Employees are role models for the students who come in contact with them during and after school hours. The board recognizes the positive effect employees can have on students in this capacity. To this end, the board strongly suggests and encourages employees to dress themselves, groom themselves and conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to the educational environment.

Employees will conduct themselves in a professional manner. Employees will dress in attire appropriate for their position. Clothing should be neat, clean, and in good taste. Discretion and common sense call for an avoidance of extremes which would interfere with or have an effect on the educational process.

Licensed employees of the school district, including administrators, will follow the code of ethics for their profession as established by the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, and as outlined in 281 Iowa Administrative Code Chapters 25 and 26.

Employees who do not follow this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination.

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Employees shall perform their assigned job, respect and follow board policy and obey the law. The superintendent is authorized to suspend an employee pending board action on a discharge, for investigation of charges against the employee, and for disciplinary purposes. It shall be within the discretion of the superintendent to suspend an employee with or without pay.

In the event of a suspension, appropriate due process shall be followed.

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The superintendent or his/her delegated subordinate has the authority to suspend the services of any employee as permitted under state and federal law. All employees employed under a contract pursuant to Iowa Code Chapter 279 may be dismissed for just cause. All other employees may be terminated immediately for just cause or within thirty (30) days notice for any other reason.

At the next following meeting of the Board of Directors, action shall be taken by the Board as to whether or not the employee shall be reinstated or dismissed.

In the event of a suspension pending dismissal, if applicable, and a dismissal, appropriate due process shall be followed.

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Licensed Employees

A licensed employee who wishes to resign must notify the superintendent in writing within the time period set by the board for return of the contract and pursuant to Iowa law. This applies to regular contracts for the licensed employee's regular duties and for an extracurricular contract for extra duty. Resignations of this nature may be accepted by the board.

The board expects that all signed, fully executed contracts will be performed as stated. Release from a fully executed contract following a resignation request from a licensed employee is at the sole discretion of the board.

Licensed employees who wish to be released from an executed contract must give thirty (30) days written days’ notice to the board secretary. Licensed employees may be released at the discretion of the board. Only in unusual and extreme circumstances will the board release a licensed employee from a contract. The board shall have sole discretion to determine what constitutes unusual and extreme circumstances.

Release from a contract shall be contingent upon finding a suitable replacement. Licensed employees requesting release from a contract after it has been signed will be required to pay the board the cost of advertising for a suitable replacement. Upon written mutual agreement between the employee and the superintendent or, in the case of the superintendent, a designee of the board, the costs may be deducted from the employee’s salary. Payment of these costs shall be a condition for release from the contract at the discretion of the board. Failure of the licensed employee to pay these expenses will result in the employee not being released from the employee’s contract.

The superintendent is authorized to file a complaint with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners against any licensed employee who leaves their employment with the District without proper release from their contract from the board. Should such an instance arise, the resignation of the licensed employee may be accepted under protest so that replacement staff may be hired without jeopardizing the legal rights of the district.

The board may require a licensed employee who has resigned from an extracurricular contract to accept the resigned position for only the subsequent school year when the board has made a good faith effort to find a replacement and the licensed employee is continuing to be employed by the school district.

Classified Employees

Classified employees who wish to resign during the school year will give the board notice of their intent to resign and final date of employment.

Notice of the intent to resign will be in writing, and shall be directed to the superintendent.

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