PERSONNEL SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES
FOR COMMITTEE ADOPTIONMonday, April 30, 2012
Approved by the Committee with no revisions or additions
Committee Members:
Mr. Bill Fox, Leesburg District, Chairman
Mrs. Jill Turgeon, Blue Ridge District
Mrs. Brenda Sheridan, Sterling District
I. Old Business
A. Minutes
The committee reviewed the minutes from the meeting held on March 26, 2012. A motion was made by Mrs. Sheridan to approve the meeting minutes as presented, seconded by Ms. Turgeon. The minutes were approved 3-0.
II. New Business
Policies to Review:
After reviewing the policy, Ms. Sheridan requested that the sentence beginning “This prohibition” in 7-37A be a new paragraph. Ms. Sheridan requested that the word “will” be changed to “may” in all instances. Mr. Fox and Mr. Reed requested that references to legal prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs or any other substance be added to the second paragraph.
Mr. Reed recommended that verbiage be added in reference to open containers.
Dr. Hardebeck will confer with Division Counsel on the recommendations.
Ms. Turgeon requested that language be added to 7-37E as to steps that should be taken for employees to better understand the process.
Dr. Hardebeck will confer with Division Counsel and bring the policy back to the May committee meeting.
III. Transfer Process of Licensed Employees
Mr. Fox asked for information on the transfer process.
Dr. Hardebeck said that the intent of the current guideline of requiring probationary teachers to remain in the same school for three years provides consistency for the teacher, the students, and the school. An offer of employment is made to perspective candidates with the idea that a teacher who is new to Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) will commit for three years.
During this time the teacher’s performance can be evaluated consistently and continuously to determine whether or not the teacher is eligible to earn continuing contract status. During the probationary period, it is the expectation that the teacher will learn about the culture of LCPS, the school to which she or he has been assigned and will develop positive working relationships with the school community.
Mrs. Ackerman spoke about the consistent support the teacher receives from the same administrative staff for the beginning of his/her career. The three year probationary period gives the principal time to get to know the teacher’s strengths and to hone his/her instructional skills.
Mr. Fox expressed concerns that a personality/style conflict between a teacher and a principal might have to be endured unnecessarily during the mandatory three-year timeframe. He said he felt this requirement was a negative consequence of the current licensed transfer policy.
Ms. Turgeon stated that she thought if the right fit between a teacher and a principal did not exist, the teacher should be able to transfer after the first year. The teacher could then complete three years elsewhere.
Mr. Fox asked if the probationary period could be extended beyond three years. Dr. Hardebeck explained that state code limits probationary status to three years.
Dr. Hardebeck and Ms. Huckaby discussed the transfer process and explained the procedures for how and when teachers may enter Round I, II, and III of the Transfer Process. The following employees are not eligible to enter the transfer process: probationary teachers; teachers who are employed in a position of .4 FTE or less; teachers who are employed on a one-year only or end of year contract; teachers who are employed by VIF; or teachers who have been placed on the December List or have earned an unsatisfactory evaluation.
Probationary teachers, however, reassigned due to the opening of new schools or changes in enrollment at their schools may enter Round II and Round III of the Transfer Process.
Ms. Sheridan requested the number of transfers from the east to the west.
The Committee requested statistics about the number of teachers who leave the profession in the first three years, the number of teachers placed on the December List, retention statistics, and how other school divisions handle transfers.
Ms. Sheridan gave an update on the Legislative and Policy Committee’s review of policies related to harassment. She spoke about the OCR audit, which identified three policies in which the language of those policies was inconsistent. The Legislative and Policy Committee will have updates on May 1 with extensive revisions in language of two policies. Policy 7-2 will be eliminated.
Dr. Hardebeck gave an update on the work of the Teacher Performance Evaluation Advisory Committee to the Superintendent. She reported that a report from the Committee to the Superintendent had been sent to Dr. Hatrick. After his review, recommendations would likely be presented as an Information Item at the School Board meeting on May 22.
IV. Future Items
Mr. Reed requested an update on the status of Diversity training and a retirement incentive.
Mr. Fox requested that Dr. Hardebeck and Mrs. Burden develop a calendar for the Committee to discuss best practices related to health care and information about current options for health insurance and benefits. Mrs. Sheridan requested information on practices related to the hiring of JV coaches be discussed at a future meeting. Mrs. Turgeon requested that Policy 7-37 be brought back to the Committee with revisions reviewed by Division Counsel.
V. Meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm
In attendance:
Ackerman, Sharon, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction
Brownell, Jackie, Principal, Kenneth W. Culbert Elementary School
Creech, Delores, Personnel Specialist
Fox, Bill, Committee Chairman, School Board Member, Leesburg District
Hardebeck, Dr. Mary Ann, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Services
Hopson, Larry, Director of Staffing
Huckaby, Margaret, Director of Employee Relations
Koslowski, Janice, Principal, Potomac Falls High School
Martino, Tim, Principal, Frederick Douglass Elementary School
Moore, Rodney, Principal, Stone Hill Middle School
Reed, Thomas, School Board Member, At-Large
Roche, Karen, Principal, Aldie/Middleburg Elementary School
Sheridan, Brenda, School Board Member, Sterling District
Spage, David, Director of High School Education
Sullivan, Sandy, President, Loudoun Education Association
Turgeon, Jill, School Board Member, Blue Ridge District
Yetter, Tim, Director of Financial Services
