Updated July 2023

5.00 Workweek Defined:

A workweek is a period of 168 hours during seven consecutive 24-hour periods.  The workweek at Sioux Valley School begins at 12:00 midnight on Saturday and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. the next Saturday.

5.01 Classified Personnel Defined

All employees not required to be certified are considered to be in this category.

5.02 Duties and Responsibilities of Classified Personnel

Supervisor to draw up specific items for various positions.

5.03 Length of Working Day for Classified Personnel

To be agreed upon each year and that such agreement to comply with state and federal laws.

5.04 Salary Schedule for Classified Personnel

 Salary to conform to like positions in the community.

5.05 Benefit Eligibility

Benefits are not accrued or allowed for employees working less than 30 hours per week.  A prorated amount will be   allowed for employees who work 30-37.5 hours per week.

5.06 Sick Leave for Classified Personnel – See 5.05

a. Any absence for personal illness or for serious illness of a family member shall be considered sick leave.  The superintendent reserves the right to ask the employee to furnish satisfactory evidence in the form of a doctor's statement.

b. Any absence for a funeral of a family member or close friend is to be considered sick leave.

c. Sick leave allowance cumulative to 60 days for benefit eligible classified staff members and bus drivers shall be as follows:

(12) twelve days per year for a 40 and over hour workweek

A prorated amount will be allowed for employees who work 30-37.5 hours per week

1 day per year for bus drivers

Sick leave allowance cumulative to 60 days for teacher assistants is as follows:

9 days per year for a 30-39 hour workweek

d.  Any employee who has sick days in excess of the 60 day maximum will be paid at a rate of $50 per eight hour day, with a minumum of four hours.

e.  Two days of sick leave will be allowed for the birth of a grandchild.

f.   Sick leave hours are counted as regular hours and are not counted toward overtime pay.  Sick leave may only be                used in one hour increments.  Unused sick leave is forfeited upon the end of employment.

g.  If the school day is cancelled and sick leave has been applied for, the request will be cancelled and sick leave will not be deducted.

h.   Superintendent and /or board of education to rule on sick leave questions.

i.  One sick leave day per year may be used as a personal day.  Must be used in a minimum of ½ day increments.

j.  Family Medical Leave Act leave will run concurrently with any and all sick leave.  Sick leave must be used first.

5.07  Maternity Leave

     a.  A maximum of 12 weeks (60 calendar week days, M-F) may be used for maternity/paternity/adoption leave.        Accumulated sick leave may be used for this purpose.  These 12 weeks begin with the birth/adoption of the child. 

               b.  Nursing mothers – The school district will make an effort to provide a reasonable break time for a staff member to express breast milk for her nursing child each time she has need to express milk for 30 calendar days following the return to work, to allow for her body to transition back into the school schedule.  The frequency and length of breaks needed will vary.  The staff member should make every effort to express breast milk before school, during lunch and after school in order to stay in the classroom with the assigned students.  The school district will support the mother in the development of a plan to express breast milk.  The staff member should begin dialogue early in the process so that her administrator can make the necessary accomodations.  The school district will provide a designated room, other than a bathroom, that is shielded from view and free from intrusion from co-workers and the public, which may be used by a staff member to express breast milk. 

5.08 Sick Leave Bank

A sick leave assistance bank is established for all classified employees with the following conditions and provisions:

1. Classified employees may voluntarily contribute up to five (5) days annually by written notification prior to September 10 to the business manager.  Classified employees may donate up to 10 additional days at the end of the year.  Should unforeseen circumstances arise, an additional opportunity to donate days will be added upon the request of the classified staff, and mutually agreed upon and approved by the superintendent.

2. If the bank is at 70 days or below on the first day of school, all classified employees must donate one day to the sick leave bank.  If the sick leave bank is at 71 days or above on the first day of school, only new employees must donate one (1) day.  The maximum number of days in the sick leave bank will be capped at 120 days as of June 30 each year.  Sick leave bank requests per individual will be capped at a maximum of 60 days per school calendar year if an employee has been with the district six or more years; and a maximum of 30 days per school calendar year if an employee has been with the district less than six years.

  3. A classified employee who has exhausted his/her accumulated sick leave may request additional days from the sick leave bank due to:

a. an illness of self, spouse, children, or parents  (No single request may be in excess of 10 days.  However, multiple requests will be considered.)

b. death of an immediate family member (spouse, children, father, mother, brother, sister) not to exceed five (5)        days.

Requests shall be for a minimum of five (5) days.  Unused days shall be returned to the bank at the end of the school year. 

4.  A maximum of 10 days can be requested for maternity/paternity/adoption leave.  Sick leave bank days cannot be requested if staff member has already been absent (40) forty contract days for maternity leave or if (8) eight weeks has already lapsed between the arrival of the child and the first contract day.  However, if an employee has been put on medical ordered bed rest or incurs any medical complications, including a cesarean section, during pregnancy or afterwards to the mother or child, then said staff member is eligible to request additional time from the sick leave bank.

5. Applications for sick leave assistance shall be accompanied by a physician’s statement unless waived by the committee. 

6. Applications for sick leave assistance shall be submitted in writing to the superintendent.  The superintendent will  discuss the request with the committee for a decision to be rendered.

7. Sick leave assistance committee shall consist of three (3) classified employees, the business manager, and the

superintendent.

8. Days in the sick leave bank shall be withdrawn on a first-come, first-served basis.  If the total days in the bank are exhausted in any year, use of the bank ends for that year.

9. Unused days in the plan shall be carried over to the next school year. 

10. Administration of the sick leave bank will be handled by the business office.

5.09 Vacation for Classified Personnel

a. Secretaries, Technology Coordinator, Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor (twelve month positions)

Vacation time is not allowed during the first seven months of employment.  Eighth month and after to twelve months consecutive employment, employee is allowed one day per month with pay.  Employee will be granted (2) two weeks (10 days) vacation per year for two through five years of consecutive employment.  One additional day of vacation will be granted for each consecutive year of employment for years (6) six through (15) fifteen. Employee cannot accumulate more than their annual allocated paid vacation time. Vacation time taken during days in session is allowed only with prior approval of administration.  Vacation hours are counted as regular hours and are not counted toward overtime pay.

b. Custodians and BASE Coordinator:

Vacation time is not allowed during the first seven months of employment.  Eighth month and after to twelve months consecutive employment, employee is allowed one day per month with pay based on scheduled wages and hours worked.  After completion of two years or more consecutive employment, the employee is entitled to two weeks (10 days) vacation based on hours worked per week.  Employee cannot carry over more than their annual allocated paid vacation time.  Any days beyond the maximum allowable accumulation will be automatically forfeited.  Vacation hours are counted as regular hours and are not counted toward overtime pay.  Vacation may be taken during days in session with prior approval of supervisor.  Unused vacation time is paid out at the regular hourly rate upon the end of employment not to exceed two times the annual allocated vacation days.

5.10 Holidays for Classified Personnel Employed Minimum of 30 Hours per Week - See 5.05

a. Custodians, Secretaries, Before & After School Enrichment Program Coordinator (BASE), Technology Coordinator, Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor:  The employee shall be paid the normal scheduled hours not to exceed (8) eight hours per day for the following holidays:  Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years' Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Juneteenth, Independence Day, and Memorial Day (or one floating holiday to be determined by the administration.)  Holiday hours are counted as regular hours and are not counted toward overtime pay.

b. Teacher Assistants

The employee shall be paid the normal scheduled hours for the following holidays:  Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Memorial Day if school is still in session.

5.11 Health Insurance for Classified Personnel

1. The school district will pay up to $686 per month toward an eligible employee’s designated health plan premium, or the cost of single $1,000 deductible coverage, whichever is less in 2023-24.  An eligible employee is a permanent employee that works 30 hours or more per week.  The district will offer (3) three policy options - $1,000 deductible, $2,500 deductible, and $3,500 deductible plans.  Contribution rates are effective with the June payroll for coverage effective in July.  In the event there are multiple family members eligible for insurance benefits, both employees may apply their district allowance toward the two-party or family plans. 

2. Employer provided health insurance coverage begins on the first of the month following an eligible employee’s date of hire.  Deductions for insurance coverage will begin on the payroll prior to the coverage start date.  If an employee does not have a paycheck in the month prior to the coverage start date, a double deduction will be taken on the employee’s first payroll.  Health insurance coverage will end on the last day of the month of the employee’s final payroll.

3.The district will pay $26 of single premium in 2023-2024 of the designated dental plan premium.  A prorated amount will be allowed for employees who work 30-37.5 hours per week.  The district will begin these payments in June of the prior contract year.

4. The district will extend optional vision insurance to all benefit-eligible employees, at the employee’s expense.

5.12 Cafeteria Plan (Section 125 Plan) for Classified Personnel

The school district will pay the administrative fee for the plan and each participating employee will pay their individual fee.

5.13 Payroll Deductions

a. Voluntary payroll deductions may be initiated or changed at any time.  Authorization for payroll deductions must          be on file in the business office ten (10) days prior to payday. 

b. A new payroll deduction must have a minimum of five (5) employees participating in the plan.

5.14 Bus Driver Physicals

The school district will pay 100% of the charges for one physical examination per year required to obtain a school bus driver's license.  Any additional doctor visit charges are the responsibility of the bus driver.

5.15 Suspension and Dismissal of Classified Personnel

1. The building principal and/or superintendent may ask for suspension or dismissal of classified employees without pay by filing a written request subject to the approval of the superintendent. 

2. Any person whose employment is terminated for any reason as provided in these policies forfeits all accrued sick leave.

3.  All employees are employees at will and may be terminated at any time, with or without cause.

5.16 Grievance Procedures Policy

Refer to Section 3.17