This series of the board policy manual is devoted to the board’s goals and objectives for employees in the performance of their jobs.  Employees provide a variety of important services for the children of the school district community.  They may be teaching or assisting in the classroom, working in the office, maintaining the facilities, driving or repairing the school buses, or cooking lunches.  Each employee plays a vital role in providing an equal opportunity for a quality education for students commensurate with the students’ individual needs.  All employees have an impact on the school environment, including students, parents, and community members, by their dedication to their work and their actions.  As role models for the students, employees shall promote a cooperative, enthusiastic, and supportive learning environment for the students.

In striving to achieve a quality education program, the board’s goal is to obtain and retain qualified and effective employees.  The board shall have complete discretion to determine the number, the qualifications, and the duties of the positions and the school district’s standards of acceptable performance.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to make recommendations to the board in these areas prior to board action.  The board recognizes its duty to bargain collectively with duly certified collective bargaining units. 

Board policies in this series relating to general employees shall apply to employees regardless of their position as a licensed employee, classified employee, substitute or administrator.  Board policies relating to licensed employees shall apply to positions that require a teaching license or administrator’s certificate or other professional license, certificate or endorsement, unless administrative positions are specifically excluded from the policy or a more specific policy is in the 300 series.  Classified employees’ policies included in this series shall apply to positions that do not fall within the definition of licensed employee.

Approved:  July 25, 2018      
Reviewed: February 14, 2022    
Revised: March 14, 2022                            

The Red Oak Community School District will provide equal opportunity to employees and applicants for employment in accordance with applicable equal employment opportunity and affirmative action laws, directives and regulations of federal, state and local governing bodies.  Opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment includes hiring, placement, promotion, transfer or demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and layoff or termination.  The school district will take affirmative action in major job categories where women, men, minorities, and persons with disabilities are underrepresented.

Employees will support and comply with the district’s established equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies.  Employees will be given notice of this policy annually.

The board will appoint an affirmative action coordinator.  The affirmative action coordinator will have the responsibility for drafting the affirmative action plan.  The affirmative action plan will be reviewed by the board at least every two years.

Individuals who file an application with the school district will be given consideration for employment if they meet or exceed the qualifications set by the board, administration, and Iowa Department of Education for the position for which they apply.  In employing individuals, the board will consider the qualifications, credentials, and records of the applicants without regard to the applicants’ age, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability, or genetic information.  In keeping with the law, the board will consider the veteran status of applicants.

Prior to a final offer of employment for any position, the school district will perform any background check required by law. The district may determine on a case-by-case basis that, based on the duties, some positions within the district will require more thorough background checks. Based upon the results of the background checks, the school district will determine whether an offer will be extended and may withdraw a previously extended offer.

Advertisements and notices for vacancies within the district will contain the following statement: “The Red Oak Community School District is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer.”  The statement will also appear on application forms.

Inquiries by employees or applicants for employment regarding compliance with equal employment opportunity and affirmative action laws and policies, including but not limited to complaints of discrimination, may also be directed to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 400 E. 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1004, (515) 281-4121 or 1-800-457-4416, http://www.state.ia.us/government/crc/index.html or to the Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions, Milwaukee Area Office, Reuss Federal Plaza, 310 West Wisconsin Ave., Suite 800, Milwaukee, WI., 53203-2292, (800) 669-4000 or TTY (800) 669-6820. http://www.eeoc.gov/field/milwaukee/index.cfm.  Such inquiry or complaint to the state or federal office may be done instead of, or in addition to, an inquiry or complaint at the local level. 

Further information and copies of the procedures for filing a complaint are available in the school district’s central administrative office and the administrative office in each attendance center.

Approved:  July 25, 2018      
Reviewed: February 14, 2022   
Revised: March 14, 2022