TANNEHILL

REDUCTION-IN-FORCE

SUPPORT PERSONNEL

The Tannehill Board of Education believes that every reasonable effort should be made to avoid a reduction in force at any level. However, if it should become necessary to reduce the number of full-time support employees due to lack of funds or lack of work in a particular area, the position or program will be the determining factor and not the individuals who occupy the position or serve the program.

An employee is considered to be a full-time employee if the number of hours worked is the number of hours customarily worked in that position and if that position is designated as a full-time position by the board.

A reduction in force may occur for lack of funds, lack of work because of a decline in enrollment, consolidation of programs or positions, elimination of positions, or other circumstances as determined by the board.

If termination of employment should become necessary, notices of such terminations will be made as set forth in the policy governing suspension, demotion, or termination of support employees found elsewhere in the school policy manual.

Any necessary terminations shall begin by dismissing temporary, seasonal, or part-time employees within the job category affected. These employees shall be terminated at the discretion of the board or the board's designee. Job categories are listed alphabetically as follows:

a. Assistants for handicapped students

b. Bus drivers

c. Classroom assistants

d. Food service

e. Maintenance/custodial

f. Media/library assistants

g. Office personnel/assistants

If normal attrition and the release of temporary and part-time employees do not sufficiently reduce the support staff, the following items will be considered in the reduction process in the order listed:

1. Job qualification by training and years of experience

2. In the event that two or more employees in the affected category are equal in the above factor, termination shall be made on the basis of seniority within each general job category.

Supervisors and directors shall serve at the pleasure of the board and shall not be subject to the prescribed seniority order for reductions in force. Personnel whose positions are eliminated in one category may be considered for a position in another category.

Seniority shall be defined as the total length of service as a support employee within this district.

Employees who are terminated and subsequently reinstated shall retain cumulative seniority for all periods worked except for the period of termination.

Demotions in position shall follow the same procedure as terminations.

An employee who takes a voluntary demotion or a voluntary reduction in assigned time in lieu of termination shall be returned to a higher position or a position with more hours as vacancies become available, if the employee chooses to return.