Burlington Community

School District
Certified Staff Handbook
May 2019 Revisions

Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought for

with ardor and attended to with diligence.
- Abigail Adams
 Table of Contents

Handbook Notification.................................................................................................................... 3
Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination ....................................................................................... 3
Summary of Changes ...................................................................................................................... 3
Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Policy .......................................................................................... 4
Tobacco-Free Environment ............................................................................................................ 4
Superintendent Welcome ................................................................................................................ 5
Vision, Mission and Goals .............................................................................................................. 6
BHS Student Outcomes .................................................................................................................. 7
PBIS and Character Education........................................................................................................ 9
Teacher Leadership ....................................................................................................................... 12
Curriculum and Academic Programs ............................................................................................ 14
Iowa Professional Development Model ........................................................................................ 15
MTSS Process and Teacher Expectations..................................................................................... 16
Partnership for Comprehensive Literacy ...................................................................................... 19
Notes Page .................................................................................................................................... 24
Systemic Writing Process ............................................................................................................. 25
A Working Guide to Conventions ................................................................................................ 27
Math .............................................................................................................................................. 29
Guided Math (Overview) .............................................................................................................. 31
Technology Integration ................................................................................................................. 32
Notes Page .................................................................................................................................... 33
Credit Recovery ............................................................................................................................ 34
Problem Solving Process .............................................................................................................. 35
Professional Development Days ................................................................................................... 36
Collaboration................................................................................................................................. 36
Nuts and Bolts ............................................................................................................................... 38
OPEN DOOR POLICY ................................................................................................................ 48
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ................................................................................... 50
CLASSROOM CARE .................................................................................................................. 51
BLOODBORNE PATHOGENS CONTROL PLAN ................................................................... 52
Appendix Index ............................................................................................................................. 55

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SCHEDULE A – 2019-2020 TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE .......................................... 56
SCHEDULE B - EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATIONS ....................................................... 57
SCHEDULE C - SUPPLEMENTAL PAY ............................................................................... 58
Appendix A: EVALUATION PRE-OBSERVATION DATA SHEET ................................... 60
Appendix B: IOWA TEACHING STANDARDS AND CRITERIA ...................................... 61
Appendix B.1: Code of Professional Conduct...................................................................... 63
Appendix C: Performance Review Summative Form .............................................................. 70
Appendix D: BCSD Individual Career Development Plan ...................................................... 71
Appendix E: Intensive Assistance Plan .................................................................................... 72
Appendix E.1: BCSD Intensive Assistance Awareness Phase Identification of Concerns .. 74
Appendix E.2: BCSD Intensive Assistance Awareness Final Summary Form .................... 75
Appendix E.3: BCSD Intensive Assistance Phase Plan of Assistance ................................. 76
Appendix E.4: BCSD Assistance Phase Progress Form....................................................... 77
Appendix E.5: BCSD Assistance Phase Final Summary Form............................................ 78
Appendix E.6: BCSD Athletic Coach Assessment Form ..................................................... 79
Appendix F: Burlington Community School District Recall Procedure .................................. 82
Appendix G: Board Policy Index .............................................................................................. 83
Appendix G.1: Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Notice to Employees ........................... 88
Appendix G.2: Employee Computer/Internet Usage ............................................................ 89
Appendix G.3: Travel Reimbursement ................................................................................. 92
Appendix H: Educational Acronyms ....................................................................................... 94
Appendix I: Rules of Work .................................................................................................... 112

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Handbook Notification
The Employee Handbook will be maintained by the District. The Board of Directors of the
Burlington Community School District and/or the District’s administration has the ability to
interpret and imply provisions of the Employee Handbook. The Employee Handbook will be
effective upon being approved by the Board of Directors of the Burlington Community School
District. It will be in effect for the duration of the work year in which it was approved, unless it
is modified using appropriate procedures, including providing notice to all employees covered by
the Employee Handbook and providing opportunity for employees to discuss and provide input
regarding and proposed modifications.

Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination

It is the policy of the Burlington Community School District not to discriminate on the
basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment),
marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic
status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is
a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have
questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district’s Equity
Coordinators.

For Educational Programs: Cory Johnson, Director of Curriculum,

cory.johnson@bcsds.org

For Employment: Laci Johnson, Director of Human Resources, laci.johnson@bcsds.org

Burlington Community School District, 1429 West Avenue, Burlington Iowa, (319) 753-
6791

Summary of Changes
The following is a summary of changes since the last adoption of the Certified Staff Handbook.
Minor changes (e.g. grammar fixes, minor clarifications in language, formatting, and other non-
substantive changes) may not be listed.

 Added Classroom Care section.

 Modified Schedule B to reflect Board approved changes to Employment Classifications
 Added language to Staff Reduction Procedures to allow for reassignment to other areas of
endorsement.
 Revised Compensation Section to reflect updated lane change in submission procedures.
 Updated TLC section to reflect changes to TLC job roles.
 Added Employee Assistance Program section.

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  Added Professional Development Day section and updated Collaboration section to more
accurately reflect practices and allow for greater flexibility based on identified needs.
 Updated MTSS section to more accurately reflect practices and more clearly
communicate expectations.

Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Policy
The Burlington Community School District is committed to providing all students and staff with
a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated
with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, staff, and volunteers is
against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board. Bullying and/or
harassing behavior can seriously disrupt the ability of school employees to maintain a safe and
civil environment, and the ability of students to learn and succeed. Therefore, it is the policy of
the State and the school district that school employees, volunteers, and students shall not engage
in bullying or harassing behavior in school, on school property, or at any school function or
school-sponsored activity.

Tobacco-Free Environment
No smoking or use of smokeless tobacco products will be permitted in District buildings, at
Bracewell Stadium, on District grounds or in District vehicles at any time. Notices to this effect
will be displayed in buildings and vehicles.

It shall be the responsibility of all school personnel to abide by this policy and to enforce the
policy. If, after being asked to abide by this policy, a visitor fails to comply, the visitor will be
asked to leave District property. District personnel failing to abide by the policy shall be subject
to disciplinary actions.