sick leave and after being off work five (5) consecutive days without pay. (The Sick Leave Pool Committee may waive this waiting period in individual cases.)

A member of the sick leave pool is eligible to draw a maximum of twenty (20) workdays annually from the pool, unless there are no more days left in the pool.

The member shall submit an application to the Sick Leave Pool Committee requesting withdrawal of days from the pool. In addition to the application, the member shall be required to submit a letter from a physician stating the nature of the illness of the disabled person. The Sick Leave Pool Committee shall maintain the right at any time to require, at the member’s expense a second medical opinion.

The proceeding requirements will apply to each application regardless of whether the employee has previously drawn from the sick leave pool during that year. No member may be allowed to draw the maximum number of days for which s)he is eligible more than once during a school year. A person may, however, draw from the pool more than once during the year as long as s)he does not draw more than the maximum to which they are entitled.

An arrangement must be documented by a physician and receive prior approval by the Sick Leave Pool Committee.

The Sick Leave Pool Committee shall consider eligibility based upon:

1. Application of employee to the Sick Leave Pool, and
2. certification of disability by a medical doctor and diagnosis as to possible length of illness or disability.

Eligibility will be established provided:

1. the applicant has used all of his/her individual sick leave, and
2. the Sick Leave Pool Committee determines that the applicant fully complied under the provisions and intent of this policy.

The Sick Leave Pool Committee has the authority to review at any time the status of an employee who is currently using sick leave days from the sick leave pool.

A quorum of the Sick Leave Pool Committee shall screen all applications for approval or disapproval. Three (3) out of five (5) members constitutes a quorum.

Only members of the sick leave pool are eligible to withdraw days from the pool.

Termination of employee’s services in the system automatically terminates membership in the sick leave pool.

A Sick Leave Pool Committee shall be formed and shall consist of six (6) members. Each building (high school and each elementary school) shall elect a representative, who is a member of the sick leave pool, for a two (2) year term to serve on the Sick Leave Pool Committee. The Director of Springfield Catholic Schools or his/her designee will also serve on the committee. The Sick Leave Pool Committee shall review the sick leave pool at the end of each year and at that time will determine whether additional days need to be contributed by the members.

In the case of withdrawal from the sick leave pool, all donated days will remain in the sick leave pool.

Members utilizing the sick leave pool will not have to replace these days, except as a regular contributing member to the pool.

Any employee may appeal a decision of the Sick Leave Pool Committee to the Springfield Catholic School Board. The decision of the Springfield Catholic School Board is final.

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Unused Sick Days at Retirement

Upon retirement (as defined by Christian Brothers Employee Benefit Trust plan), teachers who have given fifteen (15) years of service to the Springfield Catholic Schools should be recognized with a monetary gift of $5 for every sick day not used. Teachers retiring after twenty (20) or more years of service should be recognized with a monetary gift of $10 for every sick day not used. In calculating the amount of this gift, allowable sick days are not to exceed the 60 days set by the system’s sick leave policy. This gift is to be presented along with the last regular paycheck.

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Jury Duty Pay

The Springfield Catholic Schools will pay any employee who is required to serve as a juror or witness for each such day served. It is understood that when the employee is no longer needed by the court, (s)he will return to work on the next working day. The employee will submit to his/her supervisor a copy of the subpoena or summons at least two weeks in advance of the date specified in the court order, or as soon as possible if the appearance date is less than two weeks. This will serve as adequate notice of the employee’s absence. The employee will retain any compensation received from the court.

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Technology Purchase Assistance

Springfield Catholic Schools will provide employees, assistance with the cost of a personal computer package or upgrade components through the Technology Purchase Plan (see 2.17A Guidelines for Technology Purchase Plan).

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Guidelines for Technology Purchase Plan

Springfield Catholic Schools will make available a no-interest loan to employees for the purchase of a personal package or upgrade components. The loan is to be repaid before the end of the fiscal year (June 30) in which the loan was made. The loan may be up to $2000 per employee.

Any employee with Springfield Catholic Schools is eligible to participate in this plan. Participants must agree to comply with the requirements and provisions of the Plan as set forth herein. Each participant is eligible for the Plan benefits for one (1) personal computer or upgrade component per contract year.

To participate in the personal computer purchase or upgrade component loan, the employee must submit a plan with itemized cost. The Director of Springfield Catholic Schools must approve this plan. Maximum loan request per employee is in the amount of $2000.

Each participant in the Plan agrees that usage of the equipment and software purchased under this Plan will be restricted to the participant’s own use and/or that of his/her immediate family.

The Director of Springfield Catholic Schools will administer the Plan. Full time employees receive priority consideration subject to availability of funds budgeted for this purpose.

The Plan will be offered to employees on an annual basis subject to the availability of budget funds.

Any employee whose job is terminated by the employee or employer before the term of their loan must repay the balance of their loan before receiving their last paycheck.

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Hepatitis Vaccination

Springfield Catholic Schools encourages Hepatitis B vaccination for all employees and Hepatitis A vaccination for all food-handling employees.

Documentation of Hepatitis vaccination or a waiver of non-vaccination must be on record in the employee’s personnel file by the 1st day of the employment period.

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Confidentiality

Employees who have access to confidential material, which has been communicated directly or learned through one’s job, should keep such information confidential. Such information should not be disclosed except in the performance of one’s duties, as necessary for school business, or as approved by the building administrator. Any breach of confidentiality may be cause for dismissal.

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Technology Standards

Springfield Catholic Schools will require teachers and administrators to maintain a minimum level of proficiency in technology usage. (see Employee Handbook or 2.23A Guidelines for Technology Standards).

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Guidelines for Technology Standards

Standards Statement and Guidelines

All teachers and administrators in the Springfield Catholic Schools system are asked to acquire a minimum level of proficiency in the use of technology as a condition of employment. Teachers should be able to apply computer and related technologies to support instruction at their grade level or in their subject area.

All teachers and administrators are expected to achieve Basic proficiency in technology usage. Teachers and administrators will be given one year to achieve Basic proficiency. Extensions to this time frame are in consultation with and at the discretion of the supervising administrator.

Basic Proficiency Standards:
A. Basic Operating System Skills

1. Locate, open and run a variety of applications
2. Shut down computer, printer, etc. properly
3. Save to different directories or media other than C: drive
4. Create back-up files
5. Manage files

B. Basic Word Processing Skills

1. Find or create, edit, save and print a document using MS Word
2. Save a WORD document as a webpage

C. Basic Intranet or Internet Skills

1. Access Internet and Intranet and perform a simple Internet search
2. Download from Internet, save and access downloaded files
3. Access, read, print, compose and send e-mail, with or without attachments

D. Classroom Application

1. 1. Integrate technologies into lesson presentation or lesson preparation appropriate to grade level/subject area
2. Help students identify and use appropriate Internet resources
3. Acquire sufficient skill to access and use SIS

E. Ethics

1. Understand model and teach basic copyright rules, acceptable use and etiquette associated with Internet/Intranet and e-mail usage
2. Develop and implement classroom procedures that help ensure equitable access to technology

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Notification of Retirement

All employees who are eligible for retirement under Christian Brothers Retirement Benefit Plan are requested to communicate their retirement plans to their building administrator. This communication should take place prior to entering a contract for the school year in which they would become eligible for retirement.

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New Teacher Orientation

Newly hired Catholic and non-Catholic teachers will be provided with resources that will present an overview of the Catholic faith, and materials that will familiarize them with the mission and philosophy of Catholic education in the Springfield Catholic School system.

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