Travel mileage paid, holidays for administrators and substance testing for operators of school vehicles were among policies reviewed and passed on first reading during a special session of the South Tama School Board on Monday, Feb. 2.

The board approved:

first reading of Policy 401.68 ” Drug and Alcohol Testing Program”. Employees who operate school vehicles are subject to drug and alcohol testing if a commercial driver’s license is required to operate the school vehicle and the school vehicle transports 16 or more persons including the driver or the school vehicle weights 26,001 pounds or more. For purposes of the drug and alcohol testing program, the term employees includes applicants who have been offered a position to operate a school vehicle.

first reading of Policy 402.71 covering mileage reimbursement Employees will be reimbursed at the rate consistent with federal amount per mile for use of their personal automobile for approved travel on school business within and without the District except as follows:

Travel to periodic faculty meetings, curriculum meetings, or programs attended by employees in general. Travel from the employee’s personal residence to the first duty location of the day.

Travel from the employee’s last duty location of the day to personal residence. Travel for which the employee does not have prior approval of an immediate Supervisor when required. Travel in excess of 30 miles one way, not approved by the Superintendent, or travel for which the employee does not submit a request for payment in the required manner.

Policy 404.10, Administrators-Holidays/Vacations. The following holidays shall be days off without loss of pay for all administrators, if the day falls within the administrator’s contract: 4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Good Friday and Memorial Day. Employees who are ill during a holiday will be paid for the holiday without deduction of a sick leave day.

Under vacations, administrators that are on a 12-month contract shall be eligible for paid vacation days. Days shall not accumulate over two years. An administrator who retains unused vacation days in excess of two times their current annual rate of accumulation, will forfeit those days id they are not used by January 15th. Vacation 0-5 years will be three weeks (a5 days) and 6 years and above shall be four weeks (20 days).

Other policies include 502.11 which includes Bullying and Harassment Prohibited Students, 605.42 for Early Graduation, 601.50 School Day,

Personnel

A contract was approved for Rachel Young Bear in high school food services, effective January 30 at a salary of $11.95 per hour; Lovona Bazal’s retirement as high school principal’s secretary at the end of her contract which is approximately June 30.

Discussion

Among matters up for discussion were:

new rules concerning school calendar waivers and the attempt for South to file one for the next school year.

revising a policy which deals with banning electronic communication devices.

revising a policy on promotion and retention.

implementation of a cell phone policy for employees.

updating the curriculum development and textbook adoption cycle.

Table Fiber Optics Contract

A Fiber Optic Locating Services Contract between USIC Locating Services, LLC, an Indiana Corporation, was tabled.

The contract would cover maintenance and repairs to the Fiber Optic system.