Employee Handbook

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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1.Mission of the Pittsfield Public Schools
I-1
2.Superintendent’s Annual Goals
I-1

§ 1. Appointing Authority for Employees
II-1
§ 2. School Committee Duties
II-1
§ 3. School Committee Composition
II-1
§ 4. School Committee Meetings
II-2
§ 5. Posting of School Committee Meetings
II-2
§ 6. School Committee Policy Manual
        A. Topics Addressed
        B. Location of Copies
II-2
II-2
II-2
§ 7.  School District Website
II-3

§ 1.  Employment Non-Discrimination Statement
III-1
§ 2.  Discriminatory Conduct by Employees Prohibited
III-1
§ 3.  Examples of Prohibited Discriminatory Conduct
III-2
§ 4.  Filing a Complaint About  Discrimination
        A.  Where to File a Complaint
        B.  What Happens After A Complaint is Filed
        C.  Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
III-3
III-3
III-3
III-3
§ 5.  Non-Confidentiality of Complaints About Discrimination
III-4
§ 6.  Retaliation for Reports of Discriminatory Conduct Prohibited
III-4
§ 7.  Knowingly Making False Discrimination Complaints Prohibited
III-5
§ 8.  Reasonable Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities
III-5
§ 9.  Civil Rights Compliance Officer
III-6

§ 1.  Personnel Office
        A.  Location and Hours of Operation
        B.  Office Responsibilities
        C.  Civil Rights Compliance Officer
IV-1
IV-1
IV-1
IV-1
§ 2.  Payroll Office
A.  Location
B.  Telephone Numbers
C.  Regular Business Hours
IV-2
IV-2
IV-2
IV-2
§ 3.  Pay Dates
IV–2
§ 4.  Payroll Procedures
A.  Paperwork Requirements Upon Employment
B.  Closing of Payroll
C.  Making Changes in Benefit Coverage
IV-3
IV-3
IV-3
IV-3
§ 5.  Employee Expense Reimbursemen
IV-4
§ 6.  Employee Mileage Reimbursement
IV-4
§ 7.  Ordering of Supplies or Equipment Requires Prior Authorization
IV-5
§ 8.  Unauthorized Use of Tax Exempt Number Prohibited
IV-5

§ 1.  Reporting Absences from Work
A.  Administrative Personnel
B.  Instructional Personnel
C.  Support Personnel
V-1
V-1
V-1,2
V-2
§ 2.  Medical Absences
                A.  Medical Evidence in Case of Illness
                B.  Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
1.  Basic Information
2.  How 12 Months Is Counted
3.  Further Information
C.  Absence for Childbirth and Childrearing
1.  Childbirth
2.  Childrearing
V-3
V-3
V-3
V-3
V-3
V-3
V-4
V-4
V-4
§  3.  Other Absences
A.  Personal Leave
B.  Professional Leave
C.  Military Leave
D.  Jury Duty
E.  Extended Leave for Other Employment
V-5
V-5
V-5
V-5
V-6
V-6

§ 1.  Basic Work Expectations of Employees
VI-1
§ 2.  Employee Ethics
VI-2
§ 3.  Employee Work Hours
VI-2
§ 4.  No Overtime Without Express Prior Permission
A.  ”Overtime” (OT) Defined
B.  Prohibition of Overtime Without Prior Authorization
C.  Exception to Prohibition of OT Without Prior Authorization
D.  Compensatory (“Comp”) Time
VI -3
VI -3
VI -3
VI -3
VI -3
§ 5.  Criminal Offender records Investigation (C.O.R.I.) Checks
VI-4
§ 6.  Employee Work Assignments
VI-4
§ 7.  Employees Working Other Than for the Pittsfield Public Schools
VI-5
§ 8.  Reporting Absences (see Part  V § 1, above)
see V-1, 2, 3
§ 9.  Posting Notices of Employee Rights
VI-5
§ 10.   Availability of Copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements
VI-6  
§ 11.   Indemnification of Employees
VI-6

§ 1.  Seeking Medical Attention for Work-Related Injuries or Health Problems
A.  Seeking Medical Attention Generally
B.  Seeking Medical Attention in an Emergency or During Off Hours
VII-1
VII-1
VII-1
§ 2.  Reporting Work-Related Illness or Injury
A.  Filing a Written Report of Work-Related Injury or Health Problem
B.  Consequences of Failing to Comply with 48 Hr. Reporting Requirement
VII-2
VII-2
VII-2
§ 3.    Worker’s Compensation
A.  General Information
B.  Forty-Eight Hr. Reporting Requirement
C.  Relation of Worker’s Compensation Absences and the F.M.L.A
VII-3
VII-3
VII-3
VII-3

§ 1.  Workplace Conduct
VIII-1
§ 2.  Respect for the Public Workplace
VIII-1
§ 3.  Respect for Fellow Employees
VIII-1
§ 4.  Respect for Students (see IX § 1)
see IX-1
§ 5.  Confidentiality of Information Learned Through Employment
VIII-2
§ 6.  Weapons and Dangerous Devices Prohibited
VIII-3
§ 7.  Smoking and Other Tobacco Use Prohibited
VIII-3
§ 8.  Workplace Apparel
VIII-4
§ 9.    Computer, E-Mail, and Internet Use
VIII-5
§ 10.   Drug-Free Workplace
VIII-6
§ 11.   Inappropriate Use of Interoffice Mail Prohibited
VIII-6
§ 12.   Political Activities by Employees
VIII-7
§ 13.   Violation of Copyright Law Prohibited
VIII-7
§ 14.   Acceptance of Gifts from Students by Employees
VIII-8
§ 15.   Application for Grants
VIII-8
§ 16.   Attendance at In-Service and Professional Development Programsand Activities
VIII-9
§ 17.   Employee’s Legal Role in Child Custody and Domestic Disputes
VIII-10

§ 1.  Health Insurance
A.  Who Is Eligible
        B.  Questions
IX-1
IX-1
IX-1
§ 2.  Dental Insurance
IX-1
§ 3.  Group Life Insurance
IX-1
§ 4.  Optional Whole Life Insurance
IX-1
§ 5.  Open Enrollment Period for Benefits
A.  Period for Enrolling
B.  Change in Coverage
C.  Thirty (30) Day Open Window If Other Coverage Is Lost
D.  Questions
IX-2
IX-2
IX-2
IX-2
IX-2
§ 6.  Addition of Dependent or Spouse or Other Changes in Insurance Coverage
IX- 2
§ 7.  Tax-Deferred Annuities (403[b]) Plans
IX-3
§ 8.  Pre-Tax Flexible Spending (“Cafeteria”) Accounts
IX-3
§ 9.  Unemployment Benefits
IX-3
§ 10.  C.O.B.R.A. Rights
IX-4
§ 11.  Employee Retirement Contributions
IX-5
§ 12.  Estimates of Accumulated Leave for Severance Pay
IX-6

§ 1.  Workplace Safety
X-1
§ 2.  Employee Identification
X-1
§ 3.  School and Workplace Emergency Procedures
X-2
§ 4.  Mandated Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
X-3
§ 5.  Reporting Suspicious Persons, Activities, or Objects
X-3
§ 6.  Use of Universal Precautions
X-4
§ 7.  Bloodborne Pathogens and Hepatitis B Vaccination
X-4
§ 8.  Hazardous Materials
X-5
§ 9.  Personal use of Pesticides by Employees Prohibited
X-6
.

§ 1.  Respect for Students
XI-1
§ 2.  Mandated Reporter Requirements (see X § 4)
see X -3
§ 3.  Corporal Punishment Prohibited
XI-2
§ 4.  Physical Restraint of Students
XI-3
§ 5.   Assault of Staff Member by a Student
XI-4
§ 6.  Reporting Incidents of Sexual or Other Harassment of Students
XI-4
§ 7.  Transporting Students in Private Vehicles
XI-4
§ 8.  No Recommendation of Medication for Students
XI-5

§ 1.  Unauthorized Use of School District Property Prohibited
XII - 1
§ 2.  Use of Pittsfield Public Schools Telephones
XII - 1
§ 3.  Use of Photocopiers or Facsimile (Fax) Machines
XII - 2
§ 4.  Use of Pittsfield Public Schools Stationary
XII - 2
§ 5.  No Assurance of Privacy When Using School System E-Mail
XII - 2
§ 6.  Building Keys and Room Keys
A.      School Keys Are Property of School System
B.      Unauthorized possession or Copying of School System Keys Prohibited
        C.      Surrender of Keys On Demand
        D.      Consequences of Disregard of These Rules
XII - 3
XII - 3
XII - 3
XII - 3
XII - 3
§ 7.  Pittsfield Public Schools Vehicle Keys
XII - 4 
§ 8.  Integrated Pest Management Plan Requirements
XII - 4
§ 9.  Failing to Close Fire Doors and Use of Door Wedges Prohibited
XII - 5
§ 10.   Employee Handbook.
XII - 5

APPENDICES
No. 5   List of Pay Dates, July through June 30
No. 6   Equal Employment Policy (PER-4)
No. 7   Staff Ethics Policy (PER-8)
No. 8   Sexual Harassment Policy (PER-14)
No. 9   Civil Rights Complaint Grievance Procedures (PER-14A)
No. 11  Student Restraint Policy (STU-46A)
No. 12  Student Restraint Information Materials
No. 13  Report for Work-Related Injury
No. 14  Unemployment Insurance Information





 Last Modified: 26 September,2007