Relocations When an employee is permanently reassigned or transferred to a new work location thirty-five (35) or more miles away from his/her present work location to accommodate the State's operational needs, he/she shall be reimbursed for actual reasonable and necessary moving expenses by common carrier. If the State requires an employee to live in a specified zone or district after initial assignment, the employee will be reimbursed for actual reasonable and necessary moving expenses by common carrier. An employee will not be permanently reassigned or transferred for disciplinary or arbitrary or capricious reasons. Unless specific requirements dictate otherwise, transfers and reassignments shall be on a voluntary basis from among qualified employees. The most senior employee who is qualified to perform the duties of the position shall be entitled to the transfer or reassignment. If there are no qualified volunteers, the least senior qualified employee shall be transferred. In the event the least senior qualified employee has children of elementary or secondary school age, he/she shall be exempted from this provision in the event no schools are available in the new assignment area or if suitable educational arrangements for such children cannot be mutually agreed to. When an employee is reassigned to a new work location under this Article, he/she will have the option, in lieu of relocation, to have recall rights under the Seniority Article of this Agreement as though he/she were laid off as of the effective date of the reassignment. The State shall provide ninety (90) days advance notice of such relocations whenever possible, and in the event that less than ninety (90) days notice is provided, the State will pay reasonable temporary relocation expenses, pursuant to the Lodging and Meals Article of this Agreement, for any period of less than ninety (90) days notice. This Article does not apply to employees relocating in connection with any reduction in force or to employees in job classes which traditionally have required performance of duties at other than a fixed location.
VACANCIES AND NEW POSITIONS 3.3.1 During the work year, written notices of vacancies and new positions within the bargaining unit will be posted on the District jobs website for not less than five (5) working days. For an applicant to be considered for a vacant or new position, they must:
a. Submit their online application and all other required application materials no later than five (5) working days from the first day of the posting, and
b. Possess the minimum skills and qualifications applicable to the vacant or new position.
3.3.2 A vacancy is an open position within the bargaining unit or non represented groups over 10 hours per week (i.e., 2.1 hours per day). Employees who meet the posted qualifications will receive an interview for the position upon application. Applicants not receiving an interview or offer of position will be given feedback, upon request. Skill tests will not normally be required if the skill requirements of the new position are not greater than the applicant's current assignment unless the skill test is deemed necessary to determine the most qualified applicant. Positions will be filled by any present or prospective employee based upon affirmative action requirements, experience, and job qualifications for the position. If two finalists are considered equal, then the applicant from within the district with the most bargaining unit seniority will be selected for bargaining unit positions.
3.3.3 Employees transferred to new positions in the bargaining unit will receive salary credit at full value for all prior experience gained within the bargaining unit.
3.3.4 Current employees within the bargaining unit who are accepted for a position under Section 3.3.2 above will be given a thirty (30) work day work trial. If the employee's performance on the new job is not satisfactory, she/he will be returned to her/his former position or to another suitable position. Absent just cause for termination, such employee will not be terminated due to her/his unsatisfactory performance during the thirty (30) day trial period.
3.3.5 Increased hours at the worksite will be offered first to the most senior employees within the classification, if qualified as determined by the supervisor at the worksite, providing they have a work schedule which can accommodate the additional hour(s) within a normal work week. The number of hours per week may be offered up to ten (10) hours, but may not result in a combined assignment of more than forty (40) hours per week. Employees wishing more hours of work will notify their supervisor/building administrator in writing.
3.3.6 Summer school assignments will be offered on a seniority basis, except that those employees who carry out the job during the course of the regular work year will receive first choice of refusal.
3.3.7 If the school district uses a numerical staffing formula to assign employees to schools based on enrollment, employee hours will be adjusted in October of the school year to reflect actual enrollment. The formula results and adjusted hours will be provided to the association president(s) by October 15.
3.3.8 The district will provide at least a two (2) week written notice of paraeducator hour reduction due to a decreased student overload factor.
3.3.9 An employee involuntarily transferred to a new position with a different job title will suffer no loss in hourly rate of pay. The transferred employee will be placed on the same experience step as in the previous position. An employee transferred to a position with a lower hourly rate of pay will be required to seek to restore lost pay by applying for open positions within the department for which he/she is qualified. An employee may choose to decline up to three (3) positions that will make him/her whole. Following the third (3rd) decline, any enhanced pay, travel time, and/or mileage reimbursements will end.
3.3.10 When reassignments are too numerous to fill individually, the district will schedule a reassignment meeting. The district will display all open positions and the current seniority list. Employees facing reassignment will be required to attend either in person or by proxy. By seniority, employees must select from any open position for which they are qualified to restore any lost hours. Such restoration cannot exceed thirty (30) additional minutes over lost hours. If hours cannot be restored with open positions by seniority, employees may bump the least senior person. Bumping will occur in the following order, first by the department in which they have lost hours and then by any other departments in which they retain seniority. Multiple reassignment meetings may be necessary.
3.3.11 Employees who have been reassigned will have priority rights, by seniority, to open positions for which they are qualified for up to twenty-four months. Reassigned employees will be required to communicate in writing, in person, by proxy, or by email their interest in a position in the pool no later than 4:00 PM of the day the position closes, if the position will make them whole. If employees have not responded by 4:00 PM of the day the position closes, they have declined the position. Notice of assignment will be provided via phone and follow-up letter within five (5) working days.