May 10, 2023 at 4:30 PM - Policy Committee Meeting

Discussion:  Mrs. Rebecca Hamby called the meeting to order. 

Discussion:  Hamby led moment of silence and the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Discussion:  Hamby asked for a motion to approve minutes. Stout made a motion to approve. No second. 

Discussion:  Hamby introduced the district recommendation policies. 4.300, 5.110, 5.403, 5.701, 6.203, 6.201, 6.300, 6.308, 6.309, 6.316. Hamby introduced the first policy, 4.300 and asked if anyone had any concerns. Patton asked if level 3 volunteers are defined anywhere? Stepp said they are listed in procedures and said that it's pretty common in other counties to have non-faculty coaches without employee supervision. Patton said his concern is where is the cross reference to the policy that defines levels 1, 2, and 3. Stepp told Patton that under 4.501 procedures is where the information is given completely and in depth. Hamby asked if Patton felt comfortable. He said he thinks it's fine to reference the procedure but he's just not had enough time to look at this and the legalities of it. Patton said he would suggest putting all the levels under the school volunteer policy. He said to add the language of the procedure to the school volunteer policy. Hamby made a motion to accept the policy with the change and tasking Stepp to cross reference the policy and procedures that gave the explanation. Boston asked didn't they have to change the policy. Hamby then made the suggestion to table this until next month's policy meeting.  

Policy 5.110 Compensation Guides and Contracts. Hamby told everyone the recommendation was to replace recognizing 50% job experience with 100% recognition and removing the up to 5 years portion-Stull voiced her concerns about how that would impact the budget and how many employees did that involve? Bray said this would not be retroactive. It would just be with new hires and she could not say at this point how that would affect the budget and it would start within the next school year. Hamby said her concern was if they left it wide open and it was a reoccurring expense, then they would budget themselves right out the door. Stepp said they needed to be competitive in this market. Stepp said we needed those professionals in our system and needed something if they are coming from the private sector. Hamby said the system was not and could never be a private sector. Stout said most other industries do recognize prior job experience. She worries if we don't offer that, then we won't be able to recruit and retain top talent. Stull said they do recognize some referring to the 5 years. Bray told everyone that she's had several people in various positions walk away because the 5 years is all that we were willing to offer. Boston said her concern is being able to sustain the salaries that the district is setting.  She said if they are paid the top salary scale for all years of experience, there will be some that will be making more than the supervisor makes, so then the supervisor's scale has to be adjusted. She said again, the sustainability they are creating is her concern. Stout asked, doesn't this just allow us to have the flexibility? It doesn't mean we have to offer them the job. Hamby said she isn't saying not to do it, but she's concerned about it. Stepp said this isn't a thousand people. It's a few people with professional licenses. He said it addresses the issue of classified not having the same rights as the certified personnel. He's trying to level the playing field with those with professional certifications. Stout asked what kind of candidates are falling into this category? Bray said she's seeing custodians, teacher assistants, electricians, maintenance personnel and bus drivers. Stout said how many of them would we have to worry about raising the supervisor's pay so they didn't exceed their salary? Bray said mostly it is like electricians, those licensed people, and currently they have 5. Stout said that's a pretty small group of people that they would have to worry about surpassing the supervisor's scale. Nichols said if we hire less qualified people and pay them less money, then we take a greater risk of things breaking down, which costs more money in the long run. Stepp and Bray made it clear they would have to verify that they are certified and they have the experience they say they have. Hamby made a motion to accept as presented with the understanding that they would come back and change it if needed. Nichols with the second. 

All other policies passed to be sent to the board as presented with changes. 
5.403 Hamby made the motion and Stout with the second. 
5701 Hamby made the motion and Stull with the second.
6.203 Hamby made the motion and Stout with second. 
6.201 Stout made the motion and Stull with the second. 
6.300 Hamby made the motion and Stull with the second. 
6.308 Hamby made the motion and Stout with the second. 
6.309 Stout made the motion and Hamby with the second. 
6.316 Hamby with the motion and Stout with the second. 

Discussion:  Hamby told everyone that these policies are for review only and made the motion to send to full board under consent agenda. Stull with the second. 

Discussion:  Stout made the motion to adjourn and Stull with the second. The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:15 p.m.