POLICY MANUAL - Calhoun County Schools

steps needed to meet the required reductions, including but not limited to transfer, nonrenewal,and termination. Transfer, non-renewal or termination of employees for otherreasons is not a reduction in force. In implementing a RIF, the following proceduresshall be used:Prior to commencing action to terminate non-probationary employment contracts,the Superintendent and the Board of Education will first consider staff reductionsthat may be achieved through voluntary retirements, voluntary resignations,voluntary transfers, voluntary leaves of absence, and administration-initiatedtransfers.Based on the philosophy of maintaining the best educational program possible, theBoard, upon recommendation of the Superintendent, shall identify theAreas/Departments and/or Sites/Facilities from which staff members occupyingnon-certificated or support positions are to be reduced in force. For the purposeof reduction in force, the following definitions apply:a. Areas/Departments: Child Nutrition Program; maintenance;secretarial / clerical / bookkeeping; instructional assistants / aides /paraprofessionals; special education aides / paraprofessionals;technology workers; health service workers; custodial / janitorial;bus drivers; other transportation workers; or such combinations orsubcategories thereof as the Board, based upon therecommendation of the Superintendent, may deem appropriateunder particular circumstances.b. Sites/Facilities: Central Office / Annex; transportation facility;maintenance facility; local schools; or such other facilities orcombinations thereof as the Board, based upon therecommendation of the Superintendent, may deem appropriateunder particular circumstances.Following the identification of the Areas/Departments and/or Sites/Facilities, thenumber of staff to be reduced from each area or site will be determined by theBoard, based on the recommendation of the Superintendent.In accomplishing the necessary reductions, probationary personnel in the specificallyidentified areas will be terminated before non-probationary personnel, basedupon objective non-discriminatory criteria.In the event that non-probationary personnel must be released, such personnelwithin the identified Areas/Departments and/or Sites/Facilities will be rankordered from the greatest amount of continuous service time (seniority) to theleast amount of continuous service time within the school system. The staffmembers with the least amount of continuous service time, based on actual dateof employment as reflected in the Board minutes, shall be the first reduced inforce, with lay-off continuing in like manner until the necessary reduction isaccomplished. In the event two or more staff members in the identified area havethe same amount of continuous service time within the school system based onBoard minutes, the following additional criteria will be considered: