Classified employees are employees who are not administrators or employees in positions which require a teaching license issued by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and who are employed to fulfill the duties listed on their job description on a monthly or hourly basis. Classified employees will include, but not be limited to, teacher and classroom aides, custodial and maintenance employees, clerical employees, food service employees, bus drivers, activity sponsor (non licensed and temporary help for summer or other maintenance. The position may be full-time or part-time.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to establish job specifications and job descriptions for classified employee positions. Job descriptions may be approved by the board.

Classified employees required to hold a license for their position must present evidence of their current license to the board secretary prior to payment of wages each year.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.8.

Cross Reference:  405.1 Licensed Employee Defined
                                       411.2 Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
                                       412.3 Classified Employee Group Insurance Benefits

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

Persons interested in a classified employee position will have an opportunity to apply and qualify for classified employee positions in the school district in accordance with applicable laws and school district policies regarding equal employment. Job applicants for classified employee positions will be considered on the basis of the following:

• Training, experience, and skill;
• Nature of the occupation;
• Demonstrated competence; and
• Possession of, or ability to obtain, state or other license or certificate, if required, for the position.

All job openings shall be submitted to the Iowa Department of Education for posting on TeachIowa, the online state job posting system. Additional announcements of the position may occur through means the superintendent believes will inform potential applicants about the position. Whenever possible, the preliminary screening of applicants will be conducted by the administrator who directly supervises and oversees the position.

The Board may pay for certifications and training needed for classified employee licensure, for example, the CDL training to get a license to be a bus driver.

The superintendent will recommend employment of classified employees to the board for approval.

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634.
                                      42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e; 12101 et seq.
                                      Iowa Code §§ 20; 35C; 216; 279.8; 279.20
                                      281 I.A.C. 12

Cross Reference:  401.1 Equal Employment Opportunity
                                      411 Classified Employees -   

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020 
Revised: June 2022

The board may enter into written contracts with classified employees employed on a regular basis. The contract will state the terms of employment.

Each contract will include a 30-day cancellation clause. Either the employee or the board must give notice of the intent to cancel the contract at the end of 30-days. This notice will not be required when the employee is terminated during a probationary period or for cause.

Classified employees will receive a job description stating the specific performance responsibilities of their position.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to draw up and process the classified employee contracts and present them to the board for approval.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.7A; 285.5(9).

Cross Reference:  411 Classified Employees - General
                                       412.1 Classified Employee Compensation
                                       412.2 Classified Employee Wage and Overtime Compensation
                                       413 Classified Employee Termination of Employment

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

Classified employees who require a special license or other certification will keep them current at their own expense. Licensing requirements needed for a position will be considered met if the employee meets the requirements established by law for the position.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 285.5(9); 272; 279.8.
                                       281 I.A.C. 12.4(10); 36; 43.

Cross Reference:  411.2 Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

Determining the assignment of each classified employee is the responsibility of the superintendent and within the sole discretion of the board. In making such assignments each year the superintendent will consider the qualifications of each classified employee and the needs of the school district.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to assign classified employees and report such assignments to the board.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.8.

Cross Reference:  200.2 Powers of the Board of Directors
                                      411.6 Classified Employee Transfers

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

Determining the location where a classified employee's assignment will be performed is the responsibility of the superintendent and within the sole discretion of the board. In making such assignments each year the superintendent will consider the qualifications of each classified employee and the needs of the school district.

A transfer may be initiated by the employee, the principal or the superintendent.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to transfer classified employees and report such transfers to the board.

Legal Reference:  29 U.S.C. §§ 621-634.
                                      42 U.S.C. §§ 2000e et seq.
                                      42 U.S.C. §§ 12101 et seq.
                                      Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 35C; 216; 279.8; 294.1.

Cross Reference:  411.2 Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
                                      411.5 Classified Employment Assignment

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

Evaluation of classified employees on their skills, abilities, and competence is an ongoing process supervised by the superintendent. The goal of the formal evaluation of classified employees is to maintain classified employees who meet or exceed the board's standards of performance, to clarify each classified employee's role, to ascertain the areas in need of improvement, to clarify the immediate priorities of the board, and to develop a working relationship between the administrators and other employees.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure classified employees are formally evaluated annually. New and probationary classified employees are formally evaluated at least twice a year.

Legal Reference:  Aplington Community School District v. PERB, 392 N.W.2d 495 (Iowa 1986).
                                      Saydel Education Association v. PERB, 333 N.W.2d 486 (Iowa 1983).
                                      Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 279.14.
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.3(3).

Cross Reference:  411.2 Classified Employee Qualifications, Recruitment, Selection
                                      411.8 Classified Employee Probationary Status

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

The first two years of a newly employed classified employee's contract is a probationary period. "Day" is defined as one work day regardless of full-time or part-time status of the employee. New employees, regardless of experience, are subject to this probationary period.

"New" employees includes individuals who are being hired for the first time by the school district and those who may have been employed by the school district in the past, but have not been employed by the board during the school year prior to the one for which contracts are being issued.

Only the board, in its discretion, may waive the probationary period.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 20; 279.8.

Cross Reference:  411.3 Classified Employee Contracts
                                      411.7 Classified Employee Evaluation

Approved: March 1996.
Reviewed:  April 2009, January 2011, January 2014, January 2017, May 2020

Good health is important to job performance. Employees shall present evidence of

good health, in the form of a physical examination report, within thirty (30) days of their initial employment with the school district. A physical examination report is required every three years thereafter, except for bus drivers. School bus drivers shall present evidence of good health annually every other year, unless a doctor requires otherwise, in the form of a physical examination report.

Employees whose physical or mental health, in the judgment of the administration, may be in doubt shall submit to additional examinations, when requested to do so, at the expense of the school district.

The form indicating the employee is able to perform the duties for which the employee was hired, must be returned prior to the first paycheck for that year. The cost of an employee's physical renewals as required every three years will be paid by the school district up to a maximum of one hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00). The school district shall provide the standard examination form to be completed by the personal physician of the employee. Employees identified as having reasonably anticipated contact with blood or infectious materials shall receive the Hepatitis B vaccine or sign a waiver stating that they will not take the vaccine.

The superintendent shall be responsible for writing an exposure control plan to eliminate or minimize the district occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens. The plan for designated employees shall include, but not be limited to, scope and application, definitions, exposure control, methods of compliance,

Hepatitis B vaccination with post-exposure evaluation and follow-up, communication of hazards to employees, and recordkeeping.

Approved: April 1996  
Reviewed:  January 2017, May 2020